Gre.

Good morrow, neighbour Baptista.

Bap

Good morrow, neighbour Gremio: God save you, gentlemen.

Pet.

And you, good Sir; pray, have you not a daughter call'd Catharina, fair and virtuous?

Bap.

I have a daughter, Sir, call'd Catharina.

Gre.
You are too blunt; go to it orderly.

Pet.
You wrong me, Signior Gremio, give me leave.
I am a gentleman of Verona, Sir,
That, hearing of her beauty and her wit,
Her affability and bashful modesty,

Her wondrous qualities, and mild behaviour,
Am bold to shew myself a forward guest
Within your house, to make mine eye the witness
Of that Report, which I so oft have heard.
And, for an entrance to my entertainment, [Presenting Hor.
I do present you with a man of mine,
Cunning in musick, and the mathematicks,
To instruct her fully in those sciences,
Whereof, I know, she is not ignorant:
Accept of him, or else you do me wrong,
His name is Licio, born in Mantua.

Bap.
You're welcome, Sir, and he for your good sake.
But for my daughter Catharine, this I know,
She is not for your turn, the more's my grief.

Pet.
I see, you do not mean to part with her;
Or else you like not of my company.

Bap.
Mistake me not, I speak but what I find.
Whence are you, Sir? what may I call your name?

Pet.
Petruchio is my name, Antonio's son,
A man well known throughout all Italy.

Bap.
I know him well: you are welcome for his sake.

Gre.

Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too. ^{1 note}Baccalare!— you are marvellous forward.

Pet.

Oh, pardon me, Signior Gremio, I would fain be doing.

Gre.

^{2 note}I doubt it not, Sir, but you will curse your wooing.—Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I

am sure of it. To express the like kindness myself, that have been more kindly beholden to you than any, free leave give to this young scholar, that hath been long studying at Reims, [Presenting Luc.] as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in musick and mathematicks; his name is Cambio; pray, accept his service.

Bap.

A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio. But, gentle Sir, methinks, you walk like a stranger; [To Tranio.] may I be so bold to know the cause of your coming?

Tra.
Pardon me, Sir, the boldness is mine own,
That, being a stranger in this City here,
Do make my self a suitor to your daughter,
Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous:
Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me,
In the preferment of the eldest sister.
This liberty is all that I request;
That, upon knowledge of my parentage,
I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo,
And free access and favour as the rest.
And, toward the education of your daughters,
I here bestow a simple instrument,
And this small packet of Greek and Latin books.
If you accept them, then their worth is great. [They greet privately.

Bap.
Lucentio is your name? of whence I pray?

Tra.
Of Pisa, Sir, son to Vincentio.

Bap.
A mighty man of Pisa; by Report
I know him well; you are very welcome, Sir.
Take You the lute, and You the Set of books, [To Hortensio and Lucentio.
You shall go see your pupils presently.
Holla, within!—

Enter a Servant.
Sirrah, lead these gentlemen
To my two daughters; and then tell them Both,
These are their tutors, bid them use them well. [Exit Serv. with Hortensio and Lucentio.
We will go walk a little in the orchard,
And then to dinner. You are passing welcome,
And so, I pray you all, to think your selves.

Pet.
Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste,
And every day I cannot come to woo.
You knew my father well, and in him me,
Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,
Which I have better'd, rather than decreas'd;
Then tell me, if I get your daughter's love,
What dowry shall I have with her to wife?

Bap.
After my death, the one half of my lands:
And, in possession, twenty thousand crowns.

Pet.
And, for that dowry, I'll assure her of
Her widowhood, be it that she survive me,
In all my lands and leases whatsoever;
Let specialities be therefore drawn between us,
That covenants may be kept on either hand.

Bap.
Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd,
That is, her love; for that is all in all.

Pet.
Why, that is nothing: for I tell you, father,
I am as peremptory as she proud-minded.
And where two raging fires meet together,
They do consume the thing that feeds their fury:
Tho' little fire grows great with little wind,
Yet extream gusts will blow out fire and all:
So I to her, and so she yields to me,
For I am rough, and woo not like a babe.

Bap.
Well may'st thou woo, and happy be thy speed!
But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words.

Pet.
Ay, to the proof, as mountains are for winds:
That shake not, tho' they blow perpetually.

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