I am a gentleman of Verona, sir,

That, hearing of her beauty and her wit,

Bianca. GOOD sister, wrong me not, nor 5 Her affability, and bashful modesty,

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 tho u 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 ly'st; 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. Oh then, belike, you fancy riches more:
You will have Gremio to keep you fair,

Bian. Is it for him you do envy me so?
Nay, then you jest ; and now I well perceive,
You have but jested with me all this while:
I pr'ythee, sister Kate, untie my hands.
Kath. If that be jest, then all the rest was so.
[Strikes her.

Enter Baptista.

Her wond'rous qualities and mild behaviour,
Am bold to shew myself a forward guest
Within your house, to make mine eye the witness
Of that report which I so oft have heard.
10 And, for an entrance to my entertainment,

[Presenting Hortensio.

I do present you with a man of mine,
Cunning in music and the mathematicks,
To instruct her fully in those sciences,
15 Whereof, I know, she is not ignorant:
Accept of him, or else you do me wrong;
His name is Licio, born in Mantua.

20

Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he for your
good sake:

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.
25 Whence are you, sir ? what may I call your name?
Pet. Petruchio is my name; Anthonio's son,
A man well known throughout all Italy. [sake.
Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for his
Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray,
Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too:
Baccare! you are marvellous forward,

Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows 30
this insolence?-

Bianca, stand aside;-poor girl! she weeps :-
Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her.
For shame, thou hilding' of a devilish spirit,
Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong 35
When did she cross thee with a bitter word? [thee?
Kath. Hersilence flouts me, and I'll be reveng'd.
[Flies after Bianca.

Bap. What, in my sight?-Bianca, get thee in.
[Exit Bianca. 40
Kath. Will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see,
She is your treasure, she must have a husband;
I must dance bare-foot 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 Kath.
Bap. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd as I?
But who comes here?

Pet. Oh, 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 of it. To express the like kindness myself, that have been more kindly beholding to you than any, free leave give to this young scholar, that hath been long studying at Rheims; [presenting Lucentio.] as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in musick and mathematicks; his name is Cambio; pray, accept his service,

Bup. A thousand thanks, signior Gremio: wel45 come, good Cambio.-But, gentle sir, methinks, you walk like a stranger; [to Tranio.] May I be so bold to knowthe cause of your coming?

Enter Gremio, Lucentio in the habit of a mean
man; Petruchio with Hortensio,like a musician; 50
Tranio, and Biondello bearing a lute and books.
Gre. Good-morrow, neighbour Baptista.
Bap. Good-morrow, neighbour Gremio: God
save you, gentlemen!
[daughter

Pet. And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a
Call'd Katharina, fair, and virtuous?

Bap. I have a daughter, sir, called Katharina.
Gre. You are too blunt; go to it orderly.

55

Tra. 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 preferment of the elder sister:
This liberty is all that I request,—
That, upon knowledge 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,

Hilding, or hinderling, means a low wretch. ? An old proverbial word.

I here

These gentlemen to my daughters; and tell them
These are their tutors; bid them use them well.

[Exit Servant with Hortensio and Lucentio.

We will go walk a little in the orchard,
And then to dinner: You are passing welcome,
And so I pray you all to think yourselves.

10

15

Pet. Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste, 20
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 decreas'd:
Then tell me,--if I get your daughter's love,
What dowry shall I have with her to wife?
Bap. After my death, the one half of my lands;
And, in possession, twenty thousand crowns.

Pet. And, for that dowry, I'll assure her of
Her widowhood,-be it that she survive me,-
In all my lands and leases whatsoever :
Let specialties be therefore drawn between us,
That covenants may be kept on either hand.

Pet. Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench;

I love her ten times more than e'er I did:
Oh, how I long to have some chat with her!
Bup. Well, go with me, and be not so discom-
fited:

Proceed in practice 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?
Pet. I pray you do; I will attend her here,

[Ex. Baptista with Grem. Horten. and Tranio.
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 clear
As morning roses newly washed with dew:
Say she be mute and will not speak a word;
Then I'll commend her volubility,

25 And say she uttereth piercing eloquence:
if she do bid me pack, I'll give her thanks,
As though she bid me stay by her a week:
If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day [ried:-
When I shall ask the banns, and when be mar-
30 But here she comes; and now, Petruchio, speak.
Enter Katharine.

Bap. Ay, when the special thing is well ob-
That is, her love; for that is all in all. [tained, 35
Pet. Why that is nothing; for I tell you, father,
I am as peremptory as she proud-minded;
And where two raging fires meet together,
They do consume the thing that meets their fury:
Though little fire grows great with little wind,
Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all:
So I to her, and so she yields to me;
For I am rough, and woo not like a babe. [speed!
Bap. Well may'st thou woo, and happy be thy
But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words.

Pet. Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds,
That shake not, though they blow perpetually.

Re-enter Hortensio, with his head broke. Bap. How now, my friend why dost thou look so pale?

Hor. For fear, I promise you, if I look pale.
Bap. What, will my daughter prove a good mu-

sician?

Good-morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear. Kath. Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing;

They call me-Katharine, that do talk of me. Pet. You lye, in faith; for youare call'dplain Kate, And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst; But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom, Kate of Kate-hall, my super-dainty Kate, 40 For dainties are all cates: and therefore, Kate, Take this of me, Kate of my consolation ;-Hearing thy mildness prais'd in every town, Thy virtues spoke of and thy beauties sounded, (Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs) 45Myself am mov'd to woo thee for my wife.

50

Hor. I think, she'll sooner prove a soldier;
Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. [lute? 55
Bap. Why, then thou canst not break her to the
Hor.Why,no; for she hath broke the lute to me.
I did but tell her, she mistook her frets',
And bow'd her hand to teach her fingering;
When, with a most impatient devilish spirit,
"Frets call you these?" quoth she; I'll fume
with them:"

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

|60|

Kath. Mov'd in good time: let him that mov'd
you hither,

Remove you hence: I knew you at the first,"
You were a moveable.

Pet. Why, what's a moveable?
Kath. A joint-stool.

Pet, Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me.
Kath. Asses are made to bear, and so are you.
Pet. Women are made to bear, and so are you.
Kath. Nosuch jade, sir, as you, if me you mean.
Pet. Alas, good Kate, I will not burden thee:
For knowing thee to be but young and light,—
Kath. Too light for such a swain as you to catch;
And yet as heavy as my weight should be.
Pet. Should be? should buz.
Kath. Well ta'en, and like a buzzard. [thee?
Pet. Oh,slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard take
Kath. Ay, for a turtle; as he takes a buzzard.

A fret is that stop of a musical instrument which causes or regulates the vibration of a string.

Pet.

Kath. Your's, if you talk of tails; and so farewel.
Pet. What, with my tongue in your tail? nay
Good Kate; I am a gentleman. [come again,
Kath. That P'il try.
[She strikes him.
Pet. I swear, I'll cuff you, if you strike again.
Kath. So may you lose your arms:

If you strike me, you are no gentleman;
And if no gentleman, why, then no arms.

Pet. Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharine, in thy
And therefore, setting all this chat aside, [bed:
Thus, in plain terms:-Your father hath consented
That you shall be my wife; your dow'ry 'greed on;
5 And will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn;
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;
For I am he am born to tame you, Kate;
And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate
Conformable, as other houshold Kates.
Here comes your father; never make denial,
I must and will have Katharine to my wife.
Re-enter Baptista, Gremio and Tranio.
Bap. Now, signior Petruchio: how speed you
with my daughter?

10

15

Pet. A herald, Kate? oh, put me in thy books.
Kath. What is your crest? a coxcomb?
Pet. A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen. 20
Kate. No cock of mine, you crow too like a
craven '.
[so sour.

Pet. Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look
Kath. It is my fashion, when I see a crab.
Pet. Why, here's no crab, and therefore look 25
Kath. There is, there is.
[not sour.
Pet. Then shew it me,

Kath. Had I a glass, I would.
Pet. What, you mean my face?
Kath. Well aim'd of such a young one. [you. 30
Pet. Now, by St. George, I am too young for
Kath. Yet you are wither'd.

Pet. 'Tis with cares.

Kath. I care not.

[not so.

Pet. How but well, sir? how but well?
It were impossible, I should speed amiss.
Bap. Why, how now, daughter Katharine? in
your dumps?

[you,
Kath. Call you me, daughter? now I promise
You have shew'd a tender fatherly regard,
To wish me wed to one half lunatick;
A mad-cap ruffian, and a swearing Jack,
That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.
Pet. Father, 'tis thus,-yourselfand all the world,
That talk'd of her, have talk'd amiss of her;
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 toge-

hang'd first.

[ther

Pet. Nay, hear you, Kate: in sooth you 'scape 35 That upon Sunday is the wedding-day.
Kath. I chafe you, if I tarry; let me go.
Pet. No, not a whit; I find you passing gentle.
'Twas told me, you were rough, and coy, and
And now I find report a very liar; [sullen,
For thou art pleasant,gamesome, passing courteous, 40
But slow in speech, yet sweet as spring-time flowers:
Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look as-
Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will: [kance,
Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk;
But thou with mildness entertain'st thy wooers,
With gentle conference, soft and affable.
Why doth the world report that Kate doth limp?
Oh slanderous world! Kate, like the bazle-twig,
Is strait, and slender; and as brown in hue
As hazle-nuts, and sweeter than the kernels.
O, let me see thee walk: thou dost not halt.
Kath. Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st com-
Pet. Did ever Dian so become a grove, [mand.
As Kate this chamber with her princely gait?
O, be thou Dian, and let her be Kate;
And then let Kate be chaste, and Dian sportful!
Kath. Where did you study all this goodly speech?
Pet. It is extempore, from my mother-wit.
Kath. A witty mother! witless else her son.
Pet. Am I not wise?

Kath. I'll see thee hang'd on Sunday first.
Gre. Hark, Petruchio! she says, she'll see thee
[our part!
Tra. Is this your speeding? nay, then, good-night
Pet. Be patient, gentlemen; I chuse her for
myself;

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.
45I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe
How much she loves me: Oh, the kindest Kate!—
She hung about my neck! and kiss on kiss
She vy'd so fast, protesting oath to oath,
That in a twink she won me to her love.
50Oh, you are novices! 'tis a world to see
How tame, when men and women are alone,
A meacock wretch can make the curstest

Kath. Yes, keep you warm.

shrew.

3

Give me thy hand, Kate; I will unto Venice,
55 To buy apparel 'gainst the wedding-day:—
Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests;
I will be sure, my Katharine shall be fine. [hands;
Bap. I know not what to say, but give me your
God send you joy, Petruchio! 'tis a match.
Gre. Tra. Amen, say we; we will be witnesses.
Pet. Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu;

60

'A craven is a degenerate cock. * Dr. Johnson proposes to read, "ply'd so fast." 'Tis wonderful to see. i. e. a timorous, dastardly creature.

Meaning,

I will

20

25

30

135

Sirrah, young gamester, your father were a fool
To give thee all, and, in his waining age,

Set foot under thy table: Tut! a toy!

40 An old Italian fox is not so kind, my boy. [Exit.
Tra. A vengeance on your crafty withered hide!
Yet I have fac'd it with a card of ten.

Tis in my head to do my master good:-
I see no reason, but suppos'd Lucentio

45 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.

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;
60 And when in musick we have spent at hour,
Your lecture shall have leisure for as much.

2 Gallias was a vessel with both sails and oars, partaking of the nature of a ship and a galley. i. e. out-bid: vye and revye were terms used used at the game of gleek, now superseded by the modern word brag. That is, with the highest card, in the old simple games

of our ancestors; so that this became a proverbial expression.

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. Sirral, I will not bear these braves of thine.
Bian. Why, gentlemen, you do me double
wrong,

To strive for that which resteth in my choice:
I am no breeching scholar' in the schools;
I'll not by ty'd to hours, nor 'pointed times,
But learn my lessons as I please myself.
And, to cut off all strife, here sit we down:-
Take you your instrument, play you the whiles;
His lecture will be done, ere you have tun'd.
Hor. You'll leave his lecture, when I am in tune?
[Hortensio retires.

Luc. That will be never;-tune your instru-
Bian. Where left we last?
Luc. Here, madam:-

Hac ibat Simois; hic est Sigeia tellus;
Hic steterat Priami regia celsa senis.
Bian. Construe them.

I must begin with rudiments of art;
To teach you gamut in a briefer sort,
More pleasant, pithy, and effectual,
Than hath been taught by any of my trade:
5 And there it is in writing, fairly drawn.

[10]

Bian. Why, I am past my gamut long ago.
Hor. Yet read the gamut of Hortensio.[accord,
Bian. [reading.] Gamut I am, the ground of all
A re, to plead Hortensio's passion;
B mi, Bianca, take him for thy lord,
C faut, that loves with all affection:
D sol re, one cliff, two notes have 1;
E la mi, shew pity, or I die.
Call you this gamut? tut! I like it not:
15 Old fashions please me best; I am not so nice,
To change true rules for odd inventions.

Enter a Servant.

Ser. Mistress, your father prays you leave your
books,

[ment. 20 And help to dress your sister's chamber up ;
You know, to-morrow is the wedding-day.
Bian. Farewel, sweet masters, both; I must be
[Exit.

Luc. Hac ibat, as I told you before,-Somois, |25| I am Lucentio,-hie est, son unto Vincentio of Pisa, Sigeia tellus, disguised thus to get your love;-Hic steterat, and that Lucentio that comes a wooing,-Priami, is my man Tranio,-regia, bearing my port--celsa senis, that we might be-30 guile the old Pantaloon,

Hor. Madam, my instrument's in tune. [Returning. Bian. Let's hear:-O fie! the treble jars. Luc. Spit in the hole, man, and tune again. Bian. Now let me see if I can construe it: Hac ibat Simois, I know you not;-hic est Sigeia tellus, I trust you not ;-Hic steterat Priami, take heed he hear us not;-regia, presume not;celsa senis, despair not.

· Hor. Madam, 'tis now in tune. Luc. All but the base.

Hor. The base is right;

'Tis the base knave that jars.

How fiery and forward our pedant is!

Now, for my life, the knave doth court my love:
Peduscule, I'll watch you better yet.

Bian. In time I may believe, yet I mistrust.
Luc. Mistrust it not; for, sure,

acides

gone.

Luc. Faith, mistress, then I have no cause to

stay.

[Exit.

Hor. But I have cause to pry into this pedant;
Methinks, he looks as though he were in love:-
Yet if thy thoughts, Bianca, be so humble,
To cast thy wandering eyes on every stale,
Seize thee, that list: If once I find thee ranging,
Hortensio will be quit with thee by changing.

SCENE II.

[Exit.

35 Enter Baptista, Gremio, Tranio, Katharine,
Lucentio, Bianca, and attendants.

Bap. Signior Lucentio, this is the 'pointed day
That Katharine and Petruchio should be marry'd,
And yet we hear not of our son-in-law:
40 What will be said? what mockery will it be,
To want the bridegroom, when the priest attends
To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage?
What says Lucentio to this shame of ours?

1451

Was Ajax,-call'd so from his grandfather. [you, 50
Bian, I must believe my master; else, I promise
I should be arguing still upon that doubt:
But let it rest.-Now, Licio, to you :-
Good masters, take it not unkindly, pray,
That I have been thus pleasant with you both.

Hor. You may go walk, and give me leave
My lessons make nomusick in three parts. [awhile;
Luc. Are you so formal, sir? well, I must wait,
And watch withal; for, but I be deceiv'd,
Our fine musician groweth amorous.
Hor. Madam, before you touch the instrument,
To learn the order of my fingering,

Kath. No shame but mine: I must, forsooth,
be forc'd

To give my hand, oppos'd against my heart,
Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen2;
Who woo'd in haste, and means to wed at leisure1.
I told you, I, he was a frantic fool,
Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behaviour:
And, to be noted for a merry man,

He'll woo a thousand, 'point the day of marriage,
Make friends, invite, yes, and proclaim the banns.
Yet never means to wed where he hath woo'd.
55 Now must the world point at poor Katharine,
And say,-Lo there is mad Petruchio's wife,
If it would please him come and marry her.
Tra. Patience, good Katharine, and Baptista too;
Upon my life, Petruchio means but well,
Whatever fortune stays him from his word:
Though he be blunt, I know him passing wise;
Though he be merry, yet withal he's honest.

[Aside. 60

That is, no school-boy liable to be whipped.

2i. e. caprice.

Kath.