Persons Hepresented.

*

PETRUCHIO, a Rich Young Gentleman of Verona.

BAPTISTA MINOLA, a Rich Old Gentleman of Padua.

KATHARINE, Daughter to Baptista.

KATHARINE AND PETRUCHIO.

Act First.

Scene.-PADUA. BAPTISTA'S GARDEN.

[Enter Baptista and Petruchio c.

Pet.

Signior Baptista, thus it stands with me:

Antonio, my father, is deceased:

You knew him well, and knowing him know me,—
Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,
Which I have bettered, rather than decreased:
And I have thrust myself into the world,
Haply to wive and thrive, as best I may.
My business asketh haste, good 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 obtained,—
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;
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.

And will you woo her, sir?

Bap.

Pet.

Why came I hither, but to that intent?
Think you a little din can daunt my ears?
Have I not in my time heard lions roar?
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?
Have I not, in a pitched battle, heard

Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang?
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue-
That gives not half so great a blow to hear

As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire ?—

Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.

The man for Katharine, and her father too;
That shall she know, and know my mind at once.
I'll portion her above her gentle sister,

New-married to Hortensio.

Say'st thou me so?

Pet.

Then, as your daughter, signior,

Is rich enough to be Petruchio's wife,
Be she as curst as Socrates's Xantippe,

She moves me not a whit. Were she as rough

As are the swelling Adriatic seas,

I come to wive it wealthily in Padua.
If wealthily, then happily, in Padua.

Bap.

Well may'st 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.

Help! help!

Music-Master.

Kath.

Out of the house, you scraping fool.

Pet.

What noise is that?

Вар.

[Noise outside R.

Spoken within.

O, nothing; this is nothing

My daughter Katharine and her music-master;
This is the third I 've had within this month:
She is an enemy to harmony.

[Enter Music-Master, from house R.;- his forehead
bloody, and a broken lute in his hand.

crosses to L.

How now, my friend, why dost thou look so pale ?

Music-Master.

For fear, I promise you, if I look pale.

Вар.

What, will my daughter prove a good musician?

Music-Master.

I think she 'll sooner prove a soldier;

Iron may hold with her, but never lutes.

Вар.

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

He