Taming of the Shrew

ACT IV

SCENE I. PETRUCHIO'S country house.

Enter GRUMIO

GRUMIO

Fie, fie on all tired jades, on all mad masters, and

all foul ways! Was ever man so beaten? was ever

man so rayed? 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 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, ho! Curtis.

Enter CURTIS

CURTIS

Who is that calls so coldly?

GRUMIO

A piece of ice: if thou doubt it, thou mayst slide

from my shoulder to my heel with no greater a run

but my head and my neck. A fire good Curtis.

CURTIS

Is my master and his wife coming, Grumio?

GRUMIO

O, ay, Curtis, ay: and therefore fire, fire, cast

on no water.

CURTIS

Is she so hot a shrew as she's reported?

GRUMIO

She was, good Curtis, before this frost: but, thou

knowest, winter tames man, woman and beast, for it

hath tamed my old master and my new mistress and

myself, fellow Curtis.

CURTIS

Away, you three-inch fool! I am no beast.

GRUMIO

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 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?

CURTIS

I prithee, good Grumio, tell me, how goes the world?

GRUMIO

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 almost frozen to death.

CURTIS

There's fire ready, and therefore, good Grumio, the news.

GRUMIO

Why, 'Jack, boy! ho! boy!' and as much news as

will thaw.

CURTIS

Come, you are so full of cony-catching!

GRUMIO

Why, therefore fire, for I have caught extreme cold.

Where's the cook? is supper ready, the house

trimmed, rushes strewed, 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 without,

the carpets laid, and every thing in order?

CURTIS

All ready, and therefore, I pray thee, news.

GRUMIO

First, know, my horse is tired, my master and

mistress fallen out.

CURTIS

How?

GRUMIO

Out of their saddles into the dirt, and thereby

hangs a tale.

CURTIS

Let's ha't, good Grumio.

GRUMIO

Lend thine ear.

CURTIS

Here.

GRUMIO

There.

Strikes him

CURTIS

This is to feel a tale, not to hear a tale.

GRUMIO

And therefore 'tis called a sensible tale: and this

cuff was but to knock at your ear, and beseech

listening. Now I begin: Imprimis, we came down a

foul hill, my master riding behind my mistress,--

CURTIS

Both of one horse?

GRUMIO

What's that to thee?

CURTIS

Why, a horse.

GRUMIO

Tell thou the tale: but hadst thou not crossed me,

thou shouldst have heard how her horse fell and she

under her horse, thou shouldst have heard in how

miry a place, how she was bemoiled, 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 prayed,

that never prayed before, how I cried, how the

horses ran 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

unexperienced to thy grave.

CURTIS

By this reckoning he is more shrew than she.

GRUMIO

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: let their heads be

sleekly combed their blue coats brushed and their

garters of an indifferent knit: 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?

CURTIS

They are.

GRUMIO

Call them forth.

CURTIS

Do you hear, ho? you must meet my master to

countenance my mistress.

GRUMIO

Why, she hath a face of her own.

CURTIS

Who knows not that?

GRUMIO

Thou, it seems, that calls for company to

countenance her.

CURTIS

I call them forth to credit her.

GRUMIO

Why, she comes to borrow nothing of them.

Enter four or five Serving-men

NATHANIEL

Welcome home, Grumio!

PHILIP

How now, Grumio!

JOSEPH

What, Grumio!

NICHOLAS

Fellow Grumio!

NATHANIEL

How now, old lad?

GRUMIO

Welcome, you,--how now, you,-- what, you,--fellow,

you,--and thus much for greeting. Now, my spruce

companions, is all ready, and all things neat?

NATHANIEL

All things is ready. How near is our master?

GRUMIO

E'en at hand, alighted by this, and therefore be

not--Cock's passion, silence! I hear my master.

Enter PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA

PETRUCHIO

Where be these knaves? What, no man at door

To hold my stirrup nor to take my horse!

Where is Nathaniel, Gregory, Philip?

ALL SERVING-MEN Here, here, sir, here, sir.

Here, sir! here, sir! here, sir! here, sir!

You logger-headed and unpolish'd grooms!

What, no attendance? no regard? no duty?

Where is the foolish knave I sent before?

GRUMIO

Here, sir, as foolish as I was before.

PETRUCHIO

You peasant swain! you whoreson malt-horse drudge!

Did I not bid thee meet me in the park,

And bring along these rascal knaves with thee?

GRUMIO

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's dagger 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.

PETRUCHIO

Go, rascals, go, and fetch my supper in.

Exeunt Servants

Singing

Where is the life that late I led--

Where are those--Sit down, Kate, and welcome.--

Sound, sound, sound, sound!

Re-enter Servants with supper

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

Off with my boots, you rogues! you villains, when?

Sings

It was the friar of orders grey,

As he forth walked on his way:--

Out, you rogue! you pluck my foot awry:

Take that, and mend the plucking off the other.

Strikes him

Be merry, Kate. Some water, here, what, ho!

Where's my spaniel Troilus? Sirrah, get you hence,

And 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?

Enter one with water

Come, Kate, and wash, and welcome heartily.

You whoreson villain! will you let it fall?

Strikes him

KATHARINA

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

PETRUCHIO

A whoreson beetle-headed, flap-ear'd knave!

Come, Kate, sit down, I know you have a stomach.

Will you give thanks, sweet Kate, or else shall I?

What's this? mutton?

First Servant

Ay.

PETRUCHIO

Who brought it?

PETER

I.

PETRUCHIO

'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?

Theretake it to you, trenchers, cups, and all,

Throws the meat, and c. about the stage

You heedless joltheads and unmanner'd slaves!

What, do you grumble? I'll be with you straight.

KATHARINA

I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet:

The meat was well, if you were so contented.

PETRUCHIO

I tell thee, Kate, 'twas burnt and dried away,

And I expressly am forbid to touch it,

For it engenders choler, planteth anger,

And better 'twere that both of us did fast,

Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric,

Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh.

Be patient, to-morrow 't shall be mended,

And, for this night, we'll fast for company:

Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber.

Exeunt

Re-enter Servants severally

NATHANIEL

Peter, didst ever see the like?

PETER

He kills her in her own humour.

Re-enter CURTIS

GRUMIO

Where is he?

CURTIS

In her chamber, making a sermon of continency to her,

And rails, and swears, and rates, that she, poor soul,

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

PETRUCHIO

Thus have I politicly begun my reign,

And 'tis my hope to end successfully.

My falcon now is sharp and passing empty,

And till she stoop she must not be full-gorged,

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 these 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 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 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 show.

Exit

SCENE II. Padua. Before BAPTISTA'S house.

Enter TRANIO and HORTENSIO

TRANIO

Is't possible, friend Licio, that Mistress Bianca

Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?

I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand.

HORTENSIO

Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,

Stand by and mark the manner of his teaching.

Enter BIANCA and LUCENTIO

LUCENTIO

Now, mistress, profit you in what you read?

BIANCA

What, master, read you? first resolve me that.

LUCENTIO

I read that I profess, the Art to Love.

BIANCA

And may you prove, sir, master of your art!

LUCENTIO

While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart!

HORTENSIO

Quick proceeders, marry! Now, tell me, I pray,

You that durst swear at your mistress Bianca

Loved none in the world so well as Lucentio.

TRANIO

O despiteful love! unconstant womankind!

I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful.

HORTENSIO

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:

Know, sir, that I am call'd Hortensio.

TRANIO

Signior 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 for ever.

HORTENSIO

See, how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,

Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow

Never to woo her no more, but do forswear her,

As one unworthy all the former favours

That I have fondly flatter'd her withal.

TRANIO

And here I take the unfeigned oath,

Never to marry with her though she would entreat:

Fie on her! see, how beastly she doth court him!

HORTENSIO

Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!

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, Signior 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

TRANIO

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.

BIANCA

Tranio, you jest: but have you both forsworn me?

TRANIO

Mistress, we have.

LUCENTIO

Then we are rid of Licio.

TRANIO

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

That shall be wood and wedded in a day.

BIANCA

God give him joy!

TRANIO

Ay, and he'll tame her.

BIANCA

He says so, Tranio.

TRANIO

Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school.

BIANCA

The taming-school! what, is there such a place?

TRANIO

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

BIONDELLO

O 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.

TRANIO

What is he, Biondello?

BIONDELLO

Master, a mercatante, or a pedant,

I know not what, but format in apparel,

In gait and countenance surely like a father.

LUCENTIO

And what of him, Tranio?

TRANIO

If he be credulous and trust my tale,

I'll make him glad to seem Vincentio,

And give assurance to Baptista Minola,

As if he were the right Vincentio

Take in your love, and then let me alone.

Exeunt LUCENTIO and BIANCA

Enter a Pedant

Pedant

God save you, sir!

TRANIO

And you, sir! you are welcome.

Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?

Pedant

Sir, at the farthest for a week or two:

But then up farther, and as for as Rome,

And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.

TRANIO

What countryman, I pray?

Pedant

Of Mantua.

TRANIO

Of Mantua, sir? marry, God forbid!

And come to Padua, careless of your life?

Pedant

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

TRANIO

'Tis death for any one in Mantua

To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?

Your ships are stay'd at Venice, and the duke,

For private quarrel 'twixt your duke and him,

Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly:

'Tis, marvel, but that you are but newly come,

You might have heard it else proclaim'd about.

Pedant

Alas! sir, it is worse for me than so,

For I have bills for money by exchange

From Florence and must here deliver them.

TRANIO

Well, sir, to do you courtesy,

This will I do, and this I will advise you:

First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa?

Pedant

Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,

Pisa renowned for grave citizens.

TRANIO

Among them know you one Vincentio?

Pedant

I know him not, but I have heard of him,

A merchant of incomparable wealth.

TRANIO

He is my father, sir, and, sooth to say,

In countenance somewhat doth resemble you.

BIONDELLO

[Aside] As much as an apple doth an oyster,

and all one.

TRANIO

To save your life in this extremity,

This favour will I do you for his sake,

And think it not the worst of an 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.

Pedant

O sir, I do, and will repute you ever

The patron of my life and liberty.

TRANIO

Then go with me to make the matter good.

This, by the way, I let you understand,

my father is here look'd 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 to clothe you as becomes you.

Exeunt

SCENE III. A room in PETRUCHIO'S house.

Enter KATHARINA and GRUMIO

GRUMIO

No, no, forsooth, I dare not for my life.

KATHARINA

The more my wrong, the more his spite appears:

What, did he marry me to famish me?

Beggars, that come unto my father's door,

Upon entreaty have a present aims,

If not, elsewhere they meet with charity:

But I, who never knew how to entreat,

Nor never needed that I should entreat,

Am starved for meat, giddy for lack of sleep,

With oath 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.

I prithee go and get me some repast,

I care not what, so it be wholesome food.

GRUMIO

What say you to a neat's foot?

KATHARINA

'Tis passing good: I prithee let me have it.

GRUMIO

I fear it is too choleric a meat.

How say you to a fat tripe finely broil'd?

KATHARINA

I like it well: good Grumio, fetch it me.

GRUMIO

I cannot tell, I fear 'tis choleric.

What say you to a piece of beef and mustard?

KATHARINA

A dish that I do love to feed upon.

GRUMIO

Ay, but the mustard is too hot a little.

KATHARINA

Why then, the beef, and let the mustard rest.

GRUMIO

Nay then, I will not: you shall have the mustard,

Or else you get no beef of Grumio.

KATHARINA

Then both, or one, or any thing thou wilt.

GRUMIO

Why then, the mustard without the beef.

KATHARINA

Go, get thee gone, thou false deluding slave,

Beats him

That feed'st me with the very name of meat:

Sorrow on thee and all the pack of you,

That triumph thus upon my misery!

Go, get thee gone, I say.

Enter PETRUCHIO and HORTENSIO with meat

PETRUCHIO

How fares my Kate? What, sweeting, all amort?

HORTENSIO

Mistress, what cheer?

KATHARINA

Faith, as cold as can be.

PETRUCHIO

Pluck up thy spirits, look cheerfully upon me.

Here love, thou see'st how diligent I am

To dress thy meat myself and bring it thee:

I am sure, sweet Kate, this kindness merits thanks.

What, not a word? Nay, then thou lovest it not,

And all my pains is sorted to no proof.

Here, take away this dish.

KATHARINA

I pray you, let it stand.

PETRUCHIO

The poorest service is repaid with thanks,

And so shall mine, before you touch the meat.

KATHARINA

I thank you, sir.

HORTENSIO

Signior Petruchio, fie! you are to blame.

Come, mistress Kate, I'll bear you company.

PETRUCHIO

[Aside] Eat it up all, Hortensio, if thou lovest me.

Much good do it unto thy gentle heart!

Kate, eat apace: and now, my honey love,

Will we return unto thy father's house

And revel it as bravely as the best,

With silken coats and caps and golden rings,

With ruffs and cuffs and fardingales and things,

With scarfs and fans and double change of bravery,

With amber bracelets, beads and all this knavery.

What, hast thou dined? The tailor stays thy leisure,

To deck thy body with his ruffling treasure.

Enter Tailor

Come, tailor, let us see these ornaments,

Lay forth the gown.

Enter Haberdasher

What news with you, sir?

Haberdasher

Here is the cap your worship did bespeak.

PETRUCHIO

Why, this was moulded on a porringer,

A velvet dish: fie, fie! '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 have a bigger.

KATHARINA

I'll have no bigger: this doth fit the time,

And gentlewomen wear such caps as these

PETRUCHIO

When you are gentle, you shall have one too,

And not till then.

HORTENSIO

[Aside] That will not be in haste.

KATHARINA

Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak,

And speak I will, I am no child, no babe:

Your betters have endured me say my mind,

And if you cannot, best you stop your ears.

My tongue will tell the anger of my heart,

Or else my heart concealing it will break,

And rather than it shall, I will be free

Even to the uttermost, as I please, in words.

PETRUCHIO

Why, thou say'st true, it is a paltry cap,

A custard-coffin, a bauble, a silken pie:

I love thee well, in that thou likest it not.

KATHARINA

Love me or love me not, I like the cap,

And it I will have, or I will have none.

Exit Haberdasher

PETRUCHIO

Thy gown? why, ay: come, tailor, let us see't.

O mercy, God! what masquing stuff is here?

What's this? a sleeve? 'tis like a demi-cannon:

What, up and down, carved like an apple-tart?

Here's snip and nip and cut and slish and slash,

Like to a censer in a barber's shop:

Why, what, i' devil's name, tailor, call'st thou this?

HORTENSIO

[Aside] I see she's like to have neither cap nor gown.

Tailor

You bid me make it orderly and well,

According to the fashion and the time.

PETRUCHIO

Marry, and did, but if you be remember'd,

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.

KATHARINA

I never saw a better-fashion'd gown,

More quaint, more pleasing, nor more commendable:

Belike you mean to make a puppet of me.

PETRUCHIO

Why, true, he means to make a puppet of thee.

Tailor

She says your worship means to make

a puppet of her.

PETRUCHIO

O monstrous arrogance! Thou liest, thou thread,

thou thimble,

Thou yard, three-quarters, half-yard, quarter, nail!

Thou flea, thou nit, thou winter-cricket thou!

Braved in mine own house with a skein of thread?

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 livest!

I tell thee, I, that thou hast marr'd her gown.

Tailor

Your worship is deceived, the gown is made

Just as my master had direction:

Grumio gave order how it should be done.

GRUMIO

I gave him no order, I gave him the stuff.

Tailor

But how did you desire it should be made?

GRUMIO

Marry, sir, with needle and thread.

Tailor

But did you not request to have it cut?

GRUMIO

Thou hast faced many things.

Tailor

I have.

GRUMIO

Face not me: thou hast braved many men, brave not

me, I will neither be faced nor braved. 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.

Tailor

Why, here is the note of the fashion to testify

PETRUCHIO

Read it.

GRUMIO

The note lies in's throat, if he say I said so.

Tailor

[Reads] 'Imprimis, a loose-bodied gown:'

GRUMIO

Master, if ever I said loose-bodied gown, sew me in

the skirts of it, and beat me to death with a bottom

of brown thread: I said a gown.

PETRUCHIO

Proceed.

Tailor

[Reads] 'With a small compassed cape:'

GRUMIO

I confess the cape.

Tailor

[Reads] 'With a trunk sleeve:'

GRUMIO

I confess two sleeves.

Tailor

[Reads] 'The sleeves curiously cut.'

PETRUCHIO

Ay, there's the villany.

GRUMIO

Error i' the bill, sir, error i' the bill.

I commanded the sleeves should be cut out and

sewed up again, and that I'll prove upon thee,

though thy little finger be armed in a thimble.

Tailor

This is true that I say: an I had thee

in place where, thou shouldst know it.

GRUMIO

I am for thee straight: take thou the

bill, give me thy mete-yard, and spare not me.

HORTENSIO

God-a-mercy, Grumio! then he shall have no odds.

PETRUCHIO

Well, sir, in brief, the gown is not for me.

GRUMIO

You are i' the right, sir: 'tis for my mistress.

PETRUCHIO

Go, take it up unto thy master's use.

GRUMIO

Villain, not for thy life: take up my mistress'

gown for thy master's use!

PETRUCHIO

Why, sir, what's your conceit in that?

GRUMIO

O, sir, the conceit is deeper than you think for:

Take up my mistress' gown to his master's use!

O, fie, fie, fie!

PETRUCHIO

[Aside] Hortensio, say thou wilt see the tailor paid.

Go take it hence, be gone, and say no more.

HORTENSIO

Tailor, I'll pay thee for thy gown tomorrow:

Take no unkindness of his hasty words:

Away! I say, commend me to thy master.

Exit Tailor

PETRUCHIO

Well, come, my Kate, we will unto your father's

Even in these honest mean habiliments:

Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor,

For 'tis the mind that makes the body rich,

And as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds,

So honour peereth in the meanest habit.

What is the jay more precious than the lark,

Because his fathers are more beautiful?

Or is the adder better than the eel,

Because his painted skin contents the eye?

O, no, good Kate, neither art thou the worse

For this poor furniture and mean array.

if thou account'st it shame. lay it on me,

And therefore frolic: we will hence forthwith,

To feast and sport us at thy father's house.

Go, call my men, and let us straight to him,

And bring our horses unto Long-lane end,

There will we mount, and thither walk on foot

Let's see, I think 'tis now some seven o'clock,

And well we may come there by dinner-time.

KATHARINA

I dare assure you, sir, 'tis almost two,

And 'twill be supper-time ere you come there.

PETRUCHIO

It shall be seven ere I go to horse:

Look, what I speak, or do, or think to do,

You are still crossing it. Sirs, let't alone:

I will not go to-day, and ere I do,

It shall be what o'clock I say it is.

HORTENSIO

[Aside] Why, so this gallant will command the sun.

Exeunt

SCENE IV. Padua. Before BAPTISTA'S house.

Enter TRANIO, and the Pedant dressed like VINCENTIO

TRANIO

Sir, this is the house: please it you that I call?

Pedant

Ay, what else? and but I be deceived

Signior Baptista may remember me,

Near twenty years ago, in Genoa,

Where we were lodgers at the Pegasus.

TRANIO

'Tis well, and hold your own, in any case,

With such austerity as 'longeth to a father.

Pedant

I warrant you.

Enter BIONDELLO

But, sir, here comes your boy,

'Twere good he were school'd.

TRANIO

Fear you not him. Sirrah Biondello,

Now do your duty throughly, I advise you:

Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio.

BIONDELLO

Tut, fear not me.

TRANIO

But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista?

BIONDELLO

I told him that your father was at Venice,

And that you look'd for him this day in Padua.

TRANIO

Thou'rt a tall fellow: hold thee that to drink.

Here comes Baptista: set your countenance, sir.

Enter BAPTISTA and LUCENTIO

Signior Baptista, you are happily met.

To the Pedant

Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of:

I pray you stand good father to me now,

Give me Bianca for my patrimony.

Pedant

Soft son!

Sir, by your leave: having come to Padua

To gather in some debts, my son Lucentio

Made me acquainted with a weighty cause

Of love between your daughter and himself:

And, for the good report I hear of you

And for the love he beareth to your daughter

And she to him, to stay him not too long,

I am content, in a good father's care,

To have him match'd, and if you please to like

No worse than I, upon some agreement

Me shall you find ready and willing

With one consent to have her so bestow'd,

For curious I cannot be with you,

Signior Baptista, of whom I hear so well.

BAPTISTA

Sir, pardon me in what I have to say:

Your plainness and your shortness please me well.

Right true it is, your son Lucentio here

Doth love my daughter and she loveth him,

Or both dissemble deeply their affections:

And therefore, if you say no more than this,

That like a father you will deal with him

And pass my daughter a sufficient dower,

The match is made, and all is done:

Your son shall have my daughter with consent.

TRANIO

I thank you, sir. Where then do you know best

We be affied and such assurance ta'en

As shall with either part's agreement stand?

BAPTISTA

Not in my house, Lucentio, for, you know,

Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants:

Besides, old Gremio is hearkening still,

And happily we might be interrupted.

TRANIO

Then at my lodging, an it like you:

There doth my father lie, and there, this night,

We'll pass the business privately and well.

Send for your daughter by your servant here:

My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently.

The worst is this, that, at so slender warning,

You are like to have a thin and slender pittance.

BAPTISTA

It likes me well. Biondello, hie you home,

And bid Bianca make her ready straight,

And, if you will, tell what hath happened,

Lucentio's father is arrived in Padua,

And how she's like to be Lucentio's wife.

BIONDELLO

I pray the gods she may with all my heart!

TRANIO

Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.

Exit BIONDELLO

Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way?

Welcome! one mess is like to be your cheer:

Come, sir, we will better it in Pisa.

BAPTISTA

I follow you.

Exeunt TRANIO, Pedant, and BAPTISTA

Re-enter BIONDELLO

BIONDELLO

Cambio!

LUCENTIO

What sayest thou, Biondello?

BIONDELLO

You saw my master wink and laugh upon you?

LUCENTIO

Biondello, what of that?

BIONDELLO

Faith, nothing, but has left me here behind, to

expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens.

LUCENTIO

I pray thee, moralize them.

BIONDELLO

Then thus. Baptista is safe, talking with the

deceiving father of a deceitful son.

LUCENTIO

And what of him?

BIONDELLO

His daughter is to be brought by you to the supper.

LUCENTIO

And then?

BIONDELLO

The old priest of Saint Luke's church is at your

command at all hours.

LUCENTIO

And what of all this?

BIONDELLO

I cannot tell, expect they are busied about a

counterfeit assurance: take you assurance of her,

'cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum:' to the

church, take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient

honest witnesses: If this be not that you look for,

I have no more to say, But bid Bianca farewell for

ever and a day.

LUCENTIO

Hearest thou, Biondello?

BIONDELLO

I cannot tarry: I knew a wench married in an

afternoon as she went to the garden for parsley to

stuff a rabbit, and so may you, sir: and so, adieu,

sir. My master hath appointed me to go to Saint

Luke's, to bid the priest be ready to come against

you come with your appendix.

Exit

LUCENTIO

I may, and will, if she be so contented:

She will be pleased, then wherefore should I doubt?

Hap what hap may, I'll roundly go about her:

It shall go hard if Cambio go without her.

Exit

SCENE V. A public road.

Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, HORTENSIO, and Servants

PETRUCHIO

Come on, i' God's name, once more toward our father's.

Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon!

KATHARINA

The moon! the sun: it is not moonlight now.

PETRUCHIO

I say it is the moon that shines so bright.

KATHARINA

I know it is the sun that shines so bright.

PETRUCHIO

Now, by my mother's son, and that's myself,

It shall be moon, or star, or what I list,

Or ere I journey to your father's house.

Go on, and fetch our horses back again.

Evermore cross'd and cross'd, nothing but cross'd!

HORTENSIO

Say as he says, or we shall never go.

KATHARINA

Forward, I pray, since we have come so far,

And be it moon, or sun, or what you please:

An if you please to call it a rush-candle,

Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.

PETRUCHIO

I say it is the moon.

KATHARINA

I know it is the moon.

PETRUCHIO

Nay, then you lie: it is the blessed sun.

KATHARINA

Then, God be bless'd, it is the blessed sun:

But sun it is not, when you say it is not,

And the moon changes even as your mind.

What you will have it named, even that it is,

And so it shall be so for Katharina.

HORTENSIO

Petruchio, go thy ways, the field is won.

PETRUCHIO

Well, forward, forward! thus the bowl should run,

And not unluckily against the bias.

But, soft! company is coming here.

Enter VINCENTIO

To VINCENTIO

Good morrow, gentle mistress: where away?

Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too,

Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman?

Such war of white and red within her cheeks!

What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty,

As those two eyes become that heavenly face?

Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee.

Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's sake.

HORTENSIO

A' will make the man mad, to make a woman of him.

KATHARINA

Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet,

Whither away, or where is thy abode?

Happy the parents of so fair a child,

Happier the man, whom favourable stars

Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow!

PETRUCHIO

Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad:

This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither'd,

And not a maiden, as thou say'st he is.

KATHARINA

Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes,

That have been so bedazzled with the sun

That everything I look on seemeth green:

Now I perceive thou art a reverend father,

Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.

PETRUCHIO

Do, good old grandsire, and withal make known

Which way thou travellest: if along with us,

We shall be joyful of thy company.

VINCENTIO

Fair sir, and you my merry mistress,

That with your strange encounter much amazed me,

My name is call'd Vincentio, my dwelling Pisa,

And bound I am to Padua, there to visit

A son of mine, which long I have not seen.

PETRUCHIO

What is his name?

VINCENTIO

Lucentio, gentle sir.

PETRUCHIO

Happily we met, the happier for thy son.

And now by law, as well as reverend age,

I may entitle thee my loving father:

The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman,

Thy son by this hath married. Wonder not,

Nor be grieved: she is of good esteem,

Her dowery wealthy, and of worthy birth,

Beside, so qualified as may beseem

The spouse of any noble gentleman.

Let me embrace with old Vincentio,

And wander we to see thy honest son,

Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.

VINCENTIO

But is it true? or else is it your pleasure,

Like pleasant travellers, to break a jest

Upon the company you overtake?

HORTENSIO

I do assure thee, father, so it is.

PETRUCHIO

Come, go along, and see the truth hereof,

For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.

Exeunt all but HORTENSIO

HORTENSIO

Well, Petruchio, this has put me in heart.

Have to my widow! and if she be froward,

Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.

Exit