The Taming of the Shrew

swearing Jack,
That thinks with oaths to face the matter out. Petruchio

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 have ’greed so well together,
That upon Sunday is the wedding-day.

Katharina I’ll see thee hang’d on Sunday first. Gremio Hark, Petruchio; she says she’ll see thee hang’d first. Tranio Is this your speeding? nay, then, good night our part! Petruchio

Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself:
If she and I be pleased, 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: O, 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.
O, you are novices! ’tis a world to see,
How tame, when men and women are alone,
A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.
Give me thy hand, Kate: I will unto Venice,
To buy apparel ’gainst the wedding-day.
Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests;
I will be sure my Katharine shall be fine.

Baptista

I know not what to say: but give me your hands;
God send you joy, Petruchio! ’tis a match.

Gremio
Tranio Amen, say we: we will be witnesses. Petruchio

Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu;
I will to Venice; Sunday comes apace:
We will have rings and things and fine array;
And kiss me, Kate, we will be married o’ Sunday. Exeunt Petruchio and Katharina severally.

Gremio Was ever match clapp’d up so suddenly? Baptista

Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant’s part,
And venture madly on a desperate mart.

Tranio

’Twas a commodity lay fretting by you:
’Twill bring you gain, or perish on the seas.

Baptista The gain I seek is, quiet in the match. Gremio

No doubt but he hath got a quiet catch.
But now, Baptists, to your younger daughter:
Now is the day we long have looked for:
I am your neighbour, and was suitor first.

Tranio

And I am one that love Bianca more
Than words can witness, or your thoughts can guess.

Gremio Youngling, thou canst not love so dear as I. Tranio Graybeard, thy love doth freeze. Gremio

But thine doth fry.
Skipper, stand back: ’tis age that nourisheth.

Tranio But youth in ladies’ eyes that flourisheth. Baptista

Content you, gentlemen: I will compound this strife:
’Tis deeds must win the prize; and he of both
That can assure my daughter greatest dower
Shall have my Bianca’s love.
Say, Signior Gremio, What can you assure her?

Gremio

First, as you know, my house within the city
Is richly furnished with plate and gold;
Basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands;
My hangings all of Tyrian tapestry;
In ivory coffers I have stuff’d my crowns;
In cypress chests my arras counterpoints,
Costly apparel, tents, and canopies,
Fine linen, Turkey cushions boss’d with pearl,
Valance of Venice gold in needlework,
Pewter and brass and all things that belong
To house or housekeeping: then, at my farm
I have a hundred milch-kine to the pail,
Sixscore fat oxen standing in my stalls,
And all things answerable to this portion.
Myself am struck in years, I must confess;
And if I die to-morrow, this is hers,
If whilst I live she will be only mine.

Tranio

That “only” came well in. Sir, list to me:
I am my father’s heir and only son:
If I may have your daughter to my wife,
I’ll leave her houses three or four as good,
Within rich Pisa walls, as any one
Old Signior Gremio has in Padua;
Besides two thousand ducats by the year
Of fruitful land, all which shall be her jointure.
What, have I pinch’d you, Signior Gremio?

Gremio

Two thousand ducats by the year of land!
My land amounts not to so much in all:
That she shall have; besides an argosy
That now is lying in Marseilles’ road.
What, have I choked you with an argosy?

Tranio

Gremio, ’tis known my father hath no less
Than three great argosies; besides two galliases,
And twelve tight galleys: these I will assure her,
And twice as much, whate’er thou offer’st next.

Gremio

Nay, I have offer’d all, I have no more;
And she can have no more than all I have:
If you like me, she shall have me and mine.

Tranio

Why, then the maid is mine from all the world,
By your firm promise: Gremio is out-vied.

Baptista

I must confess your offer is the best;
And, let your father make her the assurance,
She is your own; else, you must pardon me,
If you should die before him, where’s her dower?

Tranio That’s but a cavil: he is old, I young. Gremio And may not young men die, as well as old? Baptista

Well, gentlemen,
I am thus resolved: on Sunday next you know
My daughter Katharine is to be married:
Now, on the Sunday following, shall Bianca
Be bride to you, if you this assurance;
If not, to Signior Gremio:
And so, I take my leave, and thank you both.

Gremio

Adieu, good neighbour. Exit Baptista. Now I fear thee not:
Sirrah young gamester, your father were a fool
To give thee all, and in his waning age
Set foot under thy table: tut, a toy!
An old Italian fox is not so kind, my boy. Exit.

Tranio

A vengeance on your crafty wither’d hide!
Yet I have faced it with a card of ten.
’Tis in my head to do my master good:
I see no reason but supposed Lucentio
Must get a father, call’d “supposed Vincentio;”
And that’s a wonder: fathers commonly
Do get their children; but in this case of wooing,
A child shall get a sire, if I fail not of my cunning. Exit.

Act III

Scene I

Padua. Baptista’s house.

	Enter Lucentio, Hortensio, and Bianca.
Lucentio	Fiddler, forbear; you grow too forward, sir: Have you so soon forgot the entertainment Her sister Katharine welcomed you withal?
Hortensio	But, wrangling pedant, this is The patroness of heavenly harmony: Then give me leave to have prerogative; And when in