Bap. What, in my sight?-Bianca, get thee [Exit BIA Kath. Will you not suffer me? Nay, now I She is your treasure, she must have a husband; I must dance bare-foot on her wedding-day, And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell. Talk not to me; I will go sit and weep, Till I can find occasion of revenge, [Exit KATHARIN Bap. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd as I? But who comes here? Enter GREMIO, with Lucentio in the habit of mean man; PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as 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, Of that report which I so oft have heard. [Presenting HORTENSIO. Cunning in musick, and the mathematicks, Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake: But for my daughter Katharine, this I know, She is not for your turn, the more my grief. 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. Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son,. A man well known throughout all Italy. Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for his sake. Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: Baccare! you are marvellous forward. 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 beholden to you than any, I freely ■ A proverbial exclamation then in use. 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 musick and mathematicks: his name is Cambio; pray, accept his service. Bap. A thousand thanks, signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio. But, gentle sir, [TO TRANIO.] methinks, 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, In the preferment of the eldest sister : This liberty is all that I request,That, upon knowledge of my parentage, I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo, And free access and favour as the rest. And, toward the education of your daughters, I here bestow a simple instrument, And this small packet of Greek and Latin books: If you accept them, then their worth is great. Bap. Lucentio is your name? of whence, I pray? Tra. Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio. 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. : 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 HORTENSIO, LUCENTIO, and BIONDELLO. We will go walk a little in the orchard, And then to dinner: You are passing welcome, Pet. Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste, Bap. After my death, the one half of my lands: And, in possession, twenty thousand crowns. Pet. And, for that dowry, I'll assure her of Her widowhood, be it that she survive me,In all my lands and leases whatsoever : Let specialties be therefore drawn between us, That covenants may be kept on either hand. Бар. Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd, This is, her love; for that is all in all. Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father, I am as peremptory as she proud-minded; And where two raging fires meet together, They do consume the thing that feeds their fury: Though little fire grows great with little wind, 1 Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all : So I to her, and so she yields to me; For I am rough, and woo not like a babe. Bap. Well may'st 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 Hor. For fear, I promise you, if I look pale. cian? Hor. I think, she'll sooner prove a soldier; Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. Bap. Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute? Hor. Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me. I did but tell her, she mistook her frets, And bow'd her hand to teach her fingering; When, with a most impatient devilish spirit, Frets, call you these? quoth she: I'll fume with them: And, with that word, she struck me on the head, And through the instrument my pate made way; And there I stood amazed for a while, As on a pillory, looking through the lute: While she did call me, rascal fiddler, And-twangling Jack; with twenty such vile terms, 2 A fret in music is the stop which causes or regulates the vibration of the string. 3 Paltry musician. |