The younger then is free, and not before.

Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man Must stead us all, and me among the rest; An if you break the ice, and do this feat,— Achieve the elder, set the younger free

For our access;-whose hap shall be to have her, Will not so graceless be, to be ingrate.

Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive;

And since you do profess to be a suitor,

You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman,
To whom we all rest generally beholden.

Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack; in sign whereof,
Please ye we may contrive1 this afternoon,
And quaff carouses to our mistress' health;
And do as adversaries do in law,—

Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.

Gru. Bion. O excellent motion! Fellows, let's

be gone.

Hor. The motion 's good indeed, and be it so ;Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto,

[Exeunt.

Spend.

ACT II.

The same.

SCENE I.

A room in Baptista's house.

Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA.

Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself,

To make a bondmaid and a slave of me;
That I disdain but for these other gawds,1
Unbind my hands, I'll put them off myself,
Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat;
Or, what you will command me, will I do,
So well I know my duty to my elders.

Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell,
Whom thou lovest best: see thou dissemble not.
Bian. Believe me, sister, of all the men alive,
I never yet beheld that special face

Which I could fancy more than any other.

Kath. Minion, thou liest: is 't not Hortensio ? Bian. If you affect 2 him, sister, here I swear, I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have him. Kath. O then, belike, you fancy riches more; You will have Gremio to keep you fair.

Bian. Is it for him you do envy me so?

Nay, then you jest; and now I well perceive,
You have but jested with me all this while.

I pr'ythee, sister Kate, untie my hands.

Kath. If that be jest, then all the rest was so.

Enter BAPTISTA.

[strikes her.

Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows this insolence?

Bianca, stand aside;-poor girl! she weeps.-
Go, ply thy needle: meddle not with her.-
For shame, thou hilding1 of a devilish spirit,
Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong
thee?

When did she cross thee with a bitter word?

Kath. Her silence flouts me, and I'll be re

venged.

[flies after Bian. Bap. What, in my sight?-Bianca, get thee in. [Exit Bian. Kath. Will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see, She is your treasure; she must have a husband: I must dance barefoot on her wedding-day, And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell. Talk not to me: I will go sit and weep,

Till I can find occasion of revenge. [Exit Kath. Bap. Was ever gentleman thus grieved as I?

But who comes here?

1 Worthless girl.

Enter GREMIO, with LUCENTIO in the habit of a mean man; PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as a musician; and TRANIO, with BIONDELLO bearing a lute and books.

Gre. Good-morrow, neighbor Baptista.

Bap. Good-morrow, neighbor Gremio. God save you, gentlemen!

Pet. And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter,

Call'd Katharina, fair and virtuous ?

Bap. I have a daughter, sir, call'd Katharina.
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 affability and bashful modesty,

Her wondrous qualities and mild behavior,
Am bold to show myself a forward guest

Within your house, to make mine eye the witness
Of that report which I so oft have heard:
And, for an entrance to my entertainment,
I do present you with a man of mine,

[presenting Hortensio.

Cunning in music and the mathematics,
To instruct her fully in those sciences,
Whereof, I know, she is not ignorant.
Accept of him, or else you do me wrong:
His name is Licio, born in Mantua.

Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good

sake:

But for my daughter Katharine,—this I know,
She is not for your turn, the more my grief.

Pet. I see, you do not mean to part with her
Or else you like not of my company.

Bap. Mistake me not; I speak but as I find. Whence are you, sir? what may I call your name? Pet. Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son,

A man well known throughout all Italy.

Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for his sake.

Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: Baccare!1 you are marvellous forward.

Pet. O, pardon me, signior Gremio; I would fain be doing.

Gre. I doubt it not, sir; but you

wooing.

will curse your

Neighbor, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure of it. To express the like kindness myself, that have been more kindly beholden to you than any, I freely give unto you this young scholar, [presenting Lucentio.] that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in music and mathematics: his name is Cambio; pray, accept his service.

Bap. A thousand thanks, signior Gremio; wel

SHAK.

A proverbial exclamation then in use.

V.

M