Bap. O, nothing; this is nothing.

My daughter, Katharine, and her music-master;
This is the third I've had within this month:
She is an enemy to harmony.

Enter MUSIC-MASTER, with his forehead bloody, and a broken lute in his hand, R., running across to L.

How now, my friend, why dost thou look so pale
Mas. For fear, I promise you, if I do look pale.
Bap. What, will my daughter prove a good musician?
Mas. I think, she'll sooner prove a soldier;

Iron may hold with her, bnt never lutes.

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

Mas. (L.) 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 them?-quoth she,-I'll fret your fool's cap:
And, with that word, she struck me on the head,
And through the instrument my pate made way;
And there I stood amazed for awhile,

As on a pillory, looking through the lute:
While she did call me rascal fiddler,

And twangling-Jack, with twenty such vile terms,
As she had studied to misuse me so.

Pet. 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 a grapple with her!

Mas. I would not have another grapple with her, To purchase Padua: for what is past,

I'm paid sufficiently: if, at your leisure,

You think my broken fortunes, head, and lute,
Deserve some reparation, you know where
To inquire for me; and so, good gentlemen,
I am your much

Disorder'd, broken-pated, humble servant.

[Exit Music-Master, L. Bap. What, are you mov'd, Petruchio? Do you flinch? Pet. I'm more and more impatient, sir; and long

To be a partner in these favourite pleasures.

Bap. O, by all means, sir.-Will you go with me, Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you?

B

Pet. I pray you do, I will attend her here.

[Exit Baptista, R.

Grumio, retire, and wait my call within.

[Exit Grumio, L.

Since that her father is so resolute,
I'll 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:-
If she do bid me pack, I'll give her thanks,
As though she bade 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.
[Katharine and Baptista without, R.

Kat. Sir,-father, surely

Bap. Hence, Kate !-ne'er tell me.

Pet. O, here she comes,-and now, Petruchio, speak.

[Retires a little up, R.

Enter KATHARINE, R., crosses to L.

Kat. How? turn'd adrift, nor know my father's house? Reduc'd to this or none? The maid's last prayer? Sent to be woo'd, like bear unto the stake? Trim wooing like to be !-and he the bear; For I shall bait him.-Yet the man's a man.

Pet. Kate in a calm ?-Maids must not be wooers.Good morrow, Kate ;-for that's your name, I hear. Kat. Well have you heard, but impudently said: They call me Katharine, that do talk of me.

Pet. (L.) You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain Kate, And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curs'd. But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom,Take this of me, Kate of my consolation.Hearing thy mildness prais'd in every town, Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded, Thy affability, and bashful modesty,

Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,

Myself am mov'd to woo thee for my wife.

Kat. (R.) Mov'd in good time! Let him that mov'd

you hith r,

Remove you hence: I knew you at the first,

You were a moveable.

Pet. A moveable! Why, what's that?

[Crosses, R.

Kat. A joint-stool.

Pet. Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me.

[Bends on one knee.

Kat. Asses are made to bear, and so are you.
Pet. Women are made to bear, and so are you.
Alas, good Kate, I will not burden thee;
For, knowing thee to be but young and light,—
Kat. Too light, for such a swain as you to catch.
[Going, crosses, L.

Pet. Come, come, you wasp; i'faith, you are too angry.
Kat. If I be waspish, best beware my sting.

Pet. My remedy, then, is to pluck it out.

Kat. Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies.

Pet. The fool knows where the honey lies, sweet Kate.
Kat. "Tis not for drones to taste.

Pet. That will I try.

[Offers to kiss her. She strikes him. I swear, I'll cuff you, if you strike again.Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour. Kat. How can I help it, when I see that face? But I'll be shock'd no longer with the sight.

[Going, crosses, R. Pet. (L.) Nay, hear you, Kate; in sooth you 'scape

not so.

Kat. (R.) I chafe you if I tarry; let me go.

Pet. No, not a whit; I find you passing gentle :
Twas told me, you were rough, and coy, and sullen;
But now I find report a very liar:

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.

Kat. This is beyond all patience :

Don't provoke me!

[Walks backwards and forwards.

Pet. Why doth 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.

Thou dost not limp :-so, let me see thee walk :-
Walk, walk, walk.

Kat. [She stops, R.] Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st

command.

Pet. (L.) 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!

Kat. Where did you study all this goodly speech? Pet. Study!

It is extempore, from my mother-wit.

Kat. A witty mother, witless else her son.

Pet. Am I not wise?

Kat. Yes, in your own conceit;

Keep yourself warm with that, or else you'll freeze.
Pet. Or rather, warm me in thy arms, my Kate!
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.

Kat. Whether I will or no?-O, fortune's spite !
Pet. Nay, Kate, I am a husband for your turn;
For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,-
Thy beauty that doth make me love thee well,-
Thou must be married to no man but me;
For I am he that's born to tame you, Kate.

Kat. That will admit dispute, my saucy_groom. Pet. Here comes your father: never make denial; I must, and will, have Katharine to my wife.

Enter BAPTISTA, R. [Crosses to c.]

Bap. Now, signior, now,-how speed you with my daughter?

Pet. How should I speed, but well, sir? How, but well?

It were impossible I should speed amiss.

Bap. Why, how now, daughter Katharine? in your dumps?

Kat. Call you me daughter? Now, I promise you, You've show'd a tender fatherly regard,

To wish me wed to one half lunatic;

A mad-cap ruffian, and a swearing jack,

That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.

Bap. Better this jack than starve; and that's your portion.

Pet. Father, 'tis thus: yourself, and all the world That talk'd of her, have talk'd of her amiss;

If she be curs'd, 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, to conclude, we 'greed so well together,
We've fixed to-morrow for the wedding-day.

Kat. I'll see thee hang'd to-morrow, first.-To-morrow! Bap. Petruchio, hark :-she says, she'll see thee hang'd first.

Pet. What's that to you?

If she and I be pleased, what's that to you? 'Tis bargained 'twixt us twain, being alone, That she shall still be curs'd in company.

Kat. [Aside.] A plague upon his impudence! I'm vex'd

I'll marry my revenge, but I will tame him.

Pet. 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 vy'd 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.

Give me thy hand, Kate.-I will now away,
To buy apparel for my gentle bride.

Father, provide the feast, and bid the guests.

[Crosses, c.

Bap. What dost thou say, my Katharine? Give thy hand.

Kat. Never to man shall Katharine give her hand; Here 'tis,and let him take it, an he dare.

Pet. Were it the fore-foot of an angry bear,

I'd shake it off; but, as it's Kate's, I kiss it.

Kat. You'll kiss it closer, ere our moon be wan'd. Bap. Heaven send you joy, Petruchio!-'tis a match. Pet. Father and wife, adieu! I must away

[Crosses, L.

Unto my country-house, and stir my grooms,
Scour off their country rust, and make 'em fine,
For the reception of my Katharine.
We will have rings, and things, and fine array,-
To-morrow, Kate, shall be our wedding-day.

[Exit Petruchio, ..

Bap. Well, daughter, though the man be somewhat

wild,

And thereto frantic, yet his means are great:

Thou hast done well to seize the first kind offer;
For, by thy mother's soul, 'twill be the last.