Whither I am going?-To Baptista Minola.
I promised to inquire carefully

About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca:

And, by good fortune, I have lighted well
On this young man; for learning, and behavior,
Fit for her turn; well read in poetry,

And other books,-good ones, I warrant you.
Hor. 'Tis well and I have met a gentleman,
Hath promised me to help me to another,
A fine musician to instruct our mistress;
So shall I no whit be behind in duty

To fair Bianca so beloved of me.

Gre. Beloved of me,-and that my deeds shall

prove.

Gru. And that his bags shall prove.

[aside.

Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love:

Listen to me; and if you speak 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,
Will undertake to woo curst Katharine ;
Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.
Gre. So said, so done, is well.-
Hortensio, have you told him all her faults?

Pet. I know, she is an irksome brawling scold: If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.

Gre. No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman?
Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's son:

My father dead, my fortune lives for me;
And I do hope good days, and long, to see.

Gre. O, sir, such a life, with such a wife, were

strange :

But, if you have a stomach, to 't, o' God's name;
You shall have me assisting you in all.

But will you woo this wild cat?

Pet.

Will I live?

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

[aside.

Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent?
Think you, a little din can daunt mine ears?
Have I not in my time heard lions roar?
Have I not heard the sea, puff'd up with winds,
Rage like an angry boar, chafed with sweat?
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?
Have I not in a pitched battle heard

Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang?
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue;

That gives not half so great a blow to the ear,

As will a chesnut in a farmer's fire?

Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs.1

Gru.

Gre. Hortensio, hark!

For he fears none. [aside.

This gentleman is happily arrived,

My mind presumes, for his own good, and yours.

Hor. I promised, we would be contributors, And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe❜er.

1 Fright boys with bugbears.

Gre. And so we will, provided that he win her. Gru. I would, I were as sure of a good dinner.

[aside.

Enter TRANIO bravely appareled, and BIONDELLO.

Tra. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be

bold,

Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way To the house of signior Baptista Minola?

Bion. He that has the two fair daughters :

[aside to Tranio.] he you mean?

Tra. Even he, Biondello!

Gre. Hark you, sir: you mean not her to

:-is 't

Tra. Perhaps, him and her, sir: what have you

to do?

Pet. Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray. Tra. I love no chiders, sir :-Biondello, let's

Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of; yea,

or no?

Tra. An if I be, sir, is it any offence?

Gre. No, if, without more words, you will get

you hence.

Tra. Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free For me as for you?

Gre.

But so is not she.

Tra. For what reason, I beseech you?

Gre. For this reason, if you'll know ;

That she's the choice love of signior Gremio.

Hor. That she's the chosen of signior Hortensio. Tra. Softly, my masters! if you be gentlemen, Do me this right;-hear me with patience. Baptista is a noble gentleman,

1

To whom my father is not all unknown;
And, were his daughter fairer than she is,
She may more suitors have, and me for one.
Fair Leda's daughter 1 had a thousand wooers;
Then well one more may fair Bianca have;
And so she shall: Lucentio shall make one,
Though Paris came, in hope to speed alone.

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

Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these words?
Hor. Sir, let me be so bold as to ask you,

Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter?
Tra. No, sir; but hear I do, that he hath two;
The one as famous for a scolding tongue,
As is the other for beauteous modesty.

Pet. Sir, sir, the first's for me: let her go by.
Gre. Yea, leave that labor to great Hercules,
And let it be more than Alcides' twelve.

Pet. Sir, understand you this of me, in sooth;— The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for, Her father keeps from all access of suitors; And will not promise her to any man,

Until the elder sister first be wed:

1 Helen.

The younger then is free, and not before.

Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man Must stead us all, and me among the rest; An if you break the ice, and do this feat,Achieve the elder, set the younger free

For our access;-whose hap shall be to have her, Will not so graceless be, to be ingrate.

Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do con

ceive;

And since you do profess to be a suitor,

You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman,
To whom we all rest generally beholden.

Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack; in sign whereof,
Please ye we may contrive1 this afternoon,
And quaff carouses to our mistress' health;
And do as adversaries do in law,—

Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.

Gru. Bion. O excellent motion! Fellows, let's

be gone.

Hor. The motion's good indeed, and be it so ;Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. [Exeunt.

I Spend.