Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor 24
TRANIO. Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one.
LUCENTIO. Tell me thine first.
TRANIO. You will be schoolmaster, And undertake the teaching of the maid: That ' s your device.
LUCENTIO. It is: may it be done?
TRANIO. Not possible; for who shall bear your part And be in Padua here Vincentio ' s son; Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends; Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?
LUCENTIO. Basta; content thee, for I have it full. We have not yet been seen in any house, Nor can we be distinguish ' d by our faces For man or master: then it follows thus: Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead, Keep house and port and servants, as I should; I will some other be; some Florentine, Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa. ' Tis hatch ' d, and shall be so: Tranio, at once Uncase thee; take my colour ' d hat and cloak. When Biondello comes, he waits on thee; But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.
[ They exchange habits ]
TRANIO. So had you need. In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is, And I am tied to be obedient; For so your father charg ' d me at our parting, ' Be serviceable to my son,' quoth he, Although I think ' twas in another sense: I am content to be Lucentio, Because so well I love Lucentio.
LUCENTIO. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves; And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid Whose sudden sight hath thrall ' d my wounded eye. Here comes the rogue.
[ Enter BIONDELLO.] Sirrah, where have you been?