Gre. For this reason if you'l kno, That she's the choise loue of Signior Gremio
Hor. That she's the chosen of signior Hortensio
Tra. Softly my Masters: If you be Gentlemen Do me this right: heare me with patience. Baptista is a noble Gentleman, To whom my Father is not all vnknowne, And were his daughter fairer then she is, She may more sutors haue, and me for one. Faire Laedaes daughter had a thousand wooers, Then well one more may faire Bianca haue; And so she shall: Lucentio shal make one, Though Paris came, in hope to speed alone
Gre. What, this Gentleman will out-talke vs all
Luc. Sir giue him head, I know hee'l proue a Iade
Petr. Hortensio, to what end are all these words? Hor. Sir, let me be so bold as aske you, Did you yet euer see Baptistas daughter? Tra. No sir, but heare I do that he hath two: The one, as famous for a scolding tongue, As is the other, for beauteous modestie
Petr. Sir, sir, the first's for me, let her go by
Gre. Yea, leaue that labour to great Hercules, And let it be more then Alcides twelue
Petr. Sir vnderstand you this of me (insooth) The yongest daughter whom you hearken for, Her father keepes from all accesse of sutors, And will not promise her to any man, Vntill the elder sister first be wed. The yonger then is free, and not before
Tranio. If it be so sir, that you are the man Must steed vs all, and me amongst the rest: And if you breake the ice, and do this seeke, Atchieue the elder: set the yonger free, For our accesse, whose hap shall be to haue her, Wil not so gracelesse be, to be ingrate
Hor. Sir you say wel, and wel you do conceiue, And since you do professe to be a sutor, You must as we do, gratifie this Gentleman, To whom we all rest generally beholding
Tranio. Sir, I shal not be slacke, in signe whereof, Please ye we may contriue this afternoone, And quaffe carowses to our Mistresse health, And do as aduersaries do in law, Striue mightily, but eate and drinke as friends
Gru. Bion. Oh excellent motion: fellowes let's be gon
Hor. The motions good indeed, and be it so, Petruchio, I shal be your Been venuto.
Exeunt.
Enter Katherina and Bianca.
Bian. Good sister wrong me not, nor wrong your self, To make a bondmaide and a slaue of mee, That I disdaine: but for these other goods, Vnbinde my hands, Ile pull them off my selfe, Yea all my raiment, to my petticoate, Or what you will command me, wil I do, So well I know my dutie to my elders
Kate. Of all thy sutors heere I charge tel Whom thou lou'st best: see thou dissemble not
Bianca. Beleeue me sister, of all the men aliue, I neuer yet beheld that speciall face, Which I could fancie, more then any other
Kate. Minion thou lyest: Is't not Hortensio? Bian. If you affect him sister, heere I sweare Ile pleade for you my selfe, but you shal haue him
Kate. Oh then belike you fancie riches more, You wil haue Gremio to keepe you faire
Bian. Is it for him you do enuie me so? Nay then you iest, and now I wel perceiue You haue but iested with me all this while: I prethee sister Kate, vntie my hands
Ka. If that be iest, then all the rest was so.
Strikes her
Enter Baptista.
Bap. Why how now Dame, whence growes this insolence? Bianca stand aside, poore gyrle she weepes: Go ply thy Needle, meddle not with her. For shame thou Hilding of a diuellish spirit, Why dost thou wrong her, that did nere wrong thee? When did she crosse thee with a bitter word? Kate. Her silence flouts me, and Ile be reueng'd.