SCENE I. Padua. A public place.]

Enter LUCENTIO and his man TRANIO.
Luc. Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy;

And by my father's love and leave am arm'd s
With his good will and thy good company,
My trusty servant, well approv'd in all,
Here let us breathe and haply institute
A course of learning and ingenious studies.
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
Gave me my being and my father first,

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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, 15 To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds; And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study, Virtue and that part of philosophy

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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.
Tra. Mi perdonato, 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,
Fall to them as you find your stomach serve

Enter BAPTISTA, KATHERINA, BIANCA, GEF MIO, a pantaloon, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTI and TRANIO stand by.

Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no farther For how I firmly am resolv'd you know; That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter Before I have a husband for the elder. If either of you both love Katherina, Because I know you well and love you well. Leave shall you have to court her at you pleasure.

Gre. [Aside.] To cart her rather; she's to rough for me.

There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. 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 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

stool

Lasie, instruments, and poetry, Nodmasters will I keep within my house, to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio, Signor Gremio, you, know any such, Prefer the hither; for to cunning men will be very kind, and liberal

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me own children in good bringing up; Ai farewell. Katherina, you may stay; 100 F. I have more to commune with Bianca.

[Exit. Kath Why, and I trust I may go too, may I

What, shal I be appointed hours, as though, belike.

kot what to take, and what to leave? Ha: [Exit. 105 . You may go to the devil's dam; your [ are so good, here's none will hold you. love is not so great, Hortensio, but we how our nails together, and fast it fairly

r cake's dough on both sides. FareJet, for the love I bear my sweet Bi- [110 flean by any means light on a fit man wh her that wherein she delights, I will m to her father.

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So will I, Signior Gremio. But a pray. Though the nature of our quaret never brook'd parle, know now, upon

it toucheth us both, that we may yet a have access to our fair mistress and be wy rivals in Bianca's love, to labour and thing specially.

What's that, I pray?

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Marry, sir, to get a husband for her

A husband! a devil.

I say, a husband.

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I say, a devil. Think'st thou, HortenBagh her father be very rich, any man is **a fool to be married to hell?

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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.

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Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whipp'd 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 [140 friendly maintain'd 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 ?

on.

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155

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. 150 Tra. I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible 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, I found the effect of love in idleness; And now in plainness do confess to thee, That 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. If love have touch'd you, naught remains but

80,

160

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And be in Padua here Vincentio's son, Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends,

Visit his countrymen and banquet them?

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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.
"T is 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.

In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is,
And I am tied to be obedient, -

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215

For so your father charg'd me at our parting, Be serviceable to my son," quoth he, Although I think 't was in another sense, — 220 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, to achieve that maid Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye.

Enter BIONDELLO.

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Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth Tranio is chang'd into Lucentio.

Bion. The better for him; would I were s too!

Tra. So could I, faith, boy, to have the nex wish after,

That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's younges daughter.

But, sirrah, not for my sake, but your master' I advise

You use your manners discreetly in all kind o companies.

When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio; But in all places else your master Lucentio. Luc. Tranio, let's go. One thing mor rests, that thyself execute, to make one amon these wooers. If thou ask me why, sufficeti my reasons are both good and weighty.

The presenters above speak.

[Exeun

1. Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not min the play.

Sly. Yes, by Saint Anne, do I. A good mat ter, surely; comes there any more of it? Page. My lord, 't is but begun.

Sly. T is a very excellent piece of work madam lady; would 't were done! [They sit and mar [SCENE II. Padua. Before Hortensio's house Enter PETRUCHIO and his man 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? there any man has rebus'd your worship? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly Gru. Knock you here, sir! Why, sir, wh am I, sir, that I should knock you here, sir? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate And rapme well, or I'll knock your knave's pat Gru. My master is grown quarrelsome. should knock you first,

And then I know after who comes by the wor Pet. Will it not be?

Faith, sirrah, an you 'll not knock, I'll ring I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it. [He wrings him by the ea Gru. Help, masters, help! my master is m Pet. Now, knock when I bid you, sin villain!

Enter HORTENSIO.

Hor. How now! what's the matter? My friend Grumio! and my good friend Petruch How do you all at Verona ?

Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to the fray?

Con tutto il cuore, ben trovato, may I say. Hor. Alla nostra casa ben venuto, molto rato signor mio Petruchio.

Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound quarrel.

Gr. Nay, 't is no matter, sir, what he 'leges Latin. If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service, look you, sir. He bid me ock him and rap him soundly, sir. Well, [30 is it fit for a servant to use his master So, beperhaps, for aught I see, two and thirty, a out?

hm would to God I had well knock'd at first, Then had not Grumio come by the worst.

Fet. A senseless villain! Good Hortensio, I had the rascal knock upon your gate And could not get him for my heart to do it. Gr. Knock at the gate! O heavens! Spake y not these words plain, "Sirrah, knock bere, rap me here, knock me well, and [40 kack me soundly"? And come you now with "knocking at the gate"?

Pa Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise

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 't is enough; 04
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 Katherina Minola,
Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue. 100
Pet. Iknow her father, though I know not her;
And he knew my deceased father well.
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.

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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, [110 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 shall have no more eyes to see [115 withal than a cat. You know him not, sir.

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Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee,
For in Baptista's keep my treasure is.
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,

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

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Gru. Will he woo her? Ay, or I'll ha 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 wind 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 trumpet 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.

For he fears non

For me as for you?
Gre.
But so is not she.
Tra. For what reason, I beseech you?
Gre.
For this reason, if you 'll kn
That she's the choice love of Signior Gremi
Hor. That she's the chosen of Sig

Hortensio.

Tra. Softly, my masters! If you be gen

men,

Do me this right: hear me with patience. Baptista is a noble gentleman,

To whom my father is not all unknown: And were his daughter fairer than she is,