again; I will therefore tarry, in despite of the flesh and the blood. Enter a Servant. Serv. Your honour's players, hearing your amend. ment, Are come to play a pleasant comedy, Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your blood, Therefore they thought it good you hear a play, And frame your mind to mirth and merriment, Which bars a thousand harms, and lengthens life. Sly. Marry, I will; let them play it is not a commonty* a Christmas gambol, or a tumblingtrick? Page. No, my good lord; it is more pleasing stuff. Sly. What, household stuff? Page. It is a kind of history. Sly. Well, we'll see't: Come, madam wife, sit by my side, and let the world slip; we shall ne'er be [They sit down. younger. ACT I. SCENE I. Padua. A public place. Enter Lucentio and Tranio. Luc. Tranio, since-for the great desire I had And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd * For comedy. + Ingenuous. Gave me my being, and my father first, Vincentio his son, brought up in Florence, Tra. Mi perdonate †, gentle master mine, Glad that you thus continue your resolve, Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore, We could at once put us in readiness; Such friends, as time in Padua shall beget. Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town. * Small piece of water. + Pardon. § Animate. Harsh rules. Enter Baptista, Katharina, Bianca, Gremio, and If either of you both love Katharina, Because I know you well, and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. Gre. To cart her rather: She's too rough for me: There, there Hortensio, will you any wife ? Kath. I pray you, sir, [To Bap.] is it your will To make a stale* of me amongst these mates? Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you, Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. Kath. I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear ; I wis†, it is not half way to her heart: But, if it were, doubt not her care should be Hor. From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us! Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime toward; That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why. * A bait or decoy. My books, and instruments, shall be my company; On them to look, and practise by myself. Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva speak, [Aside. Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I, that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew* her up, And make her bear the penance of her tongue ? To mine own children in good bringing-up; Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts § are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell:-Yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man, to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father. Hor. So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice ||, it toucheth us both, that we may yet again have access to our Knowing, learned. * Shut. § Endowments. VOL. III. + Recommend. BB fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love,— to labour and effect one thing 'specially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister. Gre. A husband! a devil. Hor. I say, a husband. Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell. Hor. Tush, Gremio, though it pass your patience, and mine, to endure her loud alarms, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough. Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whipped at the high-cross every morning. Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten apples. But, come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained,―till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to't afresh.-Sweet Bianca !Happy man be his dole* ! He that runs fastest, gets the ring. How say you, signior Gremio ? Gre. I am agreed: and 'would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on. [Exeunt Gremio and Hortensio. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me,-Is it pos sible That love should of a sudden take such hold? I never thought it possible or likely; * Gain or lot. |