I must dance bare-foot on her wedding-day, And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell'. Till I can find occasion of revenge. [Exit KATHARINA. 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 Call'd Katharina, fair, and virtuous ? Bap. I have a daughter, sir, call'd Katharina. Pet. You wrong me, signior Gremio; give me leave. I am a gentleman of Verona, sir, That,-hearing of her beauty, and her wit, Her affability, and bashful modesty, Her wondrous qualities, and mild behaviour,— Within your house, to make mine eye the witness And, for an entrance to my entertainment, "To lead apes," 1 And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell.] was, in our author's time, as at present, one of the employments of a bear-herd, who often carries about one of those animals along with his bear but I know not how this phrase came to be applied to old maids. MALONE. That women who refused to bear children, should, after death, be condemned to the care of apes in leading-strings, might have been considered as an act of posthumous retribution. STEEVENS. I do present you with a man of mine, [Presenting HORTENSIO. Cunning in musick, and the mathematicks, Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he for your good sake: But for my daughter Katharine,—this I know, Pet. I see you do not mean to part with her; 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. Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: Pet. O, pardon me, signior Gremio; I would fain be doing. Gre. I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your woo ing. 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, 2 Baccare!] A proverbial word, meaning stand back, or give place. 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; Do make myself a suitor to your daughter, Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo, And this small packet of Greek and Latin books3: Bap. A mighty man of Pisa: by report I know him well: you are very welcome, sir.Take you [to HOR.] the lute, and you [to Luc.] the set of books, You shall go see your pupils presently. Holla, within! Sirrah, lead Enter a Servant. 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. walk a little in the orchard, 3 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 then to dinner: you are passing welcome, Pet. Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste, You knew my father well; and in him, me, Bap. Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd, Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father, 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. Re-enter HORTENSIO, with his head broken. Bap. How now, my friend? why dost thou look so pale? Hor. For fear, I promise you, if I look 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 : As on a pillory, looking through the lute; And-twangling Jack'; with twenty such vile terms, Pet. Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench; I love her ten times more than e'er I did: O, how I long to have some chat with her! Bap. Well, go with me, and be not so discomfited: Proceed in practice with my younger daughter; She's apt to learn, and thankful for good turns.— Signior Petruchio, will you go with us; Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you? Pet. I pray you do; I will attend her here, [Exeunt BAPTISTA, GREMIO, TRANIO, And woo her with some spirit when she comes. 4 her frets,] A fret is that stop of a musical instrument which causes or regulates the vibration of the string. JOHNSON. 5 And-twangling Jack ;] To twangle is a provincial expression, and signifies to flourish capriciously on an instrument, as performers often do after having tuned it, previous to their beginning a regular composition. |