Glad that you thus continue your resolve, As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured: 2 Balke logic with acquaintance that you have, The mathematics, and the metaphysics, Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you; In brief, sir, study what you most affect. Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. We could at once put us in readiness; Such friends as time in Padua shall beget. Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town. Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no further, If either of you both love Katharina, Because I know you well, and love you well, 1 The old copy reads Aristotle's checks. Blackstone suggests that we should read ethics, and the sense seems to require it; it is therefore admitted into the text. 2 The modern editions read, "Talk logic, &c. The old copy reads Balke, which Mr. Boswell suggests may be right, although the meaning of the word is now lost. Kath. I pray you, sir, [To BAP.] is it your will To make a stale of me amongst these mates? Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you, Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. Kath. I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear; But if it were, doubt not her care should be Hor. From all such devils, good Lord deliver us! Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime toward; That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Maid's mild behavior and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good What I have said,-Bianca, get you in: And let it not displease thee, good Bianca; 2 Put finger in the eye,—an she knew why. Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.— Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe. My books, and instruments, shall be my company; Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou mayst hear Minerva speak. [Aside. Hor. Seignior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew her up, Seignior Baptista, for this fiend of hell, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolved.Go in, Bianca. [Exit BIANCA. And for I know she taketh most delight Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, To mine own children in good bringing up; [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam: your gifts3 are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell-yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father. Hor. So will I, seignior Gremio: but a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brooked parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both,that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love,-to labor and effect one thing 'specially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister. Hor. I say, a husband. Gre. I say, a devil. 1 Recommend. Think'st thou, Hortensio, 2 Cunning had not yet lost its original signification of knowing, learned, as may be observed in the translation of the Bible. 3 Endowments. 4 It seems that we should read-Your love. yr. in old writing stood for either their or your. If their love be right, it must mean-the good will of Baptista and Bianca towards us. 5 i. e. I will recommend him. though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell? Hor. Tush, Gremio, though it pass your patience and mine, to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough. Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition,-to be whipped at the high-cross every morning. Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten apples. But come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained,till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to't afresh.-Sweet Bianca !-Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest, gets the ring. How say you, seignior Gremio? Gre. I am agreed; and 'would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on. [Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me,-Is it sible That love should of a sudden take such hold? I never thought it possible, or likely ; pos 1 The allusion is probably to the sport of running at the ring, or some similar game. VOL. II. 59 Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now; Affection is not rated' from the heart: If love have touched you, nought remains but so,— Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound. Tra. Master, you looked so longly' on the maid, Perhaps you marked not what's the pith of all. Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, Began to scold, and raise up such a storm, That mortal ears might hardly endure the din? Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance. I pray, awake, sir; if you love the maid, stands: Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd, Thus it Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! Tra. Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one. 1 Is not driven out by chiding. 2 This line is quoted as it appears in Lilly's Grammar, and not as it is in Terence. See Farmer's Essay on the Learning of Shakspeare. 3 Longingly. 4 Europa. |