That gives not half so great a blow to hear, As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire? Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs. Gre. Hortensio, hark. This gentleman is happily arriv'd, For he fears none. yours. My mind presumes, for his own good, and Gre. And so we will, provided that he win her. Enter TRANIO, bravely apparelled; and BIONDEllo. Bion. He that has the two fair daughters :-) -is 't he you mean? Gre. Hark you, Sir: you mean not her to Tra. I love no chiders, Sir. Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea, or no? Tra. An if I be, Sir, is it any offence? [Aside. Gre. No; if without more words you will get you hence. For me, as for you? Tra. For what reason, I beseech you? That she's the choice love of signior Gremio. Hor. That she's the chosen of signior Hortensio, Do me this right; hear me with patience. Baptista is a noble gentleman, To whom my father is not all unknown, Gre. What! this gentleman will out-talk us all. Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter? Tra. No, Sir; but hear I do, that he hath two, Pet. Sir, Sir, the first's for me; let her go by. Pet. Sir, understand you this of me: insooth, Tra. If it be so, Sir, that you are the man For our access, whose hap shall be to have her Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive; And since you do profess to be a suitor, You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman, To whom we all rest generally beholding. Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack: in sign whereof, Please ye we may contrive this afternoon, And do as adversaries do in law, Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. Gru. Bion. O, excellent motion! Fellows, let's begone. Hor. The motion 's good indeed, and be it so. — Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. The Same. A Room in BAPTISTA'S House. Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA. [Exeunt Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself To make a bondmaid, and a slave of me: That I disdain; but for these other goods, tell Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, Whom thou lov'st best: see thou dissemble not. Bian. Believe me, sister, of all the men alive, I never yet beheld that special face Which I could fancy more than any other. Kath. Minion, thou liest. Is 't not Hortensio? Bian. If you affect him, sister, here I swear, I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have him. Kath. O! then, belike, you fancy riches more: You will have Gremio to keep you fair. Bian. Is it for him you do envy me so? Nay then, you jest; and now I well perceive, Kath. If that be jest, then all the rest was so. [Strikes her. Enter BAPTISTA. Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows this insolence?Bianca, stand aside: - poor girl! she weeps. Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her. For shame, thou hilding of a devilish spirit, Kath. Her silence flouts me, and I'll be reveng'd. [Flies after BIANCA. Bap. What! in my sight? - Bianca, get thee in. [Exit BIANCA. Kath. What! will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see, She is your treasure, she must have a husband; I must dance barefoot on her wedding-day, And for your love to her lead apes in hell. Till I can find occasion of revenge. [Exrt KATHARINA. Bap. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd as I? But who comes here? Enter GREMIO, with LUCENTIO in a mean habit; PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as a Musician; and TRANIO, with BIONDELLO bearing a lute and books. Gre. Good-morrow, neighbour Baptista. Bap. Good-morrow, neighbour Gremio. gentlemen! God save you, 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. Gre. You are too blunt: go to it orderly. Pet. You wrong me, signior Gremio: give me leave. I am a gentleman of Verona, Sir, That, hearing of her beauty, and her wit, Her affability, and bashful modesty, Her wondrous qualities, and mild behaviour, Within your house, to make mine eye the witness [Presenting HORTENSIO. To instruct her fully in those sciences, Bap. You're welcome, Sir, and he, for your good sake. 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. Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for his sake. Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too. 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 beholding to you than any, I freely 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 music and mathematics. 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, This liberty is all that I request, |