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And fo farewel. Katharina, you may stay; That art to me as fecret, and as dear, For I have more to commune with Bianca. [Exit. As Anna to the queen of Carthage was,→→ Kath. Why, and I truft, I may go too, May I Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio, not? What, fhall I be appointed hours; as though, If I atchieve not this young modest girl : belike, I knew not what to take, and what to Counfel me, Tranio, for I know thou canft; leave? Ha! [Exit. Affift me, Tranie, for I know thou wilt. Tra. Mafter, it is no time to chide you now;

Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts
are fo good, here is none will hold you. Their Affection is not rated from the heart;
love is not fo great, Hortenfio, but we may blow
our nails together, and faft it fairly out; our cake's
dough on both fides. Farewell:-Yet, for the
love I bear my fweet Bianca, if I can by any means
light on a fit man, to teach her that wherein the
delights, I will with him to her father.

If love have touch'd2 you, nought remains but fo,
Redime te captum quam queas minimo. [tents;

Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this con-
The reft will comfort, for thy counfel's found.
Tra Mafter, you look'd fo longly on the maid,
Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all.
Luc. O yes, I faw fweet beauty in her face,
Such as the daughter of Agenor 3 had,

Hor. So will I, fignior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel never yet brook'd parle, know now, upon advice, it touch-That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, When with his knees he kifs'd the Cretan ftrand. Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how her filter

eth us both, that we may yet again have accefs to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love, to labour and effect one thing 'fpecially. Gre. What's that, I pray?

Began to fcold; and raise up fuch a storm,

Hor. Marry, fir, to get a husband for her fifter. That mortal ears might hardly endure the din? Gre. A husband! a devil.

Hor. Ifay, a husband.

Gre. I fay, a devil: Think'ft thou, Hortenfio, though her father be very rich, any man is fo very a fool to be married to hell?

Hor. Tufh, Gremio! though it pafs 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 her faults, and money enough.

Gre. I cannot tell: but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition,-to be whipp'd at the high cross every morning.

Luc. Tranio, I faw her coral lips to move,
And with her breath she did perfume the air;
Sacred, and sweet, was all I saw in her.

Tra. Nay then, 'tis time to ftir him from his

trance.

pray, awake, fir; If you love the maid,
Bead thoughts and wits to atchieve her. Thus it
ftands:-

fer eldest fifter is fo curst and shrewd,
That, 'till the father id his hands of her,
Mafter, your love muft live a maid at home;
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
Because the fhall not be annoy'd with fuitors.

Hor. 'Faith, as you fay, there's fmall choice in
rotten apples. But, come; fince this bar in law
makes us friends, it fhall be fo far forth friendly
maintain'd,till by helping Baptifta's eldest daugh-
ter to a hutband, we fet his youngeft fee for a
hufband, and then have to't afreih.--Sweet Bi-
anca!-Happy man be his dole ! He that runs
fafteft, gets the ring. How fay you, figmor Gre-Luc. Tell me thine first.

Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he!
But art thou not advis'd, he took fome care
To get her cunning schoolmatters to inftruct her?
Ta. Ay, marry, am I, fir; and now 'tis plotted.
Luc. I have it, Tranio.
Tra. Mafter, for my hand,

mio?

Gre. I am agreed: and 'would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his woong, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on.

Both our inventions meet and jump in one.

Tra. You will be fchoolmafter,

And undertake the teaching of the maid:
That's your device.

Luc. It is: May it be done?

Tra. Not potible; For who fhall bear your part,

[Exeunt Gremio and Hortenfio. And be in Padua here Vincentio's fon;
Manent Tranio and Lucentio.

Tra. I pray, fir, tell me,-Is it poffible
That love fhould of a fudden take fuch hold ?
Luc. Oh, Tranio, till I found it to be true,
I never thought it poffible, or likely;
But fee! while idly I ftood locking on,
I found the effect of love in idlenets;
And now in plainnefs do confefs to thee,-

Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his friends;
Vifit his countrymen, and banquet them?

Luc. Bafta 4; content thee; for I have it full.
We have not yet been feen in any houfe;
Nor can we be diftinguith'd by our faces,
For man, or maiter: then it follows thus ;—
Thou shalt be mafter, Tranio, in my stead,
Keep houfe, and port 5, and fervants, as 1 fhould:

1 A proverbial expreffion. Dole originally meant, the provifion given away at the doors of great men's houses. 2 That is, taken you in his toils, his nets; alluding to the captus eft, halet, of Lilly, 3 Europa, to poffefs whom Jupiter is fabled to have transformed himtelf into a bull. 4 An Italian and Spanish word, fignifying, enough. 5 Port means figure, fhow, appearance.

I will fome other be, fome Florentine,
Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pifa.-
'Tis hatch'd, and shall be fo:-Tranio, at once
Vacafe thee; take my colour'd hat and cloak;
When Biondello comes, he waits on thee;
But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.
Tra. So had you need. [They exchange babits.
In brief, fir, fith it your pleasure is,
And I am ty'd to be obedient;
(For fo your father charg'd me at our parting;
Be ferviceable to my fon, quoth he,
Although, I think, 'twas in another fenfe)
I am content to be Lucentio,

Becaute fo well I love Lucentio.

Luc. Tranio, be fo, becaufe Lucentio loves:
And let me be a flave, to atchieve that maid
Whafe fudden fight hath thrall'd my wounded eye.

Enter Biondello.

Here comes the rogue. Sirrah, where have you been?
Lin. Where have I been? Nay, how now, where
are you?

Mer, has my fellow Tranio ftoln your cloaths?
Or you ftoln his? or both? pray, what's the news?
Lar. Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest,
And therefore frame your manners to the time.
Your fellow Tranio here, to fave my life,
Pats my apparel and my countenance on,
And I for my efcape have put on his;
For in a quarrel, fince I came athore,

I kill'd a man, and fear I am defory'd:
Wat you on him, I charge you, as becomes,
While I make way from hence to fave my life:
To understand me?

Ere. Av, fir, ue'er a whit.

Im. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth; Trano is chang'd into Lucentio.

Fice. The better for him; 'Would I were fo too! Tra. So would I, 'faith, boy, to have the next with after,

The Lucentio indeed had Baptifta's youngoft daughter.

But, Grrah,—not for my fake, but your mafter's,

I advife

You ufe your manners difcreetly in all kind of companies:

When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio;

Eu in all places elfe, your mafter Lucentio.

La Trano, let's go:-

One thing more refts, that thyfelf execute ;-
To make one among thefe wooers: If thou afk
me why,-

SCENE II.

Before Hortenfia's Houfe in Padua.

Enter Petruchio and Grumio.

Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave,
To fee my friends in Padua; but, of all,
My best beloved and approved friend,
Hortenfio; and, I trow, this is his houfe:-
Here, firrah Grumio; knock, I fay.

Gru. Knock, fir! whom fhould I knock? is there any man has rebus'd your worship?

Pet. Villain, I fay, knock me here foundly. [fir,
Gru. Knock you here, fir? why, fir, what am I,
That I fhould knock you here, fir?

Pet. Villain, I fay, knock me at this gate,
And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate.
Gu. My mafter is grown quarrelfome: I should
knock you first,

And then I know after who comes by the worst.
Pet. Will it not be?

Faith, firrah, an you'll not knock, I'll ring it;
I'll try how you can ful, fa, and fing it.

[He wrings him by the ears.
Gru. Help, mafters, help! my mafter is mad.
Pet. Now knock when I bid you: firrah! villain!
Enter Hortenfio.

1

Hor. How now? what's the matter?---My old friend Grumio! and my good friend Petruchio!How do you all at Verona?

Per. Signior Hortenfio, come you to part the fray?
Con tutto il core ben trovato, may I fay.

Hor. Alla nofira cafa ben venuto,
Molto bono ato ignor mio Petruchio.
Rife, Grumio, rife; we will compound this quarrel.

Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, what he 'leges 2 in Latin.-If this be not a lawful caufe for me to leave his fervice,Look you, fir,-he bid me knock him, and rap him foundly, fir: Well, was it fit for a fervant to ufe his matter fo; being, perhaps, (for ought I fee) two and thirty,—a pip fout?

Whom, would to God, I had well knock'd at first,
Then had not Grumio come by the worst.

Pet. A fenfelefs villain!-Good Hortenfio,
I bid the rafcal knock upon your gate,
And could not get him for my heart to do it.

Gru. Knock at the gate ?— heavens !— [here, Spake you not thefe words plain,-Sirrah, knock me Rap me here, knock me ruelb, and knock me foundly? And come you now with-knocking at the gate? Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advife you. Hor. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge; Why, this is a heavy chance 'twixt him and you; Your ancient, trufty, pleafant fervant Grumio. [furely; And tell me now, fweet friend,-what happy gale . "Yes, by faint Anne, do I. A good matter, Blows you to Padua here, from old Verona? * Clace there any more of it ?”

Sufficeth, my reafons are both good and weighty.

[Excunt.

1 Man. "My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play."

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Pet. Such wind as fcatters young men through

the world,

To feek their fortunes farther than at home,
Where small experience grows. But, in a few 3,

Perhaps we should read abused. 2 Meaning, probably, what he alledges. 3 That is, in a few

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:

Signior Hortenfio, thus it ftands with me:--
Antonio, my father, is deceas'd;
And I have thruft myself iato this maze,
Haply to wive, and thrive, as beit I may :
Crowns in my purfe I have, and goods at home,
And fo am come abroad to fee the world.

Hor. Petrus hio, thall I then come roundly to thee,
And with thee to a fhrewd ill-favour'd wife?
Thou'dit thank me but a little for my countel:
And yet I'll promife thee the shall be rich,
And very rich :-but thou'rt too much my friend,
And I'll not with thee to her.

be begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks 3. I'll tell you what, fir,-an fhe ftand him but a little, The will throw a figure in her face, and fo disfigure her with it, that the thall have no more eyes to fee withal than a cat: You know him not, fir.

Hor. Tany, Petruchio, I must go with thee;
For in Baptifta's keep 4 my treasure is :
He hath the jewel of my life in hold,
His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca;
And her withholds he from me, and other mors
Suitors to her, and rivals in my love:
Suppofing it a thing impoffible,

Pet. Signior Hortenfio, 'twixt fuch friends as we,(For thote defects I have before rehears'd)

Few words fuffice: and, therefore, if thou know

One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife,
(As wealth is burden of my wooing dance)
Be the as foul as was Florentius' love,
As old as Sibyl, and as curft and fhrewd
As Socrates' Xantippe, or a worse,

She moves me not, or not removes, at least,
Affection's edge in me, were the as rough
As are the fwelling Adriatic feas:

I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;

If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

Gru. Nay, look you, fir, he tells you flatly what

That ever Katharina will be woo'd,
Therefore this order hath Baptifta ta'en ;-
That none fhall have accefs unto Bianca,
'Till Katharine the curft have got a huband.
Gra. Katharine the curt!!

A title for a maid, of all titles the worst.

Ho. Now thall my friend Petruchio do me grace; And offer me, difguis'd in fober robes,

Told Baptifta as a schoolmafter

We feen in music, to inftrućt Bianca:

That to I may by this device, at leaft,

Have leave and leifure to make love to her,

his mind is: Why, give him gold enough, and And, unfufpected, court her by herself.

under bis arm.

marry him to a puppet, or an aglet 2-baby; or an old! Ent Greruo, and Lucentio difguild, with books .trut with ne'er a tooth in her head, though the have) as many difcales as two and fifty horfes; why, nothing comes amifs, fo money comes withal.

Gra. Here's no knavery! See; to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads to

Hor. Petruchio, fince we have ftept thus far in, gether! Mafter, matter, look about you: Who

I will continue that I broach'd ja jert.

I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife

With wealth enough, and yung, and beauteous;
Brought up, as beit becomes a gentlewoman:
Her only fault (and that is fault enough)

Is, that the is intolerably curit,

And shrewd, and froward; to beyond all measure,
That, were my ftate får worfer than it is,

I would not wed her for a mine of gold.

goes there? ha!

Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my love :-
Petruchio, ftand by a while.

tha. A proper thripling, and an amorous!
Ge. O, very well; I have perus'd the note.
Hark you, fir; I'll have them very fairly bound:
All books of love, ice that at any hand o;
And fee you read no other lectures to her:
You understand me :-Over and befide

Pet. Hortenfio, peace; thou know'ft not gold's Signior Baptifta's liberality,

effect:-

Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough;
For I will board her, though the chide as loud
As thunder, when the clouds in autumn crack.
Hor. Her father is Baptifla Minola,
An affable and courteous gentleman:
Her name is, Katharina Minola,
Renown'd in Padua for her fcolding tongue.
Pet. I know her father, though I know not her;
And he knew my deceated Father well:—
I will not fleep, Hortenfio, till I fee her;
And therefore let me be this bold with you,
To give you over at this firit encounter,
Unless you will accompany me thither.

Gru. I pray you, fir, let him go while the humour laits. O' my word, an the knew him as well as I do, fhe would think fcolding would do little good upon him: She may, perhaps, call him half a fcore knaves, or fo: why, that's nothing; an

I'll mend it with a largefs :-Take your papers ton
And let me have them very well perfum'd;
For the is fweeter than perfume itself,
To whom they go. What will you read to her?
I uc. Whate'en I read to her, I'll plead for you,
As for my patron, (ftand you to affur'd)
As firmly as your felf were fill in place:
Yea, and (perhaps) with more fuccefsful words
Than you, unless you were a fcholar, fir.

Gre. O this learning what a thing it is!
Gru. O this woodcock! what an afs it is!
Pat. Peace, firrahı.
[Gremio!
Hor. Grumio, rum!--God fave you, fignior
Gre. And you are well met, fignior Hortenfio.
Trow you

Wither I am going ?-To Baptifta Minola,
promis'd to enquire carefully

I

About a schoolmater for the fair Bianca:
And, by good fortune, I have Fighted well

2 Ine

This alludes to the ftory of a knight named Florent, who bound himself to marry a deformed hag, provided the taught him the folution of a riddle on which his life depended. tag of a point. 3 Probably nicaning his rogue-tricks. 4 i. e. cuftody. 5 i. e. wel eefed in mu

Ack.

6 i. e. at all events.

Од

On this young man; for learning, and behaviour,
F: for her turn; well read in poetry,

And other books,-good ones, I warrant you.
Her. "Tis well: and I have met a gentleman,
Hath promis'd me to help me to another,
A fie mufician to inftruct our mittrefs;
So thall I no whit be behind in duty
To far Bianca, fo belov'd of me.

[prove.

Gre. Belov'd of me,-and that my deeds fhall
Gra. And that his bags fhall prove. [Ajide.
Her. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love:
Liten to me, and, if you fpeak me fair,
I'll tell you news indifferent good for either.
Here is a gentleman, whom by chance I met,
Upon agreement from us to his liking,
Wid undertake to woo cunt Katharine;
Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.
G. So faid, fo done, is well :-
Hortenfi, have you told him all her faults?

Put. I know, the is an irkfome brawling fcold;
If that be all, masters, I hear no harm. [man

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Tea. For what reafon, I beseech you?
Gre. For this reafon, if you'll know,--
That the's the choice love of fignior Gremio.
Hor. That he's the chofen of fignior Hortenfio.
Tra. Softly, my mafters! if you be gentlemen,
Do me this right,-hear me with patience.
Baptista is a noble gentleman,

To whom my father is not all unknown;

G. No, fyit me fo, friend? What country-And, were his daughter fairer than she is,

Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's fon:

My father dad, my fortune lives for me;
An. I do hope good days, and long, to fee.

Gri. Ob, fir, fuch a life, with fuch a wife, were
ftrange:

But, if you have a stomach, to't o'God's name;
Is that have me afifting you in all.
But all you won this wild cat ?

F. Wat I live?

Gra. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her.

[Ajide.

Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent?
Tk you, a little din can daunt mine ears?
Hne I not in my time heard ons roar?
Have I not heard the fea, puff'd up with winds,
Rage like an angry boar, chafed with sweat ?
Hive I not heard great ordinance in the field,
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?
Have I not in a pitched battle heard
La harums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue;
That gives not half to great a blow to the ear,
A will a chefnut in a farmer's fire?
Tuft, tuth! fear boys with bugs 1.
Gra. For he fears none.
Cre. Hortenfio, hark!
Tas gentleman is happily arriv'd,

She may more fuitors have, and me for one.
Fair Leda's daughter had a thoufand wooers;
Then well one more may fair Branca have:
And fo the fhall; Lucentio fhall make one,
Though Paris came, in hope to fped alone.

Gre. What! this gentleman will out-talk us all.
Luc. Sir, give him head; I know he'll prove a
jade.

Pet. Hortenfio, to what end are all these words?
Hor. Sir, let me be fo bold as to afk you,
Did you yet ever fee Baptifta's daughter ?

Tra. No, fir; but hear I do, that he hath two:
The one as famous for a fcolding tongue,
As the other is for beauteous modefty.

Pet. Sir, fir, the firit'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, underitan you this of me, infooth ;-
The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for,
Her father keeps from all accefs of fuitors;
And will not promite her to any man,
Until the eldest filter first be wed:
The younger then is free, and not before.

Tra. If it be fo, fir, that you are the man
[Afide. Muft ftead us all, and me amongst the reft;
An if you break the ice, and do this feat,-
Atchieve the elder, fet the younger free
For our accefs, whofe hap fhall be to have her,
Will not fo graceless be, to be ingrate.

Me mind prefumes, for his own good, and ours.
Har. I promi'd, we would be contributors,
And bear his charge of wooing, whatfoe'er.

Gre. And fo we will; provided, that he win her.
Ga. I would, I were as fure of a good dinner.
Afide.
To the Tranio bravely apparell'd, and Biondello.
Tra. Gentlemen, God five you! If I may be bold,
I me, I befeech you, which is the readieft way
Toe houfe of fignior Baptifta Minola?
Ge. He that has the two fair daughters? is't he

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Ir. Even he. Biondello!

tre. Hark you, fir; You mean not her to

Hor. Sir, you fay well, and well you do conceive:
And fince you do profefs to be a fuitor,
You muft, as we do, gratify this gentleman,
To whom we all reft generally beholden.

Tre. Sir, I thall not be flack: in fign whereof,
Pleafe ye we may contrive 2 this afternoon,
And quaff caroufes to our mistress' health;
And do as adverfories do in law,-
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.

Gru. O excellent motion! Fellows, let's begone.
Hor. The motion's good, indeed, and be it fo;-
Petruchio, I thall be your ben venuto.

That is, bug-bears. 2 Contrite in this place means to spend, to wear out.

$ 2

[Exeunt.

ACT

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SCENE I.

ACT

Baptifta's Houfe in Padua.

Enter Katharina and Bianca.

Bianca. G

OOD fifter, wrong me not, nor
wrong yourself,

To make a bondmaid and a flave of me;
That I difdain: but for thefe other gawds,-
Unbind my hands, I'll pull them off myself,
Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat;

Or, what you will command me, will I do,
So well I know my duty to my elders.
Kath. Of all thy fuitors, here I charge thee, tell
Whom thou lov'ft beft: fee thou diffemble not.
Bian. Believe me, fifter, of all the men alive,
I never yet beheld that special face
Which I could fancy more than any other.

Kath. Minion, thou ly it; Is't not Hortenfio?
Bian. If you affect him, fitter, here I fwear
I'll plead for you myfelf, but you fhall have him.
Kath. Oh then, belike, you fancy riches more:
You will have Gremio to keep you fair.

Bian. Is it for him you do envy me fo?
Nay, then you jeft; and now I well perceive,
You have but jeited with me all this while :
I pr'ythee, fifter Kate, untie my hands.
Kath. If that be jeft, then all the rest was fo.
[Strikes ber.

Enter Baptifa..

Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows

this infolence?

Bianca, ftand afide ;-poor girl! fhe weeps:-
Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her.-

1

For fhame, thou hilding of a devilith fpirit,
Why dofì thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong thee?
When did the crofs thee with a bitter word?
Kath. Her filence flouts me, and I'll be revend.
[Flies after Biarca.
Bap. What, in my fight -Bianca, get thee in.
[Exit Bianca.
Kath. Will you not fuffer me? Nay, now I fee,
She is your treafure, the mutt have a husband;
I muft dance bare-foot on her wedding-day,
And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell.
Talk not to me; I will go fit and weep,
'Till I can find occafion of revenge.

[Exit Kath, Bap. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd as I? But who comes here?

II.

Pet. You wrong me, fignior Gremio; give me
leave.-

I am a gentleman of Verona, fir,
That,-hearing of her beauty, and her wit,
Her affability, and bashful modesty,

Her wondrous qualities, and mild behaviour,-
Am bold to fhow myself a forward guest
Within your houfe, to make mine eye the witness
Of that report which I fo oft have heard.
And, for an entrance to my entertainment,
[Prefenting Hortenfio.

Later Gremio, Lucentio in the habit of a mean man;
Petruchio with Hortenfic, like a majician; Tranis,
and Biondello bearing a lute and banks.
Gre. Good-morrow, neighbour Baptifta.
Bap. Good-morrow, neighbour Gremio: God
fave you, gentlemen!
[daughter

Pat. And you, good fir! Pray, have you not a
Call'd Katharina, fair, and virtuous ?

Bp. I have a daughter, fir, call'd Katharina.
Gre. You are too blunt; go to it orderly.

I do prefent you with a man of mine,
Cunning in mufick, and the mathematicks,
To inftruct her fully in thofe fciences,
Whereof, I know, fhe is not ignorant:
Accept of him, or elfe you do me wrong;
His name is Licio, born in Mantua.

Bap. You're welcome, fir; and he, for your
good fake:

But for my daughter Katherine,this I know,
She is not for your turn, the more my grief.

Pet. I fee, you do not mean to part with her;
Or clte you like not of my company.

Bap. Miftake me not, I fpeak but as I find.
Whence are you, fir? what may I call your name?
Pet. Petruchio is my name; Antonio's fon,
A man well known throughout all Italy. [fake.
Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for his
Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray,
Let us, that are poor petitioners, fpeak too:
|Baccare 2! you are marvellous forward.

Pet. Oh, pardon me, fignior Gremio; I would
fain be doing.

Gre. I doubt it not, fir; but you will curfe your

wooing.

Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am fure of it. To exprefs the like kindhefs myfelf, that have been more kindly beholding to you than any, free leave give to this young fcholar, that hath been long ftudying at Rheims; [profating Laventio.] as cuaning in Greck, Latin, and other languages, as the other in muck and mathematicks: his name is Cambio; pray, accept his fervice.

Bap. A thoufaud thanks, fignior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio.-But, gentle fir, methinks, you walk like a stranger; [to Tranio.] May I be To bold to know the caufe of your coming?

Tra. Pardon me, fir, the boldness is mine own;
That, being a stranger in this city here,
Do make my felf a faitor to your daughter,
Unto Bianca, fair, and virtuous.
Nor is your firm refolve unknown to me,
In the preferment of the eldeft fifter:
This liberty is all that I request,——
That, upon knowledge of my parentage,

I may have welcome 'mongst the reit that woo,
And free accefs and favour as the reft.
And, toward the education of your daughters,

Hilding, or hinderling, means a low wretch. 2 An old proverbial word.

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