Sty. Are you my wife, and will not call mehusband?

My men should call me-lord; I am your good

man.

Page. My husband and my lord, my lord and busband;

I am your wife in all obedience.

Sty. I know it well :-What must I call her ? Lord. Madam.

Sly. Al'ce madam, or Joan madam ? Lord. Madam, and nothing else; so lords call ladies.

Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have dream 'd, and slept

Above some fifteen year and more.

Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me; Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. Sty. 'Tis much ;———Servants leave me and ber alone..

Madam, undress you, and come now to bed. Page. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you,

To pardon me yet for a night or two;
Or, if not so, until the sun be set:
For your physicians have expressly charg'd,
In peril to incar your former inalady,
That I should yet absent me from your bed:
I hope, this reason stands for my excuse.

Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so long. But I would be loath to fall into my dreams again; I will therefore tarry in despite of the flesh and the blood.

Enter a SERVANT.

Tell me thy mind: for 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 perdonate, gentle master mine,
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,
Let's be no stoics, nor no stocks, I pray;
Or so devote to Aristotle's checks, I
As Ovid be an outcast quite abjur'd:
Talk logic with acquaintance that you have,
And practise rhetoric in your common talk:
Music and poesy use to quicken § you :
The mathematics, and the metaphysics,
Fall to them, as you find your stomach serves
you:

[Vise.

No profit grows, where is no pleasure ta'en;-
In brief, Sir, study what you inost affect.
Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou ad-
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.
But stay awhile: What company is this?
Tra. Master, some show to welcome us to
town.

Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HORTENSIO. LUTENTIO and TRANIO stand aside.

Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no further,

amendment,

Are come to play a pleasant comedy,

For so your doctors bold it very meet;

That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter,
Before I have a husband for the elder:
If either of you both love Katharina,

blood,

And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy,

Therefore, they thought it good you hear a play, And frame your mind to mirth and merriment, Which bars a thousand harms, and lengthens life.

Sly. Marry, I will; let them play it: Is not a commonty, ⚫ a Christmas gambol, or a tumbling trick?

Page. No, my good lord; it is more pleasing stuff.

Sly. What, household stuff?
Page. It is a kind of history.

Sty. Well, we'll see't: Coine, madam wife, sit by my side, and let the world slip; we shall ne'er be younger. [They sit down.

ACT I.

SCENE 1.-Padua.-A public Place.

Enter LUCENTIO and TRANIO.

Leave shall you have to court her at your plea

Gre. And me too, good Lord! Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime toward;

That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Luc. But in the other's silence I do see Maids' mild behaviour and sobriety.

Tra. Well said, master: mum! and gaze your fill.

studies.

And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd
With his good will, and thy good company,
Most trusty servant, well approv'd in all;
Here let us breathe, and happily institute
A course of learning, and ingenious
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
Gave me my being, and my father first,
A merchant of great traffic through the world,
Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii.
Vincentio his son, brought up in Florence,
It shall become, to serve all hopes conceiv'd,
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 achiev'd.

For comedy.

Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good
What I have said,-Bianca, get you in:
And let it not displease thee, good Bianca;
For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl.
Kath. A pretty peat !** 'tis best

Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why.
Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.-
Sir, to your pleasure humbly 1 subscribe:
My books and instrument shall be my company;
On them to look, and practise by myself.
Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva
speak.
[Aside.
Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange ?
Sorry am I, that our good will effects
Bianca's grief.

+Parlon me. Animate .. Pet.

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 resolv'd :-
Go in, Bianca.
[Erit 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,
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;
For I have more to commune with Bianca.

[Exit. Kath. Why, and I trust I may go too; May I not? [belike, What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, 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 good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly ont; 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 delights, I will wish him to her father.

Hor. So will 1, signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice,|| it tencheth us both,-that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals 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.

Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st 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 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 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 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 [Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, Sir, tell me,-Is it possible

on.

That love should of a sudden take such bold?
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,
I found the effect of love in idleness:
And now in plainuess 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,
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. Maaster, it is no time to chide you now; Affection is not rated from the heart : [80,If love have touch'd you, nought remains but Redime te captum quam queas minimo.

Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward this contents;

The rest will comfort, for my counsel's sound. Tra. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid,

Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all.
Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in ber face,
Such as the daughter; of Agenor had,
That made great Jove to humble him to her
band,

When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand.
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;
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 elder sister is so curst and shrewd,
That, till the father rid his hands of her,
Master, your love must live a maid at hoine;
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
Because she shall not be annoy'd with suitors.

Luc. Ab! Tranio, what a cruel father's he!
But art thou not advis'd, 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.
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 And be in Padua here Vincentio's son ? [part, 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 horse; Nor can we be distinguished by our faces, 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 mean man of Pisa. '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 bad you need.

[They exchange habits. In brief then, Sir, sith it your pleasure is, And I am tied to be obedient; (For so your father charg'd me at our parting ; Be serviceable to my son, quoth he, Although, I think, 'twas in another sense,) 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.

Bap. Mistake me not, I speak but as I find. Whence are you, Sir? what may I call your name?

Pet. Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son, A man well known throughout all Italy. Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for bis sake.

Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too : Baccare! you are marvellous forward.

Pet. O pardon me, signior Gremio; I would fain be doing.

Gre. I doubt it not, Sir; but you will curse your wooing.Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure of it. To express the like kindness myself, that have been more kindly beholden to you than any, I freely give unto you this young scholar, [Presenting LUCENTIO] that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in music and mathematics: his name is Cambio; pray, accept bis service.

Bap. A thousand thanks, signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio.-But, gentle Sir, [7o TRANIO] methinks, you walk like a stranger; May I be so bold to know the cause of your coming?

Tra. Pardon me, Sir, the boldness is mine!

own;

That, being a stranger in this city here,

Do make myself a suitor to your daughter,
Unto Bianca, fair, and virtuous.

Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me,
In the preferment of the eldest sister:
This liberty is all that I request,-
That, upon knowledge of my parentage,

I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo,
And free access and favour as the rest.

And, toward the education of your daughters,

I here bestow a simple instrument,

And this small packet of Greek and Latin

books:

If you accept them, then their worth is great.

Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father,

I am as peremptory as she proud-minded;
And where two raging fires incet together,
They do consume the thing that feeds their
fury:

Though little fire grows great with little wind,
Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all:
So I to her, and so she yields to ine;
For I am rough, and woo not like a babe.
Bap. Well may'st thou woo, and happy be thy
speed!

But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words.
Pet. Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for
winds,

That shake not, though they blow perpetually.
Re-enter HORTENSIO, with his head broken.
Bap. How now, my friend? why dost thou
look so pale?

Hor. For fear, I promise you, if I look pale. Bap. What, will my daughter prove a good musician?

Hor. I think, she'll sooner prove a soldier; Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. Bap. Why, then thou canst not break her to

Tra. Of Pisa, Sir; son to Vincentio.
Bap. A mighty man of Pisa; by report

I know him well: you are very welcome, Sir.-. Take you [To HOR.] the lute, and you [To Luc.] the set of books,

You shall go see your pupils presently.
Holla, within!

Sirrah, lead

Enter a SERVANT.

These gentlemen to my daughters; and tell them both,

These are their tutors; bid them use them well. [Exit SERVANT, with HORTENSIO, LUCENTIO, and BIONDELLO.

We will go walk a little in the orchard,
And then to dinner: you are passing welcome,
And so I pray you all to think yourselves.
Pet. Signior Baptista, my business asketh
haste,

And every day I cannot come to woo.

You knew my father well; and in him, me,
Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,
Which I have better'd rather than decreas'd:
Then tell me, if I get your daughter's love,
What dowry shall I have with her to wife?
Bap. After my death, the one half of my
lands:

And, in possession, twenty thousand crowns.

Pet. And for that dowry, I'll assure her of Her widowhood,-be it that she survive me,In all my lands and leases whatsoever : Let specialties be therefore drawn between us, That covenants may be kept on either band. Bap. Ay, when the special thing is well obtainu,

This is, her love; for that is all in all.

A proverbial exclamation then in use.

Bap. Well, go with me, and be not so discomfited:

Proceed in practice with my younger daughter;
She's apt to learn, and thankful for good turns.-
Signior Petruchio, will you go with us;
Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you!
Pet. I pray you do; I will attend her here,-
[Exeunt BAPTISTA, GREMIO, TRANIO,
and HORTENSIO.
And woo her with some spirit when she comes.
Say, that she rail; Why, then I'll tell her plain,
She sings as sweetly as a nightingale :
Say, that she frown; I'll say, she looks as clear
As morning roses newly wash'd with dew:
Say, she be mute, and will not speak a word;
Then I'll commend her volubility,

And say she uttereth piercing eloquence:
If she do bid me pack, I'll give her thanks,
As though she bid me stay by her a week;
If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day
When I shall ask the banus, and when be mar-
ried :-

But here she comes; and now, Petruchio, speak.
Enter KATHARINA.
Good-morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I
hear,

Kath. Well have you heard, but something

Pet. Alas! good Kate I will not burden thee:

For, knowing thee to be but young and light,Kath. Too light for such a swain as you to catch;

And yet as heavy as my weight should be.
Pet. Should be? should buz.

Kath. Well ta'en, and like a buzzard.
Pet. O slow-wing'd turtle! Shall a buzzard
take thee?

Kath. Ay, for a turtle; as he takes a buzzard. Pet. Come, come you wasp; i'faith, you are

Kath. Your's, if you talk of tails; and so farewell.

Pet. What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again,

Good Kate: I am a gentleman.
Kath. That I'll try.

[Striking him. Pet. I swear I'll cuff' you, if you strike again. Kath. So may you lose your arms:

If you strike me, you are no gentleman:
And if no gentleman, why, then no arms:

Pet. A herald, Kate? O put me in thy books.
Kath. What is your crest? a coxcomb ?
Pet. A combless cock, so Kate will be my
hen.

Kath. No cock of mine, you crow too like a

Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will;
Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk;
But thou with mildness entertain'st thy wooers,
With gentle conference, soft and affable.
Why does the world report, that Kate dotà
limp?

O slanderous world! Kate, like the hazle-twig,
Is straight, and slender; and as brown in hue
As hazel nuts, and sweeter than the kernels.
Oh let me see thee walk: thou dost not halt.
Kath. Go, fool, and whom thon keep'st com-
mand.

Pet. Did ever Dian so become a grove,
As Kate this chamber with her princely gait ?
O be thou Dian, and let her be Kate;
And then let Kate be chaste and Dian sport-
ful i

Kath. Where did you study all this goodly speech?

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

Kath. Yes; keep you warm,

Pet. Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharine in thy bed;

And therefore, setting all this chat aside,
Thus in plain terms:-Your father hath con-
sented
[on:
That you shall be my wife; your dowry 'greed
And, will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn:
For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,
Thy beauty, that doth make me like thee well,)
Thou must be married to no man but me:
For I am he, am born to tame you, Kate;
And bring you from a wild cat to a Kate
Conformable, as other household Kates.
Here comes your father; never make denial,
I must and will have Katharine to my wife.
Re-enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and TRANIO.
Bap. Now,

Signior Petruchio: How speed you with
My daughter ?

Pet. How but well, Sir? how but well?
It were impossible, I should speed amiss.
Bap. Why, how now, daughter Katharine ?
in your dumps?

Kath. Call you me, daughter? now I promise you,

You have show'd a tender fatherly regard,
To wish me wed to one half lunatic;
A mad-cap ruffian, and a swearing Jack,
That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.
Pet. Father, 'tis thus,-yourself and all the

world,

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

For she's not froward, but modest as the dove;
She is not hot, but temperate as the morn;
For patience she will prove a second Grissel;
And Roman Lucrece for her chastity:
And to conclude,-we bave 'greed so well to-
gether

That upon Sunday is the wedding-day.
Kath. I'll see thee hang'd on Sunday first.
Gre. Hark, Petruchio! she says, she'll see
thee hang'd first.

Tra. Is this your speeding? nay, then good night our part!

Pet. Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself;

If she and I be pleas'd, what's that to you?
Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain, being alone,
That she shall still be curst in company.
I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe
How much she loves me: Oh! the kindest Kate !—
She hung about my neck; and kiss on kiss
She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath,
That in a twink she won me to her love,
Oh! you are novices! 'tis a word to see,+
How tame, when men and women are alone,

To vie and revye were terms at cards, now superseded by the word brug. 1 It is well worth seeing.