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Gre. To cart her rather: she's too rough for Prefer them hither; for to cunning men

me.

There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife?

Kath. I pray you, sir [To BAPTISTA], is it your will

To make a stale of me amongst these mates?

Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you,

Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.

I will be very kind, and liberal

To mine own children in good bringing up;
And so farewell. Katarina, you may stay;
For I have more to commune with Bianca. [Exit.
Kath. Why, and I trust I may go too, may I

not?

What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, belike,

Kath. I' faith, sir, you shall never need to fear; I knew not what to take and what to leave? Ha!

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-legged stool, And paint your face and use you like a fool.

[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 may blow our Hor. From all such devils, good lord deliver us! nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's Gre. And me too, good lord! dough on both sides. Farewell. Yet, for the love

Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means

toward;

That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward.
Luc. But in the other's silence do I see
Maid's mild behavior and sobriety.
Peace, Tranio.

Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill.
Bap. 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.

Kath. A pretty peat! 't is best Put finger in the eye, -an she knew why. Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent. Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: My books and instruments shall be my company; On them to look, and practice by myself.

Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou mayst hear Minerva speak. [Aside. Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I that our good will effects

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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 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 Bianca's love - to labor 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 me married to hell?

Hor. Tush, Gremio! though it pass your pa tience 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

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that runs fastest gets the ring. How say you, That till the father rid his hands of her, 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 on.

[Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO. Tra. [advancing]. I pray, sir, tell me is it pos

sible

That love should of a sudden take such hold?
Luc. 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.

Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now;
Affection is not rated from the heart:

Master, your love must live a maid at home;
And therefore has he closely mewed her up,
Because she shall not be annoyed with suitors.
Luc. 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?
Tra. Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 't is
plotted.

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If love have touched you, nought remains but Nor can we be distinguished by our faces,

So,

Redime te captum quam queas minimo.

For man or master: then it follows thus:
Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead,

Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this con- Keep house, and port, and servants, as I should:

tents;

The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.
Tra. Master, you looked so longly on the maid,
Perhaps you marked not what's the pith of all.

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,
When with his knees he kissed the Cretan strand.
Tra. Saw you no more? marked you not how

her sister

Began to scold, and raise up such a storm
That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?
Luc. 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.

I will some other be; some Florentine,
Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa.
"T is hatched, and shall be so. -Tranio, at once
Uncase thee; take my colored hat and cloak:
When Biondello comes, he waits on thee;
But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.

Tra. So had you need. [They exchange habits.
In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is,
And I am tied to be obedient
(For so your father charged me at our parting;
"Be serviceable to my son," quoth he,
Although I think 't was in other sense),
I am content to be Lucentio,
Because so well I love Lucentio.

Luc. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves:

Tra. Nay, then, 't is time to stir him from his And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid

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Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 't is no time to To see my friends in Padua; but of all,

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Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth; Tranio is changed into Lucentio.

Bion. The better for him; 'would I were so too!

My best beloved and approvéd 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 :-
should knock you first,

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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 it;

Tra. So would I, faith, boy, to have the next I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it.

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- 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;

[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?

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

To make one among these wooers: if thou ask me Con tutto il core bene trovato, may I say.

why,

Sufficeth my reasons are both good and weighty.

[Exeunt. [The Presenters above speak.

Hor. Alla nostra casa bene venuto, Molto honorato, signor mio Petruchio. Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel. Gru. Nay, 't is 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 Sly. Yes, by saint Anne, do I. A good matter, him and rap him soundly, sir: well, was it fit for surely comes there any more of it?

1st Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not mind

the play.

Page. My lord, 't is but begun.

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a servant to use his master so; being perhaps (for aught I see), two and thirty-a pip out?

Sly. "T is a very excellent piece of work, madam Whom 'would to God I had well knocked at first, lady. Would't were done!]

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.

horses: why nothing comes amiss, so money comes

Gru. Knock at the gate? O heavens! Spake you not these words plain, "Sirrah, knock withal. 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.
Ilor. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's
pledge:

Why, this is 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 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.

Hor. Petruchio, since we have stepped thus far
in,

I will continue that I broached 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 intolerably 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 't is 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,

Renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue.
Pet. I know her father, though I know not her;

Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to And he knew my deccaséd father well.

thee,

And wish thee to a shrewd, ill-favored 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 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
As are the swelling Adriatic seas.
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua ;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

Gru. Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is. Why, give him gold enough, 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

you,

I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her;
And therefore let me be thus bold with
To give you over at this first encounter,
Unless you will accompany me thither.

Gru. I pray you, sir, let him go while the humor 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 keep 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 rehearsed)
That ever Katharina will be wooed,
Therefore this order hath Baptista taʼen;·

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.

About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca:

And, by good fortune, I have lighted well
On this young man; for learning and behavior
Fit for her turn; well read in poetry,

Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me And other books; good ones, I warrant you.

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; with him LUCENTIO disguised,
with books under his arm.

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. '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.

Gre. Beloved of me; and that my deeds shall
prove.

[Aside.

Gru. And that his bags shall prove.
Hor. Gremio, 't is 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,

Hor. Peace, Grumio; 't is the rival of my love. Will undertake to woo cursed Katherine; -Petruchio, stand by awhile.

Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous!

[They retire.

Gre. O, very well; I have perused the note.
Hark you, sir; I'll have them fairly bound:
All books of love, see that at any hand;
And see you read no other lectures to her:
You understand me. Over and beside

Signior Baptista's liberality,

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 coun

tryman?

Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's son:

My father dead, my fortune lives for me;

I'll mend it with a largess. Take your papers And I do hope good days, and long to see.

too,

And let me have them very well perfumed;
For she is sweeter than perfume itself,

To whom they go. What will you read to her?
Luc. 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.

Gre. O this learning, what a thing it is!
Gru. O this woodcock, what an ass it is!
Pet. Peace, sirrah.

Gre. O, sir, such a life with such a wife were

strange:

But if you have a stomach, to 't o' God's name;
You shall have me assisting you in all.
But will you woo this wild-cat?
Pet.
Will I live?

Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her.
[Aside.
Pet. 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, puffed up with winds,

Hor. Grumio, mum!-God save you, Signior Rage like an angry boar chaféd with sweat?

Gremio!

Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,

Gre. And you're well met, Signior Hortensio. And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?

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Have I not in the pitchéd battle heard

Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets'

clang?

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