If either of you both love Katherina,
Because I know you well, and love you well,
Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.
Gre.
To cart her rather; she’s too rough for me.
There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife?
Kath. [To Baptista.]
I pray you, sir, is it your will
To make a stale of me amongst these mates?
Hor.
Mates, maid, how mean you that? No mates for you,
Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.
Kath.
I’ faith, sir, you shall never need to fear.
Iwis it is not half way to her heart;
But if it were, doubt not her care should be
To comb your noddle with a three-legg’d stool,
And paint your face, and use you like a fool.
Hor.
From all such devils, good Lord deliver us!
Gre.
And me too, good Lord!
Tra.
Husht, master, here’s some good pastime toward;
That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward.
Luc.
But in the other’s silence do I see
Maid’s mild behavior and sobriety.
Peace, Tranio!
Tra.
Well said, master, mum, and gaze your fill.
Bap.
Gentlemen, that I may soon make good
What I have said, Bianca, get you in,
And let it not displease thee, good Bianca,
For I will love thee ne’er the less, my girl.
Kath.
A pretty peat! it is best
Put finger in the eye, and she knew why.
Bian.
Sister, content you in my discontent.
Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe;
My books and instruments shall be my company,
On them to look and practice by myself.
Luc.
Hark, Tranio, thou mayst hear Minerva speak.
Hor.
Signior Baptista, will you be so strange?
Sorry am I that our good will effects
Bianca’s grief.
Gre.
Why will you mew her up,
Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,
And make her bear the penance of her tongue?
Bap.
Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv’d.
Go in, Bianca.
[Exit Bianca.]
And for I know she taketh most delight
In music, instruments, and poetry,
Schoolmasters will I keep within my house,
Fit to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio,
Or, Signior Gremio, you, know any such,
Prefer them hither; for to cunning men
I will be very kind, and liberal
To mine own children in good bringing-up,
And so farewell. Katherina, you may stay,
For I have more to commune with Bianca.
Exit.
Kath. Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not? What, shall I be appointed hours, as though (belike) I knew not what to take and what to leave? Ha!
Exit.
Gre. You may go to the devil’s dam; your gifts are so good, here’s none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out. Our cake’s dough on both sides. Farewell; yet for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father.
Hor. So will I, Signior Gremio. But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook’d parle, know now upon advice, it toucheth us both, that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca’s love, to labor and effect one thing specially.
Gre. What’s that, I pray?
Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.
Gre. A husband! a devil.
Hor. I say, a husband.
Gre. I say, a devil. Think’st thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell?
Hor. Tush, Gremio; though it pass your patience and mine to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, and a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough.
Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition: to be whipt at the high cross every morning.
Hor.
