The Taming of the Shrew - Entire Play | Folger Shakespeare Library

⌜INDUCTION⌝

Scene 1

Enter Beggar (Christopher Sly) and Hostess.

SLY 0001 I’ll feeze you, in faith.
HOSTESS 0002 A pair of stocks, you rogue!
SLY 0003 You’re a baggage! The Slys are no rogues. Look
0004 in the chronicles. We came in with Richard Conqueror.
0005 5 Therefore, paucas pallabris, let the world
0006 slide. Sessa!
HOSTESS 0007 You will not pay for the glasses you have
0008 burst?
SLY 0009 No, not a denier. Go, by ⌜Saint⌝ Jeronimy! Go to
0010 10 thy cold bed and warm thee.⌜He lies down.⌝
HOSTESS 0011 I know my remedy. I must go fetch the
0012 headborough.⌜She exits.⌝
SLY 0013 Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I’ll answer him
0014 by law. I’ll not budge an inch, boy. Let him come,
0015 15 and kindly.Falls asleep.

Wind horns ⌜within.⌝ Enter a Lord from hunting, with
his train.

LORD
0016 Huntsman, I charge thee tender well my hounds.
0017 ⌜Breathe⌝ Merriman (the poor cur is embossed)
0018 And couple Clowder with the deep-mouthed brach.
0019 Saw’st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
0020 20 At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault?
0021 I would not lose the dog for twenty pound!

p. 9

FIRST HUNTSMAN
0022 Why, Bellman is as good as he, my lord.
0023 He cried upon it at the merest loss,
0024 And twice today picked out the dullest scent.
0025 25 Trust me, I take him for the better dog.
LORD
0026 Thou art a fool. If Echo were as fleet,
0027 I would esteem him worth a dozen such.
0028 But sup them well, and look unto them all.
0029 Tomorrow I intend to hunt again.
FIRST HUNTSMAN 0030 30I will, my lord.
⌜First Huntsman exits.⌝
LORD, ⌜noticing Sly⌝
0031 What’s here? One dead, or drunk? See doth he
0032 breathe.
SECOND HUNTSMAN
0033 He breathes, my lord. Were he not warmed with ale,
0034 This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly.
LORD
0035 35 O monstrous beast, how like a swine he lies!
0036 Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
0037 Sirs, I will practice on this drunken man.
0038 What think you, if he were conveyed to bed,
0039 Wrapped in sweet clothes, rings put upon his
0040 40 fingers,
0041 A most delicious banquet by his bed,
0042 And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
0043 Would not the beggar then forget himself?
⌜THIRD⌝ HUNTSMAN
0044 Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose.
SECOND HUNTSMAN
0045 45 It would seem strange unto him when he waked.
LORD
0046 Even as a flatt’ring dream or worthless fancy.
0047 Then take him up, and manage well the jest.

p. 11

0048 Carry him gently to my fairest chamber,
0049 And hang it round with all my wanton pictures;
0050 50 Balm his foul head in warm distillèd waters,
0051 And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet;
0052 Procure me music ready when he wakes
0053 To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound.
0054 And if he chance to speak, be ready straight
0055 55 And, with a low, submissive reverence,
0056 Say “What is it your Honor will command?”
0057 Let one attend him with a silver basin
0058 Full of rosewater and bestrewed with flowers,
0059 Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper,
0060 60 And say “Will ’t please your Lordship cool your
0061 hands?”
0062 Someone be ready with a costly suit,
0063 And ask him what apparel he will wear.
0064 Another tell him of his hounds and horse,
0065 65 And that his lady mourns at his disease.
0066 Persuade him that he hath been lunatic,
0067 And when he says he is, say that he dreams,
0068 For he is nothing but a mighty lord.
0069 This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs.
0070 70 It will be pastime passing excellent
0071 If it be husbanded with modesty.
⌜THIRD⌝ HUNTSMAN
0072 My lord, I warrant you we will play our part
0073 As he shall think by our true diligence
0074 He is no less than what we say he is.
LORD
0075 75 Take him up gently, and to bed with him,
0076 And each one to his office when he wakes.
⌜Sly is carried out.⌝
Sound trumpets ⌜within.⌝
0077 Sirrah, go see what trumpet ’tis that sounds.
⌜Servingman exits.⌝

p. 13

0078 Belike some noble gentleman that means
0079 (Traveling some journey) to repose him here.

Enter Servingman.

0080 80 How now? Who is it?
SERVINGMAN 0081 An ’t please your Honor, players
0082 That offer service to your Lordship.
LORD
0083 Bid them come near.

Enter Players.

0084 Now, fellows, you are welcome.
PLAYERS 0085 85We thank your Honor.
LORD
0086 Do you intend to stay with me tonight?
⌜FIRST PLAYER⌝
0087 So please your Lordship to accept our duty.
LORD
0088 With all my heart. This fellow I remember
0089 Since once he played a farmer’s eldest son.—
0090 90 ’Twas where you wooed the gentlewoman so well.
0091 I have forgot your name, but sure that part
0092 Was aptly fitted and naturally performed.
⌜SECOND PLAYER⌝
0093 I think ’twas Soto that your Honor means.
LORD
0094 ’Tis very true. Thou didst it excellent.
0095 95 Well, you are come to me in happy time,
0096 The rather for I have some sport in hand
0097 Wherein your cunning can assist me much.
0098 There is a lord will hear you play tonight;
0099 But I am doubtful of your modesties,
0100 100 Lest, over-eying of his odd behavior
0101 (For yet his Honor never heard a play),
0102 You break into some merry passion,
0103 And so offend him. For I tell you, sirs,
0104 If you should smile, he grows impatient.

p. 15

⌜FIRST PLAYER⌝
0105 105 Fear not, my lord, we can contain ourselves
0106 Were he the veriest antic in the world.
LORD, ⌜to a Servingman⌝
0107 Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery
0108 And give them friendly welcome every one.
0109 Let them want nothing that my house affords.
One exits with the Players.
0110 110 Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew, my page,
0111 And see him dressed in all suits like a lady.
0112 That done, conduct him to the drunkard’s chamber,
0113 And call him “Madam,” do him obeisance.
0114 Tell him from me, as he will win my love,
0115 115 He bear himself with honorable action,
0116 Such as he hath observed in noble ladies
0117 Unto their lords, by them accomplishèd.
0118 Such duty to the drunkard let him do
0119 With soft low tongue and lowly courtesy,
0120 120 And say “What is ’t your Honor will command,
0121 Wherein your lady and your humble wife
0122 May show her duty and make known her love?”
0123 And then with kind embracements, tempting kisses,
0124 And with declining head into his bosom,
0125 125 Bid him shed tears, as being overjoyed
0126 To see her noble lord restored to health,
0127 Who, for this seven years, hath esteemed him
0128 No better than a poor and loathsome beggar.
0129 And if the boy have not a woman’s gift
0130 130 To rain a shower of commanded tears,
0131 An onion will do well for such a shift,
0132 Which (in a napkin being close conveyed)
0133 Shall in despite enforce a watery eye.
0134 See this dispatched with all the haste thou canst.
0135 135 Anon I’ll give thee more instructions.
A Servingman exits.
0136 I know the boy will well usurp the grace,

p. 17

0137 Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman.
0138 I long to hear him call the drunkard “husband”!
0139 And how my men will stay themselves from
0140 140 laughter
0141 When they do homage to this simple peasant,
0142 I’ll in to counsel them. Haply my presence
0143 May well abate the over-merry spleen
0144 Which otherwise would grow into extremes.
⌜They exit.⌝

⌜Scene 2⌝

Enter aloft ⌜Christopher Sly,⌝ the drunkard, with
Attendants, some with apparel, basin and ewer, and
other appurtenances, and Lord ⌜dressed as an Attendant.⌝

SLY 0145 For God’s sake, a pot of small ale.
FIRST SERVINGMAN
0146 Will ’t please your Lord drink a cup of sack?
SECOND SERVINGMAN
0147 Will ’t please your Honor taste of these conserves?
THIRD SERVINGMAN
0148 What raiment will your Honor wear today?
SLY 0149 5I am Christophero Sly! Call not me “Honor” nor
0150 “Lordship.” I ne’er drank sack in my life. An if you
0151 give me any conserves, give me conserves of beef.
0152 Ne’er ask me what raiment I’ll wear, for I have no
0153 more doublets than backs, no more stockings than
0154 10 legs, nor no more shoes than feet, nay sometime
0155 more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look
0156 through the over-leather.
LORD, ⌜as Attendant⌝
0157 Heaven cease this idle humor in your Honor!
0158 O, that a mighty man of such descent,
0159 15 Of such possessions, and so high esteem
0160 Should be infusèd with so foul a spirit!

p. 19

SLY 0161 What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher
0162 Sly, old Sly’s son of Burton Heath, by birth a
0163 peddler, by education a cardmaker, by transmutation
0164 20 a bearherd, and now by present profession a
0165 tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat alewife of Wincot,
0166 if she know me not! If she say I am not fourteen
0167 pence on the score for sheer ale, score me up for the
0168 lying’st knave in Christendom. What, I am not
0169 25 bestraught! Here’s—
THIRD SERVINGMAN
0170 O, this it is that makes your lady mourn.
SECOND SERVINGMAN
0171 O, this is it that makes your servants droop.
LORD, ⌜as Attendant⌝
0172 Hence comes it that your kindred shuns your house,
0173 As beaten hence by your strange lunacy.
0174 30 O noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth,
0175 Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment,
0176 And banish hence these abject lowly dreams.
0177 Look how thy servants do attend on thee,
0178 Each in his office ready at thy beck.
0179 35 Wilt thou have music? Hark, Apollo plays,Music.
0180 And twenty cagèd nightingales do sing.
0181 Or wilt thou sleep? We’ll have thee to a couch
0182 Softer and sweeter than the lustful bed
0183 On purpose trimmed up for Semiramis.
0184 40 Say thou wilt walk, we will bestrew the ground.
0185 Or wilt thou ride? Thy horses shall be trapped,
0186 Their harness studded all with gold and pearl.
0187 Dost thou love hawking? Thou hast hawks will soar
0188 Above the morning lark. Or wilt thou hunt?
0189 45 Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them
0190 And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth.
FIRST SERVINGMAN
0191 Say thou wilt course. Thy greyhounds are as swift
0192 As breathèd stags, ay, fleeter than the roe.

p. 21

SECOND SERVINGMAN
0193 Dost thou love pictures? We will fetch thee straight
0194 50 Adonis painted by a running brook,
0195 And Cytherea all in sedges hid,
0196 Which seem to move and wanton with her breath,
0197 Even as the waving sedges play with wind.
LORD, ⌜as Attendant⌝
0198 We’ll show thee Io as she was a maid
0199 55 And how she was beguilèd and surprised,
0200 As lively painted as the deed was done.
THIRD SERVINGMAN
0201 Or Daphne roaming through a thorny wood,
0202 Scratching her legs that one shall swear she bleeds,
0203 And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep,
0204 60 So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn.
LORD, ⌜as Attendant⌝
0205 Thou art a lord, and nothing but a lord;
0206 Thou hast a lady far more beautiful
0207 Than any woman in this waning age.
FIRST SERVINGMAN
0208 And till the tears that she hath shed for thee
0209 65 Like envious floods o’errun her lovely face,
0210 She was the fairest creature in the world—
0211 And yet she is inferior to none.
SLY
0212 Am I a lord, and have I such a lady?
0213 Or do I dream? Or have I dreamed till now?
0214 70 I do not sleep: I see, I hear, I speak,
0215 I smell sweet savors, and I feel soft things.
0216 Upon my life, I am a lord indeed
0217 And not a tinker, nor Christopher Sly.
0218 Well, bring our lady hither to our sight,
0219 75 And once again a pot o’ the smallest ale.
SECOND SERVINGMAN
0220 Will ’t please your Mightiness to wash your hands?
0221 O, how we joy to see your wit restored!

p. 23

0222 O, that once more you knew but what you are!
0223 These fifteen years you have been in a dream,
0224 80 Or, when you waked, so waked as if you slept.
SLY
0225 These fifteen years! By my fay, a goodly nap.
0226 But did I never speak of all that time?
FIRST SERVINGMAN
0227 Oh, yes, my lord, but very idle words.
0228 For though you lay here in this goodly chamber,
0229 85 Yet would you say you were beaten out of door,
0230 And rail upon the hostess of the house,
0231 And say you would present her at the leet
0232 Because she brought stone jugs and no sealed
0233 quarts.
0234 90 Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket.
SLY 0235 Ay, the woman’s maid of the house.
THIRD SERVINGMAN
0236 Why, sir, you know no house, nor no such maid,
0237 Nor no such men as you have reckoned up,
0238 As Stephen Sly and old John Naps of ⌜Greete,⌝
0239 95 And Peter Turph and Henry Pimpernell,
0240 And twenty more such names and men as these,
0241 Which never were, nor no man ever saw.
SLY 0242 Now, Lord be thanked for my good amends!
ALL 0243 Amen.
SLY 0244 100I thank thee. Thou shalt not lose by it.

Enter ⌜Page as⌝ Lady, with Attendants.

⌜PAGE, as⌝ Lady 0245 How fares my noble lord?
SLY 0246 Marry, I fare well, for here is cheer enough.
0247 Where is my wife?
⌜PAGE, as⌝ Lady
0248 Here, noble lord. What is thy will with her?
SLY
0249 105 Are you my wife, and will not call me “husband”?
0250 My men should call me “lord.” I am your goodman.

p. 25

⌜PAGE, as⌝ Lady
0251 My husband and my lord, my lord and husband,
0252 I am your wife in all obedience.
SLY
0253 I know it well.—What must I call her?
LORD, ⌜as Attendant⌝ 0254 110 “Madam.”
SLY 0255 “Alice Madam,” or “Joan Madam”?
LORD
0256 “Madam,” and nothing else. So lords call ladies.
SLY
0257 Madam wife, they say that I have dreamed
0258 And slept above some fifteen year or more.
⌜PAGE, as⌝ Lady
0259 115 Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me,
0260 Being all this time abandoned from your bed.
SLY
0261 ’Tis much.—Servants, leave me and her alone.—
0262 Madam, undress you, and come now to bed.
⌜PAGE, as⌝ Lady
0263 Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you
0264 120 To pardon me yet for a night or two;
0265 Or if not so, until the sun be set.
0266 For your physicians have expressly charged,
0267 In peril to incur your former malady,
0268 That I should yet absent me from your bed.
0269 125 I hope this reason stands for my excuse.
SLY 0270 Ay, it stands so that I may hardly tarry so long; but
0271 I would be loath to fall into my dreams again. I will
0272 therefore tarry in despite of the flesh and the
0273 blood.

Enter a Messenger.

MESSENGER
0274 130 Your Honor’s players, hearing your amendment,
0275 Are come to play a pleasant comedy,
0276 For so your doctors hold it very meet,

p. 27

0277 Seeing too much sadness hath congealed your
0278 blood,
0279 135 And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy.
0280 Therefore they thought it good you hear a play
0281 And frame your mind to mirth and merriment,
0282 Which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.
SLY 0283 Marry, I will. Let them play it.⌜Messenger exits.⌝
0284 140 Is not a comonty a Christmas gambold or a tumbling
0285 trick?
⌜PAGE, as⌝ Lady
0286 No, my good lord, it is more pleasing stuff.
SLY 0287 What, household stuff?
⌜PAGE, as⌝ Lady 0288 It is a kind of history.
SLY 0289 145Well, we’ll see ’t. Come, madam wife, sit by my
0290 side, and let the world slip. We shall ne’er be
0291 younger.
⌜They sit.⌝

⌜ACT 1⌝

⌜Scene 1⌝

Flourish. Enter Lucentio and his man Tranio.

LUCENTIO
0292 Tranio, since for the great desire I had
0293 To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
0294 I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy,
0295 The pleasant garden of great Italy,
0296 5 And by my father’s love and leave am armed
0297 With his goodwill and thy good company.
0298 My trusty servant well approved in all,
0299 Here let us breathe and haply institute
0300 A course of learning and ingenious studies.
0301 10 Pisa, renownèd for grave citizens,
0302 Gave me my being, and my father first,
0303 A merchant of great traffic through the world,
0304 ⌜Vincentio,⌝ come of the Bentivolii.
0305 Vincentio’s son, brought up in Florence,
0306 15 It shall become to serve all hopes conceived
0307 To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds.
0308 And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study
0309 Virtue, and that part of philosophy
0310 Will I apply that treats of happiness
0311 20 By virtue specially to be achieved.
0312 Tell me thy mind, for I have Pisa left
0313 And am to Padua come, as he that leaves

p. 33

0314 A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep
0315 And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.
TRANIO
0316 25 ⌜Mi perdonato,⌝ gentle master mine.
0317 I am in all affected as yourself,
0318 Glad that you thus continue your resolve
0319 To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy.
0320 Only, good master, while we do admire
0321 30 This virtue and this moral discipline,
0322 Let’s be no stoics nor no stocks, I pray,
0323 Or so devote to Aristotle’s checks
0324 As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured.
0325 Balk logic with acquaintance that you have,
0326 35 And practice rhetoric in your common talk;
0327 Music and poesy use to quicken you;
0328 The mathematics and the metaphysics—
0329 Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you.
0330 No profit grows where is no pleasure ta’en.
0331 40 In brief, sir, study what you most affect.
LUCENTIO
0332 Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise.
0333 If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore,
0334 We could at once put us in readiness
0335 And take a lodging fit to entertain
0336 45 Such friends as time in Padua shall beget.

Enter Baptista with his two daughters, Katherine and
Bianca; Gremio, a pantaloon, ⌜and⌝ Hortensio, ⌜suitors⌝
to Bianca.

0337 But stay awhile! What company is this?
TRANIO
0338 Master, some show to welcome us to town.
Lucentio ⌜and⌝ Tranio stand by.
BAPTISTA, ⌜to Gremio and Hortensio⌝
0339 Gentlemen, importune me no farther,
0340 For how I firmly am resolved you know:

p. 35

0341 50 That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter
0342 Before I have a husband for the elder.
0343 If either of you both love Katherine,
0344 Because I know you well and love you well,
0345 Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.
GREMIO
0346 55 To cart her, rather. She’s too rough for me.—
0347 There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife?
KATHERINE, ⌜to Baptista⌝
0348 I pray you, sir, is it your will
0349 To make a stale of me amongst these mates?
HORTENSIO
0350 “Mates,” maid? How mean you that? No mates for
0351 60 you,
0352 Unless you were of gentler, milder mold.
KATHERINE
0353 I’ faith, sir, you shall never need to fear.
0354 Iwis it is not halfway to her heart.
0355 But if it were, doubt not her care should be
0356 65 To comb your noddle with a three-legged stool
0357 And paint your face and use you like a fool.
HORTENSIO
0358 From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us!
GREMIO 0359 And me too, good Lord.
TRANIO, ⌜aside to Lucentio⌝
0360 Husht, master, here’s some good pastime toward;
0361 70 That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward.
LUCENTIO, ⌜aside to Tranio⌝
0362 But in the other’s silence do I see
0363 Maid’s mild behavior and sobriety.
0364 Peace, Tranio.
TRANIO, ⌜aside to Lucentio⌝
0365 Well said, master. Mum, and gaze your fill.
BAPTISTA, ⌜to Gremio and Hortensio⌝
0366 75 Gentlemen, that I may soon make good
0367 What I have said—Bianca, get you in,

p. 37

0368 And let it not displease thee, good Bianca,
0369 For I will love thee ne’er the less, my girl.
KATHERINE
0370 A pretty peat! It is best
0371 80 Put finger in the eye, an she knew why.
BIANCA
0372 Sister, content you in my discontent.—
0373 Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe.
0374 My books and instruments shall be my company,
0375 On them to look and practice by myself.
LUCENTIO, ⌜aside to Tranio⌝
0376 85 Hark, Tranio, thou mayst hear Minerva speak!
HORTENSIO
0377 Signior Baptista, will you be so strange?
0378 Sorry am I that our goodwill effects
0379 Bianca’s grief.
GREMIO 0380 Why will you mew her up,
0381 90 Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,
0382 And make her bear the penance of her tongue?
BAPTISTA
0383 Gentlemen, content you. I am resolved.—
0384 Go in, Bianca.⌜Bianca exits.⌝
0385 And for I know she taketh most delight
0386 95 In music, instruments, and poetry,
0387 Schoolmasters will I keep within my house
0388 Fit to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio,
0389 Or, Signior Gremio, you know any such,
0390 Prefer them hither. For to cunning men
0391 100 I will be very kind, and liberal
0392 To mine own children in good bringing up.
0393 And so, farewell.—Katherine, you may stay,
0394 For I have more to commune with Bianca.He exits.
KATHERINE
0395 Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not?
0396 105 What, shall I be appointed hours as though, belike,
0397 I knew not what to take and what to leave? Ha!
She exits.

p. 39

GREMIO 0398 You may go to the Devil’s dam! Your gifts are
0399 so good here’s none will hold you.—Their love is
0400 not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails
0401 110 together and fast it fairly out. Our cake’s dough on
0402 both sides. Farewell. Yet for the love I bear my
0403 sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit
0404 man to teach her that wherein she delights, I will
0405 wish him to her father.
HORTENSIO 0406 115So will I, Signior Gremio. But a word, I
0407 pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never
0408 brooked parle, know now upon advice, it toucheth
0409 us both (that we may yet again have access to our
0410 fair mistress and be happy rivals in Bianca’s love) to
0411 120 labor and effect one thing specially.
GREMIO 0412 What’s that, I pray?
HORTENSIO 0413 Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.
GREMIO 0414 A husband? A devil!
HORTENSIO 0415 I say “a husband.”
GREMIO 0416 125I say “a devil.” Think’st thou, Hortensio,
0417 though her father be very rich, any man is so very a
0418 fool to be married to hell?
HORTENSIO 0419 Tush, Gremio. Though it pass your patience
0420 and mine to endure her loud alarums, why,
0421 130 man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man
0422 could light on them, would take her with all faults,
0423 and money enough.
GREMIO 0424 I cannot tell. But I had as lief take her dowry
0425 with this condition: to be whipped at the high cross
0426 135 every morning.
HORTENSIO 0427 Faith, as you say, there’s small choice in
0428 rotten apples. But come, since this bar in law
0429 makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly
0430 maintained till by helping Baptista’s eldest daughter
0431 140 to a husband we set his youngest free for a
0432 husband, and then have to ’t afresh. Sweet Bianca!
0433 Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the
0434 ring. How say you, Signior Gremio?

p. 41

GREMIO 0435 I am agreed, and would I had given him the
0436 145 best horse in Padua to begin his wooing that would
0437 thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid
0438 the house of her. Come on.
⌜Gremio and Hortensio⌝ exit.
Tranio and Lucentio remain onstage.
TRANIO
0439 I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible
0440 That love should of a sudden take such hold?
LUCENTIO
0441 150 O Tranio, till I found it to be true,
0442 I never thought it possible or likely.
0443 But see, while idly I stood looking on,
0444 I found the effect of love-in-idleness,
0445 And now in plainness do confess to thee
0446 155 That art to me as secret and as dear
0447 As Anna to the Queen of Carthage was:
0448 Tranio, I burn, I pine! I perish, Tranio,
0449 If I achieve not this young modest girl.
0450 Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst.
0451 160 Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.
TRANIO
0452 Master, it is no time to chide you now.
0453 Affection is not rated from the heart.
0454 If love have touched you, naught remains but so:
0455 Redime te ⌜captum⌝ quam queas minimo.
LUCENTIO
0456 165 Gramercies, lad. Go forward. This contents;
0457 The rest will comfort, for thy counsel’s sound.
TRANIO
0458 Master, you looked so longly on the maid,
0459 Perhaps you marked not what’s the pith of all.
LUCENTIO
0460 O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face,
0461 170 Such as the daughter of Agenor had,
0462 That made great Jove to humble him to her hand
0463 When with his knees he kissed the Cretan strand.

p. 43

TRANIO
0464 Saw you no more? Marked you not how her sister
0465 Began to scold and raise up such a storm
0466 175 That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?
LUCENTIO
0467 Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move,
0468 And with her breath she did perfume the air.
0469 Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.
TRANIO, ⌜aside⌝
0470 Nay, then ’tis time to stir him from his trance.—
0471 180 I pray, awake, sir! If you love the maid,
0472 Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it
0473 stands:
0474 Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd
0475 That till the father rid his hands of her,
0476 185 Master, your love must live a maid at home,
0477 And therefore has he closely mewed her up,
0478 Because she will not be annoyed with suitors.
LUCENTIO
0479 Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father’s he!
0480 But art thou not advised he took some care
0481 190 To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?
TRANIO
0482 Ay, marry, am I, sir—and now ’tis plotted!
LUCENTIO
0483 I have it, Tranio!
TRANIO 0484 Master, for my hand,
0485 Both our inventions meet and jump in one.
LUCENTIO
0486 195 Tell me thine first.
TRANIO 0487 You will be schoolmaster
0488 And undertake the teaching of the maid:
0489 That’s your device.
LUCENTIO 0490 It is. May it be done?
TRANIO
0491 200 Not possible. For who shall bear your part

p. 45

0492 And be in Padua here Vincentio’s son,
0493 Keep house, and ply his book, welcome his friends,
0494 Visit his countrymen and banquet them?
LUCENTIO
0495 Basta, content thee, for I have it full.
0496 205 We have not yet been seen in any house,
0497 Nor can we be distinguished by our faces
0498 For man or master. Then it follows thus:
0499 Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead,
0500 Keep house, and port, and servants, as I should.
0501 210 I will some other be, some Florentine,
0502 Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa.
0503 ’Tis hatched, and shall be so. Tranio, at once
0504 Uncase thee. Take my colored hat and cloak.
⌜They exchange clothes.⌝
0505 When Biondello comes, he waits on thee,
0506 215 But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.
TRANIO 0507 So had you need.
0508 In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is,
0509 And I am tied to be obedient
0510 (For so your father charged me at our parting:
0511 220 “Be serviceable to my son,” quoth he,
0512 Although I think ’twas in another sense),
0513 I am content to be Lucentio,
0514 Because so well I love Lucentio.
LUCENTIO
0515 Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves,
0516 225 And let me be a slave, t’ achieve that maid
0517 Whose sudden sight hath thralled my wounded eye.

Enter Biondello.

0518 Here comes the rogue.—Sirrah, where have you
0519 been?
BIONDELLO
0520 Where have I been? Nay, how now, where are you?

p. 47

0521 230 Master, has my fellow Tranio stolen your clothes?
0522 Or you stolen his? Or both? Pray, what’s the news?
LUCENTIO
0523 Sirrah, come hither. ’Tis no time to jest,
0524 And therefore frame your manners to the time.
0525 Your fellow, Tranio here, to save my life,
0526 235 Puts my apparel and my count’nance on,
0527 And I for my escape have put on his;
0528 For in a quarrel since I came ashore
0529 I killed a man and fear I was descried.
0530 Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes,
0531 240 While I make way from hence to save my life.
0532 You understand me?
BIONDELLO 0533 Ay, sir. ⌜Aside.⌝ Ne’er a whit.
LUCENTIO
0534 And not a jot of “Tranio” in your mouth.
0535 Tranio is changed into Lucentio.
BIONDELLO
0536 245 The better for him. Would I were so too.
TRANIO
0537 So could I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after,
0538 That Lucentio indeed had Baptista’s youngest
0539 daughter.
0540 But, sirrah, not for my sake, but your master’s, I
0541 250 advise
0542 You use your manners discreetly in all kind of
0543 companies.
0544 When I am alone, why then I am Tranio;
0545 But in all places else, ⌜your⌝ master Lucentio.
LUCENTIO 0546 255Tranio, let’s go. One thing more rests, that
0547 thyself execute, to make one among these wooers. If
0548 thou ask me why, sufficeth my reasons are both
0549 good and weighty.They exit.
The Presenters above ⌜speak.⌝
FIRST SERVINGMAN
0550 My lord, you nod. You do not mind the play.

p. 49

SLY 0551 260Yes, by Saint Anne, do I. A good matter, surely.
0552 Comes there any more of it?
⌜PAGE, as⌝ Lady 0553 My lord, ’tis but begun.
SLY 0554 ’Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady.
0555 Would ’twere done.
They sit and mark.

⌜Scene 2⌝

Enter Petruchio and his man Grumio.

PETRUCHIO
0556 Verona, for a while I take my leave
0557 To see my friends in Padua, but of all
0558 My best belovèd and approvèd friend,
0559 Hortensio. And I trow this is his house.
0560 5 Here, sirrah Grumio, knock, I say.
GRUMIO 0561 Knock, sir? Whom should I knock? Is there
0562 any man has rebused your Worship?
PETRUCHIO 0563 Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.
GRUMIO 0564 Knock you here, sir? Why, sir, what am I, sir,
0565 10 that I should knock you here, sir?
PETRUCHIO
0566 Villain, I say, knock me at this gate
0567 And rap me well, or I’ll knock your knave’s pate.
GRUMIO
0568 My master is grown quarrelsome. I should knock
0569 you first,
0570 15 And then I know after who comes by the worst.
PETRUCHIO 0571 Will it not be?
0572 Faith, sirrah, an you’ll not knock, I’ll ring it.
0573 I’ll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it.
He wrings him by the ears. ⌜Grumio falls.⌝
GRUMIO 0574 Help, mistress, help! My master is mad.
PETRUCHIO 0575 20Now knock when I bid you, sirrah
0576 villain.

p. 51

Enter Hortensio.

HORTENSIO 0577 How now, what’s the matter? My old
0578 friend Grumio and my good friend Petruchio? How
0579 do you all at Verona?
PETRUCHIO
0580 25 Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray?
0581 ⌜Con tutto il cuore ben trovato,⌝ may I say.
HORTENSIO 0582 Alia nostra casa ⌜ben⌝ venuto, ⌜molto
0583 honorato⌝ signor mio Petruchio.—Rise, Grumio,
0584 rise. We will compound this quarrel.⌜Grumio rises.⌝
GRUMIO 0585 30Nay, ’tis no matter, sir, what he ’leges in
0586 Latin. If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave
0587 his service—look you, sir: he bid me knock him
0588 and rap him soundly, sir. Well, was it fit for a
0589 servant to use his master so, being perhaps, for
0590 35 aught I see, two-and-thirty, a pip out?
0591 Whom, would to God, I had well knocked at first,
0592 Then had not Grumio come by the worst.
PETRUCHIO
0593 A senseless villain, good Hortensio.
0594 I bade the rascal knock upon your gate
0595 40 And could not get him for my heart to do it.
GRUMIO 0596 Knock at the gate? O, heavens, spake you not
0597 these words plain: “Sirrah, knock me here, rap me
0598 here, knock me well, and knock me soundly”? And
0599 come you now with “knocking at the gate”?
PETRUCHIO
0600 45 Sirrah, begone, or talk not, I advise you.
HORTENSIO
0601 Petruchio, patience. I am Grumio’s pledge.
0602 Why, this’ a heavy chance ’twixt him and you,
0603 Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio.
0604 And tell me now, sweet friend, what happy gale
0605 50 Blows you to Padua here from old Verona?
PETRUCHIO
0606 Such wind as scatters young men through the world

p. 53

0607 To seek their fortunes farther than at home,
0608 Where small experience grows. But in a few,
0609 Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me:
0610 55 Antonio, my father, is deceased,
0611 And I have thrust myself into this maze,
0612 Happily to wive and thrive, as best I may.
0613 Crowns in my purse I have and goods at home,
0614 And so am come abroad to see the world.
HORTENSIO
0615 60 Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee
0616 And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favored wife?
0617 Thou ’dst thank me but a little for my counsel—
0618 And yet I’ll promise thee she shall be rich,
0619 And very rich. But thou ’rt too much my friend,
0620 65 And I’ll not wish thee to her.
PETRUCHIO
0621 Signior Hortensio, ’twixt such friends as we
0622 Few words suffice. And therefore, if thou know
0623 One rich enough to be Petruchio’s wife
0624 (As wealth is burden of my wooing dance),
0625 70 Be she as foul as was Florentius’ love,
0626 As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
0627 As Socrates’ Xanthippe, or a worse,
0628 She moves me not, or not removes at least
0629 Affection’s edge in me, were she as rough
0630 75 As are the swelling Adriatic seas.
0631 I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
0632 If wealthily, then happily in Padua.
GRUMIO, ⌜to Hortensio⌝ 0633 Nay, look you, sir, he tells you
0634 flatly what his mind is. Why, give him gold enough
0635 80 and marry him to a puppet or an aglet-baby, or an
0636 old trot with ne’er a tooth in her head, though she
0637 have as many diseases as two-and-fifty horses. Why,
0638 nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal.
HORTENSIO
0639 Petruchio, since we are stepped thus far in,

p. 55

0640 85 I will continue that I broached in jest.
0641 I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife
0642 With wealth enough, and young and beauteous,
0643 Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman.
0644 Her only fault, and that is faults enough,
0645 90 Is that she is intolerable curst,
0646 And shrewd, and froward, so beyond all measure
0647 That, were my state far worser than it is,
0648 I would not wed her for a mine of gold.
PETRUCHIO
0649 Hortensio, peace. Thou know’st not gold’s effect.
0650 95 Tell me her father’s name, and ’tis enough;
0651 For I will board her, though she chide as loud
0652 As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.
HORTENSIO
0653 Her father is Baptista Minola,
0654 An affable and courteous gentleman.
0655 100 Her name is Katherina Minola,
0656 Renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue.
PETRUCHIO
0657 I know her father, though I know not her,
0658 And he knew my deceasèd father well.
0659 I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her,
0660 105 And therefore let me be thus bold with you
0661 To give you over at this first encounter—
0662 Unless you will accompany me thither.
GRUMIO, ⌜to Hortensio⌝ 0663 I pray you, sir, let him go while
0664 the humor lasts. O’ my word, an she knew him as
0665 110 well as I do, she would think scolding would do little
0666 good upon him. She may perhaps call him half a
0667 score knaves or so. Why, that’s nothing; an he begin
0668 once, he’ll rail in his rope tricks. I’ll tell you what,
0669 sir, an she stand him but a little, he will throw a
0670 115 figure in her face and so disfigure her with it that
0671 she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat.
0672 You know him not, sir.

p. 57

HORTENSIO
0673 Tarry, Petruchio. I must go with thee,
0674 For in Baptista’s keep my treasure is.
0675 120 He hath the jewel of my life in hold,
0676 His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca,
0677 And her withholds from me ⌜and⌝ other more,
0678 Suitors to her and rivals in my love,
0679 Supposing it a thing impossible,
0680 125 For those defects I have before rehearsed,
0681 That ever Katherina will be wooed.
0682 Therefore this order hath Baptista ta’en,
0683 That none shall have access unto Bianca
0684 Till Katherine the curst have got a husband.
GRUMIO 0685 130“Katherine the curst,”
0686 A title for a maid, of all titles the worst.
HORTENSIO
0687 Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace
0688 And offer me disguised in sober robes
0689 To old Baptista as a schoolmaster
0690 135 Well seen in music, to instruct Bianca,
0691 That so I may, by this device at least,
0692 Have leave and leisure to make love to her
0693 And unsuspected court her by herself.
GRUMIO 0694 Here’s no knavery! See, to beguile the old
0695 140 folks, how the young folks lay their heads together!

Enter Gremio and Lucentio, disguised ⌜as Cambio, a
schoolmaster.⌝

0696 Master, master, look about you. Who goes there, ha?
HORTENSIO
0697 Peace, Grumio, it is the rival of my love.
0698 Petruchio, stand by awhile.
⌜Petruchio, Hortensio, and Grumio stand aside.⌝
GRUMIO, ⌜aside⌝
0699 A proper stripling, and an amorous.

p. 59

GREMIO, ⌜to Lucentio⌝
0700 145 O, very well, I have perused the note.
0701 Hark you, sir, I’ll have them very fairly bound,
0702 All books of love. See that at any hand,
0703 And see you read no other lectures to her.
0704 You understand me. Over and beside
0705 150 Signior Baptista’s liberality,
0706 I’ll mend it with a largess. Take your paper too.
0707 And let me have them very well perfumed,
0708 For she is sweeter than perfume itself
0709 To whom they go to. What will you read to her?
LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝
0710 155 Whate’er I read to her, I’ll plead for you
0711 As for my patron, stand you so assured,
0712 As firmly as yourself were still in place,
0713 Yea, and perhaps with more successful words
0714 Than you—unless you were a scholar, sir.
GREMIO
0715 160 O this learning, what a thing it is!
GRUMIO, ⌜aside⌝
0716 O this woodcock, what an ass it is!
PETRUCHIO, ⌜aside⌝ 0717 Peace, sirrah.
HORTENSIO, ⌜aside⌝
0718 Grumio, mum.⌜Coming forward.⌝
0719 God save you, Signior Gremio.
GREMIO
0720 165 And you are well met, Signior Hortensio.
0721 Trow you whither I am going? To Baptista Minola.
0722 I promised to enquire carefully
0723 About a schoolmaster for the fair Bianca,
0724 And by good fortune I have lighted well
0725 170 On this young man, for learning and behavior
0726 Fit for her turn, well read in poetry
0727 And other books—good ones, I warrant you.
HORTENSIO
0728 ’Tis well. And I have met a gentleman

p. 61

0729 Hath promised me to help ⌜me⌝ to another,
0730 175 A fine musician to instruct our mistress.
0731 So shall I no whit be behind in duty
0732 To fair Bianca, so beloved of me.
GREMIO
0733 Beloved of me, and that my deeds shall prove.
GRUMIO, ⌜aside⌝ 0734 And that his bags shall prove.
HORTENSIO
0735 180 Gremio, ’tis now no time to vent our love.
0736 Listen to me, and if you speak me fair
0737 I’ll tell you news indifferent good for either.
⌜Presenting Petruchio.⌝
0738 Here is a gentleman whom by chance I met,
0739 Upon agreement from us to his liking,
0740 185 Will undertake to woo curst Katherine,
0741 Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.
GREMIO 0742 So said, so done, is well.
0743 Hortensio, have you told him all her faults?
PETRUCHIO
0744 I know she is an irksome, brawling scold.
0745 190 If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.
GREMIO
0746 No? Sayst me so, friend? What countryman?
PETRUCHIO
0747 Born in Verona, old Antonio’s son.
0748 My father dead, my fortune lives for me,
0749 And I do hope good days and long to see.
GREMIO
0750 195 Oh, sir, such a life with such a wife were strange.
0751 But if you have a stomach, to ’t, i’ God’s name!
0752 You shall have me assisting you in all.
0753 But will you woo this wildcat?
PETRUCHIO 0754 Will I live?
GRUMIO
0755 200 Will he woo her? Ay, or I’ll hang her.

p. 63

PETRUCHIO
0756 Why came I hither but to that intent?
0757 Think you a little din can daunt mine ears?
0758 Have I not in my time heard lions roar?
0759 Have I not heard the sea, puffed up with winds,
0760 205 Rage like an angry boar chafèd with sweat?
0761 Have I not heard great ordnance in the field
0762 And heaven’s artillery thunder in the skies?
0763 Have I not in a pitchèd battle heard
0764 Loud ’larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets clang?
0765 210 And do you tell me of a woman’s tongue,
0766 That gives not half so great a blow to hear
0767 As will a chestnut in a farmer’s fire?
0768 Tush, tush, fear boys with bugs!
GRUMIO 0769 For he fears none.
GREMIO 0770 215Hortensio, hark.
0771 This gentleman is happily arrived,
0772 My mind presumes, for his own good and yours.
HORTENSIO
0773 I promised we would be contributors
0774 And bear his charge of wooing whatsoe’er.
GREMIO
0775 220 And so we will, provided that he win her.
GRUMIO
0776 I would I were as sure of a good dinner.

Enter Tranio, ⌜disguised as Lucentio,⌝ and Biondello.

TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
0777 Gentlemen, God save you. If I may be bold,
0778 Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way
0779 To the house of Signior Baptista Minola?
BIONDELLO 0780 225He that has the two fair daughters—is ’t
0781 he you mean?
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 0782 Even he, Biondello.
GREMIO
0783 Hark you, sir, you mean not her to—

p. 65

TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
0784 Perhaps him and her, sir. What have you to do?
PETRUCHIO
0785 230 Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
0786 I love no chiders, sir. Biondello, let’s away.
LUCENTIO, ⌜aside⌝
0787 Well begun, Tranio.
HORTENSIO 0788 Sir, a word ere you go.
0789 Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no?
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
0790 235 An if I be, sir, is it any offense?
GREMIO
0791 No, if without more words you will get you hence.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
0792 Why sir, I pray, are not the streets as free
0793 For me, as for you?
GREMIO 0794 But so is not she.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
0795 240 For what reason, I beseech you?
GREMIO
0796 For this reason, if you’ll know:
0797 That she’s the choice love of Signior Gremio.
HORTENSIO
0798 That she’s the chosen of Signior Hortensio.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
0799 Softly, my masters. If you be gentlemen,
0800 245 Do me this right: hear me with patience.
0801 Baptista is a noble gentleman
0802 To whom my father is not all unknown,
0803 And were his daughter fairer than she is,
0804 She may more suitors have, and me for one.
0805 250 Fair Leda’s daughter had a thousand wooers.
0806 Then well one more may fair Bianca have.
0807 And so she shall. Lucentio shall make one,
0808 Though Paris came in hope to speed alone.

p. 67

GREMIO
0809 What, this gentleman will out-talk us all!
LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝
0810 255 Sir, give him head; I know he’ll prove a jade.
PETRUCHIO
0811 Hortensio, to what end are all these words?
HORTENSIO, ⌜to Tranio⌝
0812 Sir, let me be so bold as ask you,
0813 Did you yet ever see Baptista’s daughter?
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
0814 No, sir, but hear I do that he hath two,
0815 260 The one as famous for a scolding tongue
0816 As is the other for beauteous modesty.
PETRUCHIO
0817 Sir, sir, the first’s for me; let her go by.
GREMIO
0818 Yea, leave that labor to great Hercules,
0819 And let it be more than Alcides’ twelve.
PETRUCHIO, ⌜to Tranio⌝
0820 265 Sir, understand you this of me, in sooth:
0821 The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for,
0822 Her father keeps from all access of suitors
0823 And will not promise her to any man
0824 Until the elder sister first be wed.
0825 270 The younger then is free, and not before.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
0826 If it be so, sir, that you are the man
0827 Must stead us all, and me amongst the rest,
0828 And if you break the ice and do this ⌜feat,⌝
0829 Achieve the elder, set the younger free
0830 275 For our access, whose hap shall be to have her
0831 Will not so graceless be to be ingrate.
HORTENSIO
0832 Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive.
0833 And since you do profess to be a suitor,
0834 You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman,
0835 280 To whom we all rest generally beholding.

p. 69

TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
0836 Sir, I shall not be slack; in sign whereof,
0837 Please you we may contrive this afternoon
0838 And quaff carouses to our mistress’ health,
0839 And do as adversaries do in law,
0840 285 Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
GRUMIO ⌜and⌝ BIONDELLO
0841 O excellent motion! Fellows, let’s be gone.
HORTENSIO
0842 The motion’s good indeed, and be it so.—
0843 Petruchio, I shall be your ⌜ben⌝ venuto.
They exit.

⌜ACT 2⌝

⌜Scene 1⌝

Enter Katherine and Bianca ⌜with her hands tied.⌝

BIANCA
0844 Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself,
0845 To make a bondmaid and a slave of me.
0846 That I disdain. But for these other goods—
0847 Unbind my hands, I’ll pull them off myself,
0848 5 Yea, all my raiment to my petticoat,
0849 Or what you will command me will I do,
0850 So well I know my duty to my elders.
KATHERINE
0851 Of all thy suitors here I charge ⌜thee⌝ tell
0852 Whom thou lov’st best. See thou dissemble not.
BIANCA
0853 10 Believe me, sister, of all the men alive
0854 I never yet beheld that special face
0855 Which I could fancy more than any other.
KATHERINE
0856 Minion, thou liest. Is ’t not Hortensio?
BIANCA
0857 If you affect him, sister, here I swear
0858 15 I’ll plead for you myself, but you shall have him.
KATHERINE
0859 O, then belike you fancy riches more.
0860 You will have Gremio to keep you fair.

p. 75

BIANCA
0861 Is it for him you do envy me so?
0862 Nay, then, you jest, and now I well perceive
0863 20 You have but jested with me all this while.
0864 I prithee, sister Kate, untie my hands.
⌜Katherine⌝ strikes her.
KATHERINE
0865 If that be jest, then all the rest was so.

Enter Baptista.

BAPTISTA
0866 Why, how now, dame, whence grows this
0867 insolence?—
0868 25 Bianca, stand aside.—Poor girl, she weeps!
⌜He unties her hands.⌝
0869 ⌜To Bianca.⌝ Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her.
0870 ⌜To Katherine.⌝ For shame, thou hilding of a devilish
0871 spirit!
0872 Why dost thou wrong her that did ne’er wrong
0873 30 thee?
0874 When did she cross thee with a bitter word?
KATHERINE
0875 Her silence flouts me, and I’ll be revenged!
⌜She⌝ flies after Bianca.
BAPTISTA
0876 What, in my sight?—Bianca, get thee in.
⌜Bianca⌝ exits.
KATHERINE
0877 What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see
0878 35 She is your treasure, she must have a husband,
0879 I must dance barefoot on her wedding day
0880 And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell.
0881 Talk not to me. I will go sit and weep
0882 Till I can find occasion of revenge.⌜She exits.⌝
BAPTISTA
0883 40 Was ever gentleman thus grieved as I?
0884 But who comes here?

p. 77

Enter Gremio; Lucentio ⌜disguised as Cambio⌝
in the habit of a mean man; Petruchio with
⌜Hortensio disguised as Litio; and⌝ Tranio ⌜disguised
as Lucentio,⌝ with his boy, ⌜Biondello⌝ bearing a lute
and books.

GREMIO 0885 Good morrow, neighbor Baptista.
BAPTISTA 0886 Good morrow, neighbor Gremio.—God
0887 save you, gentlemen.
PETRUCHIO
0888 45 And you, good sir. Pray, have you not a daughter
0889 Called Katherina, fair and virtuous?
BAPTISTA
0890 I have a daughter, sir, called Katherina.
GREMIO, ⌜to Petruchio⌝
0891 You are too blunt. Go to it orderly.
PETRUCHIO
0892 You wrong me, Signior Gremio. Give me leave.—
0893 50 I am a gentleman of Verona, sir,
0894 That hearing of her beauty and her wit,
0895 Her affability and bashful modesty,
0896 Her wondrous qualities and mild behavior,
0897 Am bold to show myself a forward guest
0898 55 Within your house, to make mine eye the witness
0899 Of that report which I so oft have heard,
0900 And, for an entrance to my entertainment,
0901 I do present you with a man of mine,
⌜Presenting Hortensio, disguised as Litio⌝
0902 Cunning in music and the mathematics,
0903 60 To instruct her fully in those sciences,
0904 Whereof I know she is not ignorant.
0905 Accept of him, or else you do me wrong.
0906 His name is Litio, born in Mantua.
BAPTISTA
0907 You’re welcome, sir, and he for your good sake.

p. 79

0908 65 But for my daughter Katherine, this I know,
0909 She is not for your turn, the more my grief.
PETRUCHIO
0910 I see you do not mean to part with her,
0911 Or else you like not of my company.
BAPTISTA
0912 Mistake me not. I speak but as I find.
0913 70 Whence are you, sir? What may I call your name?
PETRUCHIO
0914 Petruchio is my name, Antonio’s son,
0915 A man well known throughout all Italy.
BAPTISTA
0916 I know him well. You are welcome for his sake.
GREMIO
0917 Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray
0918 75 Let us that are poor petitioners speak too!
0919 Bacare, you are marvelous forward.
PETRUCHIO
0920 O, pardon me, Signior Gremio, I would fain be
0921 doing.
GREMIO
0922 I doubt it not, sir. But you will curse your wooing.
0923 80 ⌜To Baptista. Neighbor,⌝ this is a gift very grateful,
0924 I am sure of it. To express the like kindness, myself,
0925 that have been more kindly beholding to you than
0926 any, freely give unto ⌜you⌝ this young scholar ⌜presenting
Lucentio, disguised as Cambio⌝ 0927 that hath
0928 85 been long studying at Rheims, as cunning in Greek,
0929 Latin, and other languages as the other in music and
0930 mathematics. His name is Cambio. Pray accept his
0931 service.
BAPTISTA 0932 A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio.—Welcome,
0933 90 good Cambio. ⌜To Tranio as Lucentio.⌝ But,
0934 gentle sir, methinks you walk like a stranger. May I
0935 be so bold to know the cause of your coming?

p. 81

TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
0936 Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own,
0937 That being a stranger in this city here
0938 95 Do make myself a suitor to your daughter,
0939 Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous.
0940 Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me,
0941 In the preferment of the eldest sister.
0942 This liberty is all that I request,
0943 100 That, upon knowledge of my parentage,
0944 I may have welcome ’mongst the rest that woo
0945 And free access and favor as the rest.
0946 And toward the education of your daughters
0947 I here bestow a simple instrument
0948 105 And this small packet of Greek and Latin books.
⌜Biondello comes forward with the gifts.⌝
0949 If you accept them, then their worth is great.
BAPTISTA
0950 Lucentio is your name. Of whence, I pray?
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
0951 Of Pisa, sir, son to Vincentio.
BAPTISTA
0952 A mighty man of Pisa. By report
0953 110 I know him well. You are very welcome, sir.
0954 ⌜To Hortensio as Litio.⌝ Take you the lute,
0955 ⌜To Lucentio as Cambio.⌝ and you the set of books.
0956 You shall go see your pupils presently.
0957 Holla, within!

Enter a Servant.

0958 115 Sirrah, lead these gentlemen
0959 To my daughters, and tell them both
0960 These are their tutors. Bid them use them well.
⌜Servant exits with Hortensio and Lucentio.⌝
0961 We will go walk a little in the orchard,
0962 And then to dinner. You are passing welcome,
0963 120 And so I pray you all to think yourselves.

p. 83

PETRUCHIO
0964 Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste,
0965 And every day I cannot come to woo.
0966 You knew my father well, and in him me,
0967 Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,
0968 125 Which I have bettered rather than decreased.
0969 Then tell me, if I get your daughter’s love,
0970 What dowry shall I have with her to wife?
BAPTISTA
0971 After my death, the one half of my lands,
0972 And, in possession, twenty thousand crowns.
PETRUCHIO
0973 130 And, for that dowry, I’ll assure her of
0974 Her widowhood, be it that she survive me,
0975 In all my lands and leases whatsoever.
0976 Let specialties be therefore drawn between us,
0977 That covenants may be kept on either hand.
BAPTISTA
0978 135 Ay, when the special thing is well obtained,
0979 That is, her love, for that is all in all.
PETRUCHIO
0980 Why, that is nothing. For I tell you, father,
0981 I am as peremptory as she proud-minded;
0982 And where two raging fires meet together,
0983 140 They do consume the thing that feeds their fury.
0984 Though little fire grows great with little wind,
0985 Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all.
0986 So I to her and so she yields to me,
0987 For I am rough and woo not like a babe.
BAPTISTA
0988 145 Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed.
0989 But be thou armed for some unhappy words.
PETRUCHIO
0990 Ay, to the proof, as mountains are for winds,
0991 That shakes not, though they blow perpetually.

p. 85

Enter Hortensio ⌜as Litio⌝ with his head broke.

BAPTISTA
0992 How now, my friend, why dost thou look so pale?
HORTENSIO, ⌜as Litio⌝
0993 150 For fear, I promise you, if I look pale.
BAPTISTA
0994 What, will my daughter prove a good musician?
HORTENSIO, ⌜as Litio⌝
0995 I think she’ll sooner prove a soldier!
0996 Iron may hold with her, but never lutes.
BAPTISTA
0997 Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute?
HORTENSIO, ⌜as Litio⌝
0998 155 Why, no, for she hath broke the lute to me.
0999 I did but tell her she mistook her frets,
1000 And bowed her hand to teach her fingering,
1001 When, with a most impatient devilish spirit,
1002 “‘Frets’ call you these?” quoth she. “I’ll fume with
1003 160 them!”
1004 And with that word she struck me on the head,
1005 And through the instrument my pate made way,
1006 And there I stood amazèd for a while,
1007 As on a pillory, looking through the lute,
1008 165 While she did call me “rascal fiddler,”
1009 And “twangling Jack,” with twenty such vile terms,
1010 As had she studied to misuse me so.
PETRUCHIO
1011 Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench.
1012 I love her ten times more than ere I did.
1013 170 O, how I long to have some chat with her!
BAPTISTA, ⌜to Hortensio as Litio⌝
1014 Well, go with me, and be not so discomfited.
1015 Proceed in practice with my younger daughter.
1016 She’s apt to learn, and thankful for good turns.—
1017 Signior Petruchio, will you go with us,
1018 175 Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you?

p. 87

PETRUCHIO
1019 I pray you do. I’ll attend her here—
All but Petruchio exit.
1020 And woo her with some spirit when she comes!
1021 Say that she rail, why then I’ll tell her plain
1022 She sings as sweetly as a nightingale.
1023 180 Say that she frown, I’ll say she looks as clear
1024 As morning roses newly washed with dew.
1025 Say she be mute and will not speak a word,
1026 Then I’ll commend her volubility
1027 And say she uttereth piercing eloquence.
1028 185 If she do bid me pack, I’ll give her thanks
1029 As though she bid me stay by her a week.
1030 If she deny to wed, I’ll crave the day
1031 When I shall ask the banns, and when be marrièd.
1032 But here she comes—and now, Petruchio, speak.

Enter Katherine.

1033 190 Good morrow, Kate, for that’s your name, I hear.
KATHERINE
1034 Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing.
1035 They call me Katherine that do talk of me.
PETRUCHIO
1036 You lie, in faith, for you are called plain Kate,
1037 And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst.
1038 195 But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom,
1039 Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate
1040 (For dainties are all Kates)—and therefore, Kate,
1041 Take this of me, Kate of my consolation:
1042 Hearing thy mildness praised in every town,
1043 200 Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded
1044 (Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs),
1045 Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife.
KATHERINE
1046 “Moved,” in good time! Let him that moved you
1047 hither

p. 89

1048 205 Remove you hence. I knew you at the first
1049 You were a movable.
PETRUCHIO
1050 Why, what’s a movable?
KATHERINE 1051 A joint stool.
PETRUCHIO
1052 Thou hast hit it. Come, sit on me.
KATHERINE
1053 210 Asses are made to bear, and so are you.
PETRUCHIO
1054 Women are made to bear, and so are you.
KATHERINE
1055 No such jade as you, if me you mean.
PETRUCHIO
1056 Alas, good Kate, I will not burden thee,
1057 For knowing thee to be but young and light—
KATHERINE
1058 215 Too light for such a swain as you to catch,
1059 And yet as heavy as my weight should be.
PETRUCHIO
1060 “Should be”—should buzz!
KATHERINE 1061 Well ta’en, and like a
1062 buzzard.
PETRUCHIO
1063 220 O slow-winged turtle, shall a buzzard take thee?
KATHERINE
1064 Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a buzzard.
PETRUCHIO
1065 Come, come, you wasp! I’ faith, you are too angry.
KATHERINE
1066 If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
PETRUCHIO
1067 My remedy is then to pluck it out.
KATHERINE
1068 225 Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies.

p. 91

PETRUCHIO
1069 Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting?
1070 In his tail.
KATHERINE 1071 In his tongue.
PETRUCHIO 1072 Whose tongue?
KATHERINE
1073 230 Yours, if you talk of tales, and so farewell.
PETRUCHIO 1074 What, with my tongue in your tail?
1075 Nay, come again, good Kate. I am a gentleman—
KATHERINE 1076 That I’ll try.She strikes him.
PETRUCHIO
1077 I swear I’ll cuff you if you strike again.
KATHERINE 1078 235So may you lose your arms.
1079 If you strike me, you are no gentleman,
1080 And if no gentleman, why then no arms.
PETRUCHIO
1081 A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books.
KATHERINE 1082 What is your crest? A coxcomb?
PETRUCHIO
1083 240 A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen.
KATHERINE
1084 No cock of mine. You crow too like a craven.
PETRUCHIO
1085 Nay, come, Kate, come. You must not look so sour.
KATHERINE
1086 It is my fashion when I see a crab.
PETRUCHIO
1087 Why, here’s no crab, and therefore look not sour.
KATHERINE 1088 245There is, there is.
PETRUCHIO
1089 Then show it me.
KATHERINE 1090 Had I a glass, I would.
PETRUCHIO 1091 What, you mean my face?
KATHERINE 1092 Well aimed of such a young one.
PETRUCHIO
1093 250 Now, by Saint George, I am too young for you.

p. 93

KATHERINE
1094 Yet you are withered.
PETRUCHIO 1095 ’Tis with cares.
KATHERINE 1096 I care not.
PETRUCHIO
1097 Nay, hear you, Kate—in sooth, you ’scape not so.
KATHERINE
1098 255 I chafe you if I tarry. Let me go.
PETRUCHIO
1099 No, not a whit. I find you passing gentle.
1100 ’Twas told me you were rough, and coy, and sullen,
1101 And now I find report a very liar.
1102 For thou art pleasant, gamesome, passing
1103 260 courteous,
1104 But slow in speech, yet sweet as springtime flowers.
1105 Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look askance,
1106 Nor bite the lip as angry wenches will,
1107 Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk.
1108 265 But thou with mildness entertain’st thy wooers,
1109 With gentle conference, soft, and affable.
1110 Why does the world report that Kate doth limp?
1111 O sland’rous world! Kate like the hazel twig
1112 Is straight, and slender, and as brown in hue
1113 270 As hazelnuts, and sweeter than the kernels.
1114 O, let me see thee walk! Thou dost not halt.
KATHERINE
1115 Go, fool, and whom thou keep’st command.
PETRUCHIO
1116 Did ever Dian so become a grove
1117 As Kate this chamber with her princely gait?
1118 275 O, be thou Dian and let her be Kate,
1119 And then let Kate be chaste and Dian sportful.
KATHERINE
1120 Where did you study all this goodly speech?
PETRUCHIO
1121 It is extempore, from my mother wit.

p. 95

KATHERINE
1122 A witty mother, witless else her son.
PETRUCHIO 1123 280Am I not wise?
KATHERINE 1124 Yes, keep you warm.
PETRUCHIO
1125 Marry, so I mean, sweet Katherine, in thy bed.
1126 And therefore, setting all this chat aside,
1127 Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented
1128 285 That you shall be my wife, your dowry ’greed on,
1129 And, will you, nill you, I will marry you.
1130 Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn,
1131 For by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,
1132 Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well,
1133 290 Thou must be married to no man but me.
1134 For I am he am born to tame you, Kate,
1135 And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate
1136 Conformable as other household Kates.

Enter Baptista, Gremio, ⌜and⌝ Tranio as Lucentio.

1137 Here comes your father. Never make denial.
1138 295 I must and will have Katherine to my wife.
BAPTISTA
1139 Now, Signior Petruchio, how speed you with my
1140 daughter?
PETRUCHIO 1141 How but well, sir? How but well?
1142 It were impossible I should speed amiss.
BAPTISTA
1143 300 Why, how now, daughter Katherine? In your
1144 dumps?
KATHERINE
1145 Call you me daughter? Now I promise you
1146 You have showed a tender fatherly regard,
1147 To wish me wed to one half lunatic,
1148 305 A madcap ruffian and a swearing Jack,
1149 That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.

p. 97

PETRUCHIO
1150 Father, ’tis thus: yourself and all the world
1151 That talked of her have talked amiss of her.
1152 If she be curst, it is for policy,
1153 310 For she’s not froward, but modest as the dove;
1154 She is not hot, but temperate as the morn.
1155 For patience she will prove a second Grissel,
1156 And Roman Lucrece for her chastity.
1157 And to conclude, we have ’greed so well together
1158 315 That upon Sunday is the wedding day.
KATHERINE
1159 I’ll see thee hanged on Sunday first.
GREMIO 1160 Hark, Petruchio, she says she’ll see thee
1161 hanged first.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 1162 Is this your speeding? Nay,
1163 320 then, goodnight our part.
PETRUCHIO
1164 Be patient, gentlemen. I choose her for myself.
1165 If she and I be pleased, what’s that to you?
1166 ’Tis bargained ’twixt us twain, being alone,
1167 That she shall still be curst in company.
1168 325 I tell you, ’tis incredible to believe
1169 How much she loves me. O, the kindest Kate!
1170 She hung about my neck, and kiss on kiss
1171 She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath,
1172 That in a twink she won me to her love.
1173 330 O, you are novices! ’Tis a world to see
1174 How tame, when men and women are alone,
1175 A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.—
1176 Give me thy hand, Kate. I will unto Venice
1177 To buy apparel ’gainst the wedding day.—
1178 335 Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests.
1179 I will be sure my Katherine shall be fine.
BAPTISTA
1180 I know not what to say, but give me your hands.
1181 God send you joy, Petruchio. ’Tis a match.

p. 99

GREMIO and TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1182 Amen, say we. We will be witnesses.
PETRUCHIO
1183 340 Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu.
1184 I will to Venice. Sunday comes apace.
1185 We will have rings, and things, and fine array,
1186 And kiss me, Kate. We will be married o’ Sunday.
Petruchio and Katherine exit
⌜through different doors.⌝
GREMIO
1187 Was ever match clapped up so suddenly?
BAPTISTA
1188 345 Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant’s part
1189 And venture madly on a desperate mart.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1190 ’Twas a commodity lay fretting by you.
1191 ’Twill bring you gain, or perish on the seas.
BAPTISTA
1192 The gain I seek, is quiet ⌜in⌝ the match.
GREMIO
1193 350 No doubt but he hath got a quiet catch.
1194 But now, Baptista, to your younger daughter.
1195 Now is the day we long have lookèd for.
1196 I am your neighbor and was suitor first.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1197 And I am one that love Bianca more
1198 355 Than words can witness or your thoughts can guess.
GREMIO
1199 Youngling, thou canst not love so dear as I.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1200 Graybeard, thy love doth freeze.
GREMIO 1201 But thine doth fry!
1202 Skipper, stand back. ’Tis age that nourisheth.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1203 360 But youth in ladies’ eyes that flourisheth.

p. 101

BAPTISTA
1204 Content you, gentlemen. I will compound this strife.
1205 ’Tis deeds must win the prize, and he of both
1206 That can assure my daughter greatest dower
1207 Shall have my Bianca’s love.
1208 365 Say, Signior Gremio, what can you assure her?
GREMIO
1209 First, as you know, my house within the city
1210 Is richly furnishèd with plate and gold,
1211 Basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands;
1212 My hangings all of Tyrian tapestry;
1213 370 In ivory coffers I have stuffed my crowns,
1214 In cypress chests my arras counterpoints,
1215 Costly apparel, tents, and canopies,
1216 Fine linen, Turkey cushions bossed with pearl,
1217 Valance of Venice gold in needlework,
1218 375 Pewter and brass, and all things that belongs
1219 To house or housekeeping. Then, at my farm
1220 I have a hundred milch-kine to the pail,
1221 Six score fat oxen standing in my stalls,
1222 And all things answerable to this portion.
1223 380 Myself am struck in years, I must confess,
1224 And if I die tomorrow this is hers,
1225 If whilst I live she will be only mine.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1226 That “only” came well in. ⌜To Baptista.⌝ Sir, list to
1227 me:
1228 385 I am my father’s heir and only son.
1229 If I may have your daughter to my wife,
1230 I’ll leave her houses three or four as good,
1231 Within rich Pisa walls, as any one
1232 Old Signior Gremio has in Padua,
1233 390 Besides two thousand ducats by the year
1234 Of fruitful land, all which shall be her jointure.—
1235 What, have I pinched you, Signior Gremio?

p. 103

GREMIO
1236 Two thousand ducats by the year of land?
1237 ⌜Aside.⌝ My land amounts not to so much in all.—
1238 395 That she shall have, besides an argosy
1239 That now is lying in Marcellus’ road.
1240 ⌜To Tranio.⌝ What, have I choked you with an argosy?
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1241 Gremio, ’tis known my father hath no less
1242 Than three great argosies, besides two galliasses
1243 400 And twelve tight galleys. These I will assure her,
1244 And twice as much whate’er thou off’rest next.
GREMIO
1245 Nay, I have offered all. I have no more,
1246 And she can have no more than all I have.
1247 ⌜To Baptista.⌝ If you like me, she shall have me and
1248 405 mine.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1249 Why, then, the maid is mine from all the world,
1250 By your firm promise. Gremio is outvied.
BAPTISTA
1251 I must confess your offer is the best,
1252 And, let your father make her the assurance,
1253 410 She is your own; else, you must pardon me.
1254 If you should die before him, where’s her dower?
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1255 That’s but a cavil. He is old, I young.
GREMIO
1256 And may not young men die as well as old?
BAPTISTA
1257 Well, gentlemen, I am thus resolved:
1258 415 On Sunday next, you know
1259 My daughter Katherine is to be married.
1260 ⌜To Tranio as Lucentio.⌝ Now, on the Sunday
1261 following, shall Bianca
1262 Be bride to you, if you make this assurance.
1263 420 If not, to Signior Gremio.
1264 And so I take my leave, and thank you both.

p. 105

GREMIO
1265 Adieu, good neighbor.⌜Baptista⌝ exits.
1266 Now I fear thee not.
1267 Sirrah young gamester, your father were a fool
1268 425 To give thee all and in his waning age
1269 Set foot under thy table. Tut, a toy!
1270 An old Italian fox is not so kind, my boy.
⌜Gremio⌝ exits.
TRANIO
1271 A vengeance on your crafty withered hide!—
1272 Yet I have faced it with a card of ten.
1273 430 ’Tis in my head to do my master good.
1274 I see no reason but supposed Lucentio
1275 Must get a father, called “supposed Vincentio”—
1276 And that’s a wonder. Fathers commonly
1277 Do get their children. But in this case of wooing,
1278 435 A child shall get a sire, if I fail not of my cunning.
He exits.

ACT 3

⌜Scene 1⌝

Enter Lucentio ⌜as Cambio,⌝ Hortensio ⌜as Litio,⌝ and
Bianca.

LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝
1279 Fiddler, forbear. You grow too forward, sir.
1280 Have you so soon forgot the entertainment
1281 Her sister Katherine welcomed you withal?
HORTENSIO, ⌜as Litio⌝ 1282 But, wrangling pedant, this is
1283 5 The patroness of heavenly harmony.
1284 Then give me leave to have prerogative,
1285 And when in music we have spent an hour,
1286 Your lecture shall have leisure for as much.
LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝
1287 Preposterous ass, that never read so far
1288 10 To know the cause why music was ordained.
1289 Was it not to refresh the mind of man
1290 After his studies or his usual pain?
1291 Then give me leave to read philosophy,
1292 And, while I pause, serve in your harmony.
HORTENSIO, ⌜as Litio⌝
1293 15 Sirrah, I will not bear these braves of thine.
BIANCA
1294 Why, gentlemen, you do me double wrong
1295 To strive for that which resteth in my choice.
1296 I am no breeching scholar in the schools.
1297 I’ll not be tied to hours, nor ’pointed times,

p. 111

1298 20 But learn my lessons as I please myself.
1299 And, to cut off all strife, here sit we down.
1300 ⌜To Hortensio.⌝ Take you your instrument, play you
1301 the whiles;
1302 His lecture will be done ere you have tuned.
HORTENSIO, ⌜as Litio⌝
1303 25 You’ll leave his lecture when I am in tune?
LUCENTIO, ⌜aside⌝
1304 That will be never. ⌜To Hortensio.⌝ Tune your
1305 instrument.⌜Hortensio steps aside to tune his lute.⌝
BIANCA 1306 Where left we last?
LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝ 1307 Here, madam:
⌜Showing her a book.⌝
1308 30 Hic ibat Simois, hic est ⌜Sigeia⌝ tellus,
1309 Hic steterat Priami regia celsa senis.
BIANCA 1310 Conster them.
LUCENTIO 1311 Hic ibat, as I told you before, Simois, I am
1312 Lucentio, hic est, son unto Vincentio of Pisa,
1313 35 ⌜Sigeia⌝ tellus, disguised thus to get your love, Hic
1314 steterat, and that “Lucentio” that comes a-wooing,
1315 Priami, is my man Tranio, regia, bearing my port,
1316 celsa senis, that we might beguile the old pantaloon.
HORTENSIO, ⌜as Litio⌝ 1317 Madam, my instrument’s in
1318 40 tune.
BIANCA 1319 Let’s hear. ⌜He plays.⌝ Oh fie, the treble jars!
LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝ 1320 Spit in the hole, man, and tune
1321 again.⌜Hortensio tunes his lute again.⌝
BIANCA 1322 Now let me see if I can conster it. Hic ibat
1323 45 Simois, I know you not; hic est ⌜Sigeia⌝ tellus, I trust
1324 you not; Hic ⌜steterat⌝ Priami, take heed he hear us
1325 not; regia, presume not; celsa senis, despair not.
HORTENSIO, ⌜as Litio⌝
1326 Madam, ’tis now in tune.⌜He plays again.⌝
LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝ 1327 All but the bass.
HORTENSIO, as ⌜Litio⌝
1328 50 The bass is right. ’Tis the base knave that jars.

p. 113

1329 ⌜Aside.⌝ How fiery and forward our pedant is.
1330 Now for my life the knave doth court my love!
1331 Pedascule, I’ll watch you better yet.
⌜BIANCA, to Lucentio⌝
1332 In time I may believe, yet I mistrust.
⌜LUCENTIO⌝
1333 55 Mistrust it not, for sure Aeacides
1334 Was Ajax, called so from his grandfather.
⌜BIANCA⌝
1335 I must believe my master; else, I promise you,
1336 I should be arguing still upon that doubt.
1337 But let it rest.—Now, Litio, to you.
1338 60 Good master, take it not unkindly, pray,
1339 That I have been thus pleasant with you both.
HORTENSIO, ⌜as Litio, to Lucentio⌝
1340 You may go walk, and give me leave awhile.
1341 My lessons make no music in three parts.
LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝
1342 Are you so formal, sir? Well, I must wait
1343 65 ⌜Aside.⌝ And watch withal, for, but I be deceived,
1344 Our fine musician groweth amorous.
⌜He steps aside.⌝
HORTENSIO, ⌜as Litio⌝
1345 Madam, before you touch the instrument,
1346 To learn the order of my fingering
1347 I must begin with rudiments of art,
1348 70 To teach you gamut in a briefer sort,
1349 More pleasant, pithy, and effectual
1350 Than hath been taught by any of my trade.
1351 And there it is in writing fairly drawn.
BIANCA
1352 Why, I am past my gamut long ago.
HORTENSIO
1353 75 Yet read the gamut of Hortensio.
⌜Giving her a paper.⌝

p. 115

BIANCA ⌜reads⌝
1354 “Gamut I am, the ground of all accord:
1355 ⌜A re,⌝ to plead Hortensio’s passion;
1356 ⌜B mi,⌝ Bianca, take him for thy lord,
1357 ⌜C fa ut,⌝ that loves with all affection;
1358 80 D sol re, one clef, two notes have I;
1359 E la mi, show pity or I die.”
1360 Call you this “gamut”? Tut, I like it not.
1361 Old fashions please me best. I am not so nice
1362 To ⌜change⌝ true rules for ⌜odd⌝ inventions.

Enter a ⌜Servant.⌝

⌜SERVANT⌝
1363 85 Mistress, your father prays you leave your books
1364 And help to dress your sister’s chamber up.
1365 You know tomorrow is the wedding day.
BIANCA
1366 Farewell, sweet masters both. I must be gone.
LUCENTIO
1367 Faith, mistress, then I have no cause to stay.
⌜Bianca, the Servant, and Lucentio exit.⌝
HORTENSIO
1368 90 But I have cause to pry into this pedant.
1369 Methinks he looks as though he were in love.
1370 Yet if thy thoughts, Bianca, be so humble
1371 To cast thy wand’ring eyes on every stale,
1372 Seize thee that list! If once I find thee ranging,
1373 95 Hortensio will be quit with thee by changing.
He exits.

⌜Scene 2⌝

Enter Baptista, Gremio, Tranio ⌜as Lucentio,⌝ Katherine,
Bianca, ⌜Lucentio as Cambio,⌝ and others, Attendants.

BAPTISTA, ⌜to Tranio⌝
1374 Signior Lucentio, this is the ’pointed day

p. 117

1375 That Katherine and Petruchio should be married,
1376 And yet we hear not of our son-in-law.
1377 What will be said? What mockery will it be,
1378 5 To want the bridegroom when the priest attends
1379 To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage?
1380 What says Lucentio to this shame of ours?
KATHERINE
1381 No shame but mine. I must, forsooth, be forced
1382 To give my hand, opposed against my heart,
1383 10 Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen,
1384 Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure.
1385 I told you, I, he was a frantic fool,
1386 Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior,
1387 And, to be noted for a merry man,
1388 15 He’ll woo a thousand, ’point the day of marriage,
1389 Make friends, invite, and proclaim the banns,
1390 Yet never means to wed where he hath wooed.
1391 Now must the world point at poor Katherine
1392 And say “Lo, there is mad Petruchio’s wife,
1393 20 If it would please him come and marry her.”
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1394 Patience, good Katherine, and Baptista too.
1395 Upon my life, Petruchio means but well,
1396 Whatever fortune stays him from his word.
1397 Though he be blunt, I know him passing wise;
1398 25 Though he be merry, yet withal he’s honest.
KATHERINE
1399 Would Katherine had never seen him, though!
She exits weeping.
BAPTISTA
1400 Go, girl. I cannot blame thee now to weep,
1401 For such an injury would vex a very saint,
1402 Much more a shrew of ⌜thy⌝ impatient humor.

Enter Biondello.

BIONDELLO 1403 30Master, master, news! And such ⌜old⌝
1404 news as you never heard of!

p. 119

BAPTISTA
1405 Is it new and old too? How may that be?
BIONDELLO 1406 Why, is it not news to ⌜hear⌝ of Petruchio’s
1407 coming?
BAPTISTA 1408 35Is he come?
BIONDELLO 1409 Why, no, sir.
BAPTISTA
1410 What then?
BIONDELLO 1411 He is coming.
BAPTISTA 1412 When will he be here?
BIONDELLO
1413 40 When he stands where I am, and sees you there.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 1414 But say, what to thine old news?
BIONDELLO 1415 Why, Petruchio is coming in a new hat and
1416 an old jerkin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned,
1417 a pair of boots that have been candle-cases, one
1418 45 buckled, another laced; an old rusty sword ta’en
1419 out of the town armory, with a broken hilt, and
1420 chapeless; with two broken points; his horse
1421 hipped, with an old mothy saddle and stirrups of no
1422 kindred, besides possessed with the glanders and
1423 50 like to mose in the chine, troubled with the lampass,
1424 infected with the fashions, full of windgalls,
1425 sped with spavins, rayed with the yellows, past cure
1426 of the fives, stark spoiled with the staggers, begnawn
1427 with the bots, ⌜swayed⌝ in the back and shoulder-shotten,
1428 55 near-legged before, and with a half-checked
1429 bit and a headstall of sheep’s leather,
1430 which, being restrained to keep him from stumbling,
1431 hath been often burst, and now repaired with
1432 knots; one girth six times pieced, and a woman’s
1433 60 crupper of velour, which hath two letters for her
1434 name fairly set down in studs, and here and there
1435 pieced with packthread.
BAPTISTA 1436 Who comes with him?

p. 121

BIONDELLO 1437 Oh, sir, his lackey, for all the world caparisoned
1438 65 like the horse: with a linen stock on one leg
1439 and a kersey boot-hose on the other, gartered with
1440 a red and blue list; an old hat, and the humor of
1441 forty fancies pricked in ’t for a feather. A monster,
1442 a very monster in apparel, and not like a Christian
1443 70 footboy or a gentleman’s lackey.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1444 ’Tis some odd humor pricks him to this fashion,
1445 Yet oftentimes he goes but mean-appareled.
BAPTISTA
1446 I am glad he’s come, howsoe’er he comes.
BIONDELLO 1447 Why, sir, he comes not.
BAPTISTA 1448 75Didst thou not say he comes?
BIONDELLO 1449 Who? That Petruchio came?
BAPTISTA 1450 Ay, that Petruchio came!
BIONDELLO 1451 No, sir, I say his horse comes with him on
1452 his back.
BAPTISTA 1453 80Why, that’s all one.
BIONDELLO
1454 Nay, by Saint Jamy.
1455 I hold you a penny,
1456 A horse and a man
1457 Is more than one,
1458 85 And yet not many.

Enter Petruchio and Grumio.

PETRUCHIO
1459 Come, where be these gallants? Who’s at home?
BAPTISTA 1460 You are welcome, sir.
PETRUCHIO 1461 And yet I come not well.
BAPTISTA 1462 And yet you halt not.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 1463 90Not so well appareled as I wish
1464 you were.
PETRUCHIO
1465 Were it better I should rush in thus—

p. 123

1466 But where is Kate? Where is my lovely bride?
1467 How does my father? Gentles, methinks you frown.
1468 95 And wherefore gaze this goodly company
1469 As if they saw some wondrous monument,
1470 Some comet or unusual prodigy?
BAPTISTA
1471 Why, sir, you know this is your wedding day.
1472 First were we sad, fearing you would not come,
1473 100 Now sadder that you come so unprovided.
1474 Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate,
1475 An eyesore to our solemn festival.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1476 And tell us what occasion of import
1477 Hath all so long detained you from your wife
1478 105 And sent you hither so unlike yourself.
PETRUCHIO
1479 Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear.
1480 Sufficeth I am come to keep my word,
1481 Though in some part enforcèd to digress,
1482 Which at more leisure I will so excuse
1483 110 As you shall well be satisfied with all.
1484 But where is Kate? I stay too long from her.
1485 The morning wears. ’Tis time we were at church.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1486 See not your bride in these unreverent robes.
1487 Go to my chamber, put on clothes of mine.
PETRUCHIO
1488 115 Not I, believe me. Thus I’ll visit her.
BAPTISTA
1489 But thus, I trust, you will not marry her.
PETRUCHIO
1490 Good sooth, even thus. Therefore, ha’ done with
1491 words.
1492 To me she’s married, not unto my clothes.
1493 120 Could I repair what she will wear in me,
1494 As I can change these poor accoutrements,

p. 125

1495 ’Twere well for Kate and better for myself.
1496 But what a fool am I to chat with you
1497 When I should bid good morrow to my bride
1498 125 And seal the title with a lovely kiss!
Petruchio exits, ⌜with Grumio.⌝
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1499 He hath some meaning in his mad attire.
1500 We will persuade him, be it possible,
1501 To put on better ere he go to church.
BAPTISTA
1502 I’ll after him, and see the event of this.
⌜All except Tranio and Lucentio⌝ exit.
TRANIO
1503 130 But, sir, ⌜to⌝ love concerneth us to add
1504 Her father’s liking, which to bring to pass,
1505 As ⌜I⌝ before imparted to your Worship,
1506 I am to get a man (whate’er he be
1507 It skills not much, we’ll fit him to our turn),
1508 135 And he shall be “Vincentio of Pisa,”
1509 And make assurance here in Padua
1510 Of greater sums than I have promisèd.
1511 So shall you quietly enjoy your hope
1512 And marry sweet Bianca with consent.
LUCENTIO
1513 140 Were it not that my fellow schoolmaster
1514 Doth watch Bianca’s steps so narrowly,
1515 ’Twere good, methinks, to steal our marriage,
1516 Which, once performed, let all the world say no,
1517 I’ll keep mine own despite of all the world.
TRANIO
1518 145 That by degrees we mean to look into,
1519 And watch our vantage in this business.
1520 We’ll overreach the graybeard, Gremio,
1521 The narrow prying father, Minola,
1522 The quaint musician, amorous Litio,
1523 150 All for my master’s sake, Lucentio.

p. 127

Enter Gremio.

TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1524 Signior Gremio, came you from the church?
GREMIO
1525 As willingly as e’er I came from school.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1526 And is the bride and bridegroom coming home?
GREMIO
1527 A bridegroom, say you? ’Tis a groom indeed,
1528 155 A grumbling groom, and that the girl shall find.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1529 Curster than she? Why, ’tis impossible.
GREMIO
1530 Why, he’s a devil, a devil, a very fiend.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1531 Why, she’s a devil, a devil, the devil’s dam.
GREMIO
1532 Tut, she’s a lamb, a dove, a fool to him.
1533 160 I’ll tell you, Sir Lucentio: when the priest
1534 Should ask if Katherine should be his wife,
1535 “Ay, by gog’s wouns!” quoth he, and swore so loud
1536 That, all amazed, the priest let fall the book,
1537 And as he stooped again to take it up,
1538 165 This mad-brained bridegroom took him such a cuff
1539 That down fell priest and book, and book and priest.
1540 “Now, take them up,” quoth he, “if any list.”
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1541 What said the wench when he rose again?
GREMIO
1542 Trembled and shook, for why he stamped and swore
1543 170 As if the vicar meant to cozen him.
1544 But after many ceremonies done,
1545 He calls for wine. “A health!” quoth he, as if
1546 He had been aboard, carousing to his mates
1547 After a storm; quaffed off the muscatel

p. 129

1548 175 And threw the sops all in the sexton’s face,
1549 Having no other reason
1550 But that his beard grew thin and hungerly,
1551 And seemed to ask him sops as he was drinking.
1552 This done, he took the bride about the neck
1553 180 And kissed her lips with such a clamorous smack
1554 That at the parting all the church did echo.
1555 And I, seeing this, came thence for very shame,
1556 And after me I know the rout is coming.
1557 Such a mad marriage never was before!Music plays.
1558 185 Hark, hark, I hear the minstrels play.

Enter Petruchio, Katherine, Bianca, Hortensio, Baptista,
⌜Grumio, and Attendants.⌝

PETRUCHIO
1559 Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains.
1560 I know you think to dine with me today
1561 And have prepared great store of wedding cheer,
1562 But so it is, my haste doth call me hence,
1563 190 And therefore here I mean to take my leave.
BAPTISTA
1564 Is ’t possible you will away tonight?
PETRUCHIO
1565 I must away today, before night come.
1566 Make it no wonder. If you knew my business,
1567 You would entreat me rather go than stay.
1568 195 And, honest company, I thank you all,
1569 That have beheld me give away myself
1570 To this most patient, sweet, and virtuous wife.
1571 Dine with my father, drink a health to me,
1572 For I must hence, and farewell to you all.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1573 200 Let us entreat you stay till after dinner.
PETRUCHIO 1574 It may not be.
GREMIO 1575 Let me entreat you.
PETRUCHIO 1576 It cannot be.

p. 131

KATHERINE 1577 Let me entreat you.
PETRUCHIO
1578 205 I am content.
KATHERINE 1579 Are you content to stay?
PETRUCHIO
1580 I am content you shall entreat me stay,
1581 But yet not stay, entreat me how you can.
KATHERINE
1582 Now, if you love me, stay.
PETRUCHIO 1583 210 Grumio, my horse.
GRUMIO 1584 Ay, sir, they be ready; the oats have eaten the
1585 horses.
KATHERINE 1586 Nay, then,
1587 Do what thou canst, I will not go today,
1588 215 No, nor tomorrow, not till I please myself.
1589 The door is open, sir. There lies your way.
1590 You may be jogging whiles your boots are green.
1591 For me, I’ll not be gone till I please myself.
1592 ’Tis like you’ll prove a jolly surly groom,
1593 220 That take it on you at the first so roundly.
PETRUCHIO
1594 O Kate, content thee. Prithee, be not angry.
KATHERINE
1595 I will be angry. What hast thou to do?—
1596 Father, be quiet. He shall stay my leisure.
GREMIO
1597 Ay, marry, sir, now it begins to work.
KATHERINE
1598 225 Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner.
1599 I see a woman may be made a fool
1600 If she had not a spirit to resist.
PETRUCHIO
1601 They shall go forward, Kate, at thy command.—
1602 Obey the bride, you that attend on her.
1603 230 Go to the feast, revel and domineer,
1604 Carouse full measure to her maidenhead,

p. 133

1605 Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves.
1606 But for my bonny Kate, she must with me.
1607 Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret;
1608 235 I will be master of what is mine own.
1609 She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house,
1610 My household stuff, my field, my barn,
1611 My horse, my ox, my ass, my anything.
1612 And here she stands, touch her whoever dare.
1613 240 I’ll bring mine action on the proudest he
1614 That stops my way in Padua.—Grumio,
1615 Draw forth thy weapon. We are beset with thieves.
1616 Rescue thy mistress if thou be a man!—
1617 Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee,
1618 245 Kate.
1619 I’ll buckler thee against a million.
Petruchio and Katherine exit, ⌜with Grumio.⌝
BAPTISTA
1620 Nay, let them go. A couple of quiet ones!
GREMIO
1621 Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1622 Of all mad matches never was the like.
LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝
1623 250 Mistress, what’s your opinion of your sister?
BIANCA
1624 That being mad herself, she’s madly mated.
GREMIO
1625 I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated.
BAPTISTA
1626 Neighbors and friends, though bride and
1627 bridegroom wants
1628 255 For to supply the places at the table,
1629 You know there wants no junkets at the feast.
1630 ⌜To Tranio.⌝ Lucentio, you shall supply the
1631 bridegroom’s place,
1632 And let Bianca take her sister’s room.

p. 135

TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1633 260 Shall sweet Bianca practice how to bride it?
BAPTISTA, ⌜to Tranio⌝
1634 She shall, Lucentio. Come, gentlemen, let’s go.
They exit.

⌜ACT 4⌝

⌜Scene 1⌝

Enter Grumio.

GRUMIO 1635 Fie, fie on all tired jades, on all mad masters,
1636 and all foul ways! Was ever man so beaten? Was
1637 ever man so ’rayed? Was ever man so weary? I am
1638 sent before to make a fire, and they are coming
1639 5 after to warm them. Now were not I a little pot and
1640 soon hot, my very lips might freeze to my teeth, my
1641 tongue to the roof of my mouth, my heart in my
1642 belly, ere I should come by a fire to thaw me. But I
1643 with blowing the fire shall warm myself. For, considering
1644 10 the weather, a taller man than I will take
1645 cold.—Holla, ho, Curtis!

Enter Curtis.

CURTIS 1646 Who is that calls so coldly?
GRUMIO 1647 A piece of ice. If thou doubt it, thou mayst
1648 slide from my shoulder to my heel with no greater
1649 15 a run but my head and my neck. A fire, good Curtis!
CURTIS 1650 Is my master and his wife coming, Grumio?
GRUMIO 1651 Oh, ay, Curtis, ay, and therefore fire, fire! Cast
1652 on no water.
CURTIS 1653 Is she so hot a shrew as she’s reported?
GRUMIO 1654 20She was, good Curtis, before this frost. But
1655 thou know’st winter tames man, woman, and

p. 141

1656 beast, for it hath tamed my old master and my new
1657 mistress and myself, fellow Curtis.
⌜CURTIS⌝ 1658 Away, you three-inch fool, I am no beast!
GRUMIO 1659 25Am I but three inches? Why, thy horn is a
1660 foot, and so long am I, at the least. But wilt thou
1661 make a fire? Or shall I complain on thee to our
1662 mistress, whose hand (she being now at hand) thou
1663 shalt soon feel, to thy cold comfort, for being slow in
1664 30 thy hot office?
CURTIS 1665 I prithee, good Grumio, tell me, how goes the
1666 world?
GRUMIO 1667 A cold world, Curtis, in every office but thine,
1668 and therefore fire! Do thy duty, and have thy duty,
1669 35 for my master and mistress are almost frozen to
1670 death.
CURTIS 1671 There’s fire ready. And therefore, good Grumio,
1672 the news!
GRUMIO 1673 Why, “Jack boy, ho boy!” and as much news
1674 40 as wilt thou.
CURTIS 1675 Come, you are so full of cony-catching.
GRUMIO 1676 Why, therefore fire, for I have caught extreme
1677 cold. Where’s the cook? Is supper ready, the house
1678 trimmed, rushes strewed, cobwebs swept, the servingmen
1679 45 in their new fustian, ⌜their⌝ white stockings,
1680 and every officer his wedding garment on? Be
1681 the Jacks fair within, the Jills fair without, the
1682 carpets laid, and everything in order?
CURTIS 1683 All ready. And therefore, I pray thee, news.
GRUMIO 1684 50First, know my horse is tired, my master and
1685 mistress fallen out.
CURTIS 1686 How?
GRUMIO 1687 Out of their saddles into the dirt, and thereby
1688 hangs a tale.
CURTIS 1689 55Let’s ha’ t, good Grumio.
GRUMIO 1690 Lend thine ear.
CURTIS 1691 Here.

p. 143

GRUMIO 1692 There!⌜He slaps Curtis on the ear.⌝
CURTIS 1693 This ’tis to feel a tale, not to hear a tale.
GRUMIO 1694 60And therefore ’tis called a sensible tale. And
1695 this cuff was but to knock at your ear and beseech
1696 list’ning. Now I begin: Imprimis, we came down a
1697 foul hill, my master riding behind my mistress—
CURTIS 1698 Both of one horse?
GRUMIO 1699 65What’s that to thee?
CURTIS 1700 Why, a horse.
GRUMIO 1701 Tell thou the tale! But hadst thou not crossed
1702 me, thou shouldst have heard how her horse fell,
1703 and she under her horse; thou shouldst have heard
1704 70 in how miry a place, how she was bemoiled, how he
1705 left her with the horse upon her, how he beat me
1706 because her horse stumbled, how she waded
1707 through the dirt to pluck him off me, how he swore,
1708 how she prayed that never prayed before, how I
1709 75 cried, how the horses ran away, how her bridle was
1710 burst, how I lost my crupper, with many things of
1711 worthy memory which now shall die in oblivion,
1712 and thou return unexperienced to thy grave.
CURTIS 1713 By this reck’ning, he is more shrew than she.
GRUMIO 1714 80Ay, and that thou and the proudest of you all
1715 shall find when he comes home. But what talk I of
1716 this? Call forth Nathaniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Phillip,
1717 Walter, Sugarsop, and the rest. Let their heads
1718 be slickly combed, their blue coats brushed, and
1719 85 their garters of an indifferent knit. Let them curtsy
1720 with their left legs, and not presume to touch a hair
1721 of my master’s horse-tail till they kiss their hands.
1722 Are they all ready?
CURTIS 1723 They are.
GRUMIO 1724 90Call them forth.
CURTIS, ⌜calling out⌝ 1725 Do you hear, ho? You must meet
1726 my master to countenance my mistress.
GRUMIO 1727 Why, she hath a face of her own.

p. 145

CURTIS 1728 Who knows not that?
GRUMIO 1729 95Thou, it seems, that calls for company to
1730 countenance her.
CURTIS 1731 I call them forth to credit her.
GRUMIO 1732 Why, she comes to borrow nothing of them.

Enter four or five Servingmen.

NATHANIEL 1733 Welcome home, Grumio.
PHILLIP 1734 100How now, Grumio?
JOSEPH 1735 What, Grumio!
NICHOLAS 1736 Fellow Grumio!
NATHANIEL 1737 How now, old lad?
GRUMIO 1738 Welcome, you!—How now, you?—What,
1739 105 you!—Fellow, you!—And thus much for greeting.
1740 Now, my spruce companions, is all ready and all
1741 things neat?
NATHANIEL 1742 All things is ready. How near is our
1743 master?
⌜GRUMIO⌝ 1744 110E’en at hand, alighted by this. And therefore
1745 be not—Cock’s passion, silence! I hear my master.

Enter Petruchio and Katherine.

PETRUCHIO
1746 Where be these knaves? What, no man at door
1747 To hold my stirrup nor to take my horse?
1748 Where is Nathaniel, Gregory, Phillip?
ALL THE SERVANTS 1749 115Here! Here, sir, here, sir!
PETRUCHIO
1750 “Here, sir! Here, sir! Here, sir! Here, sir!”
1751 You loggerheaded and unpolished grooms.
1752 What? No attendance? No regard? No duty?
1753 Where is the foolish knave I sent before?
GRUMIO
1754 120 Here, sir, as foolish as I was before.
PETRUCHIO
1755 You peasant swain, you whoreson malt-horse
1756 drudge!

p. 147

1757 Did I not bid thee meet me in the park
1758 And bring along these rascal knaves with thee?
GRUMIO
1759 125 Nathaniel’s coat, sir, was not fully made,
1760 And Gabriel’s pumps were all unpinked i’ th’ heel.
1761 There was no link to color Peter’s hat,
1762 And Walter’s dagger was not come from sheathing.
1763 There were none fine but Adam, Rafe, and Gregory.
1764 130 The rest were ragged, old, and beggarly.
1765 Yet, as they are, here are they come to meet you.
PETRUCHIO
1766 Go, rascals, go, and fetch my supper in!
The Servants exit.
⌜Sings.⌝ 1767 Where is the life that late I led?
1768 Where are those—
1769 135 Sit down, Kate, and welcome.
⌜They sit at a table.⌝
1770 Soud, soud, soud, soud!

Enter Servants with supper.

1771 Why, when, I say?—Nay, good sweet Kate, be
1772 merry.—
1773 Off with my boots, you rogues, you villains! When?
⌜Sings.⌝ 1774 140 It was the friar of orders gray,
1775 As he forth walkèd on his way—

⌜Servant begins to remove Petruchio’s boots.⌝

1776 Out, you rogue! You pluck my foot awry.
1777 Take that!⌜He hits the Servant.⌝
1778 And mend the plucking of the other.—
1779 145 Be merry, Kate.—Some water here! What ho!

Enter one with water.

1780 Where’s my spaniel Troilus? Sirrah, get you hence
1781 And bid my cousin Ferdinand come hither.
⌜A Servant exits.⌝

p. 149

1782 One, Kate, that you must kiss and be acquainted
1783 with.—
1784 150 Where are my slippers? Shall I have some water?—
1785 Come, Kate, and wash, and welcome heartily.—
1786 You whoreson villain, will you let it fall?
⌜He hits the Servant.⌝
KATHERINE
1787 Patience, I pray you, ’twas a fault unwilling.
PETRUCHIO
1788 A whoreson beetle-headed flap-eared knave!—
1789 155 Come, Kate, sit down. I know you have a stomach.
1790 Will you give thanks, sweet Kate, or else shall I?—
1791 What’s this? Mutton?
FIRST SERVANT 1792 Ay.
PETRUCHIO 1793 Who brought it?
PETER 1794 160 I.
PETRUCHIO 1795 ’Tis burnt, and so is all the meat.
1796 What dogs are these? Where is the rascal cook?
1797 How durst you, villains, bring it from the dresser
1798 And serve it thus to me that love it not?
1799 165 There, take it to you, trenchers, cups, and all!
⌜He throws the food and dishes at them.⌝
1800 You heedless joltheads and unmannered slaves!
1801 What, do you grumble? I’ll be with you straight.
⌜The Servants exit.⌝
KATHERINE
1802 I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet.
1803 The meat was well, if you were so contented.
PETRUCHIO
1804 170 I tell thee, Kate, ’twas burnt and dried away,
1805 And I expressly am forbid to touch it,
1806 For it engenders choler, planteth anger,
1807 And better ’twere that both of us did fast
1808 (Since of ourselves, ourselves are choleric)
1809 175 Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh.
1810 Be patient. Tomorrow ’t shall be mended,

p. 151

1811 And for this night we’ll fast for company.
1812 Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber.
They exit.

Enter Servants severally.

NATHANIEL 1813 Peter, didst ever see the like?
PETER 1814 180He kills her in her own humor.

Enter Curtis.

GRUMIO 1815 Where is he?
CURTIS 1816 In her chamber,
1817 Making a sermon of continency to her,
1818 And rails and swears and rates, that she (poor soul)
1819 185 Knows not which way to stand, to look, to speak,
1820 And sits as one new-risen from a dream.
1821 Away, away, for he is coming hither!
⌜The Servants exit.⌝

Enter Petruchio.

PETRUCHIO
1822 Thus have I politicly begun my reign,
1823 And ’tis my hope to end successfully.
1824 190 My falcon now is sharp and passing empty,
1825 And, till she stoop, she must not be full-gorged,
1826 For then she never looks upon her lure.
1827 Another way I have to man my haggard,
1828 To make her come and know her keeper’s call.
1829 195 That is, to watch her, as we watch these kites
1830 That bate and beat and will not be obedient.
1831 She ate no meat today, nor none shall eat.
1832 Last night she slept not, nor tonight she shall not.
1833 As with the meat, some undeservèd fault
1834 200 I’ll find about the making of the bed,
1835 And here I’ll fling the pillow, there the bolster,
1836 This way the coverlet, another way the sheets.
1837 Ay, and amid this hurly I intend

p. 153

1838 That all is done in reverend care of her.
1839 205 And, in conclusion, she shall watch all night,
1840 And, if she chance to nod, I’ll rail and brawl,
1841 And with the clamor keep her still awake.
1842 This is a way to kill a wife with kindness.
1843 And thus I’ll curb her mad and headstrong humor.
1844 210 He that knows better how to tame a shrew,
1845 Now let him speak; ’tis charity to shew.
He exits.

⌜Scene 2⌝

Enter Tranio ⌜as Lucentio⌝ and Hortensio ⌜as Litio.⌝

TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1846 Is ’t possible, friend Litio, that mistress Bianca
1847 Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?
1848 I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand.
⌜HORTENSIO, as Litio⌝
1849 Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
1850 5 Stand by, and mark the manner of his teaching.
⌜They stand aside.⌝

Enter Bianca ⌜and Lucentio as Cambio.⌝

⌜LUCENTIO, as Cambio⌝
1851 Now mistress, profit you in what you read?
BIANCA
1852 What, master, read you? First resolve me that.
⌜LUCENTIO, as Cambio⌝
1853 I read that I profess, The Art to Love.
BIANCA
1854 And may you prove, sir, master of your art.
LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝
1855 10 While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart.
⌜They move aside and kiss and talk.⌝
HORTENSIO, ⌜as Litio⌝
1856 Quick proceeders, marry! Now tell me, I pray,

p. 155

1857 You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca
1858 Loved ⌜none⌝ in the world so well as Lucentio.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1859 O despiteful love, unconstant womankind!
1860 15 I tell thee, Litio, this is wonderful!
HORTENSIO
1861 Mistake no more. I am not Litio,
1862 Nor a musician as I seem to be,
1863 But one that scorn to live in this disguise
1864 For such a one as leaves a gentleman
1865 20 And makes a god of such a cullion.
1866 Know, sir, that I am called Hortensio.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1867 Signior Hortensio, I have often heard
1868 Of your entire affection to Bianca,
1869 And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
1870 25 I will with you, if you be so contented,
1871 Forswear Bianca and her love forever.
HORTENSIO
1872 See how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,
1873 Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow
1874 Never to woo her more, but do forswear her
1875 30 As one unworthy all the former favors
1876 That I have fondly flattered ⌜her⌝ withal.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1877 And here I take the like unfeignèd oath,
1878 Never to marry with her, though she would entreat.
1879 Fie on her, see how beastly she doth court him!
HORTENSIO
1880 35 Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!
1881 For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,
1882 I will be married to a wealthy widow
1883 Ere three days pass, which hath as long loved me
1884 As I have loved this proud disdainful haggard.
1885 40 And so farewell, Signior Lucentio.
1886 Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,

p. 157

1887 Shall win my love, and so I take my leave,
1888 In resolution as I swore before.
⌜Hortensio exits;
Bianca and Lucentio come forward.⌝
TRANIO
1889 Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace
1890 45 As ’longeth to a lover’s blessèd case!
1891 Nay, I have ta’en you napping, gentle love,
1892 And have forsworn you with Hortensio.
BIANCA
1893 Tranio, you jest. But have you both forsworn me?
TRANIO
1894 Mistress, we have.
LUCENTIO 1895 50 Then we are rid of Litio.
TRANIO
1896 I’ faith, he’ll have a lusty widow now
1897 That shall be wooed and wedded in a day.
BIANCA 1898 God give him joy.
TRANIO
1899 Ay, and he’ll tame her.
BIANCA 1900 55 He says so, Tranio?
TRANIO
1901 Faith, he is gone unto the taming school.
BIANCA
1902 The taming school? What, is there such a place?
TRANIO
1903 Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master,
1904 That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long
1905 60 To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.

Enter Biondello.

BIONDELLO
1906 O master, master, I have watched so long
1907 That I am dog-weary, but at last I spied
1908 An ancient angel coming down the hill
1909 Will serve the turn.

p. 159

TRANIO 1910 65 What is he, Biondello?
BIONDELLO
1911 Master, a marcantant, or a pedant,
1912 I know not what, but formal in apparel,
1913 In gait and countenance surely like a father.
LUCENTIO 1914 And what of him, Tranio?
TRANIO
1915 70 If he be credulous, and trust my tale,
1916 I’ll make him glad to seem Vincentio
1917 And give assurance to Baptista Minola
1918 As if he were the right Vincentio.
1919 Take ⌜in⌝ your love, and then let me alone.
⌜Lucentio and Bianca exit.⌝

Enter a ⌜Merchant.⌝

⌜MERCHANT⌝
1920 75 God save you, sir.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 1921 And you, sir. You are welcome.
1922 Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?
⌜MERCHANT⌝
1923 Sir, at the farthest for a week or two,
1924 But then up farther, and as far as Rome,
1925 80 And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1926 What countryman, I pray?
⌜MERCHANT⌝ 1927 Of Mantua.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1928 Of Mantua, sir? Marry, God forbid!
1929 And come to Padua, careless of your life?
⌜MERCHANT⌝
1930 85 My life, sir? How, I pray? For that goes hard.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1931 ’Tis death for anyone in Mantua
1932 To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?
1933 Your ships are stayed at Venice, and the Duke,
1934 For private quarrel ’twixt your duke and him,

p. 161

1935 90 Hath published and proclaimed it openly.
1936 ’Tis marvel, but that you are but newly come,
1937 You might have heard it else proclaimed about.
⌜MERCHANT⌝
1938 Alas, sir, it is worse for me than so,
1939 For I have bills for money by exchange
1940 95 From Florence, and must here deliver them.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1941 Well, sir, to do you courtesy,
1942 This will I do, and this I will advise you.
1943 First tell me, have you ever been at Pisa?
⌜MERCHANT⌝
1944 Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,
1945 100 Pisa renownèd for grave citizens.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1946 Among them know you one Vincentio?
⌜MERCHANT⌝
1947 I know him not, but I have heard of him:
1948 A merchant of incomparable wealth.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1949 He is my father, sir, and sooth to say,
1950 105 In count’nance somewhat doth resemble you.
BIONDELLO, ⌜aside⌝ 1951 As much as an apple doth an
1952 oyster, and all one.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1953 To save your life in this extremity,
1954 This favor will I do you for his sake
1955 110 (And think it not the worst of all your fortunes
1956 That you are like to Sir Vincentio):
1957 His name and credit shall you undertake,
1958 And in my house you shall be friendly lodged.
1959 Look that you take upon you as you should.
1960 115 You understand me, sir. So shall you stay
1961 Till you have done your business in the city.
1962 If this be court’sy, sir, accept of it.

p. 163

⌜MERCHANT⌝
1963 O sir, I do, and will repute you ever
1964 The patron of my life and liberty.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1965 120 Then go with me, to make the matter good.
1966 This, by the way, I let you understand:
1967 My father is here looked for every day
1968 To pass assurance of a dower in marriage
1969 ’Twixt me and one Baptista’s daughter here.
1970 125 In all these circumstances I’ll instruct you.
1971 Go with me to clothe you as becomes you.
They exit.

⌜Scene 3⌝

Enter Katherine and Grumio.

GRUMIO
1972 No, no, forsooth, I dare not for my life.
KATHERINE
1973 The more my wrong, the more his spite appears.
1974 What, did he marry me to famish me?
1975 Beggars that come unto my father’s door
1976 5 Upon entreaty have a present alms.
1977 If not, elsewhere they meet with charity.
1978 But I, who never knew how to entreat,
1979 Nor never needed that I should entreat,
1980 Am starved for meat, giddy for lack of sleep,
1981 10 With oaths kept waking and with brawling fed.
1982 And that which spites me more than all these wants,
1983 He does it under name of perfect love,
1984 As who should say, if I should sleep or eat
1985 ’Twere deadly sickness or else present death.
1986 15 I prithee, go, and get me some repast,
1987 I care not what, so it be wholesome food.
GRUMIO 1988 What say you to a neat’s foot?

p. 165

KATHERINE
1989 ’Tis passing good. I prithee let me have it.
GRUMIO
1990 I fear it is too choleric a meat.
1991 20 How say you to a fat tripe finely broiled?
KATHERINE
1992 I like it well. Good Grumio, fetch it me.
GRUMIO
1993 I cannot tell. I fear ’tis choleric.
1994 What say you to a piece of beef and mustard?
KATHERINE
1995 A dish that I do love to feed upon.
GRUMIO
1996 25 Ay, but the mustard is too hot a little.
KATHERINE
1997 Why then, the beef, and let the mustard rest.
GRUMIO
1998 Nay then, I will not. You shall have the mustard
1999 Or else you get no beef of Grumio.
KATHERINE
2000 Then both, or one, or any thing thou wilt.
GRUMIO
2001 30 Why then, the mustard without the beef.
KATHERINE
2002 Go, get thee gone, thou false deluding slave,
⌜She⌝ beats him.
2003 That feed’st me with the very name of meat.
2004 Sorrow on thee, and all the pack of you
2005 That triumph thus upon my misery.
2006 35 Go, get thee gone, I say.

Enter Petruchio and Hortensio with meat.

PETRUCHIO
2007 How fares my Kate? What, sweeting, all amort?
HORTENSIO
2008 Mistress, what cheer?
KATHERINE 2009 Faith, as cold as can be.

p. 167

PETRUCHIO
2010 Pluck up thy spirits. Look cheerfully upon me.
2011 40 Here, love, thou seest how diligent I am,
2012 To dress thy meat myself and bring it thee.
2013 I am sure, sweet Kate, this kindness merits thanks.
2014 What, not a word? Nay then, thou lov’st it not,
2015 And all my pains is sorted to no proof.
2016 45 Here, take away this dish.
KATHERINE 2017 I pray you, let it stand.
PETRUCHIO
2018 The poorest service is repaid with thanks,
2019 And so shall mine before you touch the meat.
KATHERINE 2020 I thank you, sir.
HORTENSIO
2021 50 Signior Petruchio, fie, you are to blame.
2022 Come, Mistress Kate, I’ll bear you company.
PETRUCHIO, ⌜aside to Hortensio⌝
2023 Eat it up all, Hortensio, if thou lovest me.—
2024 Much good do it unto thy gentle heart.
2025 Kate, eat apace.
⌜Katherine and Hortensio prepare to eat.⌝
2026 55 And now, my honey love,
2027 Will we return unto thy father’s house
2028 And revel it as bravely as the best,
2029 With silken coats and caps and golden rings,
2030 With ruffs and cuffs and farthingales and things,
2031 60 With scarves and fans and double change of brav’ry,
2032 With amber bracelets, beads, and all this knav’ry.
2033 What, hast thou dined? The tailor stays thy leisure
2034 To deck thy body with his ruffling treasure.

Enter Tailor.

2035 Come, tailor, let us see these ornaments.
2036 65 Lay forth the gown.

Enter Haberdasher.

2037 What news with you, sir?

p. 169

⌜HABERDASHER⌝
2038 Here is the cap your Worship did bespeak.
PETRUCHIO
2039 Why, this was molded on a porringer!
2040 A velvet dish! Fie, fie, ’tis lewd and filthy.
2041 70 Why, ’tis a cockle or a walnut shell,
2042 A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby’s cap.
2043 Away with it! Come, let me have a bigger.
KATHERINE
2044 I’ll have no bigger. This doth fit the time,
2045 And gentlewomen wear such caps as these.
PETRUCHIO
2046 75 When you are gentle, you shall have one too,
2047 And not till then.
HORTENSIO, ⌜aside⌝ 2048 That will not be in haste.
KATHERINE
2049 Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak,
2050 And speak I will. I am no child, no babe.
2051 80 Your betters have endured me say my mind,
2052 And if you cannot, best you stop your ears.
2053 My tongue will tell the anger of my heart,
2054 Or else my heart, concealing it, will break,
2055 And, rather than it shall, I will be free
2056 85 Even to the uttermost, as I please, in words.
PETRUCHIO
2057 Why, thou sayst true. It is ⌜a⌝ paltry cap,
2058 A custard-coffin, a bauble, a silken pie.
2059 I love thee well in that thou lik’st it not.
KATHERINE
2060 Love me, or love me not, I like the cap,
2061 90 And it I will have, or I will have none.
⌜Exit Haberdasher.⌝
PETRUCHIO
2062 Thy gown? Why, ay. Come, tailor, let us see ’t.
2063 O mercy God, what masking-stuff is here?

p. 171

2064 What’s this? A sleeve? ’Tis like ⌜a⌝ demi-cannon.
2065 What, up and down carved like an apple tart?
2066 95 Here’s snip and nip and cut and slish and slash,
2067 Like to a censer in a barber’s shop.
2068 Why, what a devil’s name, tailor, call’st thou this?
HORTENSIO, ⌜aside⌝
2069 I see she’s like to have neither cap nor gown.
TAILOR
2070 You bid me make it orderly and well,
2071 100 According to the fashion and the time.
PETRUCHIO
2072 Marry, and did. But if you be remembered,
2073 I did not bid you mar it to the time.
2074 Go, hop me over every kennel home,
2075 For you shall hop without my custom, sir.
2076 105 I’ll none of it. Hence, make your best of it.
KATHERINE
2077 I never saw a better-fashioned gown,
2078 More quaint, more pleasing, nor more
2079 commendable.
2080 Belike you mean to make a puppet of me.
PETRUCHIO
2081 110 Why, true, he means to make a puppet of thee.
TAILOR
2082 She says your Worship means to make a puppet of
2083 her.
PETRUCHIO
2084 O monstrous arrogance! Thou liest, thou thread,
2085 thou thimble,
2086 115 Thou yard, three-quarters, half-yard, quarter, nail!
2087 Thou flea, thou nit, thou winter cricket, thou!
2088 Braved in mine own house with a skein of thread?
2089 Away, thou rag, thou quantity, thou remnant,
2090 Or I shall so be-mete thee with thy yard
2091 120 As thou shalt think on prating whilst thou liv’st.
2092 I tell thee, I, that thou hast marred her gown.

p. 173

TAILOR
2093 Your Worship is deceived. The gown is made
2094 Just as my master had direction.
2095 Grumio gave order how it should be done.
GRUMIO 2096 125I gave him no order. I gave him the stuff.
TAILOR
2097 But how did you desire it should be made?
GRUMIO 2098 Marry, sir, with needle and thread.
TAILOR
2099 But did you not request to have it cut?
GRUMIO 2100 Thou hast faced many things.
TAILOR 2101 130I have.
GRUMIO 2102 Face not me. Thou hast braved many men;
2103 brave not me. I will neither be faced nor braved. I
2104 say unto thee, I bid thy master cut out the gown,
2105 but I did not bid him cut it to pieces. Ergo, thou
2106 135 liest.
TAILOR 2107 Why, here is the note of the fashion to testify.
⌜He shows a paper.⌝
PETRUCHIO 2108 Read it.
GRUMIO 2109 The note lies in ’s throat, if he say I said so.
TAILOR ⌜reads⌝ 2110 “Imprimis, a loose-bodied gown—”
GRUMIO 2111 140Master, if ever I said “loose-bodied gown,”
2112 sew me in the skirts of it and beat me to death with
2113 a bottom of brown thread. I said “a gown.”
PETRUCHIO 2114 Proceed.
TAILOR ⌜reads⌝ 2115 “With a small-compassed cape—”
GRUMIO 2116 145I confess the cape.
TAILOR ⌜reads⌝ 2117 “With a trunk sleeve—”
GRUMIO 2118 I confess two sleeves.
TAILOR ⌜reads⌝ 2119 “The sleeves curiously cut.”
PETRUCHIO 2120 Ay, there’s the villainy.
GRUMIO 2121 150Error i’ th’ bill, sir, error i’ th’ bill! I commanded
2122 the sleeves should be cut out and sewed
2123 up again, and that I’ll prove upon thee, though thy
2124 little finger be armed in a thimble.

p. 175

TAILOR 2125 This is true that I say. An I had thee in place
2126 155 where, thou shouldst know it.
GRUMIO 2127 I am for thee straight. Take thou the bill, give
2128 me thy mete-yard, and spare not me.
HORTENSIO 2129 God-a-mercy, Grumio, then he shall have
2130 no odds.
PETRUCHIO
2131 160 Well, sir, in brief, the gown is not for me.
GRUMIO 2132 You are i’ th’ right, sir, ’tis for my mistress.
PETRUCHIO
2133 Go, take it up unto thy master’s use.
GRUMIO 2134 Villain, not for thy life! Take up my mistress’
2135 gown for thy master’s use!
PETRUCHIO 2136 165Why, sir, what’s your conceit in that?
GRUMIO 2137 O, sir, the conceit is deeper than you think
2138 for. Take up my mistress’ gown to his master’s use!
2139 O, fie, fie, fie!
PETRUCHIO, ⌜aside to Hortensio⌝
2140 Hortensio, say thou wilt see the tailor paid.
2141 170 ⌜To Tailor.⌝ Go, take it hence. Begone, and say no
2142 more.
HORTENSIO, ⌜aside to Tailor⌝
2143 Tailor, I’ll pay thee for thy gown tomorrow.
2144 Take no unkindness of his hasty words.
2145 Away, I say. Commend me to thy master.
Tailor exits.
PETRUCHIO
2146 175 Well, come, my Kate, we will unto your father’s,
2147 Even in these honest mean habiliments.
2148 Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor,
2149 For ’tis the mind that makes the body rich,
2150 And as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds,
2151 180 So honor peereth in the meanest habit.
2152 What, is the jay more precious than the lark
2153 Because his feathers are more beautiful?
2154 Or is the adder better than the eel

p. 177

2155 Because his painted skin contents the eye?
2156 185 O no, good Kate. Neither art thou the worse
2157 For this poor furniture and mean array.
2158 If thou ⌜account’st⌝ it shame, lay it on me,
2159 And therefore frolic! We will hence forthwith
2160 To feast and sport us at thy father’s house.
2161 190 ⌜To Grumio.⌝ Go, call my men, and let us straight to
2162 him,
2163 And bring our horses unto Long-lane end.
2164 There will we mount, and thither walk on foot.
2165 Let’s see, I think ’tis now some seven o’clock,
2166 195 And well we may come there by dinner time.
KATHERINE
2167 I dare assure you, sir, ’tis almost two,
2168 And ’twill be supper time ere you come there.
PETRUCHIO
2169 It shall be seven ere I go to horse.
2170 Look what I speak, or do, or think to do,
2171 200 You are still crossing it.—Sirs, let ’t alone.
2172 I will not go today, and, ere I do,
2173 It shall be what o’clock I say it is.
HORTENSIO, ⌜aside⌝
2174 Why, so, this gallant will command the sun!
⌜They exit.⌝

⌜Scene 4⌝

Enter Tranio ⌜as Lucentio,⌝ and the ⌜Merchant,⌝ booted,
and dressed like Vincentio.

TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2175 ⌜Sir,⌝ this is the house. Please it you that I call?
⌜MERCHANT⌝
2176 Ay, what else? And but I be deceived,
2177 Signior Baptista may remember me,
2178 Near twenty years ago, in Genoa,
2179 5 Where we were lodgers at the Pegasus.

p. 179

TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2180 ’Tis well. And hold your own in any case
2181 With such austerity as ’longeth to a father.
⌜MERCHANT⌝
2182 I warrant you.

Enter Biondello.

2183 But, sir, here comes your boy.
2184 10 ’Twere good he were schooled.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2185 Fear you not him.—Sirrah Biondello,
2186 Now do your duty throughly, I advise you.
2187 Imagine ’twere the right Vincentio.
BIONDELLO 2188 Tut, fear not me.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2189 15 But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista?
BIONDELLO
2190 I told him that your father was at Venice,
2191 And that you looked for him this day in Padua.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2192 Thou ’rt a tall fellow. Hold thee that to drink.
⌜He gives him money.⌝

Enter Baptista and Lucentio ⌜as Cambio.⌝

2193 Here comes Baptista. Set your countenance, sir.
⌜Merchant stands⌝ bareheaded.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2194 20 Signior Baptista, you are happily met.—
2195 Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of.
2196 I pray you stand good father to me now.
2197 Give me Bianca for my patrimony.
⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 2198 Soft, son.—
2199 25 Sir, by your leave, having come to Padua
2200 To gather in some debts, my son Lucentio
2201 Made me acquainted with a weighty cause
2202 Of love between your daughter and himself.

p. 181

2203 And, for the good report I hear of you,
2204 30 And for the love he beareth to your daughter
2205 And she to him, to stay him not too long,
2206 I am content, in a good father’s care,
2207 To have him matched. And if you please to like
2208 No worse than I, upon some agreement
2209 35 Me shall you find ready and willing
2210 With one consent to have her so bestowed,
2211 For curious I cannot be with you,
2212 Signior Baptista, of whom I hear so well.
BAPTISTA
2213 Sir, pardon me in what I have to say.
2214 40 Your plainness and your shortness please me well.
2215 Right true it is your son Lucentio here
2216 Doth love my daughter, and she loveth him,
2217 Or both dissemble deeply their affections.
2218 And therefore, if you say no more than this,
2219 45 That like a father you will deal with him
2220 And pass my daughter a sufficient dower,
2221 The match is made, and all is done.
2222 Your son shall have my daughter with consent.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2223 I thank you, sir. Where then do you know best
2224 50 We be affied and such assurance ta’en
2225 As shall with either part’s agreement stand?
BAPTISTA
2226 Not in my house, Lucentio, for you know
2227 Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants.
2228 Besides, old Gremio is heark’ning still,
2229 55 And happily we might be interrupted.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2230 Then at my lodging, an it like you.
2231 There doth my father lie, and there this night
2232 We’ll pass the business privately and well.
2233 Send for your daughter by your servant here.
⌜He indicates Lucentio, and winks at him.⌝

p. 183

2234 60 My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently.
2235 The worst is this: that at so slender warning
2236 You are like to have a thin and slender pittance.
BAPTISTA
2237 It likes me well.—Cambio, hie you home,
2238 And bid Bianca make her ready straight.
2239 65 And, if you will, tell what hath happenèd:
2240 Lucentio’s father is arrived in Padua,
2241 And how she’s like to be Lucentio’s wife.
⌜Lucentio exits.⌝
BIONDELLO
2242 I pray the gods she may, with all my heart.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2243 Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.—
2244 70 Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way?
2245 Welcome! One mess is like to be your cheer.
2246 Come, sir, we will better it in Pisa.
BAPTISTA 2247 I follow you.
⌜All but Biondello⌝ exit.

Enter Lucentio.

BIONDELLO 2248 Cambio.
LUCENTIO 2249 75What sayst thou, Biondello?
BIONDELLO 2250 You saw my master wink and laugh upon
2251 you?
LUCENTIO 2252 Biondello, what of that?
BIONDELLO 2253 Faith, nothing; but ’has left me here behind
2254 80 to expound the meaning or moral of his signs
2255 and tokens.
LUCENTIO 2256 I pray thee, moralize them.
BIONDELLO 2257 Then thus: Baptista is safe, talking with
2258 the deceiving father of a deceitful son.
LUCENTIO 2259 85And what of him?
BIONDELLO 2260 His daughter is to be brought by you to the
2261 supper.

p. 185

LUCENTIO 2262 And then?
BIONDELLO 2263 The old priest at Saint Luke’s Church is at
2264 90 your command at all hours.
LUCENTIO 2265 And what of all this?
BIONDELLO 2266 I cannot tell, ⌜except⌝ they are busied
2267 about a counterfeit assurance. Take you assurance
2268 of her cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum. To th’
2269 95 church take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient
2270 honest witnesses.
2271 If this be not that you look for, I have no more to
2272 say,
2273 But bid Bianca farewell forever and a day.
LUCENTIO 2274 100Hear’st thou, Biondello?
BIONDELLO 2275 I cannot tarry. I knew a wench married in
2276 an afternoon as she went to the garden for parsley
2277 to stuff a rabbit, and so may you, sir. And so adieu,
2278 sir. My master hath appointed me to go to Saint
2279 105 Luke’s to bid the priest be ready to come against
2280 you come with your appendix.He exits.
LUCENTIO
2281 I may, and will, if she be so contented.
2282 She will be pleased. Then wherefore should I
2283 doubt?
2284 110 Hap what hap may, I’ll roundly go about her.
2285 It shall go hard if “Cambio” go without her.
He exits.

⌜Scene 5⌝

Enter Petruchio, Katherine, Hortensio, ⌜and Servants.⌝

PETRUCHIO
2286 Come on, i’ God’s name, once more toward our
2287 father’s.
2288 Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon!
KATHERINE
2289 The moon? The sun! It is not moonlight now.

p. 187

PETRUCHIO
2290 5 I say it is the moon that shines so bright.
KATHERINE
2291 I know it is the sun that shines so bright.
PETRUCHIO
2292 Now, by my mother’s son, and that’s myself,
2293 It shall be moon, or star, or what I list,
2294 Or e’er I journey to your father’s house.
2295 10 ⌜To Servants.⌝ Go on, and fetch our horses back
2296 again.—
2297 Evermore crossed and crossed, nothing but crossed!
HORTENSIO, ⌜to Katherine⌝
2298 Say as he says, or we shall never go.
KATHERINE
2299 Forward, I pray, since we have come so far,
2300 15 And be it moon, or sun, or what you please.
2301 And if you please to call it a rush candle,
2302 Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.
PETRUCHIO 2303 I say it is the moon.
KATHERINE 2304 I know it is the moon.
PETRUCHIO
2305 20 Nay, then you lie. It is the blessèd sun.
KATHERINE
2306 Then God be blest, it ⌜is⌝ the blessèd sun.
2307 But sun it is not, when you say it is not,
2308 And the moon changes even as your mind.
2309 What you will have it named, even that it is,
2310 25 And so it shall be so for Katherine.
HORTENSIO
2311 Petruchio, go thy ways, the field is won.
PETRUCHIO
2312 Well, forward, forward. Thus the bowl should run,
2313 And not unluckily against the bias.
2314 But soft! Company is coming here.

Enter Vincentio.

p. 189

2315 30 ⌜To Vincentio.⌝ Good morrow, gentle mistress, where
2316 away?—
2317 Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly, too,
2318 Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman?
2319 Such war of white and red within her cheeks!
2320 35 What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty
2321 As those two eyes become that heavenly face?—
2322 Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee.—
2323 Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty’s sake.
HORTENSIO, ⌜aside⌝
2324 He will make the man mad, to make the woman of
2325 40 him.
KATHERINE
2326 Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet,
2327 Whither away, or ⌜where⌝ is thy abode?
2328 Happy the parents of so fair a child!
2329 Happier the man whom favorable stars
2330 45 ⌜Allots⌝ thee for his lovely bedfellow.
PETRUCHIO
2331 Why, how now, Kate? I hope thou art not mad!
2332 This is a man—old, wrinkled, faded, withered—
2333 And not a maiden, as thou sayst he is.
KATHERINE
2334 Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes
2335 50 That have been so bedazzled with the sun
2336 That everything I look on seemeth green.
2337 Now I perceive thou art a reverend father.
2338 Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.
PETRUCHIO
2339 Do, good old grandsire, and withal make known
2340 55 Which way thou travelest. If along with us,
2341 We shall be joyful of thy company.
VINCENTIO
2342 Fair sir, and you, my merry mistress,
2343 That with your strange encounter much amazed me,
2344 My name is called Vincentio, my dwelling Pisa,

p. 191

2345 60 And bound I am to Padua, there to visit
2346 A son of mine which long I have not seen.
PETRUCHIO
2347 What is his name?
VINCENTIO 2348 Lucentio, gentle sir.
PETRUCHIO
2349 Happily met, the happier for thy son.
2350 65 And now by law as well as reverend age,
2351 I may entitle thee my loving father.
2352 The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman,
2353 Thy son by this hath married. Wonder not,
2354 Nor be not grieved. She is of good esteem,
2355 70 Her dowry wealthy, and of worthy birth;
2356 Beside, so qualified as may beseem
2357 The spouse of any noble gentleman.
2358 Let me embrace with old Vincentio,
2359 And wander we to see thy honest son,
2360 75 Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.
VINCENTIO
2361 But is this true, or is it else your pleasure,
2362 Like pleasant travelers, to break a jest
2363 Upon the company you overtake?
HORTENSIO
2364 I do assure thee, father, so it is.
PETRUCHIO
2365 80 Come, go along and see the truth hereof,
2366 For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.
⌜All but Hortensio⌝ exit.
HORTENSIO
2367 Well, Petruchio, this has put me in heart!
2368 Have to my widow, and if she ⌜be⌝ froward,
2369 Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.
He exits.

⌜ACT 5⌝

⌜Scene 1⌝

Enter Biondello, Lucentio ⌜as himself,⌝ and Bianca.
Gremio is out before ⌜and stands to the side.⌝

BIONDELLO 2370 Softly and swiftly, sir, for the priest is
2371 ready.
LUCENTIO 2372 I fly, Biondello. But they may chance to
2373 need thee at home. Therefore leave us.
⌜Lucentio exits with Bianca.⌝
BIONDELLO 2374 5Nay, faith, I’ll see the church a’ your back,
2375 and then come back to my ⌜master’s⌝ as soon as I
2376 can.⌜He exits.⌝
GREMIO 2377 I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.

Enter Petruchio, Katherine, Vincentio, Grumio, with
Attendants.

PETRUCHIO
2378 Sir, here’s the door. This is Lucentio’s house.
2379 10 My father’s bears more toward the marketplace.
2380 Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir.
VINCENTIO
2381 You shall not choose but drink before you go.
2382 I think I shall command your welcome here,
2383 And by all likelihood some cheer is toward.
⌜He⌝ knocks.

p. 197

GREMIO, ⌜coming forward⌝
2384 15 They’re busy within. You were best knock louder.
⌜Merchant⌝ looks out of the window.
⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 2385 What’s he that knocks as
2386 he would beat down the gate?
VINCENTIO 2387 Is Signior Lucentio within, sir?
⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 2388 He’s within, sir, but not to
2389 20 be spoken withal.
VINCENTIO 2390 What if a man bring him a hundred pound
2391 or two to make merry withal?
⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 2392 Keep your hundred
2393 pounds to yourself. He shall need none so long as I
2394 25 live.
PETRUCHIO, ⌜to Vincentio⌝ 2395 Nay, I told you your son was
2396 well beloved in Padua.—Do you hear, sir? To leave
2397 frivolous circumstances, I pray you tell Signior
2398 Lucentio that his father is come from Pisa and is
2399 30 here at the door to speak with him.
⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 2400 Thou liest. His father is
2401 come from Padua and here looking out at the
2402 window.
VINCENTIO 2403 Art thou his father?
⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 2404 35Ay, sir, so his mother says,
2405 if I may believe her.
PETRUCHIO, ⌜to Vincentio⌝ 2406 Why, how now, gentleman!
2407 Why, this is flat knavery, to take upon you another
2408 man’s name.
⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 2409 40Lay hands on the villain. I
2410 believe he means to cosen somebody in this city
2411 under my countenance.

Enter Biondello.

BIONDELLO, ⌜aside⌝ 2412 I have seen them in the church
2413 together. God send ’em good shipping! But who is
2414 45 here? Mine old master Vincentio! Now we are
2415 undone and brought to nothing.

p. 199

VINCENTIO, ⌜to Biondello⌝ 2416 Come hither, crack-hemp.
BIONDELLO 2417 I hope I may choose, sir.
VINCENTIO 2418 Come hither, you rogue! What, have you
2419 50 forgot me?
BIONDELLO 2420 Forgot you? No, sir. I could not forget you,
2421 for I never saw you before in all my life.
VINCENTIO 2422 What, you notorious villain, didst thou
2423 never see thy ⌜master’s⌝ father, Vincentio?
BIONDELLO 2424 55What, my old worshipful old master? Yes,
2425 marry, sir. See where he looks out of the window.
VINCENTIO 2426 Is ’t so indeed?He beats Biondello.
BIONDELLO 2427 Help, help, help! Here’s a madman will
2428 murder me.⌜Biondello exits.⌝
⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 2429 60Help, son! Help, Signior
2430 Baptista!⌜He exits from window.⌝
PETRUCHIO 2431 Prithee, Kate, let’s stand aside and see the
2432 end of this controversy.⌜They move aside.⌝

Enter ⌜Merchant⌝ with Servants, ⌜and⌝ Baptista ⌜and⌝
Tranio ⌜disguised as Lucentio.⌝

TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 2433 Sir, what are you that offer to
2434 65 beat my servant?
VINCENTIO 2435 What am I, sir? Nay, what are you, sir! O
2436 immortal gods! O fine villain! A silken doublet, a
2437 velvet hose, a scarlet cloak, and a copatain hat! O, I
2438 am undone, I am undone! While I play the good
2439 70 husband at home, my son and my servant spend all
2440 at the university.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 2441 How now, what’s the matter?
BAPTISTA 2442 What, is the man lunatic?
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 2443 Sir, you seem a sober ancient
2444 75 gentleman by your habit, but your words show you
2445 a madman. Why, sir, what ’cerns it you if I wear
2446 pearl and gold? I thank my good father, I am able
2447 to maintain it.

p. 201

VINCENTIO 2448 Thy father! O villain, he is a sailmaker in
2449 80 Bergamo.
BAPTISTA 2450 You mistake, sir, you mistake, sir! Pray, what
2451 do you think is his name?
VINCENTIO 2452 His name? As if I knew not his name! I have
2453 brought him up ever since he was three years old,
2454 85 and his name is Tranio.
⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 2455 Away, away, mad ass! His
2456 name is Lucentio and he is mine only son, and heir
2457 to the lands of me, Signior Vincentio.
VINCENTIO 2458 Lucentio? O, he hath murdered his master!
2459 90 Lay hold on him, I charge you in the Duke’s name.
2460 O, my son, my son! Tell me, thou villain, where is
2461 my son Lucentio?
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 2462 Call forth an officer.

⌜Enter an Officer.⌝

2463 Carry this mad knave to the jail.—Father Baptista, I
2464 95 charge you see that he be forthcoming.
VINCENTIO 2465 Carry me to the jail?
GREMIO 2466 Stay, officer. He shall not go to prison.
BAPTISTA 2467 Talk not, Signior Gremio. I say he shall go to
2468 prison.
GREMIO 2469 100Take heed, Signior Baptista, lest you be cony-catched
2470 in this business. I dare swear this is the
2471 right Vincentio.
⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 2472 Swear, if thou dar’st.
GREMIO 2473 Nay, I dare not swear it.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 2474 105Then thou wert best say that I
2475 am not Lucentio.
GREMIO 2476 Yes, I know thee to be Signior Lucentio.
BAPTISTA 2477 Away with the dotard, to the jail with him.
VINCENTIO 2478 Thus strangers may be haled and abused.—
2479 110 O monstrous villain!

Enter Biondello, Lucentio and Bianca.

p. 203

BIONDELLO 2480 O, we are spoiled, and yonder he is! Deny
2481 him, forswear him, or else we are all undone.
Biondello, Tranio, and ⌜Merchant⌝
exit as fast as may be.
LUCENTIO
2482 Pardon, sweet father.⌜Lucentio and Bianca⌝ kneel.
VINCENTIO 2483 Lives my sweet son?
BIANCA
2484 115 Pardon, dear father.
BAPTISTA 2485 How hast thou offended?
2486 Where is Lucentio?
LUCENTIO 2487 Here’s Lucentio,
2488 Right son to the right Vincentio,
2489 120 That have by marriage made thy daughter mine
2490 While counterfeit supposes bleared thine eyne.
GREMIO
2491 Here’s packing, with a witness, to deceive us all!
VINCENTIO
2492 Where is that damnèd villain, Tranio,
2493 That faced and braved me in this matter so?
BAPTISTA
2494 125 Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?
BIANCA
2495 Cambio is changed into Lucentio.
LUCENTIO
2496 Love wrought these miracles. Bianca’s love
2497 Made me exchange my state with Tranio,
2498 While he did bear my countenance in the town,
2499 130 And happily I have arrivèd at the last
2500 Unto the wishèd haven of my bliss.
2501 What Tranio did, myself enforced him to.
2502 Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.
VINCENTIO 2503 I’ll slit the villain’s nose that would have
2504 135 sent me to the jail!
BAPTISTA 2505 But do you hear, sir, have you married my
2506 daughter without asking my goodwill?

p. 205

VINCENTIO 2507 Fear not, Baptista, we will content you. Go
2508 to! But I will in to be revenged for this villainy.
He exits.
BAPTISTA 2509 140And I to sound the depth of this knavery.
He exits.
LUCENTIO 2510 Look not pale, Bianca. Thy father will not
2511 frown.They exit.
GREMIO
2512 My cake is dough, but I’ll in among the rest,
2513 Out of hope of all but my share of the feast.
⌜He exits.⌝
KATHERINE 2514 145Husband, let’s follow to see the end of
2515 this ado.
PETRUCHIO 2516 First kiss me, Kate, and we will.
KATHERINE 2517 What, in the midst of the street?
PETRUCHIO 2518 What, art thou ashamed of me?
KATHERINE 2519 150⌜No,⌝ sir, God forbid, but ashamed to kiss.
PETRUCHIO
2520 Why, then, let’s home again. ⌜To Grumio.⌝ Come,
2521 sirrah, let’s away.
KATHERINE
2522 Nay, I will give thee a kiss.⌜She kisses him.⌝
2523 Now pray thee, love, stay.
PETRUCHIO
2524 155 Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate.
2525 Better once than never, for never too late.
They exit.

⌜Scene 2⌝

Enter Baptista, Vincentio, Gremio, the ⌜Merchant,⌝
Lucentio, and Bianca; ⌜Hortensio⌝ and ⌜the⌝ Widow,
⌜Petruchio and Katherine;⌝ Tranio, Biondello, ⌜and⌝
Grumio, ⌜with⌝ Servingmen bringing in a banquet.

LUCENTIO
2526 At last, though long, our jarring notes agree,

p. 207

2527 And time it is when raging war is ⌜done⌝
2528 To smile at ’scapes and perils overblown.
2529 My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome,
2530 5 While I with selfsame kindness welcome thine.
2531 Brother Petruchio, sister Katherina,
2532 And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow,
2533 Feast with the best, and welcome to my house.
2534 My banquet is to close our stomachs up
2535 10 After our great good cheer. Pray you, sit down,
2536 For now we sit to chat as well as eat.⌜They sit.⌝
PETRUCHIO
2537 Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!
BAPTISTA
2538 Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.
PETRUCHIO
2539 Padua affords nothing but what is kind.
HORTENSIO
2540 15 For both our sakes I would that word were true.
PETRUCHIO
2541 Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow!
WIDOW
2542 Then never trust me if I be afeard.
PETRUCHIO
2543 You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense:
2544 I mean Hortensio is afeard of you.
WIDOW
2545 20 He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.
PETRUCHIO
2546 Roundly replied.
KATHERINE 2547 Mistress, how mean you that?
WIDOW 2548 Thus I conceive by him.
PETRUCHIO
2549 Conceives by me? How likes Hortensio that?
HORTENSIO
2550 25 My widow says, thus she conceives her tale.

p. 209

PETRUCHIO
2551 Very well mended. Kiss him for that, good widow.
KATHERINE
2552 “He that is giddy thinks the world turns round”—
2553 I pray you tell me what you meant by that.
WIDOW
2554 Your husband being troubled with a shrew
2555 30 Measures my husband’s sorrow by his woe.
2556 And now you know my meaning.
KATHERINE
2557 A very mean meaning.
WIDOW 2558 Right, I mean you.
KATHERINE
2559 And I am mean indeed, respecting you.
PETRUCHIO 2560 35To her, Kate!
HORTENSIO 2561 To her, widow!
PETRUCHIO
2562 A hundred marks, my Kate does put her down.
HORTENSIO 2563 That’s my office.
PETRUCHIO
2564 Spoke like an officer! Ha’ to thee, lad.
⌜He⌝ drinks to Hortensio.
BAPTISTA
2565 40 How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks?
GREMIO
2566 Believe me, sir, they butt together well.
BIANCA
2567 Head and butt! An hasty-witted body
2568 Would say your head and butt were head and horn.
VINCENTIO
2569 Ay, mistress bride, hath that awakened you?
BIANCA
2570 45 Ay, but not frighted me. Therefore I’ll sleep again.
PETRUCHIO
2571 Nay, that you shall not. Since you have begun,
2572 Have at you for a ⌜bitter⌝ jest or two.

p. 211

BIANCA
2573 Am I your bird? I mean to shift my bush,
2574 And then pursue me as you draw your bow.—
2575 50 You are welcome all.Bianca, ⌜Katherine, and the Widow⌝ exit.
PETRUCHIO
2576 She hath prevented me. Here, Signior Tranio,
2577 This bird you aimed at, though you hit her not.—
2578 Therefore a health to all that shot and missed.
TRANIO
2579 O, sir, Lucentio slipped me like his greyhound,
2580 55 Which runs himself and catches for his master.
PETRUCHIO
2581 A good swift simile, but something currish.
TRANIO
2582 ’Tis well, sir, that you hunted for yourself.
2583 ’Tis thought your deer does hold you at a bay.
BAPTISTA
2584 O, O, Petruchio! Tranio hits you now.
LUCENTIO
2585 60 I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio.
HORTENSIO
2586 Confess, confess! Hath he not hit you here?
PETRUCHIO
2587 He has a little galled me, I confess.
2588 And as the jest did glance away from me,
2589 ’Tis ten to one it maimed you two outright.
BAPTISTA
2590 65 Now, in good sadness, son Petruchio,
2591 I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all.
PETRUCHIO
2592 Well, I say no. And therefore, ⌜for⌝ assurance,
2593 Let’s each one send unto his wife,
2594 And he whose wife is most obedient
2595 70 To come at first when he doth send for her
2596 Shall win the wager which we will propose.

p. 213

HORTENSIO
2597 Content, what’s the wager?
LUCENTIO 2598 Twenty crowns.
PETRUCHIO 2599 Twenty crowns?
2600 75 I’ll venture so much of my hawk or hound,
2601 But twenty times so much upon my wife.
LUCENTIO
2602 A hundred, then.
HORTENSIO 2603 Content.
PETRUCHIO 2604 A match! ’Tis done.
HORTENSIO 2605 80Who shall begin?
LUCENTIO 2606 That will I.
2607 Go, Biondello, bid your mistress come to me.
BIONDELLO 2608 I go.He exits.
BAPTISTA
2609 Son, I’ll be your half Bianca comes.
LUCENTIO
2610 85 I’ll have no halves. I’ll bear it all myself.
Enter Biondello.

2611 How now, what news?
BIONDELLO 2612 Sir, my mistress sends you
2613 word
2614 That she is busy, and she cannot come.
PETRUCHIO
2615 90 How? “She’s busy, and she cannot come”?
2616 Is that an answer?
GREMIO 2617 Ay, and a kind one, too.
2618 Pray God, sir, your wife send you not a worse.
PETRUCHIO 2619 I hope better.
HORTENSIO
2620 95 Sirrah Biondello, go and entreat my wife
2621 To come to me forthwith.Biondello exits.
PETRUCHIO 2622 O ho, entreat her!
2623 Nay, then, she must needs come.

p. 215

HORTENSIO 2624 I am afraid, sir,
2625 100 Do what you can, yours will not be entreated.

Enter Biondello.

2626 Now, where’s my wife?
BIONDELLO
2627 She says you have some goodly jest in hand.
2628 She will not come. She bids you come to her.
PETRUCHIO 2629 Worse and worse. She will not come!
2630 105 O vile, intolerable, not to be endured!—
2631 Sirrah Grumio, go to your mistress,
2632 Say I command her come to me.⌜Grumio⌝ exits.
HORTENSIO
2633 I know her answer.
PETRUCHIO 2634 What?
HORTENSIO 2635 110 She will not.
PETRUCHIO
2636 The fouler fortune mine, and there an end.

Enter Katherine.

BAPTISTA
2637 Now by my holidam, here comes Katherina!
KATHERINE
2638 What is your will, sir, that you send for me?
PETRUCHIO
2639 Where is your sister, and Hortensio’s wife?
KATHERINE
2640 115 They sit conferring by the parlor fire.
PETRUCHIO
2641 Go fetch them hither. If they deny to come,
2642 Swinge me them soundly forth unto their husbands.
2643 Away, I say, and bring them hither straight.
⌜Katherine exits.⌝
LUCENTIO
2644 Here is a wonder, if you talk of a wonder.
HORTENSIO
2645 120 And so it is. I wonder what it bodes.

p. 217

PETRUCHIO
2646 Marry, peace it bodes, and love, and quiet life,
2647 An awful rule, and right supremacy,
2648 And, to be short, what not that’s sweet and happy.
BAPTISTA
2649 Now fair befall thee, good Petruchio!
2650 125 The wager thou hast won, and I will add
2651 Unto their losses twenty thousand crowns,
2652 Another dowry to another daughter,
2653 For she is changed as she had never been.
PETRUCHIO
2654 Nay, I will win my wager better yet,
2655 130 And show more sign of her obedience,
2656 Her new-built virtue and obedience.

Enter Katherine, Bianca, and Widow.

2657 See where she comes, and brings your froward
2658 wives
2659 As prisoners to her womanly persuasion.—
2660 135 Katherine, that cap of yours becomes you not.
2661 Off with that bauble, throw it underfoot.
⌜She obeys.⌝
WIDOW
2662 Lord, let me never have a cause to sigh
2663 Till I be brought to such a silly pass.
BIANCA
2664 Fie, what a foolish duty call you this?
LUCENTIO
2665 140 I would your duty were as foolish too.
2666 The wisdom of your duty, fair Bianca,
2667 Hath cost me ⌜a⌝ hundred crowns since suppertime.
BIANCA
2668 The more fool you for laying on my duty.
PETRUCHIO
2669 Katherine, I charge thee tell these headstrong
2670 145 women
2671 What duty they do owe their lords and husbands.

p. 219

WIDOW
2672 Come, come, ⌜you’re⌝ mocking. We will have no
2673 telling.
PETRUCHIO
2674 Come on, I say, and first begin with her.
WIDOW 2675 150She shall not.
PETRUCHIO
2676 I say she shall.—And first begin with her.
KATHERINE
2677 Fie, fie! Unknit that threat’ning unkind brow,
2678 And dart not scornful glances from those eyes
2679 To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor.
2680 155 It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads,
2681 Confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds,
2682 And in no sense is meet or amiable.
2683 A woman moved is like a fountain troubled,
2684 Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty,
2685 160 And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty
2686 Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it.
2687 Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,
2688 Thy head, thy sovereign, one that cares for thee,
2689 And for thy maintenance commits his body
2690 165 To painful labor both by sea and land,
2691 To watch the night in storms, the day in cold,
2692 Whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe,
2693 And craves no other tribute at thy hands
2694 But love, fair looks, and true obedience—
2695 170 Too little payment for so great a debt.
2696 Such duty as the subject owes the prince,
2697 Even such a woman oweth to her husband;
2698 And when she is froward, peevish, sullen, sour,
2699 And not obedient to his honest will,
2700 175 What is she but a foul contending rebel
2701 And graceless traitor to her loving lord?
2702 I am ashamed that women are so simple
2703 To offer war where they should kneel for peace,

p. 221

2704 Or seek for rule, supremacy, and sway
2705 180 When they are bound to serve, love, and obey.
2706 Why are our bodies soft and weak and smooth,
2707 Unapt to toil and trouble in the world,
2708 But that our soft conditions and our hearts
2709 Should well agree with our external parts?
2710 185 Come, come, you froward and unable worms!
2711 My mind hath been as big as one of yours,
2712 My heart as great, my reason haply more,
2713 To bandy word for word and frown for frown;
2714 But now I see our lances are but straws,
2715 190 Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,
2716 That seeming to be most which we indeed least are.
2717 Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot,
2718 And place your hands below your husband’s foot;
2719 In token of which duty, if he please,
2720 195 My hand is ready, may it do him ease.
PETRUCHIO
2721 Why, there’s a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate.
⌜They kiss.⌝
LUCENTIO
2722 Well, go thy ways, old lad, for thou shalt ha ’t.
VINCENTIO
2723 ’Tis a good hearing when children are toward.
LUCENTIO
2724 But a harsh hearing when women are froward.
PETRUCHIO 2725 200Come, Kate, we’ll to bed.
2726 We three are married, but you two are sped.
2727 ⌜To Lucentio.⌝ ’Twas I won the wager, though you
2728 hit the white,
2729 And being a winner, God give you good night.
Petruchio ⌜and Katherine⌝ exit.
HORTENSIO
2730 205 Now, go thy ways, thou hast tamed a curst shrow.
LUCENTIO
2731 ’Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tamed so.
⌜They exit.⌝

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