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 belovèd and approvèd friend, Hortensio. And I trow this is his house.5 Here, sirrah Grumio, knock, I say.GRUMIO Knock, sir? Whom should I knock? Is there any man has rebused your Worship?PETRUCHIO Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.GRUMIO Knock you here, sir? Why, sir, what am I, sir,10 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,15 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 falls.⌝GRUMIO Help, mistress, help! My master is mad.PETRUCHIO 20Now knock when I bid you, sirrah villain.
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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 25 Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? ⌜Con tutto il cuore ben trovato,⌝ may I say.HORTENSIO Alia nostra casa ⌜ben⌝ venuto, ⌜molto
honorato⌝ signor mio Petruchio.—Rise, Grumio, rise. We will compound this quarrel.⌜Grumio rises.⌝GRUMIO 30Nay, ’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, for35 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.PETRUCHIO A senseless villain, good Hortensio. I bade the rascal knock upon your gate40 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 45 Sirrah, begone, or talk not, I advise you.HORTENSIO Petruchio, patience. I am Grumio’s pledge. Why, this’ a heavy chance ’twixt him and you, Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio. And tell me now, sweet friend, what happy gale50 Blows you to Padua here from old Verona?PETRUCHIO Such wind as scatters young men through the world
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To seek their fortunes farther than at home, Where small experience grows. But in a few, Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me:55 Antonio, my father, is deceased, And I have thrust myself into this maze, Happily 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 60 Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favored 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,65 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),70 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 rough75 As are the swelling Adriatic seas. I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; If wealthily, then happily in Padua.GRUMIO, ⌜to Hortensio⌝ Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is. Why, give him gold enough80 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.HORTENSIO Petruchio, since we are stepped thus far in,
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85 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,90 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.95 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.100 Her name is Katherina Minola, Renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue.PETRUCHIO I know her father, though I know not her, And he knew my deceasèd father well. I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her,105 And therefore let me be thus bold with you To give you over at this first encounter— Unless you will accompany me thither.GRUMIO, ⌜to Hortensio⌝ I pray you, sir, let him go while the humor lasts. O’ my word, an she knew him as110 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 a115 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.
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HORTENSIO Tarry, Petruchio. I must go with thee, For in Baptista’s keep my treasure is.120 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,125 For those defects I have before rehearsed, That ever Katherina will be wooed. Therefore this order hath Baptista ta’en, That none shall have access unto Bianca Till Katherine the curst have got a husband.GRUMIO 130“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 disguised in sober robes To old Baptista as a schoolmaster135 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.GRUMIO Here’s no knavery! See, to beguile the old140 folks, how the young folks lay their heads together!Enter Gremio and Lucentio, disguised ⌜as Cambio, a
schoolmaster.⌝ Master, master, look about you. Who goes there, ha?HORTENSIO Peace, Grumio, it is the rival of my love. Petruchio, stand by awhile.⌜Petruchio, Hortensio, and Grumio stand aside.⌝GRUMIO, ⌜aside⌝ A proper stripling, and an amorous.
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GREMIO, ⌜to Lucentio⌝ 145 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 beside150 Signior Baptista’s liberality, I’ll mend it with a largess. Take your paper too. And let me have them very well perfumed, For she is sweeter than perfume itself To whom they go to. What will you read to her?LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝ 155 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.GREMIO 160 O this learning, what a thing it is!GRUMIO, ⌜aside⌝ O this woodcock, what an ass it is!PETRUCHIO, ⌜aside⌝ Peace, sirrah.HORTENSIO, ⌜aside⌝ Grumio, mum.⌜Coming forward.⌝ God save you, Signior Gremio.GREMIO 165 And you are well met, Signior Hortensio. Trow you whither I am going? To Baptista Minola. I promised to enquire carefully About a schoolmaster for the fair Bianca, And by good fortune I have lighted well170 On this young man, for learning and behavior Fit for her turn, well read in poetry And other books—good ones, I warrant you.HORTENSIO ’Tis well. And I have met a gentleman
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Hath promised me to help ⌜me⌝ to another,175 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, ⌜aside⌝ And that his bags shall prove.HORTENSIO 180 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.⌜Presenting Petruchio.⌝ Here is a gentleman whom by chance I met, Upon agreement from us to his liking,185 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.190 If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.GREMIO No? Sayst 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 195 Oh, sir, such a life with such a wife were strange. But if you have a stomach, to ’t, i’ God’s name! You shall have me assisting you in all. But will you woo this wildcat?PETRUCHIO Will I live?GRUMIO 200 Will he woo her? Ay, or I’ll hang her.
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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, puffed up with winds,205 Rage like an angry boar chafèd with sweat? Have I not heard great ordnance in the field And heaven’s artillery thunder in the skies? Have I not in a pitchèd battle heard Loud ’larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets clang?210 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!GRUMIO For he fears none.GREMIO 215Hortensio, hark. This gentleman is happily arrived, My mind presumes, for his own good and yours.HORTENSIO I promised we would be contributors And bear his charge of wooing whatsoe’er.GREMIO 220 And so we will, provided that he win her.GRUMIO I would I were as sure of a good dinner.Enter Tranio, ⌜disguised as Lucentio,⌝ and Biondello.TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 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 225He that has the two fair daughters—is ’t he you mean?TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ Even he, Biondello.GREMIO Hark you, sir, you mean not her to—
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TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ Perhaps him and her, sir. What have you to do?PETRUCHIO 230 Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray.TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 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, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 235 An if I be, sir, is it any offense?GREMIO No, if without more words you will get you hence.TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ Why sir, I pray, are not the streets as free For me, as for you?GREMIO But so is not she.TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 240 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, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ Softly, my masters. If you be gentlemen,245 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.250 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.
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GREMIO What, this gentleman will out-talk us all!LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝ 255 Sir, give him head; I know he’ll prove a jade.PETRUCHIO Hortensio, to what end are all these words?HORTENSIO, ⌜to Tranio⌝ Sir, let me be so bold as ask you, Did you yet ever see Baptista’s daughter?TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ No, sir, but hear I do that he hath two,260 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 labor to great Hercules, And let it be more than Alcides’ twelve.PETRUCHIO, ⌜to Tranio⌝ 265 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.270 The younger then is free, and not before.TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 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 free275 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,280 To whom we all rest generally beholding.
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TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ Sir, I shall not be slack; in sign whereof, Please you we may contrive this afternoon And quaff carouses to our mistress’ health, And do as adversaries do in law,285 Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.GRUMIO ⌜and⌝ 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.They exit.
