Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor 29
PETRUCHIO. I know her father, though I know not her; And he knew my deceased father well. I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her; And therefore let me be thus bold with you, To give you over at this first encounter, Unless you will accompany me thither.
GRUMIO. I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour 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; and 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.
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 other more, Suitors to her and rivals in my love; Supposing it a thing impossible, For those defects I have before rehears ' d, That ever Katherina will be woo ' d: Therefore this order hath Baptista ta ' en, That none shall have access unto Bianca Till Katherine the curst have got a husband.
GRUMIO. Katherine the curst! A title for a maid of all titles the worst.
HORTENSIO. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace, And offer me disguis ' d 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 the young folks lay their heads together!
[ Enter GREMIO, and LUCENTIO disguised, with books under his arm.] Master, master, look about you: who goes there, ha?