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? 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? 'Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll wring it; I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it. [He wrings GRUMIO 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! and my good friend Petruchio! -How do you all at Verona? Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? Molto honorato, signor mio Petruchio. Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter 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: 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 knocked at first, Then had not Grumio come by the worst. Pet. A senseless villain!-Good Hortensio, 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 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 is a heavy chance 'twixt him and you; Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio. 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 further than at home, And I have thrust myself into this maze, Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home, 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-favoured wife? Thou'dst thank me but a little for my counsel: And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich, 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 (As wealth is burden of my wooing dance), Be she as foul as was Florentius' love, As old as Sybil, and as curst and shrewd As Socrates' Xantippe, or a worse, She moves me not, or not removes, at least, 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 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 have stepped thus far in, And shrewd, and froward; so beyond all measure, Pet. Hortensio, peace; thou know'st not gold's effect. Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough; 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 scolding would do little good upon him. She may, perhaps, call him half a score knaves or so: why, that's nothing; an he Thou know'st not gold s effect. 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 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; 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 wooed, 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. Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace, And offer me, disguised in sober robes, To old Baptista, as a schoolmaster Enter GREMIO; with him LUCENTIO disguised, with books under his arm. Gru. Here's no knavery! See, to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about you. Who goes there? ha! Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my love. -Petruchio, stand by awhile.. Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous! Gre. O, very well; I have perused the note. I'll mend it with a largess. Take your papers too, To whom they go. What will you read to her? Gre. O this learning, what a thing it is! Hor. Grumio, mum!-God save you, Signior Gre. And you're well met, Signior Hortensio. Whither I am going?-to Baptista Minola. I promised to inquire carefully About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca: And other books; good ones, I warrant you. 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. Gre. Beloved of me; and that my deeds shall prove. Gru. And that his bags shall prove. [Aside. Hor. Gremio, 't is 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. Here is a gentleman, whom by chance I met, Upon agreement from us to his liking, Will undertake to woo cursed Katharine; Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please. Gre. So said, so done, is well. 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 coun Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her. [Aside. Pet. Why came I hither but to that intent? Gre. Hortensio, hark! [Aside. My mind presumes, for his own good and ours. Hor. I promised we would be contributors, And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er. Gre. And so we will, provided that he win her, Gru. I would I were as sure of a good dinner. [Aside. Enter TRANIO, bravely apparelled; 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. 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 toTra. Perhaps him and her, sir? What have you to do? 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: [Aside. Tra. For what reason, I beseech you? 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. Baptista is a noble gentleman, To whom my father is not all unknown; Gre. What! this gentleman will out-talk us all. a jade. Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these words? Hor. Sir, let me be so bold as to 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, 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: The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for, Her father keeps from all access of suitors, And will not promise her to any man Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive; And since you do profess to be a suitor, SCENE I.-Padua. A Room in BAPTISTA's House. Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA. Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself, To make a bondmaid and a slave of me; Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell Nay, then, you jest; and now I well perceive Enter BAPTISTA. Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows this insolence? Bianca, stand aside: poor girl! she weeps: When did she cross thee with a bitter word? Talk not to me; I will go sit and weep, Till I can find occasion of revenge. [Exit KATHARINA. Bap. Was ever gentleman thus grieved as I? But who comes here? Enter GREMIO, with LUCENTIO in the habit of a mean man; PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as a musician; and TRANIO, with BIONDELLO bearing a lute and books. Gre. Good-morrow, neighbour Baptista. Bap. Good-morrow, neighbour Gremio. God save you, gentlemen! Pet. And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter Called Katharina, fair and virtuous? Bap. I have a daughter, sir, called Katharina. I am a gentleman of Verona, sir, That, hearing of her beauty, and her wit, Her wondrous qualities, and mild behaviour, [Presenting HORTENSIO. Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake: But for my daughter Katharina, this I know, She is not for your turn; the more my grief. Pet. I see you do not mean to part with her; Or else you like not of my company. 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 his 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 his service. Bap. A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio.-But, gentle sir [to 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 elder 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, I know him well: you are very welcome, sir. You shall go see your pupils presently. 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, Pet. Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste, 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 hand. |