Which I could fancy more than any other. Bian. Is it for him you do fo envy me? Cath. If That be jest, then all the reft was fo. Enter Baptifta. [Strikes ber. Bap. Why, how now, dame, whence grows this infolence ? Bianca, ftand afide; poor girl, fhe weeps; Why doft thou wrong her, that did ne'er wrong thee? Cath. Her filence flouts me; and I'll be reveng'd. [Flies after Bianca. Bap. What, in my fight? Bianca, get thee in. [Ex. Bian. Cath. Will you not fuffer me? nay, now I fee, She is your treasure; fhe muft have a husband; I muft dance bare-foot on her wedding-day, And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell: Talk not to me, I will go fit and weep, "Till I can find occafion of revenge. [Exit Cath. Bap. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd, as I? But who comes here? Enter Gremio, Lucentio in the habit of a mean man Petruchio with Hortenfio, like a musician; Tranio and Biondello bearing a lute and books. Gre. Good morrow, neighbour Baptifta. Bap. Good morrow, neighbour Gremio: God fave you, gentlemen. Pet. Pet. And you, good Sir; pray, have you not a daughter call'd Catharina, fair and virtuous? Bap. I have a daughter, Sir, call'd Catharina. Gre. You are too blunt; go to it orderly. Pet. You wrong me, Signior Gremio, give me leave. I am a gentleman of Verona, Sir, That, hearing of her beauty and her wit, Her wondrous qualities, and mild behaviour, Within your house, to make mine eye the witness. [Prefenting Hor. I do prefent you with a man of mine, Bap. You'are welcome, Sir, and he for your good fake. But for my daughter Catharine, this I know, Bap. Miftake me not, I speak but what I find. Whence are you, Sir? what may I call your name? Pet. Petruchio is my name, Antonio's fon, A man well known throughout all Italy. Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for his fake. Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too. Baccalare! -you are marvellous forward. (12) Pet. (12) Baccare, you are marvellous forward.] But not fo forward, as our Editors are indolent and acquiefcing. This is a stupid Corruption of the Prefs, that None of them have div'd into. We must read, Baccalare, as Mr. Warburton acutely obferv'd to me; by which the Italians mean, Pet. Oh, pardon me, Signior Gremio, I would fain be doing. (13) Gre. I doubt it not, Sir, but you will curfe your wooing. Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am fure of it. To exprefs the like kindness my self, that have been more kindly beholden to you than any, free leave give to this young fcholar, that hath been long ftudying at Reims, [Prefenting Luc.] as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in mufick and mathematicks; his name is Cambio; pray, accept his fervice. Bap. A thoufand thanks, Signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio. But, gentle Sir, methinks, you walk like a stranger; [To Tranio.] may I be fo bold to know the cause of your coming? Tra. Pardon me, Sir, the boldness is mine own, That, being a ftranger in this City here, Do make my felf a fuitor to your daughter, Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous: Nor is your firm refolve unknown to me, This liberty is all that I requeft, That, upon knowledge of my parentage, mean, Thou arrogant, prefumptuous Man! The Word is ufed fcornfully, upon any One that would affume a Port of Grandeur and high Repute: Per derifione d'huomo che ftia in riputatione, e che grandeggi; fays La Crufca. The French call fuch a Character, un Bravache; and the Spaniards, el Fanfarron. (13) Oh, pardon me, Signor Gremio, I would fain be doing. Gre. I doubt it not, Sir, but you will curfe your wooing Neighbours. This is a Gift ;] It would be very unreasonable, after fuch a Number of Inftances, to fufpect the Editors ever dwelt on the meaning of any Paffage: But why fhould Petruchio curfe his wooing Neighbours? They were None of them his Rivals: Nor, tho' he should curfe his own Match afterwards, did he commence his Courtship on their Accounts. In fhort, Gremio is defign'd to answer to Petruchio in doggrel Rhyme, to this purpose, -"Yes; I know, You would fain be doing; but you'll coap with fuch a Devil, that You'll have Reason to curfe your Wooing."and then immediately turns his Difcourfe to Baptifta, whom he calls Neighbour, (as he had done before at the Beginning of this Scene,) and makes his Present to him. And And toward the education of your daughters, And this fmall packet of Greek and Latin books. Bap. A mighty man of Pifa; by Report [To Hortenfio and Lucentio, You fhall go fee your pupils presently. Holla, within! Enter a fervant. Sirrah, lead these gentlemen To my two daughters; and then tell them Both, Exit Serv. with Hortenfio and Lucentio. We will go walk a little in the orchard, Let fpecialties be therefore drawn between us, Bap. Ay, when the fpecial thing is well obtain'd, Pet. Why, that is nothing: for I tell you, father, They They do confume the thing that feeds their fury: For I am rough, and wooe not like a babe. Bap. Well may't thou wooe, and happy be thy speed! But be thou arm'd for fome unhappy words. Pet. Ay, to the proof, as mountains are for winds That shake not, tho' they blow perpetually. Enter Hortenfio with his head broke. 1 Bap. How now, my friend; why doft thou look fo pale? Hor. For fear, I promise you, if I look pale. fician? Hor. I think, fhe'll fooner prove a foldier; Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. Bap. Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute ? Hor. Why, no; for fhe hath broke the lute to me. Frets call you them? quoth fhe: I'll fume with them: As on a pillory, looking through the lute: And twangling Jack, with twenty fuch vile terms, Pet. Now, by the world, it is a lufty wench; Bap. Well, go with me, and be not so discomfited, Or |