Cath. Mov'd! in good time; let him that mov'd you hither,

Remove you hence! I knew you at the first,
You were a moveable.

Pet. A moveable? Why, what's that?
Cath. A joint-stool.

Pet. Thou hast hit it; come, sit on me.

Cath. Asses are made to bear, and so are you, Pet. Women are made to bear and so are you, Alas, good Kate, I will not burthen thee; For, knowing thee to be but young and light---Cath. Too light for such a swain as you to

catch. [Going, Pet. Come, come, you wasp; i'faith, you

are too angry.

Cath. If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
Pet. My remedy, then is to pluck it out.
Cath. Ay, if the fool could find it where it
lies.

Pet. The fool knows where the honey is sweet

Kate.

[Offers to kiss her.

Cath. 'Tis not for drones to taste.

Pet. That will I try. [She strikes him. I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again.--Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so

sour.

Cath. How can I help it, when I see that

face;

But I'll be shock'd no longer with the sight.

[Going,

Bij

Pet. Nay, hear you, Kate; in sooth you 'scape

not so.

Cath, I chafe you, if I tarry---let me go.

Pet. No, not a whit, I find you passing gen

tle;

"Twas told me you were rough, and coy,

sullen,

And now I find report a very liar,

and

For thou art pleasant, gamesome, passing courteous,

But slow in speech, yet sweet as spring-time "flowers;"

Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look ask

ance,

Nor bite the hip 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.

Cath. This is beyond all patience; don't provoke me.

Pet. Why doth the world report that Kate "doth limp?

Oh, sland'rous world! Kate, like the hazle twig,
Is strait, and slender, and as brown in hue
As hazle nuts, and sweeter than the kernels.
O let me see thee walk, thou dost not halt.
Cath. Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st com-
mand.

Pet. Did ever Dian so become a grove,

As Kate this chamber, with her princely gate?

Oh be thou Dian, and let her be Kate,

And then let Kate be chaste, and Dian sportful.

Cath. Where did you study all this goodly speech?

Pet. It is extempore, from my mother wit. Cath. A witty mother, witless else her son. Pet. Am I not wise?

Cath. Yes, in your own conceit;

Keep yourself warm with that, or else you'll freeze

Pet. Or rather warm me in thy arms, my Kate!

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.

Cath. Whether I will or no!---O fortune's spite?

Pet. Ñay, Kate, I am a husband for your

turn;

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. Cath. That will admit dispute, my sucy groom,

Pet. Here comes your father; never make denial,

I must and will have Catherine to my wife.

Enter BAPTISTA.

Bap. Now, signior, now, how speed you with my daughter?

Pet. How should I speed but well, sir? how but well? It were impossible I should speed

amiss.

Bap. Why, how now, daughter Catherine, in
your dumps?

Cath. Call me daughter? Now I promise you
You've shew'd a tender fatherly regard,
To wish me wed one half lunatic;

A mad-cap ruffian, and a swearing Jack,
That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.
Bap. Better this Jack than starve, and that's
your portion-

Pet. Father, 'tis thus; yourself and all he
world

That talk'd of her, have talk'd amiss of her;
If she be curst, it is for policy;

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've 'greed so well together,
We have fix'd to-morrow for the wedding-day.
Cath. I'll see hang'd to-morrow, first---To-

morrow!-

Bap. Petruchio, hark; she says she'll see thee hang'd first;

Is this your speeding?

Pet. Oh! be patient, sir;

If she and I be pleas'd, what's that to you!
'Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain, being alone,
That she shall still be curs'd in company.
Cath. A plague upon his impudence! I am

vex'd--

[Aside. I'll marry my revenge, but I will tame him.

Pet. I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe How much she loves me; Oh! 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. Oh, you are novices; tis a world to see How tame, when men and women are aloneGive me thy hand, Kate, "I will now away "To buy apparel for my gentle bride: "Father, provide the feast, and bid the guests." Bap. What dost thou say, my Catherine! Give thy hand.

66

Cath. Never to man shall Catherine give her hand:

Here 'tis, and let him take it an' he dare.

Pet. Where it the fore-foot of an angry bear, I'd shake it off; but as it is Kate's, I kiss it. Cath. You'll kiss it closer, e'er our moon be wain'd.

Bap. Heav'n send you joy, Petruchio---'tis a match.