T Kath. Why, and I trust I may go too; May I not? [belike, What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? Ha! [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we inay blow our nails together, and tast it fairly out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell:-Yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man, to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father. Hor. So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice,t it toucheth us both,-that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love,-to labour and effect one thing 'specially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Marry, Sir, to get a husband for her sister. Gre. A husband! a devil. Hor. I say, a husband. Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell? Hor. 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. Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition,-to be whipped at the high-cross every morning. Hor. '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,-till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to't afresh.-Sweet Bianca!-Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the ring. How say you, signior Gremio? Gre. I am agreed: and 'would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come [Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO. -Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, Sir, tell me,-Is it possible on. That love should of a sudden take such hold? Tru. Master, it is no time to chide you now; Affection is not rateds from the heart: [so,If love have touch'd you, nought remains but Redime te captum quam queas minimo. Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound. Tra. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid, erhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all. Endowments. + Consideration. + Gain or lot, Luc. 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, [strand. When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not how her sister Began to scold; and raise up such a storm, trance. I pray, awake, Sir; if you love the maid, Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands : Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd, Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! Tra. Ay, marry, am I, Sir; and now 'tis plotted. Luc. I have it, Tranio. Tra. Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Tra. You will be schoolmaster, Luc. It is: May it be done? Tra. Not possible; For who shall bear your And be in Padua here Vincentio's son? [part, Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his friends; Visit his countrymen, and banquet them? Luc, Basta;t content thee; for I have it full. I will some other be; some Florentine, Tra. So had you need. [They exchange habits. In brief then, Sir, sith it your pleasure is, And I am tied to be obedient; (For so your father charg'd me at our parting; Luc. 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. quarrel. And therefore frame your manners to the time. | Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, 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; belife:ing, perhaps, (for aught I see,) two and thirty, -a pip out? Bion. I, Sir, ne'er a whit. Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth; Tranio is chang'd into Lucentio. Bion. The better for him; Would I were so too! Tra. So would I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after,[daughter. That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest 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. 1 Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play Sly. Yes, by saint Anne, do I. A good matter, rely; Comes there any more of it? Page. My lord, 'tis but begun. Whom, 'would to God, I had well knock'd at first, Then had not Grumio come by the worst. Pet. A senseless villain-Good Hortensio, I bade the rascal knock upon your gate, And could not get him for my heart to do it. Gru. Knock at the gate?-O heavens! Spake you not these words plain,—Sirrah, knock me here, [soundly? Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me And come you now with-knocking at the gate? Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise To seek their fortunes further than at home, Where small experience grows. But, in a few, Sly. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me :ady; 'Would't were done! Antonio, my father, is deceas'd; And I have thrust myself into this maze, SCENE II.—The same.-Before HORTENSIO'S Haply to wive, and thrive, as best I may: House. 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? 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: I should knock you first, And then I know after who comes by the worst. Pet. Will it not be? 'Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll wring I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it. [it; [He wrings GRUMIO by the ears. Gru. Help, masters, help! my master is Pet. Now, knock when I bid you: sirrah! mad. 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 ? Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? Con tutto a core bene trovato, may I say. Moto kot oruto signor mio Petruchio. * Observeil Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home, And so am come abroad to see the world. Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee. And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? Thoud'st 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 burden of my wooing dance, Be she as foul as was Florentius' love, As old as Sybil, and as curst and shrewd As Socrates' Xantippe, or a worse, She moves me not, or not removes, at least, Affection's edge in me; were she as rough I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; As are the swelling Adriatic seas: If wealthily, then happily in Padua. what his mind is: Why, give him gold enough Gru. Nay, look you, Sir, he tells you flatly and 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. Hor. Petruchio, since we have stepp'd thus far in, will continue that I broach'd in jest. I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife [ous; With wealth enough, and young, and beaute Brought up, as best becomes a gentlewoman: | And let me have them very well perfum'd ; Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough; her; And he knew my deceased father well:- Gru. I pray you, Sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O' my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding would do little good upon him: She may, perhaps, call him half a score knaves, or so: why, that's nothing; an he begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks. I'll tell you what, Sir,-an she stand+ him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and so disfigure her with it, that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat: You know him not, Sir. Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee; For in Baptista's keept my treasure is: He hath the jewel of my life in hold, His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca; 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 rehears'd,) That ever Katharina will be woo'd, Therefore this orders hath Baptista ta'en ;That none shall have access unto Bianca, Till Katharine the curst have got a husband, Gru. Katharine the curst! A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. As for my patron, (stand you so assur'd,) Hor. Grumio, mum!-God save you, signior Gre. And you're well met, signior Hortensio. Trow you, Whither I am going?-To Baptista Minola. About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca: Fit for her turn; well read in poetry, Gre. Belov'd of me,-and that my deeds shall prove. Gru. And that his bags shall prove, [Aside. Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our Listen to me, and if you speak me fair, [love: I'll tell you news indifferent good for either. Here is a gentieman, whom by chance I met, Upon agreement from us to his liking, Will undertake to woo curst Katharine; Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please. Gre. So said, so done, is well:Hortensio, have you told him all her faults? Pet. I know, she is an irksome brawling scold; If that be all, masters, I hear no harm. Gre. No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman? Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's son: Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me My father dead, my fortune lives for me; grace; And offer me, disguis'd in sober robes, Gru. Here's no knavery! See; to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about you: Who goes there? ha! Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my Petruchio, stand by a while. [love: Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous! [They retire. Gre. O, very well; I have perus'd the note. Hark you, Sir; I'll have them very fairly bound: And I do hope good days, and long, to see. Gre. O, Sir, such a life, with such a wife, [Aside. Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent? And do you tell me of a woman's tongue; [Aside. [yours. My mind presumes, for his own good, and * Fright boys with bug-bears. TAMING OF Hor. I promis'd, we would be contributors, And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er. Gre. And so we will; provided, that he win her. ner. Gru, I would, I were as sure of a good diu[Aside. Enter TRANIO, bravely apparelled; and BroN DELLO. Tra. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be bold, Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest [way To the house of signior Baptista Minola? Gre. He that has the two fair daughters :is't [Aside to TRANIO.] he you mean? Tra. Even he. Biondello! Gre. Hark you, Sir; You mean not her toTra. Perhaps, him and her, Sir; What have you to do? Pet. Not her that chides, Sir, at any hand, I pray. Tra. I love no chiders, Sir:-Biondello, let's away. Luc. Well begun, Tranio. [Aside. Hor. Sir, a word ere you go ;— or no? Tra. An if I be, Sir, is it any offence? Tra. Why, Sir, I pray, are not the streets as Gre. But so is not she. [free Tra. For what reason, I beseech you? Gre. For this reason, if you'll know,That she's the choice love of signior Gremio. Hor. That she's the chosen of signior Hortensio. Tra. Softly, my masters! if you be gentlemen, Do me this right, hear me with patience. Baptista is a noble gentleman, To whom my father is not all unknown; all. 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 to 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, Pet. Sir, Sir, the first's for me; let her go by. cules; And let it be more than Alcides' twelve. Pet. Sir, understand you this of me, in sooth; The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for, Tra. If it be so, Sir, then you are the man Must stead us all, and me among the rest; An if you break the ice, and do this feat,Achieve the elder, set the younger free ACT II. SCENE I.-The sume.--A Room in BAPTISTA'S House. Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA. Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong That I disdain: but for these other gawds, Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, Whom thou lov'st best; see thou dissemble not I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have She is your treasure, she must have a husband; [Exit KATHARINA * Ungrateful. Companions. Trifling ornaments. A worthless woman Enter GREMIO, with LUCENTIO in the habit of a | And, toward the education of your daughters mean man; PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as a Musician; and TRANIO, with BIONDELLO bearing a lute and books. Gre. Good-morrow, neighbour Baptista. Bap. Good-morrow, neighbour Gremio: God save you, gentlemen! Pet. And you, good Sir! Pray, have you not a daughter Call'd Katharina, fair, and virtuous? rina. Gre. You are too blunt, go to it orderly. I am a gentleman of Verona, Sir, ness Of that report which I so oft have heard. [Presenting HORTENSIO. Bap. You're welcome, Sir; and he, for your good sake: But for my daughter Katharine,-this I know, 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. Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: Baccare!* 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 beholden to you than any, I 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. Bap. A thousand thanks, signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio.-But, gentle Sir, [To TRANIO.] 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 That, being a stranger in this city here, [own; Do make myself a suitor to your daughter, Unto Bianca, fair, and virtuous. Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, A proverbial exclamation then in use. I here bestow a simple instrument, [books And this small packet of Greek and Latin If you accept them, then their worth is great. Bap. Lucentio is your name? of whence, pray? Tra. Of Pisa, Sir; son to Vincentio. You shall go see your pupils presently. Sirrah, lead Enter a SERVANT. These gentlemen to my daughters; and tell them both, These are their tutors; bid them use them well. [Exit SERVANT, with HORTENSIO, LUCENTIO, and BIONDELLO. We will go walk a little in the orchard, Pet. Signior Baptista, my business asketh And every day I cannot come to woo. [haste, 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 decreas'd: Then tell me,-if I get your daughter's love, What dowry shall I have with her to wife? Bap. After my death, the one half of my lands: And, in possession, twenty thousand crowns. tain'd, This is, her love; for that is all in all. Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father, I am as peremptory as she proud-minded; Though little fire grows great with little wind, 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 broken. Bap. How now, my friend? why dost thou look so pale? Hor. For fear, I promise you, if I look pale. Bup. 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, * A fret in music is the stop which causes or regulates the vibration of the string. |