Page 1421 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

ACT I IT

Scene I IT

Flourish. Enter Lucentio and his man Tranio.

LUCENT IO

Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arriv’d for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy,
And by my father’s love and leave am arm’d [5]
With his good will and thy good company,
My trusty servant well approv’d in all,
Here let us breathe and haply institute
A course of learning and ingenious studies.
Pisa renowned for grave citizens [10]
Gave me my being and my father first,
A merchant of great traffic through the world,
Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii.
Vincentio’s son, brought up in Florence,
It shall become to serve all hopes conceiv’d [15]
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds.
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study
Virtue, and that part of philosophy
Will I apply that treats of happiness
By virtue specially to be achiev’d. [20]
Tell me thy mind, for I have Pisa left
And am to Padua come as he that leaves
A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep,
And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.

T RANIO

Mi perdonato, gentle master mine. [25]
I am in all affected as yourself,
Glad that you thus continue your resolve