SCENE II. Enter Baptifta with Catharina and Bianca, Gremio and Hortenfio. Lucentio and Tranio ftand by. Bap. Gentlemen Both, importune me no farther, For how I firmly am refolv'd, you know; That is, not to bestow my youngest Daughter, Before I have a husband for the elder; If either of you both love Catharina, Because I know you well, and love you well, Gre. To cart her rather. She's too rough for me: There, there, Hortenfio, will you any wife? Cath. I pray you, Sir, is it your will To make a Stale of me amongst these mates? Hor. Mates, maid, how mean you that? no mates for you; Unless you were of gentler, milder, mould. Cath. I'faith, Sir, you shall never need to fear, I wis, it is not half way to her heart: But if it were, doubt not, her care shall be To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd ftool, Hor. From all fuch devils, good Lord, deliver us. Tra. Hush, master, here's fome good pastime toward; That wench is stark mad, or wonderful fro ward. Luc. But in the other's filence I do fee Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well faid, mafter; mum! and gaze your fill. Bap. Gentlemen, that I may foon make good What I have faid, Bianca, get you in; afide. And And let it not difplease thee, good Bianca; Cath. A pretty Peat! it is best put finger in the eye, an fhe knew why. Bian. Sifter, content you in my difcontent. My books and inftruments fhall be my company, Luc. Hark, Tranio, thou may't hear Minerva speak. [afide. Hor. Signior Baptifta, 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? To mine own children, in good bringing up; [Exit. Cath. Why, and, I truft, I may go too, may I not? what, fhall I be appointed hours, as tho', belike, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? ha! S CE NE III. [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam: your gifts are to good, here is none will hold you. Our love is not fo great, Hortenfio, but we may blow our nails. Dd 2 together, together, and fast it fairly out. Our cake's dow on both fides. Farewel; yet for the love I bear my fweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man to teach her That wherein the delights, I will wifh him to her Father. Hor. So will I, Signior Gremio: but a word, I pray; tho' the nature of our quarrel never yet brook'd 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 'specially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Marry, Sir, to get a husband for her fifter. Gre. A husband! a devil. Hor. I fay, a husband. Gre. I fay, a devil. Think'ft thou, Hortenfo, tho' her father be very rich, any man is fo very a fool to be married to hell? Hor. Tufh, Gremio; tho' it pafs your patience and mine to endure her loud alarms, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all her faults, and mony enough. Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whip'd at the high-crofs every morning. Hor. 'Faith, as you fay, there's a small choice in rotten apples: but, come, fince this bar in law makes us friends, it fhall be so far forth friendly maintain'd, 'till by helping Baptifta's eldeft daughter to a huf band, we fet his youngest free for a husband, and then have to't afresh. Sweet Bianca! happy man be his dole! he that runs fafteft gets the ring; how fay you, Signior Gremio? Gre. I am agreed; and would I had given him the beft horfe in Padua to begin his wooing, that would throughly throughly wooe her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on. [Exeunt Gremio and Hortenfio. S C E NE 1 Manent Tranio and Lucentio, IV. Tra. I pray, Sir, tell me, is it poffible Tra. Mafter, it is no time to chide you now; 2 If Love hath toyl'd you, nought remains but so, Redime te captum quàm queas minimo. Luc. Gramercy, lad; go forward, this contents; The reft will comfort, for thy counsel's found. Tra. Mafter, you look'd fo longly on the maid, Perhaps, you mark'd not what's the pith of all. Luc. O yes, I faw sweet Beauty in her face; Such as the daughter of Agenor had, I th' effect of Love in idlenefs:] i. e. the effect, or virtue of the Flower fo called. See Midfummer Night's Dream. 2 If Love bath TOUCH'D you, nought remains but fo,] The next line from Terence, fhews that we should read, If Love hath TOYL'D i. e. taken you in his toils, his nets. Alluding to the captus eft, babet, of the fame Author. Dd 3 That That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how her Began to fcold, and raise up such a storm, Tra. Nay, then 'tis time to stir him from his trance : I pray, awake, Sir; if you love the maid, Bend thoughts and wit t' atchieve her. Thus it ftands: That till the Father rids his Hands of her, To get her cunning school-masters to inftruct her? Tra. Ay, marry, am I, Sir; and now 'tis plotted. Luc. I have it, Tranio. Tra, Mafter, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Luc. Tell me thine first. Tra. You will be fchool-master, And undertake the teaching of the maid: Luc. It is may it be done? Tra. Not poffible: for who fhall bear your part, And be in Padua here Vincentio's fon, Keep house, and ply his book, welcome his friends, Luc. Bafta;-content thee; for I have it full. Thou |