To make one among these wooers: If thou ask me why,Sufficeth, my reafons are both good and weighty. [Exeunt. 1. S. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play. Sly. Yes, by faint Anne, do I. A good matter, furely; Comes there any more of it? Page. My lord, 'tis but begun. Sly. "Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady; "Would it were done! SCENE II. The fame. Before Hortenfio's Houfe. Enter Petruchio and Grumio. Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave, To fee my friends in Padua; but, of all, My best beloved and approved friend, Hortenfio; and, I trow, this is his houfe: "Here, firrah Grumio; knock, I say. "Gru. Knock, fir! "Whom should I knock, fir? Is there any man "That has rebus'd your worship? "Pet. Villain, I say, "Knock me here foundly. "Gru. Knock you here, fir? Why, fir, "What am I, fir, that I should knock you here, fir? “ Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate, "And rap me well, or I'll knack your knave's pate. "Gru. My mafter is grown quarrelfome :---I should "knock you first, "And then I know after who comes by the worft. "Pet. Will it not be ? 'Faith, firrab, an you'll not knock, I'll ring it; "I'll try how you can fel, fa, and fing it. [Wrings him by the Ears. "Gru. Help, masters, help! my mafter is mad, "Pet. Now knock when I bid you: firrah! villain ! Enter Hortenfio. Hor. "How now? what's the matter?" My old friend Grumio! and "my good friend Petruchio !—How "do you all at Verona ? "Pet. Signior Hortenfio, come you to part the fray? "Con tutto il core ben trovato, may I say. "Hor. Alla noftra casa bene venuto, "Molto bonorato fignior mio Petruchio. "Rife, Grumio, rife; we will compound this quarrel. "Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, fir, what he 'leges in "Latin. If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave "his fervice,-Look you, fir,—he bid me knock him "and rap him foundly, fir: Well, was it fit for a fer"vant to use his master fo; being, perhaps, (for ought "I fee) two and thirty,-a pip out? "Whom would to God I had well knock'd at firft; "Then had not Grumio come by the worst. "Pet. A fenfelefs villain !-Good Hortenfio, "I bad the rascal knock upon your gate, ; "Spake you not these words plain,-Sirrah, knock 66 me here, "Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me foundly? "And come you now with-knocking at the gate? "Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advife you. "Hor. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge: "Why, this is a heavy chance 'twixt him and you; "Your ancient, trufty, pleasant fervant, Grumio. "And" tell me now, fweet friend,-what happy gale Blows you to Padua here, from old Verona ? Pet. Such wind as fcatters young men through the world, To feek their fortunes farther than at home, And I have thruft myself into this maze, The introduction of Italian fcraps, when the characters otherwife fpeak English all through, is fantaftical; to fay the truth, the quarrel between Petruchio and Grumio, appears too farcical to deferve representation; we have therefore marked the fuperfluous paffages. Crowns Crowns in my purfe I have, and goods at home, Hor. Petruchio, fhall I then come roundly to thee, And very rich :-but thou'rt too much my friend, Pet. Signior Hortenfio, 'twixt fuch friends as we, (As wealth is burthen of my wooing dance)- She moves me not, or not removes (at least) I come to wive it wealthily in Padua ; Gru. Nay, look you, fir, he tells you flatly what his mind is: Why, give him gold enough, and marry him to a puppet, or an aglet baby; or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, though the have as many diseases as two and fifty horfes: why, nothing comes amifs, fo money comes withal. Hor. Petruchio, finee we are ftept thus far in, I will continue that I broach'd in just. I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife With wealth enough, and young and beauteous ; Is, that he is intolerably curft, And shrewd, and froward; fo beyond all measure, I would not wed her for a mine of gold. Pet. Hortenfio, peace; thou know'st not gold's effect.Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough; For I will board her, though the chide as loud As thunder, when the clouds in autumn crack. Hor. Her father is Baptifta Minda, Renown'd in Padua for her fcolding tongue. Gru. I pray you, fir, let him go while the humour lafts. O'my word, an fhe knew him as well as I do, fhe would think scolding would do little good upon him: She may, perhaps, call him half a score knaves, or fo: why, that's nothing; an he begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks. I'll tell you what, fir,-An the ftand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face; and fo disfigure her with it, that the fall have no more eyes to fee withal than a cat: You know him not, fir *. Hor. Tarry, Petrachio, I muft go with thee; For in Baptifa's keep my treasure is : He hath the jewel of my life in hold, (For thofe defects I have before rehears'd) A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. Hor. Now fhall my friend Petruchio do me grace ; And offer me, difguis'd in fober robes, To old Baptifta as a schoolmaster Well feen in mufic, to inftru&t Bianca : This and the preceding fpeech of Grumio exhibit characteristic humour; and the performer who perfonates him, should possess a dry fhrewdness of expreffion, and archness of features, That That fo I may, by this device, at least, Enter, on the oppoftte fide, Gremio; Lucentio with him, with books under his arm. Gru. Here's no knavery. See; to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together !— Mafter, mafter, took about you :- -Who goes there? ha. Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my love: Petruchio, ftand we by a little while. Gru. A proper ftripling, and an amorous! [They retire. Gre. O, very well; I have perus'd the note. [Giving it back. Hark you, fir, I'll have them very fairly bound:- All books of love, fee that at any hand; And fee you read no other lectures to her: You understand me: Over and befide Signior Baptifta's liberality, I'll mend it with a largefs. Here, take your papers toe, And let me have them very well perfum'd; For she is sweeter than perfume itfelf, To whom they go. What will you read to her? Hor. Grumio, mum.-Heav'n fave you, fignior Gre mio! [Advancing. Gre. You are well met, Signior Hertenfio. Trow you Whither I am going? To Baptifta Minola. I promis'd him, to enquire carefully On this young man; for learning, and behaviour, |