Gru. Knock, sir! Whom should I knock? Is there any man has rebused your worship?

Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly. Gru. Knock you here, sir? Why, sir, what am I, sir, that I should knock you here, sir?

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 :- I 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. Pet. Now, knock when I bid you: sirrah! villain!

Enter HORTENSIO.

Hor. How now! what's the matter?-My old friend Grumio! and my good friend Petruchio! -How do you all at Verona?

Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray?
Con tutto il core bene trovato, may I say..
Hor. Alla nostra casa bene venuto,

Molto honorato, signor mio Petruchio.
Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel.

Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter what he 'leges in Latin. -If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service!-Look you, sir, he bid me knock him and rap him soundly, sir: well, was it fit for a servant to use his master so; being perhaps (for aught I see), two and thirty-a pip out? Whom 'would to God I had well knocked at first, Then had not Grumio come by the worst.

Pet. A senseless villain!-Good Hortensio, I bade the rascal knock upon your gate, And could not get him for my heart to do it. Gru. Knock at the gate? O heavens! Spake you not these words plain, "Sirrah, knock

me here,

Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me soundly?"

And come you now with-knocking at the gate? Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you. Hor. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge: Why, this is a heavy chance 'twixt him and you; Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio. And tell me now, sweet friend, what happy gale Blows you to Padua here, from old Verona?

Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the world,

To seek their fortunes further than at home,
Where small experience grows. But, in a few,
Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me:
Antonio, my father, is deceased;

And I have thrust myself into this maze,
Haply to wive and thrive as best I may :

Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home, And so am come abroad to see the world.

Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee, And wish thee to a shrewd, ill-favoured wife? Thou'dst thank me but a little for my counsel: And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich, And very rich:-but thou 'rt too much my friend, And I'll not wish thee to her.

Pet. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we Few words suffice: and therefore, if thou know One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife (As wealth is burden of my wooing dance), Be she as foul as was Florentius' love, As old as Sybil, and as curst and shrewd As Socrates' Xantippe, or a worse, She moves me not, or not removes, at least, Affection's edge in me; were she as rough As are the swelling Adriatic seas.

I come to wive it wealthily in Padua ; If wealthily, then happily in Padua. Gru. Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is. Why, give him gold enough, and marry him to a puppet, or an aglet-baby; or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, though she have as many diseases as two and fifty horses: why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal.

Hor. Petruchio, since we have stepped thus far in,
I will continue that I broached in jest.
I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife
With wealth enough, and young, and beauteous;
Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman:
Her only fault (and that is faults enough)
Is, that she is intolerably curst,

And shrewd, and froward; so beyond all measure,
That, were my state far worser than it is,
I would not wed her for a mine of gold.

Pet. Hortensio, peace; thou know'st not gold's

effect.

Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough;
For I will board her, though she chide as loud
As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.
Hor. Her father is Baptista Minola,
An affable and courteous gentleman:
Her name is Katharina Minola,
Renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue.
Pet. I know her father, though I know not her;
And he knew my deceased father well.
I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her;
And therefore let me be thus bold with you,
To give you over at this first encounter,
Unless you will accompany me thither.

Gru. I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O'my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding would do little good upon him. She may, perhaps, call him half a score knaves or so: why, that's nothing; an he

begin once, he'll rail in his rope tricks. I'll tell you what, sir; an she stand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and so disfigure her with it, that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat. You know him not, sir. Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee; For in Baptista's keep my treasure is: He hath the jewel of my life in hold, His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca; And her withholds from me, and other more Suitors to her, and rivals in my love. Supposing it a thing impossible (For those defects I have before rehearsed) That ever Katharina will be wooed, Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en;That none shall have access unto Bianca, Till Katharine the curst have got a husband. Gru. Katharine the curst!

A title for a maid of all titles the worst.

Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace, And offer me, disguised in sober robes,

To old Baptista, as a schoolmaster
Well seen in music, to instruct Bianca:
That so I may by this device, at least,
Have leave and leisure to make love to her,
And, unsuspected, court her by herself.

Enter GREMIO; with him LUCENTIO disguised,

with books under his arm.

Gru. Here's no knavery! See, to beguile the

old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about you. Who goes there? ha!

Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my love. -Petruchio, stand by awhile..

Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous!
[They retire.

Gre. O, very well; I have perused the note.
Hark you, sir; I'll have them very fairly bound:
All books of love, see that at any hand;
And see you read no other lectures to her:
You understand me. Over and beside
Signior Baptista's liberality,

I'll mend it with a largess. Take your papers too,
And let me have them very well perfumed;
For she is sweeter than perfume itself,

To whom they go. What will you read to her?
Luc. Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you,
As for my patron (stand you so assured),
As firmly as yourself were still in place:
Yea, and perhaps with more successful words
Than you, unless you were a scholar, sir.

Gre. O this learning, what a thing it is!
Gru. O this woodcock, what an ass it is!
Pet. Peace, sirrah.

Hor. Grumio, mum!-God save you, Signior
Gremio!

Gre. And you're well met, Signior Hortensio.
Trow you

Whither I am going?-to Baptista Minola.

I promised to inquire carefully

About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca:
And, by good fortune, I have lighted well
On this young man; for learning and behaviour
Fit for her turn; well read in poetry,

And other books; good ones, I warrant you.

Hor. "Tis well: and I have met a gentleman Hath promised me to help me to another, A fine musician to instruct our mistress; So shall I no whit be behind in duty To fair Bianca, so beloved of me.

Gre. Beloved of me; and that my deeds shall

prove.

Gru. And that his bags shall prove. [Aside. Hor. Gremio, 't is now no time to vent our love: Listen to me, and if you speak me fair, I'll tell you news indifferent good for either. Here is a gentleman, whom by chance I met, Upon agreement from us to his liking, Will undertake to woo cursed Katharine; Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please. Gre. So said, so done, is well. Hortensio, have you told him all her faults?

Pet. I know she is an irksome brawling scold; If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.

Gre. No! say'st me so, friend? What coun

Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her. [Aside.

Pet. Why came I hither but to that intent?
Think you a little din can daunt mine ears?
Have I not in my time heard lions roar?
Have I not heard the sea, puffed up with winds,
Rage like an angry boar chaféd with sweat?
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?
Have I not in the pitchéd 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 the ear
As will a chesnut in a farmer's fire?
Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.
Gru. For he fears none.

Gre. Hortensio, hark!
This gentleman is happily arrived,

[Aside.

My mind presumes, for his own good and ours. Hor. I promised we would be contributors, And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er.

Gre. And so we will, provided that he win her, Gru. I would I were as sure of a good dinner.

[Aside.

Enter TRANIO, bravely apparelled; and BIONDELLO. Tra. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be

bold,

Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way To the house of Signior Baptista Minola.

Bion. He that has the two fair daughters:is 't he you mean?

Tra. Even he, Biondello.

Gre. Hark you, sir; you mean not her toTra. Perhaps him and her, sir? What have you to do?

Pet. Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray.

Tra. I love no chiders, sir.-Biondello, let's

away. Luc. Well begun, Tranio.

Hor. Sir, a word ere you go:

[Aside.

Tra. For what reason, I beseech you?

Gre. For this reason, if you'll know,—

That she's the choice love of Signior Gremio.

Hor.That she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio. Tra. Softly, my masters! If you be gentlemen, Do me this right-hear me with patience. Baptista is a noble gentleman,

To whom my father is not all unknown;
And, were his daughter fairer than she is,
She may more suitors have, and me for one.
Fair Leda's daughter had a thousand wooers;
Then well one more may fair Bianca have:
And so she shall; Lucentio shall make one,
Though Paris came, in hope to speed alone.

Gre. What! this gentleman will out-talk us all.
Luc. Sir, give him head; I know he'll prove

a jade.

Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these words? Hor. Sir, let me be so bold as to ask you, Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter?

Tra. No, sir; but hear I do that he hath two; The one as famous for a scolding tongue, As is the other for beauteous modesty.

Pet. Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by. Gre. Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules; And let it be more than Alcides' twelve.

Pet. Sir, understand you this of me in sooth: The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for, Her father keeps from all access of suitors,

And will not promise her to any man
Until the elder sister first be wed:
The younger then is free, and not before.

Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man
Must stead us all, and me among the rest.
An if you break the ice, and do this feat-
Achieve the elder, set the younger free
For our access-whose hap shall be to have her
Will not so graceless be to be ingrate.

Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive; And since you do profess to be a suitor,

SCENE I.-Padua. A Room in BAPTISTA's House.

Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA.

Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself,

To make a bondmaid and a slave of me;
That I disdain: but for these other gawds,
Unbind my hands, I'll pull them off myself,
Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat;
Or what you will command me will I do,
So well I know my duty to my elders.

Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell
Whom thou lov'st best: see thou dissemble not.
Bian. Believe me, sister, of all the men alive,
I never yet beheld that special face
Which I could fancy more than any other.
Kath. Minion, thou liest. Is 't not Hortensio?
Bian. If you affect him, sister, here I swear,
I'll plead for you myself but you shall have him.
Kath. O then, belike you fancy riches more;
You will have Gremio to keep you fair.
Bian. Is it for him you do envy me so?

Nay, then, you jest; and now I well perceive
You have but jested with me all this while :
I pr'y thee, sister Kate, untie my hands.
Kath. If that be jest, then all the rest was so.
[Strikes her.

Enter BAPTISTA. Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows this insolence?

Bianca, stand aside: poor girl! she weeps:
Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her.-
For shame, thou hilding of a devilish spirit,
Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong
thee?

When did she cross thee with a bitter word?
Kath. Her silence flouts me, and I'll be re-
venged.
[Flies after BIANCA.
Bap. What, in my sight?-Bianca, get thee in.
[Exit BIANCA.
Kath. Will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see
She is your treasure; she must have a husband;
I must dance barefoot on her wedding day,
And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell.

Talk not to me; I will go sit and weep, Till I can find occasion of revenge.

[Exit KATHARINA.

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

Enter GREMIO, with LUCENTIO in the habit of a mean man; PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as a musician; and TRANIO, with BIONDELLO bearing a lute and books.

Gre. Good-morrow, neighbour Baptista. Bap. Good-morrow, neighbour Gremio. God save you, gentlemen!

Pet. And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter

Called Katharina, fair and virtuous?

Bap. I have a daughter, sir, called Katharina.
Gre. You are too blunt; go to it orderly.
Pet. 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 shew 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.

Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake:

But for my daughter Katharina, this I know, She is not for your turn; the more my grief. Pet. I see you do not mean to part with her; Or else you like not of my company.

Bap. Mistake me not; I speak but as I find. Whence are you, sir? what may I call your name? Pet. Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son, A man well known throughout all Italy. Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for

his sake.

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

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

Gre. 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 beholden to you than any,

I 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.

Bap. A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio.-But, gentle sir [to TRANIO], methinks you walk like a stranger: may I be so bold to know the cause of your coming?

Tra. 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 elder 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.
Bap. Lucentio is your name? of whence, I pray?
Tra. Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio.
Bap. A mighty man of Pisa; by report

I know him well: you are very welcome, sir.
Take you [to HORTENSIO] the lute, and you [to
LUCENTIO] the set of books;

You shall go see your pupils presently.
Hollo, within!

Sirrah, lead

Enter a Servant.

These gentlemen to my daughters; and tell them

both,

These are their tutors: bid them use them well. [Exit Servant, with HORTENSIO, LUCENTIO, and BIONDELLO.

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.

Pet. 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 bettered rather than decreased;
Then tell me if I get your daughter's love,
What dowry shall I have with her to wife?

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

Pet. 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.