Bap. ^note
Signior Lucentio [to Tranio], this is the 'pointed ^note day.
That Katharine and Petruchio should be married,
And yet we hear not of our son-in-law.
What will be said? what mockery will it be,
To want the bridegroom when the priest attends
To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage!
What says Lucentio to this shame of ours?

Kath.
No shame but mine: I must, forsooth, be forced
To give my hand, opposed against my heart,
Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen;
Who woo'd in haste, and means to wed at leisure.
I told you, I, he was a frantic fool,
Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behaviour:
And, to be noted for a merry man, ^note
He'll woo a thousand, 'point ^note the day of marriage,
Make friends, invite, ^note and proclaim the banns ^note;
Yet never means to wed where he hath woo'd.
Now must the world point at poor Katharine ^note,
And say, ‘Lo, there is mad Petruchio's wife,
If it would please him come and marry her!’

Tra.
Patience, good Katharine, and Baptista too.
Upon my life, Petruchio means but well,
Whatever fortune stays him from his word:

Though he be blunt, I know ^note him passing wise;
Though he be merry, yet withal he's honest.

Kath.
Would Katharine had never seen him ^note though! [Exit weeping, followed by Bianca and others. ^note

Bap.
Go, girl; I cannot blame thee now to weep;
For such an injury would vex a very saint ^note,
Much more a shrew of thy ^note impatient humour. Enter Biondello. ^{note note}

Bion.

Master, master! news, old news, and such news ^note as you never heard of!

Bap.

Is it new and old too? how may that be?

Bion.

Why, is it not news, to hear ^note of Petruchio's coming?

Bap.

Is he come?

Bion.

Why, no, sir.

Bap.

What then?

Bion.

He is coming.

Bap.

When will he be here?

Bion.

When he stands where I am and sees you there.

Tra.

But say, what to ^note thine ^note old news?

Bion.

Why, Petruchio is coming in a new ^note hat and an old jerkin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned, a pair of boots that have been candle-cases, one buckled, another laced, an old rusty sword ta'en out of the town-armoury, with a broken hilt, and chapeless; with two broken points ^note: his horse hipped ^note with an old mothy saddle and ^note stirrups of no

kindred; ^note besides, possessed with the glanders and like to mose ^note in the chine; troubled with the lampass, infected with the fashions ^note, full of windgalls, sped with spavins, rayed with the yellows, past cure of the fives ^note, stark spoiled with the staggers, begnawn with the bots, swayed ^note in the back and shoulder-shotten; near-legged ^note before and with a half-checked bit and a head-stall of sheep's leather which, being restrained to keep him from stumbling, hath been often burst and now repaired ^note with knots; one girth ^note six times pieced and a woman's crupper of velure, which hath two letters for her name fairly set down ^note in studs, and here and there pieced with packthread.

Bap.

Who comes with him?

Bion.

O, sir, his lackey, for all the world caparisoned like the horse; with a linen stock on one leg, and a kersey boot-hose on the other, gartered with a red and blue list; an old hat, and ‘the humour of ^note forty fancies’ pricked ^note in't for a feather: a monster, a very monster in apparel, and not like a Christian footboy or a ^note gentleman's lackey.

Tra.
'Tis some odd ^note humour pricks him to this fashion;
Yet oftentimes he goes but mean-apparell'd.

Bap.

I am glad he's come ^note, howsoe'er ^note he comes.

Bion.

Why, sir, he comes not.

Bap.

Didst thou not say he comes?

Bion.

Who? that Petruchio ^note came ^note?

Bap.

Ay, that Petruchio came.

Bion.

No, sir; I say ^note his horse comes, with him on his back.

Bap.

Why, that's all one.

Bion.
Nay, by Saint Jamy,
I hold you a penny,
A horse and a man
Is more than one,
And yet not many. ^{note note}Enter Petruchio and Grumio. ^note

Pet.
Come ^note, where be these gallants? ^note who's ^note at home?

Bap.
You are ^note welcome, sir.

Pet.
And yet I come not well.

Bap.
And yet you halt not ^note.

Tra.
Not so well apparell'd ^note
As I wish ^note you were ^note.

Pet.
Were ^note it better ^note, I should rush in thus. ^{note note}
But where is Kate? where is my ^note lovely bride?
How does my father? Gentles, methinks you frown:
And wherefore gaze this goodly company,
As if they saw some wondrous monument,
Some comet or unusual prodigy?

Bap.
Why, sir, you know this is your wedding-day:
First were we sad, fearing you would not come;
Now sadder, that you come so unprovided.
Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate,
An ^note eye-sore to our solemn festival!

Tra.
And tell us, what occasion of import

Hath all so long detain'd you from your wife,
And sent you hither so unlike yourself?

Pet.
Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear:
Sufficeth, I am come to keep my word,
Though in some part enforced to digress;
Which, at more leisure, I will so excuse
As you shall well be satisfied withal ^note.
But where is Kate? I stay too long from her:
The morning wears, 'tis time we were at church.

Tra.
See not your bride in these unreverent robes:
Go to my chamber; put on clothes of mine.

Pet.
Not I, believe me: thus I'll visit her.

Bap.
But thus, I trust, you will not marry her.

Pet.
Good sooth, even thus; therefore ha' ^note done with words:
To me she's married, not unto my clothes:
Could I repair what she will wear in me,
As I can ^note change these poor accoutrements,
'Twere well for Kate and better for myself.
But what a fool am I to chat with you,
When I should bid good morrow to my bride,
And seal the title with a lovely ^note kiss! [Exeunt Petruchio and Grumio. ^note

Tra.
He hath some meaning in his mad attire:
We will persuade him, be it possible,
To put on better ere he go to church.

Bap.
I'll after him, and see the event of this. [Exeunt Baptista, Gremio, and attendants. ^{note note}

Tra.
But to her love ^note concerneth us to add

Her father's liking: which to bring to pass,
As I before ^note imparted to your worship,
I am to get a man,—whate'er he be,
It skills not much, we'll fit him to our turn ^note,—
And he shall be Vincentio of Pisa;
And make assurance here in Padua
Of greater sums than I have promised.
So shall you quietly enjoy your hope,
And marry sweet Bianca with consent.

Luc.
Were it not that my fellow-schoolmaster
Doth watch Bianca's steps so narrowly,
'Twere good, methinks, to steal our marriage;
Which once perform'd, let all the world say no,
I'll keep mine own, despite of all the world.

Tra.
That by degrees we mean to look into,
And watch our vantage in this business:
We'll over-reach the greybeard, Gremio,
The narrow-prying ^note father, Minola,
The quaint musician, amorous Licio;
All for my master's sake, Lucentio. ^note Re-enter Gremio. ^note
Signior ^note Gremio, came you from the church?

Gre.
As willingly as e'er I came from school.

Tra.
And is ^note the bride and bridegroom coming home?

Gre.
A bridegroom say you? 'tis a groom indeed,
A grumbling ^note groom, and that the girl shall find.

Tra.
Curster than she? ^note why, 'tis impossible.

Gre.
Why, he's a devil, a devil, a very fiend.

Tra.
Why, she's a devil, a devil, the devil's dam.

Gre.
Tut, she's a lamb, a dove, a fool to him!
I'll tell you, Sir Lucentio: when the priest

Should ask ^note, if Katharine should be his wife,
‘Ay, by gogs-wouns,’ quoth he; and swore so loud,
That, all amazed, the priest let fall the book;
And, as he stoop'd again to take it up,
The mad-brain'd bridegroom took him such a cuff,
That down fell priest and book, and book and priest:
‘Now take them up,’ quoth he, ‘if any list.’

Tra.
What said the wench ^note when he rose ^note again?

Gre.
Trembled and shook; for why he stamp'd and swore,
As if the vicar meant to cozen him.
But after many ceremonies done,
He calls for wine: ‘A health!’ quoth he; as if ^note
He had ^note been aboard, carousing to his mates
After a storm: quaff'd off the muscadel,
And threw the sops all in the sexton's face;
Having no other reason ^{note note}
But that his beard grew thin and hungerly
And seem'd to ask him ^note sops as he was drinking.
This done, he took the bride about the neck
And kiss'd her lips with such a clamorous smack
That at the parting all ^note the church did echo ^note:
And I ^note seeing this came thence for very shame;
And after me, I know ^note, the rout is coming.
Such a mad marriage never ^note was before:
Hark, hark! I hear ^note the minstrels play ^{note note}. [Music.

^noteRe-enter Petruchio, Katharina ^note, Bianca, Baptista, Hortensio, Grumio, and Train. ^note

Pet.
Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains:
I know you think to dine with me to-day,
And have prepared great store of wedding cheer;
But so it is, my haste doth call me hence,
And therefore here I mean to take my leave.

Bap.
Is't possible you will ^note away to-night?

Pet.
I must away to-day, before night come:
Make it no wonder; if you knew my business,
You would entreat me rather go than stay.
And, honest company, I thank you all,
That have beheld me give away myself
To this most patient, sweet, and virtuous wife:
Dine with my father, drink a health to me;
For I must hence; and farewell to you all.

Tra.
Let us entreat you stay till after dinner.

Pet.
It may not be.

Gre.
Let me entreat you ^note.

Pet.
It cannot be.

Kath.
Let me entreat you. ^note

Pet.
I am content.

Kath.
Are you content to stay?

Pet.
I am content you shall entreat me stay;
But yet not stay, entreat me how you can.

Kath.
Now, if you love me, stay.

Pet.
Grumio, my horse ^note.

Gru.

Ay, sir ^note, they be ready: the oats ^note have eaten ^note the horses.

Kath.
Nay, then,

Do what thou canst, I will not go to-day;
No, nor to-morrow, not till ^note I please myself.
The door is open, sir; there lies your way;
You may be jogging whiles ^note your boots are green;
For me, I'll not be gone ^note till I ^note please myself:
'Tis like you'll prove a jolly surly groom,
That take it on you at the first so roundly.

Pet.
O Kate, content thee; prithee, be not angry.

Kath.
I will be angry: what hast thou to do?
Father, be quiet: he shall stay my leisure.

Gre.
Ay, marry, sir, now it begins to work.

Kath.
Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner:
I see a woman may be made ^note a fool,
If she had not a spirit to resist.

Pet.
They shall go forward, Kate, at thy command.
Obey the bride, you that attend on her;
Go to the feast, revel and domineer,
Carouse full measure to her maidenhead,
Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves ^note:
But for my bonny Kate, she must with me.
Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret;
I will be master of what is mine own:
She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house ^note,
My ^note household stuff, my field, my barn ^note,
My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing;
And here she stands, touch her whoever dare;
I'll bring mine ^note action on the proudest he
That stops my way in Padua. Grumio,
Draw forth thy weapon, we are ^note beset with thieves;
Rescue thy mistress, if thou be a man.
Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate:

I'll buckler thee against a million. [Exeunt Petruchio, Katharina, and Grumio. ^note

Bap.
Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones.

Gre.
Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing.

Tra.
Of all mad matches never was the like.

Luc.
Mistress, what's your opinion of your sister? ^note

Bian.
That, being mad herself, she's madly mated.

Gre.
I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated.

Bap.
Neighbours and friends, though bride and bridegroom wants ^note
For to supply the places at the table,
You know there wants ^note no junkets at the feast.
Lucentio, you shall supply ^note the bridegroom's place;
And let Bianca take her sister's room.

Tra.
Shall sweet Bianca practise how to bride it?

Bap.
She shall, Lucentio. Come ^note, gentlemen, let's go. [Exeunt.

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