Pet.
Verona, for a while I take my leave,
To see my friends in Padua; but of all
My best beloved and approved friend,
Hortensio; and I trow this is the house,
Here sirrah, Grumio, knock I say.* ^note

Enter Hortensio.

Hor.

Alla nostra casa ben venuto multo honorato Signior mio Petruchio.* ^note

Pet.
Such wind as scatters young men through the world,
To seek their fortunes farther than at home,
Where small experience grows but in a few.
Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me,
Antonio my father is deceas'd,
And I ^{b note}have thrust my self into this maze,

Happly to wive and thrive, as best I may:
Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home,
And so am come abroad to see the world.

Hor.
Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee,
And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wise?
Thou'dst thank me but a little for my counsel,
And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich,
And very rich: but thou'rt too much my friend,
And I'll not wish thee to her.

Pet.
Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as us
Few words suffice; and therefore if you know
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife;
(As wealth is burthen of my wooing dance)
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
As old as Sybil, and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Zantippe, or a worse,
She moves me not, or not removes, at least,
Affection's edge in ^{c note}me. Were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatick seas,
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua:
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

Gru.

Nay, look you, Sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is: why give him gold enough, and marry him to a puppet, or an † ^noteaglet baby, or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, tho' she have as many diseases as two and fifty horses; why nothing comes amiss, so mony comes withal.

Hor.
Petruchio, since we are stept thus far in,
I will continue that I broach'd in jest.
I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife
With wealth enough, and young and beauteous,
Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman.
Her only fault, and that is fault enough,
Is, that she is intolerable curs'd,

And shrewd, and froward, so beyond all measure,
That were my state far worser than it is,
I would not wed her for a mine of gold.

Pet.
Hortensio, peace; thou know'st not gold's effect;
Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough:
For I will board her, tho' she chide as loud
As thunder, when the clouds in autumn crack.

Hor.
Her father is Baptista Minola,
An affable and courteous gentleman;
Her name is Katharina Minola,
Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue.

Pet.
I know her father, tho' I know not her,
And he knew my deceased father well;
I will not sleep, Hortensio, 'till I see her,
And therefore let me be thus bold with you,
To give you over at this first encounter,
Unless you will accompany me thither.

Gru.

I pray you, Sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O' my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding would do little good upon him. She may perhaps call him half a score knaves, or so: why that's nothing; an he begin once, he'll rail in his rope tricks. I'll tell you what, Sir, an she stand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and so disfigure her with it, that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat: you know him not, Sir.

Hor.
Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee,
For in Baptista's house my treasure is:
He hath the jewel of my life in hold,
His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca,
And her with-holds he from me. Other more
Suitors to her, and rivals in my love:
Supposing it a thing impossible,
For those defects I have before rehears'd,

That ever Katharina will be woo'd;
Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en,
That none shall have access unto Bianca,
'Till Katharine the curs'd have got a husband.

Gru.
Katharine the curs'd,
A title for a maid, of all titles the worst.

Hor.
Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace,
And offer me disguis'd in sober robes
To old Baptista as a school-master
Well seen in musick, to instruct Bianca,
That so I may by this device, at least,
Have leave and leisure to make love to her;
And unsuspected court her by her self.

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