Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. Sly. 'Tis much ;--Servants, leave me and her alone.-

Madam, undress you, and come now to bed.
Page. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of
To pardon me yet for a night or two; [you,
Or, if not so, until the sun be set :
For your physicians have expressly charged,
In peril to incur your former malady,
That I should yet absent me from your bed:
I hope, this reason stands for my excuse.

Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so long. But I would be loth to fall into my dreams again; I will therefore tarry, in despite of the flesh and the blood.

Enter a Servant.

Sly. Marry, I will; let them play it: Is not a commonty * a Christmas gambol, or a tumbling-trick?

Page. No, my good lord; it is more pleasing stuff.

Sly. What, household stuff?
Page. It is a kind of history.

Sly. Well, we'll see't: Come, madam wife,

shall ne'er be younger.

[They sit down.

SCENE I. Padua. A public Place.

Enter LUCENTIO and TRANFO.

Luc. Tranio, since-for the great desire I To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,[had I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy, The pleasant garden of great Italy; And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd With his good will, and thy good company, Most trusty servant, well approved in all; Here let us breathe, and happily institute A course of learning, and ingenious + studies. Pisa, renowned for grave citizens, Gave me my being, and my father first, A merchant of great traffic through the world, Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii. Vincentio his son, brought up in Florence, It shall become, to serve all hopes conceived, To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds: And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study, Virtue, and that part of philosophy Will I apply, that treats of happiness By virtue 'specially to be achieved. 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 perdonate §, 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 abjured:
Talk 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,

For comedy. + Ingenuous.
Harsh rules.
Animate.

Fall to them, as you find your stomach serves you:

No profit grows, where is no pleasure taʼenIn brief, sir, study what you most affect.

Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore, [advise. We could at once put us in readiness; And take a lodging, fit to entertain Such friends, as time in Padua shall beget. But stay awhile: What company is this? Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town.

Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand aside.

Bap. Gentlemen, impórtune me no further, For how I firmly am resolved you know; That is,--not to bestow my youngest daughter, Before I have a husband for the elder: If either of you both love Katharina, Because I know you well, and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your plea[me:

sure.

Gre. To cart her rather: She's too rough for There, there Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. I pray you, sir, [To Bar.] 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 to
I wistt, it is not half way to her heart: [fear;
But, if it were, doubt not her care should be
To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool,
And paint your face, and use you like a fool.
Hor. From all such devils, good Lord, deliver
Gre. And me too, good Lord!
[us!
Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pas
time toward;

That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward.
Luc. But in the other's silence I do see
Maids' mild behaviour and sobriety.
Peace, Tranio.

[your fill.
Tra. Well said, master: mum! and gaze
Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good
What I have said,-Bianca, get you in:
And let it not displease thee, good Bianca;
For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl.
Kath. A pretty peat* ! 'tis best

Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why.. Bian. Sister, content you in my discon

tent.

Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: My books, and instruments, shall be my company;

On them to look, and practise by myself.
Luc. Hark, Tranio thou may'st hear Mi-
nerva, speak.
[Aside.
Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange?
Sorry am I, that our good will effects
Bianca's grief.
Gre.
Why, will you mewt her up,
Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,
And make her bear the penance of her tongue?
Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am re-
solved :-

Go in, Bianca.

[Exit BIANCA. And for I know, she taketh most delight In music, instruments, and poetry, Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, Fit to instruct her youth.-If you, Hortensio, Or signior Gremio, you,-know any such, Prefer them hither; for to cunning men I will be very kind, and liberal To mine own children in good bringing up; And so farewell. Katharina, you may stay; For I have more to commune with Bianca. [Exit. Kath. Why, and I trust, I may go too; May I not; [belike, What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? Ha? [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell:-Yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man, to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father.

Hor. I say, a husband.

Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell?

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.

Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whipped 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 friendly maintained,-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!

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 on. [Exeunt GRE. and HOR. Tra. [Advancing.] 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 thon canst;
Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.

Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now;
Affection is not rated tt from the heart':
If love have touch'd you, nought remains but
$0,-

Redime te captum quam queas minimo.

Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this

contents;

The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound. Tra. Master, you look'd so longly ‡‡ on the

maid,

hand,

Gre. What's that, I pray?

Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.

Gre. A husband! a devil.

[strand. When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan Tra. Saw you no more; mark'd you not,

how her sister

| Endowments. ‡‡ Longingly.

Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance.

I pray, awake, sir; If you love the maid, Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands :

Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd,
That, till the father rid his hands of her,
Master, your love must live a maid at home:
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
Because she shall not be annoy'd with suitors.
Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he!
But art thou not advised, he took some care
To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct
her?
[plotted.
Tra. Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 'tis
Luc. I have it, Tranio.
Tra.
Master, for my hand,
Both our inventions meet and jump in one.
Luc. Tell me thine first.
Tra.
You will be schoolmaster,
And undertake the teaching of the maid:
That's your device.
Luc.
It is May it be done?
Tra. Not possible: For who shall bear your
And be in Padua here Vincentio's son ? [part,
Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his
friends;

Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?

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 t,and servants,as I should: I will some other be; some Florentine, Some Neapolitan, or mean man of Pisa. 'Tis 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.

[They exchange habits. In brief then, sir, sith it your pleasure is, And I am tied to be obedient; (For so your father charged me at our parting; Be serviceable to my son, quoth he; Although, I think, 'twas in another sense ;) 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. Here comes the rogue.-Sirrah, where have you been? [where are you? Bion. Where have I been? Nay, how now, Master, has my fellow Tranio stolen your clothes? [news? Or you stolen his? or both? pray what's the Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest, And therefore frame your manners to the time. Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life, Puts my apparel and my countenance on, And I for my escape have put on his ; For in a quarrel, since I came ashore,

I kill'd a man, and fear I was descried §: Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes, While I make way from hence to save my life: You understand ine?

Bion. I, sir, ne'er a whit. Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth; Tranio is changed into Lucentio. Bion. The better for him: Would I were so too! [wish after,Tra. So would I, faith, boy, to have the next That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter. [-I advise But, sirrah,-not for my sake,but your master's, You use your manners discreetly in all kind of 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 more rests, that thyself execute ;To make one among these wooers: If thou ask me why,

Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty. [Exeunt. 1. Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.

Sly. Yes, by Saint Anne, do I. A good matter, surely: Comes there any more of it? Page. My lord, 'tis but begun.

Sly. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady: 'Would 'twere done! SCENE II. The same. Before Hortensio's House.

Enter PETRUCHIO and 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? is there any man has rebused your worship? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly. Gru. Knock you here, sir? why, sir, what am I, sir, that I should knock you here, sir?

Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate, And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate.

Gru. My master is grown quarrelsome: I

should knock you first,

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

'Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll wring it; I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it.

[He wrings GRUMIO by the ears. Gru. Help, masters, help! my master is mad. Pet. Now, knock when I bid you: sirrah! villain!

Enter HORTENSIO. Hor. How now? what's the matter?-My old friend Grumio! and my good friend Petruchio!-How do you all at Verona

Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part

the fray?

Con tutto il core bene trovato, may I say. Hor. Alla nostra casa bene venuto, Molto honorato signor mio Petruchio.

+ Since. § Observed.

Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel.

Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, what he leges in Latin. If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service.-Look you, sir,-he bid me knock him, and rap him soundly, sir: Well, was it fit for a servant to use his master so; being, perhaps, (for aught I see,) two-andthirty, a pip out?

Whom, 'would to God, I had well knock'd at first,

Then had not Grumio come by the worst. Pet. A senseless villain-Good Hortensio, I bade the rascal knock upon your gate, And could not get him for my heart to do it. Gru. Knock at the gate ?-O heavens ! Spake you not these words plain,-Sirrah, | knock me here, [soundly? Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me And come you now with-knocking at the gate? Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you. [pledge: Hor. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's Why, this a heavy chance 'twixt him and you; Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grümio. And tell me now, sweet friend,-what happy gale

Blows you to Padua here, from old Verona ? Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the world,

To seek their fortunes further than at home, Where small experience grows. But, in a few t, Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me:Antonio, my father, is deceased;

And I have thrust myself into this maze, Haply to wive, and thrive, as best I may : Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home, And so am come abroad to see the world.

Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee,

And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? Thou'dst thank me but a little for my counsel: And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich, And very rich :-But thou'rt too much my friend,

And I'll not wish thee to her.

Pet. Signior Hortensio ; 'twixt such friends

as we

Few words suffice: and, therefore, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife,
(As wealth is burthen of my wooing dance,)
Be she as foul as was Florentius' lovet,
As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xantippe, or a worse,
She moves me not, or not removes, at least,
Affection's edge in me; were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatic seas:
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua ;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

Gru. Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is: Why, give him gold enough and marry him to a puppet, or an aglet-baby; or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, though she have as many diseases as two and

• Alleges.

fifty horses: why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal.

Hor. Petruchio, since we have stepp'd thus
I will continue that I broach'd in jest. [far in,
I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife
With wealth enough, and young,and beauteous;
Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman:
Her only fault (and that is faults enough,)
Is, that she is intolerably curst, {sure,
And shrewd, and froward; so beyond all mea-
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 'tis enough;
For I will board her, though she chide as loud
As thunder, when the clouds iu autumn crack,
Hor. Her father is Baptista Minola,
An affable and courteous gentleman:
Her name is Katharina Minola,
Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue.

Pet. I know her father, though I know not And he knew my deceased father well: [her; 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.

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 of knaves, or so why, 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 withal than a cat: You know him not, sir.

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 rehearsed,) That ever Katharina will be woo'd; Therefore this ordert† hath Baptista taʼen;— That none shall have access unto Bianca, Till Katharine the curst have got a husband. Gru. Katharine the curst!

A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do