Or what you will command me will I do, Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell Kath. Minion, thou liest: Is 't not Hortensio ? 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. Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows this insolence? Bianca, stand aside-Poor girl! she weeps- [Erit Kath. Bap. Was ever gentleman thus grieved 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. Bap. Good-morrow, neighbour Gremio: God save you, gentlemen! Pet. And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a Call'd Katharina, fair and virtuous? [daughter Bap. I have a daughter, sir, call'd Katharina. Gre. You are too blunt, go to it orderly. Pet. You wrong me, signor Gremio; give me leave.— I am a gentleman of Verona, sir, That-hearing of her beauty and her wit, Her affability and bashful modesty, Her wondrous qualities and mild behaviour Am bold to shew myself a forward guest Within your house, to make mine eye the witness (Presenting Hortensio.) [sake: Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good But for my daughter Katharina,-this I know, 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. Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: 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 of it. To express the like kindness myself, that have been more kindly beholden to you than any, I freely give unto you this young scholar, (presenting Lucentio) that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in music and mathematics: his name is Cambio; pray, accept his service. Bap. A thousand thanks, signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio.-But, gentle sir, (to Tranio.) methinks you walk like a stranger: May I be so bold to know the cause of your coming? Tra. Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own; That, being a stranger in this city here, Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo, And toward the education of your daughters, And this small packet of Greek and Latin books: Bap. A mighty man of Pisa; by report I know him well: you are very welcome, sir.- of books; You shall go see your pupils presently.- Hollo, within! Enter a Servant. Sirrah, lead These gentlemen to my daughters; and tell them both, We will go walk a little in the orchard, And then to dinner. You are passing welcome, Pet. Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste, You knew my father well; and in him, me, Bap. After my death, the one half of my lands; Pet. And, for that do vry, I'll assure her of Bap. Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd, Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father, I am as peremptory as she proud-minded; They do consume the thing that feeds their fury; For I am rough, and woo not like a babe. Bap. Well may'st thou woo, and happy be thy speed! 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 broken. 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 musician? Hor. I think she 'll sooner prove a soldier; Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. Bap. Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute? 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 there I stood amazéd for a while, As on a pillory, looking through the lute : And twangling Jack; with twenty such vile terms, Pet. Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench; I love her ten times more than e'er I did: O, how I long to have some chat with her! Bap. Well, go with me, and be not so discomfited: 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? [Exeunt Baptista, Gremio, Tranio, and And woo her with some spirit when she comes. Say, that she frown,-I'll say, she looks as clear Say, she be mute, and will not speak a word,- And say she uttereth piercing eloquence; When I shall ask the banns, and when be married.- Enter KATHARINA. Good-morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear. Kath. Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing; They call me Katherine that do talk of me. Pet. You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain Kate, And honny 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 cates: and therefore, Kate, Take this of me, Kate of my consolation,Hearing thy mildness praised in every town, Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded, (Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,) Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife. Kath. Moved! in good time: let him that moved 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 nie. Kath. Asses are made to bear, and so are you. Pet. Women are made to bear, and so are you. Kath. No such 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. Pet. O slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard take thee? Kath. Ay, for a turtle; as he takes a buzzard. Pet. Come, come, you wasp; i'faith, you are too angry. Kath. If I be waspish, best beware my sting. Pet. My remedy is then, to pluck it out. Kath. Ay, if the fool could find out where it lies 23 VOL. II. |