Sly. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady. 'Would 'twere done! SCENE II. The Same. Before Hortensio's House. Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO. Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave, To see my friends in Padua; but, of all, My best beloved and approved friend, Hortensio; and, I trow, this is his house. Here, sirrah Grumio; knock, I say. Gru. Knock, sir! Whom should I knock? Is there any man has rebused your worship? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly. Gru. Knock you here, sir? Why, sir, what am I, sır, that I should knock you here, sir? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate, And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate. And then I know after who comes by the worst. 'Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll wring it; I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it. [He wrings GRUMIO by the ears. Gru. Help, masters, help! My master is mad. Pet. Now, knock when I bid you; sirrah! villain ! Enter HORTENSIO. Hor. How now? what's the matter?-My old friend Grumio, and my good friend Petruchio! - How do you all at Verona! Pet. Seignior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? Con tutto il core bene trovato, may I say. Hor. Alla nostra casa bene venuto, Molto honorato, signor mio Petruchio. Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel. Gru. Nay, it is no matter what he leges in Latin. If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service,-Look you, sir, he bid me knock him, and rap him soundly, sir. Well, was it fit for a servant to use his master so; being, perhaps, (for aught I see,) two and thirty,-a pip out? Whom, 'would to God, I had well knocked at first; Then had not Grumio come by the worst. Pet. A senseless villain!-Good Hortensio, I bade the rascal knock upon your gate, And could not get him for my heart to do it. Spake you not these words plain,— Sirrah, knock me here, Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the world, And I have thrust myself into this maze, Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home, And so am come abroad to see the world. Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee, And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favored 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. Seignior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we, Few words suffice; and, therefore, if thou know One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife, (As wealth is burden of my wooing dance,) She moves me not, or not removes, at least, I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; Gru. Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is. Why, give him gold enough, and marry him to a puppet, or an aglet-baby; or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, though she have as many diseases as two-and-fifty horses: why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal. Hor. Petruchio, since we have stepped thus far in, I will continue that I broached in jest. I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife With wealth enough, and young, and beauteous; And shrewd, and froward; so beyond all measure, I would not wed her for a mine of gold. Pet. Hortensio, peace; thou know'st not gold's effect. Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough; For I will board her, though she chide as loud An affable and courteous gentleman. Her name is Katharina Minola, Renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue. I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her; And therefore let me be thus bold with you, Gru. I pray you, sir, let him go while the humor lasts. O' my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding would do little good upon him. She may, perhaps, call him half a score knaves or so: why, that's nothing; an he begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks. I'll tell you what, sir, an she stand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and so disfigure her with it, that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat. You know him not, sir. Hor. Tarry, Petruchio; I must go with thee; For in Baptista's keep my treasure is. He hath the jewel of my life in hold, His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca; And her withholds from me, and other more. (For those defects I have before rehearsed,) A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace; And offer me, disguised in sober robes, Enter GREMIO; with him LUCENTIO, disguised, with books under his arm. Gru. Here's no knavery! See, to beguile the old folks, now the young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about you. Who goes there? ha! Hor. Peace, Grumio: 'tis the rival of my love. Petruchio, stand by a while. Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous! [They retire. Gre. O, very well; I have perused the note. Seignior Baptista's liberality, I'll mend it with a largess. Take your papers too, For she is sweeter than perfume itself, To whom they go. What will you read to her? Hor. Grumio, mum!- God save you, seignior Gremio! Gre. And you're well met, seignior Hortensio. Trow you 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. Hath promised me to help me to another, So shall I no whit be behind in duty my deeds shall prove [Aside Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love. Hortensio, have you told him all her faults? Gre. No! Say'st me so, friend? What countryman? 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. [Aride. Have I not heard the sea, puffed up with winds, Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? That gives not half so great a blow to the ear, Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs. Gru. Gre. Hortensio, hark! For he fears none. [Aside. This gentleman is happily arrived, My mind presumes, for his own good, and yours. And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er. [Aside. |