Will undertake to woo curst Katharine; Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please. Pet. I know, she is an irksome brawling scold; If that be all, masters, I hear no harm. Gre. No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman ? Y My father dead, my fortune lives for me; And I do hope good days, and long, to see. Gre. O, sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange : But, if you have a stomach, to't o'God's name; But will you woo this wild cat? Will I live? Pet. [Aside. Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent? Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? As will a chesnut in a farmer's fire? Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs.4 4 Fright boys with bug-bears. Gru. For he fears none. [Aside. Gre. Hortensio, hark! This gentleman is happily arriv'd, My mind presumes, for his own good, and yours. Hor. I promis'd, we would be contributors, And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er. Gre. And so we will; provided, that he win her. Gru. I would, I were as sure of a good dinner. [Aside. Enter TRANIO, bravely apparell'd; and BIONDELLO. Tra. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be bold, Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way To the house of signior Baptista Minola? Gre. He that has the two fair daughters :-is't [Aside to TRANIO.] he you mean? Tra. Even he. Biondello! Gre. Hark you, sir; You mean not her to- Pet. Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray. Hor. Sir, a word ere you go ; [Aside. Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea, or no? Tra. An if I be, sir, is it any offence? Gre. No; if, without more words, you will get you hence. Tra. Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free For me, as for you? Gre. But so is not she. Tra. For what reason, I beseech you? Gre. For this reason, if you'll know, That she's the choice love of signior Gremio. To whom my father is not all unknown; Gre. What! this gentleman will out-talk us all. Pet, Hortensio, to what end are all these words? Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter? Pet. Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by. Pet, Sir, understand you this of me, insooth;- The younger then is free, and not before. Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man 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, Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack: in sign whereof, Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. 6 Gru. Bion. O excellent motion! Fellows, let's begone. Hor. The motion's good indeed, and be it so ;— Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. The same. 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,7 s Ungrateful. 6 Companions. 7 Trifling ornaments. Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat; Or, what you will command me, will I do, Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell Which I could fancy more than any other. Kath. Minion, thou liest; Is't not Hortensio ? Bian. Is it for him you do envy me so? Kath. If that be jest, then all the rest was so. Enter BAPTISTA. 1 [Strikes her. Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows this Bianca, stand aside;-poor girl! she weeps:- 9 For shame, thou hilding 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 reveng'd. [Flies after BIANCA. 8 Love. 9 A worthless woman. |