Talk not to me; I will go sit and weep, [Exit KATHARINA. Bap. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd as I? But who comes here? Enter GREMIO, with Lucentio in the habit of a mean man; Petruchio, with Hortensio as a Musician; and TRANIO, with Biondello bearing a lute and books. Gre. Good-morrow, neighbour Baptista. Bap. Good-morrow, neighbour Gremio: God save you, gentlemen! Pet. And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter Bap. I have a daughter, sir, callid Katharina. leave.— ness [Presenting HORTENSIÓ. Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake: But for my daughter Katharine,—this I know, She is not for your turn, the more my grief. Pet. I see, you do not mean to part with her; Or else you like not of my company. Bap. Mistake me not, I speak but as I find. Whence are you, sir? what may I call your name? Pet. Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son, A man well known throughout all Italy. Bap. I know him well: you'are welcome for his sake. Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: Baccare!? you are marvellous forward. Pet. 0, pardon me, signior Gremio; I would fain be doing. Gre. I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your wooing:Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure of it. To express the like kindness myself, that have been more kindly beholden to you than any, I freely give unto you this young scholar, [Presenting LuCentio.] that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in musick and mathematicks: his name is Cambio; pray, accept his service. Bap. A thousand thanks, signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio.—But, gentle sir, [TO TRANio.] methinks, you walk like a stranger; May I be so bold to know the cause of your coming? Tra. Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own; That, being a stranger in this city here, Do make myself a suitor to your daughter, ? Baccare!!] A proverbial word, meaning stand back, or give place. Unto Bianca, fair, and virtuous. pray? Bap. A mighty man of Pisa; by report the set of books, You shall go see your pupils presently. Holla, within! Enter a Servant. Sirrah, lead These gentlemen to my daughters; and tell them both, These are their tutors; bid them use them well. [Exit Servant, with HORTENSIO, LUCENTIO, and BIONDELLO. Pet. Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste, s— this small packet of Greek and Latin books :] In queen Elizabeth's time the young ladies of quality were usually instructed in the learned languages, if any pains were bestowed on their minds at all. Lady Jane Grey and her sisters, Queen Elizabeth, &c. are trite instances. Percy. And every day I cannot come to woo. lands: Pet. And, for that dowry, I'll assure her of Bap. Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd, ther, I am as peremptory as she proud-minded; And where too raging fires meet together, They do consume the thing that feeds their fury: Though little fire grows great with little wind, Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all: So I to her, and so she yields to me; For I am rough, and woo not like a babe. Bap. Well may'st thou woo, and happy be thy speed! But be thou arm’d for some unhappy words. Pet. Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds, That shake not, though they blow perpetually. RTENSI Re-enter Hortensio, with his head broken. So pale? Bap. What, will my daughter prove a good mu sician? Hor. I think, she'll sooner prove a soldier; Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. Bap. "Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute? Hor. Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me. I did but tell her, she mistook her frets, And bow'd her hand to teach her fingering; When, with a most impatient devilish spirit, Frets, call you these quoth she: I'll fume with them: And, with that word, she struck me on the head, And through the instrument my pate made way; And there I stood amazed for a while, As on a pillory, looking through the lute: While she did call me, rascal fiddler, And—twangling Jack;' with twenty such vile terms, As she had studied to misuse me so. Pet. Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench; fited: Exeunt BAPTISTA, GREMIO, Tranio, aud HORTENSIO. 4- her frets,] A fret is that stop of a musical instrument which causes or regulates the vibration of the string. Johnson. And—twangling Jack;] To twangle is a provincial expression, and signifies to fourish capriciously on an instrument, as performers often do after having tuned it, previous to their beginning a regular composition. |