Taming of the Shrew | Page 22

Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor 22
HORTENSIO. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.
GREMIO. A husband! a devil. HORTENSIO. I say, a husband.
GREMIO. I say, a devil. Thinkest thou, Hortensio, though her fatherbe very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell?
HORTENSIO. Tush, Gremio! Though it pass your patience and mine to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough.
GREMIO. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition: to be whipp ' d at the high cross every morning.
HORTENSIO. Faith, as you say, there ' s small choice in rotten apples. But, come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained, till by helping Baptista ' s eldest daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to ' t afresh. Sweet Bianca! Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the ring. How say you, Signior Gremio?
GREMIO. I am agreed; and would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on.
[ Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO.]
TRANIO. I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible That love should of a sudden take such hold?
LUCENTIO. O Tranio! till I found it to be true, I never thought it possible or likely; But see, while idly I stood looking on, I found the effect of love in idleness; And now in plainness do confess to thee, That art to me as