Bian. Why, I am past my gamut long ago. Hor. Yet read the gamut of Hortensio. Bian. (Reads.) Gamut I am the ground of all A re, to plead Hortensio's passion; [accord, B mi, Bianca, take him for thy lord, C faut, that loves with all affection: D sol re, one cliff, two notes have I; E la mi, show pity, or I die. Call you this-gamut? tut! I like it not: Old fashions please me best; I am not so nice, To change true rules for odd inventions. Enter a Servant. Serv. Mistress, your father prays you leave your books, And help to dress your sister's chamber up; You know, to-morrow is the wedding-day. Bian. Farewell, sweet masters, both; I must be gone. [Exeunt Bianca and Servant. Luc. 'Faith, mistress, then I have no cause to stay. [Exit. Hor. But I have cause to pry into this pedant; Methinks, he looks as though he were in love: Yet if thy thoughts, Bianca, be so humble, To cast thy wand'ring eyes on every stale, Seize thee, that list: If once I find thee ranging, Hortensio will be quit with thee by changing. [Exit. SCENE II.-The same. Before Baptista's House. Enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, TRANIO, KATHARINA, BIANCA, LUCENTIO, and Attendants. Bap. Signior Lucentio, (to Tranio) this is the 'pointed day, That Katharine and Petruchio should be married, What will be said? what mockery will it be, Kath. No shame but mine: I must, forsooth, be forc'd To give my hand, oppos'd against my heart, He'll woo a thousand, 'point the day of marriage, Tra. Patience, good Katharine, and Baptista too; [Exit, weeping, followed by Bianca, and others. Bap. Go, girl; I cannot blame thee now to weep; For such an injury would vex a saint, Much more a shrew of thy impatient humour. Enter BIONDEllo. Bion. Master, master! news, old news, and such news as you never heard of! Bap. Is it new and old too? how may that be? Bion. Why, no, sir. [coming? [there. Bion. When he stands where I am, and sees you and an old jerkin; a pair of old breeches, thrice turned; a pair of boots, that have been candle-cases, one buckled, another laced; an old rusty sword ta'en out of the town armoury, with a broken hilt, and chapeless; with two broken points: His horse hipped with an old mothy saddle, the stirrups of no kindred : : besides, possessed with the glanders, and like to mose in the chine; troubled with the lampass, infected with the fashions, full of wind-galls, sped with spavins, raied with the yellows, past cure of the fives, stark spoiled with the staggers, beknawn with the bots; swayed in the back, and shoulder-shotten; ne'er-legged before, and with a half-checked bit, and a head-stall of sheep's leather; which, being restrained to keep him from stumbling, hath been often burst, and now repaired with knots; one girt six times pieced, and a woman's crupper of velure, which hath two letters for her name, fairly set down in studs, and here and there pieced with pack thread. Bap. Who comes with him? Bion. O, sir, his lackey, for all the world caparisoned like the horse; with a linen stock on one leg, and a kersey boot-hose on the other, gartered with a red and blue list; an old hat, and The humour of forty fancies pricked in't for a feather: a monster, a very monster in apparel; and not like a Christian footboy, or a gentleman's lackey. Tra. 'Tis some odd humour pricks him to this fashion; Yet oftentimes he goes but mean apparell'd. Bap. I am glad he is come, howsoe'er he comes. Bap. Didst thou not say, he comes? Bion. No, sir; I say, his horse comes with him on his back. Bap. Why, that's all one. Bion. Nay, by St. Jamy, I hold you a penny, A horse and a man is more than one, and yet not many. Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO. Pet. Come, where be these gallants? who is at home? And wherefore gaze this goodly company; As if they saw some wondrous monument, Some comet, or unusual prodigy? [day: Bap. Why, sir, you know, this is your weddingFirst were we sad, fearing you would not come; Now sadder, that you come so unprovided. Fy! doff this habit, shame to your estate, An eye-sore to our solemn festival. Tra. And tell us what occasion of import Hath all so long detain'd you from your wife, And sent you hither so unlike yourself? Pet. Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear: Pet. Not I, believe me; thus I'll visit her. To me she's married, not unto my clothes: [Exeunt Petruchio, Grumio, and Biondello. Bap. I'll after him, and see the event of this. [Exit. Tra. But, sir, to her love concerneth us to add It skills not much; we'll fit him to our turn,- Luc. Were it not that my fellow schoolmaster Tra. That by degrees we mean to look into, Re-enter GREMIO. Signior Gremio! came you from the church! [deed, Tra. What said the wench, when he arose again? Gre. Trembled and shook; for why, he stamp'd, and swore, He calls for wine :-A health, quoth he; as if But that his beard grew thin and hungerly, I know, you think to dine with me to-day, Bap. Is't possible, you will away to-night? To this most patient, sweet, and virtuous wife : Gre. Pet. It cannot be. Kath. Pet. I am content. Kath. Let me entreat you. Let me entreat you. Are you content to stay? Pet. I am content you shall entreat me stay; But yet not stay, entreat me how you can. Kath. Now, if you love me, stay. Pet. Grumio, my horses. Gru. Ay, sir, they be ready; the oats have eaten the horses. Kath. Nay, then, Do what thou canst, I will not go to-day ; Pet. O Kate, content thee; pr'ythee, be not angry. Kath. I will be angry: What hast thou to do?Father, be quiet; he shall stay my leisure. Gre. Ay, marry, sir: now it begins to work. Kath. Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner :I see a woman may be made a fool, If she had not a spirit to resist. Pet. They shall go forward, Kate, at thy com mand: Obey the bride, you that attend on her; I will be master of what is mine own: She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, I'll buckler thee against a million. [Exeunt Petruchio, Katharina, and Grumio. Bap. Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones. Gre. Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing. Tra. Of all mad matches, never was the like! For to supply the places at the table, Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, BIANCA, BAP-Lucentio, you shall supply the bridegroom's place; TISTA, HORTENSIO, GRUMIO, and Train. Pet. Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains: And let Bianca take her sister's room. Tra. Shall sweet Bianca practise how to bride it? Bap. She shall, Lucentio.-Come, gentlemen, let's go. [Exeunt. ACT IV. Gru. Fy, fy, on all tired jades! on all mad masters! and all foul ways! Was ever man so beaten? was ever man so ray'd? was ever man so weary? I am sent before to make a fire, and they are coming after to warm them. Now, were not I a little pot, and soon hot, my very lips might freeze to my teeth, my tongue to the roof of my mouth, my heart in my belly, ere I should come by a fire to thaw me:-But I, with blowing the fire, shall warm myself; for, considering the weather, a taller man than I will take cold. Holla, hoa! Curtis ! Enter CURTIS. Curt. Who is that, calls so coldly? Gru. A piece of ice: If thou doubt it, thou may'st slide from my shoulder to my heel, with no greater a run, but my head and my neck. A fire, good Curtis. Curt. Is my master and his wife coming, Grumio? cast on no water. Curt. Is she so hot a shrew, as she's reported? Gru. She was, good Curtis, before this frost: but thou know'st, winter tames man, woman, and beast; for it hath tamed my old master, and my new mistress, and myself, fellow Curtis. Curt. Away, you three inch fool! I am no beast. Gru. Am I but three inches? why, thy horn is a foot; and so long am I, at the least. But wilt thou make a fire, or shall I complain on thee to our mistress, whose hand (she being now at hand,) thou shalt soon feel, to thy cold comfort, for being slow in thy hot office. Curt. I pr'ythee, good Grumio, tell me, How goes the world? Gru. A cold world, Curtis, in every office but thine; and, therefore, fire: Do thy duty, and have thy duty; for my master and mistress are almost frozen to death. Curt. There's fire ready; and therefore, good Grumio, the news? Gru. Why, Jack boy! ho boy! and as much news as thou wilt. Curt. Come, you are so full of coney-catching :Gru. Why, therefore, fire; for I have caught extreme cold. Where's the cook? is supper ready, the house trimmed, rushes strewed, cobwebs swept; the serving-men in their new fustian, their white stockings, and every officer his wedding-garment on? Be the jacks fair within, the jills fair without, the carpets laid, and every thing in order? Curt. All ready; And therefore, I pray thee, news? Gru. First, know, my horse is tired; my master and mistress fallen out. Curt. How? how he beat me, because her horse stumbled; how Curt. By this reckoning, he is more shrew than Gru. Ay; and that, thou and the proudest of you all shall find, when he comes home. But what talk I of this?-call forth Nathaniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Philip, Walter, Sugarsop, and the rest; let their heads be sleekly combed, their blue coats brushed, and their garters of an indifferent knit: let them curtsy with their left legs; and not presume to touch a hair of my master's horse-tail, till they kiss their hands. Are they all ready? Curt. They are. Gru. Call them forth. Curt. Do you hear, ho? you must meet my master, to countenance my mistress. Gru. Why, she hath a face of her own. Curt. Who knows not that? Gru. Thou, it seems; that callest for company to countenance her. Curt. I call them forth to credit her. Gru. Why, she comes to borrow nothing of them. old lad? Gru. Welcome, you;-how now, you;-what, Now, my spruce companions, is all ready, and all you;-fellow, you;-and thus much for greeting. things neat? [master? Nath. All things is ready: How near is our Gru. E'en at hand, alighted by this; and therefore be not,- -Cock's passion, silence!- -I hear my master. Enter PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA. To hold my stirrup, nor to take my horse! All Serv. Here, here, sir; here, sir. Gru. Here, sir; as foolish as I was before. Did I not bid thee meet me in the park, Gru. Nathaniel's coat, sir, was not fully made, And Walter's dagger was not come from sheathing: Yet, as they are, here are they come to meet Re-enter Servants, with supper. Why, when, I say?—Nay, good sweet Kate, be merry. Off with my boots, you rogues, you villains; When? Pet. 'Tis burnt; and so is all the meat: What dogs are these!-Where is the rascal cook? How durst you, villains, bring it from the dresser, And serve it thus to me, that love it not? There, take it to you, trenchers, cups, and all: (Throws the meat, &c. about the stage.) You heedless joltheads, and unmanner'd slaves! What, do you grumble? I'll be with you straight. Kath. I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet; The meat was well, if you were so contented. Pet. I tell thee, Kate, 'twas burnt and dried away; And I expressly am forbid to touch it, For it engenders choler, planteth anger; And better 'twere, that both of us did fast,Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric,Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh. Be patient; to-morrow it shall be mended, And, for this night, we'll fast for company :Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber. [Exeunt Petruchio, Katharina, and Curtis. Nath. (Advancing.) Peter, didst ever see the like? Peter. He kills her in her own humour. Pet. Thus have I politicly begun my reign, And 'tis my hope to end successfully: My falcon now is sharp, and passing empty; And, till she stoop, she must not be full-gorg'd, For then she never looks upon her lure. Another way I have to man my haggard, To make her come, and know her keeper's call; That is, to watch her as we watch these kites, That bate, and beat, and will not be obedient. She ate no meat to-day, nor none shall eat; Last night she slept not, nor to-night she shall not; As with the meat, some undeserved fault I'll find about the making of the bed; And here I'll fling the pillow, there the bolster, This way the coverlet, another way the sheets :Ay, and amid this hurly, I intend, That all is done in reverend care of her; And, in conclusion, she shall watch all night: And, if she chance to nod, I'll rail, and braw), And with the clamour keep her still awake. This is a way to kill a wife with kindness; SCENE II.-Padua. Before Baptista's House. Enter TRANIO and HORTENSIO. Tra. Is't possible, friend Licio, that Bianca Doth fancy any other but Lucentio? I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand. Hor. Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said, Stand by, and mark the manner of his teaching. (They stand aside.) Enter BIANCA and LUCENTIO. Luc. Now, mistress, profit you in what you read? Luc. I read that, I profess; the art to love. You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca Tra. O despiteful love! unconstant womankind!I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful. Hor. Mistake no more: I am not Licio, Tra. Signior Hortensio, I have often heard Hor. See, how they kiss and court!-Signior Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow- Tra. And here I take the like unfeigned oath,Ne'er to marry with her, though she would entreat: Fy on her! see, how beastly she doth court him. Hor. 'Would, all the world, but he, had quite forsworn! For me, that I may surely keep mine oath, [Exit Hortensio.-Lucentio and Bianca advance. Tra. Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace As 'longeth to a lover's blessed case! Nay, I have ta'en you napping, gentle love; And have forsworn you, with Hortensio. Bian. Tranio, you jest: But have you both forsworn me? Tra. Mistress, we have. Enter BIONDELLO, running. Beggars, that come under my father's door, Bion. O master, master, I have watch'd so long Upon entreaty, have a present alms; That I'm dog-weary; but at last I spied An ancient angel coming down the hill, Will serve the turn. Tra. What is he, Biondello? Tra. If he be credulous, and trust my tale, [Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca. Enter a Pedant. Ped. God save you, sir! Tra. And you, sir! you are welcome. Travel you far on, or are you at the furthest? Ped. Sir, at the furthest for a week or two: But then up further; and as far as Rome; And so to Tripoly, if God lend me life. Tra. What countryman, I pray? Ped. Of Mantua. Tra. Of Mantua, sir?-marry, God forbid! And come to Padua, careless of your life? Ped. My life, sir! how, I pray? for that goes hard. Tra. 'Tis death for any one in Mantua To come to Padua: Know you not the cause? Your ships are staid at Venice; and the duke (For private quarrel 'twixt your duke and him,) Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly: 'Tis marvel; but that you're but newly come, You might have heard it else proclaim'd about. Ped. Alas, sir, it is worse for me than so; For I have bills for money by exchange From Florence, and must here deliver them. Tra. Well, sir, to do you courtesy, This will I do, and this will I advise you;First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa? Ped. Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been; Pisa, renowned for grave citizens. Tra. Among them, know you one Vincentio? Ped. I know him not, but I have heard of him; A merchant of incomparable wealth. Tra. He is my father, sir; and, sooth to say, In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. Bion. As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one. (Aside.) Tra. To save your life in this extremity, : Ped. O, sir, I do; and will repute you ever The patron of my life and liberty. Tra. Then go with me, to make the matter good, This, by the way, I let you understand ;My father is here look'd for every day, To pass assurance of a dower in marriage "Twixt me and one Baptista's daughter here: In all these circumstances I'll instruct you: Go with me, sir, to clothe you as becomes you. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-A Room in Petruchio's House. Enter KATHARINA and GRUMIO. Gru. No, no, forsooth; I dare not, for my life. Kath. The more my wrong, the more his spite appears: What, did he marry me to famish me? If not, elsewhere they meet with charity: care not what, so it be wholesome food. Or else you get no beef of Grumio, slave, Kath. Then both, or one, or any thing thou wilt. Enter PETRUCHIO with a dish of meat; and Pet. How fares my Kate? What, sweeting, all (Sets the dish on a table.) I am sure, sweet Kate, this kindness merits thanks. Kath. Hor. Signior Petruchio, fy! you are to blame : Much good do it unto thy gentle heart! Enter Tailor. Come, tailor, let us see these ornaments; Kath. I'll have no bigger; this doth fit the time, And gentlewomen wear such caps as these. |