Chapter II: Act I: SCENE I. Padua. A public place

_Enter_ LUCENTIO _and his man_ TRANIO.

_Luc._ Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy;
And by my father's love and leave am arm'd 5
With his good will and thy good company,
My trusty servant, well approved in all,
Here let us breathe and haply institute
A course of learning and ingenious studies.
Pisa renowned for grave citizens 10
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 conceived, 15
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. 20
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 perdonato_, gentle master mine, 25
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, 30
Let's be no stoics nor no stocks, I pray;
Or so devote to Aristotle's checks
As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured:
Balk logic with acquaintance that you have
And practise rhetoric in your common talk; 35
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. 40

_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. 45
But stay a while: what company is this?

_Tra._ Master, some show to welcome us to town.

_Enter_ BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, _and_ HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO _and_ TRANIO _stand by_.

_Bap._ Gentlemen, importune me no farther,
For how I firmly am resolved you know;
That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter 50
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._ [_Aside_] To cart her rather: she's too rough for me. 55
There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife?

_Kath._ I pray you, sir, 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. 60

_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. 65

_Hor._ From all such devils, good Lord deliver us!

_Gre._ And me too, good Lord!

_Tra._ Husht, master! here's some good pastime toward:
That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward.

_Luc._ But in the other's silence do I see 70
Maid's 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: 75
And let it not displease thee, good Bianca,
For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl.

_Kath._ A pretty peat! it is best
Put finger in the eye, an she knew why.

_Bian._ Sister, content you in my discontent. 80
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 Minerva speak.

_Hor._ Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? 85
Sorry am I that our good will effects
Bianca's grief.

_Gre._ Why will you mew her up,
Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,
And make her bear the penance of her tongue?

_Bap._ Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolved: 90
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, 95
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; 100
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 105
good, here's 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 110
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 brooked parle,
know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both, that we may
yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals 115
in Bianca's love, to labour 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. 120

_Gre._ I say, a devil. Thinkest 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 125
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 130
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 135
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._ 140

_Tra._ 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, 145
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, 150
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: 155
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, 160
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,
That made great Jove to humble him to her hand,
When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strond. 165

_Tra._ Saw you no more? mark'd you not how her sister
Began to scold and raise up such a storm
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: 170
Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.

_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 eldest sister is so curst and shrewd 175
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 will not be annoy'd with suitors.

_Luc._ Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! 180
But art thou not advised, he took some care
To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?

_Tra._ Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 'tis plotted.

_Luc._ I have it, Tranio.

_Tra._ Master, for my hand,
Both our inventions meet and jump in one. 185

_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 part,
And be in Padua here Vincentio's son; 190
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 195
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. 200
'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. 205
In brief, 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; 210
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. 215
Here comes the rogue.

_Enter_ BIONDELLO.

Sirrah, where have you been?

_Bion._ Where have I been! Nay, how now! where are
you? Master, has my fellow Tranio stolen your clothes?
Or you stolen his? or both? pray, what's the news?

_Luc._ Sirrah, come hither: 'tis no time to jest, 220
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 225
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! ne'er a whit.

_Luc._ And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth: 230
Tranio is changed into Lucentio.

_Bion._ The better for him: would I were so too!

_Tra._ So could I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after,
That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter.
But, sirrah, not for my sake, but your master's, I advise 235
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 240
me why, sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty.
[_Exeunt._

_The presenters above speak._

_First 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. 245

_Sly._ 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady:
would 'twere done! [_They sit and mark._

LINENOTES:

[ACT I. SC. I.] Pope. See note (1). Padua] Pope.

A public place.] Capell. A street in Padua. Theobald.

... Tranio.] Triano. F1 Q F2.

[3] _for_] _from_ Theobald. _in_ Capell (Heath conj.).

[8] _haply_] F1 Q. _happly_ F2 F3 F4. _happily_ Pope. _happ'ly_
Capell.

[9] _ingenious_] _ingenuous_ Johnson conj.

[13] _Vincentio, come_] Hanmer. _Vincentio's_ _come_ Ff Q.
_Vincentio's son_ _come_ Malone conj. _Vincentio comes_ Collier MS.

[14] _Vincentio's_] Ff Q. _Vincentio_ _his_ Pope. _Lucentio his_
Hanmer.

_brought_] _brough_ F1.

[18] _Virtue_] _To virtue_ Hanmer.

[25] _Mi perdonato_] _Me pardonato_ Ff. _Me pardinato_ Q. _Mi
perdonate_ Capell (Heath conj.).

[28] _sweet_] _fair_ Anon. conj.

[32] _checks_] Ff Q. _ethicks_ Rann (Blackstone conj.). See note
(VIII).

[33] _Ovid_] F3 F4. _Ovid_; F1 Q F2.

[34] _Balk_] _Talk_ Rowe. _Chop_ Capell conj. _Hack_ Anon. conj.

_with_] _with'_ Hunter conj.

[38] _you find_] om. F4.

_serves you_] _serves_ Anon. conj.

[41] _Gramercies_] _Gramercy_ Hanmer.

[42] _thou wert_] _now were_ Dyce (Collier MS.). _then were_ Delius
conj.

[47] ... Gremio ...] ... Gremio a Pantelowne ... F1.

... Hortensio ...] ... Hortentio sister to Bianca ... F1 Q.... H. a
shuiter to B.... F2.... H. a suitor to B ... F3 F4.

[48] _Gentlemen_] _Gentlemen both_ Theobald.

_no_] _not_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[57] _will_] _will and pleasure_ Hanmer. _gracious will_ Collier
(Collier MS.). See note (IX).

[58] _these_] F1 Q F2. _those_ F3 F4.

[59] As two lines in Ff Q, ending _that?_ ... _you_.

[60] _mould_] _mood_ Collier MS.

[62] _I wis_] F4. _I wis_ F1 Q F2 F3.

[63] _should_] F1 Q F2. _shall_ F3 F4.

[66] _us_] _me_ Hanmer.

[67] _good_] _O good_ Hanmer.

[68] _Husht_] F1 Q F2. _Hush'd_ F3 F4. _Hush_ Rowe (ed. 2).

_here's_] F4. _heres_ F1 Q F2 F3. _here is_ Hanmer.

[72] _Peace, Tranio!_] _Peace!_ Anon. conj.

[73] _Well_] _Why_, _well_ Hanmer.

[74] _Gentlemen_] _Come_, _gentlemen_ Hanmer. _Well_, _gentlemen_
Capell.

[78, 79] _A pretty_..._why_] Printed as prose in Ff Q.

[86] _our_] _your_ Hanmer (ed. 2), a misprint.

[90] _Gentlemen, content ye_] _Content ye_, _gentlemen_ Hanmer.

[91] Exit Bianca.] Theobald om. Ff Q.

[98] _liberal_] _liberal_, Ff Q.

[102-104] Printed in Ff Q as four lines, ending _not?_ ... _though_
... _take_, ... _Ha_; as prose by Pope; by Capell as three lines,
ending _not?_ ... _belike_, ... _ha!_

[102] _and_] om. Rowe.

[106] _here's_] _here is_ F4.

_Their_] F1 F2. _There_ Q. _Our_ F3 F4. _Your_ Malone conj. _There_;
Collier. _This_ Collier MS. _Her_ Bubier conj.

[113] _yet never_] _never yet_ Pope.

_parle_] F1 Q F2. _parlee_ F3 F4. _parly_ Capell.

[122] _any_] _any a_ F2.

[125] _loud_] _lowd_ F1 Q. _lewd_ F2 F3 F4.

_alarums_] _alarms_ Rowe.

[127] _all_] _all her_ F4.

[130] _small_] _a small_ Theobald.

[131] _But come_] F1 Q. _come_ F2 F3 F4.

[138] _his wooing_] _the wooing_ Rowe (ed. 2).

_thoroughly_] F1 Q. _throughly_ F2 F3 F4.

[140] Exeunt...] Exeunt ambo. Manet Tranio and Lucentio. Ff Q.

[142] _of_] F1 Q F2. _on_ F3 F4.

[156] _have_] F1 Q. om. F2 F3 F4. _has_ Rowe (ed. 1). _hath_ Rowe (ed.
2).

_touch'd_] _toyl'd_ Warburton.

_nought_] F2 F3 F4. _naught_ F1 Q.

[157] _captum_] F2 F3 F4. _captam_ F1 Q.

[158] _Gramercies_] _Gramercy_ Rowe.

[159] _counsel's_] F2 F3 F4. _counsels_ F1 Q.

[163] _Agenor had_] _Agenor's race_ Collier MS.

[165] _strond_] F1 Q F2 F3. _strand_ F4.

[168] _hardly_] _scarce_ Collier MS.

_endure_] _dure_ S. Walker conj.

[173] _pray_] _pray you_ Q.

[Shaking him. Capell.

[174] _wits_] _wit_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[175] _eldest_] _elder_ Q.

[176] _rid_] _rids_ Rowe.

[179] _she_] _he_ Singer conj.

_will_] _shall_ Rowe.

[182] _To get her_] _Together_ F2. _To gather_ Long conj. MS.

_schoolmasters_] _masters_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[189] _part_] _port_ Anon. conj.

[200] _meaner_] _mean_ Capell.

[201] _'Tis_] _It is_ Hanmer, ending lines 200-205 at _man ... so ...
take ... comes ... first ... need_.

[202] _take_] _and here take_ Hanmer. _colour'd_] F3 F4. _Conlord_ F1
Q. _Coulord_ F2. om. Hanmer.

[205] _So_] _And so, sir_ Hanmer.

[They exchange habits. Theobald.

[206] _In brief_, _sir_] _In brief_, _good_ _sir_ Pope; omitted by
Capell. _In brief_ _then_, _sir_ Malone. _Be brief then_, _sir_.
Collier MS.

_it your pleasure is_] _it is your pleasure thus_ Anon. conj.

[214] _to_] _t'_ Ff Q.

[215] _wounded_] _wond'ring_ Collier MS.

[216] ...Biondello.] ...Binodello. F2.

[218] _my fellow_] om. Hanmer, who reads 217-219 as three lines,
ending _you? ... cloaths, ... news?_

_has_] F4. _ha's_ F1 Q F2 F3.

[225] _ashore_] _a shore_ F1.

[226] _was_] _am_ F3 F4.

[229] _I, sir! ne'er_] _Ay, sir, ne'er_ Rowe. _Ay, sir.--Ne'er_ Dyce
conj.

[233-238] Printed as prose in Ff Q, as verse first by Capell.

[233] _could_] _would_ F3 F4.

_faith_] _'faith_ Ff Q. _i' faith_ Johnson.

[235, 236] _advise You use ... companies_] _advise you, Use ...
company_ Capell.

[238] _your_] _you_ F1 Q.

[239-241] Printed as four lines in Ff, ending _go.... execute....
why.... weighty_; first as prose by Pope.

[240] _among_] _'mong_ F2.

[241] The presenters above speak.] ... speakes. Ff Q.

[242-247] Transferred by Pope to the end of the Act.

[247] _'twere_] _it were_ Capell.

[They ... mark.] Ff Q. om. Pope.

SCENE II. PADUA. _Before_ HORTENSIO'S _house_.

_Enter_ PETRUCHIO _and his man_ 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. 5

_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? 10

_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? 15
Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll ring it;
I'll try how you can _sol_, _fa_, and sing it.
[_He wrings him 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! 20
and my good friend Petruchio! How do you all at
Verona?

_Pet._ Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray?
'Con tutto il core ben trovato,' may I say.

_Hor._ 'Alla nostra casa ben venuto, molto honorato 25
signor mio Petrucio.'
Rise, Grumio, rise: we will compound this quarrel.

_Gru._ Nay, 'tis no matter, sir, 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: 30
well, was it fit for a servant to use his master so, being perhaps,
for aught I see, two-and-thirty, 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, 35
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, rap me here,
knock me well, and knock me soundly'? And come you 40
now with, 'knocking at the gate'?

_Pet._ Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you.

_Hor._ Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge:
Why, this's a heavy chance 'twixt him and you,
Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio. 45
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 farther than at home
Where small experience grows. But in a few, 50
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 55
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'ldst thank me but a little for my counsel:
And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich 60
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, 65
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' Xanthippe, or a worse,
She moves me not, or not removes, at least, 70
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 75
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._ Petruchio, since we are stepp'd thus far in, 80
I will continue that I broach'd in jest.
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, 85
Is that she is intolerable curst
And shrewd and froward, so beyond all measure,
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: 90
Tell me her father's name and 'tis enough;
For I will board her, though she chide as loud
As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.

_Hor._ Her father is Baptista Minola,
An affable and courteous gentleman: 95
Her name is Katharina Minola,
Renown'd in Padua 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; 100
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 105
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 110
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; 115
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; 120
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. 125

_Hor._ Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace;
And offer me disguised 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 130
Have leave and leisure to make love to her
And unsuspected court her by herself.

_Gru._ Here's no knavery! See, to beguile the old
folks, how the young folks lay their heads together!

_Enter_ GREMIO, _and_ LUCENTIO _disguised_.

Master, master, look about you: who goes there, ha? 135

_Hor._ Peace, Grumio! it is the rival of my love.
Petruchio, stand by a while.

_Gru._ A proper stripling and an amorous!

_Gre._ O, very well; I have perused the note.
Hark you, sir; I'll have them very fairly bound: 140
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 paper too, 145
And let me have them very well perfumed:
For she is sweeter than perfume itself
To whom they go to. 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 assured, 150
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! 155

_Pet._ Peace, sirrah!

_Hor._ Grumio, mum! God save you, Signior Gremio.

_Gre._ And you are well met, Signior Hortensio.
Trow you whither I am going? To Baptista Minola.
I promised to inquire carefully 160
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. 165

_Hor._ 'Tis well; and I have met a gentleman
Hath promised 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 beloved of me. 170

_Gre._ Beloved of me; and that my deeds shall prove.

_Gru._ And that his bags shall prove.

_Hor._ Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love:
Listen to me, and if you speak me fair,
I'll tell you news indifferent good for either. 175
Here is a gentleman whom by chance I met,
Upon agreement from us to his liking,
Will undertake to woo curst Katharine,
Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.

_Gre._ So said, so done, is well. 180
Hortensio, have you told him all her faults?

_Pet._ I know she is an irksome brawling scold:
If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.

_Gre._ No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman?

_Pet._ Born in Verona, old Antonio's son: 185
My father dead, my fortune lives for me;
And I do hope good days and long to see.

_Gre._ O sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange!
But if you have a stomach, to't i' God's name:
You shall have me assisting you in all. 190
But will you woo this wild-cat?

_Pet._ Will I live?

_Gru._ Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her.

_Pet._ Why came I hither but to that intent?
Think you a little din can daunt mine ears?
Have I not in my time heard lions roar? 195
Have I not heard the sea puff'd up with winds
Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat?
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?
Have I not in a pitched battle heard 200
Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang?
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue,
That gives not half so great a blow to hear
As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire?
Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.

_Gru._ For he fears none. 205

_Gre._ Hortensio, hark:
This gentleman is happily arrived,
My mind presumes, for his own good and ours.

_Hor._ I promised we would be contributors
And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er. 210

_Gre._ And so we will, provided that he win her.

_Gru._ I would I were as sure of a good dinner.

_Enter_ TRANIO _brave_, _and_ BIONDELLO.

_Tra._ Gentlemen, God save you. If I may be bold,
Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way
To the house of Signior Baptista Minola? 215

_Bion._ He that has the two fair daughters: is't he you
mean?

_Tra._ Even he, Biondello.

_Gre._ Hark you, sir; you mean not her to--

_Tra._ Perhaps, him and her, sir: what have you to do? 220

_Pet._ Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray.

_Tra._ I love no chiders, sir. Biondello, let's away.

_Luc._ Well begun, Tranio.

_Hor._ Sir, a word ere you go;
Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no? 225

_Tra._ And if I be, sir, is it any offence?

_Gre._ No; if without more words you will get you hence.

_Tra._ Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free
For me as for you?

_Gre._ But so is not she.

_Tra._ For what reason, I beseech you? 230

_Gre._ For this reason, if you'll know,
That she's the choice love of Signior Gremio.

_Hor._ That she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio.

_Tra._ Softly, my masters! if you be gentlemen,
Do me this right; hear me with patience. 235
Baptista is a noble gentleman,
To whom my father is not all unknown;
And were his daughter fairer than she is,
She may more suitors have and me for one.
Fair Leda's daughter had a thousand wooers; 240
Then well one more may fair Bianca have:
And so she shall; Lucentio shall make one,
Though Paris came in hope to speed alone.

_Gre._ What, this gentleman will out-talk us all!

_Luc._ Sir, give him head: I know he'll prove a jade. 245

_Pet._ Hortensio, to what end are all these words?

_Hor._ Sir, let me be so bold as ask you,
Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter?

_Tra._ No, sir; but hear I do that he hath two,
The one as famous for a scolding tongue 250
As is the other for beauteous modesty.

_Pet._ Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by.

_Gre._ Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules;
And let it be more than Alcides' twelve.

_Pet._ Sir, understand you this of me in sooth: 255
The youngest daughter whom you hearken for
Her father keeps from all access of suitors;
And will not promise her to any man
Until the elder sister first be wed:
The younger then is free and not before. 260

_Tra._ If it be so, sir, that you are the man
Must stead us all and me amongst the rest;
And if you break the ice and do this feat,
Achieve the elder, set the younger free
For our access, whose hap shall be to have her 265
Will not so graceless be to be ingrate.

_Hor._ Sir, you say well and well you do conceive;
And since you do profess to be a suitor,
You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman,
To whom we all rest generally beholding. 270

_Tra._ Sir, I shall not be slack: in sign whereof,
Please ye we may contrive this afternoon,
And quaff carouses to our mistress' health,
And do as adversaries do in law,
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. 275

_Gru. Bion._ O excellent motion! Fellows, let's be gone.

_Hor._ The motion's good indeed and be it so,
Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

[SCENE II.] Capell. ACT II. SCENE

[1] Rowe. SCENE V. Pope.

Before ... house.] Pope.

[2] _but of all_] _best of all_ Anon. conj.

[4] _his_] _the_ F3 F4.

[6-24] _Knock, sir!... may I say_] Placed in the margin as spurious by
Pope.

[6] _knock?_] _knock, sir?_ Capell.

[7] _has_] F4. _ha's_ F1 Q F2 F3. _That has_ Capell.

_rebused_] _rebsu'd_ Q. _abused_ Tyrwhitt conj.

[16] _ring_] _wring_ Malone.

[17] ... wrings ...] ... rings ... Ff Q.

[18] _masters_] Theobald. _mistris_ Ff Q.

[19] _sirrah villain!_] _sirrah! villain!_ Theobald.

[24] _Con tutto ... trovato_] Theobald. _Contutti le core bene
trobatto_ Ff Q (_trovatto_ F2 F3 F4).

[25] _ben_] F2 F3 F4. _bene_ F1 Q.

_molto_] Theobald. _multo_ Ff Q.

_honorato_] _honorata_ F1 Q.

[26] _signor_] Theobald. _signior_ Ff Q.

[27-45] _Rise, Grumio ... Grumio_] Put in the margin as spurious by
Pope.

[27] _Grumio, rise_] F1 Q F2. _Grumio_ F3 F4.

[28] _sir_] om. Rowe.

_he 'leges_] Capell. _he leges_ Ff Q. _be leges_ Rann (Tyrwhitt
conj.). _he alledges_ Long conj. MS.

[32] _pip_] Rowe (ed. 2). _peepe_ F1 Q F2. _peep_ F3 F4.

_out_] _mo_ Collier MS.

[33, 34] _Whom ... worst_] Printed as prose in Ff Q, as verse first by
Rowe (ed. 2).

[38-41] _Knock_ ... _gate?_] Capell prints as four lines, ending
_heavens!_ ... _here_, ... _soundly?_ ... _gate?_

[44] _this's_] _this_ Ff Q. _this is_ Rowe. _this so_ Mason conj.
_this'_ Dyce (S. Walker conj.). _this?_ Collier.

[48] _young men_] F3 F4. _yong men_ Q. _yongmen_ F1 F2.

[50] _grows. But in a few_,] _grows;_ _but in a few_, Hanmer. _grows
but in_ _a few_. Ff Q. _grows_, _but in a few_. Theobald. _grows but
in a mew._ Warburton.

[53] _have_] _must_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[54] _Haply_] Malone. _Happily_ Ff Q. _Happly_ Rowe (ed. 2). _Happ'ly_
Hanmer.

[59] _Thou'ldst_] _Thou'lt_ Hanmer.

[61] _thou'rt_] Rowe. _th' art_ Ff Q.

[63] _Signior_] om. Q.

_we_] _us_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[64] _thou_] _you_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[66] _burden_] _guerdon_ Becket conj.

_dance_] _song_ Johnson conj.

[67] _Florentius'_] _Florentio's_ Hanmer conj.

[68] _Sibyl_] _Sibell_ F1 Q F2 F3 _Sibel_ F4.

[69] _Xanthippe_] _Zentippe_ F1 Q. _Zantippe_ F2 F3 F4. _Xantippe_
Theobald.

_a worse_] _even worse_ Collier MS.

[71] _Affection's_ ... _me_] F1 Q. _Affection's_ _edge in time_ F2 F3
F4. _Affection_ _sieg'd in coin_ Warburton.

_as_] _is as_ F1.

[78] _as two and fifty_] _too as fifty_ Rann.

[79] _horses_] _houses_ Becket conj.

[85] _and that_] _as that_ Capell.

_faults_] F1 Q. _fault_ F2 F3 F4.

[86] _intolerable_] _intolerably_ Hanmer.

[87] _shrewd_] _shrow'd_ F1 Q. _shrew'd_ F2 F3 F4.

_froward_] _forward_ Warburton.

[94] _is_] om. Q.

[105] _O'_] Rowe (ed. 2). _A_ Ff Q.

[108] _begin_] _begins_ Q.

_his_] _her_ Anon. conj.

_rope-tricks_] _trope-tricks_ Theobald conj. _rhetorick_ Hanmer.
_rhetoricks_ Capell. _roop tricks_ Anon conj.

[113] _keep_] Ff Q. _house_ Rowe.

[116] _And her_] _Her he_ Rann.

_withholds from me and other_ _more_] Capell (Thirlby conj.).
_withholds_ _from me_. _Other more_ F1 Q. _with-holds he from me_.
_Other more_ F2 F3 F4 (_hee_ F2) _with-holds he from_ _me_, _and
others more_ Theobald. _with-holds_ _he from me_, _and other more_
Hanmer.

[119] _For_] _From_ Hanmer.

[132] _herself_] _myself_ Capell.

[133] SCENE VI. Pope.

Gru.] Gru. [aside.] Dyce.

[134] _their heads_] _theirs head_ F2.

... disguised.] Ff Q (after line 131). ... disguised, with books under
his arm. Capell.

[135] _Master, master_] _Master_ Rowe.

_ha?_] om. Q.

[136] _it is_] _'tis_ Pope.

[137] _Petruchio_, _stand_...] _Petruchio_, _stand we by a little
while_ Capell. Petruchio. _Stand ..._ Edd. conj.

_a while_] _a whilt_ F2.

[140] _Hark you_] _Hark_ S. Walker conj.

_very_] om. Anon. conj.

[145] _Take your paper too,_] _Take_ _your papers too_ Pope. _Take
your papers_ Hanmer. _Here_, _take your papers too_ Capell. See note
(X).

[148] _go to_] _go_ Rowe.

[157] Hor. _Grumio_, _mum!_] Hor. _Grumio mum:_ F1 Q. Hor. _Gru_.
_mum_: F2 F3 F4.

[158-167] Printed as prose by Pope.

[158] _And you are_] _And you're_ Steevens.

[158, 159] _And you_.... _Trow you_ _whither_] _You_ ... _trow you
Whither_ Capell.

[158-161] Malone prints as five lines, ending _Hortensio_ ...
_whither_ ... _Minola_ ... _about_ ... _Bianca_.

[160] _promised_] _promis'd him_ Capell.

[161] _schoolmaster_] _master_ Collier (Collier MS.).

_the fair_] _fair_ Steevens.

[165] _ye_] _you_ Steevens.

[167] _help me_] Rowe. _help one_ Ff Q.

[171] _deeds_] _deed_ Warburton.

[184] _What_] _pray_, _what_ Hanmer.

[185] _Antonio's_] Rowe. _Butonios_ F1 Q F2. _Butonio's_ F3 F4.

[186] _father_] _father's_ Rowe.

[188] _O sir, such_] _Oh_, _such_ Hanmer. _Sir_, _such_ Capell.

[189] _stomach_, _to't_ ... _name_:] _stomach_ _to't_, ... _name_,
Bubier conj.

_a stomach_] _stomacke_ Q.

_to't i'_] Edd. _too't a_ F1 Q F2 F3. _to't a_ F4. _to't o'_
Theobald.

[192] _er_] om. Rann.

[194] _mine_] _my_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[197] _sweat_] _pursuit_ Theobald conj.

[201] _trumpets' clang_] _trumpets_ _clangue_ Ff Q. _trumpets'
clangue_ Capell.

[203] _hear_] _th' ear_ Hanmer (Warburton).

[208] _ours_] Theobald (Thirlby conj.). _yours_ Ff Q.

[213] SCENE VII. Pope.

... brave,] ... bravely apparelled, Pope.

_you_. _If_ ... _bold_,] _you_, _if_ ... _bold_. Edd. conj.

[213-215] Printed as prose by Pope.

[216] Bion.] Gre. Capell (Tyrwhitt and Heath conj.).

_is't he_] _is't_ [aside to Tranio] _he_ Malone.

[218] _Even he, Biondello._] _Even he_ _Biondello_. Ff Q. _Even he_,
_sir_. Capell. _Even he_. _Biondello!_ Steevens (Tyrwhitt and Heath
conj). _Even he_. Rann.

[219] _her to--_] Ff Q. _her too_. Tyrwhitt conj. _her to woo_.
Halliwell (Malone conj.).

[221] _Not_] _Nor_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[226] _And if_] Ff. _And_ Q. _An_ _if_ Hanmer.

[228] _I pray_] Ff. _I pray you_ Q.

[232] _That she's_] _She's_ Hanmer.

[233] _That she's_] Ff. _That she is_ Q. _She is_ Hanmer.

_Signior_] om. Hanmer.

[235] _with patience_] Ff. _patience_ Q.

[239] _suitors_] _sutore_ F2.

[244] _What,_] _What_, _what_, Capell.

[245] _Sir, give_] Ff. _Give_ Q.

[247] _as ask you_] F1 Q. _as to ask_ _you_ F2 F3 F4. _as ask you
this_ Capell.

[251] _As is the other_] _As the other_ _is_ Pope.

[259] _the elder_] _the eldest_ Rowe (ed. 2). _her elder_ Capell. See
note (XI).

[262] _stead_] Capell. _steed_ Ff Q.

[263] _And if_] _An if_ Capell.

_feat_] Rowe. _seeke_ F1 Q F2. _seek_ F3 F4.

[270] _beholding_] _beholden_ Rowe.

[272] _contrive_] _convive_ Theobald.

[273] _mistress'_] _mistress'_ (for _mistresses'_) S. Walker conj.

[276] Gru.] Gre. Ritson conj.

Bion.] om. Capell.

[278] _I shall_] _I'll_ Capell.

_ben venuto_] F2 F3 F4. _been_ _venuto_ F1 Q. See note (XII).