Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the

world,

To feek their fortunes farther than at home,
5 Where small experience grows. But, in a few,
Signior Hortenfio, thus it stands with me,
Antonio my father is deceas'd;
And I have thrust myself into this maze,
Happly to wive and thrive, as best I may:
Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home,
And fo am come abroad to fee the world.

Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee,
And wish thee to a shrew'd ill-favour'd wife?
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 Hortenfio, 'twixt such friends as us
Few words fuffice; and therefore if you know
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife;
(As wealth is burthen of my wooing dance 6)
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love',
As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xantippe, or a worse,
She moves me not; or not removes, at least,
* Affection's edge in me. Were she as rough

1

As are the swelling Adriatic 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 aglet-baby, or an old Trot... with ne'er a tooth in her head, tho' fhe have as many diseases as two and fifty horses; why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal.

Hor. Petruchio, since we have 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 intolerably curst:

And fhrewd, and froward, to beyond all measure,
That, were my state far worser than it is,
I would not wed her for a Mine of Gold.

Pet. Hortenfio, peace; thou know'st not gold's

effect;

T

Tell me her father's nome, 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;

over with the worst bad qualities of age, ugliness and ill-manners. Yet, after this, he talks of Affection's edge being so strong in him that nothing can abate it. Some of the old copies indeed, instead of me, read time: this will direct us to the true reading, whch I am persfaded is this,

Affection SIEG'DIN COIN, i. e. placed, feared, fixed. This makes him speak to the purpose, that his affection is all love of money... The expreffion too is

1

Her name is Catharina Minola,
Renown'd in Padua for her fcolding tongue.
Pet. I know her Father, tho' I know not her;

And he knew my deceased Father well.
I will not fleep, Hortenfio, 'till I fee her,
And therefore let me be thus bold with you,
To give you over at this first encounter,
Unless you will accompany me thither.

1

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 fo: 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 fee 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, and others more
Suitors to her, and Rivals in my love:
Supposing it a thing impossible,
For those defects I have before rehears'd,
That ever Catharina will be woo'd;
Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en,
That none fhall have access unto Bianca,
'Till Catharine the curst, have got a husband.

Gru. Catharine the curst?

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 herself.

SCENE VI.

Enter Gremio, and Lucentio disguis'd.

Gru. Here's no knavery! see, to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together. Master, look about you: who goes there? ha!

Hor. Peace, Grumio, 'tis the Rival of my love.

Petruchio, stand by a while.

Gru. A proper Stripling, and an amorous --
Gre. O very well; I have perus'd the note.
Hark you, Sir, I'll have them very fairly bound,
All books of love; fee That, at any hand;
And fee, you read no other lectures to her :
You understand me - Over and beside

Signior Baptista's liberality,

I'll mend it with a largess. Take your papers too,
And let me have them very well perfum'd;
For she is sweeter than perfume itself,
To whom they go; what will you read to her?

Luc. Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you,

As for my Patron, stand you so afsfured;
As firmly as yourself were still in place;
Yea, and, perhaps, with more successful words
Than you, unless you were a scholar, Sir.

:

Gre. Oh this learning, what a thing it is!
Gru. O this woodcock, what an ass it is! -

Pet. Peace, Sirrah.

Her

Hor. Grumio, mum! God save you. Signior Gremio. Gre. And you are well met, Signior Hortenfio. Trow you, whither I am going? to Baptista Minola; I promis'd to enquire carefully about a school-master for the fair Bianca; and by good fortune I have lighted well on this young man, for Learning and Behaviour fit for her turn, well read in Poetry, and other books; good ones, I warrant ye.

Hor. 'Tis well; and I have met a gentleman,
Hath promis'd me to help me to another,
A fine musician to instruct our mistress;
So shall I no whit be behind in duty
To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me.

Gre. Belov'd of me, and that my deeds shall prove.
Gru. And that his bags shall prove.
Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love.

Listen to me; and, if you speak me fair,
I'll tell you news indifferent good for either.
Here is a Gentleman whom by chance I met,
Upon agreement from us to his liking,
Will undertake to woo curst Catharine;
Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.
Gre. So faid, so done, is well;
Hortenfio, have you told him all her faults?
Pet. I know, she is an irksome brawling scold;
If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.

t

Gre. No, sayest me so, friend? what Countryman ? *Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's Son; My father's dead, my fortune lives for me, And I do hope good days and long to fee.

Gre. Oh, Sir, such a life with fuch a wife were strange; But if you have a stomach, to't, o' God's name; You must have me assisting you in all. But will you wooe this wild cat?

Pet. Will I live?

Gru. Will he wooe her? ay, or I'll hang her.
Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent?

Think you, a little din can daunt my ears ?