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Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd a commonty a Christmas gambol, or a tumbling-trick?

quarts:

Sometimes you would call out for Cicely
Hacket.

Sly. Ay, the woman's maid of the house.
3 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor
no such maid;

--

Nor no such men, as you have reckon'd up,-
As Stephen Sly, and old John Naps of Greece,
And Peter Turf, and Henry Pimpernell ;
And twenty more such names and men as
these,

Which never were, nor no man ever saw.

Sly. Now, Lord be thanked for my good
All. Amen.

Sly. Are you my wife, and will not call me My men should call me lord: I am your goodman. [and husband; Page. My husband and my lord, my lord I am your wife in all obedience.

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SCENE I.-Padua. A public Place.
Enter Lucentio and Tranio.

[amends! Sly. I thank thee; thou shalt not lose by it. Luc. Tranio, since, for the great desire I had Enter the Page, as a lady, with Attendants. To see fair Padua, nursery of arts, Page. How fares my noble lord? I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy, Sly. Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer The pleasant garden of great Italy: Where is my wife? [enough. And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd Page. Here, noble lord: what is thy will With his good will and thy good company, with her? [husband? My trusty servant, well approv'd in all; Here let us breathe, and happy institute A course of learning and ingenious studies. Pisa, renowned for grave citizens, Gave me my being, and my father first, A merchant of great traffic through the world, Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii. Vincentio's son, 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 Will I apply, that treats of happiness By virtue specially to be achiev'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.

Sly. I know it well.-What must I call her?
Lord. Madam.

Sly. Alice madam, or Joan madam?
Lord. Madam, and nothing else: so lords
call ladies.
[dream'd,
Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have
And slept above some fifteen year or more.
Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto

me,

Being all this time abandon'd from your bed.
Siy. 'Tis much. Servants, leave me and
her alone.

Madam, undress you, and come now to bed.
Page. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of
To pardon me yet for a night or two; [you
Or, if not so, until the sun be set,
For your physicians have expressly charg'd,
In peril to incur your former malady,
That I should yet absent me from your bed.
I hope this reason stands for my excuse.
Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly
tarry so long; but I would be loth to fall into
my dreams again: I will therefore tarry, in
spite of the flesh and the blood.

Enter a Servant.

Tra. Mi perdonate, 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 stoics, nor no stocks, I pray ;
Or so devote to Aristotle's checks,
As Ovid be an outcast quite abjur'd;
Balk logic with acquaintance that you have,
And practise rhetoric in your common talk;
Music and poesy use, to quicken you;
The mathematics and the metaphysics,

Serv. Your honour's players, hearing your Fall to them, as you find your stomach serves

amendment,

Are come to play a pleasant comedy;

For so your doctors hold it very meet,
Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your
blood,

And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy:
Therefore they thought it good you hear a play,
And frame your mind to mirth and merriment,
Which bars a thousand harms, and lengthens
life.

Sly. Marry, I will; let them play it. Is not!

you;

No profit grows, where is no pleasure ta'en;
In brief, sir, study what you most affect.

Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou
If Biondello now were come ashore, [advise.
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 awhile: what company is this?
Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to

town.

Enter Baptista, Katharina, Bianca, Gremio, And so, farewell. Katharina, you may stay: and Hortensio. Lucentio and Tranio stand For I have more to commune with Bianca. aside.

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Gre. To cart her rather she's too rough for There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. [To Bap.] 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 should 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 :
[ward.
That wench is stark mad, or wonderful fro-
Luc. But in the other's silence do I see
Maids' mild behaviour and sobriety.
Peace, Tranio.
[your fill.
Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze
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! it is best
Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why.

Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.
Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe :
My books and instruments shall be my com-
pany,

On them to look and practise by myself.

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

Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange?
Sorry am I, that our good-will effects
Bianca's grief.

Gre.

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 music, instruments, and poetry,
Schoolmasters will I keep within my house,

[Exit. [belike,

Kath. Why, and I trust I may go too, may
I not?

What! shall I be appointed hours, as though,
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's 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. Farewell-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 yet never brooked 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
Gre. A husband! a devil.
[sister.
Hor. I say, a husband.

Gre. I say, a devil: thinkest 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 faults, and money enough.

Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, -to be whipped 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 maintained, 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! 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 [Exeunt Gremio and Hortensio. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me,-is it possible

on.

That love should of a sudden take such hold?
Luc. O Tranio, till I found it to be true,
I never thought it possible or likely;
But see; while idly I stood looking on,

Fit to instruct her youth.-If you, Hortensio,I found the effect of love in idleness:

Or Signior Gremio, you,-know any such,
Prefer them hither; for to cunning men
I will be very kind, and liberal

To mine own children in good bringing up:

And now in plainness do confess to thee,-
Thou 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 achieve 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: [so, If love have touch'd you, nought remains but Redime te captum, quam queas minimo. 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 had, [hand,
That made great Jove to humble him to her
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 achieve her.
it stands :-

Thus

Her elder 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 will 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?
[plotted.
Tra. Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 'tis
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 schoolmaster,
And undertake the teaching of the maid:
That's your device.

Luc.
Tra. Not possible; for who shall bear your
And be in Padua here Vincentio's son? [part,
Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his

It is may it be done?

friends;

Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?

Luc. Basta; 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 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 tied 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, t' achieve that maid Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye.

Here comes the rogue.-[Enter Biondello.] Sirrah, where have you been?

Bion. Where have I been! Nay, how now! where are you?

Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your
clothes,
[news?

Or you stol'n his? or both? pray, what's the
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 was descried.
Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes,
While I make way from hence to save my life;
You understand me?

Bion.

I, sir! ne'er a whit. Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth : Tranio is changed to Lucentio.

[too! Bion. The better for him: would I were so Tra. So would I, 'faith, boy, to have the next wish after, [daughter. That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest But, sirrah, not for my sake, but your master's, I advise [companies: You use your manners discreetly in all kind of 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. [Exeunt.

2 SERV. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.

SLY. Yes, by Saint Anne, I do. 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 'twere done! SCENE II.-Padua. Before Hortensio's House. 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 rebused your worship? 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,

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;
I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it.

[He wrings Grumio by the ears. Gru. Help, masters, help! my master is mad. Pet. Now, knock when I bid you, sirrah villain !

Enter Hortensio.

And so am come abroad to see the world.
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
And I'll not wish thee to her.
[friend,

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,)
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
As old as Sibyl, 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
As are the swelling Adriatic 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,

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 and marry him to a puppet or an aglet-baby;

the fray?

Con tutto il core ben trovato, may I say.
Hor. Alla nostra casa ben venuto, molto
honorato signior mio Petruchio.-
Rise, Grumio, rise: we will compound this
quarrel.

Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, sir, what he 'leges
in Latin.-If this be not a lawful cause for me
to 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?
[first,
Whom 'would to God, I had well knock'd at
Then had not Grumio come by the worst.

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?" And come you now with-knocking at the gate?

Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise
you.
[pledge:
Hor. Petruchio, patience: I am Grumio's
Why, this 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,
Where small experience grows. But in a few,
Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me:-
Antonio, my father, is deceas'd;

And I have thrust myself into this maze,
Haply to wive and thrive as best I may :
Crowns in my purse I have, and goods
home,

or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head,
though she have as many diseases as two and
fifty horses: why, nothing comes amiss, so
money comes withal.

Hor. Petruchio, since we are stepp'd thus
I will continue that I broach'd in jest. [far in,
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,)
Is,-that she is intolerable curst, [sure,
And shrewd, and froward; so beyond all mea-
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
And he knew my deceased father well. [her;
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. I'll tell you what, sir,--an she stand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and so disfigure her with it, that she at shall have no more eyes to see withal than a You know him not, sir.

cat.

Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee; So shall I no whit be behind in duty
For in Baptista's keep my treasure is :
To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me.
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:
Supposing it a thing impossible

Gre. Belov'd of me,-and that my deeds
shall prove.

(For those defects I have before rehears'd,)
That ever Katharina will be woo'd;
Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en,
That none shall have access unto Bianca,
Till Katharine the curst have got a husband.
Gru. Katharine the curst!

A title for a maid, of all titles the worst.

Gru. [Aside.] And that his bags shall prove.
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 :-

Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me Hortensio, have you told him all her faults?

grace;

And offer me, disguis'd in sober robes,
To old Baptista as a schoolmaster
Well seen in music, 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.

Gru. Here's no knavery! See, to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together!

Enter Gremio; with him Lucentio disguised, with books under his arm.

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;
And see you read no other letcures to her :
You understand me :-over and beside
Signior Baptista's liberality,
[too,
III mend it with a largess :-take your papers
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!

Gremio!

Her. Grumio, mum !-God save you, signior
[sio. Trow you
Gre. And you are well met, signior Horten-
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,

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And other books,-good ones, I warrant ye.
Hor. 'Tis well and I have met a gentleman
Hath promis'd me to help me to another,
A fine musician to instruct our mistress;

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:
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,

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Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her.
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?

And do you tell me of a woman's tongue;
That gives not half so great a blow to hear,
As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire?
Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.
Gru. [Aside.]
For he fears none.

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. [Aside.] I would I were as sure of a
good dinner.

Enter Tranio, bravely apparelled; and

Biondello.

Tra. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may

be bold, [way Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest To the house of signior Baptista Minola? Bion. He that has the two fair daughters : -[To Tranio] is't he you mean? Tra. Even he, Biondello.

Gre. Hark you, sir; you mean not her to

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