ACT II. SCENE I.-The same. A Room in Baptista's House. Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA. Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself, Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell Which I could fancy more than any other. Kath. Minion, thou liest: Is 't not Hortensio ? Bian. If you affect him, sister, here I swear, I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have him. Kath. O then, belike, you fancy riches more; You will have Gremio to keep you fair. Bian. Is it for him you do envy me so? Nay, then you jest; and now I well perceive, You have but jested with me all this while : prithee, sister Kate, untie my hands. Kath. If that be jest, then all the rest was so. Enter BAPTISTA. [Strikes her. Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows this in solence? Bianca, stand aside;-poor girl! she weeps:- For shame, thou hilding,a of a devilish spirit, Kath. Her silence flouts me, and I'll be reveng'd. Bap. What, in my sight?-Bianca, get thee in. Exit BIANCA. Kath. What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see She is your treasure, she must have a husband; I must dance barefoot on her wedding-day, And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell.b Talk not to me. I will go sit and weep, Till I can find occasion of revenge. [Exit KATH. Bap. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd as I? But who comes here? Enter GREMIO, with LUCENTIO in the habit of a mean man; PETRUCIO, with HORTENSIO as a musician; and TRANIO, with BIONDELLO bearing a lute and books. Gre. Good morrow, neighbour Baptista. Bap. Good morrow, neighbour Gremio: God save you, gentlemen! Pet. And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter Call'd Katharina, fair and virtuous? Bap. I have a daughter, sir, call'd Katharina. Pet. You wrong me, signior Gremio; give me leave. I am a gentleman of Verona, sir, That, hearing of her beauty, and her wit, a Hilding-a mean-spirited person. b A proverbial expression, applied to the ill-used class of old maids. Within your house, to make mine eye the witness And, for an entrance to my entertainment, I do present you with a man of mine, [Presenting HOR. To instruct her fully in those sciences, Bap. You 're welcome, sir; and he for your good sake: Pet. I see you do not mean to part with her; Or else you like not of my company. Bap. Mistake me not, I speak but as I find. Whence are you, sir? what may I call your name? Pet. Petrucio is my name; Antonio's son, A man well known throughout all Italy. Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for his sake. Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: Pet. O, pardon me, signior Gremio; I would fain be doing. Gre. I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your wooing. Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure of it. To express the like kindness myself, that have been more kindly beholding to you than any, I freely give unto you this young scholar, [presenting LUCENTIO] that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in music and mathematics: his name is Cambio; pray accept his service. Bap. A thousand thanks, signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio.-But, gentle sir, [to TRANIO] methinks a Baccare-a word once in common use, meaning go back. you walk like a stranger. May I be so bold to know the cause of your coming? Tra. Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own; That, being a stranger in this city here, Do make myself a suitor to your daughter, Unto Bianca, fair, and virtuous. Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo, And this small packet of Greek and Latin books: Bap. A mighty man of Pisa: by report I know him well: you are very welcome, sir. Take you [to HOR.] the lute, and you [to Luc.] the set of books, You shall go see your pupils presently. Holla, within! Sirrah, lead Enter a Servant. These gentlemen to my daughters; and tell them both, These are their tutors; bid them use them well. [Exit Servant, with HOR., Luc., and BION. We will go walk a little in the orchard, And then to dinner: You are passing welcome, Pet. Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste, And every day I cannot come to woo.a a The burthen of an old ballad, called The Ingenious Braggadocio,' was "And I cannot come every day to woo." You knew my father well; and in him, me, Bap. After my death, the one half of my lands: Pet. And, for that dowry, I'll assure her of Bap. Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd, Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father, For I am rough, and woo not like a babe. Bap. Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed! But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words. Pet. Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds, That shake not, though they blow perpetually. Re-enter HORTENSIO, with his head broken. Bap. How now, my friend? why dost thou look so pale? a Her widowhood. Widowhood must here mean, not the condition of a widow, but the property to which the widow would be entitled. Petrucio would assure Katharina of a widow's full provision in all his "lands and leases." would not "bar dower,"-by fine and recovery. He |