Luc.
Tranio, since—for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,—
I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy^{2 note}

^note expresses the genitive case in the same improper manner. See Love's Labour Lost.

Vincentio his son^{5 note}

, brought up in Florence,
It shall become, to serve all hopes conceiv'd,
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds:
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study,
Virtue, and that part of philosophy^{6 note}
Will I apply, that treats of happiness
By virtue 'specially to be atchiev'd.
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.

Tra.
Me pardonato^{8 note}, 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 stoicks, nor no stocks, I pray;
Or so devote to Aristotle's checks^{7 note},
As Ovid be an outcast quite abjur'd:
Talk logick with acquaintance that you have,
And practice rhetorick in your common talk;
Musick, and poesy, use to quicken you;
The mathematicks, and the metaphysicks,
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.

Luc.
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.
But stay a while: What company is this?

Tra.
Master, some show, to welcome us to town. Enter Baptista, with Katharina and Bianca. Gremio and Hortensio. Lucentio and Tranio stand by.

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

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

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

Hor.
Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you,
Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.

Kath.
I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear;
I-wis, it is not half way to her heart:
But, if it were, doubt not, her care shall be
To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool,
And paint your face, and use you like a fool.

Hor.
From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us!

Gre.
And me too, good Lord!

Tra.
Hush, master! here is some good pastime toward;
That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward.

Luc.
But in the other's silence I do see
Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety.
Peace, Tranio.

Tra.
Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill.

Bap.
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.

Kath.
A pretty peat^{9 note}

Bian.
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.

Luc.
Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva speak, [aside.

Hor.
Signior Baptista, will you be so^{1 note} strange?
Sorry am I, that our good will effects
Bianca's grief.

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

Bap.
Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd:—
Go in, Bianca. [Exit Bianca.

And for I know, she taketh most delight
In musick, instruments, and poetry,
Schoolmasters will I keep within my house,
Fit to instruct her youth.—If you, Hortensio,—
Or signior Gremio, you,—know any such,
Prefer them hither; for to cunning men^{2 note}
I will be very kind, and liberal
To mine own children in good bringing-up;
And so farewel. Katharina, you may stay;
For I have more to commune with Bianca. [Exit.

Kath.
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.

Gre.

You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts are so good, here is none will hold you. Their 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. Farewel:—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.

Hor.

So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel never yet brook'd 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.

Gre.

What's that, I pray?

Hor.

Marry sir, to get a husband for her sister.

Gre.

A husband! a devil.

Hor.

I say, a husband.

Gre.

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?

Hor.

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 her faults, and money enough.

Gre.

I cannot tell: but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition,—to be whipp'd at the high cross every morning.

Hor.

'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 maintain'd,—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^{3 note}! He that runs fastest, gets the ring. How say you, signior Gremio?

Gre.

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.

Tra.
I pray, sir, tell me,—Is it possible
That love should of a sudden take such hold?

Luc.
Oh, 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 atchieve not this young modest girl:
Counsel 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 love have touch'd you, nought remains but so^{4 note}

Luc.
Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents;
The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.

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

Luc.
O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face,
Such as the daughter of Agenor^{6 note} had,
That made great Jove to humble him to her hand,
When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand.

Tra.
Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how her sister
Began to scold; and raise up such a storm,
That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?

Luc.
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.

Tra.
Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance.
I pray, awake, sir; If you love the maid,

Bend thoughts and wits to atchieve 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 mew'd her up,
Because she shall not be annoy'd with suitors.

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

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

Luc.
I have it, Tranio.

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

Luc.
Tell me thine first.

Tra.
You will be school-master,
And undertake the teaching of the maid:
That's your device.

Luc.
It is: May it be done?

Tra.
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?

Luc.
Basta^{7 note}; content thee; for I have it full.
We have not yet been seen in any house;
Nor can we be distinguish'd by our faces,
For man, or master: then it follows thus;—
Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead,
Keep house, and ^{8 note}port, and servants, 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
Uncase thee; take my colour'd hat and cloak:

When Biondello comes, he waits on thee;
But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.

Tra.
So had you need. [They exchange habits.
In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is,
And I am ty'd to be obedient;
(For so your father charg'd 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.

Luc.
Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves:
And let me be a slave, to atchieve that maid
Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye. Enter Biondello.
Here comes the rogue. Sirrah, where have you been?

Bion.
Where have I been? Nay, how now, where are you?
Master, has my fellow Tranio stoln your cloaths?
Or you stoln his? or both? pray, what's the news?

Luc.
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 kill'd a man, and fear I am descry'd:
Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes,
While I make way from hence to save my life:
You understand me?

Bion.
Ay, sir, ne'er a whit.

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

Bion.
The better for him; 'Would, I were so too!

Tra.
So would 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.

Luc.
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^{9 note}. [Exeunt.

1 Man.
My lord you nod; you do not mind the play.

Sly.
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, it were done! SCENE II. Before Hortensio's house in Padua. Enter Petruchio, and Grumio.

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 rebus'd your worship^{1 note}?

Pet.
Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.

Gru.
Knock you here, 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,

Pet.
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.

Gru.
Help, masters, 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 ben trovato, may I say.

Hor.
Alla nostra casa ben venuto,
Molto honorato signor mio Petruchio.
Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel.

Gru.

Nay, 'tis no matter, what he 'leges^{2 note}

Whom, would to God, I had well knock'd at first,
Then had not Grumio come by the worst.

Pet.
A senseless villain!—Good Hortensio,
I bid 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^{3 note}
?
And come you now with—knocking at the gate?

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

Hor.
Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge:
Why, this is 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?

Pet.
Such wind as scatters young men through the world,
To seek their fortunes farther than at home,
^{4 note}

Hor.
Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee,
And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd 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 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 burden of my wooing dance^{5 note})
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love^{6 note}

As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xantippe, or a worse,
She moves me not, or not removes, at least,
^{7 note}

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^{8 note}

Hor.
Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee;
For in Baptista's keep^{2 note} my treasure is:
He hath the jewel of my life in hold,
His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca;

^{3 note}

Gru.
Katharine 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 musick^{4 note}

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!

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^{5 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. 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 are well met, signior Hortensio. Trow you
Whither I am going?—To Baptista Minola.
I promis'd 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 you.

Hor.
'Tis well: and I have met a gentleman,
Hath promis'd me to help me^{6 note} to another,
A fine musician to instruct our mistress;
So shall I no whit be behind in duty
To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me.

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^{7 note}:
My father dead, my fortune lives for me;
And I do hope good days, and long, to see.

Gre.
Oh, 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 ordinance in the field,
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?
Have I not in a pitched battle heard
Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and^{8 note}

And do you tell me of a woman's tongue;
That gives not half so great a blow to the ear^{9 note}

Gru.
For he fears none. [Aside.

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

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.

To them 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?

Gre.

He that has the two fair daughters^{2 note}

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 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 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 the other is 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 eldest 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 amongst the rest;
An if you break the ice, and do this feat^{3 note},—
Atchieve 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^{4 note}

And quaff carouses to our mistress' health;
And do as adversaries do in law,—
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.

Gru.
O excellent motion! Fellows, let's begone.

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

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