Tell me thy mind: for I have Pisa left,

And am to Padua come; as he that leaves
A shallow plash,1 to plunge him in the deep,
And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.

Tra. Mi perdonate,2 gentle master mine:
I am in all affected as yourself;

Glad that you thus continue your resolve,
To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy.
Only, good master, while we do admire
This virtue, and this moral discipline,
Let's be no Stoics, nor no stocks, I pray;
Or so devote to Aristotle's checks,3
As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured:
Talk logic with acquaintance that you have,
And practise rhetoric in your common talk:
Music and poesy use, to quicken you:
The mathematics, and the metaphysics,

Fall to them, as you find your stomach serves you. No profit grows, where is no pleasure ta’en ;—

In brief, sir, study what you most affect.

Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise.

If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore,

We could at once put us in readiness;

And take a lodging, fit to entertain

Such friends as time in Padua shall beget.

But stay awhile: what company is this?

Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town.

Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and
HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand aside.

Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no farther,
For how I firmly am resolved you know;
That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter,
Before I have a husband for the elder :

If either of you both love Katharina,

Because I know you well, and love you well,

Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. Gre. To cart her rather. She's too rough for

me:

There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife?

Kath. I pray you, sir, [to Bap.] 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.

Kath. I' faith, sir, you shall never need to fear; I wis,1 it is not half way to her heart: But, if it were, doubt not, her care should be, To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool, And paint your face, and use you like a fool.

Hor. From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us! Gre. And me too, good Lord!

Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime

toward :

That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward.

1 Think.

Luc. But in the other's silence I do see

Maids' mild behavior and sobriety.

Peace, Tranio!

Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill.

Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good What I have said,—Bianca, get you in: And let it not displease thee, good Bianca; For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl. Kath. A pretty peat! 1 'tis best Put finger in the eye,―an she knew why. Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: My books and instruments shall be my company; On them to look, and practise by myself.

Luc. Hark, Tranió! thou mayst hear Minerva

speak.

[aside.

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,
Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,

And make her bear the penance of her tongue?
Bap. Gentlemen, content ye: I am resolved :-
Go in, Bianca.
[Exit Bianca.

And for I know, she taketh most delight

In music, instruments, and poetry,

Schoolmasters will I keep within my house,

:

1 Pet.

Fit to instruct her youth.-If you, Hortensio,
Or, signior Gremio, you,-know any such,
Prefer them hither; for to cunning1 men
I will be very kind, and liberal

To mine own children in good bringing up;
And so farewell. Katharina, you may stay;
For I have more to commune with Bianca.
Kath. Why, and I trust, I may go too.

not?

[Exit. May I

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 2 are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake 's dough 3 on both sides. Farewell. Yet 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.

3

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,5 it toucheth us both, that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love,to labor and effect one thing 'specially.

1 Knowing, learned.

2 Endowments.

3 A proverbial expression in common use when any project miscarried. 5 Consideration.

+ Recommend.

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 patience and mine to endure her loud alarumus, 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 friendly maintained, till by helping Baptista's 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 Gre. and Hor.

1 i. e. may his fortune be that of a happy man: a proverbial expression.