་་་་་ I am to get a man,—whate’er he be, It skills1 not much; we'll fit him to our turn,— Luc. Were it not that my fellow schoolmaster Tra. That by degrees we mean to look into, 2 Re-enter GREMIO. Seignior Gremio! came you from the church? Gre. A bridegroom, say you? 'Tis a groom indeed, The mad-brained bridegroom took him such a cuff, 1 "It matters not much," it is of no importance. 2 Quaint had formerly a more favorable meaning than strange, awkward, fantastical, and was used in commendation, as neat, elegant, dainty, dexterous. That down fell priest and book, and book and priest. Now take them up, quoth he, if any list. Tra. What said the wench, when he arose again? Gre. Trembled and shook; for why, he stamped 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 But that his beard grew thin and hungerly, [Music. Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, BIANCA, BAPTISTA HORTENSIO, GRUMIO, and Train. 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, Tra. Let us entreat you stay till after dinner. 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 horses. Gru. Ay, sir, they be ready; the oats have eaten the horses. Kath. Nay, then, Do what thou canst, I will not go to-day; No, nor to-morrow, nor till I please myself. You may be jogging whiles your boots are green: Pet. O, Kate, content thee; pr'ythee 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. I see a woman may be made 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,1 Carouse full measure to her maidenhead, Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves; She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, 1 That is, bluster or swagger. My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing; And here she stands; touch her whoever dare; That stops my way in Padua.-Grumio, Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate; [Exeunt PET., KATH., and GRU. 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! Bap. Neighbors and friends, though bride and bridegroom wants For to supply the places at the table, You know there wants no junkets at the feast.- Tra. Shall sweet Bianca practise how to bride it? Bap. She shall, Lucentio.-Come, gentlemen, let's [Exeunt. go. ACT IV SCENE I. A Hall in Petruchio's Country-House. am sent before to make a fire, and they are coming after to warm them. Now, were not I a little pot, and soon hot, my very lips might freeze to my teeth, my tongue to the roof of my mouth, my heart in my belly, ere I should come by a fire to thaw me.-But I, with blowing the fire, shall warm myself; for, considering the weather, a taller man than I will take cold. Holla hoa! Curtis ! Enter CURTIS. Curt. Who is that calls so coldly? Gru. A piece of ice. If thou doubt it, thou mayst slide from my shoulder to my heel, with no greater run but my head and my neck. A fire, good Curtis. Curt. Is my master and his wife coming, Grumio? Gru. O, ay, Curtis, ay; and therefore fire, fire, cast on no water.1 1 Curt. Is she so hot a shrew as she's reported? Gru. She was, good Curtis, before this frost; but thou knowest, winter tames man, woman, and beast; for it hath tamed my old master, and my new mistress, and myself, fellow Curtis. Curt. Away, thou three-inch fool! I am no beast! Gru. Am I but three inches? Why, thy horn is a foot; and so long am I, at the least. But wilt thou make a fire, or shall I complain on thee to our mistress, whose hand (she being now at hand) thou shalt soon feel, to thy cold comfort, for being slow in thy hot office? Curt. I pr'ythee, good Grumio, tell me, how goes the world? Gru. A cold world, Curtis, in every office but thine; and, therefore, fire. Do thy duty, and have thy duty; for my master and mistress are almost frozen to death. Curt. There's fire ready; and, therefore, good Grumio, the news? 1 There is an old popular catch of three parts in these words :-- Fire, fire; -Fire, fire, Cast on more water." |