Good morrow Kate, for that's your name I hear.

Kath.
Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing.
They call me Katharine, that do talk of me.

Pet.
You lie in faith, for you are call'd plain Kate,
And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst:
But Kate, the prettiest Kate in christendom,

Kate of Kate-hall, my super-dainty Kate,
(For dainties are all Cates) and therefore Kate
Take this of me, Kate of my consolation!
Hearing thy mildness prais'd in every town,
Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded,
Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs:
My self am mov'd to woo thee for my wife.

Kath.
Mov'd! in good time; let him that mov'd you hither,
Remove you hence; I knew you at the first
You were a moveable.

Pet.
Why, what's a moveable?

Kath.
A join'd stool.

Pet.
Thou hast hit it; come, sit on me.

Kath.
Asses are made to bear, and so are you.

Pet.
Women are made to bear, and so are you.

Kath.
No such jade, Sir, as you, if me you mean.

Pet.
Alas, good Kate, I will not burthen thee,
For knowing thee to be but young and light—

Kath.
Too light for such a swain as you to catch;
And yet as heavy as my weight should be.* ^note

Pet.
Nay, hear you Kate. Insooth you 'scape not so.

Kath.
I chafe you if I tarry; let me go.

Pet.
No, not a whit, I find you passing gentle:
'Twas told me you were rough, and coy, and sullen,
And now I find report a very liar,
For thou art pleasant, gamesome, passing courteous,
But slow in speech, yet sweet as spring-time flowers.
Thou can'st not frown, thou can'st not look ascance,
Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will,
Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk:
But thou with mildness entertain'st thy wooers,
With gentle conf'rence, soft, and affable.
Why doth the world report that Kate doth limp?
Oh sland'rous world! Kate, like the hazle twig,
Is strait, and slender, and as brown in hue
As hazle nuts, and sweeter than the kernels.
Oh let me see thee walk: thou dost not halt.

Kath.
Go fool, and whom thou keep'st command.

Pet.
Did ever Dian so become a grove,
As Kate this chamber with her princely gaite?
O be thou Dian, and let her be Kate,
And then let Kate be chast, and Dian sportful.

Kath.
Where did you study all this goodly speech?

Pet.
It is extempore, from my mother-wit.

Kath.
A witty mother, witless else her son.

Pet.
Am I not wise?

Kath.
Yes; keep you warm.

Pet.
Why so I mean, sweet Katharine, in thy bed:
And therefore setting all this chat aside,
Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented
That you shall be my wife; your dowry 'greed on,
And will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn,
For by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,
Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well,
Thou must be married to no man but me.
For I am he am born to tame you Kate,
And bring you from a wild cat to a Kate,
Conformable as other houshold Kates;
Here comes your father, never make denial,
I must and will have Katharine to my wife.

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