Sly. Are you my wife, and will not call me-Tell me thy mind: for I have Pisa left, husband? My men should call me-lord; I am your good man. Page. My husband and my lord, my lord and husband; I am your wife in all obedience. Sly. I know it well :-What must I call her ? Sly. Al'ce madam, or Joan madam ? Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have dream 'd, Above some fifteen year and more. Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me; Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. Sly. 'Tis much ;- -Servants leave me and her alone. Madam, undress you, and come now to bed. To pardon me yet for a night or two; Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so long. But I would be loath to fall into my dreams again; I will therefore tarry in despite of the flesh and the blood. Enter a SERVANT. And am to Padua come; as he that leaves No profit grows, where is no pleasure ta’en;— Tra. Master, some show to welcome us to Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HORTENSIO. LUTENTIO and TRAN stand aside. Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no further, Serv. Your honour's players, hearing your For how I firmly am resolv'd you know : amendment, Are come to play a pleasant comedy, For so your doctors hold it very meet; That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter, Seeing too much sadness hath cougeal'd your Because I know you well, and love you well, blood, And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy, Sly. Marry, I will; let them play it: Is not a commonty, a Christmas gambol, or a tumbling trick? Page. No, my good lord; it is more pleasing Sly. What, household stuff? Sly. Well, we'll see't: Coine, madam wife, ACT I. SCENE 1.-Padua.-A public Place. Enter LUCENTIO and TRANIO. That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Luc. Tranio, since-for the great desire I had Peace, Tranio. To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,- And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd Tra. Well said, master: mumi and gaze your Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why. Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.— Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange • Small piece of water. I Harsh rules. + Pardon me. Gre. Why, will you mew⚫ her up, Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell, And make her bear the penance of her tongue ? Bup. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd :Go in, Bianca. [Exit BIANCA. And for I know, she taketh most delight In music, instruments, and poetry, Schoolmasters will I keep within my bouse, Fit to instruct her youth.-If you, Hortensio, Or signior Gremio, you,-know any such, Prefer them hither; for to cunning I will be very kind, and liberal men To mine own children in good bringing up; [Exit. Kath. Why, and I trust I may go too; May I not? [belike, What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? Ha! [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell: -Yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man, to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father. Hor. So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both,-that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love,-to labour and effect one thing 'specially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Marry, Sir, to get a husband for her sister. Gre. A husband! a devil. Hor. I say, a busband. Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell? Hor. Tush, Gremio, though it pass your patience, and mine, to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, au a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough. Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition,-to be whipped at the high-cross every morning. Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten apples. But, come; since this bar in Jaw makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained,-till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband, we set his young. est free for a husband, and then have to't afresh. Sweet Bianca!-Happy man be his dole !¶ He that runs fastest gets the ring. How say you, signior Gremio ? Gre. I am agreed: and 'would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come OD. [Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, Sir, tell me,-Is it possible That love should of a sudden take such hold? Tra. Maaster, it is no time to chide you now; Affection is not rated from the heart: [50,If love have touch'd you, nought remains but Redime te captum quam queas minimo. Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; The rest will comfort, for my counsel's sound. Tra. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid, Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all, Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, Such as the daughter of Agenor had, That made great Jove to humble him to ber hand, When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand, trance, I pray, awake, Sir; if you love the maid, Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd, Luc. Ab! Tranio, what a cruel father's he! Tra. Ay, marry, am I, Sir; and now 'tis plotted. Luc. I have it, Tranio. Tra. Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Tra. You will be schoolmaster, And undertake the teaching of the maid; Luc. It is: May it be done? Tra. Not possible; For who shall bear your And be in Padua here Vincentio's son? [part, Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his friends; Visit his countrymen, and banquet them? Luc. Basta ; content thee; for I have it full We have not yet been seen in any house; Nor can we be distinguished by our faces, For man or master: Then it follows thus ;Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead, Keep house, and port, and servants, as I should; I will some other be; some Florentine, Some Neapolitan, or mean man of Pisa, 'Tis hatch'd, and shall be so-Tranio, at once Uncase thee; take my colour'd hat and cloak: When Biondello comes, he waits on thee; But I will charm him first to keep his tongue, Tra, So had you need. [They exchange habits. In brief then, Sir, sith it your pleasure is, And I am tied to be obedient; (For so your father charg'd me at our parting Be serviceable to my son, quoth he, Although, I think, 'twas in another sense,) I am content to be Lucentio, Because so well I love Lucentio. Luc. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves : And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye. Bion. Where have I been? Nay, how now, Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest, I kill'd a man, and fear I was descried :* Bion. I, Sir, ne'er a whit. Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth; Tranio is chang'd into Lucentio. Bion. The better for him; Would I were so too! Tra. So would I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after,[daughter, That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest But sirrah,-not for my sake, but your master's, -I advise You use your manners discreetly in all kind of When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio; One thing more rests, that thyself execute ;- Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty. [Exeunt. 1 Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play. Sly. Yes, by saint Anne, do I. A good mat. ter, surely; Comes there any more of it? Page. My lord, 'tis but begun. Sly. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO. is Gru. Knock, Sir! whom should I knock? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate, And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate. Gru. My master is grown quarrelsome: I And then I know after who comes by the worst. 'Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll wring it; [He wrings GRUMIO by the ears. Gru. Help, masters, help my master is mad. Pet. Now, knock when I bid you: sirrah! villain ! Enter HORTENSIO. Hor. How now? what's the matter?-My old friend Grumio! and my good friend Petruchio! -How do you all at Verona ? Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the Con tutto il core bene trovato, may I say. • Observed. Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, what he "leges" m Latin.-If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service,-Look you, Sir,-he bid me knock him, and rap him soundly, Sir: Wed, was it fit for a servant to use his master so; being, perhaps, (for aught I see,) two and thAL -a pip out? Whom, 'would to God, I had well knock'd m first, Then had not Grumio come by the worst, Pet. A senseless villain-Good Hortease, Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife t Pet. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friendə Few words suffice: and, therefore, if thou know I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; Gru. Nay, look you, Sir, he tells you fatly what his mind is: Why, give him gold enough and marry him to a puppet, or an agiet-baby) or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her bead, though she have as many diseases as two and fifty horses: why nothing comes amiss, so moary comes withal. Hor. Petruchio, since we have stepp'd thas I will continue that I broach'd in jest. And he knew my deceased father well :- Gru. I pray you, Sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O' my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding would do little good upon him: She may, perhaps, call him half a score knaves, or so: why, that's nothing; an he begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks. I'll tell you what, Sir,-an she stand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and so disfigure her with it, that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat: You know him not, Sir. Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee; For in Baptista's keep my treasure is: He hath the jewel of my life in hold, His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca; And her withholds from me, and other more Suitors to her, and rivals in my love: Supposing it a thing impossible, (For those defects I have before rehears'd,) That ever Katharina will be woo'd, Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en;That none shall have access unto Bianca, Till Katharine the curst have got a husband. Gru. Katharine the curst! A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. And offer me, disguis'd in sober robes, Enter GREMIO; with him LUCENTIO disguised, with books under his arm. Gru. Here's no knavery! See; to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their beads together! Master, master, look about you: Who goes there? ha! Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my Petruchio, stand by a while. [love : Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous! (They retire. Gre. O very well; I have perus'd the note. Hark you, Sir; I'll have them very fairly bound: All books of love, see that at any band; ¶ [too, I'll mend it with a largess : **—Take your papers To whom they go. What will you read to her? I promis'd to enquire carefully About a scoolmaster for fair Bianca: And, by good fortune, I have lighted well On this young man; for learning, and behaviour, Fit for her turn; well read in poetry, And other books,-good ones, I warrant you. Gre. Belov'd of me,-and that my deeds shall prove. Gru. And that his bags shall prove. [Aside. Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our Listen to me, and if you speak me fair, [love : I'll tell you news indifferent good for either. Here is a gentleman, whom by chance I met, Upon agreement from us to his liking, Will undertake to woo curst Katharine; Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please. Gre. So said, so done, is well;Hortensio, have you told him all her faults f Pet. I know, she is an irksome brawling scold; If that be all, masters, I hear no harm. Gre. No, say'st me so, friend! What countryman? Pet. Born in Verono, old Antonio's son: My father dead, my fortune lives for me; And I do hope good days, and long, to see. Gre. O Sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange!: But, if you have a stomach, to't o'God's name; Pet. Will I live! Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her. [Aside. Pet. Why came I hither but to that intent t Think you, a little din can daunt mine ears? Have I not in my time heard lious roar? Have I not heard the sea, puff'd up with winds Rage like an angry boar, chafed with sweat ? Have I not heard great ordnance in the field, And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies ? Have I not in a pitched battle heard Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? [Aside. [your's. And do you tell me of a woman's tongue; Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way To the house of signior Baptista Minola? Gre. He that has the two fair daughters :-is't [Aside to TRANIO.] he you mean? Tra. Even he. Biondello ! Gre. Hark you, Sir; You mean not ber to~~ Tra. Perhaps, him and her, Sir; What have you to do? Pet. Not her that chides, Sir, at any hand, I pray. Tra. I love no chiders, Sir:-Biondello, let's away. Late. Well begun, Tranio. Hor, Si, a word ere you go : Fright boys with bug bears. [Aside. Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea, Tra. An if I be, Sir, is it any offence? Tra. Why, Sir, I pray, are not the streets as Gre. But so is not she. Tra. For what reason, I beseech you? [free That she's the choice love of signior Gremio. Whom thou lov'st best; see thon dissemble not. Hor. That she's the chosen of signior Hor-I'll plead for you myself, but you stail bave tensio. Tra. Softly, my masters ! if you be gentlemen, To whom my father is not all unknown: Luc. Sir, give him head; I know he'll prove a Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these words ? Hor. Sir, let me be so old as to ask you, Did you yet ever see Baptisa's daughter? Tra. No, Sir; but hear I do that he hath The one as famous for a scolding tongue, Pet. Sir, Sir, the first's for me; let her go by. And let it be more than Alcides' twelve. The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for, Tra. If it be so, Sir, then you are the man. in For our access,-whose hap shall be to have her, Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do con- And since you do profess to be a suitor, Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack in sign whereof Hor. The motion's good indeed, and be it 80; Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. ACT II. [Exeunt. him. Kath. O then, belike, you fancy riches more; Bian. Is it for him you do envy me so! Enter BAPTISTA. Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grow Bianca, stand aside;-poor girl! she weeps:- When did she cross thee with a bitter word ! in. see She is your treasure, she must have a husband; [Erit KATHARINA Bap. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd as !! But who comes here ? Enter GREMIO, with LUCENTIO in the herbët Pet. And you, good Sir! Pray, have you ast Call'd Katharina, fair and virtnous ? Bap. I have a daughter, Sir, call'd Katha- Gre. You are too blunt, go to it orderly. leave. I am a gentleman of Verona, Sir, ness Of that report which I so oft have beard. [Presenting HORTENSIO Cunning in music, and the mathematics, SCENE I.—The same.-A Room in BAPTISTA'S To instruct her fully in those sciences, House. |