It shall become to serve all hopes conceiv’d,
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds :
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I ftudy,
Virtue and that part of philosophy
Will I apply, that treats of happiness
By virtue specially to be atchiev'd.
Tell me thy mind, for I have Pisa left,
And am to Padua come, as he that leaves
A shallow plafh to plunge him in the deep,
And with satiety feeks to quench his thirst.

Tra. Me pardonato, gentle master mine,
I am in all affected as your self:
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 Stoicks, nor no stocks, I pray ;
Or, fo devote to Ariftotle's checks,
As Ovid be an Outcast quite abjur’d.
Talk logick with acquaintance that you have,
And practise rhetorick in your common talk;
Musick and Poesie use to quicken you ;
The Mathematicks, and the Metaphysicks,
Fall to them, as you

find your

ftomach serves you :
No profit grows, where is no pleasure ta’en :
In brief, Sir, study what you most affect.

Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well doit thou advise ;
If, Biondello, thou wert come alhore,
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 a while, what company is this ?

Tra. Master, some show to welcome us to town. Enter Baptista with Catharina and Bianca, Gremio and

Hortensio. Lucentio and Tranio stand by.
Bap. Gentlemen Both, importune me no farther,
For how I firmly am resolv'd, you know
That is, not to beltow my youngest Daughter,
Before I have a husband for the elder ;

for you ;

If either of you both love Catharina,
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, Hortenfio, will you any wife?

Cath. I pray you, Sir, is it your will
To make a Stale of me amongst these mates ?

Hor. Mates, maid, how mean you that ? no mates Unless you were of gentler, milder, mould.

Cath. I'faith, Sir, you shall never need to fear,
I wis, it is not half way to her heart :
But if it were, doubt not, her care shall be
To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd ftool,
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's some good pastime

toward ;
That wench is stark mad, or wonderful fro-

ward.
Luc. But in the other's filence I do fee afide.
Maid's mild behaviour 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.

Cath. A pretty Peat! it is best put finger in the eye, an fhe knew why.

Bian. Sifter, content you in my discontent. Sir, to your pleasure humbly I fubscribe : My books and instruments shall be my company, On them to look, and practise by my self. Luc. Hark, Tranio, thou may’it hear Minerva speak.

[afide. Hor. Signior Baptifla, will you be fo ftrange? Sorry am I, that our good will effects Bianca's grief.

Gre.

Gre. Why will you mew her up,
Signior Baptifta, for this fiend of hell,
And make her bear the penance of her tongue ?

Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd :
Go in, Bianca.

[Exit Bianca.
And for I know, she taketh most delight
In mufick, instruments, and poetry ;
School-masters will I keep within my house,
Fit to inftruct her youth. If you, Hortenfio,
Or Signior Gremio, you, know any such,
Prefer them hither : for to cunning men
I will be very kind ; and liberal
To mine own children, in good bringing up;
And so farewel : Catharina, you may stay,
For I have more to commune with Bianca. [Exit.

Cath. Why, and, I trust, I may go too, may I not? what, shall I be appointed hours, as tho', belike, I knew not what to take, and what to leave ? ha!

[Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam : your gifts are so good, here is none will hold you.

Our love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out. Our cake's dow on both Sides. Farewel ; 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 with him to her Father,

Hor. So will I, Signior Gremio: but a word, I pray ; tho' the nature of our quarrel never yet brook'd Parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us Both, that we may yet again have access to our fair Mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love, to labour and effect one thing specially.

Gre.'What's that, I pray ?
Hor. Marry, Sir, to get a husband for her fifter.
Gre. A husband ! a devil.
Hor. I say, a husband.

Gre. I say, a devil. Think'st thou, Hortenfo, tho
her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to
be married to hell ?
VOL. II.

Q

Hor.

Hor. Tush, Gremio ; tho' it pass your patience and mine to endure her loud alarms, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light or them, would take her with all her faults, and mony enough.

Gre. I cannot tell ; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whip'd at the high-cross every morning.

Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's a small choice in rotten apples : but, come, since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintain'd, 'till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband, we fet 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 throughly wooe her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on.

[Exeunt Gremio and Hortensio.
Manent Tranio and Lucentio.
Tra. I pray, Sir, tell me, is it possible
That love Thould on a sudden take such hold?

Luc. Oh Tranio, 'till I found it to be true,
I never thought it possible or likely.
But fee, while idly I stood looking on,
I found th' effect of Love in idleness :
And now in plainnefs 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 atchieve not this young modest girl :
Counsel me, Tranio, for, I know, thou canst
Aflift me, Tranio, for, I know, thou wilt.

Tra. Mafter, it is no time to chide you now;
Afection is not rated from the heart.
If love hath touch'd you, nought remains but so,
Redime te captum quàm queas minimó.

Luc:

3

Luc. Gramercy, lad ; go forward, this contents ; The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.

Tra. Master, you look'd so longly 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 had, That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan ftrand. Tra. Saw you no more ? mark'd you not, how her

fister 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 wit t' atchieve her. Thus it stands :
Her eldest Sister is so curft and shrewd,
That till the Father rids his Hands of her,
Master, your Love muft live a Maid at home ;
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
Because the shall not be annoy'd with suitors.

Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel Father's he!
But art thou not advis'd, he took some care
To get her cunning fchool-master3 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. You will be school-master, ·And undertake the teaching of the maid : That's your device.

Luc. It is : may it be done ?

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?