The Taming of the Shrew

lead apes in hell.
Talk not to me: I will go sit and weep
Till I can find occasion of revenge. Exit. Baptista

Was ever gentleman thus grieved as I?
But who comes here?

Enter Gremio, Lucentio in the habit of a mean man; Petruchio, with Hortensio as a musician; and Tranio, with Biondello bearing a lute and books. Gremio Good morrow, neighbour Baptista. Baptista

Good morrow, neighbour Gremio.
God save you, gentlemen!

Petruchio

And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter
Call’d Katharina, fair and virtuous?

Baptista I have a daughter, sir, called Katharina. Gremio You are too blunt: go to it orderly. Petruchio

You wrong me, Signior 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 behaviour,
Am bold to show myself a forward guest
Within your house, to make mine eye the witness
Of that report which I so oft have heard.
And, for an entrance to my entertainment,
I do present you with a man of mine, Presenting Hortensio.
Cunning in music and the mathematics,
To instruct her fully in those sciences,
Whereof I know she is not ignorant:
Accept of him, or else you do me wrong:
His name is Licio, born in Mantua.

Baptista

You’re welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake.
But for my daughter Katharine, this I know,
She is not for your turn, the more my grief.

Petruchio

I see you do not mean to part with her,
Or else you like not of my company.

Baptista

Mistake me not; I speak but as I find.
Whence are you, sir? what may I call your name?

Petruchio

Petruchio is my name; Antonio’s son,
A man well known throughout all Italy.

Baptista I know him well: you are welcome for his sake. Gremio

Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray,
Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too:
Baccare! you are marvellous forward.

Petruchio O, pardon me, Signior Gremio; I would fain be doing. Gremio

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 beholding to you than any, 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.

Baptista A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio. Welcome, good Cambio. To Tranio. But, gentle sir, methinks you walk like a stranger: may I be so bold to know the cause of your coming? Tranio

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 eldest 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,
And this small packet of Greek and Latin books:
If you accept them, then their worth is great.

Baptista Lucentio is your name; of whence, I pray? Tranio Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio. Baptista

A mighty man of Pisa; by report
I know him well: you are very welcome, sir,
Take you the lute, and you the set of books;
You shall go see your pupils presently.
Holla, within!

Enter a Servant.

Sirrah, lead these gentlemen
To my daughters; and tell them both,
These are their tutors: bid them use them well. Exit Servant, with Lucentio and Hortensio, Biondello following.
We will go walk a little in the orchard,
And then to dinner. You are passing welcome,
And so I pray you all to think yourselves.

Petruchio

Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste,
And every day I cannot come to woo.
You knew my father well, and in him me,
Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,
Which I have better’d rather than decreased:
Then tell me, if I get your daughter’s love,
What dowry shall I have with her to wife?

Baptista

After my death the one half of my lands,
And in possession twenty thousand crowns.

Petruchio

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.

Baptista

Ay, when the special thing is well obtain’d,
That is, her love; for that is all in all.

Petruchio

Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father,
I am as peremptory as she proud-minded;
And where two raging fires meet together
They do consume the thing that feeds their fury:
Though little fire grows great with little wind,
Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all:
So I to her and so she yields to me;
For I am rough and woo not like a babe.

Baptista

Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed!
But be thou arm’d for some unhappy words.

Petruchio

Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds,
That shake not, though they blow perpetually.

Re-enter Hortensio, with his head broke. Baptista How now, my friend! why dost thou look so pale? Hortensio For fear, I promise you, if I look pale. Baptista What, will my daughter prove a good musician? Hortensio

I think she’ll sooner prove a soldier:
Iron may hold with her, but never lutes.

Baptista Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute? Hortensio

Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me.
I did but tell her she mistook her frets,
And bow’d her hand to teach her fingering;
When, with a most impatient devilish spirit,
“Frets, call you these?” quoth she; “I’ll fume with them:”
And, with that word, she struck me on the head,
And through the instrument my pate made way;
And there I stood amazed for a while,
As on a pillory, looking through the lute:
While she did call me rascal fiddler
And twangling Jack; with twenty such vile terms,
As had she studied to misuse me so.

Petruchio