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BIANCA
1 Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself,
2 To make a bondmaid and a slave of me;
3 That I disdain: but for these other gawds,
4 Unbind my hands, I'll pull them off myself,
5 Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat;
6 Or what you will command me will I do,
7 So well I know my duty to my elders.
KATHARINA
8 Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell
9 Whom thou lovest best: see thou dissemble not.
BIANCA
10 Believe me, sister, of all the men alive
11 I never yet beheld that special face
12 Which I could fancy more than any other.
KATHARINA
13 Minion, thou liest. Is't not Hortensio?
BIANCA
14 If you affect him, sister, here I swear
15 I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have him.
KATHARINA
16 O then, belike, you fancy riches more:
17 You will have Gremio to keep you fair.
BIANCA
18 Is it for him you do envy me so?
19 Nay then you jest, and now I well perceive
20 You have but jested with me all this while:
21 I prithee, sister Kate, untie my hands.
KATHARINA
22 If that be jest, then all the rest was so.
BAPTISTA
23 Why, how now, dame! whence grows this insolence?
24 Bianca, stand aside. Poor girl! she weeps.
25 Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her.
26 For shame, thou hilding of a devilish spirit,
27 Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong thee?
28 When did she cross thee with a bitter word?
KATHARINA
29 Her silence flouts me, and I'll be revenged.
BAPTISTA
30 What, in my sight? Bianca, get thee in.
KATHARINA
31 What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see
32 She is your treasure, she must have a husband;
33 I must dance bare-foot on her wedding day
34 And for your love to her lead apes in hell.
35 Talk not to me: I will go sit and weep
36 Till I can find occasion of revenge.
BAPTISTA
37 Was ever gentleman thus grieved as I?
38 But who comes here?
Enter GREMIO, LUCENTIO in the
** habit of a mean man; PETRUCHIO,
[with HORTENSIO disguised as a
musician; and] TRANIO [disguised
as Lucentio] with his boy [BIONDELLO]
bearing a lute and books.
GREMIO
39 Good morrow, neighbor Baptista.
BAPTISTA
40 Good morrow, neighbor Gremio.
41 God save you, gentlemen!
PETRUCHIO
42 And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter
43 Call'd Katharina, fair and virtuous?
BAPTISTA
44 I have a daughter, sir, called Katharina.
GREMIO
45 You are too blunt: go to it orderly.
PETRUCHIO
46 You wrong me, Signior Gremio: give me leave.
47 I am a gentleman of Verona, sir,
48 That, hearing of her beauty and her wit,
49 Her affability and bashful modesty,
50 Her wondrous qualities and mild behavior,
51 Am bold to show myself a forward guest
52 Within your house, to make mine eye the witness
53 Of that report which I so oft have heard.
54 And, for an entrance to my entertainment,
55 I do present you with a man of mine,
56 Cunning in music and the mathematics, 57 To instruct her fully in those sciences, 58 Whereof I know she is not ignorant: 59 Accept of him, or else you do me wrong: 60 His name is Litio, born in Mantua.
BAPTISTA
61 Y' are welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake.
62 But for my daughter Katharina, this I know,
63 She is not for your turn, the more my grief.
PETRUCHIO
64 I see you do not mean to part with her,
65 Or else you like not of my company.
BAPTISTA
66 Mistake me not; I speak but as I find.
67 Whence are you, sir? what may I call your name?
PETRUCHIO
68 Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son,
69 A man well known throughout all Italy.
BAPTISTA
70 I know him well: you are welcome for his sake.
GREMIO
71 Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray,
72 Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too:
73 Backare! you are marvellous forward.
PETRUCHIO
74 O, pardon me, Signior Gremio; I would fain be doing.
GREMIO
75 I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your wooing.
76 Neighbor, this is a gift very grateful, I am
77 sure of it. To express the like kindness, myself,
78 that have been more kindly beholding to you than
79 any, freely give unto you this young scholar,
80 that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning 81 in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other 82 in music and mathematics: his name is Cambio; pray, 83 accept his service.
BAPTISTA
84 A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio.
85 Welcome, good Cambio.
86 But, gentle sir, methinks you walk like a stranger: 87 may I be so bold to know the cause of your coming?
TRANIO
88 Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own,
89 That, being a stranger in this city here,
90 Do make myself a suitor to your daughter,
91 Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous.
92 Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me,
93 In the preferment of the eldest sister.
94 This liberty is all that I request,
95 That, upon knowledge of my parentage,
96 I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo
97 And free access and favor as the rest:
98 And, toward the education of your daughters,
99 I here bestow a simple instrument,
100 And this small packet of Greek and Latin books:
101 If you accept them, then their worth is great.
BAPTISTA
102 Lucentio is your name; of whence, I pray?
TRANIO
103 Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio.
BAPTISTA
104 A mighty man of Pisa; by report
105 I know him well: you are very welcome, sir,
106 Take you the lute, and you the set of books;
107 You shall go see your pupils presently.
108 Holla, within!
108 Sirrah, lead these gentlemen109 To my daughters; and tell them both,110 These are their tutors: bid them use them well. [Exit Servant, with Lucentio and Hortensio,
Biondello following.]
111 We will go walk a little in the orchard,
112 And then to dinner. You are passing welcome,
113 And so I pray you all to think yourselves.
PETRUCHIO
114 Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste,
115 And every day I cannot come to woo.
116 You knew my father well, and in him me,
117 Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,
118 Which I have better'd rather than decreased:
119 Then tell me, if I get your daughter's love,
120 What dowry shall I have with her to wife?
BAPTISTA
121 After my death the one half of my lands,
122 And in possession twenty thousand crowns.
PETRUCHIO
123 And, for that dowry, I'll assure her of
124 Her widowhood, be it that she survive me,
125 In all my lands and leases whatsoever:
126 Let specialties be therefore drawn between us,
127 That covenants may be kept on either hand.
BAPTISTA
128 Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd,
129 That is, her love; for that is all in all.
PETRUCHIO
130 Why, that is nothing: for I tell you, father,
131 I am as peremptory as she proud-minded;
132 And where two raging fires meet together
133 They do consume the thing that feeds their fury:
134 Though little fire grows great with little wind,
135 Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all:
136 So I to her and so she yields to me;
137 For I am rough and woo not like a babe.
BAPTISTA
138 Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed!
139 But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words.
PETRUCHIO
140 Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds,
141 That shake not, though they blow perpetually.
*** Enter HORTENSIO [disguised as Litio],
with his head broke.
BAPTISTA
142 How now, my friend! why dost thou look so pale?
HORTENSIO
143 For fear, I promise you, if I look pale.
BAPTISTA
144 What, will my daughter prove a good musician?
HORTENSIO
145 I think she'll sooner prove a soldier
146 Iron may hold with her, but never lutes.
BAPTISTA
147 Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute?
HORTENSIO
148 Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me.
149 I did but tell her she mistook her frets,
150 And bow'd her hand to teach her fingering;
151 When, with a most impatient devilish spirit,
152 "Frets, call you these?" quoth she; "I'll fume with them."
153 And, with that word, she struck me on the head,
154 And through the instrument my pate made way;
155 And there I stood amazed for a while,
156 As on a pillory, looking through the lute;
157 While she did call me rascal fiddler
158 And twangling Jack; with twenty such vile terms,
159 As had she studied to misuse me so.
PETRUCHIO
160 Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench;
161 I love her ten times more than e'er I did:
162 O, how I long to have some chat with her!
BAPTISTA
163 Well, go with me and be not so discomfited:
164 Proceed in practise with my younger daughter;
165 She's apt to learn and thankful for good turns.
166 Signior Petruchio, will you go with us,
167 Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you?
168 I will attend her here,169 And woo her with some spirit when she comes.170 Say that she rail; why then I'll tell her plain171 She sings as sweetly as a nightingale:172 Say that she frown, I'll say she looks as clear173 As morning roses newly wash'd with dew:174 Say she be mute and will not speak a word;175 Then I'll commend her volubility,176 And say she uttereth piercing eloquence:177 If she do bid me pack, I'll give her thanks,178 As though she bid me stay by her a week:179 If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day180 When I shall ask the banns and when be married.181 But here she comes; and now, Petruchio, speak.182 Good morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear.
KATHARINA
183 Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing:
184 They call me Katharina that do talk of me.
PETRUCHIO
185 You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain Kate,
186 And bonny Kate and sometimes Kate the curst;
187 But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom
188 Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate,
189 For dainties are all Kates, and therefore, Kate,
190 Take this of me, Kate of my consolation;
191 Hearing thy mildness praised in every town,
192 Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded,
193 Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,
194 Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife.
KATHARINA
195 Moved! in good time: let him that moved you hither
196 Remove you hence: I knew you at the first
197 You were a moveable.
PETRUCHIO
197 Why, what's a moveable?
PETRUCHIO
198 Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me.
KATHARINA
199 Asses are made to bear, and so are you.
PETRUCHIO
200 Women are made to bear, and so are you.
KATHARINA
201 No such jade as you, if me you mean.
PETRUCHIO
202 Alas! good Kate, I will not burden thee;
203 For, knowing thee to be but young and light—
KATHARINA
204 Too light for such a swain as you to catch;
205 And yet as heavy as my weight should be.
PETRUCHIO
206 Should be! should—buzz!
KATHARINA
206 Well ta'en, and like a buzzard.
PETRUCHIO
207 O slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard take thee?
KATHARINA
208 Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a buzzard.
PETRUCHIO
209 Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you are too angry.
KATHARINA
210 If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
PETRUCHIO
211 My remedy is then to pluck it out.
KATHARINA
212 Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies,
PETRUCHIO
213 Who knows not where a wasp does
214 wear his sting? In his tail.
KATHARINA
217 Yours, if you talk of tails: and so farewell.
PETRUCHIO
218 What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again,
219 Good Kate; I am a gentleman—
PETRUCHIO
220 I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again.
KATHARINA
221 So may you lose your arms:
222 If you strike me, you are no gentleman;
223 And if no gentleman, why then no arms.
PETRUCHIO
224 A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books!
KATHARINA
225 What is your crest? a coxcomb?
PETRUCHIO
226 A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen.
KATHARINA
227 No cock of mine; you crow too like a craven.
PETRUCHIO
228 Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour.
KATHARINA
229 It is my fashion, when I see a crab.
PETRUCHIO
230 Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not sour.
KATHARINA
231 There is, there is.
PETRUCHIO
232 Then show it me.
KATHARINA
233 Had I a glass, I would.
PETRUCHIO
234 What, you mean my face?
KATHARINA
235 Well aim'd of such a young one.
PETRUCHIO
236 Now, by Saint George, I am too young for you.
KATHARINA
237 Yet you are wither'd.
PETRUCHIO
238 'Tis with cares.
PETRUCHIO
240 Nay, hear you, Kate: in sooth you scape not so.
KATHARINA
241 I chafe you, if I tarry: let me go.
PETRUCHIO
242 No, not a whit: I find you passing gentle.
243 'Twas told me you were rough and coy and sullen,
244 And now I find report a very liar;
245 For thou are pleasant, gamesome, passing courteous,
246 But slow in speech, yet sweet as spring-time flowers:
247 Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look askance,
248 Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will,
249 Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk,
250 But thou with mildness entertain'st thy wooers,
251 With gentle conference, soft and affable.
252 Why does the world report that Kate doth limp?
253 O slanderous world! Kate like the hazel-twig
254 Is straight and slender and as brown in hue
255 As hazel nuts and sweeter than the kernels.
256 O, let me see thee walk: thou dost not halt.
KATHARINA
257 Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command.
PETRUCHIO
258 Did ever Dian so become a grove
259 As Kate this chamber with her princely gait?
260 O, be thou Dian, and let her be Kate;
261 And then let Kate be chaste and Dian sportful!
KATHARINA
262 Where did you study all this goodly speech?
PETRUCHIO
263 It is extempore, from my mother-wit.
KATHARINA
264 A witty mother! witless else her son.
KATHARINA
266 Yes; keep you warm.
PETRUCHIO
267 Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharina, in thy bed:
268 And therefore, setting all this chat aside,
269 Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented
270 That you shall be my wife; your dowry 'greed on;
271 And, Will you, nill you, I will marry you.
272 Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn;
273 For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,
274 Thy beauty, that doth make me like thee well,
275 Thou must be married to no man but me;
276 For I am he am born to tame you Kate,
277 And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate
278 Conformable as other household Kates.
279 Here comes your father: never make denial;
280 I must and will have Katharina to my wife.
Enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and TRANIO
[disguised as Lucentio].
BAPTISTA
281 Now, Signior Petruchio, how speed you with my daughter?
PETRUCHIO
282 How but well, sir? how but well?
283 It were impossible I should speed amiss.
BAPTISTA
284 Why, how now, daughter Katharina! in your dumps?
KATHARINA
285 Call you me daughter? now, I promise you
286 You have show'd a tender fatherly regard,
287 To wish me wed to one half lunatic;
288 A mad-cup ruffian and a swearing Jack,
289 That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.
PETRUCHIO
290 Father, 'tis thus: yourself and all the world,
291 That talk'd of her, have talk'd amiss of her:
292 If she be curst, it is for policy,
293 For she's not froward, but modest as the dove;
294 She is not hot, but temperate as the morn;
295 For patience she will prove a second Grissel,
296 And Roman Lucrece for her chastity:
297 And to conclude, we have 'greed so well together,
298 That upon Sunday is the wedding-day.
KATHARINA
299 I'll see thee hang'd on Sunday first.
GREMIO
300 Hark, Petruchio; she says she'll see thee hang'd first.
TRANIO
301 Is this your speeding? nay, then, good night our part!
PETRUCHIO
302 Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself:
303 If she and I be pleased, what's that to you?
304 'Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain, being alone,
305 That she shall still be curst in company.
306 I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe
307 How much she loves me: O, the kindest Kate!
308 She hung about my neck; and kiss on kiss
309 She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath,
310 That in a twink she won me to her love.
311 O, you are novices! 'tis a world to see,
312 How tame, when men and women are alone,
313 A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.
314 Give me thy hand, Kate: I will unto Venice,
315 To buy apparel 'gainst the wedding-day.
316 Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests;
317 I will be sure my Katharina shall be fine.
BAPTISTA
318 I know not what to say: but give me your hands;
319 God send you joy, Petruchio! 'tis a match.
GREMIO, TRANIO
320 Amen, say we: we will be witnesses.
PETRUCHIO
321 Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu;
322 I will to Venice; Sunday comes apace:
323 We will have rings and things and fine array;
324 And kiss me, Kate, we will be married o'Sunday.
Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA.
GREMIO
325 Was ever match clapp'd up so suddenly?
BAPTISTA
326 Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant's part,
327 And venture madly on a desperate mart.
TRANIO
328 'Twas a commodity lay fretting by you:
329 'Twill bring you gain, or perish on the seas.
BAPTISTA
330 The gain I seek is, quiet in the match.
GREMIO
331 No doubt but he hath got a quiet catch.
332 But now, Baptista, to your younger daughter:
333 Now is the day we long have looked for:
334 I am your neighbor, and was suitor first.
TRANIO
335 And I am one that love Bianca more
336 Than words can witness, or your thoughts can guess.
GREMIO
337 Youngling, thou canst not love so dear as I.
TRANIO
338 Graybeard, thy love doth freeze.
GREMIO
338 But thine doth fry.
339 Skipper, stand back: 'tis age that nourisheth.
TRANIO
340 But youth in ladies' eyes that flourisheth.
BAPTISTA
341 Content you, gentlemen: I will compound this strife:
342 'Tis deeds must win the prize; and he of both
343 That can assure my daughter greatest dower
344 Shall have my Bianca's love.
345 Say, Signior Gremio, What can you assure her?
GREMIO
346 First, as you know, my house within the city
347 Is richly furnished with plate and gold;
348 Basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands;
349 My hangings all of Tyrian tapestry;
350 In ivory coffers I have stuff'd my crowns;
351 In cypress chests my arras counterpoints,
352 Costly apparel, tents, and canopies,
353 Fine linen, Turkey cushions boss'd with pearl,
354 Valance of Venice gold in needlework,
355 Pewter and brass and all things that belong
356 To house or housekeeping: then, at my farm
357 I have a hundred milch-kine to the pail,
358 Sixscore fat oxen standing in my stalls,
359 And all things answerable to this portion.
360 Myself am struck in years, I must confess;
361 And if I die tomorrow, this is hers,
362 If whilst I live she will be only mine.
TRANIO
363 That "only" came well in. Sir, list to me:
364 I am my father's heir and only son:
365 If I may have your daughter to my wife,
366 I'll leave her houses three or four as good,
367 Within rich Pisa walls, as any one
368 Old Signior Gremio has in Padua;
369 Besides two thousand ducats by the year
370 Of fruitful land, all which shall be her jointure.
371 What, have I pinch'd you, Signior Gremio?
GREMIO
372 Two thousand ducats by the year of land!
373 My land amounts not to so much in all:
374 That she shall have; besides an argosy
375 That now is lying in Marseilles' road.
376 What, have I chok'd you with an argosy?
TRANIO
377 Gremio, 'tis known my father hath no less
378 Than three great argosies; besides two galliases,
379 And twelve tight galleys: these I will assure her,
380 And twice as much, whate'er thou offer'st next.
GREMIO
381 Nay, I have offer'd all, I have no more;
382 And she can have no more than all I have:
383 If you like me, she shall have me and mine.
TRANIO
384 Why, then the maid is mine from all the world,
385 By your firm promise: Gremio is out-vied.
BAPTISTA
386 I must confess your offer is the best;
387 And, let your father make her the assurance,
388 She is your own; else, you must pardon me,
389 if you should die before him, where's her dower?
TRANIO
390 That's but a cavil: he is old, I young.
GREMIO
391 And may not young men die, as well as old?
BAPTISTA
392 Well, gentlemen,
393 I am thus resolved: on Sunday next you know
394 My daughter Katharina is to be married:
395 Now, on the Sunday following, shall Bianca
396 Be bride to you, if you make this assurance;
397 If not, Signior Gremio:
398 And so, I take my leave, and thank you both.
GREMIO
399 Adieu, good neighbor.
399 Now I fear thee not:400 Sirrah young gamester, your father were a fool401 To give thee all, and in his waning age402 Set foot under thy table: tut, a toy!403 An old Italian fox is not so kind, my boy.
TRANIO
404 A vengeance on your crafty wither'd hide!
405 Yet I have fac'd it with a card of ten.
406 'Tis in my head to do my master good:
407 I see no reason but supposed Lucentio
408 Must get a father, call'd 'supposed Vincentio;'
409 And that's a wonder: fathers commonly
410 Do get their children; but in this case of wooing,
411 A child shall get a sire, if I fail not of my cunning.
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