That bate,' and beat, and will not be obedient.
She ate 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 reverend 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 clamor keep her still awake.
This is a way to kill a wife with kindness;
And thus I'll curb her mad and headstrong humor.
He that knows better how to tame a shrew,
Now let him speak; 'tis charity to show.

[Exit.

SCENE II. Padua. Before Baptista's House.

Enter TRANIO and HORTENSIO.

Tra. Is't possible, friend Licio, that Bianca 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 aside.

Enter BIANCA and LUCENTIO.

Luc. Now, mistress, profit you in what you read? Bian. What, master, read you? First resolve 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.

1 To bate is to flutter the wings as preparing for flight (batter l'ale, Italian).

2 Intend is used for pretend.

Hor. Quick proceeders, marry! Now, tell me, 1

pray,

You that dost swear that your mistress Bianca
Loved none in the world so well as Lucentio.
Tra. O despiteful love! unconstant womankind!
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,
For such a one as leaves a gentleman,
And makes a god of such a cullion.1
Know, sir, that I am called-Hortensio.

Tra. Seignior Hortensio, I have often heard
Of your entire affection to Bianca;

And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
I will with you-if you be so contented-
Forswear Bianca and her love forever.

Hor. See, how they kiss and court!-Seignior Lucentio,

Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow-
Never to woo her more; but do forswear her,
As one unworthy all the former favors

That I have fondly flattered her withal.

Tra. And here I take the like unfeigned oath,Ne'er to marry with her though she would entreat. Fie on her! see, how beastly she doth court him. Hor. 'Would all the world, but he, had quite for

sworn!

For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,—
I will be married to a wealthy widow,

Ere three days pass; which hath as long loved me,
As I have loved this proud, disdainful haggard.
And so farewell, seignior Lucentio.—

Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
Shall win my love ;—and so I take my leave,
In resolution as I swore before.

[Exit HORTENSIO.-LUCENTIO and BIANCA
advance.

1 "Coglione, a cuglion, a gull, á meacock," says Florio. It is equivalent to a great booby.

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.

Bian. Tranio, you jest.
sworn me?

Tra. Mistress, we have.

Luc.

But have you both for

Then we are rid of Licio.

Tra. I'faith, he'll have a lusty widow now,
That shall be wooed and wedded in a day.
Bian. God give him joy!

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 teacheth tricks eleven-and-twenty long,-
To tame a shrew, and charm her chattering tongue.

Enter BIONDELLO, running.

Bion. O master, master, I have watched so long That I'm 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 mercatante, 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 ;
And give assurance to Baptista Minola,

1 For angel, Theobald, and after him Hanmer and Warburton, read engle; which Hanmer calls a gull, deriving it from engluer (French), to catch with bird-lime; but without sufficient reason. Mr. Gifford, in a note on Jonson's Poetaster, is decidedly in favor of enghle with Hanmer's explanation, and supports it by referring to Gascoigne's Supposes, from which Shakspeare took this part of his plot.

2 i. e. a merchant or a schoolmaster.

As if he were the right Vincentio.

Take in your love, and then let me alone.

[Exeunt LUCENTIO and BIANCA.

Enter a Pedant.

And you, sir!

sir!

Ped. God save you, sir!

Tra.

You are welcome.

Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?
Ped. Sir, at the farthest for a week or two.
But then up farther; and as far as Rome;
And so to Tripoly, if God lend me life.
Tra. What countryman, I pray ?

Ped.

Of Mantua.

Tra. Of Mantua, sir?-Marry, God forbid! And come to Padua, careless of your life?

Ped. My life, sir! how, I pray? for that goes hard.

Tra. 'Tis death for any one in Mantua
To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?
Your ships are stayed at Venice; and the duke
(For private quarrel 'twixt your duke and him)
Hath published and proclaimed it openly.
'Tis marvel; but that you're but newly come,
You might have heard it else proclaimed about.
Ped. Alas, sir, it is worse for me than so;
For I have bills for money by exchange
From Florence, and must here deliver them.
Tra. Well, sir, to do you courtesy,

This will I do, and this will I advise you.-
First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa?
Ped. Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been;
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens.

Tra. Among them, know you one Vincentio?
Ped. I know him not, but I have heard of him;

A merchant of incomparable wealth.

Tra. He is my father, sir; and sooth to say, In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. Bion. As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one.

[Aside.

Tra. To save your life in this extremity,
This favor will I do you for his sake;

And think it not the worst of all your fortunes,
That you are like to sir Vincentio.

His name and credit shall you undertake,
And in my house you shall be friendly lodged.-
Look, that you take upon you as you should;
You understand me, sir;-so shall you stay
Till you have done your business in the city.
If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it.

Ped. O sir, I do; and will repute you ever
The patron of my life and liberty.

Tra. Then go with me, to make the matter good. This, by the way, I let you understand ;My father is here looked for every day, To pass assurance of a dower in marriage 'Twixt me and one Baptista's daughter here. In all these circumstances I'll instruct you: Go with me, sir, to clothe you as becomes you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. A Room in Petruchio's House.

Enter KATHARINA and GRUMIO.

Gru. No, no; forsooth; I dare not, for my

life.

Kath. The more my wrong, the more his spite ap

pears.

What, did he marry me to famish me?

Beggars that come unto my father's door,
Upon entreaty, have a present alms;
If not elsewhere they meet with charity:
But I-who never knew how to entreat-
Am starved for meat, giddy for lack of sleep;
With oaths kept waking, and with brawling fed:
And that which spites me more than all these wants,
He does it under name of perfect love;

As who should say,-if I should sleep, or eat,
'Twere deadly sickness, or else present death.-

VOL. II.

65