1

Enter KATHARINE.

Kat. How? Turn'd adrift, nor know my father's
house?

Reduc'd to this, or none? the maid's last prayer?
Sent to be woo'd, like bear unto the stake?

;

Trim wooing like to be !—and he the bear
For I shall bait him.-Yet, the man's a man.

Pet. Kate in a calm?-Maids must not be

Good morrow, Kate ;-for that's your name, I hear.
Kat. Well have you heard, but impudently said:
They call me Katharine, that do talk of me.

Pet. You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain
Kate,-

And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst.
But, Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom,-
Take this of me, Kate of my consolation.-
Hearing thy mildness prais'd in every town,
Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded,
Thy affability, and bashful modesty,
Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,
Myself am mov'd to woo thee for my wife.

Kat. Mov'd in good time! Let him that mov'd you
hither,

1

Remove you hence I knew you at the first,

You were a moveable.

Pet. A moveable! Why, what's that?

Kat. A joint-stool.

Pet. Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me.
Kat. Asses are made to bear, and so are you.
Pet. Women are made to bear, and so are you.-
Alas, good Kate, I will not burden thee;
For, knowing thee to be but young and light,-
Kat. Too light, for such a swain as you to catch.
[Going.]
Pet. Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you are too

angry.

Kat. If I be waspish, best beware my sting.

Pet. My remedy then is, to pluck it out.

ACT I

SCENE,
Baptista's House.

A Hall.

Enter BAPTISTA, PETRUCHIO,-and GRUMIO, who

waits behind.

Bap. THUS have I, 'gainst my own self-interest, Repeated all the worst you 're to expect From my shrewd daughter, Katharine :-if

venture,

Maugre my plain and honest declaration,

you

You have my free consent, win her and wed her.
Pet. Signior Baptista, thus it stands with me.
Antonio, my father, is deceas'd :

You knew him well, and, knowing him, know me,
Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,

Which I have better'd, rather than decreas'd:
And I have thrust myself into the world,

Haply to wive and thrive, as best I

may.

My business asketh haste, old signior,
And every day I cannot come to woo :
Let specialties be therefore drawn between us,
That covenants may be kept on either hand.

Bap. Yes, when the special thing is well obtain'd,

My daughter's love; for that is all in all.

Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father, I am as peremptory, as she proud-minded;

Kat. Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies.

Pet. The fool knows where the honey lies, sweet

Kate.

Kat. "Tis not for drones to taste.

Pet. That will I try.

[Offers to kiss her.

She strikes him.] I swear, I'll cuff you, if you strike again.Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour. Kat. How can I help it, when I see that face? But I'll be shock'd no longer with the sight. [Going.] Pet. Nay, hear you, Kate; in sooth, you 'scape

not so.

Kat. I chafe you, if I tarry; let me go.

Pet. No, not a whit; I find you passing gentle: 'I was told me, you were rough, and coy, and sullen; But now I find report a very liar:

Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look askance, 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.

Kat. This is beyond all patience

[Walks backwards and forwards.]

Don't provoke me!

Pet. Why doth the world report that Kate doth limp?

O, slanderous world! Kate, like the hazel-twig,
Is straight, and slender, and as brown in hue
As hazel-nuts, and sweeter than the kernels.-
Thou dost not limp:-So, let me see thee walk :-
Walk, walk, walk.

Kat. [She stops.] Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command.

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 sportful
Kat. Where did you study all this goodly speech?
Pet. Study!-

It is extempore, from my mother-wit.

Kat. A witty mother, witless else her son.
Pet. Am I not wise?

Kat. Yes, in your own conceit;

Keep yourself warm with that, or else you'll freeze.
Pet. Or rather, warm me in thy arms, my

And therefore, setting all this chat aside,

Kate !

Thus, in plain terms,-Your father hath consented That you shall be my wife; your dowry 'greed on ;And will you, nill you, I will marry you.

Kat. Whether I will, or no?-O, fortune's spite! Pet. Nay, Kate, I am a husband, for your turn; For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,Thy beauty that doth make me love thee well,Thou must be married to no man but me; For I am he, that's born to tame you, Kate. Kat. That will admit dispute, my saucy groom. Pet. Here comes your father: Never make denial; I must, and will, have Katharine to my wife.

Enter BAPTISTA.

Bap. Now, signior, now,-how speed you with my daughter?

Pet. How should I speed, but well, sir? How, but well?

It were impossible, I should speed amiss.

Bap. Why, how now, daughter Katharine? in your dumps ?

Kat. Call you me daughter? Now, I promise you, You've show'd a tender fatherly regard,

To wish me wed to one half lunatick;

A mad-cap ruffian, and a swearing jack,

That thinks with oaths to face the matter out. Bap. Better this jack than starve; and that's portion,

your

Pet. Father, 't is thus: Yourself, and all the world

That talk'd of her, have talk'd of her amiss;

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: