THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

Act 2 Scene 1

(Enter Katherina and Bianca, her hands bound)
l1l	Bianca	 Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself
l2l		To make a bondmaid and a slave of me.
l3l		That I disdain, but for these other goods,
l4l		Unbind my hands, I’ll pull them off myself,
l5l		Yea, all my raiment to my petticoat,
l6l		Or what you will command me will I do,
l7l		So well I know my duty to my elders.
l8l	Katherine	Of all thy suitors here I charge thee tell
l9l		Whom thou lov’st best. See thou dissemble not.
l10l	Bianca	Believe me, sister, of all the men alive
l11l		I never yet beheld that special face
l12l		Which I could fancy more than any other.
l13l	Katherine	Minion, thou liest. Is ’t not Hortensio?
l14l	Bianca	If you affect him, sister, here I swear
l15l		I’ll plead for you myself but you shall have him.
l16l	Katherine	O then, belike you fancy riches more.
l17l		You will have Gremio to keep you fair.
l18l	Bianca	Is it for him you do envy me so?
l19l		Nay, then, you jest, and now I well perceive
l20l		You have but jested with me all this while.
l21l		I prithee, sister Kate, untie my hands.
l22l	Katherine	(strikes her)
		 If that be jest, then all the rest was so.
		(Enter Baptista)
l23l	Baptista	 Why, how now, dame, whence grows this insolence?
l24l		Bianca, stand aside.—Poor girl, she weeps.—
l25l		Go ply thy needle, meddle not with her.
l26l		(To Katherine)
		 For shame, thou hilding of a devilish spirit,
l27l		Why dost thou wrong her that did ne’er wrong thee?
l28l		When did she cross thee with a bitter word?
l29l	Katherine	Her silence flouts me, and I’ll be revenged.
		(She flies after Bianca)
l30l	Baptista	 What, in my sight? Bianca, get thee in.
		( 30 Exit Bianca)
l31l	Katherine	 What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see
l32l		She is your treasure, she must have a husband.
l33l		I must dance barefoot on her wedding day,
l34l		And for your love to her lead apes in hell.
l35l		Talk not to me. I will go sit and weep
l36l		Till I can find occasion of revenge.
		(Exit)
l37l	Baptista	 Was ever gentleman thus grieved as I?
l38l		But who comes here?
		(Enter Gremio, Lucentio as a schoolmaster in the habit of a mean man, Petruccio with Hortensio as a musician, Tranio as Lucentio, with Biondello his boy bearing a lute and books)
l39l	Gremio	 Good morrow, neighbour Baptista.
l40l	Baptista	 Good morrow, neighbour Gremio. God save you,
l41l		gentlemen.
l42l	Petruccio	 And you, good sir. Pray, have you not a daughter
l43l		Called Katherina, fair and virtuous?
l44l	Baptista	I have a daughter, sir, called Katherina.
l45l	Gremio	You are too blunt. Go to it orderly.
l46l	Petruccio	You wrong me, Signor Gremio. Give me leave.
l47l		(To Baptista)
		 I am a gentleman of Verona, sir,
l48l		That hearing of her beauty and her wit,
l49l		Her affability and bashful modesty,
l50l		Her wondrous qualities and mild behaviour,
l51l		Am bold to show myself a forward guest
l52l		Within your house to make mine eye the witness
l53l		Of that report which I so oft have heard,
l54l		And for an entrance to my entertainment
l55l		I do present you with a man of mine
		(presenting Hortensio)
		
l56l		Cunning in music and the mathematics
l57l		To instruct her fully in those sciences,
l58l		Whereof I know she is not ignorant.
l59l		Accept of him, or else you do me wrong.
l60l		His name is Licio, born in Mantua.
l61l	Baptista	You’re welcome, sir, and he for your good sake.
l62l		But for my daughter, Katherine, this I know:
l63l		She is not for your turn, the more my grief.
l64l	Petruccio	I see you do not mean to part with her,
l65l		Or else you like not of my company.
l66l	Baptista	Mistake me not, I speak but as I find.
l67l		Whence are you, sir? What may I call your name?
l68l	Petruccio	Petruccio is my name, Antonio’s son,
l69l		A man well known throughout all Italy.
l70l	Baptista	I know him well. You are welcome for his sake.
l71l	Gremio	Saving your tale, Petruccio, I pray
l72l		Let us that are poor petitioners speak too.
l73l		Baccare, you are marvellous forward.
l74l	Petruccio	O pardon me, Signor Gremio, I would fain be doing.
l75l	Gremio	I doubt it not, sir. But you will curse your wooing.
l76l		(To Baptista)
		 Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I
l77l		am sure of it. To express the like kindness, myself, that
l78l		have been more kindly beholden to you than any,
l79l		freely give unto you this young scholar
		(presenting)
l80l		Lucentio) that hath been long studying at Rheims, as
l81l		cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages as the
l82l		other in music and mathematics. His name is Cambio.
l83l		Pray accept his service.
l84l	Baptista	A thousand thanks, Signor Gremio. Welcome,
l85l		good Cambio.
		(To Tranio)
		 But, gentle sir, methinks you
l86l		walk like a stranger. May I be so bold to know the
l87l		cause of your coming?
l88l	Tranio	 Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own
l89l		That, being a stranger in this city here,
l90l		Do make myself a suitor to your daughter,
l91l		Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous.
l92l		Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me
l93l		In the preferment of the eldest sister.
l94l		This liberty is all that I request:
l95l		That upon knowledge of my parentage
l96l		I may have welcome ’mongst the rest that woo,
l97l		And free access and favour as the rest.
l98l		And toward the education of your daughters
l99l		I here bestow a simple instrument,
l100l		And this small packet of Greek and Latin books.
l101l		If you accept them, then their worth is great.
l102l	Baptista	Lucentio is your name—of whence, I pray?
l103l	Tranio	Of Pisa, sir, son to Vincentio.
l104l	Baptista	A mighty man of Pisa. By report
l105l		I know him well. You are very welcome, sir.
l106l		(To Hortensio)
		 Take you the lute,
		(to Lucentio)
		 and you the set of books.
l107l		You shall go see your pupils presently.
l108l		Holla, within!
		(Enter a Servant)
		 Sirrah, lead these gentlemen
l109l		To my daughters, and tell them both
l110l		These are their tutors. Bid them use them well.
		(Exit Servant with Lucentio and Hortensio, Biondello following)
l111l		(To Petruccio)
		 We will go walk a little in the orchard,
l112l		And then to dinner. You are passing welcome—
l113l		And so I pray you all to think yourselves.
l114l	Petruccio	Signor Baptista, my business asketh haste,
l115l		And every day I cannot come to woo.
l116l		You knew my father well, and in him me,
l117l		Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,
l118l		Which I have bettered rather than decreased.
l119l		Then tell me, if I get your daughter’s love,
l120l		What dowry shall I have with her to wife?
l121l	Baptista	After my death the one half of my lands,
l122l		And in possession twenty thousand crowns.
l123l	Petruccio	And for that dowry I’ll assure her of
l124l		Her widowhood, be it that she survive me,
l125l		In all my lands and leases whatsoever.
l126l		Let specialties be therefore drawn between us,
l127l		That covenants may be kept on either hand.
l128l	Baptista	Ay, when the special thing is well obtained—
l129l		That is her love, for that is all in all.
l130l	Petruccio	Why, that is nothing, for I tell you, father,
l131l		I am as peremptory as she proud-minded,
l132l		And where two raging fires meet together
l133l		They do consume the thing that feeds their fury.
l134l		Though little fire grows great with little wind,
l135l		Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all.
l136l		So I to her, and so she yields to me,
l137l		For I am rough, and woo not like a babe.
l138l	Baptista	Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed.
l139l		But be thou armed for some unhappy words.
l140l	Petruccio	Ay, to the proof, as mountains are for winds,
l141l		That shakes not though they blow perpetually.
		(Enter Hortensio with his head broke)
l142l	Baptista	 How now, my friend, why dost thou look so pale?
l143l	Hortensio	For fear, I promise you, if I look pale.
l144l	Baptista	What, will my daughter prove a good musician?
l145l	Hortensio	I think she’ll sooner prove a soldier.
l146l		Iron may hold with her, but never lutes.
l147l	Baptista	Why then, thou canst not break her to the lute?
l148l	Hortensio	Why no, for she hath broke the lute to me.
l149l		I did but tell her she mistook her frets,
l150l		And bowed her hand to teach her fingering,
l151l		When, with a most impatient devilish spirit,
l152l		“Frets, call you these?” quoth she, “I’ll fume with them,”
l153l		And with that word she struck me on the head,
l154l		And through the instrument my pate made way,
l155l		And there I stood amazèd for a while,
l156l		As on a pillory, looking through the lute,
l157l		While she did call me rascal, fiddler,
l158l		And twangling jack, with twenty such vile terms,
l159l		As had she studied to misuse me so.
l160l	Petruccio	Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench!
l161l		I love her ten times more than e’er I did.
l162l		O, how I long to have some chat with her!
l163l	Baptista	(to Hortensio)
		 Well, go with me, and be not so discomfited.
l164l		Proceed in practice with my younger daughter.
l165l		She’s apt to learn, and thankful for good turns.
l166l		Signor Petruccio, will you go with us,
l167l		Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you?
l168l	Petruccio	I pray you, do.
		(Exeunt all but Petruccio)
		I’ll attend her here,
l169l		And woo her with some spirit when she comes.
l170l		Say that she rail, why then I’ll tell her plain
l171l		She sings as sweetly as a nightingale.
l172l		Say that she frown, I’ll say she looks as clear
l173l		As morning roses newly washed with dew.
l174l		Say she be mute and will not speak a word,
l175l		Then I’ll commend her volubility,
l176l		And say she uttereth piercing eloquence.
l177l		If she do bid me pack, I’ll give her thanks
l178l		As though she bid me stay by her a week.
l179l		If she deny to wed, I’ll crave the day
l180l		When I shall ask the banns, and when be marrièd.
l181l		But here she comes, and now, Petruccio, speak.
		(Enter Katherina)
l182l		Good morrow, Kate, for that’s your name, I hear.
l183l	Katherine	Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing.
l184l		They call me Katherine that do talk of me.
l185l	Petruccio	You lie, in faith, for you are called plain Kate,
l186l		And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst,
l187l		But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom,
l188l		Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate—
l189l		For dainties are all cates, and therefore “Kate”—
l190l		Take this of me, Kate of my consolation:
l191l		Hearing thy mildness praised in every town,
l192l		Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded—
l193l		Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs—
l194l		Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife.
l195l	Katherine	Moved? In good time. Let him that moved you hither
l196l		Re-move you hence. I knew you at the first
l197l		You were a movable.
	Petruccio	Why, what’s a movable?
l198l	Katherine	A joint-stool.
	Petruccio	Thou hast hit it. Come, sit on me.
l199l	Katherine	Asses are made to bear, and so are you.
l200l	Petruccio	Women are made to bear, and so are you.
l201l	Katherine	No such jade as you, if me you mean.
l202l	Petruccio	Alas, good Kate, I will not burden thee,
l203l		For knowing thee to be but young and light.
l204l	Katherine	Too light for such a swain as you to catch,
l205l		And yet as heavy as my weight should be.
l206l	Petruccio	Should be?—should buzz.
	Katherine	Well ta’en, and like a buzzard.
l207l	Petruccio	O slow-winged turtle, shall a buzzard take thee?
l208l	Katherine	Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a buzzard.
l209l	Petruccio	Come, come, you wasp, i’ faith you are too angry.
l210l	Katherine	If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
l211l	Petruccio	My remedy is then to pluck it out.
l212l	Katherine	Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies.
l213l	Petruccio	Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting?
l214l		In his tail.
	Katherine	In his tongue.
	Petruccio	Whose tongue?
l215l	Katherine	Yours, if you talk of tales, and so farewell.
l216l	Petruccio	What, with my tongue in your tail? Nay, come again,
l217l		Good Kate, I am a gentleman.
	Katherine	That I’ll try.
		(She strikes him)
l218l	Petruccio	 I swear I’ll cuff you if you strike again.
l219l	Katherine	So may you lose your arms.
l220l		If you strike me you are no gentleman,
l221l		And if no gentleman, why then, no arms.
l222l	Petruccio	A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books.
l223l	Katherine	What is your crest—a coxcomb?
l224l	Petruccio	A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen.
l225l	Katherine	No cock of mine. You crow too like a craven.
l226l	Petruccio	Nay, come, Kate, come. You must not look so sour.
l227l	Katherine	It is my fashion when I see a crab.
l228l	Petruccio	Why, here’s no crab, and therefore look not sour.
l229l	Katherine	There is, there is.
l230l	Petruccio	Then show it me.
l231l	Katherine	Had I a glass I would.
l232l	Petruccio	What, you mean my face?
	Katherine	Well aimed, of such a young one.
l233l	Petruccio	Now, by Saint George, I am too young for you.
l234l	Katherine	Yet you are withered.
	Petruccio	’Tis with cares.
	Katherine	I care not.
l235l	Petruccio	Nay, hear you, Kate. In sooth, you scape not so.
l236l	Katherine	I chafe you if I tarry. Let me go.
l237l	Petruccio	No, not a whit. I find you passing gentle.
l238l		’Twas told me you were rough, and coy, and sullen,
l239l		And now I find report a very liar,
l240l		For thou art pleasant, gamesome, passing courteous,
l241l		But slow in speech, yet sweet as springtime flowers.
l242l		Thou canst not frown. Thou canst not look askance,
l243l		Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will,
l244l		Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk,
l245l		But thou with mildness entertain’st thy wooers,
l246l		With gentle conference, soft, and affable.
l247l		Why does the world report that Kate doth limp?
l248l		O sland’rous world! Kate like the hazel twig
l249l		Is straight and slender, and as brown in hue
l250l		As hazelnuts, and sweeter than the kernels.
l251l		O let me see thee walk. Thou dost not halt.
l252l	Katherine	Go, fool, and whom thou keep’st command.
l253l	Petruccio	Did ever Dian so become a grove
l254l		As Kate this chamber with her princely gait?
l255l		O, be thou Dian, and let her be Kate,
l256l		And then let Kate be chaste and Dian sportful.
l257l	Katherine	Where did you study all this goodly speech?
l258l	Petruccio	It is extempore, from my mother-wit.
l259l	Katherine	A witty mother, witless else her son.
l260l	Petruccio	Am I not wise?
	Katherine	Yes, keep you warm.
l261l	Petruccio	Marry, so I mean, sweet Katherine, in thy bed.
l262l		And therefore setting all this chat aside,
l263l		Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented
l264l		That you shall be my wife, your dowry ’greed on,
l265l		And will you, nill you, I will marry you.
l266l		Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn,
l267l		For by this light, whereby I see thy beauty—
l268l		Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well—
l269l		Thou must be married to no man but me,
		(Enter Baptista, Gremio, and Tranio as Lucentio)
l270l		For I am he am born to tame you, Kate,
l271l		And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate
l272l		Conformable as other household Kates.
l273l		Here comes your father. Never make denial.
l274l		I must and will have Katherine to my wife.
l275l	Baptista	 Now, Signor Petruccio, how speed you with my
l276l		daughter?
l277l	Petruccio	 How but well, sir, how but well?
l278l		It were impossible I should speed amiss.
l279l	Baptista	Why, how now, daughter Katherine—in your dumps?
l280l	Katherine	Call you me daughter? Now I promise you
l281l		You have showed a tender fatherly regard,
l282l		To wish me wed to one half-lunatic,
l283l		A madcap ruffian and a swearing Jack,
l284l		That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.
l285l	Petruccio	Father, ’tis thus: yourself and all the world
l286l		That talked of her have talked amiss of her.
l287l		If she be curst, it is for policy,
l288l		For she’s not froward, but modest as the dove.
l289l		She is not hot, but temperate as the morn.
l290l		For patience she will prove a second Grissel,
l291l		And Roman Lucrece for her chastity.
l292l		And to conclude, we have ’greed so well together
l293l		That upon Sunday is the wedding day.
l294l	Katherine	I’ll see thee hanged on Sunday first.
l295l	Gremio	 Hark, Petruccio, she says she’ll see thee hanged
l296l		first.
l297l	Tranio	 Is this your speeding? Nay then, goodnight our part.
l298l	Petruccio	Be patient, gentlemen. I choose her for myself.
l299l		If she and I be pleased, what’s that to you?
l300l		’Tis bargained ’twixt us twain, being alone,
l301l		That she shall still be curst in company.
l302l		I tell you, ’tis incredible to believe
l303l		How much she loves me. O, the kindest Kate!
l304l		She hung about my neck, and kiss on kiss
l305l		She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath,
l306l		That in a twink she won me to her love.
l307l		O, you are novices. ’Tis a world to see
l308l		How tame, when men and women are alone,
l309l		A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.
l310l		Give me thy hand, Kate. I will unto Venice,
l311l		To buy apparel ’gainst the wedding day.
l312l		Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests.
l313l		I will be sure my Katherine shall be fine.
l314l	Baptista	I know not what to say, but give me your hands.
l315l		God send you joy, Petruccio! ’Tis a match.
l316l	Gremio And Tranio	Amen, say we. We will be witnesses.
l317l	Petruccio	Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu.
l318l		I will to Venice. Sunday comes apace.
l319l		We will have rings, and things, and fine array#
l320l		And kiss me, Kate. We will be married o’ Sunday.
		(Exeunt Petruccio and Katherine, severally)
l321l	Gremio	 Was ever match clapped up so suddenly?
l322l	Baptista	Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant’s part,
l323l		And venture madly on a desperate mart.
l324l	Tranio	’Twas a commodity lay fretting by you.
l325l		’Twill bring you gain, or perish on the seas.
l326l	Baptista	The gain I seek is quiet in the match.
l327l	Gremio	No doubt but he hath got a quiet catch.
l328l		But now, Baptista, to your younger daughter.
l329l		Now is the day we long have lookèd for.
l330l		I am your neighbour, and was suitor first.
l331l	Tranio	And I am one that love Bianca more
l332l		Than words can witness, or your thoughts can guess.
l333l	Gremio	Youngling, thou canst not love so dear as I.
l334l	Tranio	Greybeard, thy love doth freeze.
	Gremio	But thine doth fry.
l335l		Skipper, stand back. ’Tis age that nourisheth.
l336l	Tranio	But youth in ladies’ eyes that flourisheth.
l337l	Baptista	Content you, gentlemen. I will compound this strife.
l338l		’Tis deeds must win the prize, and he of both
l339l		That can assure my daughter greatest dower
l340l		Shall have my Bianca’s love.
l341l		Say, Signor Gremio, what can you assure her?
l342l	Gremio	First, as you know, my house within the city
l343l		Is richly furnishèd with plate and gold,
l344l		Basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands#
l345l		My hangings all of Tyrian tapestry.
l346l		In ivory coffers I have stuffed my crowns,
l347l		In cypress chests my arras counterpoints,
l348l		Costly apparel, tents and canopies,
l349l		Fine linen, Turkey cushions bossed with pearl,
l350l		Valance of Venice gold in needlework,
l351l		Pewter, and brass, and all things that belongs
l352l		To house or housekeeping. Then at my farm
l353l		I have a hundred milch-kine to the pail,
l354l		Six score fat oxen standing in my stalls,
l355l		And all things answerable to this portion.
l356l		Myself am struck in years, I must confess,
l357l		And if I die tomorrow this is hers,
l358l		If whilst I live she will be only mine.
l359l	Tranio	That “only” came well in. Sir, list to me.
l360l		I am my father’s heir and only son.
l361l		If I may have your daughter to my wife
l362l		I’ll leave her houses three or four as good,
l363l		Within rich Pisa walls, as any one
l364l		Old Signor Gremio has in Padua,
l365l		Besides two thousand ducats by the year
l366l		Of fruitful land, all which shall be her jointure.
l367l		What, have I pinched you, Signor Gremio?
l368l	Gremio	Two thousand ducats by the year of land—
l369l		My land amounts not to so much in all.
l370l		That she shall have# besides, an argosy
l371l		That now is lying in Marseilles road.
l372l		What, have I choked you with an argosy?
l373l	Tranio	Gremio, ’tis known my father hath no less
l374l		Than three great argosies, besides two galliasses
l375l		And twelve tight galleys. These I will assure her,
l376l		And twice as much whate’er thou off’rest next.
l377l	Gremio	Nay, I have offered all. I have no more,
l378l		And she can have no more than all I have.
l379l		If you like me, she shall have me and mine.
l380l	Tranio	Why then, the maid is mine from all the world.
l381l		By your firm promise Gremio is out-vied.
l382l	Baptista	I must confess your offer is the best,
l383l		And let your father make her the assurance,
l384l		She is your own. Else, you must pardon me,
l385l		If you should die before him, where’s her dower?
l386l	Tranio	That’s but a cavil. He is old, I young.
l387l	Gremio	And may not young men die as well as old?
l388l	Baptista	Well, gentlemen,
l389l		I am thus resolved. On Sunday next, you know,
l390l		My daughter Katherine is to be married.
l391l		(To Tranio)
		 Now, on the Sunday following shall Bianca
l392l		Be bride to you, if you make this assurance#
l393l		If not, to Signor Gremio.
l394l		And so I take my leave, and thank you both.
l395l	Gremio	Adieu, good neighbour.
		(Exit Baptista)
		 Now I fear thee not.
l396l		Sirrah, young gamester, your father were a fool
l397l		To give thee all, and in his waning age
l398l		Set foot under thy table. Tut, a toy!
l399l		An old Italian fox is not so kind, my boy.
		(Exit)
l400l	Tranio	 A vengeance on your crafty withered hide!
l401l		Yet I have faced it with a card of ten.
l402l		’Tis in my head to do my master good.
l403l		I see no reason but supposed Lucentio
l404l		Must get a father called supposed Vincentio—
l405l		And that’s a wonder# fathers commonly
l406l		Do get their children, but in this case of wooing
l407l		A child shall get a sire, if I fail not of my cunning.
		(Exit)