| ACT II SCENE I | Padua. A room in BAPTISTA'S house. | |
| [Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA] |
| BIANCA | Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself, |
| To make a bondmaid and a slave of me; |
| That I disdain: but for these other gawds, |
| Unbind my hands, I'll pull them off myself, |
| Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat; | 5 |
| Or what you will command me will I do, |
| So well I know my duty to my elders. |
| KATHARINA | Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell |
| Whom thou lovest best: see thou dissemble not. |
| BIANCA | Believe me, sister, of all the men alive | 10 |
| I never yet beheld that special face |
| Which I could fancy more than any other. |
| KATHARINA | Minion, thou liest. Is't not Hortensio? |
| BIANCA | If you affect him, sister, here I swear |
| I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have | 15 |
| him. |
| KATHARINA | O then, belike, you fancy riches more: |
| You will have Gremio to keep you fair. |
| BIANCA | Is it for him you do envy me so? |
| Nay then you jest, and now I well perceive | 20 |
| You have but jested with me all this while: |
| I prithee, sister Kate, untie my hands. |
| KATHARINA | If that be jest, then all the rest was so. |
| [Strikes her] |
| [Enter BAPTISTA] |
| BAPTISTA | Why, how now, dame! whence grows this insolence? |
| Bianca, stand aside. Poor girl! she weeps. | 25 |
| Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her. |
| For shame, thou helding of a devilish spirit, |
| Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong thee? |
| When did she cross thee with a bitter word? |
| KATHARINA | Her silence flouts me, and I'll be revenged. | 30 |
| [Flies after BIANCA] |
| BAPTISTA | What, in my sight? Bianca, get thee in. |
| [Exit BIANCA] |
| KATHARINA | What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see |
| She is your treasure, she must have a husband; |
| I must dance bare-foot on her wedding day |
| And for your love to her lead apes in hell. | 35 |
| Talk not to me: I will go sit and weep |
| Till I can find occasion of revenge. |
| [Exit] |
| BAPTISTA | Was ever gentleman thus grieved as I? |
| But who comes here? |
| [
Enter GREMIO, LUCENTIO in the habit of a mean man;
PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as a musician; and TRANIO,
with BIONDELLO bearing a lute and books
] |
| GREMIO | Good morrow, neighbour Baptista. | 40 |
| BAPTISTA | Good morrow, neighbour Gremio. |
| God save you, gentlemen! |
| PETRUCHIO | And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter |
| Call'd Katharina, fair and virtuous? |
| BAPTISTA | I have a daughter, sir, called Katharina. | 45 |
| GREMIO | You are too blunt: go to it orderly. |
| PETRUCHIO | You wrong me, Signior Gremio: give me leave. |
| I am a gentleman of Verona, sir, |
| That, hearing of her beauty and her wit, |
| Her affability and bashful modesty, | 50 |
| Her wondrous qualities and mild behavior, |
| Am bold to show myself a forward guest |
| Within your house, to make mine eye the witness |
| Of that report which I so oft have heard. |
| And, for an entrance to my entertainment, | 55 |
| I do present you with a man of mine, |
[Presenting HORTENSIO] |
| Cunning in music and the mathematics, |
| To instruct her fully in those sciences, |
| Whereof I know she is not ignorant: |
| Accept of him, or else you do me wrong: | 60 |
| His name is Licio, born in Mantua. |
| BAPTISTA | You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake. |
| But for my daughter Katharina, this I know, |
| She is not for your turn, the more my grief. |
| PETRUCHIO | I see you do not mean to part with her, | 65 |
| Or else you like not of my company. |
| BAPTISTA | Mistake me not; I speak but as I find.
|
| Whence are you, sir? what may I call your name? |
| PETRUCHIO | Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son, |
| A man well known throughout all Italy. | 70 |
| BAPTISTA | I know him well: you are welcome for his sake. |
| GREMIO | Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, |
| Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: |
| Baccare! you are marvellous forward. |
| PETRUCHIO | O, pardon me, Signior Gremio; I would fain be doing. | 75 |
| GREMIO | I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your |
| wooing. Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am |
| sure of it. To express the like kindness, myself, |
| that have been more kindly beholding to you than |
| any, freely give unto you this young scholar, | 80 |
[Presenting LUCENTIO] |
| that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning |
| in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other |
| in music and mathematics: his name is Cambio; pray, |
| accept his service. |
| BAPTISTA | A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio. | 85 |
| Welcome, good Cambio. |
[To TRANIO] |
| But, gentle sir, methinks you walk like a stranger: |
| may I be so bold to know the cause of your coming? |
| TRANIO | Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own, |
| That, being a stranger in this city here, | 90 |
| Do make myself a suitor to your daughter, |
| Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous. |
| Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, |
| In the preferment of the eldest sister. |
| This liberty is all that I request, | 95 |
| That, upon knowledge of my parentage, |
| I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo |
| And free access and favour as the rest: |
| And, toward the education of your daughters, |
| I here bestow a simple instrument, | 100 |
| And this small packet of Greek and Latin books: |
| If you accept them, then their worth is great. |
| BAPTISTA | Lucentio is your name; of whence, I pray? |
| TRANIO | Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio. |
| BAPTISTA | A mighty man of Pisa; by report | 105 |
| I know him well: you are very welcome, sir, |
| Take you the lute, and you the set of books; |
| You shall go see your pupils presently. |
| Holla, within! |
[Enter a Servant] |
| Sirrah, lead these gentlemen | 110 |
| To my daughters; and tell them both, |
| These are their tutors: bid them use them well. |
[
Exit Servant, with LUCENTIO and HORTENSIO,
BIONDELLO following
] |
| We will go walk a little in the orchard, |
| And then to dinner. You are passing welcome, |
| And so I pray you all to think yourselves. | 115 |
| PETRUCHIO | Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste, |
| And every day I cannot come to woo. |
| You knew my father well, and in him me, |
| Left solely heir to all his lands and goods, |
| Which I have better'd rather than decreased: | 120 |
| Then tell me, if I get your daughter's love, |
| What dowry shall I have with her to wife? |
| BAPTISTA | After my death the one half of my lands, |
| And in possession twenty thousand crowns. |
| PETRUCHIO | And, for that dowry, I'll assure her of | 125 |
| Her widowhood, be it that she survive me, |
| In all my lands and leases whatsoever: |
| Let specialties be therefore drawn between us, |
| That covenants may be kept on either hand. |
| BAPTISTA | Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd, | 130 |
| That is, her love; for that is all in all. |
| PETRUCHIO | Why, that is nothing: for I tell you, father, |
| I am as peremptory as she proud-minded; |
| And where two raging fires meet together |
| They do consume the thing that feeds their fury: | 135 |
| Though little fire grows great with little wind, |
| Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all: |
| So I to her and so she yields to me; |
| For I am rough and woo not like a babe. |
| BAPTISTA | Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed! | 140 |
| But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words. |
| PETRUCHIO | Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds, |
| That shake not, though they blow perpetually. |
| [Re-enter HORTENSIO, with his head broke] |
| BAPTISTA | How now, my friend! why dost thou look so pale? |
| HORTENSIO | For fear, I promise you, if I look pale. | 145 |
| BAPTISTA | What, will my daughter prove a good musician? |
| HORTENSIO | I think she'll sooner prove a soldier |
| Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. |
| BAPTISTA | Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute? |
| HORTENSIO | Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me. | 150 |
| I did but tell her she mistook her frets, |
| And bow'd her hand to teach her fingering; |
| When, with a most impatient devilish spirit, |
| 'Frets, call you these?' quoth she; 'I'll fume |
| with them:' | 155 |
| And, with that word, she struck me on the head, |
| And through the instrument my pate made way; |
| And there I stood amazed for a while, |
| As on a pillory, looking through the lute; |
| While she did call me rascal fiddler | 160 |
| And twangling Jack; with twenty such vile terms, |
| As had she studied to misuse me so. |
| PETRUCHIO | Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench; |
| I love her ten times more than e'er I did: |
| O, how I long to have some chat with her! | 165 |
| BAPTISTA | Well, go with me and be not so discomfited: |
| Proceed in practise with my younger daughter; |
| She's apt to learn and thankful for good turns. |
| Signior Petruchio, will you go with us, |
| Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you? | 170 |
| PETRUCHIO | I pray you do. |
[Exeunt all but PETRUCHIO] |
| I will attend her here, |
| And woo her with some spirit when she comes. |
| Say that she rail; why then I'll tell her plain |
| She sings as sweetly as a nightingale: | 175 |
| Say that she frown, I'll say she looks as clear |
| As morning roses newly wash'd with dew: |
| Say she be mute and will not speak a word; |
| Then I'll commend her volubility, |
| And say she uttereth piercing eloquence: | 180 |
| If she do bid me pack, I'll give her thanks, |
| As though she bid me stay by her a week: |
| If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day |
| When I shall ask the banns and when be married. |
| But here she comes; and now, Petruchio, speak. | 185 |
[Enter KATHARINA] |
| Good morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear. |
| KATHARINA | Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing: |
| They call me Katharina that do talk of me. |
| PETRUCHIO | You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain Kate, |
| And bonny Kate and sometimes Kate the curst; | 190 |
| But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom |
| Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate, |
| For dainties are all Kates, and therefore, Kate, |
| Take this of me, Kate of my consolation; |
| Hearing thy mildness praised in every town, | 195 |
| Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded, |
| Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs, |
| Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife. |
| KATHARINA | Moved! in good time: let him that moved you hither |
| Remove you hence: I knew you at the first | 200 |
| You were a moveable. |
| PETRUCHIO | Why, what's a moveable? |
| KATHARINA | A join'd-stool. |
| PETRUCHIO | Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me. |
| KATHARINA | Asses are made to bear, and so are you. | 205 |
| PETRUCHIO | Women are made to bear, and so are you. |
| KATHARINA | No such jade as you, if me you mean. |
| PETRUCHIO | Alas! good Kate, I will not burden thee; |
| For, knowing thee to be but young and light-- |
| KATHARINA | Too light for such a swain as you to catch; | 210 |
| And yet as heavy as my weight should be. |
| PETRUCHIO | Should be! should--buzz! |
| KATHARINA | Well ta'en, and like a buzzard. |
| PETRUCHIO | O slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard take thee? |
| KATHARINA | Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a buzzard. | 215 |
| PETRUCHIO | Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you are too angry. |
| KATHARINA | If I be waspish, best beware my sting. |
| PETRUCHIO | My remedy is then, to pluck it out. |
| KATHARINA | Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies, |
| PETRUCHIO | Who knows not where a wasp does | 220 |
| wear his sting? In his tail. |
| KATHARINA | In his tongue. |
| PETRUCHIO | Whose tongue? |
| KATHARINA | Yours, if you talk of tails: and so farewell. |
| PETRUCHIO | What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again, | 225 |
| Good Kate; I am a gentleman. |
| KATHARINA | That I'll try. |
| [She strikes him] |
| PETRUCHIO | I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again. |
| KATHARINA | So may you lose your arms: |
| If you strike me, you are no gentleman; | 230 |
| And if no gentleman, why then no arms. |
| PETRUCHIO | A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books! |
| KATHARINA | What is your crest? a coxcomb? |
| PETRUCHIO | A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen. |
| KATHARINA | No cock of mine; you crow too like a craven. | 235 |
| PETRUCHIO | Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour. |
| KATHARINA | It is my fashion, when I see a crab. |
| PETRUCHIO | Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not sour. |
| KATHARINA | There is, there is. |
| PETRUCHIO | Then show it me. | 240 |
| KATHARINA | Had I a glass, I would. |
| PETRUCHIO | What, you mean my face? |
| KATHARINA | Well aim'd of such a young one. |
| PETRUCHIO | Now, by Saint George, I am too young for you. |
| KATHARINA | Yet you are wither'd. | 245 |
| PETRUCHIO | 'Tis with cares. |
| KATHARINA | I care not. |
| PETRUCHIO | Nay, hear you, Kate: in sooth you scape not so. |
| KATHARINA | I chafe you, if I tarry: let me go. |
| PETRUCHIO | No, not a whit: I find you passing gentle. | 250 |
| 'Twas told me you were rough and coy and sullen, |
| And now I find report a very liar; |
| For thou are pleasant, gamesome, passing courteous, |
| But slow in speech, yet sweet as spring-time flowers: |
| Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look askance, | 255 |
| Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will, |
| Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk, |
| But thou with mildness entertain'st thy wooers, |
| With gentle conference, soft and affable. |
| Why does the world report that Kate doth limp? | 260 |
| O slanderous world! Kate like the hazel-twig |
| Is straight and slender and as brown in hue |
| As hazel nuts and sweeter than the kernels. |
| O, let me see thee walk: thou dost not halt. |
| KATHARINA | Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command. | 265 |
| PETRUCHIO | Did ever Dian so become a grove |
| As Kate this chamber with her princely gait? |
| O, be thou Dian, and let her be Kate; |
| And then let Kate be chaste and Dian sportful! |
| KATHARINA | Where did you study all this goodly speech? | 270 |
| PETRUCHIO | It is extempore, from my mother-wit. |
| KATHARINA | A witty mother! witless else her son. |
| PETRUCHIO | Am I not wise? |
| KATHARINA | Yes; keep you warm. |
| PETRUCHIO | Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharina, in thy bed: | 275 |
| And therefore, setting all this chat aside, |
| Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented |
| That you shall be my wife; your dowry 'greed on; |
| And, Will you, nill you, I will marry you. |
| Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn; | 280 |
| For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty, |
| Thy beauty, that doth make me like thee well, |
| Thou must be married to no man but me; |
| For I am he am born to tame you Kate, |
| And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate | 285 |
| Conformable as other household Kates. |
| Here comes your father: never make denial; |
| I must and will have Katharina to my wife. |
| [Re-enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and TRANIO] |
| BAPTISTA | Now, Signior Petruchio, how speed you with my daughter? |
| PETRUCHIO | How but well, sir? how but well? | 290 |
| It were impossible I should speed amiss. |
| BAPTISTA | Why, how now, daughter Katharina! in your dumps? |
| KATHARINA | Call you me daughter? now, I promise you |
| You have show'd a tender fatherly regard, |
| To wish me wed to one half lunatic; | 295 |
| A mad-cup ruffian and a swearing Jack, |
| That thinks with oaths to face the matter out. |
| PETRUCHIO | Father, 'tis thus: yourself and all the world, |
| That talk'd of her, have talk'd amiss of her: |
| If she be curst, it is for policy, | 300 |
| For she's not froward, but modest as the dove; |
| She is not hot, but temperate as the morn; |
| For patience she will prove a second Grissel, |
| And Roman Lucrece for her chastity: |
| And to conclude, we have 'greed so well together, | 305 |
| That upon Sunday is the wedding-day. |
| KATHARINA | I'll see thee hang'd on Sunday first. |
| GREMIO | Hark, Petruchio; she says she'll see thee |
| hang'd first. |
| TRANIO | Is this your speeding? nay, then, good night our part! | 310 |
| PETRUCHIO | Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself: |
| If she and I be pleased, what's that to you? |
| 'Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain, being alone, |
| That she shall still be curst in company. |
| I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe | 315 |
| How much she loves me: O, the kindest Kate! |
| She hung about my neck; and kiss on kiss |
| She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath, |
| That in a twink she won me to her love. |
| O, you are novices! 'tis a world to see, | 320 |
| How tame, when men and women are alone, |
| A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew. |
| Give me thy hand, Kate: I will unto Venice, |
| To buy apparel 'gainst the wedding-day. |
| Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests; | 325 |
| I will be sure my Katharina shall be fine. |
| BAPTISTA | I know not what to say: but give me your hands; |
| God send you joy, Petruchio! 'tis a match. |
| TRANIO | Amen, say we: we will be witnesses. |
| PETRUCHIO | Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu; | 330 |
| I will to Venice; Sunday comes apace: |
| We will have rings and things and fine array; |
| And kiss me, Kate, we will be married o'Sunday. |
| [Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA severally] |
| GREMIO | Was ever match clapp'd up so suddenly? |
| BAPTISTA | Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant's part, | 335 |
| And venture madly on a desperate mart. |
| TRANIO | 'Twas a commodity lay fretting by you: |
| 'Twill bring you gain, or perish on the seas. |
| BAPTISTA | The gain I seek is, quiet in the match. |
| GREMIO | No doubt but he hath got a quiet catch. | 340 |
| But now, Baptists, to your younger daughter: |
| Now is the day we long have looked for: |
| I am your neighbour, and was suitor first. |
| TRANIO | And I am one that love Bianca more |
| Than words can witness, or your thoughts can guess. | 345 |
| GREMIO | Youngling, thou canst not love so dear as I. |
| TRANIO | Graybeard, thy love doth freeze. |
| GREMIO | But thine doth fry. |
| Skipper, stand back: 'tis age that nourisheth. |
| TRANIO | But youth in ladies' eyes that flourisheth. | 350 |
| BAPTISTA | Content you, gentlemen: I will compound this strife: |
| 'Tis deeds must win the prize; and he of both |
| That can assure my daughter greatest dower |
| Shall have my Bianca's love. |
| Say, Signior Gremio, What can you assure her? | 355 |
| GREMIO | First, as you know, my house within the city |
| Is richly furnished with plate and gold; |
| Basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands; |
| My hangings all of Tyrian tapestry; |
| In ivory coffers I have stuff'd my crowns; | 360 |
| In cypress chests my arras counterpoints, |
| Costly apparel, tents, and canopies, |
| Fine linen, Turkey cushions boss'd with pearl, |
| Valance of Venice gold in needlework, |
| Pewter and brass and all things that belong | 365 |
| To house or housekeeping: then, at my farm |
| I have a hundred milch-kine to the pail, |
| Sixscore fat oxen standing in my stalls, |
| And all things answerable to this portion. |
| Myself am struck in years, I must confess; | 370 |
| And if I die to-morrow, this is hers, |
| If whilst I live she will be only mine. |
| TRANIO | That 'only' came well in. Sir, list to me: |
| I am my father's heir and only son: |
| If I may have your daughter to my wife, | 375 |
| I'll leave her houses three or four as good, |
| Within rich Pisa walls, as any one |
| Old Signior Gremio has in Padua; |
| Besides two thousand ducats by the year |
| Of fruitful land, all which shall be her jointure. | 380 |
| What, have I pinch'd you, Signior Gremio? |
| GREMIO | Two thousand ducats by the year of land! |
| My land amounts not to so much in all: |
| That she shall have; besides an argosy |
| That now is lying in Marseilles' road. | 385 |
| What, have I choked you with an argosy? |
| TRANIO | Gremio, 'tis known my father hath no less |
| Than three great argosies; besides two galliases, |
| And twelve tight galleys: these I will assure her, |
| And twice as much, whate'er thou offer'st next. | 390 |
| GREMIO | Nay, I have offer'd all, I have no more; |
| And she can have no more than all I have: |
| If you like me, she shall have me and mine. |
| TRANIO | Why, then the maid is mine from all the world, |
| By your firm promise: Gremio is out-vied. | 395 |
| BAPTISTA | I must confess your offer is the best; |
| And, let your father make her the assurance, |
| She is your own; else, you must pardon me, |
| if you should die before him, where's her dower? |
| TRANIO | That's but a cavil: he is old, I young. | 400 |
| GREMIO | And may not young men die, as well as old? |
| BAPTISTA | Well, gentlemen, |
| I am thus resolved: on Sunday next you know |
| My daughter Katharina is to be married: |
| Now, on the Sunday following, shall Bianca | 405 |
| Be bride to you, if you this assurance; |
| If not, Signior Gremio: |
| And so, I take my leave, and thank you both. |
| GREMIO | Adieu, good neighbour. |
[Exit BAPTISTA] |
| Now I fear thee not: | 410 |
| Sirrah young gamester, your father were a fool |
| To give thee all, and in his waning age |
| Set foot under thy table: tut, a toy! |
| An old Italian fox is not so kind, my boy. |
| [Exit] |
| TRANIO | A vengeance on your crafty wither'd hide! | 415 |
| Yet I have faced it with a card of ten. |
| 'Tis in my head to do my master good: |
| I see no reason but supposed Lucentio |
| Must get a father, call'd 'supposed Vincentio;' |
| And that's a wonder: fathers commonly | 420 |
| Do get their children; but in this case of wooing, |
| A child shall get a sire, if I fail not of my cunning. |
| [Exit] |
The Taming of the Shrew: The Complete Play