I'll mend it with a largess. Take your paper too, For she is sweeter than perfume itself To whom they go to. What will you read to her? Luc. Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you As for my patron, stand you so assured, As firmly as yourself were still in place: Yea, and perhaps with more successful words Than you, unless you were a scholar, sir. Gre. O this learning, what a thing it is! Gru. O this woodcock, what an ass it is! Pet. Peace, sirrah! Hor. Grumio, mum! God save you, Signior Gremio. 160 Trow you whither I am going? To Baptista Minola. About a schoolmaster for the fair Bianca: And by good fortune I have lighted well On this young man, for learning and behaviour And other books, good ones, I warrant ye. Hath promised me to help me to another, To fair Bianca, so beloved of me. Gre. Beloved of me; and that my deeds shall prove. Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love: 170 180 Upon agreement from us to his liking, Hortensio, have you told him all her faults? Gre. No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman? 190 My father dead, my fortune lives for me; And I do hope good days and long to see. Gre. O sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange! But will you woo this wild-cat? Will I live? Pet. Gru. Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? 200 Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? That gives not half so great a blow to hear Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs. Gre. Hortensio, hark: 210 For he fears none. This gentleman is happily arrived, My mind presumes, for his own good and ours. Hor. I promised 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. Enter Tranio brave, and Biondello. Tra. Gentlemen, God save you. If I may be bold, Tra. Even he, Biondello. Gre. Hark you, sir; you mean not her to— Tra. Perhaps, him and her, sir: what have you to do? Hor. Sir, a word ere you go; 221 Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no? Tra. And if I be, sir, is it any offence? 231 Gre. No; if without more words you will get you hence. Tra. Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free Gre. For me as for you? But so is not she. Tra. For what reason, I beseech you? For this reason, if you 'll know, Baptista is a noble gentleman, To whom my father is not all unknown; Did you ever see Baptista's daughter? The youngest daughter whom you hearken for Must stead us all and me amongst the rest; Hor. Sir, you say well and well you do conceive; 240 250 260 270 And since you do profess to be a suitor, You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman, To whom we all rest generally beholding. Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack: in sign whereof, Please ye we may contrive this afternoon, And quaff carouses to our mistress' health, And do as adversaries do in law, Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. Gru. Bion. O excellent motion! Fellows, let's be gone. ACT SECOND. Scene I. Padua. A room in Baptista's house. Enter Katharina and Bianca. 281 [Exeunt. Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself, Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell Whom thou lovest best: see thou dissemble not. Bian. Believe me, sister, of all the men alive I never yet beheld that special face Which I could fancy more than any other. Kath. Minion, thou liest. Is 't not Hortensio? ΙΟ |