A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace; And offer me, disguis'd in sober robes, To old Baptista as a schoolmaster Well seen in musick,' to instruct Bianca: Enter GREMIO; with him LUCENTIO disguised with books under his arm. Gru. Here's no knavery! See; to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about you: Who goes there? ha! Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my Petruchio, stand by a while. Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous! love: [They retire. Gre. O, very well; I have perus'd the note. Hark you, sir; I'll have them very fairly bound: And see you read no other lectures to her: Signior Baptista's liberality, I'll mend it with a largess :-Take your papers too, And let me have them very well perfum'd; For she is sweeter than perfume itself, To whom they go. What will you read to her? 3 Well seen in musick,] Seen is versed, practised. Gre. O this learning! what a thing it is! Hor. Grumio, mum!-God save you, signior Gremio! Gre. And you're well met, Trow you, signior Hortensio. Whither I am going?-To Baptista Minola. About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca: And, by good fortune, I have lighted well And other books,-good ones, I warrant you. 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: Listen to me, and if you speak me fair, I'll tell you news indifferent good for either. Pet. I know, she is an irksome brawling scold; If that be all, masters, I hear no harm, 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; Gre. O, sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange : But if you have a stomach, to't o'God's name; Will I live? Pet. [Aside. Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang That gives not half so great a blow to the ear, Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs.' Gru. Gre. Hortensio, hark! This gentleman is happily arriv'd, For he fears none. [Aside. yours. My mind presumes, for his own good, and S 5 with bugs.] i. e. with bug bears, [Aside. VOL. III. FF Enter TRANIO, bravely apparell'd; and BIONDELLO. Tra. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be bold, Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way To the house of Signior Baptista Minola? Gre. He that has the two fair daughters :-is't [Aside to TRANIO.] he Tra. Even he. you mean? Biondello! Gre. Hark you, sir; You mean not her to- to do? you 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 ;— [Aside. Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea, or no? Tra. An if I be, sir, is it any offence? Gre. No; if, without more words, you will get you hence. 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 she's the choice love of signior Gremio. Hor. That she's the chosen of signior Hortensio. To whom my father is not all unknown; And so she shall; Lucentio shall make one, Gre. What! this gentleman will out-talk us all. Luc. Sir, give him head; I know, he'll prove a jade. 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 is the other 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. Pet. Sir, understand you this of me, insooth; Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive; 6 Please ye we may contrive this afternoon,] Contrive does not signify here to project, but to spend and wear out; probably from contero. |