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THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
A Lord. |
|
CHRISTOPHER SLY a tinker. (SLY:) | Persons in
| the Induction.
Hostess, Page, Players, |
Huntsmen, and Servants. |
(Hostess:)
(Page:)
(A Player:)
(First Huntsman:)
(Second Huntsman:)
(Messenger:)
(First Servant:)
(Second Servant:)
(Third Servant:)
BAPTISTA a rich gentleman of Padua.
VINCENTIO an old gentleman of Pisa.
LUCENTIO son to Vincentio, in love with Bianca.
PETRUCHIO a gentleman of Verona, a suitor to
Katharina.
HORTENSIO |
BIONDELLO |
NATHANIEL |
|
NICHOLAS | servants to Petruchio.
|
JOSEPH |
|
PHILIP |
|
A Pedant.
KATHARINA the shrew, |
| daughters to Baptista.
BIANCA |
Widow.
Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants attending on Baptista and Petruchio.
(Tailor:)
(Haberdasher:)
(First Servant:)
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
INDUCTION
[Enter Hostess and SLY]
[Exit]
[Falls asleep]
[Horns winded. Enter a Lord from hunting, with his train]
He cried upon it at the merest loss
And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent: Trust me, I take him for the better dog.
This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly.
As he shall think by our true diligence
He is no less than what we say he is.
[Some bear out SLY. A trumpet sounds]
Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds:
[Exit Servingman]
Belike, some noble gentleman that means,
Travelling some journey, to repose him here.
[Re-enter Servingman]
How now! who is it?
[Enter Players]
Now, fellows, you are welcome.
Lord Do you intend to stay with me tonight? A Player So please your lordship to accept our duty.
A Player I think 'twas Soto that your honour means.
A Player Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves,
Were he the veriest antic in the world.
[Exit one with the Players]
Sirrah, go you to Barthol'mew my page,
And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady: That done, conduct him to the drunkard's chamber; And call him 'madam,' do him obeisance.
Tell him from me, as he will win my love,
He bear himself with honourable action,
Such as he hath observed in noble ladies
Unto their lords, by them accomplished:
Such duty to the drunkard let him do
With soft low tongue and lowly courtesy,
And say 'What is't your honour will command, Wherein your lady and your humble wife
May show her duty and make known her love?' And then with kind embracements, tempting kisses, And with declining head into his bosom,
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd
To see her noble lord restored to health,
Who for this seven years hath esteem'd him No better than a poor and loathsome beggar: And if the boy have not a woman's gift
To rain a shower of commanded tears,
An onion will do well for such a shift,
Which in a napkin being close convey'd
Shall in despite enforce a watery eye.
See this dispatch'd with all the haste thou canst: Anon I'll give thee more instructions.
[Exit a Servingman]
I know the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gait and action of a gentlewoman:
I long to hear him call the drunkard husband, And how my men will stay themselves from laughter When they do homage to this simple peasant. I'll in to counsel them; haply my presence May well abate the over-merry spleen
Which otherwise would grow into extremes.
[Exeunt]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
INDUCTION
SCENE II A bedchamber in the Lord's house.
[Enter aloft SLY, with Attendants; some with apparel, others with basin and ewer and appurtenances; and Lord]
[Music]
And twenty caged nightingales do sing:
Or wilt thou sleep? we'll have thee to a couch Softer and sweeter than the lustful bed
On purpose trimm'd up for Semiramis.
Say thou wilt walk; we will bestrew the ground: Or wilt thou ride? thy horses shall be trapp'd, Their harness studded all with gold and pearl. Dost thou love hawking? thou hast hawks will soar Above the morning lark or wilt thou hunt?
Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth.
As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe.
Adonis painted by a running brook,
And Cytherea all in sedges hid,
Which seem to move and wanton with her breath, Even as the waving sedges play with wind.
Scratching her legs that one shall swear she bleeds, And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep,
So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn.
Like envious floods o'er-run her lovely face, She was the fairest creature in the world; And yet she is inferior to none.
O, how we joy to see your wit restored!
O, that once more you knew but what you are! These fifteen years you have been in a dream; Or when you waked, so waked as if you slept.
For though you lay here in this goodly chamber, Yet would you say ye were beaten out of door; And rail upon the hostess of the house;
And say you would present her at the leet, Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd quarts: Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket.
Nor no such men as you have reckon'd up,
As Stephen Sly and did John Naps of Greece And Peter Turph and Henry Pimpernell
And twenty more such names and men as these Which never were nor no man ever saw.
[Enter the Page as a lady, with attendants]
[Enter a Messenger]
Messenger Your honour's players, heating your amendment,
Are come to play a pleasant comedy;
For so your doctors hold it very meet,
Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your blood,
And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy:
Therefore they thought it good you hear a play And frame your mind to mirth and merriment, Which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.
[Flourish]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
[Enter LUCENTIO and his man TRANIO]
LUCENTIO Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy;
And by my father's love and leave am arm'd
With his good will and thy good company,
My trusty servant, well approved in all,
Here let us breathe and haply institute
A course of learning and ingenious studies. Pisa renown'd for grave citizens
Gave me my being and my father first,
A merchant of great traffic through the world, Vincetino come of Bentivolii.
Vincetino's son brought up in Florence
It shall become to serve all hopes conceived, 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 achieved.
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.
LUCENTIO Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise.
If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore,
We could at once put us in readiness,
And take a lodging fit to entertain
Such friends as time in Padua shall beget.
But stay a while: what company is this?
[Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand by]
BAPTISTA Gentlemen, importune me no farther,
For how I firmly am resolved you know;
That is, not bestow my youngest daughter
Before I have a husband for the elder:
If either of you both love Katharina,
Because I know you well and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.
KATHARINA I pray you, sir, is it your will
To make a stale of me amongst these mates?
HORTENSIO Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you,
Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.
KATHARINA I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear:
I wis it is not half way to her heart;
But if it were, doubt not her care should be
To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool
And paint your face and use you like a fool.
HORTENSIA From all such devils, good Lord deliver us!
LUCENTIO But in the other's silence do I see
Maid's mild behavior and sobriety.
Peace, Tranio!
TRANIO Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill.
BAPTISTA Gentlemen, that I may soon make good
What I have said, Bianca, get you in:
And let it not displease thee, good Bianca,
For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl.
KATHARINA A pretty peat! it is best
Put finger in the eye, an she knew why.
LUCENTIO Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva speak.
HORTENSIO Signior Baptista, will you be so strange?
Sorry am I that our good will effects
Bianca's grief.
GREMIO Why will you mew her up,
Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,
And make her bear the penance of her tongue?
BAPTISTA Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolved:
Go in, Bianca:
[Exit BIANCA]
And for I know she taketh most delight
In music, instruments and poetry,
Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, Fit to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio, Or Signior Gremio, you, know any such,
Prefer them hither; for to cunning men
I will be very kind, and liberal
To mine own children in good bringing up:
And so farewell. Katharina, you may stay;
For I have more to commune with Bianca.
[Exit]
KATHARINA Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not? What,
shall I be appointed hours; as though, belike, I
knew not what to take and what to leave, ha?
[Exit]
HORTENSIO So will I, Signior Gremio: but a word, I pray.
Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brooked
parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both,
that we may yet again have access to our fair
mistress and be happy rivals in Bianco's love, to
labour and effect one thing specially.
HORTENSIO Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister. GREMIO A husband! a devil. HORTENSIO I say, a husband.
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.
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 all by helping Baptista's eldest daughter
to a husband we set his youngest free for a husband,
and then have to't a fresh. Sweet Bianca! Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the ring. How say you, Signior Gremio?
[Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO]
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 secret and as dear
As Anna to the queen of Carthage was,
Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,
If I achieve not this young modest girl.
Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst; Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.
LUCENTIO Gramercies, lad, go forward; this contents:
The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.
LUCENTIO O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face,
Such as the daughter of Agenor had,
That made great Jove to humble him to her hand.
When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand.
LUCENTIO Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move
And with her breath she did perfume the air:
Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.
LUCENTIO Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he!
But art thou not advised, he took some care
To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?
TRANIO Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 'tis plotted.
LUCENTIO I have it, Tranio.
TRANIO Master, for my hand,
Both our inventions meet and jump in one.
LUCENTIO Tell me thine first.
LUCENTIO It is: may it be done?
LUCENTIO Basta; content thee, for I have it full.
We have not yet been seen in any house,
Nor can we lie 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.
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?
BIONDELLO Where have I been! Nay, how now! where are you?
Master, has my fellow Tranio stolen your clothes? Or
you stolen his? or both? pray, what's the news?
LUCENTIO Sirrah, come hither: 'tis no time to jest,
And therefore frame your manners to the time.
Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life,
Puts my apparel and my countenance on,
And I for my escape have put on his;
For in a quarrel since I came ashore
I kill'd a man and fear I was descried:
Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes, While I make way from hence to save my life: You understand me?
BIONDELLO I, sir! ne'er a whit.
LUCENTIO And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth:
Tranio is changed into Lucentio.
BIONDELLO The better for him: would I were so too!
LUCENTIO Tranio, let's go: one thing more rests, that
thyself execute, to make one among these wooers: if
thou ask me why, sufficeth, my reasons are both good
and weighty.
[Exeunt]
[The presenters above speak]
[They sit and mark]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
SCENE II Padua. Before HORTENSIO'S house.
[Enter PETRUCHIO and his man GRUMIO]
PETRUCHIO Verona, for a while I take my leave,
To see my friends in Padua, but of all
My best beloved and approved friend,
Hortensio; and I trow this is his house.
Here, sirrah Grumio; knock, I say.
PETRUCHIO Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.
PETRUCHIO Villain, I say, knock me at this gate
And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate.
PETRUCHIO Will it not be?
Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll ring it;
I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it.
[He wrings him by the ears]
PETRUCHIO Now, knock when I bid you, sirrah villain!
[Enter HORTENSIO]
HORTENSIO How now! what's the matter? My old friend Grumio!
and my good friend Petruchio! How do you all at Verona?
PETRUCHIO Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray?
'Con tutto il cuore, ben trovato,' may I say.
HORTENSIO 'Alla nostra casa ben venuto, molto honorato signor
mio Petruchio.' Rise, Grumio, rise: we will compound
this quarrel.
PETRUCHIO A senseless villain! Good Hortensio,
I bade the rascal knock upon your gate
And could not get him for my heart to do it.
PETRUCHIO Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you.
HORTENSIO Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge:
Why, this's a heavy chance 'twixt him and you,
Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio.
And tell me now, sweet friend, what happy gale
Blows you to Padua here from old Verona?
PETRUCHIO Such wind as scatters young men through the world,
To seek their fortunes farther than at home
Where small experience grows. But in a few,
Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me:
Antonio, my father, is deceased;
And I have thrust myself into this maze,
Haply to wive and thrive as best I may:
Crowns in my purse I have and goods at home, And so am come abroad to see the world.
HORTENSIO Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee
And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife?
Thou'ldst thank me but a little for my counsel:
And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich
And very rich: but thou'rt too much my friend,
And I'll not wish thee to her.
PETRUCHIO Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we
Few words suffice; and therefore, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife,
As wealth is burden of my wooing dance,
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
As old as Sibyl and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xanthippe, or a worse,
She moves me not, or not removes, at least, Affection's edge in me, were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatic seas:
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.
HORTENSIO Petruchio, since we are stepp'd thus far in,
I will continue that I broach'd in jest.
I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife
With wealth enough and young and beauteous,
Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman:
Her only fault, and that is faults enough, Is that she is intolerable curst
And shrewd and froward, so beyond all measure That, were my state far worser than it is, I would not wed her for a mine of gold.
PETRUCHIO Hortensio, peace! thou know'st not gold's effect:
Tell me her father's name and 'tis enough;
For I will board her, though she chide as loud
As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.
HORTENSIO Her father is Baptista Minola,
An affable and courteous gentleman:
Her name is Katharina Minola,
Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue.
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.
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 Binaca,
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 rehearsed, That ever Katharina will be woo'd;
Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en,
That none shall have access unto Bianca
Till Katharina the curst have got a husband.
HORTENSIO Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace,
And offer me disguised 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.
[Enter GREMIO, and LUCENTIO disguised]
Master, master, look about you: who goes there, ha?
HORTENSIO Peace, Grumio! it is the rival of my love.
Petruchio, stand by a while.
GRUMIO A proper stripling and an amorous!
LUCENTIO Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you
As for my patron, stand you so assured,
As firmly as yourself were still in place:
Yea, and perhaps with more successful words
Than you, unless you were a scholar, sir.
GREMIO O this learning, what a thing it is!
PETRUCHIO Peace, sirrah! HORTENSIO Grumio, mum! God save you, Signior Gremio.
HORTENSIO 'Tis well; and I have met a gentleman
Hath promised me to help me to another,
A fine musician to instruct our mistress;
So shall I no whit be behind in duty
To fair Bianca, so beloved of me.
GREMIO Beloved of me; and that my deeds shall prove.
HORTENSIO Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love:
Listen to me, and if you speak me fair,
I'll tell you news indifferent good for either.
Here is a gentleman whom by chance I met,
Upon agreement from us to his liking,
Will undertake to woo curst Katharina,
Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.
PETRUCHIO I know she is an irksome brawling scold:
If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.
GREMIO No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman?
PETRUCHIO Born in Verona, old Antonio's son:
My father dead, my fortune lives for me;
And I do hope good days and long to see.
PETRUCHIO Will I live?
GRUMIO Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her.
PETRUCHIO Why came I hither but to that intent?
Think you a little din can daunt mine ears?
Have I not in my time heard lions roar?
Have I not heard the sea puff'd up with winds
Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat?
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field, And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies? Have I not in a pitched battle heard
Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? And do you tell me of a woman's tongue,
That gives not half so great a blow to hear As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire?
Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.
HORTENSIO I promised we would be contributors
And bear his charging of wooing, whatsoe'er.
GREMIO And so we will, provided that he win her.
[Enter TRANIO brave, and BIONDELLO]
BIONDELLO He that has the two fair daughters: is't he you mean?
PETRUCHIO Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray.
TRANIO I love no chiders, sir. Biondello, let's away.
LUCENTIO Well begun, Tranio.
HORTENSIO Sir, a word ere you go;
Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no?
TRANIO And if I be, sir, is it any offence?
GREMIO But so is not she.
HORTENSIO That she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio.
LUCENTIO Sir, give him head: I know he'll prove a jade.
PETRUCHIO Hortensio, to what end are all these words?
HORTENSIO Sir, let me be so bold as ask you,
Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter?
PETRUCHIO Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by.
PETRUCHIO Sir, understand you this of me in sooth:
The youngest daughter whom you hearken for
Her father keeps from all access of suitors,
And will not promise her to any man
Until the elder sister first be wed:
The younger then is free and not before.
HORTENSIO Sir, you say well and well you do conceive;
And since you do profess to be a suitor,
You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman,
To whom we all rest generally beholding.
BIONDELLO |
HORTENSIO The motion's good indeed and be it so,
Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto.
[Exeunt]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
[Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA]
KATHARINA Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell
Whom thou lovest best: see thou dissemble not.
KATHARINA Minion, thou liest. Is't not Hortensio?
KATHARINA O then, belike, you fancy riches more:
You will have Gremio to keep you fair.
KATHARINA If that be jest, then all the rest was so.
[Strikes her]
[Enter BAPTISTA]
BAPTISTA Why, how now, dame! whence grows this insolence?
Bianca, stand aside. Poor girl! she weeps.
Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her.
For shame, thou helding of a devilish spirit,
Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong thee?
When did she cross thee with a bitter word?
KATHARINA Her silence flouts me, and I'll be revenged.
[Flies after BIANCA]
BAPTISTA What, in my sight? Bianca, get thee in.
[Exit BIANCA]
KATHARINA What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see
She is your treasure, she must have a husband;
I must dance bare-foot on her wedding day
And for your love to her lead apes in hell.
Talk not to me: I will go sit and weep
Till I can find occasion of revenge.
[Exit]
BAPTISTA Was ever gentleman thus grieved as I?
But who comes here?
[Enter GREMIO, LUCENTIO in the habit of a mean man; PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as a musician; and TRANIO, with BIONDELLO bearing a lute and books]
BAPTISTA Good morrow, neighbour Gremio.
God save you, gentlemen!
PETRUCHIO And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter
Call'd Katharina, fair and virtuous?
BAPTISTA I have a daughter, sir, called Katharina.
GREMIO You are too blunt: go to it orderly.
PETRUCHIO You wrong me, Signior Gremio: give me leave.
I am a gentleman of Verona, sir,
That, hearing of her beauty and her wit,
Her affability and bashful modesty,
Her wondrous qualities and mild behavior,
Am bold to show myself a forward guest
Within your house, to make mine eye the witness Of that report which I so oft have heard.
And, for an entrance to my entertainment,
I do present you with a man of mine,
[Presenting HORTENSIO]
Cunning in music and the mathematics,
To instruct her fully in those sciences,
Whereof I know she is not ignorant:
Accept of him, or else you do me wrong:
His name is Licio, born in Mantua.
BAPTISTA You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake.
But for my daughter Katharina, this I know,
She is not for your turn, the more my grief.
PETRUCHIO I see you do not mean to part with her,
Or else you like not of my company.
BAPTISTA Mistake me not; I speak but as I find.
Whence are you, sir? what may I call your name?
PETRUCHIO Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son,
A man well known throughout all Italy.
BAPTISTA I know him well: you are welcome for his sake.
PETRUCHIO O, pardon me, Signior Gremio; I would fain be doing.
[Presenting LUCENTIO]
that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in music and mathematics: his name is Cambio; pray, accept his service.
BAPTISTA A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio.
Welcome, good Cambio.
[To TRANIO]
But, gentle sir, methinks you walk like a stranger: may I be so bold to know the cause of your coming?
BAPTISTA Lucentio is your name; of whence, I pray?
TRANIO Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio.
BAPTISTA A mighty man of Pisa; by report
I know him well: you are very welcome, sir,
Take you the lute, and you the set of books;
You shall go see your pupils presently.
Holla, within!
[Enter a Servant]
Sirrah, lead these gentlemen
To my daughters; and tell them both,
These are their tutors: bid them use them well.
[Exit Servant, with LUCENTIO and HORTENSIO, BIONDELLO following]
We will go walk a little in the orchard,
And then to dinner. You are passing welcome, And so I pray you all to think yourselves.
PETRUCHIO Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste,
And every day I cannot come to woo.
You knew my father well, and in him me,
Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,
Which I have better'd rather than decreased:
Then tell me, if I get your daughter's love, What dowry shall I have with her to wife?
BAPTISTA After my death the one half of my lands,
And in possession twenty thousand crowns.
PETRUCHIO And, for that dowry, I'll assure her of
Her widowhood, be it that she survive me,
In all my lands and leases whatsoever:
Let specialties be therefore drawn between us,
That covenants may be kept on either hand.
BAPTISTA Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd,
That is, her love; for that is all in all.
PETRUCHIO Why, that is nothing: for I tell you, father,
I am as peremptory as she proud-minded;
And where two raging fires meet together
They do consume the thing that feeds their fury:
Though little fire grows great with little wind,
Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all: So I to her and so she yields to me;
For I am rough and woo not like a babe.
BAPTISTA Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed!
But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words.
PETRUCHIO Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds,
That shake not, though they blow perpetually.
[Re-enter HORTENSIO, with his head broke]
BAPTISTA How now, my friend! why dost thou look so pale?
HORTENSIO For fear, I promise you, if I look pale.
BAPTISTA What, will my daughter prove a good musician?
HORTENSIO I think she'll sooner prove a soldier
Iron may hold with her, but never lutes.
BAPTISTA Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute?
HORTENSIO Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me.
I did but tell her she mistook her frets,
And bow'd her hand to teach her fingering;
When, with a most impatient devilish spirit,
'Frets, call you these?' quoth she; 'I'll fume
with them:'
And, with that word, she struck me on the head, And through the instrument my pate made way; And there I stood amazed for a while,
As on a pillory, looking through the lute; While she did call me rascal fiddler
And twangling Jack; with twenty such vile terms, As had she studied to misuse me so.
PETRUCHIO Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench;
I love her ten times more than e'er I did:
O, how I long to have some chat with her!
BAPTISTA Well, go with me and be not so discomfited:
Proceed in practise with my younger daughter;
She's apt to learn and thankful for good turns.
Signior Petruchio, will you go with us,
Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you?
PETRUCHIO I pray you do.
[Exeunt all but PETRUCHIO]
I will attend her here,
And woo her with some spirit when she comes. Say that she rail; why then I'll tell her plain She sings as sweetly as a nightingale:
Say that she frown, I'll say she looks as clear As morning roses newly wash'd with dew:
Say she be mute and will not speak a word; Then I'll commend her volubility,
And say she uttereth piercing eloquence:
If she do bid me pack, I'll give her thanks, As though she bid me stay by her a week:
If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day
When I shall ask the banns and when be married. But here she comes; and now, Petruchio, speak.
[Enter KATHARINA]
Good morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear.
KATHARINA Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing:
They call me Katharina that do talk of me.
PETRUCHIO You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain Kate,
And bonny Kate and sometimes Kate the curst;
But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom
Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate,
For dainties are all Kates, and therefore, Kate,
Take this of me, Kate of my consolation;
Hearing thy mildness praised in every town, Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded, Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,
Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife.
KATHARINA Moved! in good time: let him that moved you hither
Remove you hence: I knew you at the first
You were a moveable.
PETRUCHIO Why, what's a moveable?
KATHARINA A join'd-stool.
PETRUCHIO Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me.
KATHARINA Asses are made to bear, and so are you.
PETRUCHIO Women are made to bear, and so are you.
KATHARINA No such jade as you, if me you mean.
PETRUCHIO Alas! good Kate, I will not burden thee;
For, knowing thee to be but young and light--
KATHARINA Too light for such a swain as you to catch;
And yet as heavy as my weight should be.
PETRUCHIO Should be! should--buzz!
KATHARINA Well ta'en, and like a buzzard.
PETRUCHIO O slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard take thee?
KATHARINA Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a buzzard.
PETRUCHIO Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you are too angry.
KATHARINA If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
PETRUCHIO My remedy is then, to pluck it out.
KATHARINA Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies,
PETRUCHIO Who knows not where a wasp does
wear his sting? In his tail.
KATHARINA In his tongue.
PETRUCHIO Whose tongue?
KATHARINA Yours, if you talk of tails: and so farewell.
PETRUCHIO What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again,
Good Kate; I am a gentleman.
KATHARINA That I'll try.
[She strikes him]
PETRUCHIO I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again.
KATHARINA So may you lose your arms:
If you strike me, you are no gentleman;
And if no gentleman, why then no arms.
PETRUCHIO A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books!
KATHARINA What is your crest? a coxcomb?
PETRUCHIO A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen.
KATHARINA No cock of mine; you crow too like a craven.
PETRUCHIO Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour.
KATHARINA It is my fashion, when I see a crab.
PETRUCHIO Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not sour.
KATHARINA There is, there is.
PETRUCHIO Then show it me.
KATHARINA Had I a glass, I would.
PETRUCHIO What, you mean my face?
KATHARINA Well aim'd of such a young one.
PETRUCHIO Now, by Saint George, I am too young for you.
KATHARINA Yet you are wither'd.
PETRUCHIO 'Tis with cares.
KATHARINA I care not.
PETRUCHIO Nay, hear you, Kate: in sooth you scape not so.
KATHARINA I chafe you, if I tarry: let me go.
PETRUCHIO No, not a whit: I find you passing gentle.
'Twas told me you were rough and coy and sullen,
And now I find report a very liar;
For thou are pleasant, gamesome, passing courteous,
But slow in speech, yet sweet as spring-time flowers:
Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look askance, Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will,
Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk, But thou with mildness entertain'st thy wooers, With gentle conference, soft and affable.
Why does the world report that Kate doth limp? O slanderous world! Kate like the hazel-twig Is straight and slender and as brown in hue As hazel nuts and sweeter than the kernels. O, let me see thee walk: thou dost not halt.
KATHARINA Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command.
PETRUCHIO Did ever Dian so become a grove
As Kate this chamber with her princely gait?
O, be thou Dian, and let her be Kate;
And then let Kate be chaste and Dian sportful!
KATHARINA Where did you study all this goodly speech?
PETRUCHIO It is extempore, from my mother-wit.
KATHARINA A witty mother! witless else her son.
PETRUCHIO Am I not wise?
KATHARINA Yes; keep you warm.
PETRUCHIO Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharina, in thy bed:
And therefore, setting all this chat aside,
Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented
That you shall be my wife; your dowry 'greed on;
And, Will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn;
For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty, Thy beauty, that doth make me like thee well, Thou must be married to no man but me;
For I am he am born to tame you Kate,
And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate
Conformable as other household Kates.
Here comes your father: never make denial; I must and will have Katharina to my wife.
[Re-enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and TRANIO]
BAPTISTA Now, Signior Petruchio, how speed you with my daughter?
PETRUCHIO How but well, sir? how but well?
It were impossible I should speed amiss.
BAPTISTA Why, how now, daughter Katharina! in your dumps?
KATHARINA Call you me daughter? now, I promise you
You have show'd a tender fatherly regard,
To wish me wed to one half lunatic;
A mad-cup ruffian and a swearing Jack,
That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.
PETRUCHIO Father, 'tis thus: yourself and all the world,
That talk'd of her, have talk'd amiss of her:
If she be curst, it is for policy,
For she's not froward, but modest as the dove;
She is not hot, but temperate as the morn;
For patience she will prove a second Grissel, And Roman Lucrece for her chastity:
And to conclude, we have 'greed so well together, That upon Sunday is the wedding-day.
KATHARINA I'll see thee hang'd on Sunday first.
PETRUCHIO Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself:
If she and I be pleased, what's that to you?
'Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain, being alone,
That she shall still be curst in company.
I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe
How much she loves me: O, the kindest Kate! She hung about my neck; and kiss on kiss
She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath, That in a twink she won me to her love.
O, you are novices! 'tis a world to see,
How tame, when men and women are alone,
A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew. Give me thy hand, Kate: I will unto Venice, To buy apparel 'gainst the wedding-day.
Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests; I will be sure my Katharina shall be fine.
BAPTISTA I know not what to say: but give me your hands;
God send you joy, Petruchio! 'tis a match.
PETRUCHIO Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu;
I will to Venice; Sunday comes apace:
We will have rings and things and fine array;
And kiss me, Kate, we will be married o'Sunday.
[Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA severally]
BAPTISTA Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant's part,
And venture madly on a desperate mart.
BAPTISTA The gain I seek is, quiet in the match.
BAPTISTA Content you, gentlemen: I will compound this strife:
'Tis deeds must win the prize; and he of both
That can assure my daughter greatest dower
Shall have my Bianca's love.
Say, Signior Gremio, What can you assure her?
BAPTISTA I must confess your offer is the best;
And, let your father make her the assurance,
She is your own; else, you must pardon me,
if you should die before him, where's her dower?
TRANIO That's but a cavil: he is old, I young.
BAPTISTA Well, gentlemen,
I am thus resolved: on Sunday next you know
My daughter Katharina is to be married:
Now, on the Sunday following, shall Bianca
Be bride to you, if you this assurance;
If not, Signior Gremio:
And so, I take my leave, and thank you both.
[Exit BAPTISTA]
Now I fear thee not:
Sirrah young gamester, your father were a fool To give thee all, and in his waning age
Set foot under thy table: tut, a toy!
An old Italian fox is not so kind, my boy.
[Exit]
[Exit]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
[Enter LUCENTIO, HORTENSIO, and BIANCA]
LUCENTIO Fiddler, forbear; you grow too forward, sir:
Have you so soon forgot the entertainment
Her sister Katharina welcomed you withal?
HORTENSIO But, wrangling pedant, this is
The patroness of heavenly harmony:
Then give me leave to have prerogative;
And when in music we have spent an hour,
Your lecture shall have leisure for as much.
LUCENTIO Preposterous ass, that never read so far
To know the cause why music was ordain'd!
Was it not to refresh the mind of man
After his studies or his usual pain?
Then give me leave to read philosophy,
And while I pause, serve in your harmony.
HORTENSIO Sirrah, I will not bear these braves of thine.
HORTENSIO You'll leave his lecture when I am in tune?
LUCENTIO That will be never: tune your instrument.
BIANCA Where left we last?
LUCENTIO Here, madam:
'Hic ibat Simois; hic est Sigeia tellus;
Hic steterat Priami regia celsa senis.'
BIANCA Construe them.
LUCENTIO 'Hic ibat,' as I told you before, 'Simois,' I am
Lucentio, 'hic est,' son unto Vincentio of Pisa,
'Sigeia tellus,' disguised thus to get your love;
'Hic steterat,' and that Lucentio that comes
a-wooing, 'Priami,' is my man Tranio, 'regia,'
bearing my port, 'celsa senis,' that we might beguile the old pantaloon.
HORTENSIO Madam, my instrument's in tune. BIANCA Let's hear. O fie! the treble jars. LUCENTIO Spit in the hole, man, and tune again.
HORTENSIO Madam, 'tis now in tune. LUCENTIO All but the base. HORTENSIO The base is right; 'tis the base knave that jars.
[Aside]
How fiery and forward our pedant is!
Now, for my life, the knave doth court my love: Pedascule, I'll watch you better yet.
LUCENTIO Mistrust it not: for, sure, AEacides
Was Ajax, call'd so from his grandfather.
HORTENSIO You may go walk, and give me leave a while:
My lessons make no music in three parts.
LUCENTIO Are you so formal, sir? well, I must wait,
[Aside]
And watch withal; for, but I be deceived,
Our fine musician groweth amorous.
HORTENSIO Madam, before you touch the instrument,
To learn the order of my fingering,
I must begin with rudiments of art;
To teach you gamut in a briefer sort,
More pleasant, pithy and effectual,
Than hath been taught by any of my trade:
And there it is in writing, fairly drawn.
HORTENSIO Yet read the gamut of Hortensio.
[Enter a Servant]
[Exeunt BIANCA and Servant]
LUCENTIO Faith, mistress, then I have no cause to stay.
[Exit]
HORTENSIO But I have cause to pry into this pedant:
Methinks he looks as though he were in love:
Yet if thy thoughts, Bianca, be so humble
To cast thy wandering eyes on every stale,
Seize thee that list: if once I find thee ranging,
Hortensio will be quit with thee by changing.
[Exit]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
SCENE II Padua. Before BAPTISTA'S house.
[Enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, TRANIO, KATHARINA, BIANCA, LUCENTIO, and others, attendants]
BAPTISTA [To TRANIO] Signior Lucentio, this is the
'pointed day.
That Katharina and Petruchio should be married,
And yet we hear not of our son-in-law.
What will be said? what mockery will it be,
To want the bridegroom when the priest attends To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage! What says Lucentio to this shame of ours?
KATHARINA No shame but mine: I must, forsooth, be forced
To give my hand opposed against my heart
Unto a mad-brain rudesby full of spleen;
Who woo'd in haste and means to wed at leisure.
I told you, I, he was a frantic fool,
Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior: And, to be noted for a merry man,
He'll woo a thousand, 'point the day of marriage, Make feasts, invite friends, and proclaim the banns; Yet never means to wed where he hath woo'd. Now must the world point at poor Katharina, And say, 'Lo, there is mad Petruchio's wife, If it would please him come and marry her!'
KATHARINA Would Katharina had never seen him though!
[Exit weeping, followed by BIANCA and others]
BAPTISTA Go, girl; I cannot blame thee now to weep;
For such an injury would vex a very saint,
Much more a shrew of thy impatient humour.
[Enter BIONDELLO]
BIONDELLO Master, master! news, old news, and such news as
you never heard of!
BAPTISTA Is it new and old too? how may that be?
BIONDELLO Why, is it not news, to hear of Petruchio's coming?
BAPTISTA Is he come?
BIONDELLO Why, no, sir.
BAPTISTA What then?
BIONDELLO He is coming.
BAPTISTA When will he be here?
BIONDELLO When he stands where I am and sees you there.
TRANIO But say, what to thine old news?
BIONDELLO Why, Petruchio is coming in a new hat and an old
jerkin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned, a pair
of boots that have been candle-cases, one buckled,
another laced, an old rusty sword ta'en out of the
town-armory, with a broken hilt, and chapeless;
with two broken points: his horse hipped with an old mothy saddle and stirrups of no kindred; besides, possessed with the glanders and like to mose in the chine; troubled with the lampass, infected with the fashions, full of wingdalls, sped with spavins, rayed with yellows, past cure of the fives, stark spoiled with the staggers, begnawn with the bots, swayed in the back and shoulder-shotten; near-legged before and with, a half-chequed bit and a head-stall of sheeps leather which, being restrained to keep him from stumbling, hath been often burst and now repaired with knots; one girth six time pieced and a woman's crupper of velure, which hath two letters for her name fairly set down in studs, and here and there pieced with packthread.
BAPTISTA Who comes with him?
BIONDELLO O, sir, his lackey, for all the world caparisoned
like the horse; with a linen stock on one leg and a
kersey boot-hose on the other, gartered with a red
and blue list; an old hat and 'the humour of forty
fancies' pricked in't for a feather: a monster, a
very monster in apparel, and not like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey.
BAPTISTA I am glad he's come, howsoe'er he comes.
BIONDELLO Why, sir, he comes not.
BAPTISTA Didst thou not say he comes?
BIONDELLO Who? that Petruchio came?
BAPTISTA Ay, that Petruchio came.
BIONDELLO No, sir, I say his horse comes, with him on his back.
BAPTISTA Why, that's all one.
BIONDELLO Nay, by Saint Jamy,
I hold you a penny,
A horse and a man
Is more than one,
And yet not many.
[Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO]
PETRUCHIO Come, where be these gallants? who's at home? BAPTISTA You are welcome, sir. PETRUCHIO And yet I come not well. BAPTISTA And yet you halt not.
PETRUCHIO Were it better, I should rush in thus.
But where is Kate? where is my lovely bride?
How does my father? Gentles, methinks you frown:
And wherefore gaze this goodly company,
As if they saw some wondrous monument,
Some comet or unusual prodigy?
BAPTISTA Why, sir, you know this is your wedding-day:
First were we sad, fearing you would not come;
Now sadder, that you come so unprovided.
Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate,
An eye-sore to our solemn festival!
PETRUCHIO Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear:
Sufficeth I am come to keep my word,
Though in some part enforced to digress;
Which, at more leisure, I will so excuse
As you shall well be satisfied withal.
But where is Kate? I stay too long from her: The morning wears, 'tis time we were at church.
PETRUCHIO Not I, believe me: thus I'll visit her.
BAPTISTA But thus, I trust, you will not marry her.
PETRUCHIO Good sooth, even thus; therefore ha' done with words:
To me she's married, not unto my clothes:
Could I repair what she will wear in me,
As I can change these poor accoutrements,
'Twere well for Kate and better for myself.
But what a fool am I to chat with you,
When I should bid good morrow to my bride, And seal the title with a lovely kiss!
[Exeunt PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO]
BAPTISTA I'll after him, and see the event of this.
[Exeunt BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and attendants]
LUCENTIO Were it not that my fellow-school-master
Doth watch Bianca's steps so narrowly,
'Twere good, methinks, to steal our marriage;
Which once perform'd, let all the world say no,
I'll keep mine own, despite of all the world.
[Re-enter GREMIO]
Signior Gremio, came you from the church?
[Music]
[Re-enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, BIANCA, BAPTISTA, HORTENSIO, GRUMIO, and Train]
PETRUCHIO Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains:
I know you think to dine with me to-day,
And have prepared great store of wedding cheer;
But so it is, my haste doth call me hence,
And therefore here I mean to take my leave.
BAPTISTA Is't possible you will away to-night?
PETRUCHIO I must away to-day, before night come:
Make it no wonder; if you knew my business,
You would entreat me rather go than stay.
And, honest company, I thank you all,
That have beheld me give away myself
To this most patient, sweet and virtuous wife: Dine with my father, drink a health to me; For I must hence; and farewell to you all.
PETRUCHIO It may not be.
GREMIO Let me entreat you.
PETRUCHIO It cannot be.
KATHARINA Let me entreat you.
PETRUCHIO I am content.
KATHARINA Are you content to stay?
PETRUCHIO I am content you shall entreat me stay;
But yet not stay, entreat me how you can.
KATHARINA Now, if you love me, stay.
PETRUCHIO Grumio, my horse.
GRUMIO Ay, sir, they be ready: the oats have eaten the horses.
KATHARINA Nay, then,
Do what thou canst, I will not go to-day;
No, nor to-morrow, not till I please myself.
The door is open, sir; there lies your way;
You may be jogging whiles your boots are green;
For me, I'll not be gone till I please myself: 'Tis like you'll prove a jolly surly groom, That take it on you at the first so roundly.
PETRUCHIO O Kate, content thee; prithee, be not angry.
KATHARINA I will be angry: what hast thou to do?
Father, be quiet; he shall stay my leisure.
GREMIO Ay, marry, sir, now it begins to work.
KATARINA Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner:
I see a woman may be made a fool,
If she had not a spirit to resist.
PETRUCHIO They shall go forward, Kate, at thy command.
Obey the bride, you that attend on her;
Go to the feast, revel and domineer,
Carouse full measure to her maidenhead,
Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves:
But for my bonny Kate, she must with me.
Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret; I will be master of what is mine own:
She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, My household stuff, my field, my barn,
My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing;
And here she stands, touch her whoever dare; I'll bring mine action on the proudest he
That stops my way in Padua. Grumio,
Draw forth thy weapon, we are beset with thieves; Rescue thy mistress, if thou be a man.
Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate:
I'll buckler thee against a million.
[Exeunt PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, and GRUMIO]
BAPTISTA Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones.
LUCENTIO Mistress, what's your opinion of your sister?
BAPTISTA Neighbours and friends, though bride and
bridegroom wants
For to supply the places at the table,
You know there wants no junkets at the feast.
Lucentio, you shall supply the bridegroom's place:
And let Bianca take her sister's room.
BAPTISTA She shall, Lucentio. Come, gentlemen, let's go.
[Exeunt]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
[Enter GRUMIO]
[Enter CURTIS]
[Strikes him]
[Enter four or five Serving-men]
NATHANIEL Welcome home, Grumio!
NICHOLAS Fellow Grumio! NATHANIEL How now, old lad?
NATHANIEL All things is ready. How near is our master?
[Enter PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA]
PETRUCHIO Where be these knaves? What, no man at door
To hold my stirrup nor to take my horse!
Where is Nathaniel, Gregory, Philip?
ALL SERVING-MEN Here, here, sir; here, sir.
PETRUCHIO Here, sir! here, sir! here, sir! here, sir!
You logger-headed and unpolish'd grooms!
What, no attendance? no regard? no duty?
Where is the foolish knave I sent before?
GRUMIO Here, sir; as foolish as I was before.
PETRUCHIO You peasant swain! you whoreson malt-horse drudge!
Did I not bid thee meet me in the park,
And bring along these rascal knaves with thee?
PETRUCHIO Go, rascals, go, and fetch my supper in.
[Exeunt Servants]
[Singing]
Where is the life that late I led--
Where are those--Sit down, Kate, and welcome.-- Sound, sound, sound, sound!
[Re-enter Servants with supper]
Why, when, I say? Nay, good sweet Kate, be merry. Off with my boots, you rogues! you villains, when?
[Sings]
It was the friar of orders grey,
As he forth walked on his way:--
Out, you rogue! you pluck my foot awry:
Take that, and mend the plucking off the other.
[Strikes him]
Be merry, Kate. Some water, here; what, ho! Where's my spaniel Troilus? Sirrah, get you hence, And bid my cousin Ferdinand come hither:
One, Kate, that you must kiss, and be acquainted with. Where are my slippers? Shall I have some water?
[Enter one with water]
Come, Kate, and wash, and welcome heartily. You whoreson villain! will you let it fall?
[Strikes him]
KATHARINA Patience, I pray you; 'twas a fault unwilling.
PETRUCHIO A whoreson beetle-headed, flap-ear'd knave!
Come, Kate, sit down; I know you have a stomach.
Will you give thanks, sweet Kate; or else shall I?
What's this? mutton?
First Servant Ay.
PETRUCHIO Who brought it?
PETER I.
PETRUCHIO 'Tis burnt; and so is all the meat.
What dogs are these! Where is the rascal cook?
How durst you, villains, bring it from the dresser,
And serve it thus to me that love it not?
Theretake it to you, trenchers, cups, and all;
[Throws the meat, &c. about the stage]
You heedless joltheads and unmanner'd slaves! What, do you grumble? I'll be with you straight.
KATHARINA I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet:
The meat was well, if you were so contented.
PETRUCHIO I tell thee, Kate, 'twas burnt and dried away;
And I expressly am forbid to touch it,
For it engenders choler, planteth anger;
And better 'twere that both of us did fast,
Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric,
Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh. Be patient; to-morrow 't shall be mended,
And, for this night, we'll fast for company: Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber.
[Exeunt]
[Re-enter Servants severally]
NATHANIEL Peter, didst ever see the like?
[Re-enter CURTIS]
[Exeunt]
[Re-enter PETRUCHIO]
PETRUCHIO Thus have I politicly begun my reign,
And 'tis my hope to end successfully.
My falcon now is sharp and passing empty;
And till she stoop she must not be full-gorged,
For then she never looks upon her lure.
Another way I have to man my haggard,
To make her come and know her keeper's call, That is, to watch her, as we watch these kites That bate and beat and will not be obedient. She eat no meat to-day, nor none shall eat; Last night she slept not, nor to-night she shall not; As with the meat, some undeserved fault
I'll find about the making of the bed;
And here I'll fling the pillow, there the bolster, This way the coverlet, another way the sheets: Ay, and amid this hurly I intend
That all is done in reverend care of her;
And in conclusion she shall watch all night: And if she chance to nod I'll rail and brawl And with the clamour keep her still awake. This is a way to kill a wife with kindness; And thus I'll curb her mad and headstrong humour. He that knows better how to tame a shrew,
Now let him speak: 'tis charity to show.
[Exit]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
SCENE II Padua. Before BAPTISTA'S house.
[Enter TRANIO and HORTENSIO]
HORTENSIO Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
Stand by and mark the manner of his teaching.
[Enter BIANCA and LUCENTIO]
LUCENTIO Now, mistress, profit you in what you read?
BIANCA What, master, read you? first resolve me that.
LUCENTIO I read that I profess, the Art to Love.
BIANCA And may you prove, sir, master of your art!
LUCENTIO While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart!
HORTENSIO Quick proceeders, marry! Now, tell me, I pray,
You that durst swear at your mistress Bianca
Loved none in the world so well as Lucentio.
HORTENSIO Mistake no more: I am not Licio,
Nor a musician, as I seem to be;
But one that scorn to live in this disguise,
For such a one as leaves a gentleman,
And makes a god of such a cullion:
Know, sir, that I am call'd Hortensio.
HORTENSIO See, how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,
Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow
Never to woo her no more, but do forswear her,
As one unworthy all the former favours
That I have fondly flatter'd her withal.
HORTENSIO Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!
For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,
I will be married to a wealthy widow,
Ere three days pass, which hath as long loved me
As I have loved this proud disdainful haggard.
And so farewell, Signior Lucentio.
Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks, Shall win my love: and so I take my leave, In resolution as I swore before.
[Exit]
LUCENTIO Then we are rid of Licio.
[Enter BIONDELLO]
BIONDELLO O master, master, I have watch'd so long
That I am dog-weary: but at last I spied
An ancient angel coming down the hill,
Will serve the turn.
TRANIO What is he, Biondello?
BIONDELLO Master, a mercatante, or a pedant,
I know not what; but format in apparel,
In gait and countenance surely like a father.
LUCENTIO And what of him, Tranio?
[Exeunt LUCENTIO and BIANCA]
[Enter a Pedant]
TRANIO And you, sir! you are welcome.
Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?
BIONDELLO [Aside] As much as an apple doth an oyster,
and all one.
[Exeunt]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
SCENE III A room in PETRUCHIO'S house.
[Enter KATHARINA and GRUMIO]
KATHARINA The more my wrong, the more his spite appears:
What, did he marry me to famish me?
Beggars, that come unto my father's door,
Upon entreaty have a present aims;
If not, elsewhere they meet with charity:
But I, who never knew how to entreat,
Nor never needed that I should entreat,
Am starved for meat, giddy for lack of sleep, With oath kept waking and with brawling fed: And that which spites me more than all these wants, He does it under name of perfect love;
As who should say, if I should sleep or eat, 'Twere deadly sickness or else present death. I prithee go and get me some repast;
I care not what, so it be wholesome food.
KATHARINA 'Tis passing good: I prithee let me have it.
KATHARINA I like it well: good Grumio, fetch it me.
KATHARINA A dish that I do love to feed upon. GRUMIO Ay, but the mustard is too hot a little. KATHARINA Why then, the beef, and let the mustard rest.
KATHARINA Then both, or one, or any thing thou wilt. GRUMIO Why then, the mustard without the beef. KATHARINA Go, get thee gone, thou false deluding slave,
[Beats him]
That feed'st me with the very name of meat: Sorrow on thee and all the pack of you,
That triumph thus upon my misery!
Go, get thee gone, I say.
[Enter PETRUCHIO and HORTENSIO with meat]
PETRUCHIO How fares my Kate? What, sweeting, all amort?
HORTENSIO Mistress, what cheer?
KATHARINA Faith, as cold as can be.
PETRUCHIO Pluck up thy spirits; look cheerfully upon me.
Here love; thou see'st how diligent I am
To dress thy meat myself and bring it thee:
I am sure, sweet Kate, this kindness merits thanks.
What, not a word? Nay, then thou lovest it not;
And all my pains is sorted to no proof.
Here, take away this dish.
KATHARINA I pray you, let it stand.
PETRUCHIO The poorest service is repaid with thanks;
And so shall mine, before you touch the meat.
KATHARINA I thank you, sir.
HORTENSIO Signior Petruchio, fie! you are to blame.
Come, mistress Kate, I'll bear you company.
PETRUCHIO [Aside] Eat it up all, Hortensio, if thou lovest me.
Much good do it unto thy gentle heart!
Kate, eat apace: and now, my honey love,
Will we return unto thy father's house
And revel it as bravely as the best,
With silken coats and caps and golden rings, With ruffs and cuffs and fardingales and things; With scarfs and fans and double change of bravery, With amber bracelets, beads and all this knavery. What, hast thou dined? The tailor stays thy leisure, To deck thy body with his ruffling treasure.
[Enter Tailor]
Come, tailor, let us see these ornaments;
Lay forth the gown.
[Enter Haberdasher]
What news with you, sir?
Haberdasher Here is the cap your worship did bespeak.
PETRUCHIO Why, this was moulded on a porringer;
A velvet dish: fie, fie! 'tis lewd and filthy:
Why, 'tis a cockle or a walnut-shell,
A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby's cap:
Away with it! come, let me have a bigger.
KATHARINA I'll have no bigger: this doth fit the time,
And gentlewomen wear such caps as these
PETRUCHIO When you are gentle, you shall have one too,
And not till then.
HORTENSIO [Aside] That will not be in haste.
KATHARINA Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak;
And speak I will; I am no child, no babe:
Your betters have endured me say my mind,
And if you cannot, best you stop your ears.
My tongue will tell the anger of my heart,
Or else my heart concealing it will break, And rather than it shall, I will be free
Even to the uttermost, as I please, in words.
PETRUCHIO Why, thou say'st true; it is a paltry cap,
A custard-coffin, a bauble, a silken pie:
I love thee well, in that thou likest it not.
KATHARINA Love me or love me not, I like the cap;
And it I will have, or I will have none.
[Exit Haberdasher]
PETRUCHIO Thy gown? why, ay: come, tailor, let us see't.
O mercy, God! what masquing stuff is here?
What's this? a sleeve? 'tis like a demi-cannon:
What, up and down, carved like an apple-tart?
Here's snip and nip and cut and slish and slash,
Like to a censer in a barber's shop:
Why, what, i' devil's name, tailor, call'st thou this?
HORTENSIO [Aside] I see she's like to have neither cap nor gown.
PETRUCHIO Marry, and did; but if you be remember'd,
I did not bid you mar it to the time.
Go, hop me over every kennel home,
For you shall hop without my custom, sir:
I'll none of it: hence! make your best of it.
KATHARINA I never saw a better-fashion'd gown,
More quaint, more pleasing, nor more commendable:
Belike you mean to make a puppet of me.
PETRUCHIO Why, true; he means to make a puppet of thee.
PETRUCHIO O monstrous arrogance! Thou liest, thou thread,
thou thimble,
Thou yard, three-quarters, half-yard, quarter, nail!
Thou flea, thou nit, thou winter-cricket thou!
Braved in mine own house with a skein of thread?
Away, thou rag, thou quantity, thou remnant; Or I shall so be-mete thee with thy yard
As thou shalt think on prating whilst thou livest! I tell thee, I, that thou hast marr'd her gown.
PETRUCHIO Read it.
PETRUCHIO Proceed.
PETRUCHIO Ay, there's the villany.
HORTENSIO God-a-mercy, Grumio! then he shall have no odds. PETRUCHIO Well, sir, in brief, the gown is not for me. GRUMIO You are i' the right, sir: 'tis for my mistress. PETRUCHIO Go, take it up unto thy master's use.
PETRUCHIO Why, sir, what's your conceit in that?
PETRUCHIO [Aside] Hortensio, say thou wilt see the tailor paid.
Go take it hence; be gone, and say no more.
HORTENSIO Tailor, I'll pay thee for thy gown tomorrow:
Take no unkindness of his hasty words:
Away! I say; commend me to thy master.
[Exit Tailor]
PETRUCHIO Well, come, my Kate; we will unto your father's
Even in these honest mean habiliments:
Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor;
For 'tis the mind that makes the body rich;
And as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds,
So honour peereth in the meanest habit.
What is the jay more precious than the lark, Because his fathers are more beautiful?
Or is the adder better than the eel,
Because his painted skin contents the eye? O, no, good Kate; neither art thou the worse For this poor furniture and mean array.
if thou account'st it shame. lay it on me; And therefore frolic: we will hence forthwith, To feast and sport us at thy father's house. Go, call my men, and let us straight to him; And bring our horses unto Long-lane end;
There will we mount, and thither walk on foot Let's see; I think 'tis now some seven o'clock, And well we may come there by dinner-time.
KATHARINA I dare assure you, sir, 'tis almost two;
And 'twill be supper-time ere you come there.
PETRUCHIO It shall be seven ere I go to horse:
Look, what I speak, or do, or think to do,
You are still crossing it. Sirs, let't alone:
I will not go to-day; and ere I do,
It shall be what o'clock I say it is.
HORTENSIO [Aside] Why, so this gallant will command the sun.
[Exeunt]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
SCENE IV Padua. Before BAPTISTA'S house.
[Enter TRANIO, and the Pedant dressed like VINCENTIO]
[Enter BIONDELLO]
But, sir, here comes your boy;
'Twere good he were school'd.
BIONDELLO Tut, fear not me.
TRANIO But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista?
BIONDELLO I told him that your father was at Venice,
And that you look'd for him this day in Padua.
[Enter BAPTISTA and LUCENTIO]
Signior Baptista, you are happily met.
[To the Pedant]
Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of:
I pray you stand good father to me now,
Give me Bianca for my patrimony.
BAPTISTA Sir, pardon me in what I have to say:
Your plainness and your shortness please me well.
Right true it is, your son Lucentio here
Doth love my daughter and she loveth him,
Or both dissemble deeply their affections:
And therefore, if you say no more than this, That like a father you will deal with him
And pass my daughter a sufficient dower,
The match is made, and all is done:
Your son shall have my daughter with consent.
BAPTISTA Not in my house, Lucentio; for, you know,
Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants:
Besides, old Gremio is hearkening still;
And happily we might be interrupted.
BAPTISTA It likes me well. Biondello, hie you home,
And bid Bianca make her ready straight;
And, if you will, tell what hath happened,
Lucentio's father is arrived in Padua,
And how she's like to be Lucentio's wife.
BIONDELLO I pray the gods she may with all my heart!
[Exit BIONDELLO]
Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way?
Welcome! one mess is like to be your cheer: Come, sir; we will better it in Pisa.
BAPTISTA I follow you.
[Exeunt TRANIO, Pedant, and BAPTISTA]
[Re-enter BIONDELLO]
BIONDELLO Cambio!
LUCENTIO What sayest thou, Biondello?
BIONDELLO You saw my master wink and laugh upon you?
LUCENTIO Biondello, what of that?
BIONDELLO Faith, nothing; but has left me here behind, to
expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens.
LUCENTIO I pray thee, moralize them.
BIONDELLO Then thus. Baptista is safe, talking with the
deceiving father of a deceitful son.
LUCENTIO And what of him?
BIONDELLO His daughter is to be brought by you to the supper.
LUCENTIO And then?
BIONDELLO The old priest of Saint Luke's church is at your
command at all hours.
LUCENTIO And what of all this?
BIONDELLO I cannot tell; expect they are busied about a
counterfeit assurance: take you assurance of her,
'cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum:' to the
church; take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient
honest witnesses: If this be not that you look for,
I have no more to say, But bid Bianca farewell for ever and a day.
LUCENTIO Hearest thou, Biondello?
BIONDELLO I cannot tarry: I knew a wench married in an
afternoon as she went to the garden for parsley to
stuff a rabbit; and so may you, sir: and so, adieu,
sir. My master hath appointed me to go to Saint
Luke's, to bid the priest be ready to come against
you come with your appendix.
[Exit]
LUCENTIO I may, and will, if she be so contented:
She will be pleased; then wherefore should I doubt?
Hap what hap may, I'll roundly go about her:
It shall go hard if Cambio go without her.
[Exit]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
[Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, HORTENSIO, and Servants]
PETRUCHIO Come on, i' God's name; once more toward our father's.
Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon!
KATHARINA The moon! the sun: it is not moonlight now.
PETRUCHIO I say it is the moon that shines so bright.
KATHARINA I know it is the sun that shines so bright.
PETRUCHIO Now, by my mother's son, and that's myself,
It shall be moon, or star, or what I list,
Or ere I journey to your father's house.
Go on, and fetch our horses back again.
Evermore cross'd and cross'd; nothing but cross'd!
HORTENSIO Say as he says, or we shall never go.
KATHARINA Forward, I pray, since we have come so far,
And be it moon, or sun, or what you please:
An if you please to call it a rush-candle,
Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.
PETRUCHIO I say it is the moon.
KATHARINA I know it is the moon.
PETRUCHIO Nay, then you lie: it is the blessed sun.
KATHARINA Then, God be bless'd, it is the blessed sun:
But sun it is not, when you say it is not;
And the moon changes even as your mind.
What you will have it named, even that it is;
And so it shall be so for Katharina.
HORTENSIO Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won.
PETRUCHIO Well, forward, forward! thus the bowl should run,
And not unluckily against the bias.
But, soft! company is coming here.
[Enter VINCENTIO]
[To VINCENTIO]
Good morrow, gentle mistress: where away?
Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too, Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman?
Such war of white and red within her cheeks! What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty, As those two eyes become that heavenly face? Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee. Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's sake.
HORTENSIO A' will make the man mad, to make a woman of him.
KATHARINA Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet,
Whither away, or where is thy abode?
Happy the parents of so fair a child;
Happier the man, whom favourable stars
Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow!
PETRUCHIO Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad:
This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither'd,
And not a maiden, as thou say'st he is.
KATHARINA Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes,
That have been so bedazzled with the sun
That everything I look on seemeth green:
Now I perceive thou art a reverend father;
Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.
PETRUCHIO Do, good old grandsire; and withal make known
Which way thou travellest: if along with us,
We shall be joyful of thy company.
VINCENTIO Fair sir, and you my merry mistress,
That with your strange encounter much amazed me,
My name is call'd Vincentio; my dwelling Pisa;
And bound I am to Padua; there to visit
A son of mine, which long I have not seen.
PETRUCHIO What is his name?
VINCENTIO Lucentio, gentle sir.
PETRUCHIO Happily we met; the happier for thy son.
And now by law, as well as reverend age,
I may entitle thee my loving father:
The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman,
Thy son by this hath married. Wonder not,
Nor be grieved: she is of good esteem,
Her dowery wealthy, and of worthy birth;
Beside, so qualified as may beseem
The spouse of any noble gentleman.
Let me embrace with old Vincentio,
And wander we to see thy honest son,
Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.
VINCENTIO But is it true? or else is it your pleasure,
Like pleasant travellers, to break a jest
Upon the company you overtake?
HORTENSIO I do assure thee, father, so it is.
PETRUCHIO Come, go along, and see the truth hereof;
For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.
[Exeunt all but HORTENSIO]
HORTENSIO Well, Petruchio, this has put me in heart.
Have to my widow! and if she be froward,
Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.
[Exit]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
[GREMIO discovered. Enter behind BIONDELLO, LUCENTIO, and BIANCA]
BIONDELLO Softly and swiftly, sir; for the priest is ready.
LUCENTIO I fly, Biondello: but they may chance to need thee
at home; therefore leave us.
BIONDELLO Nay, faith, I'll see the church o' your back; and
then come back to my master's as soon as I can.
[Exeunt LUCENTIO, BIANCA, and BIONDELLO]
[Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, VINCENTIO, GRUMIO, with Attendants]
PETRUCHIO Sir, here's the door, this is Lucentio's house:
My father's bears more toward the market-place;
Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir.
VINCENTIO You shall not choose but drink before you go:
I think I shall command your welcome here,
And, by all likelihood, some cheer is toward.
[Knocks]
[Pedant looks out of the window]
VINCENTIO Is Signior Lucentio within, sir?
Pedant He's within, sir, but not to be spoken withal.
VINCENTIO What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two, to
make merry withal?
PETRUCHIO Nay, I told you your son was well beloved in Padua.
Do you hear, sir? To leave frivolous circumstances,
I pray you, tell Signior Lucentio that his father is
come from Pisa, and is here at the door to speak with him.
VINCENTIO Art thou his father?
Pedant Ay, sir; so his mother says, if I may believe her.
PETRUCHIO [To VINCENTIO] Why, how now, gentleman! why, this
is flat knavery, to take upon you another man's name.
[Re-enter BIONDELLO]
BIONDELLO I have seen them in the church together: God send
'em good shipping! But who is here? mine old
master Vincentio! now we are undone and brought to nothing.
VINCENTIO [Seeing BIONDELLO]
Come hither, crack-hemp.
BIONDELLO Hope I may choose, sir.
VINCENTIO Come hither, you rogue. What, have you forgot me?
BIONDELLO Forgot you! no, sir: I could not forget you, for I
never saw you before in all my life.
VINCENTIO What, you notorious villain, didst thou never see
thy master's father, Vincentio?
BIONDELLO What, my old worshipful old master? yes, marry, sir:
see where he looks out of the window.
VINCENTIO Is't so, indeed.
[Beats BIONDELLO]
BIONDELLO Help, help, help! here's a madman will murder me.
[Exit]
[Exit from above]
PETRUCHIO Prithee, Kate, let's stand aside and see the end of
this controversy.
[They retire]
[Re-enter Pedant below; TRANIO, BAPTISTA, and Servants]
VINCENTIO What am I, sir! nay, what are you, sir? O immortal
gods! O fine villain! A silken doublet! a velvet
hose! a scarlet cloak! and a copatain hat! O, I
am undone! I am undone! while I play the good
husband at home, my son and my servant spend all at
the university.
BAPTISTA What, is the man lunatic?
VINCENTIO Thy father! O villain! he is a sailmaker in Bergamo.
BAPTISTA You mistake, sir, you mistake, sir. Pray, what do
you think is his name?
VINCENTIO His name! as if I knew not his name: I have brought
him up ever since he was three years old, and his
name is Tranio.
VINCENTIO Lucentio! O, he hath murdered his master! Lay hold
on him, I charge you, in the duke's name. O, my
son, my son! Tell me, thou villain, where is my son Lucentio?
TRANIO Call forth an officer.
[Enter one with an Officer]
Carry this mad knave to the gaol. Father Baptista, I charge you see that he be forthcoming.
VINCENTIO Carry me to the gaol! GREMIO Stay, officer: he shall not go to prison. BAPTISTA Talk not, Signior Gremio: I say he shall go to prison.
BAPTISTA Away with the dotard! to the gaol with him!
VINCENTIO Thus strangers may be hailed and abused: O
monstrous villain!
[Re-enter BIONDELLO, with LUCENTIO and BIANCA]
BIONDELLO O! we are spoiled and--yonder he is: deny him,
forswear him, or else we are all undone.
LUCENTIO [Kneeling] Pardon, sweet father.
VINCENTIO Lives my sweet son?
[Exeunt BIONDELLO, TRANIO, and Pedant, as fast as may be]
BAPTISTA How hast thou offended?
Where is Lucentio?
LUCENTIO Here's Lucentio,
Right son to the right Vincentio;
That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,
While counterfeit supposes bleared thine eyne.
GREMIO Here's packing, with a witness to deceive us all!
VINCENTIO Where is that damned villain Tranio,
That faced and braved me in this matter so?
BAPTISTA Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?
BIANCA Cambio is changed into Lucentio.
LUCENTIO Love wrought these miracles. Bianca's love
Made me exchange my state with Tranio,
While he did bear my countenance in the town;
And happily I have arrived at the last
Unto the wished haven of my bliss.
What Tranio did, myself enforced him to;
Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.
VINCENTIO I'll slit the villain's nose, that would have sent
me to the gaol.
BAPTISTA But do you hear, sir? have you married my daughter
without asking my good will?
VINCENTIO Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: but
I will in, to be revenged for this villany.
[Exit]
BAPTISTA And I, to sound the depth of this knavery.
[Exit]
LUCENTIO Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not frown.
[Exeunt LUCENTIO and BIANCA]
[Exit]
KATHARINA Husband, let's follow, to see the end of this ado.
PETRUCHIO First kiss me, Kate, and we will.
KATHARINA What, in the midst of the street?
PETRUCHIO What, art thou ashamed of me?
KATHARINA No, sir, God forbid; but ashamed to kiss.
PETRUCHIO Why, then let's home again. Come, sirrah, let's away.
KATHARINA Nay, I will give thee a kiss: now pray thee, love, stay.
PETRUCHIO Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate:
Better once than never, for never too late.
[Exeunt]
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
SCENE II Padua. LUCENTIO'S house.
[Enter BAPTISTA, VINCENTIO, GREMIO, the Pedant, LUCENTIO, BIANCA, PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, HORTENSIO, and Widow, TRANIO, BIONDELLO, and GRUMIO the Serving-men with Tranio bringing in a banquet]
LUCENTIO At last, though long, our jarring notes agree:
And time it is, when raging war is done,
To smile at scapes and perils overblown.
My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome,
While I with self-same kindness welcome thine.
Brother Petruchio, sister Katharina,
And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow, Feast with the best, and welcome to my house: My banquet is to close our stomachs up,
After our great good cheer. Pray you, sit down; For now we sit to chat as well as eat.
PETRUCHIO Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!
BAPTISTA Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.
PETRUCHIO Padua affords nothing but what is kind.
HORTENSIO For both our sakes, I would that word were true.
PETRUCHIO Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow.
Widow Then never trust me, if I be afeard.
PETRUCHIO You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense:
I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you.
Widow He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.
PETRUCHIO Roundly replied.
KATHARINA Mistress, how mean you that?
Widow Thus I conceive by him.
PETRUCHIO Conceives by me! How likes Hortensio that?
HORTENSIO My widow says, thus she conceives her tale.
PETRUCHIO Very well mended. Kiss him for that, good widow.
KATHARINA 'He that is giddy thinks the world turns round:'
I pray you, tell me what you meant by that.
KATHARINA A very mean meaning. Widow Right, I mean you. KATHARINA And I am mean indeed, respecting you. PETRUCHIO To her, Kate! HORTENSIO To her, widow! PETRUCHIO A hundred marks, my Kate does put her down. HORTENSIO That's my office. PETRUCHIO Spoke like an officer; ha' to thee, lad!
[Drinks to HORTENSIO]
BAPTISTA How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks?
VINCENTIO Ay, mistress bride, hath that awaken'd you?
BIANCA Ay, but not frighted me; therefore I'll sleep again.
PETRUCHIO Nay, that you shall not: since you have begun,
Have at you for a bitter jest or two!
[Exeunt BIANCA, KATHARINA, and Widow]
PETRUCHIO She hath prevented me. Here, Signior Tranio.
This bird you aim'd at, though you hit her not;
Therefore a health to all that shot and miss'd.
PETRUCHIO A good swift simile, but something currish.
BAPTISTA O ho, Petruchio! Tranio hits you now.
LUCENTIO I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio.
HORTENSIO Confess, confess, hath he not hit you here?
PETRUCHIO A' has a little gall'd me, I confess;
And, as the jest did glance away from me,
'Tis ten to one it maim'd you two outright.
BAPTISTA Now, in good sadness, son Petruchio,
I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all.
PETRUCHIO Well, I say no: and therefore for assurance
Let's each one send unto his wife;
And he whose wife is most obedient
To come at first when he doth send for her,
Shall win the wager which we will propose.
HORTENSIO Content. What is the wager?
LUCENTIO Twenty crowns.
PETRUCHIO Twenty crowns!
I'll venture so much of my hawk or hound,
But twenty times so much upon my wife.
LUCENTIO A hundred then.
HORTENSIO Content.
PETRUCHIO A match! 'tis done.
HORTENSIO Who shall begin?
LUCENTIO That will I.
Go, Biondello, bid your mistress come to me.
BIONDELLO I go.
[Exit]
BAPTISTA Son, I'll be your half, Bianca comes. LUCENTIO I'll have no halves; I'll bear it all myself.
[Re-enter BIONDELLO]
How now! what news?
BIONDELLO Sir, my mistress sends you word
That she is busy and she cannot come.
PETRUCHIO How! she is busy and she cannot come!
Is that an answer?
GREMIO Ay, and a kind one too:
Pray God, sir, your wife send you not a worse.
PETRUCHIO I hope better.
HORTENSIO Sirrah Biondello, go and entreat my wife
To come to me forthwith.
[Exit BIONDELLO]
PETRUCHIO O, ho! entreat her!
Nay, then she must needs come.
HORTENSIO I am afraid, sir,
Do what you can, yours will not be entreated.
[Re-enter BIONDELLO]
Now, where's my wife?
BIONDELLO She says you have some goodly jest in hand:
She will not come: she bids you come to her.
PETRUCHIO Worse and worse; she will not come! O vile,
Intolerable, not to be endured!
Sirrah Grumio, go to your mistress;
Say, I command her to come to me.
[Exit GRUMIO]
HORTENSIO I know her answer. PETRUCHIO What? HORTENSIO She will not. PETRUCHIO The fouler fortune mine, and there an end. BAPTISTA Now, by my holidame, here comes Katharina!
[Re-enter KATARINA]
KATHARINA What is your will, sir, that you send for me?
PETRUCHIO Where is your sister, and Hortensio's wife?
KATHARINA They sit conferring by the parlor fire.
PETRUCHIO Go fetch them hither: if they deny to come.
Swinge me them soundly forth unto their husbands:
Away, I say, and bring them hither straight.
[Exit KATHARINA]
LUCENTIO Here is a wonder, if you talk of a wonder.
HORTENSIO And so it is: I wonder what it bodes.
PETRUCHIO Marry, peace it bodes, and love and quiet life,
And awful rule and right supremacy;
And, to be short, what not, that's sweet and happy?
BAPTISTA Now, fair befal thee, good Petruchio!
The wager thou hast won; and I will add
Unto their losses twenty thousand crowns;
Another dowry to another daughter,
For she is changed, as she had never been.
PETRUCHIO Nay, I will win my wager better yet
And show more sign of her obedience,
Her new-built virtue and obedience.
See where she comes and brings your froward wives
As prisoners to her womanly persuasion.
[Re-enter KATHARINA, with BIANCA and Widow]
Katharina, that cap of yours becomes you not: Off with that bauble, throw it under-foot.
LUCENTIO I would your duty were as foolish too:
The wisdom of your duty, fair Bianca,
Hath cost me an hundred crowns since supper-time.
BIANCA The more fool you, for laying on my duty.
PETRUCHIO Katharina, I charge thee, tell these headstrong women
What duty they do owe their lords and husbands.
Widow Come, come, you're mocking: we will have no telling.
PETRUCHIO Come on, I say; and first begin with her.
Widow She shall not.
PETRUCHIO I say she shall: and first begin with her.
KATHARINA Fie, fie! unknit that threatening unkind brow,
And dart not scornful glances from those eyes,
To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor:
It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads,
Confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds,
And in no sense is meet or amiable.
A woman moved is like a fountain troubled, Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty; And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it. Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee, And for thy maintenance commits his body
To painful labour both by sea and land,
To watch the night in storms, the day in cold, Whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe; And craves no other tribute at thy hands
But love, fair looks and true obedience;
Too little payment for so great a debt.
Such duty as the subject owes the prince
Even such a woman oweth to her husband;
And when she is froward, peevish, sullen, sour, And not obedient to his honest will,
What is she but a foul contending rebel
And graceless traitor to her loving lord?
I am ashamed that women are so simple
To offer war where they should kneel for peace; Or seek for rule, supremacy and sway,
When they are bound to serve, love and obey. Why are our bodies soft and weak and smooth, Unapt to toil and trouble in the world,
But that our soft conditions and our hearts Should well agree with our external parts? Come, come, you froward and unable worms!
My mind hath been as big as one of yours,
My heart as great, my reason haply more,
To bandy word for word and frown for frown; But now I see our lances are but straws,
Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare, That seeming to be most which we indeed least are. Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot, And place your hands below your husband's foot: In token of which duty, if he please,
My hand is ready; may it do him ease.
PETRUCHIO Why, there's a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate.
LUCENTIO Well, go thy ways, old lad; for thou shalt ha't.
VINCENTIO 'Tis a good hearing when children are toward.
LUCENTIO But a harsh hearing when women are froward.
PETRUCHIO Come, Kate, we'll to bed.
We three are married, but you two are sped.
[To LUCENTIO]
'Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white; And, being a winner, God give you good night!
[Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA]
HORTENSIO Now, go thy ways; thou hast tamed a curst shrew. LUCENTIO 'Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tamed so.
[Exeunt]