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?

Bion.

He, that has the two fair Daughters? is't he you mean?

Tra.
Even he, Biondello.

Gre.
Hark you, Sir, you mean not her, to—

Tra.
Perhaps, him and her; what have you to do?

Pet.
Not her that chides, Sir, at any hand, I pray.

Tra.
I love no chiders, Sir: Biondello, let's away.

Luc.
Well begun, Tranio.

Hor.
Sir, a word, ere you go:
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.

Hor.
That she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio.

Tra.
Softly, my masters; if you be gentlemen,
Do me this Right; hear me with patience.
Baptista is a noble Gentleman,
To whom my Father is not all unknown;
And, were his Daughter fairer than she is,
She may more suitors have, and me for one.
Fair Leda's Daughter had a thousand wooers;
Then well One more may fair Bianca have,
And so she shall. Lucentio shall make one,
Tho' Paris came, in hope to speed alone.

Gre.
What, this Gentleman will out-talk us all!

Luc.
Sir, give him head; I know, he'll prove a jade.

Pet.
Hortensio, to what end are all these words?

Hor.
Sir, let me be so bold as to ask you,
Did you yet ever see Baptista's Daughter?

Tra.
No, Sir; but hear I do that he hath two:
The one as famous for a scolding tongue,
As the other is for beauteous modesty.

Pet.
Sir, Sir, the first's for me; let her go by.

Gre.
Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules;
And let it be more than Alcides' twelve.

Pet.
Sir, understand you this of me, insooth:
The youngest Daughter, whom you harken for,

Her father keeps from all access of suitors,
And will not promise her to any man,
Until the eldest Sister first be wed:
The younger then is free, and not before.

Tra.
If it be so, Sir, that you are the man
Must steed us all, and me among the rest;
And if you break the ice, and do this feat,
Atchieve 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, gratifie this Gentleman,
To whom we all rest generally beholden.

Tra.
Sir, I shall not be slack; in sign whereof,
^{9 note}
Please ye, we may contrive 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. [The Presenters, above, speak here.

1 Man.
My Lord, you nod; you do not mind the Play.

Sly.

Yea, by St. Ann, do I: a good matter, surely! comes there any more of it?

Lady.
My Lord, 'tis but begun.

Sly.
'Tis a very excellent piece of work, Madam Lady.
'Would, 'twere done!—

Previous section