If she be curst, it is for policy:

For she's not froward, but modest as the dove;
She is not hot, but temperate as the morn;

For patience she will prove a second Grissel;
And Roman Lucrece for her chastity:

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

Kath. I'll see thee hang'd on Sunday first.

Gre. Hark, Petruchio! she says, she'll see thes hang'd first.

Tra. Is this your speeding? nay, then, good night our part!

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

self;

If she and I be pleas'd, what's that to you? 'Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain, being alone, That she shall still be curst in company.

I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe

How much she loves me: O, the kindest Kate!-
She hung about my neck; and kiss on kiss
She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath,
That in a twink she won me to her love.
O, you are novices! 'tis a world to see,"
How tame, when men and women are alone,
A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.-
Give me thy hand, Kate: I will unto Venice,
To buy apparel 'gainst the wedding-day:-
Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests;
I will be sure, my Katharine shall be fine.

To vie and revye were terms at cards now superseded by the word brag.

7 It is well worth seeing.

• A dastardly creature.

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

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

Gre. Tra. Amen, say we; we will be witnesses. Pet. Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu; I will to Venice, Sunday comes apace:

We will have rings, and things, and fine array; And kiss me, Kate, we will be married o'Sunday. [Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHARINE, severally. Gre. Was ever match clapp'd up so suddenly? Bap. Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant's part,

And venture madly on a desperate mart.

Tra. "Twas a commodity lay fretting by you: "Twill bring you gain, or perish on the seas.

Bap. The gain I seek is-quiet in the match. Gre. No doubt, but he hath got a quiet catch. But now, Baptista, to your younger daughter;Now is the day we long have looked for;

I am your neighbour, and was suitor first.

Tra. And I am one, that love Bianca more

Than words can witness, or your thoughts can guess. Gre. Youngling! thou canst not love so dear as I. Tra. Grey-beard! thy love doth freeze.

Gre. But thine doth fry. Skipper, stand back; 'tis age, that nourisheth. Tra. But youth, in ladies' eyes that flourisheth. Bap. Content you, gentlemen; I'll compound this

strife:

"Tis deeds, must win the prize; and he, of both, That can assure my daughter greatest dower,

Shall have Bianca's love.

Say, signior Gremio, what can you assure her?

Gre. First, as you know, my house within the city
Is richly furnished with plate and gold;
Basons, and ewers, to lave her dainty hands;
My hangings all of Tyrian tapestry:

In ivory coffers I have stuff'd my crowns;
In cypress chests my arras, counterpoints,
Costly apparel, tents, and canopies,

Fine linen, Turky cushions boss'd with pearl,
Valance of Venice gold in needle-work,
Pewter and brass, and all things that belong
To house, or housekeeping: then, at my farm,
I have a hundred milch-kine to the pail,
Sixscore fat oxen standing in my stalls,

And all things answerable to this portion.
Myself am struck in years, I must confess ;
And, if I die to-morrow, this is hers,

If, whilst I live, she will be only mine.

Tra. That, only, came well in-Sir, list to me, I am my father's heir, and only son:

If I may have your daughter to my wife,
I'll leave her houses three or four as good,
Within rich Pisa walls, as any one

Old signior Gremio has in Padua;

Besides two thousand ducats by the year,

Of fruitful land, all which shall be her jointure.What, have I pinch'd you, signior Gremio?

Gre. Two thousand ducats by the year, of land!

My land amounts not to so much in all: "That she shall have; besides an argosy,1

9 Coverings for beds; now called counterpanes.
A large merchant-ship.

That now is lying in Marseilles' road:

What, have I chok'd you with an argosy?

Tra. Gremio, 'tis known, my father hath no less Than three great argosies; besides two galliasses,2 And twelve tight gallies: these I will assure her, And twice as much, whate'er thou offer'st next. Gre. Nay, I have offer'd all, I have no more; And she can have no more than all I have;If you like me, she shall have me and mine. Tra. Why, then the maid is mine from all the world,

By your firm promise; Gremio is out-vied.

Bap. I must confess, your offer is the best; And, let father make her the assurance, She is your own; else, you must pardon me:

If

your

you should die before him, where's her dower? Tra. That's but a cavil; he is old, I young.

Gre. And may not young men die, as well as old?
Bap. Well, gentlemen,

I am thus resolv'd:-On Sunday next you know,
My daughter Katharine is to be married:

Now, on the Sunday following, shall Bianca
Be bride to you, if you make this assurance;
If not, to signior Gremio:

And so I take my leave, and thank you both. [Exit.

Gre. Adieu, good neighbour.-Now I fear thee

not;

Sirrah, young gamester, your father were a fool
To give thee all, and, in his waning age,
Set foot under thy table: Tut! a toy!
An old Italian fox is not so kind, my boy.

[Exit.

2 A vessel of burthen worked both with sails and oars.

Tra. A vengeance on your crafty wither'd hide! Yet I have faced it with a card of ten.3

"Tis in my head to do my master good :
I see no reason, but suppos'd Lucentio
Must get a father, call'd-suppos'd Vincentio;
And that's a wonder: fathers, commonly,

Do get their children; but, in this case of wooing,
A child shall get a sire, if I fail not of my cunning.

[Exit.

ACT III.

SCENE I. A Room in Baptista's House.

Enter LUCENTIO, HORTENSIO, and BIANCA.
Luc. Fiddler, forbear; you grow too forward, sir:
Have
you so soon forgot the entertainment
Her sister Katharine welcom'd you withal?
Hor. But, wrangling pedant, this is
The patroness of heavenly harmony:
Then give me leave to have prerogative;
And when in musick we have spent an hour,
Your lecture shall have leisure for as much.

Luc. Preposterous ass! that never read so far
To know the cause why musick was ordain'd!
Was it not, to refresh the mind of man,
After his-studies, or his usual pain?
Then give me leave to read philosophy,

And, while I pause, serve in your harmony.
Hor. Sirrah, I will not bear these braves of thine.
Bian. Why, gentlemen, you do me double wrong,

3 The highest card.