grace;

And offer me, disguised in sober robes,
To old Baptista as a schoolmaster
Well seen in music, to instruct Bianca':
That so I may by this device, at least,
Have leave and leisure to make love to her,
And, unsuspected, court her by herself.

Enter GREMIO; with him LUCENTIO disguised, with books under his arm.

Gru. Here's no knavery! Sec, to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about you: Who goes there? ha!

Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my love:

Petruchio, stand by a while.

Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous! [They retire. Gre. O, very well; I have perused the note. Hark you, sir; I'll have them very fairly bound: All books of love, see that at any hand; And see you read no other lectures to her: You understand me;-Over and beside Signior Baptista's liberality,

I'll mend it with a largess:-Take your papers too,

And let me have them very well perfumed;
For she is sweeter than perfume itself,
To whom they go. What will you read to her?
Luc. Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for
you,

As for my patron, (stand you so assured,)
As firmly as yourself were still in place:
Yea, and (perhaps) with more successful words
Than you, unless you were a scholar, sir.

Gre. O this learning; what a thing it is!
Gru. O this woodcock! what an ass it is!
Pet. Peace, sirrah.

or, Grumio, mum!-God save you, signior Gremio!

Gre. And you're well met, signior Hortensió.

Trow you,

Whither I am going?-To Baptista Minola.
I promised to inquire carefully
About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca:
And, by good fortune, I have lighted well
On this young man; for learning and behaviour,
Fit for her turn; well read in poetry

And other books,-good ones, I warrant you.
Hor. 'Tis well: and I have met a gentleman,
Hath promised me to help me to another,
A fine musician to instruct our mistress;
So shall I no whit be behind in sluty
To fair Bianca, so beloved of me.

Gre. Beloved of me,-and that my deeds

shall prove.

Gru. And that his bags shall prove. [Aside. Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our

love:

Listen to me, and if you speak me fair,
I'll tell you news indifferent good for either.
Here is a gentleman, whom by chance I met,
Upon agreement from us to his liking,

Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.
Gre. So said, so done, is well:
Hortensio, have you told him all her faults?
Pet. I know she is an irksome brawling
scold;

If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.
Gre. No! sayst me so, friend? What coun-
tryman?

Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's son: My father dead, my fortune lives for me: And I do hope good days, and long, to see. Gre. O, sir, such a life, with such a wife,

were strange:

But, if you have a stomach, to't o'God's name,
You shall have me assisting you in all.
But will you woo this wild cat?

Pet.
Will I live?!
Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her.

[Aside.

Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent?
Think you, a little din can daunt mine ears?
Have I not in my time heard lions roar?
Have I not heard the sea, puff'd up with winds,
Rage like an angry boar, chafed with sweat?
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?
| Ilave I not in a pitched battle heard
Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets'
clang?

And do you tell me of a woman's tongue,
That gives not half so great a blow to the ear
As will a chesnut in a farmer's fire?
Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs.
Grupo

For he fears none. [Aside.
Gre. Hortensio, hark!
This gentleman is happily arrived,
My mind presumes, for his own good, and yours.
Hor. I promised we would be contributors,
And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe❜er.

Gre. And so we will; provided that he win

her.

Gru. I would I were as sure of a good dinner. [Aside.

Enter TRANIO, bravely apparelled; and BIONDELLO.

Tra. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be bold,

Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way To the house of signior Baptista Minola?

Gre. He that has the two fair daughters :-is't [Aside to TRANIO.] he you mean?

Tra. Even he. Biondello!

Gre, Hark you, sir; You mean not her to-Tra. Perhaps him and her, sir; What have

you to do?

Pet. Not her that chides, sir; at any hand, I

Gre. No; if without more words, you will get you hence.

Tra. Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free

For me as for you?

But so is not she.

Gre. Tra. For what reason, I beseech you? Gre. For this reason, if you'll know, That she's the choice love of signior Gremio. Hor. That she's the chosen of signior Hortensio.

Tra. Softly, my masters! if you be gentlemen, Do me this right,-hear me with patience. Baptista is a noble gentleman,

To whom my father is not all unknown;
And, were his daughter fairer than she is,
She may more suitors have, and me for one.
Fair Leda's daughter had a thousand wooers;
Then well one more may fair Bianca have:
And so she shall; Lucentio shall make one,
Though Paris came in hope to speed alone.
Gre. What! this gentleman will out-talk us all.
Luc. Sir, give him head; I know he'll prove
a jade.

Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these words?

Hor. Sir, let me be so bold as to ask you, Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter? Tra. No, sir; but hear I do that he hath two; The one as famous for a scolding tongue, As is the other for beauteous modesty.

Pet. Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by. Gre. Yea, leave that labor to great Hercules; And let it be more than Alcides' twelve.

Pet. Sir, understand you this of me, insooth: The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for, Her father keeps from all access of suitors; And will not promise her to any man, Until the elder sister first be wed: The younger then is free, and not before.

Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man Must stead us all, and me among the rest; An if you break the ice, and do this feat,Achieve the elder, set the younger free For our access, whose hap shall be to have her, Will not so graceless be, to be ingrate.

Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive;

And since you do profess to be a suitor,
You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman,
To whom we all rest generally beholden,

Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack: in sign whereof,
Please ye we may contrive this afternoon,
And quaff carouses to our mistress' health;
And do as adversaries do in law,-
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
Gru. Bion. O excellent motion! Fellows,
let's begone.

Hor. The motion's good indeed, and be it 80;

Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto.

[Excunt.

SCENE I. The same. A Room in Baptista's

House.

Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA.

Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor 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 thou lovest best: see thou dissemble not.

Bian. Believe me, sister, of all the men alive, 1 never yet beheld that special face Which I could fancy more than any other. Kath. Minion, thou liest; 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. O 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 prithee, 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?

Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her. Bianca, stand aside:-poor girl! she weeps;For shame, thou hilding of a devilish spirit, Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong thee?

When did she cross thee with a bitter word? Kath. Her silence flouts me, and I'll be revenged. [Flies after BIANCA. Bap. What, in my sight!-Bianca, get thee in. [Exit BIANCA. Kath. Will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see I must dance bare-foot on her wedding-day, She is your treasure, she must have a husband; 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 KATHARINA, But who comes here? Bap. Was ever gentleman thus grieved as 1?

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..

And, with that word, she struck me on the head,
And through the instrument my pate made way;
And there I stood amazed for a while,
As on a pillory, looking through the lute:
While she did call me,-rascal fiddler,
And-twangling Jack; with twenty such vile
terms,

As she had studied to misuse me so.

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?
Pet. I pray you do; I will attend her here,—
[Exeunt BAPTISTA, GREMIO, TRANIO,
and HORTENSIO.

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 wash'd with dew;
Say, she be mute, and will not speak a word;
Then I'll commend her volubility,
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
When

shall ask the banns, and when be married: But here she comes; and now, Petruchio, speak. 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 Katharine, that do talk of me. Pet. You lie, in faith; for you are call'd 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 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.

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

Pet. What with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again,

Good Kate; I am a gentleman.
Kath.

That I'll try. [Striking 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. A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books.
Kuth. What is your crest? a coxcomb?
Pet. A combless cock, so Kate will be my
hen.

Kath. No cock of mine, you crow too like a

craven.

Pet. Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour.

Kath. It is my fashion when I see a crab. Pet.Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not sour.

Kath. There is, there is.
Pet. Then show it me.
Kath.

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

Kath. Yet you are wither'd.

'Tis with cares.

Pet.
Kath.
I care not.
Pet. Nay, hear you, Kate: in sooth, you scape

not so.

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 sullen,

And now I find report a very liar;

For thou art pleasant, gamesome, passing courteous;

But slow in speech, yet, sweet as spring-time flowers:

Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look askance,

Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will;
Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk;
But thou with mildness entertainst thy wooers,
With gentle conference, soft and affable.
Why does the world report, that Katé doth
limp?

O slanderous world! Kate, like the hazle-twig,
Is straight, 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 keepst
command.

Pet. Did ever Dian so become a grove,
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.
Yes; keep you warm.
Pet. Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharine, in
thy bed:

And therefore, setting all this chat aside,
Thus in plain terms:-Your father hath con-
sented

That you shall be my wife; your dowry 'greed

on;

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 cat to a Kate
Conformable, as other household Kates.
Here comes your father; never make denial,
1 must and will have Katharine to my wife.

Re-enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and TRANIO.
Bap. Now,

Signior Petruchio: How speed you with
My daughter?

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

Kath. Call you me, daughter? now I promise you,

You have show'd 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 out.
Pet. Father, 'tis thus-yourself and 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 to-
gether,

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 thee hang'd first.

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

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

If she and I be pleased, 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.

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 mer

chant's part,

And venture.niadly on a desperate mart. Tra.'Iwas 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.

Tru. And I am one, that love Biauca 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 florisheth.