Tra. That only came well in -Sir, list to me, I am my father's heir, and only son: Besides two thousand ducats by the year, Tra. Gremio, 'tis known, my father hath no less Than three great argosies; besides two galliasses,2 And twelve tight gallies: these I will assure her, And twice as much, whate'er thou offer'st next. Gre. Nay, I have offer'd all, I have no more; By your firm promise; Gremio is out-vied. I am thus resolv'd:-On Sunday next you know, (1) A large merchant-ship. (2) A vessel of burthen worked both with sails and oars. And so I take my leave, and thank you both. [Ex. Gre. Adieu, good neighbour.-Now I fear thee not; Sirrah, young gamester, your father were a fool [Exit. Tra. A vengeance on your crafty wither'd hide! Yet I have faced it with a card of ten.1 'Tis in my head to do my master good: I see no reason, but suppos'd Lucentio Must get a father, call'd-suppos'd Vincentio ; And that's a wonder: fathers, commonly, Do get their children; but, in this case of wooing, A child shall get a sire, if I fail not of my cunning. [Exit. ACT III. SCENE I-A room in Baptista's house. Enter Lucentio, Hortensio, and Bianca. Luc. Fiddler, forbear; you grow too forward, sir: Have you so soon forgot the entertainment Her sister Katharine welcom'd you withal? Hor. But, wrangling pedant, this is The patroness of heavenly harmony: Then give me leave to have prerogative; And when in music we have spent an hour, Your lecture shall have leisure for as much. Luc. Preposterous ass! that never read so far To know the cause why music was ordain'd! Was it not, to refresh the mind of man, After his studies, or his usual pain? Then give me leave to read philosophy, And, while I pause, serve in your harmony. Hor. Sirrah, I will not bear these braves of thine. (1) The highest card. Bian. Why, gentlemen, you do me double wrong, To strive for that which resteth in my choice: I am no breeching scholar in the schools; I'll not be tied to hours, nor pointed times, But learn my lessons as I please myself. And, to cut off all strife, here sit we down :Take you your instrument, play you the whiles; His lecture will be done ere you have tun'd. Hor. You'll leave his lecture when I am in tune? [To Bianca.-Hortensio retires. Luc. That will be never;-tune your instrument. Bian. Where left we last? Luc. Here, madam :---- Hac ibat Simois; hic est Sigeia tellus; Luc. Hac ibat, as I told you before,-Simois, I am Lucentio,-hic est, son unto Vincentio of Pisa, -Sigeia tellus, disguised thus to get your love ;Hic steterat, and that Lucentio that comes a wooing,-Priami, is my man Tranio,—regia, bearing my port,-celsa senis, that we might beguile the old pantaloon.2 Hor. Madam, my instrument's in tune. Bian. Let's hear; O fie! the treble jars. [Returning. [Hortensio plays. Luc. Spit in the hole, man, and tune again. Bian. Now let me see if I can construe it: Hac ibat Simois, I know you not; hic est Sigeia tellus, I trust you not,-Hic steterat Priami, take heed he hear us not;-regia, presume not;-celsa senis, despair not. Hor. Madam, 'tis now in tune. Luc. All but the base. Hor. The base is right; 'tis the base knave that jars. (1) No schoolboy, liable to be whipped. How fiery and forward our pedant is! my love: Bian. In time I may believe, yet I mistrust. acides Was Ajax,-call'd so from his grandfather. Bian. I must believe my master; else, I promise you, I should be arguing still upon that doubt: My lessons make no music in three parts. Luc. Are you so formal, sir? well, I must wait, And watch withal; for, but I be deceiv'd, Our fine musician groweth amorous. [Aside. Hor. Madam, before you touch the instrument, To learn the order of my fingering, I must begin with rudiments of art; To teach you gamut in a briefer sort, More pleasant, pithy, and effectual, Than hath been taught by any of my trade: And there it is in writing, fairly drawn. Bian. Why, I am past my gamut long ago. Hor. Yet read the gamut of Hortensio. Bian. [Reads.] Gamut I am, the ground of all accord, A re, to plead Hortensio's passion; Call you this-gamut? tut! I like it not: (1) Pedant. (2) Fantastical. Enter Servant. Serv. Mistress, your father prays you leave your books, And help to dress your sister's chamber up; [Exit. SCENE II.-The same. Before Baptista's house. Enter Baptista, Gremio, Tranio, Katharina, Bianca, Lucentio, and attendants. Bap. Signior Lucentio, [To Tranio.] this is the That Katharine and Petruchio should be married, To give my hand, oppos'd against my heart, Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behaviour: He'll woo a thousand, 'point the day of marriage, (1) Bait, decoy. (2) Caprice, inconstancy. |