Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my love :Petruchio, stand by a while. Gru. A proper strippling, and an amorous! Gre. O, very well; I have perus'd the note. And see you read no other lectures to her : 400 I'll mend it with a largess :-Take your papers too, To whom they go. What will you read to her ? 410 Hor. Grumio, mum !-God save you, signior Gre mio l 420 Gre. And you are well met, signior Hortensio. Trow you Whither I am going ?-To Baptista Minola. I promis'd to inquire carefully About a school-master for the fair Bianca : On this young man; for learning, and behaviour, Fit for her turn; well read in poetry, And other books-good ones, I warrant you. 430 Gre. Belov'd of me-and that my deeds shall prove. Gru. And that his bags shall prove. [Aside. Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love: 440 Gre. No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman? Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's son: My father dead, my fortune lives for me; And I do hope good days, and long, to see. 450 Gre. Oh, sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange: But, if you have a stomach, to't, o'God's name You shall have me assisting you in all. But will you woo this wild cat? Pet. Will I live? Gru. Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her. Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent? Think, you a little din can daunt mine ears? Have I not in my time heard lions roar? [Aside. Have I not heard the sea, puff'd up with winds, 460 Have I not heard great ordnance in the field, Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang! And do you tell me of a woman's tongue; That gives not half so great a blow to the ear, As will a chesnut in a farmer's fire? Tush, tush fear boys with bugs. Gru. For he fears none. Gre. Hortensio,- hark ! This gentleman is happily arriv'd, [Aside My mind presumes, for his own good, and ours. 471 Hor. I promis'd, we would be contributors, And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er. Gre. And so we will; provided, that he win her. Gru. I would, I were as sure of a good dinner. [Aside. To them TRANIO bravely apparell'd, and BIONDELLO. 7480 Gre. Gre. He that has the two fair daughters? is't he you mean? Gre. Hark you, sir; You mean not her to Tra. Perhaps, him and her, sir; What have you to do? Pet. Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray. Tra. I love no chiders, sir: Biondello, let's away. Luc. Well begun, Tranio. Hor. Sir, a word ere you go ; offence? [Aside. Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea, or no? hence. 491 Tra. Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free For me, as for you? Gre. But so is not she. Tra. For what reason, I beseech you? Gre. For this reason, if you'll know ; That's she's the choice love of signior Gremio. To whom my father is not all unknown; 501 Though Though Paris came, in hope to speed alone. Gre. What! This gentleman will out-talk us all. Luc. Sir, give him head; I know, he'll prove a jade. 511 Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these words? Hor. Sir, let me be so bold as to ask you, Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter? Tra. No, sir; but hear I do, that he hath two: The one as famous for a scolding tongue, As the other is for beauteous modesty. Pet. Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by. Gre. Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules; And let it be more than Alcides' twelve. 520 Pet. Sir, understand you this of me, insooth;- The younger then is free, and not before. 530 Her. Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive: And since you do profess to be a suitor, You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman, Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack; in sign whereof, Please |