Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva speak. 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? Go in, Bianca : [Exit Bianca. And for I know she taketh most delight To mine own children in good bringing up: [Exit. Kath. Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not? What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, belike, I knew not what to take, and what to leave, ha? [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam: your gifts are so good, here's none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out: 90 100 their suit is for the present vain, Baptista will not finally let Bianca suffer for Katharina's sake; meantime let them 'fast out the interval as best they may. our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell: yet, 110 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 brooked parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both, that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress and be happy rivals in Bianca's love, to labour and effect one thing 120 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. Thinkest 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 130 patience and mine to endure her loud alarums, 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 140 friendly maintained till by helping Baptista's 110. our cake's dough, our game is spoilt. 110. on both sides, i.e. yours as well as mine. 113. wish him to, recommend him (to apply) to. 117. parle, debate. ib. advice, consideration. 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. I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now; If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so, 'Redime te captum quam queas minimo.' Luc. Gramercies, lad, go forward; this con tents: The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound. 150 160 Tra. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid, 170 144. Happy man be his dole! may it be his portion to be a happy man'; a common though somewhat antiquated phrase. 145. the ring, the prize. ing. 165. rated, expelled by scold 167. Buy yourself off as cheaply as you may' (Ter. Eunuchus). 170. so longly, so longingly. Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all. Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not how Began to scold and raise up such a storm Luc. Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance. I pray, awake, sir: if you love the maid, Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands: Her eldest sister is so curst and shrewd That till the father rids his hands of her, Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! Luc. I have it, Tranio. Tra. Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Luc. Tell me thine first. 173. the daughter of Agenor, Europa, wooed by Jupiter in the form of a bull. 175. strond, strand. 185. curst and shrewd, cross You will be schoolmaster and ill-tempered. 180 190 191. art thou not advised? did you not notice? 195. jump, coincide. And undertake the teaching of the maid: That's your device. Luc. It is may it be done? Tra. Not possible; for who shall bear your part, And be in Padua here Vincentio's son, Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends, Visit his countrymen and banquet them? Luc. Basta; content thee, for I have it full. In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is, For so your father charged me at our parting, Although I think 'twas in another sense; Because so well I love Lucentio. Luc. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves : And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye. Here comes the rogue. 200 210 220 203. Basta, enough. 208. port, outward state. 216. sith, since. |