So there's my riddle, One, that's dead, is quick : me a handkerchief: So, 1 thank thee; wait on And now behold the meaning. me home, I'll make sport with thee: Let thy courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones.

Re-enter Widow, with Helena.

King.
Is there no exorcist
Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?
Is't real that I see?

Hel.

No, my good lord;
'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see,
The name, and not the thing.
Ber.

Both, both: O pardon! Hel. O, my good lord, when I was like this maid,

I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring,
And, look you, here's your letter: This it says,
When from my finger you can get this ring,
And are by me with child, &c.-This is done:
Will you be mine, now you are doubly won?
Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know this
clearly,

I'll love her dearly; ever, ever dearly.

Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue,
Deadly divorce step between me and you!
O, my dear mother, do I see you living?
Laf. Mine eyes smell onions, I shall weep
anon:-Good Tom Drum, [To Parolles,] lend

King, Let us from point to point this story

know,

To make the even truth in pleasure flow:-
If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,
[To Diana
Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dow'r;
For I can guess, that, by thy honest aid,
Thou kept'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.-
Of that, and all the progress, more and less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall express;
All yet seems well; and, if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.
[Flourish.

Advancing.

The King's a beggar, now the play is done;
All is well ended, if this suit be won,
That you express content; which we will pay,
With strife to please you, day exceeding day;
Ours be your patience then, and yours our
parts:

Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.
[Exeunt.

BAPTISTA, a rich Gentleman of Padua.
VINCENTIO, an old Gentleman of Pisa.
LUCENTIO, Son to Vincentio, in love with
Bianca.

PETRUCHIO, a Gentleman of Verona,
Suitor to Katharina.

GREMIO, Suitor to Bianca.

a

CURTIS,

Servants to Lucentio.

Servants to Petruchio.

Pedant, an old fellow set up to personate Vin-
centio.

KATHARINA, the Shrew, Daughters to Bap.
BIANCA, her Sister,
Widow.

tista.

Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants attending on
Baptista and Petruchio.

SCENE-Sometimes in Padua; and sometimes in Petruchio's House in the Country.

INDUCTION.

SCENE I. Before an Alehouse on a Heath.
Enter Hostess and Sly.

Sly. I'll pheeze you, in faith.
Host. A pair of stocks, you rogue!
Sly. Y'are a baggage; the Slies are no rogues;
Look in the chronicles, we came in with Richard
Conqueror. Therefore, paucas pallabris; let
the world slide: Sessa!

Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst?

And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd
brach.

Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault?
I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.
1 Hunt. Why, Belman is as good as he, my
lord;

He cried upon it at the merest loss,
And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent:
Trust me, I take him for the better dog.
Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet,

Sly. No, not a denier: Go by, says Jero-I would esteem him worth a dozen such.

nimy ;

Go to thy cold bed, and warm thee.
Host. I know my remedy, I must go fetch the
thirdborough.
[Exit.
Sly. Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll
answer him by law: I'll not budge an inch,
boy; let him come, and kindly.

[Lies down on the ground, and falls asleep. Wind Horns. Enter a Lord from Hunting, with Huntsmen and Servants.

Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds:

Brach Merriman,-the poor cur is emboss'd,

But sup them well, and look unto them all;
To-morrow I intend to hunt again.
1 Hunt. I will, my lord.

Lord. What's here ? one dead, or drunk 7 See,
doth he breathe?

2 Hunt. He breathes, my lord: Were he not warm'd with ale,

This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly. Lord. O monstrous beast, how like a swine he lies!

Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine
image!

Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man
What think you, if he were convey'd to bed,

Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his
fingers,

A most delicious banquet by his bed,
And brave attendants near him when he wakes;
Would not the beggar then forget himself?
1 Hunt. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot
choose.

2 Hunt. It would seem strange unto him when
he wak'd.

Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worthless
fancy.

Then take him up, and manage well the jest:
Carry him gently to my fairest chamber,
And hang it round with all my wanton pictures:
Balm his foul head with warm distilled waters,
And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet:
Procure me musick ready when he wakes,
To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound.
And if he chance to speak, be ready straight,
And, with a low submissive reverence,
Say,-What is it your honour will command?
Let one attend him with a silver bason,
Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers;
Another bear the ewer, a third a diaper;
And say,-Will't please your lordship cool your
hands?

Some one be ready with a costly suit,
And ask him what apparel he will wear;
Another tell him of his hounds and horse,
And that his lady mourns at his disease:
Persuade him that he hath been lunatick.
And, when he says he is-, say that he dreams,
For he is nothing but a mighty lord.
This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs:
It will be pastime passing excellent,
If it be husbanded with modesty.

1 Hunt. My lord, I warrant you, we'll play
our part,

As he shall think, by our true diligence,
He is no less than what we say he is.
Lord. Take him up gently, and to bed with
him;

And each one to his office when he wakes.

[Some bear out Sly. A trumpet sounds.
Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds:-
[Exit Servant.
Belike, some noble gentleman; that means,
Travelling some journey, to repose him here.
Re-enter a Servant.

How now? who is it?
Ser.
An it please your honour,
Players that offer service to your lordship.
Lord. Bid them come near:-

Enter Players.

Now, fellows, you are welcome. 1 Play. We thank your honour.

Lord. Do you intend to stay with me tonight?

2 Play. So please your lordship to accept our duty ?

Lord. With all my heart.-This fellow I
member,

Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest son ;-
"Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman so
well:

1 Play. Fear not, my lord; we can contain
ourselves,

Were he the veriest antick in the world.
Lord. Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery,
And give them friendly welcome every one:
Let them want nothing that my house affords.-
[Exeunt Servant and Players.
Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew my page,
To a Servant.
And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady:
That done, conduct him to the drunkard's
chamber,

And call him-madam, do him obeisance,
Tell him from me (as he will win my love,)
He bear himself with honourable action,
Such as he hath observ'd in noble ladies
Unto their lords, by them accomplished:
Such duty to the drunkard let him do,
With soft low tongue, and lowly courtesy:
And say,-What is't your honour will command,
Wherein your lady, and your humble wife,
May show her duty, and make known her love?
And then-with kind embracements, tempting
kisses,

And with declining head into his bosom,-
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd
To see her noble lord restor'd to health,
Who, for twice seven years, hath esteem'd him
No better than a poor and loathsome beggar:
And if the boy have not a woman's gift,
To rain a shower of commanded tears,
An onion will do well for such a shift:"
Which in a napkin being close convey'd,
Shall in despite enforce a watery eye.
See this despatch'd with all the haste thou canst;
Anon I'll give thee more instructions.

[Exit Servant.
I know the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman:
I long to hear him call the drunkard husband;
And how my men will stay themselves from
laughter,

When they do homage to this simple peasant.
I'll in to counsel them: haply, my presence
May well abate the over-merry spleen,
Which otherwise would grow into extremes.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II. A Bedchamber in the Lord's House.
Sly is discovered in a rich night gown, with
Attendants; some with apparel, others with
bason, ewer, and other appurtenances. Enter
Lord, dressed like a Servant.

Sly. For God's sake, a pot of small ale.

1 Serv. Will't please your lordship drink a cup of sack?

2 Serv. Will't please your honour taste of these conserves?

3 Serv. What raiment will your honour wear to-day?

Sly. I am Christophero Sly; call not me hore-nour, nor lordship: I never drank sack in my life; and if you give me any conserves, give me conserves of beef. Ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear: for I have no more doublets than backs, no more stockings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, sometimes, more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the overleather.

I have forgot your name; but, sure, that part
Was aptly fitted, and naturally perform'd.
1 Play. I think 'twas Soto that your honour

means.

Lord. 'Tis very true;-thou didst it excellent.-
Well, yon are come to me in happy time;
The rather for I have some sport in hand,
Wherein your cunning can assist me much.
There is a lord will hear you play to-night:
But I am doubtful of your modesties;
Lest, over-eyeing of his odd behaviour,
(For yet his honour never heard a play,)
You break into some merry passion,
And so offend him: for I tell you, sirs,
If you should smile, he grows impatient.

Lord. Heaven cease this idle humour in your
honour!

O, that a mighty man of such descent,
Of such possessions, and so high esteem,
Should be infused with so foul a spirit!

Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burtonheath; by birth a pedlar, by education a cardmaker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of Wincot, if she know me not: if she say I am not fourteen pence on

Sly. Ay, the woman's maid of the house.
3 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor no
such maid,

Nor no such men as you have reckon'd up,-
As Stephen Sly, and old John Naps of Greece,
And Peter Turf, and Henry Pimpernell;
And twenty more such names and men as these,
Which never were, nor no man ever saw.
Sly. Now, Lord be thanked for my good
amends!

I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy;
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 studies.
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
Gave me my being, and my father first,
A merchant of great traffick 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.
Tell me thy mind: for I 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 stoicks, nor no stocks, I pray;
Or so devote to Aristotle's ethicks,
As Ovid be an outcast quite abjur'd:
Talk logic with acquaintance that you have,
And practise rhetorick in your common talk:
Musick and poesy use to quicken you
The mathematicks and the metaphysicks,
Fall to them as you find your stomach serves
you :

No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en :-
In brief, sir, study what you most affect.

Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou ad

vise.

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?

pany;

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.

Gre.
Why, will you mew her up,
Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,
And make her bear the penance of her tongue 7
Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd:-
Go in, Bianca.
[Exit 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 7

What, shall I be appointed hours; as though,
belike,

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

Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell.

town.

Enter Baptista, Katharina, Bianca, Gremio,
and Hortensio. Lucentio and Tranio stand
aside.

Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no further,
For how I firmly am resolv'd you know;
That is not to bestow my youngest daughter,
Before I have a husband for the elder:
If either of you both love Katharina,
Because I know you well, and love you well,
Leave you shall have to court her at your plea-

sure.

Gre. To cart her rather: She's too rough for

me:

There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. I pray you, sir, [To Bap.] is it your will

To make a stale of me amongst these mates? Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that ? no mates for you,

Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.

-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 I, signior Gremio; but a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth 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 thon, 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

Kath. I' faith, sir, you shall never need to with all faults, and money enough.

fear;

I wis, it is not half way to her heart:
But if it were, doubt not her cares should be
To comb your noddle with a three-legged stool,
And paint your face, and use you like a fool.
Hor. From all such devils, good Lord, deliver
us!

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

That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward.
Lue. But in the other's silence I do see

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 | In brief then, sir, sith it your pleasure is,
him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, And I am tied to be obedient;
that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and
bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on.
[Exeunt Gremio and Hortensio.
Tra [Advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me,-Is it
possible

That love should of a sudden take such hold?
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 plainness 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. Master, it is no time to chide you now;
Affection is not rated from the heart:

If love have touch'd you, naught remains but

60,

Redime te captum quam queas minimo.
Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this con-
tents;

The rest will comfort, for thy 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 her face,
Such as the daughter of Agenor had,

That made great Jove to humble him to her
hand,

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,

(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.

Enter Biondello.

Here comes the rogue.-Sirrah, where have you been?

Bion. Where have I been? Nay, how now,
where are you?

Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes?
Or you stol'n his ? or both? pray what's the news?
Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest,
And therefore frame your manners to the time.
Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life,
Puts my apparel and my countenance on,
And I for my escape have put on his;
For in a quarrel, since I came ashore,
I kill'd a man, and fear I was descried:
Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes,
Wnile I make way from hence to save my life;
You understand me?

Bion.

I, sir? ne'er a whit.
Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth;
Tranio is chang'd into Lucentio.

Bion. The better for him: 'Would, I were so
too!

Tra. So would I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after,

That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest
daughter.

But, sirrah,-not for my sake, but your master's
-I advise

You use your manners discreetly in all kind of
companies:

When I am alone, why then I am Tranio:
But in all places else, your master Lucentio.

Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it Luc. Tranio, let's go :

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 home:
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
Because she shall not be annoy'd with suitors.
Luc. Ah, 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.
You will be schoolmaster,
Tra
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 part,

And be in Padua here Vincentio's son ?

One thing more rests, that thyself execute :-
To make one among these wooers: If thou ask

me why,

Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty. [Exeunt.

1 Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.

Sly. Yes, by Saint Anne, do I. A good mat. ter, surely: Comes there any more of it? Page. My lord, 'tis but begun.

Sly. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, ma dam lady: 'Would, 'twere done!

SCENE II. The same. Before Hortensio's
House.

Enter Petruchio and Grumio.
Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave,
To see my friends in Padua ; but, of all,
My best beloved and approved friend,
Hortensio; and, I trow, this is his house :-
Here, sirrah Grumio; knock, I say.

Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his Gru. Knock, sir! whom should I knock? is

friends;

Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?
Luc. Basta; content thee, for I have it full.
We have not yet been seen in any house;
Nor can we be distinguish'd 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 had you need. [They exchange habits.

there any man has rebused your worship?
Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.
Gru. Knock you here, sir! why, sir, what am
1, sir, that I should knock you here, sir 7
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: 1
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