The Taming of the Shrew | Page 9

fear I
was descried. Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes, While I
make way from hence to save my life. You understand me?
BIONDELLO. I, sir! Ne'er a whit.
LUCENTIO. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth: Tranio is changed
to Lucentio.
BIONDELLO. The better for him: would I were so too!
TRANIO. So could I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after, That
Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter. But, sirrah, not for
my sake but your master's, I advise You use your manners discreetly in
all kind of companies: When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio; But in
all places else your master, Lucentio.
LUCENTIO. Tranio, let's go. One thing more rests, that thyself execute,

to make one among these wooers: if thou ask me why, sufficeth my
reasons are both good and weighty.
[Exeunt.]
[The Presenters above speak.]
FIRST SERVANT. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.
SLY. Yes, by Saint Anne, I do. A good matter, surely: comes there any
more of it?
PAGE. My lord, 'tis but begun.
SLY. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady: would 'twere
done!
[They sit and mark.]

SCENE II. Padua. Before HORTENSIO'S house.
[Enter PETRUCHIO and his man GRUMIO.]
PETRUCHIO. Verona, for a while I take my leave, To see my friends
in Padua; but of all My best beloved and approved friend, Hortensio;
and I trow this is his house. Here, sirrah Grumio, knock, I say.
GRUMIO. Knock, sir! Whom should I knock? Is there any man has
rebused your worship?
PETRUCHIO. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.
GRUMIO. Knock you here, sir! Why, sir, what am I, sir, that I should
knock you here, sir?
PETRUCHIO. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate; And rap me well,
or I'll knock your knave's pate.
GRUMIO. My master is grown quarrelsome. I should knock you first,
And then I know after who comes by the worst.
PETRUCHIO. Will it not be? Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll ring
it; I'll try how you can sol,fa, and sing it.
[He wrings GRUMIO by the ears.]
GRUMIO. Help, masters, help! my master is mad.
PETRUCHIO. Now, knock when I bid you, sirrah villain!
[Enter HORTENSIO.]
HORTENSIO. How now! what's the matter? My old friend Grumio!
and my good friend Petruchio! How do you all at Verona?
PETRUCHIO. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? Con tutto
il cuore ben trovato, may I say.
HORTENSIO. Alla nostra casa ben venuto; molto honorato signor mio

Petruchio. Rise, Grumio, rise: we will compound this quarrel.
GRUMIO. Nay, 'tis no matter, sir, what he 'leges in Latin. If this be not
a lawful cause for me to leave his service, look you, sir, he bid me
knock him and rap him soundly, sir: well, was it fit for a servant to use
his master so; being, perhaps, for aught I see, two-and-thirty, a pip out?
Whom would to God I had well knock'd at first, Then had not Grumio
come by the worst.
PETRUCHIO. A senseless villain! Good Hortensio, I bade the rascal
knock upon your gate, And could not get him for my heart to do it.
GRUMIO. Knock at the gate! O heavens! Spake you not these words
plain: 'Sirrah knock me here, rap me here, knock me well, and knock
me soundly'? And come you now with 'knocking at the gate'?
PETRUCHIO. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you.
HORTENSIO. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge; Why, this's a
heavy chance 'twixt him and you, Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant
Grumio. And tell me now, sweet friend, what happy gale Blows you to
Padua here from old Verona?
PETRUCHIO. Such wind as scatters young men through the world To
seek their fortunes farther than at home, Where small experience grows.
But in a few, Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me: Antonio, my
father, is deceas'd, And I have thrust myself into this maze, Haply to
wive and thrive as best I may; Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at
home, And so am come abroad to see the world.
HORTENSIO. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee And wish
thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? Thou'dst thank me but a little for my
counsel; And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich, And very rich: but
th'art too much my friend, And I'll not wish thee to her.
PETRUCHIO. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we Few words
suffice; and therefore, if thou know One rich enough to be Petruchio's
wife, As wealth is burden of my wooing dance, Be she as foul as was
Florentius' love, As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd As Socrates'
Xanthippe