Tra. [advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me, is it pos

sible

That love should of a sudden take such hold?

Luc. 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.

Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now:
Affection is not rated 1 from the heart:

If love have touch'd you, naught remains but so ;Redime te captum quam queas minimo.

Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents:

The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.
Tra. Master, you look'd so longly 2 on the maid,
Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all.

Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face;
Such as the daughter of Agenor 3 had,

That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand. Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how her sister

1 Driven out by chiding. 2 Longingly. 3 Europa.

Began to scold; and raise up such a storm,
That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?

Luc. 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.

Tra. 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 elder 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 shall not be annoy'd with suitors.
Luc. 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?
Tra. Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 'tis plotted.
Luc. I have it, Tranio.

Tra.

Master, for my hand,

Both our inventions meet and jump in one.

Luc. Tell me thine first.

Tra. 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?

Luc. Basta;1 content thee; for I have it full.2 We have not yet been seen in any house; Nor can we be 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,3 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 color'd hat and cloak: When Biondello comes, he waits on thee; But I will charm him first to keep his tongue. Tra. So had you need. [they exchange habus. In brief then, 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.

Luc. 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.

Enter BIONDello.

Here comes the rogue.-Sirrah, where have you been?

1 'Tis enough.

* I have already planned the whole stratagem

Show, appearance.

4 Since.

Bion. 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?

Luc. 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?

Bion.

I, sir? ne'er a whit.

Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth: Tranio is changed into Lucentio.

Bion. The better for him: would I were so too! Tra. So would I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after,

That Lucentio indee 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 com

panies.

When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio;
But in all places else, your master Lucentio.
Luc. 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

1 SER. 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't were done!

SCENE II.

The same. Before Hortensio's house.

Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO.

Pet. Verona, for awhile I take my leave, To see my friends in Padua; but, of ail, My best beloved and approved friend, Hortensio; and, I trow, this is his house.Here, sirrah Grumio; knock, I say.

Gru. Knock, sir! whom should I knock? is there

any man has rebused your worship?

Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.

Gru. Knock you here, sir? why, sir, what am I,

sir, that I should knock you here, sir?

Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate,

And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's

pate.