Tra.
I pray, Sir, tell me, is it possible
That love should on a sudden take such hold?

Luc.
Oh 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 ^{1 note}th' 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 atchieve 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 from the heart.
^{2 note}

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 strand.

Tra.
Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how her sister
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 curst and shrewd,
That till the Father rids 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 advis'd, he took some care
To get her cunning school-masters 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?

Luc.
Basta;—content thee; for I have it full.
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, 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 colour'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 habits.
In brief, good Sir, sith it your pleasure is,
And I am tied to be obedient,
(For so your Father charg'd me at our parting;
Be serviceable to my Son, quoth he,)
Altho', 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 t' atchieve that Maid,
Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye. Enter Biondello.
Here comes the rogue. Sirrah, where have you been?

Bion.

Where have I been? nay, how now, where are you? master, has my fellow Tranio stoll'n your cloaths, or you stoll'n 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 count'nance 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 am descry'd:
Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes;
While I make way from hence to save my life.
You understand me?

Bion.
Ay, Sir, ne'er a whit.—

Luc.
And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth;
Tranio is chang'd 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, indeed, 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 companies: 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 thy self execute, to make one among these wooers; if thou ask me why, sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty.