Therefore they thought it good you hear a play
And frame your mind to mirth and merriment,
Which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.
SLY
Marry, I will let them play it. Is not a comonty
A Christmas gambol, or a tumbling trick?
BARTHOLOMEW
No, my good lord, it is more pleasing stuff.
SLY
What, household stuff?
BARTHOLOMEW
It is a kind of history.
SLY
Well, we’ll see’t. Come, madam wife, sit by my side
And let the world slip. We shall ne’er be younger.
Bartholomew sits
1.1 Flourish. Enter Lucentio and his man, Tranio
LUCENTIO
Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arrived fore fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy,
And by my father’s love and leave am armed
With his good will and thy good company,
My trusty servant, well approved in all,
Here let us breathe, and haply institute
A course of learning and ingenious studies.
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
Gave me my being, and my father first—
A merchant of great traffic through the world,
Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii.
Vincentio’s son, brought up in Florence,
It shall become to serve all hopes conceived
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds.
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study,
Virtue and that part of philosophy
Will I apply that treats of happiness
By virtue specially to be achieved.
Tell me thy mind, for I have Pisa left
And am to Padua come as he that leaves
A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep,
And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.
TRANIO
Mi perdonate, gentle master mine.
I am in all affected as yourself,
Glad that you thus continue your resolve
To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy.
Only, good master, while we do admire
This virtue and this moral discipline,
Let’s be no stoics nor no stocks, I pray,
Or so devote to Aristotle’s checks
As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured.
Balk logic with acquaintance that you have,
And practise rhetoric in your common talk.
Music and poesy use to quicken you;
The mathematics and the metaphysics,
Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you.
No profit grows where is no pleasure ta’en.
In brief, sir, study what you most affect.
LUCENTIO
Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise.
If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore,
We could at once put us in readiness
And take a lodging fit to entertain
Such friends as time in Padua shall beget.
But stay a while, what company is this?
TRANIO
Master, some show to welcome us to town.
Enter Baptista with his two daughters, Katherine and Bianca; Gremio, a pantaloon; Hortensio, suitor to Bianca. Lucentio and Tranio stand by
BAPTISTA
Gentlemen, importune me no farther,
For how I firmly am resolved you know:
That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter
Before I have a husband for the elder.
If either of you both love Katherina,
Because I know you well and love you well
Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.
GREMIO
To cart her rather. She’s too rough for me.
There, there, Hortensio. Will you any wife?
KATHERINE (to Baptista)
I pray you, sir, is it your will
To make a stale of me amongst these mates?
HORTENSIO
‘Mates’, maid? How mean you that? No mates for
you
Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.
KATHERINE
I’faith, sir, you shall never need to fear.
Iwis it is not half-way to her heart,
But if it were, doubt not her care should be
To comb your noddle with a three-legged stool,
And paint your face, and use you like a fool.
HORTENSIO
From all such devils, good Lord deliver us.
GREMIO And me too, good Lord.
TRANIO (aside to Lucentio)
Husht, master, here’s some good pastime toward.
That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward.
LUCENTIO (aside to Tranio)
But in the other’s silence do I see
Maid’s mild behaviour and sobriety.
Peace, Tranio.
TRANIO (aside to Lucentio)
Well said, master. Mum, and gaze your fill.
BAPTISTA
Gentlemen, that I may soon make good
What I have said—Bianca, get you in.
And let it not displease thee, good Bianca,
For I will love thee ne’er the less, my girl.
KATHERINE A pretty peat! It is best
Put finger in the eye, an she knew why.
BIANCA
Sister, content you in my discontent.
(To Baptista) Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe.
My books and instruments shall be my company,
On them to look and practise by myself.
LUCENTIO (aside to Tranio)
Hark, Tranio, thou mayst hear Minerva speak.
HORTENSIO
Signor Baptista, will you be so strange?
Sorry am I that our good will effects
Bianca’s grief.
GREMIO Why will you mew her up,
Signor Baptista, for this fiend of hell,
And make her bear the penance of her tongue?
BAPTIST
Gentlemen, content ye. I am resolved.
Go in, Bianca.
Exit Bianca
And for I know she taketh most delight
In music, instruments, and poetry,