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Hortensio

That she's the chosen of Signor Hortensio.

Tranio-as-Lucentio

Softly, my masters! If you be gentlemen,    
Do me this right: hear me with patience.
Baptista is a noble gentleman,
To whom my father is not all unknown;    
And were his daughter fairer than she is,        
She may more suitors have, and me for one.
Fair Leda's daughter had a thousand wooers;    
Then well one more may fair Bianca have,
And so she shall. Lucentio shall make one,

Grumio (servant)

[Aside] I would I were as sure of a good dinner.    
[Enter Lucentio's two servants, Tranio and Biondello. Tranio is impersonating Lucentio, and Biondello is playing along with the deception.]

Tranio-as-Lucentio

Gentlemen, God save you. If I may be bold, tell me,     
I beseech you, which is the readiest way to the house of     
Signor Baptista Minola?

Biondello

He that has the two fair daughters, is't he you mean?

Petruchio

Why came I hither but to that intent?
Think you a little din can daunt mine ears?    
Have I not in my time heard lions roar?
Have I not heard the sea, puffed up with winds,
Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat?    
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,    
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?
Have I not, in a pitched battle, heard
Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang?    
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue
That gives not half so great a blow to hear
As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire?
Tush, tush, fear boys with bugs.    

Gremio

You shall have me assisting you in all.
But will you woo this wildcat?

Petruchio

Will I live?    

Grumio (servant)

[Aside] Will he woo her? Ay, or I'll hang her.

Petruchio

Why came I hither but to that intent?
Think you a little din can daunt mine ears?    
Have I not in my time heard lions roar?
Have I not heard the sea, puffed up with winds,
Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat?    
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,    
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?
Have I not, in a pitched battle, heard
Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang?    
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue
That gives not half so great a blow to hear
As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire?

Grumio (servant)

[Aside] And that, his bags shall prove.    

Hortensio

Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love.    
Listen to me, and if you speak me fair,    
I'll tell you news indifferent good for either.    
[Presenting Petruchio] 
Here is a gentleman whom by chance I met,
Upon agreement from us to his liking,    
Will undertake to woo curst Katherine,

Grumio

A title for a maid, of all titles the worst.

Hortensio

Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace,    
And offer me disguised in sober robes
To old Baptista as a schoolmaster,
Well seen in music to instruct Bianca,    
That so I may by this device at least    
Have leave and leisure to make love to her,    
And, unsuspected, court her by herself.

Grumio

Here's no knavery. See, to beguile the old folks, how     

Hortensio

Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee,    
For in Baptista's keep my treasure is.    
He hath the jewel of my life in hold,
His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca,    
And her withholds from me and others more,    
Suitors to her, and rivals in my love.
Supposing it a thing impossible —
For those defects I have before rehearsed —    
That ever Katherina will be woo'd,
Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en:    
That none shall have access unto Bianca

Grumio

[To Hortensio] I pray you, sir, let him go while the
humor lasts. O' my word, an she knew him as well as
I do, she would think scolding would do little good
upon him. She may perhaps call him half a score     
knaves or so — why, that's nothing. An he begin once,     
he'll rail in his rope tricks. I'll tell you what, sir, an she    
stand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face,     
and so disfigure her with it that she shall have no more
eyes to see withal than a cat. You know him not, sir.

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