Page 1432 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

HORT ENSIO

Alla nostra casa ben venuto, molto honorato [25] signor mio Petrucio.
Rise, Grumio, rise. We will compound this quarrel.

GRUMIO

Nay, ’tis no matter, sir, what he ’leges in Latin. If this be not a lawful cause
for me to leave his service, look you, sir. He bid me knock him and rap him
soundly, [30] sir. Well, was it fit for a servant to use his master so, being
perhaps, for aught I see, two and thirty, a pip out?

Whom would to God I had well knock’d at first,
Then had not Grumio come by the worst. [35]

PET RUCHIO

A senseless villain. Good Hortensio,
I bade the rascal knock upon your gate,
And could not get him for my heart to do it.

GRUMIO

Knock at the gate? O heavens! Spake you not these words plain, ‘Sirrah,
knock me here, rap me here, [40] knock me well, and knock me soundly’?
And come you now with ‘knocking at the gate’?

PET RUCHIO

Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you.

HORT ENSIO

Petruchio, patience, I am Grumio’s pledge.
Why, this a heavy chance ’twixt him and you, [45]
Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio.
And tell me now, sweet friend, what happy gale
Blows you to Padua from old Verona?

PET RUCHIO

Such wind as scatters young men through the world
To seek their fortunes farther than at home, [50]
Where small experience grows. But in a few,
Signor Hortensio, thus it stands with me:
Antonio, my father, is deceas’d,
And I have thrust myself into this maze,
Haply to wive and thrive as best I may. [55]