The Taming of the Shrew Page 6

  BAPTISTA I have a daughter, sir, called Katherina.

  GREMIO You are too blunt. Go to it orderly45.

  PETRUCHIO You wrong me, Signior Gremio, give me leave46.--

  I am a gentleman of Verona, sir,

  To Baptista

  That, hearing of her beauty and her wit48,

  Her affability and bashful modesty,

  Her wondrous qualities and mild behaviour,

  Am bold to show myself a forward51 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 entertainment54,

  I do present you with a man of mine,

  Presents Hortensio

  Cunning in music and the mathematics,

  To instruct her fully in those sciences57,

  Whereof I know she is not ignorant.

  Accept of59 him, or else you do me wrong.

  His name is Litio60, born in Mantua.

  BAPTISTA You're welcome, sir, and he, for your good sake.

  But for my daughter Katherine, this I know,

  She is not for your turn63, the more my grief.

  PETRUCHIO I see you do not mean to part with her,

  Or else you like not of my company.

  BAPTISTA Mistake me not, I speak but as I find.

  Whence are you, sir? What may I call your name?

  PETRUCHIO Petruchio is my name, Antonio's son,

  A man well known throughout all Italy.

  BAPTISTA I know him well. You are welcome for his sake.

  GREMIO Saving71 your tale, Petruchio, I pray,

  Let us that are poor petitioners72 speak too:

  Baccare73! You are marvellous forward.

  PETRUCHIO O, pardon me, Signior Gremio, I would fain be doing74.

  GREMIO I doubt it not, sir. But you will curse your wooing.--

  Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful76, I am

  To Baptista

  sure of it. To express the like77 kindness, myself, that have been

  more kindly78 beholding to you than any, freely give unto you

  Presents Lucentio

  this young scholar, that hath been long studying

  at Rheims80, as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other

  languages, as the other in music and mathematics. His name

  is Cambio82. Pray, accept his service.

  BAPTISTA A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio.

  Welcome, good Cambio.--

  But, gentle sir, methinks you walk like a stranger85.

  To Tranio

  May I be so bold to know the cause of your coming?

  TRANIO Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own,

  That, being a stranger in this city here,

  Do make myself a suitor to your daughter,

  Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous.

  Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me,

  In the preferment92 of the eldest sister.

  This liberty is all that I request,

  That, upon knowledge94 of my parentage,

  I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo,

  And free access and favour as the rest.

  And toward the education of your daughters

  I here bestow a simple instrument,

  Presents lute and books

  And this small packet of Greek and Latin books:

  If you accept them, then their worth is great.

  BAPTISTA Lucentio is your name?101 Of whence, I pray?

  TRANIO Of Pisa, sir, son to Vincentio.

  BAPTISTA A mighty103 man of Pisa. By report

  I know him well. You are very welcome, sir.--

  To Hortensio and Lucentio

  Take you the lute, and you the set of books,

  You shall go see your pupils presently106.--

  Holla107, within!

  Enter a Servant

  Sirrah, lead these gentlemen

  To my daughters, and tell them both

  These are their tutors: bid them use them well.

  [Exit Servant, with Lucentio and Hortensio,

  Biondello following]

  We will go walk a little in the orchard111,

  And then to dinner112. You are passing welcome,

  And so I pray you all to think yourselves.

  PETRUCHIO Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste114,

  And every day I cannot come to woo.

  You knew my father well, and in him me,

  Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,

  Which I have bettered rather than decreased.

  Then tell me, if I get your daughter's love,

  What dowry shall I have with her to wife?

  BAPTISTA After my death the one half of my lands,

  And in possession122 twenty thousand crowns.

  PETRUCHIO And for that dowry I'll assure her of

  Her widowhood123, be it that she survive me,

  In all my lands and leases125 whatsoever.

  Let specialties126 be therefore drawn between us,

  That covenants127 may be kept on either hand.

  BAPTISTA Ay, when the special128 thing is well obtained,

  That is, her love, for that is all in all.

  PETRUCHIO Why, that is nothing, for I tell you, father130,

  I am as peremptory as she proud-minded.

  And where two raging fires meet together

  They do consume the thing that feeds their fury.

  Though little fire grows great with little wind,

  Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all:

  So I136 to her and so she yields to me,

  For I am rough and woo not like a babe.

  BAPTISTA Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed138!

  But be thou armed for some unhappy words.

  PETRUCHIO Ay, to the proof140, as mountains are for winds,

  That shakes not, though they blow perpetually.

  Enter Hortensio [disguised as Litio], with his head broke

  BAPTISTA How now, my friend? Why dost thou look so pale?

  HORTENSIO For fear, I promise you, if I look pale.

  BAPTISTA What, will my daughter prove a good musician?

  HORTENSIO I think she'll sooner prove145 a soldier.

  Iron may hold with146 her, but never lutes.

  BAPTISTA Why, then thou canst not break her to147 the lute?

  HORTENSIO Why, no, for she hath broke the lute to me148.

  I did but tell her she mistook her frets149,

  And bowed her hand to teach her fingering,

  When, with a most impatient devilish spirit,

  'Frets, call you these?' quoth she, 'I'll fume152 with them.'

  And with that word, she struck me on the head,

  And through the instrument my pate154 made way,

  And there I stood amazed155 for a while,

  As on a pillory156, looking through the lute,

  While she did call me rascal fiddler157

  And twangling Jack158, with twenty such vile terms,

  As had she studied159 to misuse me so.

  PETRUCHIO Now, by the world, it is a lusty160 wench.

  I love her ten times more than e'er I did.

  O, how I long to have some chat with her!

  BAPTISTA Well, go with me and be not so discomfited163.

  To Hortensio

  Proceed in practice164 with my younger daughter,

  She's apt to learn and thankful for good turns.

  Signior Petruchio, will you go with us,

  Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you?

  PETRUCHIO I pray you do.

  Exeunt all but Petruchio

  I'll attend168 her here,

  And woo her with some spirit when she comes.

  Say that she rail, why then I'll tell her plain

  She sings as sweetly as a nightingale:

  Say that she frown, I'll say she looks as clear172

  As morning roses newly washed with dew:

&
nbsp; Say she be mute and will not speak a word,

  Then I'll commend her volubility,

  And say she uttereth piercing176 eloquence:

  If she do bid me pack177, I'll give her thanks,

  As though she bid me stay by her a week:

  If she deny to wed, I'll crave179 the day

  When I shall ask the banns180 and when be married.

  But here she comes, and now, Petruchio, speak.

  Enter Katherina

  Good morrow, Kate, for that's your name, I hear.

  KATE Well have you heard, but something hard183 of hearing:

  They call me Katherine that do talk of me.

  PETRUCHIO You lie, in faith, for you are called plain Kate,

  And bonny Kate and sometimes Kate the curst,

  But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom,

  Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate,

  For dainties are all Kates189, and therefore, Kate,

  Take this of190 me, Kate of my consolation,

  Hearing thy mildness praised in every town,

  Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded192,

  Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs193,

  Myself am moved194 to woo thee for my wife.

  KATE Moved? In good time!195 Let him that moved you hither

  Remove you hence. I knew you at the first196

  You were a movable197.

  PETRUCHIO Why, what's a movable?

  KATE A joint stool199.

  PETRUCHIO Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me200.

  KATE Asses201 are made to bear, and so are you.

  PETRUCHIO Women are made to bear, and so are you.

  KATE No such jade as you, if me you mean.

  PETRUCHIO Alas, good Kate, I will not burden204 thee,

  For knowing thee to be but young and light205--

  KATE Too light206 for such a swain as you to catch,

  And yet as heavy as my weight should be207.

  PETRUCHIO Should be208? Should -- buzz!

  KATE Well ta'en209, and like a buzzard.

  PETRUCHIO O slow-winged turtle210, shall a buzzard take thee?

  KATE Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a buzzard211.

  PETRUCHIO Come, come, you wasp, i'faith, you are too angry.

  KATE If I be waspish213, best beware my sting.

  PETRUCHIO My remedy is then to pluck it out.

  KATE Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies.

  PETRUCHIO Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting216? In his tail.

  KATE In his tongue.

  PETRUCHIO Whose tongue?

  KATE Yours, if you talk of tails219, and so farewell.

  PETRUCHIO What, with my tongue in your tail220? Nay, come again.

  Good Kate, I am a gentleman.

  KATE That I'll try222.

  She strikes him

  PETRUCHIO I swear I'll cuff223 you, if you strike again.

  KATE So may you lose your arms224:

  If you strike225 me, you are no gentleman,

  And if no gentleman, why then no arms.

  PETRUCHIO A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books227!

  KATE What is your crest228, a coxcomb?

  PETRUCHIO A combless229 cock, so Kate will be my hen.

  KATE No cock of mine, you crow too like a craven230.

  PETRUCHIO Nay, come, Kate, come, you must not look so sour.

  KATE It is my fashion232, when I see a crab.

  PETRUCHIO Why, here's no crab, and therefore look not sour.

  KATE There is, there is.

  PETRUCHIO Then show it me.

  KATE Had I a glass236, I would.

  PETRUCHIO What, you mean my face?

  KATE Well aimed of such a young one238.

  PETRUCHIO Now, by Saint George, I am too young239 for you.

  KATE Yet you are withered.

  PETRUCHIO 'Tis with cares241.

  KATE I care not.

  PETRUCHIO Nay, hear you, Kate. In sooth you scape243 not so.

  KATE I chafe244 you, if I tarry. Let me go.

  PETRUCHIO No, not a whit. I find you passing gentle.

  'Twas told me you were rough246 and coy and sullen,

  And now I find report a very liar,

  For thou are pleasant248, gamesome, passing courteous,

  But slow249 in speech, yet sweet as spring-time flowers.

  Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look askance250,

  Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will,

  Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross252 in talk.

  But thou with mildness entertain'st253 thy wooers,

  With gentle conference254, soft and affable.

  Why does the world report that Kate doth limp?

  Kicks her?

  O sland'rous world! Kate like the hazel twig

  Is straight and slender and as brown in hue

  As hazelnuts and sweeter than the kernels.

  O, let me see thee walk: thou dost not halt259.

  KATE Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command260.

  PETRUCHIO Did ever Dian261 so become a grove

  As Kate this chamber with her princely gait262?

  O, be thou Dian, and let her be Kate,

  And then let Kate be chaste and Dian sportful264!

  KATE Where did you study265 all this goodly speech?

  PETRUCHIO It is extempore266, from my mother-wit.

  KATE A witty mother, witless else her son267.

  PETRUCHIO Am I not wise?

  KATE Yes, keep you warm268.

  PETRUCHIO Marry, so I mean270, sweet Katherine, in thy bed.

  And therefore, setting all this chat aside,

  Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented

  That you shall be my wife; your dowry 'greed on,

  And, will you274, nill you, I will marry you.

  Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn275,

  For by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,

  Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well,

  Thou must be married to no man but me,

  Enter Baptista, Gremio, Tranio [disguised as Lucentio]

  For I am he am born to tame you, Kate,

  And bring you from a wild Kate280 to a Kate

  Conformable281 as other household Kates.

  Here comes your father. Never make denial282,

  I must and will have Katherine to my wife.

  BAPTISTA Now, Signior Petruchio, how speed you284 with my daughter?

  PETRUCHIO How but well, sir? How but well?

  It were impossible I should speed amiss286.

  BAPTISTA Why, how now, daughter Katherine? In your dumps?287

  KATE Call you me 'daughter'? Now, I promise you

  You have showed a tender fatherly regard,

  To wish me wed to one half-lunatic,

  A mad-cap ruffian and a swearing Jack

  That thinks with oaths to face the matter out292.

  PETRUCHIO Father, 'tis thus: yourself and all the world

  That talked of her, have talked amiss of her:

  If she be curst, it is for policy295,

  For she's not froward, but modest as the dove,

  She is not hot, but temperate297 as the morn,

  For patience she will prove a second Grissel298,

  And Roman Lucrece299 for her chastity.

  And to conclude, we have 'greed300 so well together

  That upon Sunday is the wedding day.

  KATE I'll see thee hanged on Sunday first.

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

  TRANIO Is this your speeding304? Nay then, goodnight our part!

  PETRUCHIO Be patient, gentlemen, I choose her for myself.

  If she and I be pleased, what's that to you?

  'Tis bargained 'twixt us twain307, 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 vied312 so fast, protesting oath on oath,

  That in a twink313 she won me to her love.

  O, you are novices! 'Tis a world to see314

  How tame, when men and women are alone,

  A meacock316 wretch can make the curstest shrew.

  Give me thy hand, Kate. I will unto Venice

  To buy apparel gainst318 the wedding day;

  Provide the feast, father, and bid319 the guests.

  I will be sure my Katherine shall be fine320.

  BAPTISTA I know not what to say, but give me your hands.

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

  GREMIO and TRANIO Amen, say we. We will be witnesses321.

  PETRUCHIO Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu.

  I will to Venice. Sunday comes apace325.

  We will have rings and things and fine array,

  And kiss me, Kate, we will be married o'Sunday.

  Exeunt Petruchio and Katherine [separately]

  GREMIO Was ever match clapped up328 so suddenly?

  BAPTISTA Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant's part,

  And venture madly on a desperate mart330.

  TRANIO 'Twas a commodity lay fretting by you331:

  'Twill bring you gain, or perish on the seas.

  BAPTISTA The gain I seek is quiet333 in the match.

  GREMIO No doubt but he hath got a quiet catch334.

  But now, Baptista, to your younger daughter.

  Now is the day we long have looked for.

  I am your neighbour, and was suitor first.

  TRANIO And I am one that love Bianca more

  Than words can witness, or your thoughts can guess.

  GREMIO Youngling, thou canst not love so dear as I.

  TRANIO Greybeard, thy love doth freeze341.

  GREMIO But thine doth fry342.

  Skipper343, stand back, 'tis age that nourisheth.

  TRANIO But youth in ladies' eyes that flourisheth.

  BAPTISTA Content you, gentlemen, I will compound345 this strife.

  'Tis deeds346 must win the prize, and he of both

  That can assure my daughter greatest dower347

  Shall have my Bianca's love.

  Say, Signior Gremio, what can you assure her?

  GREMIO First, as you know, my house within the city

  Is richly furnished with plate351 and gold,

  Basins and ewers to lave352 her dainty hands:

  My hangings353 all of Tyrian tapestry:

  In ivory coffers354 I have stuffed my crowns:

  In cypress355 chests my arras counterpoints,

  Costly apparel, tents356, and canopies,

  Fine linen, Turkey357 cushions bossed with pearl,

  Valance of Venice gold in needlework358:

  Pewter and brass and all things that belongs

  To house or housekeeping. Then, at my farm

  I have a hundred milch-kine361 to the pail,

  Sixscore fat oxen standing in my stalls,

  And all things answerable to this portion363.

  Myself am struck364 in years, I must confess,

  And if I die tomorrow, this is hers,

  If whilst I live she will be only mine.

  TRANIO That 'only' came well in367. 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 walls371, as any one

  Old Signior Gremio has in Padua,

  Besides two thousand ducats by the year