But, sirrah, not for my sake, but your master's, I advise

You use your manners discreetly in all kind of companies:

When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio;
But in all places else your master Lucentio.

Luc. 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. 250

The Presenters above speak.

First Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.

Sly. Yes, by Saint Anne, do I. A good matter, surely comes there any more of it?

Page. My lord, 'tis but begun.

Sly. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady: would 'twere done! They sit and mark.

Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO.

Pet. 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.

Gru. Knock, sir! whom should I knock? is there any man has rebused your worship?

Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly. Gru. Knock you here, sir! why, sir, what am I, sir, that I should knock you here, sir?

10

Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate; And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate. Gru. My master is grown quarrelsome. should knock you first,

I

And then I know after who comes by the worst. Pet. 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 GRUMIO by the ears. Gru. Help, masters, help! my master is mad. Pet. Now, knock when I bid you, sirrah villain!

Enter HORTENSIO.

Hor. How now! what's the matter? My old friend Grumio, and my good friend Petruchio! How do you all at Verona ?

22

Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray?

Con tutto il cuore ben trovato, may I say.

Hor. Alla nostra casa ben venuto; molto honorato signor mio Petruchio.

Rise, Grumio, rise: we will compound this quarrel. Gru. 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, 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?

Spake you not these words plain, ‘Sirrah, knock me here,

Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me soundly?'

And come you now with 'knocking at the gate'? Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you. Hor. 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?

Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the world

To seek their fortunes further than at home, Where small experience grows. But in a few, Signior 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. Crowns in my purse I have and goods at home, And so am come abroad to see the world.

50

Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee,

And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? Thou'dst 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.

:

Pet. 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 burthen of my wooing dance,
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
As Socrates' Xanthippe, or a worse,
As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
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.

his mind is: why, give him gold enough and Gru. Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what marry him to a puppet or an aglet-baby; or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, though she have as many diseases as two-and-fifty horses: why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal.

83

Hor. 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.
Pet. 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.
Hor. Her father is Baptista Minola,
An affable and courteous gentleman;
Her name is Katharina Minola,
Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue.

90

100

Pet. I know her father, though I know not her; And he knew my deceased father well

Luc. Sir, give him head: I know he'll prove a jade.

Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these words? Hor. Sir, let me be so bold as ask you, Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter? Tra. No, sir; but hear I do that he hath two, The one as famous for a scolding tongue As is the other for beauteous modesty.

Pet. Sir, sir, the first 's for me; let her go by. Gre. Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules, And let it be more than Alcides' twelve.

261

Pet. 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.

270

Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man Must stead us all, and me amongst the rest; And if you break the ice, and do this feat, Achieve the elder, set the younger free For our access, whose hap shall be to have her Will not so graceless be to be ingrate.

Hor. 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.

Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack: in sign whereof, Please ye we may contrive this afternoon, And quaff carouses to our mistress' health, And do as adversaries do in law,

280

Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. Gru., Bion. O excellent motion! Fellows, let's be gone.

Hor. The motion 's good indeed, and be it so, Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto.

Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-Padua. A Room in BAPTISTA'S House.

Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA.

Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself,

To make a bondmaid and a slave of me;
That I disdain: but for these other gawds,
Unbind my hands, I'll pull them off myself,
Or what you will command me will I do,
Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat;
So well I know my duty to my elders.

Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell
Whom thou lov'st best: see thou dissemble not.
Bian. Believe me, sister, of all the men alive
I never yet beheld that special face
Which I could fancy more than any other.

11

Kath. Minion, thou liest. Is 't not Hortensio? Bian. If you affect him, sister, here I swear

I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have him. Kath. O! then, belike, you fancy riches more: You will have Gremio to keep you fair.

Bian. Is it for him you do envy me so? Nay then you jest; and now I well perceive You have but jested with me all this while : 20 I prithee, sister Kate, untie my hands. Kath. If that be jest, then all the rest was so. Strikes her.

50

That, hearing of her beauty and her wit,
Her affability and bashful modesty,
Her wondrous qualities and mild behaviour,
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.

Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake.

But for my daughter Katharine, this I know, She is not for your turn, the more my grief. Pet. I see you do not mean to part with her, Or else you like not of my company.

60

Bap. Mistake me not; I speak but as I find. Whence are you, sir? what may I call your name? Pet. Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son; A man well known throughout all Italy. Bap. I know him well you are welcome for

his sake.

70

Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too. Backare! you are marvellous forward. Pet. O pardon me, Signior Gremio; I would fain be doing.

Gre. I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your wooing.

Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure of it. To express the like kindness, myself, that have been more kindly beholding to you than any, freely give unto you this young scholar, 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.

82

Bap. 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?

Tra. Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own, That, being a stranger in this city here, Do make myself a suitor to your daughter, Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous.

90

Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me,
In the preferment of the eldest sister.
This liberty is all that I request,
That, upon knowledge of my parentage,
I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo,
And free access and favour as the rest :
And, toward the education of your daughters,
I here bestow a simple instrument,
And this small packet of Greek and Latin books:
If you accept them, then their worth is great. 100
Bap. Lucentio is your name? of whence, I pray?
Tra. Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio.
Bap. 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

130

Pet. 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.

Bap. Well may'st thou woo, and happy be thy speed!

But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words. Pet. Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds,

That shake not, though they blow perpetually. Re-enter HORTENSIO, with his head broke.

Bap. How now, my friend! why dost thou look so pale?

141

Hor. For fear, I promise you, if I look pale. Bap. What, will my daughter prove a good

musician?

Hor. I think she'll sooner prove a soldier: Iron may hold with her, but never lutes.

Bap. Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute?

Hor. 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, 150
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

Signior Petruchio, will you go with us,
Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you?
Pet. I pray you do; I will attend her here,

170

Exeunt BAPTISTA, GREMIO, TRANIO, and HORTENSIO. 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.

179

But here she comes; and now, Petruchio, speak. Enter KATHARINA.

Good-morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear. Kath. Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing:

They call me Katharine that do talk of me.
Pet. 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 cates: and therefore, Kate,
Take this of me, Kate of my consolation;
Hearing thy mildness prais'd in every town, 190
Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded,
Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,
Myself am mov'd to woo thee for my wife.

Kath. Mov'd! in good time: let him that mov'd you hither

Remove you hence. I knew you at the first,
You were a moveable.
Pet.
Kath. A joint-stool.
Pet.
Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me.
Kath. Asses are made to bear, and so are you.
Pet. Women are made to bear, and so are you.
Kath. No such jade as bear; you, if me you mean.
Pet. Alas! good Kate, I will not burden thee;
For, knowing thee to be but young and light,—
Kath. Too light for such a swain as you to catch,
And yet as heavy as my weight should be.
Pet. Should be! should buzz.
Kath.
Well ta'en, and like a buzzard.
Pet. O slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard
take thee?

Why, what's a moveable?

Kath. Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a buzzard. Pet. Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you are too angry.

210

Kath. If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
Pet. My remedy is then, to pluck it out.
Kath. Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies.
Pet. Who knows not where a wasp does wear
his sting?

In his tail.

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.
Kath. Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st com-
mand.

250

Pet. 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.
Kath. Where did you study all this goodly
speech?

Pet. It is extempore, from my mother-wit.
Kath. A witty mother! witless else her son.
Pet. Am I not wise?
Kath.

Yes; keep you warm. Pet. Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharine, in thy bed.

990

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,