My best beloved and approved friend, Hortensio; and, I trow, this is his house :- Gru. Knock, sir! whom should I knock is there any man has rebus'd your worship? ་ Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly. Gru. Knock you here, sir? why, sir, what am I, sir, That I should knock you here, sir? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate, And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate. Gru. My master is grown quarrelsome: I should knock you first, And then I know after who comes by the worst. Pet. Will it not be? Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll ring it; I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it, 271 [He wrings him by the ears. Gru. Help, masters, help! my master is mad. Pet. Now knock when I bid you: sirrah! villain! Enter HORTENSIO. Hor. How now? what's the matter? My old friend Grumio! and my good friend Petruchio!-How do you all at Verona ? 280 Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? Con tutto il core ben trovato, may I say. Hor. Alla nostra casa ben venuto, Molto honorato signor mio Petruchio. Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel. Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, what he 'leges in Latin. -If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service-Look you, sir-he bid me knock him, and rap him soundly, sir: Well, was it fit for a servant to use his master so; being, perhaps (for ought I see), two and thirty-a pip out? 291 Whom, would to God, I had well knock'd at first, Then had not Grumio come by the worst. Pet. A senseless villain!-Good Hortensio, I bid the rascal knock upon your gate, Gru. Knock at the gate ?-O heavens !Spake you not these words plain-Sirrah, knock me here, Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me soundly? Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the world, To seek their fortunes farther than at home, Where small experience grows. But, in a few, Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me :- And I have thrust myself into this maze, 310 Crowns Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home, Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee, And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? Thou'dst thank me but a little for my counsel : And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich, And very rich :—but thou'rt too much my friend, And I'll not wish thee to her. 321 Pet. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as wé, She moves me not, or not removes, at least, I come to wive it wealthily in Padua ; 330 Gru. Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is: Why, give him gold enough, and marry him to a puppet, or an aglet-baby; or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, though she have as many diseases as two and fifty horses: why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal. Hor. Petruchio, since we have stept thus far in, I will continue that I broach'd in jest. I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife With wealth enough, and young, and beauteous; Diij 341 Brought Brought up, as best becomes a gentlewoman: And shrewd, and froward; so beyond all measure, That, were my state far worser than it is, I would not wed her for a mine of gold. Pet. Hortensio, peace; thou know'st not gold's effect: Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough; An affable and courteous gentleman: Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue. Pet. I know her father, though I know not her; I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her ; Unless you will accompany me thither. 350 360 Gru. I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O' my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding would do little good upon him: She may, perhaps, call him half a score knaves, or so why, that's nothing; an he begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks. I'll tell you what, sir-an she stand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and so disfigure her with it, that she shall shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat: You know him not, sir. Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee; For in Baptista's keep my treasure is: He hath the jewel of my life in hold, (For those defects I have before rehears'd), A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. 373 38 Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace; And offer me, disguis'd in sober robes, To old Baptista as a school-master Well seen in musick, to instruct Bianca: 390 That so I may by this device, at least, Enter GREMIO, and LUCENTIO disguis'd, with Books under his Arm. Gru. Here's no knavery! See; to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about you: Who goes there? ha! Hor. |