Lucentio.
Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy.
And by my father's love and leave am arm'd
With his good will, and thy good company.
Most trusty servant, well approv'd in all,
Here let us breathe, and happily institute
A course of learning, and ingenious studies.
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
Gave me my being, and my father first
A merchant of great traffick through the world:
Vincentio's come of the Bentivolii,
Vincentio his son, brought up in Florence,
It shall become to serve all hopes conceiv'd
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds:

And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study,
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 plash to plunge him in the deep,
And with satiety seeks 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, so devote to Aristotle'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 stomach serves you:
No profit grows, where is no pleasure ta'en:
In brief, Sir, study what you most affect.

Luc.
Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise;
If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore,
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.

Next section