If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day

When I shall ask the bans, and when be married.
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 called plain Kate, And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst; But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom, Kate of Kate-Ĥall, my super-dainty Kate, For dainties are all cates; and therefore, Kate, Take this of me, Kate of my consolation ;Hearing thy mildness praised in every town, Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauties sounded, (Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,) Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife.

Kath. Moved! in good time; let him that moved you hither,

Remove you hence. I knew you at the first,

You were a movable.

Pet.

Kath. A joint-stool.

Why, what's a movable?

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, sir, as 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-winged turtle! shall a buzzard take

thee?

1 This is a poor quibble upon heard, which was then pronounced hard.

Kath. Ay, for a turtle; as he takes a buzzard.1
Pet. Come, come, you wasp; i'faith, you are too

angry.

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 doth wear his
sting?

Whose tongue?

Kath. Yours, if you talk of tails; and so farewell. Pet. What, with my tongue in your tail? Nay, come again,

Good Kate; I am a gentleman.

If

Kath.

That I'll try.

[Striking him.

Pet. I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again.
Kath. So may you lose your arms.

you strike me, you are no gentleman;

And if no gentleman, why, then no arms.

Pet. A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books.
Kath. What is your crest? A coxcomb?

Pet. A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen.
Kath. No cock of mine, you crow too like a

craven.2

Pet. Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so

sour.

Kath. It is my fashion when I see a crab.

Pet. Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not

sour.

Kath. There is, there is.

Pet. Then show it me.

Kath.

Had I a glass, I would.

Pet. What, you mean my face?

1 This kind of expression seems to have been proverbial. So in The Three Lords of London, 1590:

66

hast no more skill

Than take a falcon for a buzzard."

A cowardly, degenerate cock.

Kath.

Well aimed of such a young one.

Pet. Now, by Saint George, I am too young for

you.

Kath. Yet you are withered.

Pet.

Kath.

'Tis with cares.

I care not.

Pet. Nay, hear you, Kate; in sooth you 'scape not

So.

Kath. 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, And now I find report a very liar ;

For thou art 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.
Kath. Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command.
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.1
Pet. Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharine, 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;

1 This appears to allude to some proverb.

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 Kate1
Conformable, as other household Kates.
Here comes your father; never make denial;
I must and will have Katharine to my wife.

Re-enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and TRANIO.

Bap. Now,

Seignior Petruchio, how speed you with
My daughter?

Pet.

How but well, sir? how but well?

It were impossible I should speed amiss.

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

Kath. Call you me daughter? Now, I promise you, You have showed 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.

Pet. Father, 'tis thus:-Yourself and all the world,
That talked of her, have talked 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;

2

And to conclude,-we have 'greed so well together, That upon Sunday is the wedding-day.

Kath. I'll see thee hanged on Sunday first.

1 Thus the first folio. The second folio reads:-"a wild Kat to a Kate;" the modern editors, "a wild cat."

2 The story of Griselda, so beautifully related by Chaucer, was taken by him from Boccaccio. It is thought to be older than the time of the Florentine, as it is to be found among the old fabliaux.

Gre. Hark, Petruchio! she says she'll see thee hanged first.

Tra. Is this your speeding? Nay, then, good night

our part!

Pet. Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself.

If she and I be pleased, what's that to you? 'Tis bargained '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 2 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 Katharine shall be fine.

Bap. I know not what to say; but give me your hands;

God send you joy, Petruchio! 'tis a match.

Gre. Tra. Amen, say we; we will be witnesses. . Pet. 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 PET. and KATH. severally. Gre. Was ever match clapped up so suddenly? Bap. Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant's part,

And venture madly on a desperate mart.

Tra. 'Twas a commodity lay fretting by you. 'Twill bring you gain, or perish on the seas. Bap. The gain I seek is-quiet in the match.

1 This phrase, which frequently occurs in old writers, is equivalent to,

it is a wonder, or a matter of admiration to see.

2 A tame, dastardly creature, particularly an over-mild husband.