That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, fifter Luc. Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move, Tra. Nay, then 'tis time to stir him from his trance: Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel Father's he! But art thou not advis'd, he took fome care To get her cunning school-masters to instruct her? Tra. Ay, marry, am I, Sir; and now 'tis plotted. Luc. I have it, Tranio. Tra, Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Tra. You will be school-mafter, And undertake the teaching of the maid: Luc. It is: may it be done? Tra. Not poffible: for who shall bear your part, And be in Padua here Vincentio's fon, Keep house, and ply his book, welcome his friends, Vifit his countrymen, and banquet them? Luc. Bafta; - content thee; for I have it full. We have not yet been seen in any house, Thou Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead; Tra. So had you need, [They exchange habits. In brief, good Sir, sith it your pleasure is, (For so your Father charg'd me at our parting; Luc. Tranio, be so; because Lucentio loves; Here comes the rogue. Sirrah, where have you been? news? Luc. Sirrah, come hither: 'tis no time to jeft; You understand me? Bion. Ay, Sir, ne'er a whit. Luc. Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth; Tranio is changed into Lucentio. Bion. The better for him: 'Would, I were fo too. Tra. So would I, 'faith, boy, to have the next wish after; that Lucentio, indeed, had Baptifta's youngest Daughter. But, sirrah, not for my fake, but your mafter's, I advise you, use your manners difcreetly in all kind of companies: when I am alone, why, then I am Tranio; but in all places else, your master Lucentio. Luc. Tranio, let's go: one thing more rests, that thy felf execute, to make one among these wooers; if thou ask me why, fufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty. Pet, S C E N E Before Hortensio's House in Padua. Enter Petruchio, and Grumio. VErona, for a while I take my leave, [Exeunt. V. fee my friends in Padua; but of all My best beloved and approved friend, Gru. Knock, Sir? whom should I knock? is there any man, has rebus'd your worship? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here foundly. Gru. Knock you here, Sir? why, Sir, what am I, Sir, That I should knock you here, Sir? 1 Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate, And rap me well; or I'll knock your knave's pate, Gru. My mafter is grown quarrelsome: I should knock you first, And then I know after, who comes by the worst. Pet. Pet. Will it not be? Faith, firrah, an you'll not knock, I'll ring it, I'll try how you can Sol, Fa, and sing it. [He wrings bim by the ears. Gru. Help, masters, help; my master is mad. Pet. Now knock, when I bid you: Sirrah! Villain! Enter Hortenfio. Hor. How now, what's the matter? my old friend Grumio, and my good friend Petruchio! how do you all at Verona? Pet. Signior Hortenfio, come you to part the fray? Con tutto il Core ben trovato, may I say. Hor. Alla nostra Casa ben venuto, molto bonorato : Signor mio Petruchio. Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel. Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, what he leges in Latine. If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service, look you, Sir: he bid me knock him, and rap him foundly, Sir. Well, was it fit for a servant to use his master so, being, perhaps, for aught I fee, two and thirty, a pip out? Whom, would to God, I had well knock'd at first, Pet. A fenseless villain! - Good Hortenfio. Gru. Knock at the gate? O heav'ns! spake you not these words plain? firrah, knock me here, rap me here, knock me well, and knock me foundly: and come you now with knocking at the gate? Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you. Pet. 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 mew. Signior Hortenfio, thus it stands with me, Antonio my Father is deceas'd; And I have thrust my self into this maze, Happly to wive and thrive, as best I may: Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home, And fo am come abroad to fee the world. Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee, And wish thee to a fhrewd ill-favour'd wife? Thou'dst thank me but a little for my counsel, And yet, I'll promise thee, she shall be rich, And very rich: but thou'rt too much my friend, And I'll not wish thee to her. Pet. Signior Hortenfio, 'twixt such friends as us Few words fuffice; and therefore if you know One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife; (As wealth is burthen of my wooing dance) + Be she as foul as was Florentius' love, As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd As Socrates' Xantippe, or a worse, She moves me not; or not removes, at least, 3 Where small experience grows but in a Few.] This non sense should be read thus, : Where small experience grows but in a MEW, i. e. a confinement at home. And the meaning is that no improvement is to be expected of those who never look out of doors. Fairfax fays of Clarinda, Her lofty hand would of itself refuse 4 Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,] This I suppose relates to a circumstance in some Italian novel, and should be read, Florentio's. |