Taming of the Shrew

[Guru]

TRANIO


Even he, Biondello.

 

[Guru]

GREMIO


Hark you, sir; you mean not her to--

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


Perhaps, him and her, sir: what have you to do?

 

[Guru]

PETRUCHIO


Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray.

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


I love no chiders, sir. Biondello, let's away.

 

[Guru]

LUCENTIO


Well begun, Tranio.

 

[Guru]

HORTENSIO


Sir, a word ere you go;
Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no?

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


And if I be, sir, is it any offence?

 

[Guru]

GREMIO


No; if without more words you will get you hence.

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free
For me as for you?

 

[Guru]

GREMIO


But so is not she.

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


For what reason, I beseech you?

 

[Guru]

GREMIO


For this reason, if you'll know,
That she's the choice love of Signior Gremio.

 

[Guest]

you're required to continue The Merrie Gntlemen....etc. If you're not too busy.

 

[Guru]

HORTENSIO


That she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio.

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


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,
Though Paris came in hope to speed alone.

 

[Guru]

GREMIO


What! this gentleman will out-talk us all.

 

[Guru]

LUCENTIO


Sir, give him head: I know he'll prove a jade.

 

[Guru]

PETRUCHIO


Hortensio, to what end are all these words?

 

[Guru]

HORTENSIO


Sir, let me be so bold as ask you,
Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter?

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


No, sir; but hear I do that he hath two,
The one as famous for a scolding tongue
As is the other for beauteous modesty.

 

[Guru]

PETRUCHIO


Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by.

 

[Guru]

GREMIO


Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules;
And let it be more than Alcides' twelve.

 

[Guru]

PETRUCHIO


Sir, understand you this of me in sooth:
The younges t daughter whom you hearken for
Her father keeps from all access of suitors,
And will not promise her to any man
Until the elder sister first be wed:
The younger then is free and not before.

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


If it be so, sir, that you are the man
Must stead us all and me amongst the rest,
And if you break the ice and do this feat,
Achieve the elder, set the younger free
For our access, whose hap shall be to have her
Will not so graceless be to be ingrate.