Pet.
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.

Gru.

Knock, sir! whom should I knock? is there any man has rebused your worship^{7 note}?

Pet.

Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.

Gru.

Knock you here^{8 note}, sir? why, sir, what am I, sir, that I should knock you here, sir?

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

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

Pet.
Will it not be?
'Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll wring it^{9 note};
I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it. [He wrings Grumio by the ears.

Gru.
Help, masters^{1 note}
, help! my master is mad.

Pet.
Now, knock when I bid you: sirrah! villain! Enter Hortensio.

Hor.

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

Pet.
Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray?
Con tutto il core bene trovato, may I say.

Hor.
Alla nostra casa bene venuto,
Molto honorato signor mio Petruchio^{2 note}.
Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel.

Gru.

Nay, 'tis no matter, what he 'leges in Latin^{3 note}

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^{4 note}?

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

Gru.
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^{5 note}

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

Hor.
Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge:

Why, this a heavy chance 'twixt him and you^{6 note}
;
Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio.
And tell me now, sweet friend,—what happy gale
Blows you to Padua here, from old Verona?

Pet.
Such wind as scatters young men through the world,
To seek their fortunes further than at home,
Where small experience grows. But, in a few^{7 note}

Hor.
Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee,
And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife?
Thoud'st thank me but a little for my counsel:
And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich,
And very rich:—but thou'rt too much my friend,
And I'll not wish thee to her.

Pet.
Signior 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 burthen of my wooing dance^{8 note})
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love^{9 note}

As old as Sybil, and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xantippe, or a worse,
She moves me not, or not removes, at least,

Affection's edge in me: were she as rough^{1 note}
As are the swelling Adriatick seas:
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

Gru.

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^{2 note}

Hor.
Petruchio, since we have stepp'd thus far in,
I will continue that I broach'd 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^{4 note},)
Is,—that she is intolerably curst,
And shrewd^{5 note}

That, were my state far worser than it is,
I would not wed her for a mine of gold.

Pet.
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.

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

Pet.
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.

Gru.

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^{6 note}

what, sir,—an she stand him^{7 note} 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^{8 note}

Hor.
Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee;
For in Baptista's keep^{9 note}

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^{1 note}

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

Hor.
Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace;
And offer me, disguis'd in sober robes,
To old Baptista as a school master
Well seen in music^{3 note}





, 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! See; 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 perus'd the note.
Hark you, sir; I'll have them very fairly bound:
All books of love, see that at any hand^{4 note}
;
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 perfum'd;
For she is sweeter than perfume itself,
To whom they go^{5 note}. 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 assur'd,)
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.

Hor.
Grumio, mum!—God save you, signior Gremio!

Gre.
And you're well met, signior Hortensio. Trow you,
Whither I am going?—To Baptista Minola.
I promis'd to enquire carefully
About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca^{6 note}:
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 promis'd me to help me^{7 note}

Gre.
Belov'd 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,
Will undertake to woo curst Katharine;
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, say'st me so, friend? What countryman?

Pet.
Born in Verona, old Antonio's son^{8 note}

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?
Have I not in a pitched battle heard
Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang^{9 note}

And do you tell me of a woman's tongue;
That gives not half so great a blow to the ear^{1 note}

Gru.
For he fears none. [Aside.

Gre.
Hortensio, hark!
This gentleman is happily arriv'd,
My mind presumes, for his own good, and yours.

Hor.
I promis'd, 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 apparell'd; 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?

Bion.
He that has the two fair daughters:—is't [Aside to Tranio,] he you mean^{3 note}

?

Tra.
Even he, Biondello^{4 note}.

Gre.
Hark you, sir; You mean not her to&wblank;^{5 note}

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

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

Tra.
I love no chiders, sir:—Biondello, let's away.

Luc.
Well begun, Tranio. [Aside.

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

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

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?

Gre.
But so is not she.

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 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 labour 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^{6 note},
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^{5 note}

Gru., Bion.
O excellent motion! Fellows, let's begone^{7 note}.

Hor.
The motion's good indeed, and be it so;—
Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. [Exeunt.

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