Tail. This is true that I say, and I had thee in place where thou shouldst know it

Gru. I am for thee straight: take thou the bill, giue me thy meat-yard, and spare not me

Hor. God-a-mercie Grumio, then hee shall haue no oddes

Pet. Well sir in breefe the gowne is not for me

Gru. You are i'th right sir, 'tis for my mistris

Pet. Go take it vp vnto thy masters vse

Gru. Villaine, not for thy life: Take vp my Mistresse gowne for thy masters vse

Pet. Why sir, what's your conceit in that? Gru. Oh sir, the conceit is deeper then you think for: Take vp my Mistris gowne to his masters vse. Oh fie, fie, fie

Pet. Hortensio, say thou wilt see the Tailor paide: Go take it hence, be gone, and say no more

Hor. Tailor, Ile pay thee for thy gowne to morrow, Take no vnkindnesse of his hastie words: Away I say, commend me to thy master.

Exit Tail.

Pet. Well, come my Kate, we will vnto your fathers, Euen in these honest meane habiliments: Our purses shall be proud, our garments poore: For 'tis the minde that makes the bodie rich. And as the Sunne breakes through the darkest clouds, So honor peereth in the meanest habit. What is the Iay more precious then the Larke? Because his feathers are more beautifull. Or is the Adder better then the Eele, Because his painted skin contents the eye. Oh no good Kate: neither art thou the worse For this poore furniture, and meane array. If thou accountedst it shame, lay it on me, And therefore frolicke, we will hence forthwith, To feast and sport vs at thy fathers house, Go call my men, and let vs straight to him, And bring our horses vnto Long-lane end, There wil we mount, and thither walke on foote, Let's see, I thinke 'tis now some seuen a clocke, And well we may come there by dinner time

Kate. I dare assure you sir, 'tis almost two, And 'twill be supper time ere you come there

Pet. It shall be seuen ere I go to horse: Looke what I speake, or do, or thinke to doe, You are still crossing it, sirs let't alone, I will not goe to day, and ere I doe, It shall be what a clock I say it is

Hor. Why so this gallant will command the sunne. Enter Tranio, and the Pedant drest like Vincentio.

Tra. Sirs, this is the house, please it you that I call

Ped. I what else, and but I be deceiued, Signior Baptista may remember me Neere twentie yeares a goe in Genoa

Tra. Where we were lodgers, at the Pegasus, Tis well, and hold your owne in any case With such austeritie as longeth to a father. Enter Biondello.

Ped. I warrant you: but sir here comes your boy, 'Twere good he were school'd

Tra. Feare you not him: sirra Biondello, Now doe your dutie throughlie I aduise you: Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio

Bion. Tut, feare not me

Tra. But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista

Bion. I told him that your father was at Venice, And that you look't for him this day in Padua, Tra. Th'art a tall fellow, hold thee that to drinke, Here comes Baptista: set your countenance sir. Enter Baptista and Lucentio: Pedant booted and bare headed.

Tra. Signior Baptista you are happilie met: Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of, I pray you stand good father to me now, Giue me Bianca for my patrimony

Ped. Soft son: sir by your leaue, hauing com to Padua To gather in some debts, my son Lucentio Made me acquainted with a waighty cause Of loue betweene your daughter and himselfe: And for the good report I heare of you, And for the loue he beareth to your daughter, And she to him: to stay him not too long, I am content in a good fathers care To haue him matcht, and if you please to like No worse then I, vpon some agreement Me shall you finde readie and willing With one consent to haue her so bestowed: For curious I cannot be with you Signior Baptista, of whom I heare so well

William Shakespeare
Classic Literature Library

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