ACT I.

Scene.-Padua: A public place.

Enter LUCENTIO and TRANIO from the L. U. E.

uc. Tranio,-since for the great desire I had

te fair Padua, nursery of arts,

by my father's love and leave, am arm'd
his good will, and thy good company,
rusty servant, well approv'd in all ;
let us breathe, and haply institute
urse of learning, and ingenious studies.
therefore, Tranio, for the time I study,
me thy mind, for I have Pisa left,
am to Padua come, as he that leaves
allow plash, to plunge him in the deep,
with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.
tra. Mi perdonate, gentle master mine,
in all affected as yourself;

I that you thus continue your resolve,
lick the sweets of sweet philosophy.
, good master, while we do admire
virtue, and this moral discipline,
s be no stoics, nor no stocks, I pray.
profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en ;-
tief, sir, study what you most affect.

Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise.
ondello were now but come ashore,
could at once put us in readiness;
stay awhile; what company is this?

Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town.

Enter BAPTISTA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HORTENSIO, from house, L. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand aside, above at

Bap. Gentlemen, impórtune me no farther,
For how I firmly am resolv'd you know:

That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter,
Before I have a husband for the elder:

If either of you both love Katharina,

Because I know you well, and love you well,
Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.
Gre. To cart her rather: she's too rough for me:
There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife?

Hor. From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us!
Gre. And me too, good Lord!

Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime toward
Luc. Peace, Tranio.

Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good

What I have said, Bianca, get you in:

And let it not displease thee, good Bianca ;

For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl.

[BIANCA cro

Bian. Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: My books and instruments shall be my company, On them to look and practise by myself.

Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva speak.

Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange ? Sorry am I that our good will effects

Signior Baptista, for that other fiend of hell,
And make hier bear the penance of her tongue?
Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd:

Go in, Bianca.

LA

[Crosses to her. Exit BIANCA, hou

And, for I know she taketh most delight
In music, instruments, and poetry,
Schoolmasters will I keep within my house,
Fit to instruct her youth.-If you, Hortensio,
Or signior Gremio, you,-know any such,
Prefer them hither; for to cunning men

be very kind, and liberal

hine own children in good bringing-up ;

so farewell.

[Exit, house, L Gre. [R.] Hortensio, our cake's dough on both sides. Fare:—yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by neans light on a fit man to teach her that wherein she hts, I will wish him to her father.

for. So will I, signior Gremio; but a word, I pray. ugh the nature of our quarrel yet never brooked parle, v now, upon advice, it toucheth us both,-that we may gain have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals lanca's love,-to labor and effect one thing specialiy. [LUCENTIO gazes enraptured toward BIANCA'S window. rc. What's that, I pray?

for. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister. Gre. A husband! a devil!

Hor. I say, a husband.

Gre. I say, a devil: think'st thou, Hortensio, though her er be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to

?

for. Tush! Gremio; though it pass your patience and to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good ws in the world, an a man could light on them, would take with all faults, and money enough.

Gre. I had as lief take her dowry with this condition,-to vhipped at the high-cross every morning.

Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten les; but, come, since this bar in law makes us friends, it I be so far friendly maintained, till by helping Baptista's st daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a band, and then have to 't afresh.-He that runs fastest gets ting: how say you, signior Gremio?

Gre. [Taking his hand.] I am agreed: and would I had in him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that ild thoroughly woo her, wed her, and rid the house of her. [Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO, severally. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me,-is it possible

he on.

t love should of a sudden take such hold?

Luc. O Tranio, till I found it to be true,
I never thought it possible, or likely;
O! Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,
If I achieve not this young modest girl:
Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst;
Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.

Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now;
Affection is not rated from the heart;

If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so,—and yet You look'd so longly on the maid,

Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all.

Luc. Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move, And with her breath she did perfume the air; Sacred, and sweet, was all I saw in her.

Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance. I pray, awake, sir: if you love the maid,

Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her.

Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father has she!

But art thou not advis'd he took some care,

To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?
Tra. Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now, 'tis plotted.
Luc. I have it, Tranio.

Tra. Not possible: for who shall bear your part,
And be in Padua here. Vincentio's son ?

Luc. Basta; content thee; for I have it full.
We have not yet been seen in any house;
Nor can we be distinguish'd by our faces,
For man or master: then it follows thus ;-
Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead,
Keep house, and port, and servants, as I should:
I will some other be; some Florentine,

e Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa.
hatch'd, and shall be so :-Tranio, at once
ase thee; take my color'd hat and cloak:
en Biondello comes, he waits on thee;
I will charm him first to keep his tongue.

Tra. Sir, sith it your pleasure is

I am tied to be obedient,

a content to be Lucentio, ause so well I love Lucentio.

[They exchange habits.

Luc. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves :

I let me be a slave, t' achieve that maid

Ose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye.

Enter BIONDELLO, from L. U. E.

e comes the rogue-Sirrah, where have you been? Bion. Where have I been? nay, how now, where are you?

ter, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes?

you stol'n his ? or both? Pray, what's the news?

Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest,

I therefore frame your manners to the time.

ar fellow Tranio here, to save my life,

s my apparel and my countenance on, I for my escape have put on his;

It you on him, I charge you, as becomes,

ile I make way from hence to save my life; I understand me?

Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth.

your manners discreetly in all kind of companies: en he's alone, why, then he's Tranio ;

in all places else, your master Lucentio.

nio, let's go :

= thing more rests, that thyself

ke one among these wooers: if thou ask me why,iceth, my reasons are both good and weighty. ·

[Exeunt, L. U. E.]