Draw forth thy weapon; we're beset with thieves;
Rescue thy mistress, if thou be a man :— [Kate;
Fear not sweet wench, they shall not touch thee,
I'll buckler thee against a million.

[Exe. Petruchio and Katharine. 5 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? 10

Bian. That, being mad herself, she's madly mated.
Gre. I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated.
Bup. Neighbours and friends, though bride aud
bridegroom wants

For to supply the places at the table,
You know, there wants no junkets at the feast ;-
Lucentio, you shall supply 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, gentlemen,
let's go.
[Excunt.

SCENE I.

Petruchio's Country-house.
Enter Grumio.

ACTIV.

Gru. FYE, fye, on all tired jades! on all mad

masters! and all foul ways! Was 25 ever man so beaten? was ever man so ray'd'? was ever man so weary? I 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 30 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 cold world, Curtis, in every office but thine; and, therefore, fire: Do thy duty, and have thy duty; for my master and mistress are Jalmost frozen to death.

Curt. There's fire ready: And therefore, good Grumio, the news?

Gru. Why, Jack boy! ho boys! and as much news as thou wilt.

Curt. Come, you are so full of cony catching:Gru. Why therefore, fire; for I have caught extreme cold. Where's the cook? is supper ready, the house trimm'd, rushes strew'd, cobwebs swept; the serving-men in their new fustian, their white stockings, and every officer his wedding garment on? be the jacks fair within, the Jills fair 35 without, the carpets laid, and every thing in order?

Gru. A piece of ice: if thou doubt it, thou may'st slide from my shoulder to my heel, with no greater a run but my head and my neck. A fire, 40 good Curtis.

Curt. Is my master and his wife coming, Gru

mio?

Curt. This is to feel a tale, not to hear a tale. Gru. And therefore 'tis call'd, a sensible tale: 50 and this cuff was but to knock at your ear, and beseech listning, Now I begin: Imprimis, we came down a foul hill, my master riding behind my mistress:

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 55 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?

Curt. Both on one horse?
Gru. What's that to thee?
Curt. Why, a horse.

Gru. Tell thou the tale;-But hadst thou not cross'd me, thou should'st have heard how the horse fell, and she under her horse; thou should'st 60have heard, in how miry a place: how she was 'That is, made dirty. 2 A proverbial expression. 3 i. e. with a skull three inches thick; a phrase taken from the thicker sort of planks. The meaning is, that he had made Curtis a cuckold. This is a fragment of some old ballad, i. e. are the drinking-vessels clean, and the maid-servants dressed?

4

bemoil'd;

bemoil'd'; how he left her with the horse upon her; how he beat me because her horse stumbled; how she waded through the dirt to pluck him off me; how he swore; how she pray'd-that never pray'd before; how I cry'd; how the horses ran 5 away; how her bridle was burst; how I lost my crupper; with many things of worthy memory which now shall die in oblivion, and thou return unexperienc'd to thy grave.

Curt. By this reckoning, he is more shrew than 10 she.

Gru. Ay; and that thou and the proudest of you all shall find, when he comes home. But what talk I of this?-call forth Nathaniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Philip, Walter, Sugarsop, and the rest:15 let their heads be sleekly comb'd, their blue coats brush'd, and their garters of an indifferent knit2:[ let them curtsy with their left legs; and not presume to touch a hair of my master's horse-tail, 'till they kiss their hands. Are they all ready? Curt. They are.

Gru. Call them forth.

Curt. Do you hear, ho? you must meet my master, to countenance my mistress.

Gru. Why, she hath a face of her own.
Curt. Who knows not that?

Gru. Thou, it seems; that call'st for company to countenance her.

Curt. I call them forth to credit her,

Enter four or five serving-men.

Gru. Why, she comes to borrow nothing of them.

Nath. Welcome home, Grumio.

Phil. How now, Grumio?

Jos. What, Grumio!

Nich. Fellow Grumio!

Nath. How now, old lad?

Gru. Nathaniel's coat, sir, was not fully made,
And Gabriel's pumps were all unpink'd i' the heel:
There was no link to colour Peter's hat,
And Walter'sdagger was not come from sheathing?
There were none fine, but Adam, Ralph, and
Gregory;

The rest were ragged, old, and beggarly;
Yet, as they are, here are they come to meet you.
Pet. Go, rascals, go, and fetch my supper in.
[Exeunt Servants.
Where is the life that late I led- [Singing.
Where are those,-Sit down, Kate, and welcome,
Soud, soud, soud, soud';

Re-enter Servants with Supper.

Why, when, I say?-Nay, good sweet Kate, be
merry.

Off with my boots, you rogues, you villains; When?
It was the friar of orders grey', [Sings.
As he forth walked on his way:---

20 Out, you rogue! you płuck my foot awry:
Take that, and mend the plucking off the other..
[Strikes him.
Be merry, Kate.-Some water, here; what ho!—
Enter one with water.

25 Where's my spaniel Troilus?-Sirrah,get you hence,
Aud bid my cousin Ferdinand come hither:-
One, Kate, that you must kiss and be acquainted
with.-

Where are my slippers? Shall I have some water? 30 Come, Kate, and wash, and welcome heartily:You whoreson villain! will you let it fall?

Kath. Patience, I pray you; 'twas a fault unwilling.

Pet. A whoreson, beetleheaded, flap-ear'd knave! 35 Come, Kate, sit down; I know you have a sto mach.

Gru. Welcome, you ;-how now, you ;-what,| you;-fellow, you;-and thus much for greeting. Now, my spruce companions, is all ready, and all 40 things neat?

Nath. All things are ready: How near is our master?

Gru. E'en at hand, alighted by this; and therefore be not,- -Cock's passion, silence! I hear 45

my master.

Enter Petruchio and Katharine.

Pet. Where be these knaves? What, no man
at the door,

To hold my stirrup, nor to take my horse!
Where is Nathaniel, Gregory, Philip ?—

All Serv. Here, here, sir; here, sir.

Pet. Here, sir! here, sir! here sirl here sir!
You logger-headed and unpolish'd grooms!
What, no attendance? no regard? no duty-
Where is the foolish knave I sent before?

Gru. Here, sir; as foolish as I was before.
Pet. You peasant swain! you whoreson malt-
horse drudge!

Did not I bid thee meet me in the park,
And bring along these rascal knaves with thee?

50

Will you give thanks, sweet Kate: or else shall I?
What's this? mutton?

1 Ser. Ay.

Pet. Who brought it?
Ser. I.

Pet. 'Tis burnt; and so is all the meat:
What dogs are these?—Where is the rascal cook?
How durst you, villains, bring it from the dresser,
And serve it thus to me that love it not?
There, take it to you, trenchers, cups and all:

[Throws the meat, &c. about the stage.
You heedless jolt-heads, and unmanner'd slaves!
What, do you grumble? I'll be with you straight.
Kath. I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet;
The meat was well, if you were so contented.
Pet. I tell thee, Kate, 'twas burnt and dry'daway;
And I expressly am forbid to touch it,
For it engenders choler, planteth anger;

55 And better t'were that both of us did fast,—
Since, of ourselves, ourselves are cholerick,→
Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh.
Be patient; to-morrow it shall be mended,
And, for this night, we'll fast for company :-
60 Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber.

[Exeunt.

1i. e. be-draggled, be-mired. Meaning, that their garters should be fellows; indifferent, or not different, one from the other. A link, is a torch of pitch. That is, sweet, sweet. This is a fragment of some ancient ballad.

Enter

;|

And rails, and swears, and rates; that she, poor
Knows not which way to stand, to look, to speak
And sits as one new-risen from a dream.
Away, away for he is coming hither. [Exeunt.
Re-enter Petruchio.

Pet. Thus have I politicly begun my reign,
And 'tis my hope to end successtully:
My faulcon now is sharp, and passing empty;
And, 'till she stoop, she must not be full-gorg'd,
For then she never looks upon her lure.
Another way I have to man my haggard',
To make her come, and know her keeper's call;
That is, to watch her, as we watch those kites,
That bate, and beat, and will not be obedient.
She eat no meat to-day, nor none shall eat;
Last night she slept not, nor to-night she shall not:
As with the meat, some undeserved fault
I'll find about the making of the bed;
And here I'll fling the pillow, there the bolster,
This way the coverlet, another way the sheets:-
Ay, and amid this hurly, I intend,
That all is done in reverent care of her;
And, in conclusion, she shall watch all night :
And, if she chance to nod, I'll rail, and brawl,
And with the clamour keep her still awake.
This is a way to kill a wife with kindness;
And thus I'll curb her mad and headstrong

humour.

He that knows better how to tame a shrew,
Now let him speak; 'tis charity, to shew. [Exit.

SCENE II.

Before Baptista's House.

Enter Tranio and Hortensio.

[Bianca

I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful.
Hor. Mistake no more; I am not Licio,
Nor a musician, as I seem to be;
But one that scorn to live in this disguise,
5 For such a one as leaves a gentleman,
And makes a god of such a cullion:
Know, sir, that I am call'd-Hortensio.

10

Tra. Signior Hortensio, I have often heard
Of your entire affection to Bianca:
And since mine eyes are witness to her lightness,
I will with you,-if you be so contented,-
Forswear Bianca and her love forever. [Lucentio,
Hor. See, how they kiss and court!-Signior
Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow-

15 Never to woo her more; but do forswear her,
As one unworthy all the former favours
That I have fondly flatter'd her withal.

20

Tra. And here I take the like unfeigned oath,-
Never to marry her, though she would intreat:
Fye on her! see, how beastly she doth court him!
Hor. 'Would all the world but he, had quite
forsworn!

For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,
I will be marry'd to a wealthy widow,

25 Ere three days pass; which hath as long lov'd me,
As I have lov'd this proud disdainful haggard ;
And so farewell, signior Lucentio.--

Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
Shall win my love:-and so I take my leave,
30 In resolution as I swore before. [Exit Hortensio.
Tra. Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace
As 'longeth to a lover's blessed case!
Nay, I have ta'en you napping, gentle love;
And have forsworn you, with Hortensio.

135

[Lucentio and Bianca come forward. Bian. Tranio, you jest; but have you both forTra. Mistress, we have. [sworn me?

Luc. Then we are rid of Licio.

Tra. I'faith, he'll have a lusty widow now,

40 That shall be woo'd and wedded in a day.
Bian. God give him joy!

451

Tra. Is't possible, friend Licio, that mistress
Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?
I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand.
Hor. Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
Stand by, and mark the manner of his teaching.
[They stand by.
Enter Bianca and Lucentio.
Luc. Now, mistress, profit you in what you read
Bian. What, master, read you? first, resolve 50
me that.

Luc. I read that I profess, the art to love.
Bian. And may you prove,sir, master of your art!
Luc. While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of
my heart.
[They retire backward. 55
Hor. Quick proceeders, marry! Now tell me,

I pray,
You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca
Lov'd none in the world so well as Lucentio.
Tra. O despightful love! unconstant woman-60
kind!-

1A haggard is a wild hawk; to mana hawk is to ger, which is the primitive signification of angel.

Tra. Ay, and he'll tame her.
Bian. He says so, Tranio.

Tra. 'Faith, he is gone unto the taming school.
Bian. The taming school! what, is there such

a place?

Tra. Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master;
That teaches tricks eleven and twenty long,-
To tame a shrew, and charm her chattering tongue.
Enter Biondello, running.

Bion. Oh master, master, I have watch'd so long
That I am dog-weary; but at last I spied
An ancient angel' coming down the hill,
Will serve the turn.

Tra. What is he, Biondello?

Bion. Master, a mercatantè3, or a pedant,
I know not what; but formal in apparel,
In gait and countenance surely like a father.
Luc. And what of him, Tranio?
Tra. If he be credulous, and trust my tale,
I'll make him glad to seem Vincentio;

Meaning, perhaps, an ancient messen

tame her.
3. e. a merchunt.

And

Kath. The more my wrong, the more his spite
What, did he marry me to famish me? [appears:
Beggars, that come unto my father's door,
Upon entreaty, have a present alms;

5 If not, elsewhere they meet with charity:
But I,-who never knew how to entreat,
Nor never needed that I should entreat,-
Am starv'd for meat, giddy for lack of sleep;
With oaths kept waking, and with brawling fed:
10 And that which spites me more than all these wants,
He does it under name of perfect love;

Pet. Pluck up thy spirits, look chearfully upon
Here, love; thou seest how diligent I am,
To dress thy meat myself, and bring it thee:

451 am sure, sweet Kate, this kindness merits thanks.
What, not a word? Nay then, thou lov'st it not;
And all my pains is sorted to no proof 3:-
Here, take away this dish.

Kath. I pray you, let it stand.

Pet. The poorest service is repaid with thanks; And so shall mine, before you touch the meat. Kath. I thank you, sir.

Hor. Signior Petruchio, fye! you are to blame:
Come, mistress Kate, I'll bear you company.
55 Pet. Eat it up all, Hortensio, if thou lov'st me.-
[Aside.

Much good do it unto thy gentle heart!
Kate, eat apace:-And now, iny honey love,
Will we return unto thy father's house;
60 And revel it as bravely as the best,
With silken coats, and caps, and golden rings,

A gallicism, meaning dejected, depressed, spiritless.

With ruffs, and cuffs, and fardingales, and things1;
With scarfs, and fans, and double change of bravery,
With amber bracelets, beads, and all this knavery.
What, hast thou din'd? The taylor stays thy leisure,
To deck thy body with his rustling treasure.-
Enter Taylor.

Come, taylor, let us see these ornaments;
Enter Haberdasher.

5

Lay forth the gown.-What news with you, sir?
Hab. Here is the cap your worship did bespeak. 10
Pet. Why, this was moulded on a porringer;
A velvet dish;-fye, fye! 'tis lewd and filthy:
Why, 'tis a cockle, or a walnut-shell,
A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby's cap;
Away with it; come, let me liave a bigger.

Kath. I'll have no bigger; this doth fit the time,
And gentlewomen wear such caps as these.

Pet. When you are gentle, you shall have one too, And not 'till then.

Hor. That will not be in haste.

Away, thou rag, thou quantity, thou remnant:
Or I shall so be-mete thee with thy yard,
As thou shalt think on prating whilst thou liv'st!
I tell thee, I, that thou hast marr'd her gown.
Tay. Your worship is deceiv'd; the gown is made
Just as my master had direction:
Grumio gave order how it should be done.

Gru. I gave him no order, I gave him the stuff.
Tay. But how did you desire it should be made?
Gru. Marry, sir, with needle and thread.
Tay. But did you not request to have it cut ?
Gru. Thou hast fac'd many things *.
Tay. I have.

Gru. Face not me: thou hast brav'd' many [15 men; brave not me; I will neither be fac'd nor bray'd. I say unto thee,-I bid thy master cut out the gown; but I did not bid him cut it to pieces: ergo, thou liest.

[Aside. 20

Kath. Why, sir, I trust, I may have leave to

Tay. Why, here is the note of the fashion to testify.

Pet. Read it.

Gru. The note lies in his throat,if he say I said so.
Tay. Imprimis, a loose-bodied gown:

Gru. Master, if ever I said loose-body'd gown, 25 sew me up in the skirts of it, and beat me to death with a bottom of brown thread. I said, a gown. Pet. Proceed.

Tay. With a small compass'd cape'.
Gru. I confess the cape.

Pet. Why, thou say'st true; it is a paltry cap, 30 Tay. With a trunk sleeve;—

A custard-coffin', a bauble, a silken pye:

I love thee well, in that thou lik'st it not.

Kath. Love me, or love me not, I like the cap;
And it I will have, or I will have none. [us see't.
Pet. Thy gown? why, ay:--Come, taylor, let 35
O mercy, God! what masking stuff is here?
What's this? a sleeve? 'tis like a demi-cannon:
What! up and down, carv'd like an apple-tart?
Here's snip, and nip, and cut, and slish, and slash,
Like to a censer in a barber's shop:- [this 40
Why, what o' devil's name, taylor, call'st thou
Hor. I see, she's like to have neither cap nor

gown.

[Aside.

Tay. You bid me make it orderly and well, According to the fashion, and the time.

Pet. Marry, and did; but if you be rememb’red,

I did not bid you mar it to the time.

Go, hop me over every kennel home,

For you shall hop without my custom, sir:
I'll none of it; hence, make your best of it.

45

Gru. I confess two sleeves.
Tay. The sleeves curiously cut.
Pet. Ay, there's the villainy.

Gru. Error i' the bill, sir; error i' the bill. I commanded the sleeves should be cut out and sew'd up again; and that I'll prove upon thee, though thy little finger be armed in a thimble.

Tay. This is true, that I say; an I had thee in place where, thou should'st know it.

Gru. I am for thee straight: take thou the bill,
give me thy mete-yard, and spare not me. [noodds.
Hor. God-a-mercy, Grumio! then he shall have
Pet. Well, sir, in brief, the gown is not for me.
Gru. You are i'the right, sir; 'tis for my inistress.
Pet. Go, take it up unto thy master's use.
Gru. Villain, not for thy life: Take up iny
mistress' gown for thy master's use.

Pet. Why, sir, what's your conceit in that?
Gru. Oh, sir, the conceit is deeper than you
think for:

1501
Take up my mistress' gown unto his master's use!
Oh, fye, fye, fye!

Kath. I never saw a better fashion'd gown, [able:
More quaint, more pleasing, nor more commend-
Belike, you mean to make a puppet of me. [thee.
Pet. Why, true; he means to inake a puppet o'
Tay. She says, your worship means to make a 55
puppet of her.

Pet. Oh monstrous arrogance!
Thou lyest, thou thread, thou thimble,
Thou yard, three-quarters, half-yard, quarter, nail,
Thou flea, thou nit, thou winter cricket thou:-
Brav'd in mine own house with a skein of thread!

60

Pet. Hortensio, say thou wilt see the taylor
paid :
[Aside.

Go take it hence: be gone, and say no more:
Hor. Taylor, I'll pay thee for thy gown to-mor
Take no unkindness of his hasty words: [row:
Away, I say; commend me to thy master.
[Exit Taylor.
Pet. Well, come, my Kate; we will unto your
father's,

'Meaning, trifles too insignificant to deserve enumeration. This was the old culinary term for the raised crust of a custard. 3i. e. be-measure. *i. e. turned up many garments with facings, &c. i. e. made many men fine, bravery being formerly used to signify elegance of dress. i. e. around cape.

11

Even