The Taming of the Shrew | Page 8

Baptista's eldest daughter to a
husband, we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to't
afresh. Sweet Bianca! Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest gets
the ring. How say you, Signior Gremio?
GREMIO. I am agreed; and would I had given him the best horse in
Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her,
and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on.
[Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO.]
TRANIO. I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible That love should of a sudden
take such hold?
LUCENTIO. O Tranio! till I found it to be true, I never thought it
possible or likely; But see, while idly I stood looking on, I found the
effect of love in idleness; And now in plainness do confess to thee,
That art to me as secret and as dear As Anna to the Queen of Carthage
was, Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio, If I achieve not this young

modest girl. Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst: Assist me,
Tranio, for I know thou wilt.
TRANIO. Master, it is no time to chide you now; Affection is not rated
from the heart: If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so:
Redime te captum quam queas minimo.
LUCENTIO. Gramercies, lad; go forward; this contents; The rest will
comfort, for thy counsel's sound.
TRANIO. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid. Perhaps you
mark'd not what's the pith of all.
LUCENTIO. O, yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, Such as the
daughter of Agenor had, That made great Jove to humble him to her
hand, When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand.
TRANIO. Saw you no more? mark'd you not how her sister Began to
scold and raise up such a storm That mortal ears might hardly endure
the din?
LUCENTIO. Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move, And with her breath
she did perfume the air; Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.
TRANIO. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance. I pray, awake,
sir: if you love the maid, Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it
stands: Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd, That till the father rid his
hands of her, Master, your love must live a maid at home; And
therefore has he closely mew'd her up, Because she will not be annoy'd
with suitors.
LUCENTIO. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! But art thou not
advis'd he took some care To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct
her?
TRANIO. Ay, marry, am I, sir, and now 'tis plotted.
LUCENTIO. I have it, Tranio.
TRANIO. Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in
one.
LUCENTIO. Tell me thine first.
TRANIO. You will be schoolmaster, And undertake the teaching of the
maid: That's your device.
LUCENTIO. It is: may it be done?
TRANIO. Not possible; for who shall bear your part And be in Padua
here Vincentio's son; Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends;
Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?

LUCENTIO. Basta; content thee, for I have it full. We have not yet
been seen in any house, Nor can we be distinguish'd by our faces For
man or master: then it follows thus: Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in
my stead, Keep house and port and servants, as I should; I will some
other be; some Florentine, Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa.
'Tis hatch'd, and shall be so: Tranio, at once Uncase thee; take my
colour'd hat and cloak. When Biondello comes, he waits on thee; But I
will charm him first to keep his tongue.
[They exchange habits]
TRANIO. So had you need. In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is, And I
am tied to be obedient; For so your father charg'd me at our parting, 'Be
serviceable to my son,' quoth he, Although I think 'twas in another
sense: I am content to be Lucentio, Because so well I love Lucentio.
LUCENTIO. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves; And let me be a
slave, to achieve that maid Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my
wounded eye. Here comes the rogue.
[Enter BIONDELLO.]
Sirrah, where have you been?
BIONDELLO. Where have I been! Nay, how now! where are you?
Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes? Or you stol'n his? or
both? Pray, what's the news?
LUCENTIO. Sirrah, come hither: 'tis no time to jest, And therefore
frame your manners to the time. Your fellow Tranio here, to save my
life, Puts my apparel and my count'nance on, And I for my escape have
put on his; For in a quarrel since I came ashore I kill'd a man, and