Bap. Ay, that Petruchio came.

Bion. No, sir; I say, his horse comes with him on his back.

Bap. Why, that's all one.

Bion. Nay, by Saint Jamy, I hold you a penny, A horse and a inan is more than one, and yet not

many.

Tra.

Enter PETRUCHIQ and GRUMIO.
Pet. Come, where be these gallants? who is at

home?
Bap. You are welcome, sir.
Pet.

And yet I come not well. Bap. And yet you halt not.

Not so well apparella As I wish you were.

Pet. Were it better I should rush in thus. But where is Kate? where is my lovely bride? How does my father?-Gentles, methinks you

frown: And wherefore gaze this goodly company; As if they saw some wondrous monument, Some comet, or unusual prodigy? Bap. Why, sir, you know, this is your wedding

day: First were we sad, fearing you would not come; Now sadder, that you come so unprovided. Fye! doff this habit, shame to your estate, An eye-sore to our solemn festival.

Tra. And tell us, what occasion of import Hath all so long detain'd you from your wife, And sent you hither so unlike yourself?

Pet. Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear: Sufficeth, I am come to keep my word, Though in some part enforced to digress;o

long from her:

Tra sing wears,' 'tis time

Which, at more leisure, I will so excuse
As you shall well be satisfied withal.
But, where is Kate? I stay too long from her;
The morning wears,' 'tis time we were at church.
Tra. See not your bride in these unreverent

robes;
Go to my chamber, put on clothes of mine.

Pet. Not I, believe me; thus I'll visit her.
Bap. But thus, I trust, you will not marry her.
Pet. Good sooth, even thus; therefore have done

with words;
To me she's married, not unto my clothes :
Could I repair what she will wear in me,
As I can change these poor accoutrements,
'Twere well for Kate, and better for myself.
But what a fool am I, to chat with you,
When I should bid good-inorrow to my bride,
And seal the title with a lovely kiss?

[Exeunt PETRUCHIO, GRUMIO, and BIONDELLO.
Tra. He hath some meaning in his mad attire:
We will persuade him, be it possible,
To put on better ere he go to church.
Bap. I'll after him, and see the event of this.

[Exit. Tra. But, sir, to her love concerneth us to add Her father's liking: Which to bring to pass, As I before imparted to your worship, I am to get a man,—whate'er he be, It skills not much; we'll fit him to our turn,And he shall be Vincentio of Pisa; And make assurance, here in Padua, Of greater sums than I have promised. So shall you quietly enjoy your hope, And marry sweet Bianca with consent.

Luc. Were it not that my fellow schoolmaster Doth watch Bianca's steps so narrowly, 'Twere good, methinks, to steal our marriage;

Which once perform’d, let all the world say-no,
I'll keep mine own, despite of all the world.

Tra. That by degrees we mean to look into,
And watch our vantage in this business:
We'll over-reach the greybeard, Gremio,
The narrow-prying father, Minola;
The quaint musician, amorous Licio;
All for my master's sake, Lucentio.

Re-enter GREMIO.
Signior Gremio! came you from the church?

Gre. As willingly as ere I came from school.
Tra. And is the bride and bridegroom coming

home? Gre. A bridegroom, say you? 'tis a groom, in

deed, A grumbling groom, and that the girl shall find.

Tra. Curster than she? why, 'tis impossible.
Gre. Why, he's a devil, a devil, a very fiend.
Tra. Why, she's a devil, a devil, the devil's

dam.
Gre. Tut! she's a lamb, a dove, a fool to him.
I'll tell you, sir Lucentio; When the priest
Should ask-if Katharine should be his wife,
Ay, by gogs-wouns, quoth he; and swore so loud
That, all amaz'd, the priest let fall the book:
And, as he stoop'd again to take it up,
The mad-brain'd bridegroom took him such a cuff,
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 stamp'd,

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
He had been aboard, carousing to his mates
After a storm:-Quaff”d off the muscadel,
And threw the sops all in the sexton's face;
Having no other reason,-
But that his beard grew thin and hungerly,
And seem'd to ask him sops as he was drinking.
This done, he took the bride about the neck;
And kiss'd her lips’ with such a clamorous smack,
That, at the parting, all the church did echo.
I, seeing this, came thence for very shame;
And after me, I know, the rout is coming :
Such a mad marriage never was before;
Hark, hark! I hear the minstrels play. [Musick.

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 prepar'd great store of wedding cheer;
But so it is, my haste doth call me hence,
And therefore here I mean to take my leave.

Bap. Is't possible, you will away to-night?

Pet. I must away to-day, before night come:Make it no wonder; if you knew my business, You would entreat me rather go than stay. And, honest company, I thank you all,

i- Quaffd off the muscadel,] The fashion of introducing a bowl of wine into the church at a wedding, to be drank by the bride and bridegroom, and persons present, was very anciently a constant ceremony; and, as appears from this passage, not abolished in our author's age.

? And kiss'd her lips -] This also is a very ancient custom, as appears from the following rubrick: “ Surgant ambo, sponsus et sponsa, et accipiat sponsus pacem a sacerdote, et ferat sponsæ, osculans eam, et neminem alium, nec ipse, nec ipsa.” Manuale Sarum, Paris, 1533, 4to. fol. 69.

That have beheld me give away myself
To this most patient, sweet, and virtuous wife:
Dine with my father, drink a health to me;
For I must hence, and farewell to you all.

Tra. Let us entreat you stay till after dinner.
Pet. It may not be.
Gre.

Let me entreat you.
Pet. It cannot be.
Kath.

Let me entreat you.
Pet. I am content.
Kath.

Are you content to stay?
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. The door is open, sir, there lies your way, You may be jogging, whiles your boots are green; For me, I'll not be gone, till I please myself: 'Tis like, you'll prove a jolly surly groom, That take it on you at the first so roundly. 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. Kath. Gentlemen, forward to the bridal din

ner: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 com

mand: Obey the bride, you that attend on her: