I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her; Gru. I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour 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 110 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 those defects I have before rehearsed, Till Katharine the curst have got a husband. A title for a maid of all titles the worst. Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace, 105. give you over, leave you. ib. encounter, meeting. 112. rope-tricks, tricks that deserve hanging; Grumio's word for rhetoric.' 113. stand him, stand her ground against him; thwart him. 120 130 114. throw a. figure in her face, 'make' her face a 'figure.' 121. other, others. 124. rehearsed, recounted. 126. this order. . . ta'en, made this regulation. And offer me disguised in sober robes Gru. Here's no knavery! See, to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! Enter GREMIO, and LUCENTIO disguised. Master, master, look about you: who goes there, ha? Hor. Peace, Grumio! it is the rival of my love. Petruchio, stand by a while. Gru. A proper stripling and an amorous! Gre. O, very well; I have perused the note. And see you read no other lectures to her : Signior Baptista's liberality, I'll mend it with a largess. Take your paper too, For she is sweeter than perfume itself To whom they go to. What will you read to her? 134. well seen, accomplished. 144. proper, handsome. 145. note, list (of books). 140 150 160 147. at any hand, in any case. 151. paper, probably the 'note' (v. 145), 'them' referring to the books. Gru. O this woodcock, what an ass it is! Hor. Grumio, mum! God save you, Signior Gre. And you are well met, Signior Hortensio. About a schoolmaster for the fair Bianca : And by good fortune I have lighted well On this young man, for learning and behaviour Hor. "Tis well; and I have met a gentleman Gre. Beloved of me; and that my deeds shall Gru. And that his bags shall prove. 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; 161. woodcock, gull, simpleton. 181. indifferent, equally. 170 180 190 And I do hope good days and long to see. Gre. O sir, such a life, with such a wife, were But if you have a stomach, to 't i' God's name : But will you woo this wild-cat? Pet. Will I live? Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her. Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs. Gre. Hortensio, hark: For he fears none. This gentleman is happily arrived, My mind presumes, for his own good and ours. Gre. And so we will, provided that he win her. Enter TRANIO brave, and BIONDELLO. Tra. Gentlemen, God save you. If I may be bold, 211. fear, frighten. ib. bugs, bogies, bugbears. 200 210 218. (Stage direction) brave, well dressed. Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way Bion. He that has the two fair daughters: is 't he you mean? Tra. Even he, Biondello. Gre. Hark you, sir; you mean not her toTra. 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 away. Sir, a word ere you go; Luc. Well begun, Tranio. Hor. Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no? Tra. And 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, To whom my father is not all unknown; 225. mean not her to—; Gremio apparently meant to add woo; but the text is probably incomplete, since the Eliza 220 230 240 bethans did not accompany hiatus in the sense with hiatus in the metre. |