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 Bianco's love, to labour and effect one thing specially.GREMIO What's that, I pray? HORTENSIO Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.GREMIO A husband! a devil.HORTENSIO I say, a husband.GREMIO 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? HORTENSIO Tush, Gremio, though it pass your 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.GREMIO I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whipped at the high cross every morning.HORTENSIO 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 friendly maintained all by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to't a fresh.Sweet Bianca! Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the ring.
How say you, Signior Gremio? GREMIO 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 TRANIO I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible That love should of a sudden take such hold? LUCENTIO O Tranio, till I found it to be true, I never thought it possible or likely;But see, while idly I stood looking on, I found the effect of love in idleness:
And now in plainness do confess to thee, That art to me as secret and as dear As Anna to the queen of Carthage was, Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio, If I achieve not this young modest girl.
Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst;Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.TRANIO Master, it is no time to chide you now;Affection is not rated from the heart:
If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so, 'Redime te captum quam queas minimo.' LUCENTIO Gramercies, lad, go forward; this contents:
The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.TRANIO Master, you look'd so longly on the maid, Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all.LUCENTIO O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, Such as the daughter of Agenor had, That made great Jove to humble him to her hand.
When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand.TRANIO Saw you no more? mark'd you not how her sister Began to scold and raise up such a storm That mortal ears might hardly endure the din? LUCENTIO Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move And with her breath she did perfume the air:
Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.TRANIO 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 rid his hands of her, Master, your love must live a maid at home;And therefore has he closely mew'd her up, Because she will not be annoy'd with suitors.LUCENTIO Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he!
But art thou not advised, he took some care To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her? TRANIO Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 'tis plotted.LUCENTIO I have it, Tranio.TRANIO Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one.LUCENTIO Tell me thine first.TRANIO You will be schoolmaster And undertake the teaching of the maid:
That's your device.LUCENTIO It is: may it be done? TRANIO 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? LUCENTIO Basta; content thee, for I have it full.
We have not yet been seen in any house, Nor can we lie distinguish'd by our faces For man or master; then it follows thus;Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead, Keep house and port and servants as I should:
I will some other be, some Florentine, Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa.
'Tis hatch'd and shall be so: Tranio, at once Uncase thee; take my colour'd hat and cloak:
When Biondello comes, he waits on thee;
But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.TRANIO So had you need.
In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is, And I am tied to be obedient;For so your father charged me at our parting, 'Be serviceable to my son,' quoth he, Although I think 'twas in another sense;I am content to be Lucentio, Because so well I love Lucentio.LUCENTIO 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.
Enter BIONDELLO
Sirrah, where have you been? BIONDELLO Where have I been! Nay, how now! where are you?
Master, has my fellow Tranio stolen your clothes?
Or you stolen his? or both? pray, what's the news? LUCENTIO Sirrah, come hither: 'tis no time to jest, And therefore frame your manners to the time.
Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life, Puts my apparel and my countenance on, And I for my escape have put on his;For in a quarrel since I came ashore I kill'd a man and fear I was descried:
Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes, While I make way from hence to save my life:
You understand me? BIONDELLO I, sir! ne'er a whit.LUCENTIO And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth:
Tranio is changed into Lucentio.BIONDELLO The better for him: would I were so too! TRANIO So could I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after, That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter.
But, sirrah, not for my sake, but your master's, I advise You use your manners discreetly in all kind of companies:
When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio;
But in all places else your master Lucentio.LUCENTIO Tranio, let's go: one thing more rests, that thyself execute, to make one among these wooers:
if thou ask me why, sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty.
Exeunt The presenters above speak First Servant My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.SLY Yes, by Saint Anne, do I.A good matter, surely:
comes there any more of it? Page My lord, 'tis but begun.SLY 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady:
would 'twere done!
