Although, I think, 't was in another sense,) Because so well I love Lucentio. Luc. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves : And let me be a slave, t' achieve that maid Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye. Enter BIONDELLO. Here comes the rogue.-Sirrah, where have you been? Bion. Where have I been? Nay, how now, where are you? Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes? Bion. I, sir? ne'er a whit. Bion. The better for him. 'Would I were so too! after, That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter. But, sirrah, not for my sake, but your master's, I advise You use your manners discreetly in all kind of com panies: When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio; But in all places else, your master Lucentio. One thing more rests, that thyself execute; To make one among these wooers: If thou ask me why, Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty. (The Presenters above speak.) [Exeunt. A good matter, surely. 1 Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play. Sly. Yes, by saint Anne, do I. Comes there any more of it? Page. My lord, 't is but begun. Sly. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady. 'Would 't were done! [They sit and mark. SCENE II.-The same. Before Hortensio's House. Enter PETRUCIO and GRUMIO. Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave, To see my friends in Padua; but, of all, My best beloved and approved friend, Hortensio; and, I trow, this is his house: Here, sirrah Grumio; knock, I say. Gru. Knock, sir! whom should I knock? is there any man has rebused 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. 'Faith, sirrab, an you 'll not knock, I'll wring it; [He wrings GRUMIO 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 the matter?-My old friend Grumio! and my good friend Petrucio!-How do you all at Verona ? Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? Con tutto il core bene trovato, may I say. Hor. Alla nostra casa bene venuto, Molto honorato signor mio Petrucio. Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel. Gru. Nay, 't is no matter, what he 'leges a 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 aught I see,) two-and-thirty, a pip out? Whom, 'would to God, I had well knock'd at first, Pet. A senseless villain!-Good Hortensio, I bade the rascal knock upon your gate, Spake you not these words plain,-"Sirrah, knock me here, Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me soundly"? And come you now with--knocking at the gate? Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you. Hor. Petrucio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge: Why, this a heavy chance 'twixt him and you; Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant, Grumio. And tell me now, sweet friend,-what happy gale Blows you to Padua here, from old Verona? 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, Antonio, my father, is deceas'd; And I have thrust myself into this maze, a 'Leges-alleges. Haply to wive, and thrive, as best I may : Hor. Petrucio, shall I then come roundly to thee, And very rich:-but thou 'rt too much my friend, Pet. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we I come to wive it wealthily in Padua ; 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. Petrucio, since we are stepp'd thus far in, I will continue that I broach'd in jest. I can, Petrucio, help thee to a wife With wealth enough, and young, and beauteous; And shrewd, and froward: so beyond all measure, a Aglet-baby. Aglet is aiguillette-a point. The baby was a small carving on the point which carried the lace. That, were my state far worser than it is, Pet. Hortensio, peace; thou know'st not gold's effect: An affable and courteous gentleman: Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue. I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her; 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 have no more eyes to see withal than a cata you know him not, sir. Hor. Tarry, Petrucio, I must go with thee; (For those defects I have before rehears'd,) a Grumio was not a person to be very correct in his similes. |