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 touches us both, that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love-to labour and effect one thing 'specially.
Gre. What's that, I pray?
Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.
Gre. A husband! a devil.
Hor. I say, a husband.
Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell.
Hor. Tush, Gremio, though it pass your patience, and mine, to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough.
Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition,-to be whipped at the high-cross every morning.
And with her breath she did perfume the air;
Sacred and sweet, was all I saw in her.
Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his pray, awake, sir; If you love the maid, [trance. Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands:
Her eldest sister is so curst and shrewd,
That, till the father rid his hands of her,
Master, your love must live a maid at home:
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
Because she shall not be annoy'd with suitors.
Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he!
But art thou not advis'd, he took some care
To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct
her?
Tra. Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 'tis plotted.
Luc. I have it, Tranio.
Master, for my hand
Both our inventions meet and jump in one.
Luc. Tell me thine first.
Tra.
You will be schoolmaster,
And undertake the teaching of the maid:
That's your device.
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. Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice We have not yet been seen in any house; in rotten apples. But, come; since this bar in Nor can we be distinguish'd by our faces, law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth For man, or master: then it follows thus:-friendly maintained,-till by helping Baptista's Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead, eldest daughter to a husband, we set his youngest Keep house, and port, and servants, as I should: free for a husband, and then have to't afresh.-I will some other be; some Florentine, Sweet Bianca!-Happy man be his dole! He Some Neapolitan, or mean man of Pisa. 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 on. [Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me,-Is it possible
'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.
That love should of a sudden take such hold?
Luc. O Tranio, till I found it to be true,
I never thought it possible, or likely;
But see! while idly I stood looking on,
I found the effect of love in idleness:
And now in plainness do confess to thee,-
That art to me as secret, and as dear,
As Anna to the queen of Carthage was,-
Enter BIONDELLO.
Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,
Here comes the rogue.-Sirrah, where have you
If I achieve not this young modest girl:
been?
[where are you?
Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst;
Bion. Where have I been? Nay, how now,
Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.
Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes:
Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now; Or you stol'n his? or both? pray what's the news?
Affection is not rated from the heart: [so,-
If love have touch'd you, nought remains but
Redime te captum quam queas minimo. [tents;
Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this con-
The rest will comfort, for thy 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, [hand,
That made great Jove to humble him to her
When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand.
Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how
her sister
Began to scold; and raise up such a storm,
That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?
Luc. Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move,
Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest,
And therefore frame your manners to the time.
Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life,
Puts my apparel and my countenance on,
And I for my escape have put on his;
For in a quarrel, sinee I came ashore,
I kill'd a man, and fear I was descried:
Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes,
While I make way from hence to save my life:
You understand me?
Bion.
I, sir, ne'er a whit.
Iac. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth;
Tranio is chang'd into Lucentio.
[too!
Bion. The better for him: 'Would, I were so
Tra. So would I, faith, boy, to have the next
wish after,-
That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest And tell me now, sweet friend,-what happy daughter. [I advise,But, sirrah,-not for my sake, but your master's You use your manners discreetly in all kind of companies:
When I am alone, why then I am Tranio;
But in all places else, your master Lucentio.
Luc. Tranio, let's go:-
One thing more rests, that thyself execute :-
To make one among these wooers: If thou ask
me why,-
Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty. [Exeunt.
1 Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play. Sly. Yes, by Saint Anne, do I. A good matter, surely: Comes there any more of it? Page. My lord, 'tis but begun.
Blows you to Padua here, from old Verona?
Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through
the world,
To seek their fortunes further than at home,
Where small experience grows. But, in a few,
Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me:-
Autonio, my father, is deceas'd;
And I have thrust myself into this maze,
Haply to wive, and thrive, as best I may:
Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home,
And so am come abroad to see the world.
Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to
And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife?
Thou'dst thank me but a little for my counsel:
Sly. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich, lady: 'Would, 'twere done!
SCENE II. The same. Before Hortensio's House.
Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO.
Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave,
To see my friends in Padua; but, of all,
My best beloved and approved friend,
Hortensio; and, I trow, this is his house :—
Here, sirrah Grumio; knock, I say,
Gru. Knock, sir! whom should I knock? is
there any man has rebused your worship?
P. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.
Gru. Knock you here, sir? why, sir, what am
1, sir, that I should knock you here, sir?
Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate,
And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate.
Gru. My master is grown quarrelsome: I
should knock you first,
And then I know after who comes by the worst.
Pet. Will it not be?
'Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll wring it;
I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it.
[He wrings GRUMIO by the ears. Gru. Help, masters, help! my master is mad. Pet. Now, knock when I bid you: sirrah! villain!
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. [fray?
Hor. Alla nostra casa bene venuto,
Molto honorato, signor mio Petruchio. [quarrel.
Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this
Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter what he leges in
Latin. If this be not a lawful cause for me to
leave his service.-Look you, sir, he bid me
knock him, and rap him soundly, sir: Well,
was it fit for a servant to use his master so; be-
ing, perhaps (for aught I see), two and thirty,-
a pip out?
[first,
Whom 'would to God, I had well knock'd at
Then had not Grumio come by the worst.
Pet. A senseless villain-Good Hortensio,
I bade the rascal knock upon your gate,
And could not get him for my heart to do it.
Gru. Knock at the gate? heavens !
Spake you not these words plain,-Sirrah, knock
me here,
Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me soundly?
And come you now with-knocking at the gate?
Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you.
Hor. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's
pledge:
Why, this a heavy chance 'twixt him and you;
Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio.
And very rich:-But thou'rt too much my friend,
And I'll not wish thee to her.
Pet. Signior Hortensio; 'twixt such friends as
Few words suffice: and, therefore, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife,
(As wealth is burthen of my wooing dance),
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xantippe, or a worse,
She moves me not, or not removes, at least,
Affection's edge in me: were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatick seas;
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.
Gru. Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is: Why, give him gold enough and marry him to a puppet, or an aglet-baby; or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, though she have as many diseases as two and fifty horses: why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal.
Hor. Petruchio, since we have stepp'd thus far
I will continue that I broach'd in jest.
I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife
With wealth enough, and young, and beauteous;
Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman;
Her only fault (and that is faults enough),
Is, that she is intolerably curst,
[sure,
And shrewd, and froward; so beyond all mea-
That, were my state far worser than it is,
I would not wed her for a mine of gold.
Pet. Hortensio, peace; thou know'st not gold's
Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough;
For I will board her, though she chide as loud
As thunder, when the clouds in autumn crack.
Hor. Her father is Baptista Minola,
An affable and courteous gentleman:
Her name is Katharina Minola,
Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue.
Pet. I know her father, though I know not her;
And he knew my deceased father well:
I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her;
And therefore let me be thus bold with you,
To give you over at this first encounter,
Unless you will accompany me thither.
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 kuaves or so: why, that's nothing; an he begin once, he'll rail in his ropetricks. 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:
lie 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.
Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me
And offer me, disguis'd in sober robes, [grace,
To old Baptista as a schoolmaster
Well seen in musick, to instruct Bianca:
That so I may by this device, at least,
Have leave and leisure to make love to her,
And, unsuspected, court her by herself.
Enter GREMIO; with him LUCENTIO disguised,
with books under his arm.
Gru. Here's knavery! See, to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about you: Who goes there? ha!
Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my
Petruchio, stand by a while.
[love;-
Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous!
They retire.
Gre. O, very well; I have perus'd the note.
Hark you, sir; I'll have them very fairly bound:
All books of love, see that at any hand;
And see you read no other lectures to her;
You understand me :-Over and beside
Signior Baptista's liberality,
I'll mend it with a largess:-Take your papers
And let me have them very well perfum'd;
For she is sweeter than perfume itself,
To whom they go. What will you read to her?
Luc. Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you,
As for my patron (stand you so assur'd),
As firmly as yourself were still in place:
Yea, and (perhaps) with more successful words
Than yon, unless you were a scholar, sir.
Gre. O this learning; what a thing it is!
Gru. O this woodcock! what an ass it is!
Pet. Peace, sirrah.
Hor. Grumio, mum! God save you, signior
Gre. And you're well met, signior Hortensio.
Whither I am going?-To Baptista Minola.
I promis❜d to inquire carefully
About a schoolmaster 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.
Hor. "Tis well; and I have met a gentleman,
Hath promis'd me to help me to another,
A fine musician to instruct our mistress;
So shall I no whit be behind in duty
To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me.
Gre. Belov'd of me,-and that my deeds shall
Gru. And that his bags shall prove. [Aside.
Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love:
Listen to me, and if you speak me fair,
I'll tell you news indifferent good for either.
Here is a gentleman, whom by chance I met,
Upon agreement from us to his liking,
Will undertake to woo curst Katharine;
Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.
Gre. So said, so done, is well:
Hortensio, have you told him all her faults?
Pet. I know, she is an irksome brawling scold;
If that be all, masters, I hear no harm. [man?
Gre. No! say'st me so, friend! What country
Pet. Born in Verona, 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,
You shall have me assisting you in all.
But will you woo this wild cat?
Will I live?
Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her.
Aside.
Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent?
Think you, a little din can daunt mine ears?
Have I not in my time heard lions roar?
Have I not heard the sea, 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 [clang?
Loud larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets'
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue,
That gives not half so great a blow to the ear
As will a chesnut in a farmer's tire?
Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs.
Gru.
For he fears none. [Aside.
Gre. Hortensio, hark!
This gentleman is happily arriv'd,
My mind presumes, for his own good, and ours.
Hor. I promis'd we would be contributors,
And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er.
Gre. And so we will; provided that he win her.
Gru. I would, I were as sure of a good dinner.
[Aside.
Enter TRANIO,bravely apparell'd; and BIONDELLO.
Tra. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be
Gre.
But so is not she.
Tra. For what reason, I beseech you?
Gre. For this reason, if you'll know.-
That she's the choice love of Signior Gremio.
Hor. That she's the chosen of Signior Hor-
tensio.
Tra. Softly, my masters! if you be gentlemen,
Do me this right,-hear me with patience.
Baptista is a noble gentleman,
To whom my father is not all unknown;
And, were his daughter fairer than she is,
She may more suitors have, and me for one.
Fair Leda's daughter had a thousand wooers;
Then well one more may fair Bianca have:
And so she shall; Lucentio shall make one,
| Though Paris came in hope to speed alone.
Gre. What! this gentleman will out-talk us all. For shame, thou hilding of a devilish spirit, Luc. Sir, give him head; I know he'll prove a Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong jade. words? thee? Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these Hor. Sir, let me be so bold as to ask you, Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter?
Tra. No, sir; but hear I do that he hath two; The one as famous for a scolding tongue, As is the other for beauteous modesty.
Pet. Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by. Gre. Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules: And let it be more than Alcides' twelve.
Pet. Sir, understand you this of me, insooth;-The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for, Her father keeps from all access of suitors: And will not promise her to any man, Until the elder sister first be wed: The younger then is free, and not before.
Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man Must stead us all, and me among the rest; An if you break the ice, and do this feat,-Achieve the elder, set the younger free For our access,-whose hap shall be to have her, Will not so graceless be, to be ingrate.
Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do conAnd since you do profess to be a suitor, [ceive; You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman, To whom we all rest generally beholden.
Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack: in sign whereof, Please ye we may contrive this afternoon, And quaff carouses to our mistress' health; And do as adversaries do in law,Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. Gru. Bion. O excellent motion! Fellows, let's begone.
Hor. The motion's good indeed, and be it so:Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. [Exeunt.
Art Serond.
SCENE 1. The same.
A Room in Baptista's House.
Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA.
Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself,
To make a bondmaid and a slave of me;
That I disdain: but for these other gawds,
Unbind my hands, I'll pull them off myself,
Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat;
Or, what you will command me, will I do,
So well I know my duty to my elders.
Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell
Whom thou lov'st best; see thou dissemble not.
Bian. Believe me, sister, of all the men alive,
I never yet beheld that special face
Which I could fancy more than any other.
Kath. Minion, thou liest; Is't not Hortensio? Bian. If you affect him, sister, here I swear, I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have him.
Kath. O then, belike, you fancy riches more; You will have Gremio to keep you fair.
When did she cross thee with a bitter word? Kath. Her silence flouts me, and I'll be reveng'd. [Flies after BIANCA. Bap. What, in my sight!--Bianca, get thee in. Exit BIANCA.
Kath. Will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see She is your treasure, she must have a husband; I must dance barefoot on her wedding-day, And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell. Talk not to me, I will go sit and weep, Till I can find occasion of revenge.
[Exit KATHARINA. Bap. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd as i? But who comes here?
Enter GREMIO, with LUCENTIO in the habit of a mean man; PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as a Musician; and TRANIO, with BIONDELLO, bearing a Lute and Books.
Gre. Good-morrow, neighbour Baptista. Fap. Good-morrow, neighbour Gremio: God save you, gentlemen!
Pet. And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter
Call'd Katharina, fair and virtuons?
Bap. I have a daughter, sir, call'd Katharina.
Gre. You are too blunt, go to it orderly.
Pet. You wrong me, Signior Gremio: give me
I am a gentleman of Verona, sir, [leave.-
That,-bearing of her beauty and her wit,
Her affability and bashful modesty,
Her wondrous qualities, and mild behaviour,-
Am bold to show myself a forward guest
Within your house, to make mine eye the witness
Of that report which I so oft have heard.
And, for an entrance to my entertainment,
I do present you with a man of mine,
[Presenting HORTENSIO.
Cunning in musick, and the mathematicks,
To instruct her fully in those sciences,
Whereof, I know, she is not ignorant:
Accept of him, or else you do me wrong:
His name is Licio, born in Mantua. [good sake:
Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he, for your But for my daughter Katharine,-this I know, She is not for your turn, the more my grief.
Pet. I see you do not mean to part with her; Or else you like not of my company.
Bap. Mistake me not, I speak but as I find. Whence are you,sir? what may I call your name? Pet. Petruchio is my name: Antonio's son, A man well known throughout all Italy. Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for his sake.
Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: Baccare! you are marvellous forward.
Pet. O, pardon me, Signior Gremio; I would fain be doing.
Gre. I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your wooing.
Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure Bin. Is it for him you do envy me so? of it. To express the like kindness myself, that Nay, then you jest; and now I well perceive, have been more kindly beholden to you than You have but jested with me all this while: any, I freely give unto you this young scholar I pr'ythee, sister Kate, untie my hands. Kath. If that be jest, then all the rest were so.dying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, [presenting LUCENTIO], that hath been long stu[Strikes her. and other languages, as the other in musick and Enter BAPTISTA. mathematicks: his name is Cambio: pray, acBap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows cept his service. this insolence ?
Bianca, stand aside: poor girl! she weeps:Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her.
Bup. A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio.-But, gentle sir [to TRANIO methinks you walk like a stranger;
|