Kath. Minion, thou liest. Is't not Hortensio ? Bian. Is it for him you do envy me so? Kath. If that be jest, then all the rest was so. Enter BAPTISTA. [Strikes her. Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows this insolence? Bianca, stand aside;-poor girl! she weeps.- Kath. Her silence flouts me, and I'll be revenged. [Flies after BIANCA. Bap. What, in my sight!-Bianca, get thee in. [Exit BIANCA. Kath. Will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see She is your treasure; she must have a husband; I must dance barefoot on her wedding-day, And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell. 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, neighbor Baptista. Bap. Good-morrow, neighbor 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. Gre. You are too blunt; go to it orderly. Pet. You wrong me, seignior Gremio; give me leave.— I am a gentleman of Verona, sir, That, hearing of her beauty and her wit, Her affability, and bashful modesty, Her wondrous qualities, and mild behavior,- Within your house, to make mine eye the witness [Presenting HORTENSIO. Cunning in music, and the mathematics, Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake. 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. Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too. Pet. O, pardon me, seignior Gremio; I would fain be doing. Gre. I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your wooing.Neighbor, 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, seignior 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; Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo, And this small package of Greek and Latin books. Bap. Lucentio is your name? Of whence, I pray? 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, [Exit Servant, with HORTENSIO, LUCENTIO, We will go walk a little in the orchard, And then to dinner. You are passing welcome, Pet. Seignior Baptista, my business asketh haste, Pet. And for that dowry, I'll assure her of Bap. Ay, when the special thing is well obtained; Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father, I am as peremptory as she proud-minded; And where two raging fires meet together, Bap. Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed! But be thou armed 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? Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. Bap. Why then thou canst not break her to the lute? Hor. Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me: I did but tell her, she mistook her frets, And bowed her hand to teach her fingering, Frets, call you these? quoth she; I'll fume with them; As on a pillory, looking through the lute; And, twangling Jack; with twenty such vile terms, Pet. Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench; O, how I long to have some chat with her. 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.Seignior Petruchio, will you go with us? Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you? L Pet. I pray you, do; I will attend her here,— [Exeunt BAPTISTA, GREMIO, TRANIO, and HORTENSIO. Say, that she frown; I'll say she looks as clear Then I'll commend her volubility, And say, she uttereth piercing eloquence. When I shall ask the bans, and when be married. Enter KATHARINA. Good-morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear. Kath. Well have you heard, but something hard hearing; They call me-Katharine, that do talk of me. Pet. You lie, in faith; for you are called plain Kate, And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst: But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom, Kate of Kate-hall, my super-dainty Kate, For dainties are all cates; and therefore, Kate, Take this of me, Kate of my consolation;Hearing thy mildness praised in every town, Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauties sounded, (Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,) Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife. Kath. Moved! in good time; let him that moved you hither, Remove you hence. I knew you at the first, You were a movable. Pet. Kath. A joint-stool. Why, what's a movable? Thou hast hit it; come, sit on me. Pet. Kath. Asses are made to bear, and so are you. Pet. Women are made to bear, and so are you. Kath. No such jade, sir, as you, if me you mean. 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 buzz. Kath. Well ta'en, and like a buzzard. Pet. O, slow-winged 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 too angry. Kath. If I be waspish, best beware my sting. Pet. My remedy is, then, to pluck it out. Kath. Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies. |