ACT I. SCENE I. Padua. A public place  Enter LUCENTIO and his man TRANIO    LUCENTIO. Tranio, since for the great desire I had     To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,     I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy,     The pleasant garden of great Italy,     And by my father's love and leave am arm'd     With his good will and thy good company,     My trusty servant well approv'd in all,     Here let us breathe, and haply institute     A course of learning and ingenious studies.     Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,     Gave me my being and my father first,     A merchant of great traffic through the world,     Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii;     Vincentio's son, brought up in Florence,     It shall become to serve all hopes conceiv'd,     To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds.     And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study,     Virtue and that part of philosophy     Will I apply that treats of happiness     By virtue specially to be achiev'd.     Tell me thy mind; for I have Pisa left     And am to Padua come as he that leaves     A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep,     And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.   TRANIO. Mi perdonato, gentle master mine;     I am in all affected as yourself;     Glad that you thus continue your resolve     To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy.     Only, good master, while we do admire     This virtue and this moral discipline,     Let's be no Stoics nor no stocks, I pray,     Or so devote to Aristotle's checks     As Ovid be an outcast quite abjur'd.     Balk logic with acquaintance that you have,     And practise rhetoric in your common talk;     Music and poesy use to quicken you;     The mathematics and the metaphysics,     Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you.     No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en;     In brief, sir, study what you most affect.   LUCENTIO. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise.     If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore,     We could at once put us in readiness,     And take a lodging fit to entertain     Such friends as time in Padua shall beget.        Enter BAPTISTA with his two daughters, KATHERINA         and BIANCA; GREMIO, a pantaloon; HORTENSIO,         suitor to BIANCA. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand by      But stay awhile; what company is this?   TRANIO. Master, some show to welcome us to town.   BAPTISTA. Gentlemen, importune me no farther,     For how I firmly am resolv'd you know;     That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter     Before I have a husband for the elder.     If either of you both love Katherina,     Because I know you well and love you well,     Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.   GREMIO. To cart her rather. She's too rough for me.     There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife?   KATHERINA.  [To BAPTISTA]  I pray you, sir, is it your will     To make a stale of me amongst these mates?   HORTENSIO. Mates, maid! How mean you that? No mates for you,     Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.   KATHERINA. I' faith, sir, you shall never need to fear;     Iwis it is not halfway to her heart;     But if it were, doubt not her care should be     To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool,     And paint your face, and use you like a fool.   HORTENSIO. From all such devils, good Lord deliver us!   GREMIO. And me, too, good Lord!   TRANIO. Husht, master! Here's some good pastime toward;     That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward.   LUCENTIO. But in the other's silence do I see     Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety.     Peace, Tranio!   TRANIO. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill.   BAPTISTA. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good     What I have said- Bianca, get you in;     And let it not displease thee, good Bianca,     For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl.   KATHERINA. A pretty peat! it is best     Put finger in the eye, an she knew why.   BIANCA. Sister, content you in my discontent.     Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe;     My books and instruments shall be my company,     On them to look, and practise by myself.   LUCENTIO. Hark, Tranio, thou mayst hear Minerva speak!   HORTENSIO. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange?     Sorry am I that our good will effects     Bianca's grief.   GREMIO. Why will you mew her up,     Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,     And make her bear the penance of her tongue?   BAPTISTA. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd.     Go in, Bianca.                                   Exit BIANCA     And for I know she taketh most delight     In music, instruments, and poetry,     Schoolmasters will I keep within my house     Fit to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio,     Or, Signior Gremio, you, know any such,     Prefer them hither; for to cunning men     I will be very kind, and liberal     To mine own children in good bringing-up;     And so, farewell. Katherina, you may stay;     For I have more to commune with Bianca.                 Exit   KATHERINA. Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not?     What! shall I be appointed hours, as though, belike,     I knew not what to take and what to leave? Ha!          Exit   GREMIO. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts are so good     here's none will hold you. There! Love is not so great,     Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly     out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell; yet, for the love     I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man     to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her     father.   HORTENSIO. SO Will I, Signior Gremio; but a word, I pray. Though     the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon     advice, it toucheth us both- that we may yet again have access to     our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love- to     labour and effect one thing specially.   GREMIO. What's that, I pray?   HORTENSIO. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.   GREMIO. A husband? a devil.   HORTENSIO. I say a husband.   GREMIO. I say a devil. Think'st thou, Hortensio, though her father     be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell?   HORTENSIO. Tush, Gremio! Though it pass your patience and mine to     endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the     world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all     faults, and money enough.   GREMIO. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this     condition: to be whipp'd at the high cross every morning.   HORTENSIO. Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten     apples. But, come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it     shall be so far forth friendly maintain'd till by helping     Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband we set his youngest free     for a husband, and then have to't afresh. Sweet Bianca! Happy man     be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the ring. How say you,     Signior Gremio?   GREMIO. I am agreed; and would I had given him the best horse in     Padua to begin his wooing that would thoroughly woo her, wed her,     and bed her, and rid the house of her! Come on.                                      Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO   TRANIO. I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible     That love should of a sudden take such hold?   LUCENTIO. O Tranio, till I found it to be true,     I never thought it possible or likely.     But see! while idly I stood looking on,     I found the effect of love in idleness;     And now in plainness do confess to thee,     That art to me as secret and as dear     As Anna to the Queen of Carthage was-     Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,     If I achieve not this young modest girl.     Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst;     Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.   TRANIO. Master, it is no time to chide you now;     Affection is not rated from the heart;     If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so:     'Redime te captum quam queas minimo.'   LUCENTIO. Gramercies, lad. Go forward; this contents;     The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.   TRANIO. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid.     Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all.   LUCENTIO. O, yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face,     Such as the daughter of Agenor had,     That made great Jove to humble him to her hand,     When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand.   TRANIO. Saw you no more? Mark'd you not how her sister     Began to scold and raise up such a storm     That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?   LUCENTIO. Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move,     And with her breath she did perfume the air;     Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.   TRANIO. Nay, then 'tis time to stir him from his trance.     I pray, awake, sir. If you love the maid,     Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands:     Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd     That, till the father rid his hands of her,     Master, your love must live a maid at home;     And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,     Because she will not be annoy'd with suitors.   LUCENTIO. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he!     But art thou not advis'd he took some care     To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?   TRANIO. Ay, marry, am I, sir, and now 'tis plotted.   LUCENTIO. I have it, Tranio.   TRANIO. Master, for my hand,     Both our inventions meet and jump in one.   LUCENTIO. Tell me thine first.   TRANIO. You will be schoolmaster,     And undertake the teaching of the maid-     That's your device.   LUCENTIO. It is. May it be done?   TRANIO. Not possible; for who shall bear your part     And be in Padua here Vincentio's son;     Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends,     Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?   LUCENTIO. Basta, content thee, for I have it full.     We have not yet been seen in any house,     Nor can we be distinguish'd by our faces     For man or master. Then it follows thus:     Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead,     Keep house and port and servants, as I should;     I will some other be- some Florentine,     Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa.     'Tis hatch'd, and shall be so. Tranio, at once     Uncase thee; take my colour'd hat and cloak.     When Biondello comes, he waits on thee;     But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.   TRANIO. So had you need.                [They exchange habits]     In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is,     And I am tied to be obedient-     For so your father charg'd me at our parting:     'Be serviceable to my son' quoth he,     Although I think 'twas in another sense-     I am content to be Lucentio,     Because so well I love Lucentio.   LUCENTIO. Tranio, be so because Lucentio loves;     And let me be a slave t' achieve that maid     Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye.                         Enter BIONDELLO.      Here comes the rogue. Sirrah, where have you been?   BIONDELLO. Where have I been! Nay, how now! where are you?     Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes?     Or you stol'n his? or both? Pray, what's the news?   LUCENTIO. Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest,     And therefore frame your manners to the time.     Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life,     Puts my apparel and my count'nance on,     And I for my escape have put on his;     For in a quarrel since I came ashore     I kill'd a man, and fear I was descried.     Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes,     While I make way from hence to save my life.     You understand me?   BIONDELLO. I, sir? Ne'er a whit.   LUCENTIO. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth:     Tranio is chang'd into Lucentio.   BIONDELLO. The better for him; would I were so too!   TRANIO. So could I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after,     That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter.     But, sirrah, not for my sake but your master's, I advise     You use your manners discreetly in all kind of companies.     When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio;     But in all places else your master Lucentio.   LUCENTIO. Tranio, let's go.     One thing more rests, that thyself execute-     To make one among these wooers. If thou ask me why-     Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty.      Exeunt                   The Presenters above speak    FIRST SERVANT. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.   SLY. Yes, by Saint Anne do I. A good matter, surely; comes there     any more of it?   PAGE. My lord, 'tis but begun.   SLY. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady     Would 'twere done!                        [They sit and mark]     SCENE II. Padua. Before HORTENSIO'S house  Enter PETRUCHIO and his man GRUMIO    PETRUCHIO. Verona, for a while I take my leave,     To see my friends in Padua; but of all     My best beloved and approved friend,     Hortensio; and I trow this is his house.     Here, sirrah Grumio, knock, I say.  GRUMIO. Knock, sir! Whom should I knock?     Is there any man has rebus'd your worship?   PETRUCHIO. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.   GRUMIO. Knock you here, sir? Why, sir, what am I, sir, that I     should knock you here, sir?   PETRUCHIO. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate,     And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate.   GRUMIO. My master is grown quarrelsome. I should knock you first,     And then I know after who comes by the worst.   PETRUCHIO. Will it not be?     Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock I'll ring it;     I'll try how you can sol-fa, and sing it.                                      [He wrings him by the ears]   GRUMIO. Help, masters, help! My master is mad.   PETRUCHIO. Now knock when I bid you, sirrah villain!                          Enter HORTENSIO    HORTENSIO. How now! what's the matter? My old friend Grumio and my     good friend Petruchio! How do you all at Verona?   PETRUCHIO. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray?     'Con tutto il cuore ben trovato' may I say.   HORTENSIO. Alla nostra casa ben venuto,     Molto honorato signor mio Petruchio.     Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel.   GRUMIO. Nay, 'tis no matter, sir, 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 knock'd at first,     Then had not Grumio come by the worst.   PETRUCHIO. A senseless villain! Good Hortensio,     I bade the rascal knock upon your gate,     And could not get him for my heart to do it.   GRUMIO. 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'?   PETRUCHIO. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you.   HORTENSIO. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge;     Why, this's 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?   PETRUCHIO. Such wind as scatters young men through the world     To seek their fortunes farther than at home,     Where small experience grows. But in a few,     Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me:     Antonio, my father, is deceas'd,     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.   HORTENSIO. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee     And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd 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 th'art too much my friend,     And I'll not wish thee to her.   PETRUCHIO. 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 Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd     As Socrates' Xanthippe 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.   GRUMIO. 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 has as many diseases as two and fifty horses. Why, nothing     comes amiss, so money comes withal.   HORTENSIO. Petruchio, since we are stepp'd thus far in,     I will continue that I broach'd 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 intolerable 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.   PETRUCHIO. 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.   HORTENSIO. Her father is Baptista Minola,     An affable and courteous gentleman;     Her name is Katherina Minola,     Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue.   PETRUCHIO. 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.   GRUMIO. I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O' my     word, and 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; and 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.   HORTENSIO. 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 rehears'd-     That ever Katherina will be woo'd.     Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en,     That none shall have access unto Bianca     Till Katherine the curst have got a husband.   GRUMIO. Katherine the curst!     A title for a maid of all titles the worst.   HORTENSIO. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace,     And offer me disguis'd 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 LUCENTIO disguised as CAMBIO    GRUMIO. 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?   HORTENSIO. Peace, Grumio! It is the rival of my love. Petruchio,     stand by awhile.   GRUMIO. A proper stripling, and an amorous!                                               [They stand aside]   GREMIO. O, very well; I have perus'd 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 paper too,     And let me have them very well perfum'd;     For she is sweeter than perfume itself     To whom they go to. What will you read to her?   LUCENTIO. Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you     As for my patron, stand you so assur'd,     As firmly as yourself were still in place;     Yea, and perhaps with more successful words     Than you, unless you were a scholar, sir.   GREMIO. O this learning, what a thing it is!   GRUMIO. O this woodcock, what an ass it is!   PETRUCHIO. Peace, sirrah!   HORTENSIO. Grumio, mum!                       [Coming forward]     God save you, Signior Gremio!   GREMIO. And you are well met, Signior Hortensio.     Trow you whither I am going? To Baptista Minola.     I promis'd to enquire carefully     About a schoolmaster for the 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 ye.   HORTENSIO. 'Tis well; and I have met a gentleman     Hath promis'd 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.   GREMIO. Beloved of me- and that my deeds shall prove.   GRUMIO. And that his bags shall prove.   HORTENSIO. Gremio, 'tis 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 curst Katherine;     Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.   GREMIO. So said, so done, is well.     Hortensio, have you told him all her faults?   PETRUCHIO. I know she is an irksome brawling scold;     If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.   GREMIO. No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman?   PETRUCHIO. Born in Verona, old Antonio's son.     My father dead, my fortune lives for me;     And I do hope good days and long to see.   GREMIO. O Sir, such a life with such a wife were strange!     But if you have a stomach, to't a God's name;     You shall have me assisting you in all.     But will you woo this wild-cat?   PETRUCHIO. Will I live?   GRUMIO. Will he woo her? Ay, or I'll hang her.   PETRUCHIO. 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, puff'd up with winds,     Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat?     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 fariner's fire?     Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs.   GRUMIO. For he fears none.   GREMIO. Hortensio, hark:     This gentleman is happily arriv'd,     My mind presumes, for his own good and ours.   HORTENSIO. I promis'd we would be contributors     And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er.   GREMIO. And so we will- provided that he win her.   GRUMIO. I would I were as sure of a good dinner.      Enter TRANIO, bravely apparelled as LUCENTIO, and BIONDELLO    TRANIO. 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?   BIONDELLO. He that has the two fair daughters; is't he you mean?   TRANIO. Even he, Biondello.   GREMIO. Hark you, sir, you mean not her to-   TRANIO. Perhaps him and her, sir; what have you to do?   PETRUCHIO. Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray.   TRANIO. I love no chiders, sir. Biondello, let's away.   LUCENTIO.  [Aside]  Well begun, Tranio.   HORTENSIO. Sir, a word ere you go.     Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no?   TRANIO. And if I be, sir, is it any offence?   GREMIO. No; if without more words you will get you hence.   TRANIO. Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free     For me as for you?   GREMIO. But so is not she.    TRANIO. For what reason, I beseech you?   GREMIO. For this reason, if you'll know,     That she's the choice love of Signior Gremio.   HORTENSIO. That she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio.   TRANIO. 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.   GREMIO. What, this gentleman will out-talk us all!   LUCENTIO. Sir, give him head; I know he'll prove a jade.   PETRUCHIO. Hortensio, to what end are all these words?   HORTENSIO. Sir, let me be so bold as ask you,     Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter?   TRANIO. 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.   PETRUCHIO. Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by.   GREMIO. Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules,     And let it be more than Alcides' twelve.   PETRUCHIO. 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.   TRANIO. If it be so, sir, that you are the man     Must stead us all, and me amongst the rest;     And 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.   HORTENSIO. Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive;     And since you do profess to be a suitor,     You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman,     To whom we all rest generally beholding.   TRANIO. Sir, I shall not be slack; in sign whereof,     Please ye we may contrive this afternoon,     And quaff carouses to our mistress' health;     And do as adversaries do in law-     Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.   GRUMIO, BIONDELLO. O excellent motion! Fellows, let's be gone.   HORTENSIO. The motion's good indeed, and be it so.     Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto.                Exeunt