The Works of William Shakspere

SCENE I.-Before an Alehouse on a Heath.
Enter Hostess and Sly.

Sly. I'll pheese you, in faith. Hest. A pair of stocks, you rogue! Sly. Y' are a baggage; the Slys are no rogues Look in the chronicles, we came in with Richard Conqueror. Therefore, paucas pallabris; let the world slide: Sessa! [burst? Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have Sly. No, not a denier: Go by, S. Jeronimy,-Go to thy cold bed, and warm thee. Host. I know my remedy, I must go fetch the thirdborough. [Exit. Sly. Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll answer him by law: I'll not budge an inch, boy; let him come, and kindly.

[Lies down on the ground, and falls asleep. Wind horns. Enter a Lord from hunting, with his Train.

Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds:

Brach Merriman,-the poor cur is emboss'd;
And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd Brach.
Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault?
I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.

1 Hun. Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord; He cried upon it at the merest loss,

And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent:
Trust me, I take him for the better dog.

Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet,
I would esteem him worth a dozen such.
But sup them well, and look unto them all;
To-morrow I intend to hunt again.
1 Hun. I will, my lord.
[doth he breathe?
Lord. What 's here? one dead, or drunk? See,
2 Hun. He breathes, my lord: Were he not
warm'd with ale,

This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly.
Lord. O monstrous beast; how like a swine he lies!
Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man.
What think you, if he were convey'd to bed,
Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fin-
A most delicious banquet by his bed, [gers,
And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
Would not the beggar then forget himself?
1 Hun. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose.
2 Hun. It would seem strange unto him when he
wak'd.

Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worthless fancy.

Then take him up, and manage well the jest:
Carry him gently to my fairest chamber,
And hang it round with all my wanton pictures:
Balm his foul head in warm distilled waters,
And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet:
Procure me music ready when he wakes,
To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound;
And if he chance to speak, be ready straight,
And, with a low submissive reverence,
Say, What is it your honour will command?
Let one attend him with a silver bason,
Full of rose water, and bestrew'd with flowers;
Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper,
And say,-Will't please your lordship cool your
Some one be ready with a costly suit, [hands?

And ask him what apparel he will wear;
Another tell him of his hounds and horse,
And that his lady mourns at his disease:
Persuade him that he hath been lunatic;
For he is nothing but a mighty lord.
And, when he says he is,-say, that he dreams,
This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs;
It will be pastime passing excellent,
If it be husbanded with modesty.

As he shall think, by our true diligence,
1 Hun. My lord, I warrant you, we 'll play our part
He is no less than what we say he is.
Lord. Take him up gently and to bed with him;
And each one to his office, when he wakes.
Sirrah, go see what trumpet 't is that sounds:
[Some bear out Sly. A trumpet sounds.
Belike, some noble gentleman, that means,
[Exit Servant.
Travelling some journey, to repose him here.
Re-enter a Servant.

How now? who is it?
Serv.
An it please your honour,
Players that offer service to your lordship.
Lord. Bid them come near:

Enter Players.

Now, fellows, you are welcome.
Players. We thank your honour.
Lord. Do you intend to stay with me to-night?
2 Play. So please your lordship to accept our duty.
Lord. With all my heart.-This fellow I remember,
Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest son;-
'T was where you woo'd the gentlewoman so well:
I have forgot your name; but, sure, that part
Was aptly fitted, and naturally perform'd. [means.
1 Play. I think, 't was Soto that your honour
Lord. 'T is very true;-thou didst it excellent.--
Well, you are come to me in happy time;
The rather for I have some sport in hand,
Wherein your cunning can assist me much.
There is a lord will hear you play to-night:
But I am doubtful of your modesties;
Lest, over-eyeing of his odd behaviour,
(For yet his honour never heard a play,)
You break into some merry passion,
And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs,
If you should smile, he grows impatient.

1 Play. Fear not, my lord; we can contain our-
Were he the veriest antic in the world. [selves,
Lord. Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery,
And give them friendly welcome every one:
Let them want nothing that my house affords.er

[Exeunt Servant and Players. Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew, my page, To a Servant.

And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady:
That done, conduct him to the drunkard's chamber,
And call him madam, do him obeisance.
Tell him from me, as he will win my love,
He bear himself with honourable action,
Such as he hath observ'd in noble ladies
Unto their lords, by them accomplished:
Such duty to the drunkard let him do,
With soft low tongue, and lowly courtesy ;
And say,-What is 't your honour will command,
Wherein your lady, and your humble wife,
May show her duty, and make known her love?

[wood;

And then, with kind embracements, tempting | As lively painted as the deed was done.

[kisses,

And with declining head into his bosom,
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd
To see her noble lord restored to health,
Who, for this seven years, hath esteemed him
No better than a poor and loathsome beggar:
And if the boy have not a woman's gift,
To rain a shower of commanded tears,

An onion will do well for such a shift;
Which in a napkin being close convey'd,
Shall in despite enforce a watery eye.

See this despatch'd with all the haste thou canst;
Anon I'll give thee more instructions.

[Exit Servant.

3 Serv. Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny
Scratching her legs that one shall swear she bleeds:
And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep,

So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn.
Lord. Thou art a lord, and nothing but a lord:
Thou hast a lady far more beautiful

Than any woman in this waning age.

1 Serv. And, till the tears that she hath shed for
Like envious floods o'er-ran her lovely face, [thee,
She was the fairest creature in the world;
And yet she is inferior to none.

Sly. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady?
Or do I dream, or have I dream'd till now?
I do not sleep: I see, I hear, I speak;

I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things:-
Upon my life, I am a lord, indeed;
And not a tinker, nor Christopher Sly.
Well, bring our lady hither to our sight;
And once again, a pot o' the smallest ale. [hands?
2 Serv. Will 't please your mightiness to wash your
[Servants present an ewer, bason, and napkin.
O, how we joy to see your wit restor❜d!

I know the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman:
I long to hear him call the drunkard husband;
And how my men will stay themselves from laughter,
When they do homage to this simple peasant.
I'll in to counsel them: haply, my presence
May well abate the over-merry spleen,
Which otherwise would grow into extremes. [Exe.
SCENE II.-A Bedchamber in the Lord's House.
O, that once more you knew but what you are!
Sly is discovered in a rich night-gown, with At-These fifteen years you have been in a dream;
tendants; some with apparel, others with bason, Or, when you wak'd, so wak'd as if you slept.
ewer, and other appurtenances. Enter Lord, Sly. These fifteen years? by my fay, a goodly nap.
dressed like a servant.
But did I never speak of all that time?

conserves?

Sly. For God's sake, a pot of small ale. [sack? I Serv. O yes, my lord; but very idle words :-
1 Serv. Will 't please your lordship drink a cup of For though you lay here in this goodly chamber,
2 Serv. Will 't please your honour taste of these Yet would you say ye were beaten out of door;
And rail upon the hostess of the house;
And say, you would present her at the leet,
Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd quarts:
Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket.
Sly. Ay, the woman's maid of the house. [maid;
3 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor no such
Nor no such men, as you have reckon'd up,-
As Stephen Sly, and old John Naps of Greece,
And Peter Turf, and Henry Pimpernell;
And twenty more such names and men as these,'
which never were, nor no man ever saw.
Sly. Now, Lord be thanked for my good amends!
All. Amen.

[day? 3 Serv. What raiment will your honour wear to. Sly. I am Christophero Sly. Call not me-honour, nor lordship: I never drank sack in my life; and if you give me any conserves, give me conserves of beef: Ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear: for I have no more doublets than backs, no more stockings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, sometime, more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the overleather.

Lord. Heaven cease this idle humour in your hon-
O, that a mighty man of such descent, [our!
Of such possessions, and so high esteem,
Should be infused with so foul a spirit!
Sly. What! would you make me mad? Am not I

Sly. I thank thee; thou shalt not lose by it.
Enter the Page, as a lady, with Attendants.

Page. How fares my noble lord?

Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer enough. Where is my wife?

Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burton-heath; by
birth a pedlar, by education a cardmaker, by trans-
mutation a bear-herd, and now by present profes-Sly.
sion a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat alewife
of Wincot, if she know me not: if she say I am not
fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, score me
up for the lyingest knave in Christendom. What!
I am not bestraugth: Here's———

I Serv. O, this it is that makes your lady mourn.
2 Serv. O, this it is that makes your servants droop.
Lord. Hence comes it that your kindred shun your
As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. [house,
O, noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth;
Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment,
And banish hence these abject lowly dreams.
Look how thy servants do attend on thee,
Each in his office ready at thy beck.
Wilt thou have music? hark! Apollo plays,

[Music.

And twenty caged nightingales do sing:
Or wilt thou sleep? we 'll have thee to a couch,
Softer and sweeter than the lustful bed
On purpose trimm'd up for Semiramis.

Say, thou wilt walk: we will bestrew the ground:
Or wilt thou ride? thy horses shall be trapp'd,
Their harness studded all with gold and pearl.

Page. Here, noble lord. What is thy will with her?
Sly. Are you my wife, and will not call me husband?
My men should call me lord; I am your goodman.
Page. My husband and my lord, my lord and hus-
I am your wife in all obedience.
[band;
Sly. I know it well: What must I call her?
Lord. Madam.

Sly. Al'ce madam, or Joan madam? [ladies.
Lord. Madam, and nothing else; so lords call
Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have dream'd,
And slept above some fifteen years or more.
Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me;
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 you
To pardon me yet for a night or two;

Or, if not so, until the sun be set:

For your physicians have expressly charg'd,

In peril to incur your former malady,

That I should yet absent me from your bed:
I hope, this reason stands for my excuse.

Dost thou love hawking? thou hast hawks will soar, Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so

Above the morning lark: Or wilt thou hunt?
Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them,
And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth.

1 Serv. Say, thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are
As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe. [as swift
2 Serv. Dost thou love pictures? we will fetch thee
Adonis, painted by a running brook; [straight
And Cytherea all in sedges hid,
Which seem to move and wanton with her breath,
Even as the waving sedges play with wind.
Lord. We'll show thee Io, as she was a maid;
And how she was beguiled and surpris'd,

long. But I would be loath to fall into my dreams again. I will therefore tarry, in despite of the filesh and the blood.

Enter a Servant.

Serv. Your honour's players, hearing your amend-
Are come to play a pleasant comedy, [ment,
For so your doctors hold it very meet:
Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your blood,
And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy,
Therefore, they thought it good you hear a play,
And frame your mind to mirth and merriment,
Which bars a thousand harms, and lengthens life.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Padua. A public Place.
Enter Lucentio and 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
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,

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,
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 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 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 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 serves you:
No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en;-
In brief, sir, study what you most affect.
Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise.
If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore,
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, 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 Katharina,
Because I know you well, and love you well,
Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.
Gre. To cart her rather: She's too rough for me:

Tailor, Haberdasher, and Serv ants attending on Baptista and Petrucio.

SCENE.-Sometimes in PADUA; and sometimes in PETRUCIO'S House in the Country.

There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife?
Kath. I pray you, sir, [to Bap.] is it your will
To make a stale of me amongst these mates?
Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates
Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. [for you,
Kath. I faith, sir, you shall never need to 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'd stool,
And paint your face, and use you like a fool.
Hor. From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us!
Gre. And me too, good Lord!
[ward;
Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime to-
That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward.
Luc. But in the other's silence do I see
Maids' mild behaviour and sobriety.
Peace, Tranio.

Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill.
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; 't is best

Put finger in the eye-an she knew why.
Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.
Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe:
My books and instruments shall be my company;
On them to look, and practise by myself.

speak.

Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva
[Aside.
Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange?
Sorry am I that our good will effects
Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew her,
Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,
And make her bear the penance of her tongue?
Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd:
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?
What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, belike,
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. So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both,

-that we may yet again have access to our fair mis- | Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his friends tress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love,-to la- Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?

bour and effect one thing specially.
Gre. What's that, I pray?

Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.
Gre. A husband! a devil.
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 as 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 highcross 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 Gremio and Hortensio. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me,-Is it pos

sible

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, nought remains but so,-
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,
Perhaps you mark'd not what 's the pith of all.
Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face,
Such as the daughter of Agenor had,

Thus it [stands:

That made great Jove to humble him to her hand,
When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand.
Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how her
Began to scold; and raise up such a storm, [sister
That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?
Luc. Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move,
And with her breath she did perfume the air;
Sacred, and sweet, was all I saw in her.
Tra. Nay, then, 't is time to stir him from his trance.
I pray, awake, sir: If you love the maid,
Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her.
Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd,
That, till the father rids his hands of her,
Master, your love must live a maid at hoine;
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
Because she will not be annoy'd with suitors.
Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he!
But art thou not advis'd, he took some care
To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?
Tra. Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 't is plotted.
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?

Luc. Basta; content thee; for I have it full.
We have not yet been seen in any house;
Nor can we be distinguished 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. [They exchange habits.
In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is,
And I am tied to be obedient;
(For so your father charg'd me at our parting;
Be servicoable to my son,' quoth he,
Although, I think, 't was 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, t' achieve that maid
Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye.
Enter Biondello.

been?

Here comes the rogue.-Sirrah, where have you
[are you?
Bion. Where have I been? Nay, how now, where
Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes?
Or you stol'n his? or both? pray, what's the news?
Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 't is 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 me? Bion. I, sir? near a whit.
Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth;
Tranio is chang'd into Lucentio.

after,

Bion. The better for him. 'Would I were so too!
Tra. So would I, faith, boy, to have the next wish
[daughter.
That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest
But, sirrah, not for my sake, but your master's, I
advise
[panies:
You use your manners discreetly in all kind of com-
When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio;
But in all places else, your master Lucentio.
Luc. Trânio, let's go :-

One thing more rests, that thyself execute ; [why,-
To make one among these wooers: If thou ask me
Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty.
[Exeunt.

[The Presenters above speak.]

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, 't is but begun.

Sly. T is a very excellent piece of work, madam
lady. 'Would 't were done! [They sit and mark.
SCENE II.-The same. Before Hortensio's House.
Enter Petrucio 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,

Tra. Not possible. For who shall bear your part, And then I know after who comes by the worst,
And be in Padua here Vincentio's son?

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 master?-My old friend Grumio! and my good friend Petrucio -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 Petrucio. Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel. Gru. Nay, 't is 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 and thirty,-a pip out?

An affable and courteous gentleman: Her name is Katharina Minola,

Renown'd in Patlua for her scolding tongue.
Pet. I know 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.
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, 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, Petrucio, I must go with thee;
For in Baptista's keep my treasure is:

Whom, 'would to God, I had well knocked at first,He hath the jewel of my life in hold,

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?- heavens!
Spake you not these words plain,-'Sirrah, knock
me here,

Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me soundly?'
And come you now with-knocking at the gate?
Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you.
Hor. Petrucio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge:
Why, this a heavy chance 'twixt him and you;
Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant, Grumio.
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
To seek their fortunes farther than at home, [world,
Where small experience grows. But, in a few,
Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me :-
Antonio, my father, is deceas'd;

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. Petrucio, 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 Petrucio's wife,

(As wealth is burden of my wooing dance,)

Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,

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

Hor. Petrucio, since we are stept thus far in, I will continue that I broach'd in jest.

I can, Petrucio, 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 intolerable curst,

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 Katharina will be woo'd,
Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en,
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 Petrucio do me grace;
And offer me, disguis'd in sober robes,
To old Baptista as a schoolmaster
Well seen in music, to instruct Bianca:
That so I may by this device, at least,
Have leave and leisure to make love to her,
And, unsuspected, court her by herself.
Enter Gremio; with him Lucentio disguised,
with books under his arm.

Gru. Here's no knavery! See; to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about you: Who goes there? ha!

Hor. Peace, Grumio; 't is the rival of my love :-Petrucio, stand by a while.

Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous!

[They retire.
Gre. O, very well: I have perus'd the note.
Hark you, sir; I'll have them very fairly bound:
All books of love, see that at any hand;
And see you read no other lectures to her:
You understand me :-Over and beside
Signior Baptista's liberality,

I'll mend it with a largess:-Take your papers too,
And let me have them very well perfum'd;
For she is sweeter than perfume itself,
To whom they go. What will you read to her?
Luc. Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you,
As for my patron, (stand you so assur'd,)
As firmly as yourself were still in place:
Yea, and perhaps with more successful words
Than you, unless you were a scholar, sir.
Gre. O this learning! what a thing it is!
Gru. O this woodcock! what an ass it is!
Pet. Peace, sirrah.

Hor. Grumio, mum!-God save you, signior
Gremio!
[Trow you,
Gre. And you 're well met, signior Hortensio.
Whither I am going?-To Baptista Minola.

I promis'd to inquire carefully

About a schoolmaster for the fair Bianca:
And, by good fortune, I have lighted well
On this young man ; for learning, and behaviour,
Fit for her turn; well read in poetry
And other books,-good ones, I warrant ye.
Hor. 'T is well and I have met a gentleman,
Hath promis'd me to help me to another,
A fine musician to instruct our mistress;
So shall I no whit be behind in duty
To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me.

[prove:

Gre. Belov'd of me,-and that my deeds shall

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