The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

I pray you stand good father to me now,
Give me Bianca for my patrimony.

Ped. Soft, son !—

If this be not that you look for, I have no more to say,

But, bid Biauca farewell for ever and a day.

Sir, by your leave; having come to Padua
To gather in some debts, my son Luceutio
Made me acquainted with a weighty cause
Of love between your daughter and himself:
And, for the good report I hear of you;
Aud for the love he beareth to your daughter,
And she to him,-to stay him not too long,
I am content, in a good father's care,
To have him match'd; and,-if you please to come with your appendix.

sent.

Tra. I thank you, Sir. Where then do you
know best,

We be affied and such assurance ta'en,
As shall with either part's agreement stand?

Bup. Not in my house, Lucentio; for, you
know,

Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants :
Besides, old Gremio is heark'ning still,
And, happily, we might be interrupted.

Tra. Theu at my lodging, an it like you, Sir:
There doth my father lie; and there, this night,
We'll pass the business privately and well:
Send for your daughter by your servant here,
My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently.
The worst is this,-that, at so slender warning,
You're like to have a thin and slender pittance.
Bup. It likes me well-Cambio, hie you
home,

And bid Bianca make her ready straight;
And, if you will, tell what bath happened :-
Lucentio's father is arriv'd in Padua,
And how she's like to be Lucentio's wife.
Luc. I pray the gods she may, with all my
heart!

Tra. Dally not with the gods, but get thee
Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way? (gone.
Welcome! oue mess is like to be your cheer:
Come, Sir; we'll better it in Pisa.

Bap. I follow you.

[Exeunt TRANIO, PEDANT, and BAPTISTA. Blon. Cambio.

Luc. What say'st thou, Biondello ?

[Going.

Luc. Hear'st thou, Biondello ! Bion. I cannot tarry: I knew a wench married in an afternoon as she went to the garden for parsley to stuff a rabbit; and so may you, Sir; and so adieu, Sir. My inaster hath appointed me to go to Saint Luke's, to bid the priest be ready to come against you [Exit.

Luc. I may, and will, if she be so contented : She will be pleas'd, then wherefore should I doubt ?

Hap what may, I'll roundly go about her;
It shall go hard, if Cambio go without her.
[Exit.

SCENE V.-A public Road

Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, and HOR

Rion. You saw my master wink and laugh Good-morrow, gentle mistress: Where away ?— upon you?

Luc. Biondello, what of that?

Bion. 'Faith nothing; but he has left me here behind, to expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens.

Luc. I pray thee, moralize them.
Bion. Then thus. Baptista is safe, talking
with the deceiving father of a deceitful son.
Luc. And what of him?

[To VINCENTIO.
Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too,
Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman?
Such war of white and red within her cheeks!
What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty,
As those two eyes become that heavenly face 1-
Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee :-
Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's sake.
Hor. 'A will make the man mad, to make a

Bion. His daughter is to be brought by you to woman of him. the supper.

Luc. And then ?

Kath. Young budding virgin, fair, and fresh, and sweet,

Bion. The old priest at St. Luke's church is Whither away; or where is thy abode ↑ at your command at all hours. Luc. And what of all this?

Bion. I cannot tell; except they are busied about a counterfeit assurance: Take you assurauce of her, cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum to the church;-take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient honest witnesses:

Happy the parents of so fair a child;
Happier the man, whom favourable stars
Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow !

Pet. Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art
not mad:

This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither'd ;
And not a maiden, as thou say'st he is.

Kath. Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes
That have been so bedazzled with the sun,
That every thing I look ou seemeth green:

Now I perceive thou art a reverend father;
Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.
Pet. Do, good old grandsire; and, withal,
make known

Which way thou travellest; if along with us,
We shall be joyful of thy company.

Vin. Fair Sir,-and you my merry mistress,That with your strange encounter much amaz'd me;

My name is call'd-Vincentio; my dwelling-
Pisa;

And bound I am to Padua ; there to visit
A son of mine, which long I have not seen.
Pet. What is his name?

Vin. Lucentio, gentle Sir.

Pet. Happily met; the happier for thy son.
And now by law, as well as reverend age,
1 may entitle thee-my loving father;
The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman,
Thy son by this hath inarried: Wonder not,
Nor be not griev'd; she is of good esteem,
Her dowry wealthy, and of worthy birth;
Beside, so qualified as may beseem
The spouse of any noble gentleman.
Let me embrace with old Vincentio :
And wander we to see thy honest son,
Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.

Vin. But is this true ? or is it else your plea

SCENE I-PADUA.-Before LUCENTIO'S

House. Enter on one side BIONDELLO, LUCENTIO, and BIANCA; GREMI0 walking on the other side. Bion. Softly and swiftly, Sir: for the priest is ready.

Luc. I fly, Biondello: but they may chance to need thee at home, therefore leave us.

Bion. Nay, faith, I'll see the church o'your back; and then come back to my master as soon as I can. [Exeunt LUCENTIO, BIANCA, and BIONDELLO. Gre. I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.

Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, VINCENTIO,

and Attendants.

Pet. Sir, here's the door, this is Lucentio's house,

My father's bears more toward the marketplace;

Thither must 1, and here I leave you, Sir. Vin. You shall not choose but drink before you go;

I think, I shall command your welcome here, And, by all likelihood, some cheer is toward." [Knocks. Gre. They're busy within, you were best knock louder.

Enter PEDANT above, at a window. Ped. What's he, that knocks as he would beat down the gate ?

Vin. Is signior Lucentio within, Sir! Ped. He's within, Sir, but not to be spoken withal.

Vin. What if a man bring him a hundred pound or wo, to make merry withal ?

Ped. Keep your hundred pounds to yourself; Le shall need none, so long as I live.

Pet. Nay, I told you, your son was beloved in Padua.-Do you hear, Sir 1-to leave friFolous circumstances,-I pray you, tell signor Lucentio, that bis father is come from Pisa, and is here at the door to speak with him.

Ped. Thou liest; bis father is come from Pisa, and here looking out at the window. Vin. Art thou bis father?

Ped. Ay, Sir; so his mother says, if 1 may

Bion. I bave seen them in the church toge ther; God send 'em good shipping!-But whe is here? mine old master, Vincentio? are undone, and brought to nothing. Vin. Come hither, crack-hemp.

[Seeing BION DELLS. Bion. I hope, I may choose, Sir. Vin. Come hither, you rogue: What, bave you forgot me ?

Bion. Forgot you? no, Sir: I could not forget you, for I never saw you before in all my life.

Vin. What, you notorious villain, didst thea never see thy master's father, Vincentio !

Bion. What, my old, worshipful old master! yes, marry, Sir; see where he looks out of the window. Vin. Is't so, indeed ? [Beats BIONDELLO. Bion. Help, help, help, help! here's a matman will murder me

Ped. Help, son! help, signior Baptista!

[Exit from the winder. Pet. Pr'ythee, Kate, let's stand aside, and see the end of this controversy. [They retire. Re-enter PEDANT below; BAPTIsta, Traxi, and SERVANTS.

Tra. Sir, what are you, that offer to beat my servant?

Vin. What am I, Sir? nay, what are you, Sir 1-0 immortal gods! O fine villain! A salken doublet! a velvet hose! a scarlet cloak! and a copatain hat! Oh! I am undone! I am undone! while I play the good husband at bott, my son and my servant spend all at the university.

Tra. How now! what's the matter?
Bap. What, is the man lunatic?

Tra. Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by your habit, but your words show you a madinan: Why, Sir, what concerns it you, if I were pearl and gold? I thank my good father, I am able to maintain it.

Vin. Thy father? O villain! he is a sil maker in Bergamo.

Bap. You mistake, Sir; you mistake, Sir: Pray, what do you think is his name?

Vin. His name? as if I knew not his name: I have brought him up ever since he was three years old, and his name is-Tranio,

Ped. Away, away, and ass! his name is Lacentio and he is mine only son, and beir to the lands of me, signior Vincentio.

Vin. Lucentio! Oh! he bath murdered bis master!-Lay hold on him, I charge you, in the duke's name :-0 my son, my sen!-tell me, thou villain, where is my son Lucentio ?

Tra. Call forth an officer: [Enter one with an officer.] carry this mad knave to the jailFather Baptista, I charge you see, that be be forthcoming.

Vin. Carry me to the jail!

Gre. Stay, officer; he shall not go to prisen.

• A hat with a conical crown.

Bap. Talk not, signior Gremio; I say, he shall | SCENE 11.-A Room in LUCENTIO's House. go to prison.

Gre. Take heed, signior Baptista, lest you be coney-catched in this business; I dare swear,

this is the right Vincentio.

Ped. Swear, if thou darest.
Gre. Nay, I dare not swear it.

Tra. Then thou wert best say, that I am not Lucentio.

Gre. Yes, I know thee to be signior Lucentio.

Bap. Away with the dotard; to the jail with him. Vin. Thus strangers may be haled and abus'd: -O monstrous villain!

Re-enter BIONDELLO, with LUCENTIO, and BIANCA.

Bion. Oh! we are spoiled, and-Yonder be is; deny him, forswear him, or eise we are all undone.

Luc. Pardon, sweet father.
Vin. Lives my sweetest son?

[Kneeling.

[BIONDELLO, TRANIO, and PEDANT run out.

Bian. Pardon, dear father.

Bap. How hast thou offended ?—

Where is Lucentio ?

Luc. Here's Lucentio,

Right son unto the right Vincentio ;

[Kneeling.

That have by marriage made thy daughter mine, While counterfeit supposes blear'd thine eyne. ↑ Gre. Here's packing, with a witness, to deceive

us all!

Vin. Where is that damned villain, Tranio, That fac'd and brav'd me in this matter so? Bap. Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio? Bian. Cambio is chang'd into Lucentio. Luc. Love wrought these miracles. Bianca's love

Made me exchange my state with Tranio,
While he did bear my countenance in the
town;

And happily I have arriv'd at last
Unto the wished haven of my bliss:-
What Tranio did, myself enforc'd him to;
Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.

Vin. I'll slit the villain's nose, that would bave sent me to the jail.

Bap. But do you hear, Sir? [To LUCENTIO.] Have you married my daughter without asking my good-will?

Vin. Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: But I will in, to be revenged for this villany. [Exit.

Bap. And I, to sound the depth of this knavery. (Exit. Luc. Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not frown. [Exeunt Luc. and BIAN. Gre. My cake is dough: But I'll in among the rest;

Out of hope of all,-but my share of the feast.

[Exit.

PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA advance.

A Banquet set out. Enter BAPTISTA, VINCENTIO, GREMIO, the PEDANT, LUCENTIO, BIANCA, PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, HORTEN $10, and WIDOW. TRANIO, BIONDELLO, GRUMIO, and others, attending.

Luc. At last, though long, our jarring notes

agree:

And time it is, when raging war is done,
To smile at 'scapes and perils overblown.-
My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome,
While I with self-same kindness welcome
thine :-

Brother Petruchio,-sister Katharina,-
And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow,-
Feast with the best, and welcome to my house;
My banquet is to close our stomachs up,
After our great good cheer: Pray you sit down;
For now we sit to chat, as well as cat.

[They sit at table. Pet. Nothing but sit and sit, and cat and eat! Bap. Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.

Pet. Padua affords nothing but what is kind. Hor. For both our sakes, I would that word

Pet. Spoke like an officer:-Ha' to thee, lad. [Drinks to Hortensio, Bap. How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks?

Gre. Believe me, Sir, they butt together well. Bian. Head, and butt? an basty-witted body

Kath. Husband, let's follow, to see the end of Would say, your head and butt were head and

this ado.

Pet. First kiss me, Kate, and we will.
Kath. What, in the midst of the street?
Pet. What, art thou ashamed of me?

Kath. No, Sir; God forbid :-but ashamed to kiss.

Pet. Why, then let's home again :-Come,

sirrah, let's away.

Kath. Nay, I will give thee a kiss; now pray thee, love, stay.

Pet. Is not this well-Come, my sweet Kate:

Better once than never, for never too late.

• Cheated.

[Exeunt.

Deceived thy eyes.

1 Tricking, underhand contrivances. A proverbial expression, repeated after a disappoint

This bird you aim'd at, though you hit her not; | Swinge me them soundly forth unto their busbands: Therefore, a health to all that shot and miss'd.

Tra. O Sir, Lucentio slipp'd me like his grey-Away, I say, and bring them hither straight. [Erit KATHARIKA. hound, Luc. Here is a wonder, if you talk of a wes

Which runs himself, and catches for his master. Pet. A good swift simile, but something currish.

Tra. 'Tis well, Sir, that you hunted for your

self;

'Tis thought, your deer does hold you at a bay.
Bap. O ho, Petruchio, Tranio hits you now.
Luc. I thank thee for that gird, + good Tranio.
Hor. Confess, confess, hath he not hit you
here ?

Pet. 'A has a little gall'd me, I confess ;
And, as the jest did glance away from me,
'Tis ten to one it maim'd you two outright.
Bap. Now, in good sadness, son Petruchio,
I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all.
Pet. Well, I say-no: and therefore, for assur-
Let's each one send unto his wife;
[ance,
And be, whose wife is most obedient
To come at first when he doth send for her.
Shall win the wager which we will propose.
Hor. Content :-What is the wager?
Luc. Twenty crowns.

Pet. Twenty crowns!

I'll venture so much on my hawk, or hound,
But twenty times so much upon my wife.

Luc. A hundred then.

To come to me forthwith.

[Exit BIONDello.

Pet. O hot entreat her !
Nay, then she must needs come.
Hor. I am afraid, Sir,

Do what you can, your's will not be entreated.

Re-enter BIONDELLO.

Now where's my wife?
Bion. She says, you have some goodly Jest in
hand;

She will not come; she bids you come to her.
Pet. Worse and worse; she will not come! O
Intolerable, not to be endur'd!

Sirrah Grumio, go to your mistress;
Say, I command her to come to me.

Hor. I know her answer.

Pet. What?

Hor. She will not come.

[vile

der.

Hor. And so it is; I wonder what it bodes.
Pet. Marry, peace it bodes, and love, and
quiet life,

An awful rule, and right supremacy;
And, to be short, what not, that's sweet and
happy.

Bap. Now fair befall thee, good Petruchio!
The wager thou hast won; and I will add
Unto their losses twenty thousand crowns;
Another dowry to another daughter,
For she is chang'd, as she had never been.
Pet. Nay, I will win my wager better yet;
And show more sign of her obedience,
Her new-built virtue and obedience.

Re-enter KATHARINA, with Blanca, end
WIDOW.

See, where she comes; and brings your froward
wives

As prisoners to her womanly persuasion.—
Katharine, that cap of your's becomes you get;
Off with that bauble, throw it under foot.
[KATHARINA pulls off her cap, and threws

it down.

Wid. Lord, let me never have a cause to sigh, Till I be brought to such a silly pass !

Bian. Fiel what a foolish duty call you this? Luc. I would, your duty were as fooush too: The wisdom of your duty, fair Bianca,

Hath cost me a hundred crowns since suppertime.

Bian. The more fool you, for laying on my

duty.

Pet. Katharine, I charge thee, tell these headstrong women

What duty they do owe their lords and bas bands.

Wid. Come, come, you're mocking; we wil have no telling.

Pet. Come on, I say; and first begin

her.

Wid. She shall not.

Pet. I say, she shall ;-and first begin with her.

Kath. Fie, fie! unknit that threat'ning un

kind brow;

And dart not scornful glances from those eyes,
To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor :
It blots thy beauty, as frosts bite the meads;
Confounds thy fame, as whirlwinds shake fair
buds;

And in no sense is meet, or amiable.

A woman mov'd, is like a fountain troubled,
Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty;
And, while it is so, none so dry or thirsty
Will deign to sip, or touch one drop of it.
Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,
Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for
thee,

And for thy maintenance: commits his body
[Exit GRUMIO. To painful labour, both by sea and land;
To watch the night in storms, the day in cold,
While thou liest warm at home, secure and safe;
And craves no other tribute at thy bands,

Pet. The fouler fortune mine, and there an But love, fair looks, and true obedience ;end.

Too little payment for so great a debt.
Such duty as the subject owes the prince,
Even such, a woman oweth to her husband:
And, when she's froward, peevish, sullen, sonr,
And, not obedient to his honest will,
What is she, but a foul contending rebel,
And graceless traitor to her loving lord ?-
I am asham'd, that women are so simple
To offer war, where they should kneel for
peace;

Or seek for rule, supremacy, and sway,
When they are bound to serve, love, and obey.
Why are our bodies soft, and weak and smooth,
Unapt to toil and trouble in the world;

But that our soft conditions and our hearts,
Should well agree with our external parts ?
Come, come, you froward and unable worms!
My mind hath been as big as one of your's,
My heart, as great; my reason, haply, more,
To bandy word for word, and frown for frown:
But now, I see our lances are but straws;
Our strength as weak, our weakness past com-
pare,-

That seeming to be most, which we least are.
Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot;
And place your hauds below your husband's
foot:

In token of which duty, if he please,
My hand is ready, may it do him ease!

Pet. Why, there's a wench !-Come on, and kiss me, Kate.

Luc. Well, go thy ways, old lad; for thou shalt ha't.

Vin. 'Tis a good hearing, when children are - toward.

Luc. But a harsh hearing, when women are froward.

Pet. Come, Kate, we'll to bed :We three are married, but we two are sped 'Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white; [To LUCENTIO. And, being a winner, God give you good night! [Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATH. Hor. Now go thy ways, thou hast tam'd a cnrst shrew.

Luc. 'Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam'd so. [Exeunt.

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare– With Glossarial Notes, a Sketch of ...