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2
Enter LUCENTIO and his man TRANIO
4
Tranio, since for the great desire I had
5
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
6
I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy,
7
The pleasant garden of great Italy,
8
And by my father's love and leave am arm'd
9
With his good will and thy good company,
10
My trusty servant well approv'd in all,
11
Here let us breathe, and haply institute
12
A course of learning and ingenious studies.
13
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
14
Gave me my being and my father first,
15
A merchant of great traffic through the world,
16
Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii;
17
Vincentio's son, brought up in Florence,
18
It shall become to serve all hopes conceiv'd,
19
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds.
20
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study,
21
Virtue and that part of philosophy
22
Will I apply that treats of happiness
23
By virtue specially to be achiev'd.
24
Tell me thy mind; for I have Pisa left
25
And am to Padua come as he that leaves
26
A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep,
27
And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.
29
Mi perdonato, gentle master mine;
30
I am in all affected as yourself;
31
Glad that you thus continue your resolve
32
To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy.
33
Only, good master, while we do admire
34
This virtue and this moral discipline,
35
Let's be no Stoics nor no stocks, I pray,
36
Or so devote to Aristotle's checks
37
As Ovid be an outcast quite abjur'd.
38
Balk logic with acquaintance that you have,
39
And practise rhetoric in your common talk;
40
Music and poesy use to quicken you;
41
The mathematics and the metaphysics,
42
Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you.
43
No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en;
44
In brief, sir, study what you most affect.
46
Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise.
47
If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore,
48
We could at once put us in readiness,
49
And take a lodging fit to entertain
50
Such friends as time in Padua shall beget.
51
Enter BAPTISTA with his two daughters, KATHERINA
52
and BIANCA; GREMIO, a pantaloon; HORTENSIO,
53
suitor to BIANCA. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand by
54
But stay awhile; what company is this?
56
Master, some show to welcome us to town.
58
Gentlemen, importune me no farther,
59
For how I firmly am resolv'd you know;
60
That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter
61
Before I have a husband for the elder.
62
If either of you both love Katherina,
63
Because I know you well and love you well,
64
Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.
66
To cart her rather. She's too rough for me.
67
There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife?
69
[To BAPTISTA]I pray you, sir, is it your will
70
To make a stale of me amongst these mates?
72
Mates, maid! How mean you that? No mates for you,
73
Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.
75
I' faith, sir, you shall never need to fear;
76
Iwis it is not halfway to her heart;
77
But if it were, doubt not her care should be
78
To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool,
79
And paint your face, and use you like a fool.
81
From all such devils, good Lord deliver us!
83
And me, too, good Lord!
85
Husht, master! Here's some good pastime toward;
86
That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward.
88
But in the other's silence do I see
89
Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety.
92
Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill.
94
Gentlemen, that I may soon make good
95
What I have said- Bianca, get you in;
96
And let it not displease thee, good Bianca,
97
For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl.
99
A pretty peat! it is best
100
Put finger in the eye, an she knew why.
102
Sister, content you in my discontent.
103
Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe;
104
My books and instruments shall be my company,
105
On them to look, and practise by myself.
107
Hark, Tranio, thou mayst hear Minerva speak!
109
Signior Baptista, will you be so strange?
110
Sorry am I that our good will effects
113
Why will you mew her up,
114
Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,
115
And make her bear the penance of her tongue?
117
Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd.
118
Go in, Bianca. Exit BIANCA
119
And for I know she taketh most delight
120
In music, instruments, and poetry,
121
Schoolmasters will I keep within my house
122
Fit to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio,
123
Or, Signior Gremio, you, know any such,
124
Prefer them hither; for to cunning men
125
I will be very kind, and liberal
126
To mine own children in good bringing-up;
127
And so, farewell. Katherina, you may stay;
128
For I have more to commune with Bianca. Exit
130
Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not?
131
What! shall I be appointed hours, as though, belike,
132
I knew not what to take and what to leave? Ha! Exit
134
You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts are so good
135
here's none will hold you. There! Love is not so great,
136
Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly
137
out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell; yet, for the love
138
I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man
139
to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her
142
So Will I, Signior Gremio; but a word, I pray. Though
143
the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon
144
advice, it toucheth us both- that we may yet again have access to
145
our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love- to
146
labour and effect one thing specially.
150
Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.
156
I say a devil. Think'st thou, Hortensio, though her father
157
be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell?
159
Tush, Gremio! Though it pass your patience and mine to
160
endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the
161
world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all
162
faults, and money enough.
164
I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this
165
condition: to be whipp'd at the high cross every morning.
167
Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten
168
apples. But, come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it
169
shall be so far forth friendly maintain'd till by helping
170
Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband we set his youngest free
171
for a husband, and then have to't afresh. Sweet Bianca! Happy man
172
be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the ring. How say you,
175
I am agreed; and would I had given him the best horse in
176
Padua to begin his wooing that would thoroughly woo her, wed her,
177
and bed her, and rid the house of her! Come on.
178
Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO
180
I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible
181
That love should of a sudden take such hold?
183
O Tranio, till I found it to be true,
184
I never thought it possible or likely.
185
But see! while idly I stood looking on,
186
I found the effect of love in idleness;
187
And now in plainness do confess to thee,
188
That art to me as secret and as dear
189
As Anna to the Queen of Carthage was-
190
Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,
191
If I achieve not this young modest girl.
192
Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst;
193
Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.
195
Master, it is no time to chide you now;
196
Affection is not rated from the heart;
197
If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so:
198
'Redime te captum quam queas minimo.'
200
Gramercies, lad. Go forward; this contents;
201
The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.
203
Master, you look'd so longly on the maid.
204
Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all.
206
O, yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face,
207
Such as the daughter of Agenor had,
208
That made great Jove to humble him to her hand,
209
When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand.
211
Saw you no more? Mark'd you not how her sister
212
Began to scold and raise up such a storm
213
That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?
215
Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move,
216
And with her breath she did perfume the air;
217
Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.
219
Nay, then 'tis time to stir him from his trance.
220
I pray, awake, sir. If you love the maid,
221
Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands:
222
Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd
223
That, till the father rid his hands of her,
224
Master, your love must live a maid at home;
225
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
226
Because she will not be annoy'd with suitors.
228
Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he!
229
But art thou not advis'd he took some care
230
To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?
232
Ay, marry, am I, sir, and now 'tis plotted.
237
Both our inventions meet and jump in one.
241
You will be schoolmaster,
242
And undertake the teaching of the maid-
245
It is. May it be done?
247
Not possible; for who shall bear your part
248
And be in Padua here Vincentio's son;
249
Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends,
250
Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?
252
Basta, content thee, for I have it full.
253
We have not yet been seen in any house,
254
Nor can we be distinguish'd by our faces
255
For man or master. Then it follows thus:
256
Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead,
257
Keep house and port and servants, as I should;
258
I will some other be- some Florentine,
259
Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa.
260
'Tis hatch'd, and shall be so. Tranio, at once
261
Uncase thee; take my colour'd hat and cloak.
262
When Biondello comes, he waits on thee;
263
But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.
265
[with TRANIO:]Amen, say we; we will be witnesses.
266
In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is,
267
And I am tied to be obedient-
268
For so your father charg'd me at our parting:
269
'Be serviceable to my son' quoth he,
270
Although I think 'twas in another sense-
271
I am content to be Lucentio,
272
Because so well I love Lucentio.
274
Tranio, be so because Lucentio loves;
275
And let me be a slave t' achieve that maid
276
Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye.
278
Here comes the rogue. Sirrah, where have you been?
280
Where have I been! Nay, how now! where are you?
281
Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes?
282
Or you stol'n his? or both? Pray, what's the news?
284
Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest,
285
And therefore frame your manners to the time.
286
Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life,
287
Puts my apparel and my count'nance on,
288
And I for my escape have put on his;
289
For in a quarrel since I came ashore
290
I kill'd a man, and fear I was descried.
291
Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes,
292
While I make way from hence to save my life.
295
I, sir? Ne'er a whit.
297
And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth:
298
Tranio is chang'd into Lucentio.
300
The better for him; would I were so too!
302
So could I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after,
303
That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter.
304
But, sirrah, not for my sake but your master's, I advise
305
You use your manners discreetly in all kind of companies.
306
When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio;
307
But in all places else your master Lucentio.
310
One thing more rests, that thyself execute-
311
To make one among these wooers. If thou ask me why-
312
Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty. Exeunt.
313
The Presenters above speak
315
My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.
317
Yes, by Saint Anne do I. A good matter, surely; comes there
320
My lord, 'tis but begun.
322
'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady
323
[with TRANIO:]Amen, say we; we will be witnesses.
1
Padua. Before HORTENSIO’S house
2
Enter PETRUCHIO and his man GRUMIO
4
Verona, for a while I take my leave,
5
To see my friends in Padua; but of all
6
My best beloved and approved friend,
7
Hortensio; and I trow this is his house.
8
Here, sirrah Grumio, knock, I say.
10
Knock, sir! Whom should I knock?
11
Is there any man has rebus'd your worship?
13
Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.
15
Knock you here, sir? Why, sir, what am I, sir, that I
16
should knock you here, sir?
18
Villain, I say, knock me at this gate,
19
And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate.
21
My master is grown quarrelsome. I should knock you first,
22
And then I know after who comes by the worst.
25
Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock I'll ring it;
26
I'll try how you can sol-fa, and sing it.
27
[He wrings him by the ears]
29
Help, masters, help! My master is mad.
31
Now knock when I bid you, sirrah villain!
34
How now! what's the matter? My old friend Grumio and my
35
good friend Petruchio! How do you all at Verona?
37
Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray?
38
'Con tutto il cuore ben trovato' may I say.
40
Alla nostra casa ben venuto,
41
Molto honorato signor mio Petruchio.
42
Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel.
44
Nay, 'tis no matter, sir, what he 'leges in Latin. If this
45
be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service- look you, sir:
46
he bid me knock him and rap him soundly, sir. Well, was it fit
47
for a servant to use his master so; being, perhaps, for aught I
48
see, two and thirty, a pip out?
49
Whom would to God I had well knock'd at first,
50
Then had not Grumio come by the worst.
52
A senseless villain! Good Hortensio,
53
I bade the rascal knock upon your gate,
54
And could not get him for my heart to do it.
56
Knock at the gate? O heavens! Spake you not these words
57
plain: 'Sirrah knock me here, rap me here, knock me well, and
58
knock me soundly'? And come you now with 'knocking at the gate'?
60
Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you.
62
Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge;
63
Why, this's a heavy chance 'twixt him and you,
64
Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio.
65
And tell me now, sweet friend, what happy gale
66
Blows you to Padua here from old Verona?
68
Such wind as scatters young men through the world
69
To seek their fortunes farther than at home,
70
Where small experience grows. But in a few,
71
Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me:
72
Antonio, my father, is deceas'd,
73
And I have thrust myself into this maze,
74
Haply to wive and thrive as best I may;
75
Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home,
76
And so am come abroad to see the world.
78
Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee
79
And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife?
80
Thou'dst thank me but a little for my counsel,
81
And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich,
82
And very rich; but th'art too much my friend,
83
And I'll not wish thee to her.
85
Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we
86
Few words suffice; and therefore, if thou know
87
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife,
88
As wealth is burden of my wooing dance,
89
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
90
As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
91
As Socrates' Xanthippe or a worse-
92
She moves me not, or not removes, at least,
93
Affection's edge in me, were she as rough
94
As are the swelling Adriatic seas.
95
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
96
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.
98
Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is.
99
Why, give him gold enough and marry him to a puppet or an
100
aglet-baby, or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, though
101
she has as many diseases as two and fifty horses. Why, nothing
102
comes amiss, so money comes withal.
104
Petruchio, since we are stepp'd thus far in,
105
I will continue that I broach'd in jest.
106
I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife
107
With wealth enough, and young and beauteous;
108
Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman;
109
Her only fault, and that is faults enough,
110
Is- that she is intolerable curst,
111
And shrewd and froward so beyond all measure
112
That, were my state far worser than it is,
113
I would not wed her for a mine of gold.
115
Hortensio, peace! thou know'st not gold's effect.
116
Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough;
117
For I will board her though she chide as loud
118
As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.
120
Her father is Baptista Minola,
121
An affable and courteous gentleman;
122
Her name is Katherina Minola,
123
Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue.
125
I know her father, though I know not her;
126
And he knew my deceased father well.
127
I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her;
128
And therefore let me be thus bold with you
129
To give you over at this first encounter,
130
Unless you will accompany me thither.
132
I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O' my
133
word, and she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding
134
would do little good upon him. She may perhaps call him half a
135
score knaves or so. Why, that's nothing; and he begin once, he'll
136
rail in his rope-tricks. I'll tell you what, sir: an she stand
137
him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and so
138
disfigure her with it that she shall have no more eyes to see
139
withal than a cat. You know him not, sir.
141
Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee,
142
For in Baptista's keep my treasure is.
143
He hath the jewel of my life in hold,
144
His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca;
145
And her withholds from me, and other more,
146
Suitors to her and rivals in my love;
147
Supposing it a thing impossible-
148
For those defects I have before rehears'd-
149
That ever Katherina will be woo'd.
150
Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en,
151
That none shall have access unto Bianca
152
Till Katherine the curst have got a husband.
155
A title for a maid of all titles the worst.
157
Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace,
158
And offer me disguis'd in sober robes
159
To old Baptista as a schoolmaster
160
Well seen in music, to instruct Bianca;
161
That so I may by this device at least
162
Have leave and leisure to make love to her,
163
And unsuspected court her by herself.
164
Enter GREMIO with LUCENTIO disguised as CAMBIO
166
Here's no knavery! See, to beguile the old folks, how the
167
young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about
168
you. Who goes there, ha?
170
Peace, Grumio! It is the rival of my love. Petruchio,
173
A proper stripling, and an amorous!
176
O, very well; I have perus'd the note.
177
Hark you, sir; I'll have them very fairly bound-
178
All books of love, see that at any hand;
179
And see you read no other lectures to her.
180
You understand me- over and beside
181
Signior Baptista's liberality,
182
I'll mend it with a largess. Take your paper too,
183
And let me have them very well perfum'd;
184
For she is sweeter than perfume itself
185
To whom they go to. What will you read to her?
187
Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you
188
As for my patron, stand you so assur'd,
189
As firmly as yourself were still in place;
190
Yea, and perhaps with more successful words
191
Than you, unless you were a scholar, sir.
193
O this learning, what a thing it is!
195
O this woodcock, what an ass it is!
199
[with TRANIO:]Amen, say we; we will be witnesses.
200
God save you, Signior Gremio!
202
And you are well met, Signior Hortensio.
203
Trow you whither I am going? To Baptista Minola.
204
I promis'd to enquire carefully
205
About a schoolmaster for the fair Bianca;
206
And by good fortune I have lighted well
207
On this young man; for learning and behaviour
208
Fit for her turn, well read in poetry
209
And other books- good ones, I warrant ye.
211
'Tis well; and I have met a gentleman
212
Hath promis'd me to help me to another,
213
A fine musician to instruct our mistress;
214
So shall I no whit be behind in duty
215
To fair Bianca, so beloved of me.
217
Beloved of me- and that my deeds shall prove.
219
And that his bags shall prove.
221
Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love.
222
Listen to me, and if you speak me fair
223
I'll tell you news indifferent good for either.
224
Here is a gentleman whom by chance I met,
225
Upon agreement from us to his liking,
226
Will undertake to woo curst Katherine;
227
Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.
229
So said, so done, is well.
230
Hortensio, have you told him all her faults?
232
I know she is an irksome brawling scold;
233
If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.
235
No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman?
237
Born in Verona, old Antonio's son.
238
My father dead, my fortune lives for me;
239
And I do hope good days and long to see.
241
O Sir, such a life with such a wife were strange!
242
But if you have a stomach, to't a God's name;
243
You shall have me assisting you in all.
244
But will you woo this wild-cat?
248
Will he woo her? Ay, or I'll hang her.
250
Why came I hither but to that intent?
251
Think you a little din can daunt mine ears?
252
Have I not in my time heard lions roar?
253
Have I not heard the sea, puff'd up with winds,
254
Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat?
255
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,
256
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?
257
Have I not in a pitched battle heard
258
Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang?
259
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue,
260
That gives not half so great a blow to hear
261
As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire?
262
Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs.
267
This gentleman is happily arriv'd,
268
My mind presumes, for his own good and ours.
270
I promis'd we would be contributors
271
And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er.
273
And so we will- provided that he win her.
275
I would I were as sure of a good dinner.
276
Enter TRANIO, bravely apparelled as LUCENTIO, and BIONDELLO
278
Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be bold,
279
Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way
280
To the house of Signior Baptista Minola?
282
He that has the two fair daughters; is't he you mean?
286
Hark you, sir, you mean not her to-
288
Perhaps him and her, sir; what have you to do?
290
Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray.
292
I love no chiders, sir. Biondello, let's away.
294
[Aside]Well begun, Tranio.
296
Sir, a word ere you go.
297
Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no?
299
And if I be, sir, is it any offence?
301
No; if without more words you will get you hence.
303
Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free
308
For what reason, I beseech you?
310
For this reason, if you'll know,
311
That she's the choice love of Signior Gremio.
313
That she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio.
315
Softly, my masters! If you be gentlemen,
316
Do me this right- hear me with patience.
317
Baptista is a noble gentleman,
318
To whom my father is not all unknown,
319
And, were his daughter fairer than she is,
320
She may more suitors have, and me for one.
321
Fair Leda's daughter had a thousand wooers;
322
Then well one more may fair Bianca have;
323
And so she shall: Lucentio shall make one,
324
Though Paris came in hope to speed alone.
326
What, this gentleman will out-talk us all!
328
Sir, give him head; I know he'll prove a jade.
330
Hortensio, to what end are all these words?
332
Sir, let me be so bold as ask you,
333
Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter?
335
No, sir, but hear I do that he hath two:
336
The one as famous for a scolding tongue
337
As is the other for beauteous modesty.
339
Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by.
341
Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules,
342
And let it be more than Alcides' twelve.
344
Sir, understand you this of me, in sooth:
345
The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for,
346
Her father keeps from all access of suitors,
347
And will not promise her to any man
348
Until the elder sister first be wed.
349
The younger then is free, and not before.
351
If it be so, sir, that you are the man
352
Must stead us all, and me amongst the rest;
353
And if you break the ice, and do this feat,
354
Achieve the elder, set the younger free
355
For our access- whose hap shall be to have her
356
Will not so graceless be to be ingrate.
358
Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive;
359
And since you do profess to be a suitor,
360
You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman,
361
To whom we all rest generally beholding.
363
Sir, I shall not be slack; in sign whereof,
364
Please ye we may contrive this afternoon,
365
And quaff carouses to our mistress' health;
366
And do as adversaries do in law-
367
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
369
[with BIONDELLO:]O excellent motion! Fellows, let's be gone.
371
The motion's good indeed, and be it so.
372
Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. Exeunt
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