The Taming of the Shrew

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Original text
Act I, Scene I
Enter Lucentio, and his man Triano.

Luc.
Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see faire Padua, nurserie of Arts,
I am arriu'd for fruitfull Lumbardie,
The pleasant garden of great Italy,
And by my fathers loue and leaue am arm'd
With his good will, and thy good companie.
My trustie seruant well approu'd in all,
Heere let vs breath, and haply institute
A course of Learning, and ingenious studies.
Pisa renowned for graue Citizens
Gaue me my being, and my father first
A Merchant of great Trafficke through the world:
Vincentio's come of the Bentiuolij,
Vincentio's sonne, brough vp in Florence,
It shall become to serue all hopes conceiu'd
To decke his fortune with his vertuous deedes:
And therefore Tranio, for the time I studie,
Vertue and that part of Philosophie
Will I applie, that treats of happinesse,
By vertue specially to be atchieu'd.
Tell me thy minde, for I haue Pisa left,
And am to Padua come, as he that leaues
A shallow plash, to plunge him in the deepe,
And with sacietie seekes to quench his thirst.

Tra.
Me Pardonato, gentle master mine:
I am in all affected as your selfe,
Glad that you thus continue your resolue,
To sucke the sweets of sweete Philosophie.
Onely (good master) while we do admire
This vertue, and this morall discipline,
Let's be no Stoickes, nor no stockes I pray,
Or so deuote to Aristotles checkes
As Ouid; be an out-cast quite abiur'd:
Balke Lodgicke with acquaintance that you haue,
And practise Rhetoricke in your common talke,
Musicke and Poesie vse, to quicken you,
The Mathematickes, and the Metaphysickes
Fall to them as you finde your stomacke serues you:
No profit growes, where is no pleasure tane:
In briefe sir, studie what you most affect.

Luc.
Gramercies Tranio, well dost thou aduise,
If Biondello thou wert come ashore,
We could at once put vs in readinesse,
And take a Lodging fit to entertaine
Such friends (as time) in Padua shall beget.
Enter Baptista with his two daughters, Katerina &
Bianca, Gremio a Pantelowne, Hortentio sister
to Bianca. Lucen. Tranio, stand by.
But stay a while, what companie is this?

Tra.
Master some shew to welcome vs to Towne.

Bap.
Gentlemen, importune me no farther,
For how I firmly am resolu d you know:
That is, not to bestow my yongest daughter,
Before I haue a husband for the elder:
If either of you both loue Katherina,
Because I know you well, and loue you well,
Leaue shall you haue to court her at your pleasure.

Gre.
To cart her rather. She's to rough for mee,
There, there Hortensio, will you any Wife?

Kate.
I pray you sir, is it your will
To make a stale of me amongst these mates?

Hor.
Mates maid, how meane you that? / No mates for you,
Vnlesse you were of gentler milder mould.

Kate.
I'faith sir, you shall neuer neede to feare,
I-wis it is not halfe way to her heart:
But if it were, doubt not, her care should be,
To combe your noddle with a three-legg'd stoole,
And paint your face, and vse you like a foole.

Hor.
From all such diuels, good Lord deliuer vs.

Gre.
And me too, good Lord.

Tra.

Husht master, heres some good pastime toward;
That wench is starke mad, or wonderfull froward.

Lucen.
But in the others silence do I see,
Maids milde behauiour and sobrietie.
Peace Tranio.

Tra.

Well said Mr, mum, and gaze your fill.

Bap.
Gentlemen, that I may soone make good
What I haue said, Bianca get you in,
And let it not displease thee good Bianca,
For I will loue thee nere the lesse my girle.

Kate.
A pretty peate, it is best
put finger in the eye, and she knew why.

Bian.
Sister content you, in my discontent.
Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe:
My bookes and instruments shall be my companie,
On them to looke, and practise by my selfe.

Luc.

Harke Tranio, thou maist heare Minerua speak.

Hor.
Signior Baptista, will you be so strange,
Sorrie am I that our good will effects
Bianca's greefe.

Gre.
Why will you mew her vp
(Signior Baptista) for this fiend of hell,
And make her beare the pennance of her tongue.

Bap.
Gentlemen content ye: I am resolud:
Go in Bianca.
And for I know she taketh most delight
In Musicke, Instruments, and Poetry,
Schoolemasters will I keepe within my house,
Fit to instruct her youth. If you Hortensio,
Or signior Gremio you know any such,
Preferre them hither: for to cunning men,
I will be very kinde and liberall,
To mine owne children, in good bringing vp,
And so farewell: Katherina you may stay,
For I haue more to commune with Bianca.
Exit.

Kate.
Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not?
What shall I be appointed houres, as though
(Belike) I knew not what to take, / And what to leaue? Ha.
Exit

Gre.
You may go to the diuels dam: your guifts are so
good heere's none will holde you: Their loue is not so
great Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together,
and fast it fairely out. Our cakes dough on both sides.
Farewell: yet for the loue I beare my sweet Bianca, if I
can by any meanes light on a fit man to teach her that
wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father.

Hor.
So will I signiour Gremio: but a word I
pray: Though the nature of our quarrell yet neuer
brook'd parle, know now vpon aduice, it toucheth vs
both: that we may yet againe haue accesse to our faire
Mistris, and be happie riuals in Bianca's loue, to
labour and effect one thing specially.

Gre.
What's that I pray?

Hor.
Marrie sir to get a husband for her Sister.

Gre.
A husband: a diuell.

Hor.
I say a husband.

Gre.
I say, a diuell: Think'st thou Hortensio, though
her father be verie rich, any man is so verie a foole to be
married to hell?

Hor.
Tush Gremio: though it passe your patience
& mine to endure her lowd alarums, why man there bee
good fellowes in the world, and a man could light on them,
would take her with all faults, and mony enough.

Gre.
I cannot tell: but I had as lief take her dowrie
with this condition; To be whipt at the hie crosse
euerie morning.

Hor.
Faith (as you say) there's small choise in
rotten apples: but come, since this bar in law makes vs
friends, it shall be so farre forth friendly maintain'd, till by helping Baptistas eldest daughter to a
husband, wee set
his yongest free for a husband, and then haue too t
afresh: Sweet Bianca, happy man be his dole: hee that
runnes fastest, gets the Ring: How say you signior Gremio?

Grem.
I am agreed, and would I had giuen him the best
horse in Padua to begin his woing that would thoroughly
woe her, wed her, and bed her, and ridde the house
of her. Come on.
Exeunt ambo. Manet Tranio and Lucentio

Tra.
I pray sir tel me, is it possible
That loue should of a sodaine take such hold.

Luc.
Oh Tranio, till I found it to be true,
I neuer thought it possible or likely.
But see, while idely I stood looking on,
I found the effect of Loue in idlenesse,
And now in plainnesse do confesse to thee
That art to me as secret and as deere
As Anna to the Queene of Carthage was:
Tranio I burne, I pine, I perish Tranio,
If I atchieue not this yong modest gyrle:
Counsaile me Tranio, for I know thou canst:
Assist me Tranio, for I know thou wilt.

Tra.
Master, it is no time to chide you now,
Affection is not rated from the heart:
If loue haue touch'd you, naught remaines but so,
Redime te captam quam queas minimo.

Luc
Gramercies Lad: Go forward, this contents,
The rest wil comfort, for thy counsels sound.

Tra.
Master, you look'd so longly on the maide,
Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all.

Luc.
Oh yes, I saw sweet beautie in her face,
Such as the daughter of Agenor had,
That made great Ioue to humble him to her hand,
When with his knees he kist the Cretan strond.

Tra.
Saw you no more? Mark'd you not how hir sister
Began to scold, and raise vp such a storme,
That mortal eares might hardly indure the din.

Luc.
Tranio, I saw her corrall lips to moue,
And with her breath she did perfume the ayre,
Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.

Tra.
Nay, then 'tis time to stirre him frõ his trance:
I pray awake sir: if you loue the Maide,
Bend thoughts and wits to atcheeue her. Thus it stands:
Her elder sister is so curst and shrew'd,
That til the Father rid his hands of her,
Master, your Loue must liue a maide at home,
And therefore has he closely meu'd her vp,
Because she will not be annoy'd with suters.

Luc.
Ah Tranio, what a cruell Fathers he:
But art thou not aduis'd, he tooke some care
To get her cunning Schoolemasters to instruct her.

Tra.
I marry am I sir, and now 'tis plotted.

Luc.
I haue it Tranio.

Tra.
Master, for my hand,
Both our inuentions meet and iumpe in one.

Luc.
Tell me thine first.

Tra.
You will be schoole-master,
And vndertake the teaching of the maid:
That's your deuice.

Luc.
It is: May it be done?

Tra.
Not possible: for who shall beare your part,
And be in Padua heere Vincentio's sonne,
Keepe house, and ply his booke, welcome his friends,
Visit his Countrimen, and banquet them?

Luc.
Basta, content thee: for I haue it full.
We haue not yet bin seene in any house,
Nor can we be distinguish'd by our faces,
For man or master: then it followes thus;
Thou shalt be master, Tranio in my sted:
Keepe house, and port, and seruants, as I should,
I will some other be, some Florentine,
Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa.
'Tis hatch'd, and shall be so: Tranio at once
Vncase thee: take my Conlord hat and cloake,
When Biondello comes, he waites on thee,
But I will charme him first to keepe his tongue.

Tra.
So had you neede:

In breefe Sir, sith it your pleasure is,
And I am tyed to be obedient,
For so your father charg'd me at our parting:
Be seruiceable to my sonne (quoth he)
Although I thinke 'twas in another sence,
I am content to bee Lucentio,
Because so well I loue Lucentio.

Luc.
Tranio be so, because Lucentio loues,
And let me be a slaue, t'atchieue that maide,
Whose sodaine sight hath thral'd my wounded eye.
Enter Biondello.
Heere comes the rogue. Sirra, where haue you bin?

Bion.
Where haue I beene? Nay how now, where
are you? Maister, ha's my fellow Tranio stolne your
cloathes, or you stolne his, or both? Pray what's the
newes?

Luc.
Sirra come hither, 'tis no time to iest,
And therefore frame your manners to the time
Your fellow Tranio heere to saue my life,
Puts my apparrell, and my count'nance on,
And I for my escape haue put on his:
For in a quarrell since I came a shore,
I kil'd a man, and feare I was descried:
Waite you on him, I charge you, as becomes:
While I make way from hence to saue my life:
You vnderstand me?

Bion.
I sir, ne're a whit.

Luc.
And not a iot of Tranio in your mouth,
Tranio is chang'd into Lucentio.

Bion.
The better for him, would I were so too.

Tra.
So could I 'faith boy, to haue the next wish after,
that Lucentio indeede had Baptistas yongest daughter.
But sirra, not for my sake, but your masters, I aduise
you vse your manners discreetly in all kind of companies:
When I am alone, why then I am Tranio:
but in all places else, your master Lucentio.

Luc.
Tranio let's go:
One thing more rests, that thy selfe execute,
To make one among these wooers: if thou ask me why,
Sufficeth my reasons are both good and waighty.
Exeunt.
The Presenters aboue speakes.

1. Man.
My Lord you nod, you do not minde the play.

Beg.
Yes by Saint Anne do I, a
good matter surely: Comes there any more of it?

Lady.
My Lord, 'tis but begun.

Beg.
'Tis a verie excellent peece of worke, Madame Ladie:
would 'twere done.
They sit and marke.
Original text
Act I, Scene II
Enter Petruchio, and his man Grumio.

Petr.
Verona, for a while I take my leaue,
To see my friends in Padua; but of all
My best beloued and approued friend
Hortensio: & I trow this is his house:
Heere sirra Grumio, knocke I say.

Gru.
Knocke sir? whom should I knocke? Is there any
man ha's rebus'd your worship?

Petr.
Villaine I say, knocke me heere soundly.

Gru.
Knocke you heere sir? Why sir, what am I sir,
that I should knocke you heere sir.

Petr.
Villaine I say, knocke me at this gate,
And rap me well, or Ile knocke your knaues pate.

Gru.
My Mr is growne quarrelsome: / I should knocke you first,
And then I know after who comes by the worst.

Petr.
Will it not be?
'Faith sirrah, and you'l not knocke, Ile ring it,
Ile trie how you can Sol,Fa, and sing it.
He rings him by the eares

Gru.
Helpe mistris helpe, my master is mad.

Petr.
Now knocke when I bid you: sirrah villaine.
Enter Hortensio.

Hor.
How now, what's the matter? My olde friend
Grumio, and my good friend Petruchio? How do you all
at Verona?

Petr.
Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray?
Contutti le core bene trobatto, may I say.

Hor.
Alla nostra casa bene venuto
multo honorata signior mio Petruchio.
Rise Grumio rise, we will compound this quarrell.

Gru.
Nay 'tis no matter sir, what he leges in Latine. If
this be not a lawfull cause for me to leaue his seruice,
looke you sir: He bid me knocke him, & rap him
soundly sir. Well, was it fit for a seruant to vse his
master so, being perhaps (for ought I see) two and thirty,
a peepe out?
Whom would to God I had well knockt at first,
then had not Grumio come by the worst.

Petr.
A sencelesse villaine: good Hortensio,
I bad the rascall knocke vpon your gate,
And could not get him for my heart to do it.

Gru.
Knocke at the gate? O heauens: spake you not
these words plaine? Sirra, Knocke me heere: rappe me heere:
knocke me well, and knocke me soundly? And come you
now with knocking at the gate?

Petr.
Sirra be gone, or talke not I aduise you.

Hor.
Petruchio patience, I am Grumio's pledge:
Why this a heauie chance twixr him and you,
Your ancient trustie pleasant seruant Grumio:
And tell me now (sweet friend) what happie gale
Blowes you to Padua heere, from old Verona?

Petr.
Such wind as scatters yongmen throgh ye world,
To seeke their fortunes farther then at home,
Where small experience growes but in a few.
Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me,
Antonio my father is deceast,
And I haue thrust my selfe into this maze,
Happily to wiue and thriue, as best I may:
Crownes in my purse I haue, and goods at home,
And so am come abroad to see the world.

Hor.
Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee,
And wish thee to a shrew'd ill-fauour'd wife?
Thou'dst thanke me but a little for my counsell:
And yet Ile promise thee she shall be rich,
And verie rich: but th'art too much my friend,
And Ile not wish thee to her.

Petr.
Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as wee,
Few words suffice: and therefore, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife:
(As wealth is burthen of my woing dance)
Be she as foule as was Florentius Loue,
As old as Sibell, and as curst and shrow'd
As Socrates Zentippe, or a worse:
She moues me not, or not remoues at least
Affections edge in me. Were she is as rough
As are the swelling Adriaticke seas.
I come to wiue it wealthily in Padua:
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

Gru.
Nay looke you sir, hee tels you flatly what his
minde is: why giue him Gold enough, and marrie him to
a Puppet or an Aglet babie, or an old trot with ne're a
tooth in her head, though she haue as manie diseases
as two and fiftie horses. Why nothing comes amisse, so
monie comes withall.

Hor.
Petruchio, since we are stept thus farre in,
I will continue that I broach'd in iest,
I can Petruchio helpe thee to a wife
With wealth enough, and yong and beautious,
Brought vp as best becomes a Gentlewoman.
Her onely fault, and that is faults enough,
Is, that she is intollerable curst,
And shrow'd, and froward, so beyond all measure,
That were my state farre worser then it is,
I would not wed her for a mine of Gold.

Petr.
Hortensio peace: thou knowst not golds effect,
Tell me her fathers name, and 'tis enough:
For I will boord her, though she chide as loud
As thunder, when the clouds in Autumne cracke.

Hor.
Her father is Baptista Minola,
An affable and courteous Gentleman,
Her name is Katherina Minola,
Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue.

Petr.
I know her father, though I know not her,
And he knew my deceased father well:
I wil not sleepe Hortensio til I see her,
And therefore let me be thus bold with you,
To giue you ouer at this first encounter,
Vnlesse you wil accompanie me thither.

Gru.
I pray you Sir let him go while the humor lasts.
A my word, and she knew him as wel as I do, she would
thinke scolding would doe little good vpon him. Shee may
perhaps call him halfe a score Knaues, or so: Why that's
nothing; and he begin once, hee'l raile in his rope trickes.
Ile tell you what sir, and she stand him but a litle, he
wil throw a figure in her face, and so disfigure hir with
it, that shee shal haue no more eies to see withall then a
Cat: you know him not sir.

Hor.
Tarrie Petruchio, I must go with thee,
For in Baptistas keepe my treasure is:
He hath the Iewel of my life in hold,
His yongest daughter, beautiful Bianca,
And her with-holds from me. Other more
Suters to her, and riuals in my Loue:
Supposing it a thing impossible,
For those defects I haue before rehearst,
That euer Katherina wil be woo'd:
Therefore this order hath Baptista tane,
That none shal haue accesse vnto Bianca,
Til Katherine the Curst, haue got a husband.

Gru.
Katherine the curst,
A title for a maide, of all titles the worst.

Hor.
Now shal my friend Petruchio do me grace,
And offer me disguis'd in sober robes,
To old Baptista as a schoole-master
Well seene in Musicke, to instruct Bianca,
That so I may by this deuice at least
Haue leaue and leisure to make loue to her,
And vnsuspected court her by her selfe.

Gru.
Heere's no knauerie. See, to beguile the olde-folkes,
how the young folkes lay their heads together.
Enter Gremio and Lucentio disgused.
Master, master, looke about you: Who goes there? ha.

Hor.
Peace Grumio, it is the riuall of my Loue.
Petruchio stand by a while.

Grumio.
A proper stripling, and an amorous.


Gremio.
O very well, I haue perus'd the note:
Hearke you sir, Ile haue them verie fairely bound,
All bookes of Loue, see that at any hand,
And see you reade no other Lectures to her:
You vnderstand me. Ouer and beside
Signior Baptistas liberalitie,
Ile mend it with a Largesse. Take your paper too,
And let me haue them verie wel perfum'd;
For she is sweeter then perfume it selfe
To whom they go to: what wil you reade to her.

Luc.
What ere I reade to her, Ile pleade for you,
As for my patron, stand you so assur'd,
As firmely as your selfe were still in place,
Yea and perhaps with more successefull words
Then you; vnlesse you were a scholler sir.

Gre.
Oh this learning, what a thing it is.

Gru.

Oh this Woodcocke, what an Asse it is.

Petru.

Peace sirra.

Hor.
Grumio mum: God saue you signior Gremio.

Gre.
And you are wel met, Signior Hortensio.
Trow you whither I am going? To Baptista Minola,
I promist to enquire carefully
About a schoolemaster for the faire Bianca,
And by good fortune I haue lighted well
On this yong man: For learning and behauiour
Fit for her turne, well read in Poetrie
And other bookes, good ones, I warrant ye.

Hor.
'Tis well: and I haue met a Gentleman
Hath promist me to helpe one to another,
A fine Musitian to instruct our Mistris,
So shal I no whit be behinde in dutie
To faire Bianca, so beloued of me.

Gre.
Beloued of me, and that my deeds shal proue.

Gru.

And that his bags shal proue.

Hor.
Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our loue,
Listen to me, and if you speake me faire,
Ile tel you newes indifferent good for either.
Heere is a Gentleman whom by chance I met
Vpon agreement from vs to his liking,
Will vndertake to woo curst Katherine,
Yea, and to marrie her, if her dowrie please.

Gre.
So said, so done, is well:
Hortensio, haue you told him all her faults?

Petr.
I know she is an irkesome brawling scold:
If that be all Masters, I heare no harme.

Gre.
No, sayst me so, friend? What Countreyman?

Petr.
Borne in Verona, old Butonios sonne:
My father dead, my fortune liues for me,
And I do hope, good dayes and long, to see.

Gre.
Oh sir, such a life with such a wife, were strange:
But if you haue a stomacke, too't a Gods name,
You shal haue me assisting you in all.
But will you woo this Wilde-cat?

Petr.
Will I liue?

Gru.
Wil he woo her? I: or Ile hang her.

Petr.
Why came I hither, but to that intent?
Thinke you, a little dinne can daunt mine eares?
Haue I not in my time heard Lions rore?
Haue I not heard the sea, puft vp with windes,
Rage like an angry Boare, chafed with sweat?
Haue I not heard great Ordnance in the field?
And heauens Artillerie thunder in the skies?
Haue I not in a pitched battell heard
Loud larums, neighing steeds, & trumpets clangue?
And do you tell me of a womans tongue?
That giues not halfe so great a blow to heare,
As wil a Chesse-nut in a Farmers fire.
Tush, tush, feare boyes with bugs.

Gru.
For he feares none.

Grem.
Hortensio hearke:
This Gentleman is happily arriu'd,
My minde presumes for his owne good, and yours.

Hor.
I promist we would be Contributors,
And beare his charge of wooing whatsoere.

Gremio.
And so we wil, prouided that he win her.

Gru.
I would I were as sure of a good dinner.
Enter Tranio braue, and
Biondello.

Tra.
Gentlemen God saue you. If I may be bold
Tell me I beseech you, which is the readiest way
To the house of Signior Baptista Minola?

Bion.
He that ha's the two faire daughters: ist he
you meane?

Tra.
Euen he Biondello.

Gre.
Hearke you sir, you meane not her to---

Tra.
Perhaps him and her sir, what haue you to do?

Petr.
Not her that chides sir, at any hand I pray.

Tranio.
I loue no chiders sir: Biondello, let's away.

Luc
Well begun Tranio.

Hor.
Sir, a word ere you go:
Are you a sutor to the Maid you talke of, yea or no?

Tra.
And if I be sir, is it any offence?

Gremio.
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?

Gre.
But so is not she.

Tra.
For what reason I beseech you.

Gre.
For this reason if you'l kno,
That she's the choise loue of Signior Gremio.

Hor.
That she's the chosen of signior Hortensio.

Tra.
Softly my Masters: If you be Gentlemen
Do me this right: heare me with patience.
Baptista is a noble Gentleman,
To whom my Father is not all vnknowne,
And were his daughter fairer then she is,
She may more sutors haue, and me for one.
Faire Ladaes daughter had a thousand wooers,
Then well one more may faire Bianca haue;
And so she shall: Lucentio shal make one,
Though Paris came, in hope to speed alone.

Gre.
What, this Gentleman will out-talke vs all.

Luc.
Sir giue him head, I know hee'l proue a Iade.

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

Hor.
Sir, let me be so bold as aske you,
Did you yet euer see Baptistas daughter?

Tra.
No sir, but heare I do that he hath two:
The one, as famous for a scolding tongue,
As is the other, for beauteous modestie.

Petr.
Sir, sir, the first's for me, let her go by.

Gre.
Yea, leaue that labour to great Hercules,
And let it be more then Alcides twelue.

Petr.
Sir vnderstand you this of me (insooth)
The yongest daughter whom you hearken for,
Her father keepes from all accesse of sutors,
And will not promise her to any man,
Vntill the elder sister first be wed.
The yonger then is free, and not before.

Tranio.
If it be so sir, that you are the man
Must steed vs all, and me amongst the rest:
And if you breake the ice, and do this seeke,
Atchieue the elder: set the yonger free,
For our accesse, whose hap shall be to haue her,
Wil not so gracelesse be, to be ingrate.

Hor.
Sir you say wel, and wel you do conceiue,
And since you do professe to be a sutor,
You must as we do, gratifie this Gentleman,
To whom we all rest generally beholding.

Tranio.
Sir, I shal not be slacke, in signe whereof,
Please ye we may contriue this afternoone,
And quaffe carowses to our Mistresse health,
And do as aduersaries do in law,
Striue mightily, but eate and drinke as friends.

Gru.Bion.
Oh excellent motion: fellowes let's be gon.

Hor.
The motions good indeed, and be it so,
Petruchio, I shal be your Been venuto.
Exeunt.
Modern text
Act I, Scene I
Enter Lucentio and his man Tranio

LUCENTIO
Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy,
And by my father's love and leave am armed
With his good will and thy good company,
My trusty servant well approved in all,
Here let us breathe and haply institute
A course of learning and ingenious studies.
Pisa renowned for grave citizens
Gave me my being and my father first,
A merchant of great traffic through the world,
Vincentio come of the Bentivolii.
Vincentio's son, brought up in Florence,
It shall become to serve all hopes conceived
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds.
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study
Virtue, and that part of philosophy
Will I apply that treats of happiness
By virtue specially to be achieved.
Tell me thy mind, for I have Pisa left
And am to Padua come as he that leaves
A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep,
And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.

TRANIO
Mi perdonato, gentle master mine.
I am in all affected as yourself,
Glad that you thus continue your resolve
To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy.
Only, good master, while we do admire
This virtue and this moral discipline,
Let's be no stoics nor no stocks, I pray,
Or so devote to Aristotle's checks
As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured.
Balk logic with acquaintance that you have,
And practise rhetoric in your common talk,
Music and poesy use to quicken you,
The mathematics and the metaphysics
Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you.
No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en.
In brief, sir, study what you most affect.

LUCENTIO
Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise.
If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore,
We could at once put us in readiness,
And take a lodging fit to entertain
Such friends as time in Padua shall beget.
Enter Baptista with his two daughters Katherina and
Bianca; Gremio, a pantaloon, and Hortensio, suitor
to Bianca. Lucentio and Tranio stand by
But stay awhile, what company is this?

TRANIO
Master, some show to welcome us to town.

BAPTISTA
Gentlemen, importune me no farther,
For how I firmly am resolved you know;
That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter
Before I have a husband for the elder.
If either of you both love Katherina,
Because I know you well and love you well,
Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.

GREMIO
To cart her rather. She's too rough for me.
There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife?

KATHERINA
(to Baptista)
I pray you, sir, is it your will
To make a stale of me amongst these mates?

HORTENSIO
Mates, maid, how mean you that? No mates for you
Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.

KATHERINA
I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear.
Iwis it is not halfway to her heart.
But if it were, doubt not her care should be
To comb your noddle with a three-legged stool,
And paint your face, and use you like a fool.

HORTENSIO
From all such devils, good Lord deliver us!

GREMIO
And me too, good Lord!

TRANIO
(aside to Lucentio)
Husht, master, here's some good pastime toward.
That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward.

LUCENTIO
(aside to Tranio)
But in the other's silence do I see
Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety.
Peace, Tranio.

TRANIO
(aside to Lucentio)
Well said, master. Mum! And gaze your fill.

BAPTISTA
Gentlemen, that I may soon make good
What I have said – Bianca, get you in.
And let it not displease thee, good Bianca,
For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl.

KATHERINA
A pretty peat! It is best
Put finger in the eye, an she knew why.

BIANCA
Sister, content you in my discontent.
Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe.
My books and instruments shall be my company,
On them to look and practise by myself.

LUCENTIO
(aside)
Hark, Tranio, thou mayst hear Minerva speak.

HORTENSIO
Signor Baptista, will you be so strange?
Sorry am I that our good will effects
Bianca's grief.

GREMIO
Why will you mew her up,
Signor Baptista, for this fiend of hell,
And make her bear the penance of her tongue?

BAPTISTA
Gentlemen, content ye. I am resolved.
Go in, Bianca.
Exit Bianca
And for I know she taketh most delight
In music, instruments, and poetry,
Schoolmasters will I keep within my house
Fit to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio,
Or Signor Gremio, you, know any such,
Prefer them hither; for to cunning men
I will be very kind, and liberal
To mine own children in good bringing up.
And so farewell. Katherina, you may stay,
For I have more to commune with Bianca.
Exit

KATHERINA
Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not?
What, shall I be appointed hours, as though, belike,
I knew not what to take and what to leave? Ha?
Exit

GREMIO
You may go to the devil's dam. Your gifts are so
good here's none will hold you. There! Love is not so
great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together,
and fast it fairly out. Our cake's dough on both sides.
Farewell. Yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I
can by any means light on a fit man to teach her that
wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father.

HORTENSIO
So will I, Signor Gremio. But a word, I
pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never
brooked parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us
both – that we may yet again have access to our fair
mistress and be happy rivals in Bianca's love – to
labour and effect one thing specially.

GREMIO
What's that, I pray?

HORTENSIO
Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.

GREMIO
A husband? A devil.

HORTENSIO
I say a husband.

GREMIO
I say a devil. Think'st thou, Hortensio, though
her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be
married to hell?

HORTENSIO
Tush, Gremio. Though it pass your patience
and mine to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be
good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them,
would take her with all faults, and money enough.

GREMIO
I cannot tell. But I had as lief take her dowry
with this condition – to be whipped at the high-cross
every morning.

HORTENSIO
Faith, as you say, there's small choice in
rotten apples. But come, since this bar in law makes us
friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained till by
helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband we set
his youngest free for a husband, and then have to't
afresh. Sweet Bianca! Happy man be his dole. He that
runs fastest gets the ring. How say you, Signor Gremio?

GREMIO
I am agreed, and would I had given him the best
horse in Padua to begin his wooing that would thoroughly
woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house
of her. Come on.
Exeunt Gremio and Hortensio

TRANIO
I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible
That love should of a sudden take such hold?

LUCENTIO
O Tranio, till I found it to be true,
I never thought it possible or likely.
But see, while idly I stood looking on,
I found the effect of love in idleness,
And now in plainness do confess to thee,
That art to me as secret and as dear
As Anna to the Queen of Carthage was –
Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,
If I achieve not this young modest girl.
Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst.
Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.

TRANIO
Master, it is no time to chide you now;
Affection is not rated from the heart.
If love have touched you, naught remains but so –
Redime te captum quam queas minimo.

LUCENTIO
Gramercies, lad. Go forward, this contents.
The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.

TRANIO
Master, you looked so longly on the maid,
Perhaps you marked not what's the pith of all.

LUCENTIO
O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face,
Such as the daughter of Agenor had,
That made great Jove to humble him to her hand,
When with his knees he kissed the Cretan strand.

TRANIO
Saw you no more? Marked you not how her sister
Began to scold and raise up such a storm
That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?

LUCENTIO
Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move
And with her breath she did perfume the air.
Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.

TRANIO
Nay, then 'tis time to stir him from his trance.
I pray, awake, sir. If you love the maid,
Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands:
Her eldest sister is so curst and shrewd
That till the father rid his hands of her,
Master, your love must live a maid at home,
And therefore has he closely mewed her up,
Because she will not be annoyed with suitors.

LUCENTIO
Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he!
But art thou not advised he took some care
To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?

TRANIO
Ay, marry, am I, sir – and now 'tis plotted.

LUCENTIO
I have it, Tranio.

TRANIO
Master, for my hand,
Both our inventions meet and jump in one.

LUCENTIO
Tell me thine first.

TRANIO
You will be schoolmaster,
And undertake the teaching of the maid –
That's your device.

LUCENTIO
It is. May it be done?

TRANIO
Not possible. For who shall bear your part
And be in Padua here Vincentio's son,
Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends,
Visit his countrymen and banquet them?

LUCENTIO
Basta, content thee, for I have it full.
We have not yet been seen in any house,
Nor can we be distinguished by our faces
For man or master. Then it follows thus –
Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead,
Keep house, and port, and servants, as I should.
I will some other be – some Florentine,
Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa.
'Tis hatched, and shall be so. Tranio, at once
Uncase thee, take my coloured hat and cloak.
When Biondello comes, he waits on thee,
But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.

TRANIO
So had you need.
They exchange garments
In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is,
And I am tied to be obedient –
For so your father charged me at our parting:
‘ Be serviceable to my son,’ quoth he,
Although I think 'twas in another sense –
I am content to be Lucentio,
Because so well I love Lucentio.

LUCENTIO
Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves.
And let me be a slave t' achieve that maid
Whose sudden sight hath thralled my wounded eye.
Enter Biondello
Here comes the rogue. Sirrah, where have you been?

BIONDELLO
Where have I been? Nay, how now, where
are you? Master, has my fellow Tranio stolen your
clothes, or you stolen his, or both? Pray, what's the
news?

LUCENTIO
Sirrah, come hither. 'Tis no time to jest,
And therefore frame your manners to the time.
Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life,
Puts my apparel and my countenance on,
And I for my escape have put on his.
For in a quarrel since I came ashore
I killed a man, and fear I was descried.
Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes,
While I make way from hence to save my life.
You understand me?

BIONDELLO
I, sir? Ne'er a whit.

LUCENTIO
And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth.
Tranio is changed into Lucentio.

BIONDELLO
The better for him, would I were so too!

TRANIO
So could I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after,
That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter.
But, sirrah, not for my sake but your master's, I advise
You use your manners discreetly in all kind of companies.
When I am alone, why then I am Tranio,
But in all places else your master Lucentio.

LUCENTIO
Tranio, let's go.
One thing more rests, that thyself execute
To make one among these wooers. If thou ask me why,
Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty.
Exeunt
The Presenters above speak

LORD
My lord, you nod, you do not mind the play.

SLY
(coming to with a start) Yes, by Saint Anne, do I. A
good matter, surely. Comes there any more of it?

PAGE
My lord, 'tis but begun.

SLY
'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady.
Would 'twere done!
They sit and mark
Modern text
Act I, Scene II
Enter Petruchio and his man Grumio

PETRUCHIO
Verona, for a while I take my leave,
To see my friends in Padua, but of all
My best beloved and approved friend,
Hortensio; and I trow this is his house.
Here, sirrah Grumio, knock, I say.

GRUMIO
Knock, sir? Whom should I knock? Is there any
man has rebused your worship?

PETRUCHIO
Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.

GRUMIO
Knock you here, sir? Why, sir, what am I, sir,
that I should knock you here, sir?

PETRUCHIO
Villain, I say, knock me at this gate,
And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate.

GRUMIO
My master is grown quarrelsome. I should knock you first,
And then I know after who comes by the worst.

PETRUCHIO
Will it not be?
Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll ring it.
I'll try how you can sol-fa and sing it.
He wrings him by the ears

GRUMIO
Help, masters, help! My master is mad.

PETRUCHIO
Now knock when I bid you, sirrah villain.
Enter Hortensio

HORTENSIO
How now, what's the matter? My old friend
Grumio and my good friend Petruchio! How do you all
at Verona?

PETRUCHIO
Signor Hortensio, come you to part the fray?
Con tutto il cuore ben trovato, may I say.

HORTENSIO
Alla nostra casa ben venuto,
Molto honorato signor mio Petruchio.
Rise, Grumio, rise. We will compound this quarrel.

GRUMIO
Nay, 'tis no matter, sir, what he 'leges in Latin. If
this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service,
look you, sir. He bid me knock him and rap him
soundly, sir. Well, was it fit for a servant to use his
master so, being perhaps, for aught I see, two and thirty,
a pip out?
Whom would to God I had well knocked at first,
Then had not Grumio come by the worst.

PETRUCHIO
A senseless villain. Good Hortensio,
I bade the rascal knock upon your gate,
And could not get him for my heart to do it.

GRUMIO
Knock at the gate? O heavens! Spake you not
these words plain, ‘ Sirrah, knock me here, rap me here,
knock me well, and knock me soundly ’? And come you
now with ‘ knocking at the gate ’?

PETRUCHIO
Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you.

HORTENSIO
Petruchio, patience, I am Grumio's pledge.
Why, this's a heavy chance 'twixt him and you,
Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio.
And tell me now, sweet friend, what happy gale
Blows you to Padua here from old Verona?

PETRUCHIO
Such wind as scatters young men through the world
To seek their fortunes farther than at home,
Where small experience grows. But in a few,
Signor Hortensio, thus it stands with me:
Antonio, my father, is deceased,
And I have thrust myself into this maze,
Haply to wive and thrive as best I may.
Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home,
And so am come abroad to see the world.

HORTENSIO
Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee
And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favoured wife?
Thou'dst thank me but a little for my counsel,
And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich,
And very rich. But th' art too much my friend,
And I'll not wish thee to her.

PETRUCHIO
Signor Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we
Few words suffice; and therefore, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife –
As wealth is burden of my wooing dance –
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xanthippe, or a worse,
She moves me not, or not removes at least
Affection's edge in me, were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatic seas.
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

GRUMIO
Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his
mind is. Why, give him gold enough and marry him to
a puppet or an aglet-baby, or an old trot with ne'er a
tooth in her head, though she have as many diseases
as two-and-fifty horses. Why, nothing comes amiss, so
money comes withal.

HORTENSIO
Petruchio, since we are stepped thus far in,
I will continue that I broached in jest.
I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife
With wealth enough, and young and beauteous,
Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman.
Her only fault – and that is faults enough –
Is that she is intolerable curst,
And shrewd and froward so beyond all measure
That, were my state far worser than it is,
I would not wed her for a mine of gold.

PETRUCHIO
Hortensio, peace. Thou know'st not gold's effect.
Tell me her father's name and 'tis enough.
For I will board her though she chide as loud
As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.

HORTENSIO
Her father is Baptista Minola,
An affable and courteous gentleman.
Her name is Katherina Minola,
Renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue.

PETRUCHIO
I know her father, though I know not her,
And he knew my deceased father well.
I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her,
And therefore let me be thus bold with you
To give you over at this first encounter,
Unless you will accompany me thither.

GRUMIO
I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour lasts.
O' my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she would
think scolding would do little good upon him. She may
perhaps call him half-a-score knaves or so. Why, that's
nothing; an he begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks.
I'll tell you what, sir, an she stand him but a little, he
will throw a figure in her face, and so disfigure her with
it that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a
cat. You know him not, sir.

HORTENSIO
Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee,
For in Baptista's keep my treasure is.
He hath the jewel of my life in hold,
His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca,
And her withholds from me and other more,
Suitors to her and rivals in my love,
Supposing it a thing impossible,
For those defects I have before rehearsed,
That ever Katherina will be wooed.
Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en,
That none shall have access unto Bianca
Till Katherine the curst have got a husband.

GRUMIO
Katherine the curst,
A title for a maid of all titles the worst.

HORTENSIO
Now shall my friend Petruchio do me 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.

GRUMIO
Here's no knavery! See, to beguile the old folks,
how the young folks lay their heads together.
Enter Gremio, and Lucentio disguised as Cambio, a
schoolmaster
Master, master, look about you. Who goes there, ha?

HORTENSIO
Peace, Grumio. It is the rival of my love.
Petruchio, stand by a while.

GRUMIO
A proper stripling and an amorous!
They stand aside

GREMIO
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
Signor Baptista's liberality,
I'll mend it with a largess. Take your paper too.
And let me have them very well perfumed,
For she is sweeter than perfume itself
To whom they go to. What will you read to her?

LUCENTIO
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.

GREMIO
O this learning, what a thing it is!

GRUMIO
(aside)
O this woodcock, what an ass it is!

PETRUCHIO
(aside)
Peace, sirrah.

HORTENSIO
(aside)
Grumio, mum! (Coming forward) God save you, Signor Gremio.

GREMIO
And you are well met, Signor Hortensio.
Trow you whither I am going? To Baptista Minola.
I promised to enquire carefully
About a schoolmaster for the 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 ye.

HORTENSIO
'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 duty
To fair Bianca, so beloved of me.

GREMIO
Beloved of me, and that my deeds shall prove.

GRUMIO
(aside)
And that his bags shall prove.

HORTENSIO
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,
Will undertake to woo curst Katherine,
Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.

GREMIO
So said, so done, is well.
Hortensio, have you told him all her faults?

PETRUCHIO
I know she is an irksome brawling scold.
If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.

GREMIO
No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman?

PETRUCHIO
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.

GREMIO
O sir, such a life with such a wife were strange.
But if you have a stomach, to't a God's name –
You shall have me assisting you in all.
But will you woo this wild-cat?

PETRUCHIO
Will I live?

GRUMIO
Will he woo her? Ay, or I'll hang her.

PETRUCHIO
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, puffed 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?
Have 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 hear
As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire?
Tush, tush, fear boys with bugs!

GRUMIO
For he fears none.

GREMIO
Hortensio, hark.
This gentleman is happily arrived,
My mind presumes, for his own good and yours.

HORTENSIO
I promised we would be contributors
And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er.

GREMIO
And so we will – provided that he win her.

GRUMIO
I would I were as sure of a good dinner.
Enter Tranio, bravely dressed as Lucentio, and
Biondello

TRANIO
Gentlemen, God save you. If I may be bold,
Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way
To the house of Signor Baptista Minola?

BIONDELLO
He that has the two fair daughters – is't he
you mean?

TRANIO
Even he, Biondello.

GREMIO
Hark you, sir, you mean not her too?

TRANIO
Perhaps him and her, sir. What have you to do?

PETRUCHIO
Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray.

TRANIO
I love no chiders, sir. Biondello, let's away.

LUCENTIO
(aside)
Well begun, Tranio.

HORTENSIO
Sir, a word ere you go.
Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no?

TRANIO
And if I be, sir, is it any offence?

GREMIO
No, if without more words you will get you hence.

TRANIO
Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free
For me as for you?

GREMIO
But so is not she.

TRANIO
For what reason, I beseech you?

GREMIO
For this reason, if you'll know,
That she's the choice love of Signor Gremio.

HORTENSIO
That she's the chosen of Signor Hortensio.

TRANIO
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.

GREMIO
What, this gentleman will out-talk us all!

LUCENTIO
Sir, give him head, I know he'll prove a jade.

PETRUCHIO
Hortensio, to what end are all these words?

HORTENSIO
Sir, let me be so bold as ask you,
Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter?

TRANIO
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.

PETRUCHIO
Sir, sir, the first's for me, let her go by.

GREMIO
Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules,
And let it be more than Alcides' twelve.

PETRUCHIO
Sir, understand you this of me in sooth,
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.

TRANIO
If it be so, sir, that you are the man
Must stead us all – and me amongst the rest –
And 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.

HORTENSIO
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 beholding.

TRANIO
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.

GRUMIO and BIONDELLO
O excellent motion! Fellows, let's be gone.

HORTENSIO
The motion's good indeed, and be it so.
Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto.
Exeunt
x

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