Complete Plays, The

by William Shakespeare

Bianca

  Construe them.

  Lucentio

  ‘Hic ibat,’ as I told you before, ‘simois,’ I am Lucentio, ‘hic est,’ son unto Vincentio of Pisa, ‘sigeia tellus,’ disguised thus to get your love; ‘Hic steterat,’ and that Lucentio that comes a-wooing, ‘Priami,’ is my man Tranio, ‘regia,’ bearing my port, ‘celsa senis,’ that we might beguile the old pantaloon.

  Hortensio

  Madam, my instrument’s in tune.

  Bianca

  Let’s hear. O fie! the treble jars.

  Lucentio

  Spit in the hole, man, and tune again.

  Bianca

  Now let me see if I can construe it: ‘Hic ibat Simois,’ I know you not, ‘hic est Sigeia tellus,’ I trust you not; ‘Hic steterat Priami,’ take heed he hear us not, ‘regia,’ presume not, ‘celsa senis,’ despair not.

  Hortensio

  Madam, ’tis now in tune.

  Lucentio

  All but the base.

  Hortensio

  The base is right; ’tis the base knave that jars.

  Aside

  How fiery and forward our pedant is!

  Now, for my life, the knave doth court my love:

  Pedascule, I’ll watch you better yet.

  Bianca

  In time I may believe, yet I mistrust.

  Lucentio

  Mistrust it not: for, sure, Aeacides

  Was Ajax, call’d so from his grandfather.

  Bianca

  I must believe my master; else, I promise you,

  I should be arguing still upon that doubt:

  But let it rest. Now, Licio, to you:

  Good masters, take it not unkindly, pray,

  That I have been thus pleasant with you both.

  Hortensio

  You may go walk, and give me leave a while:

  My lessons make no music in three parts.

  Lucentio

  Are you so formal, sir? well, I must wait,

  Aside

  And watch withal; for, but I be deceived,

  Our fine musician groweth amorous.

  Hortensio

  Madam, before you touch the instrument,

  To learn the order of my fingering,

  I must begin with rudiments of art;

  To teach you gamut in a briefer sort,

  More pleasant, pithy and effectual,

  Than hath been taught by any of my trade:

  And there it is in writing, fairly drawn.

  Bianca

  Why, I am past my gamut long ago.

  Hortensio

  Yet read the gamut of Hortensio.

  Bianca

  [Reads] ‘Gamut’ I am, the ground of all accord,

  ‘A re,’ to Plead Hortensio’s passion;

  ‘B mi,’ Bianca, take him for thy lord,

  ‘C fa ut,’ that loves with all affection:

  ‘D sol re,’ one clef, two notes have I:

  ‘E la mi,’ show pity, or I die.’

  Call you this gamut? tut, I like it not:

  Old fashions please me best; I am not so nice,

  To change true rules for old inventions.

  Enter a Servant

  Servant

  Mistress, your father prays you leave your books

  And help to dress your sister’s chamber up:

  You know to-morrow is the wedding-day.

  Bianca

  Farewell, sweet masters both; I must be gone.

  Exeunt Bianca and Servant

  Lucentio

  Faith, mistress, then I have no cause to stay.

  Exit

  Hortensio

  But I have cause to pry into this pedant:

  Methinks he looks as though he were in love:

  Yet if thy thoughts, Bianca, be so humble

  To cast thy wandering eyes on every stale,

  Seize thee that list: if once I find thee ranging,

  Hortensio will be quit with thee by changing.

  Exit

  SCENE II. PADUA. BEFORE BAPTISTA’S HOUSE.

  Enter Baptista, Gremio, Tranio, Katharina, Bianca, Lucentio, and others, attendants

  Baptista

  [To Tranio] Signior Lucentio, this is the

  ’pointed day.

  That Katharina and Petruchio should be married,

  And yet we hear not of our son-in-law.

  What will be said? what mockery will it be,

  To want the bridegroom when the priest attends

  To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage!

  What says Lucentio to this shame of ours?

  Katharina

  No shame but mine: I must, forsooth, be forced

  To give my hand opposed against my heart

  Unto a mad-brain rudesby full of spleen;

  Who woo’d in haste and means to wed at leisure.

  I told you, I, he was a frantic fool,

  Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior:

  And, to be noted for a merry man,

  He’ll woo a thousand, ’point the day of marriage,

  Make feasts, invite friends, and proclaim the banns;

  Yet never means to wed where he hath woo’d.

  Now must the world point at poor Katharina,

  And say, ‘Lo, there is mad Petruchio’s wife,

  If it would please him come and marry her!’

  Tranio

  Patience, good Katharina, and Baptista too.

  Upon my life, Petruchio means but well,

  Whatever fortune stays him from his word:

  Though he be blunt, I know him passing wise;

  Though he be merry, yet withal he’s honest.

  Katharina

  Would Katharina had never seen him though!

  Exit weeping, followed by Bianca and others

  Baptista

  Go, girl; I cannot blame thee now to weep;

  For such an injury would vex a very saint,

  Much more a shrew of thy impatient humour.

  Enter Biondello

  Biondello

  Master, master! news, old news, and such news as you never heard of!

  Baptista

  Is it new and old too? how may that be?

  Biondello

  Why, is it not news, to hear of Petruchio’s coming?

  Baptista

  Is he come?

  Biondello

  Why, no, sir.

  Baptista

  What then?

  Biondello

  He is coming.

  Baptista

  When will he be here?

  Biondello

  When he stands where I am and sees you there.

  Tranio

  But say, what to thine old news?

  Biondello

  Why, Petruchio is coming in a new hat and an old jerkin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned, a pair of boots that have been candle-cases, one buckled, another laced, an old rusty sword ta’en out of the town-armory, with a broken hilt, and chapeless; with two broken points: his horse hipped with an old mothy saddle and stirrups of no kindred; besides, possessed with the glanders and like to mose in the chine; troubled with the lampass, infected with the fashions, full of wingdalls, sped with spavins, rayed with yellows, past cure of the fives, stark spoiled with the staggers, begnawn with the bots, swayed in the back and shoulder-shotten; near-legged before and with, a half-chequed bit and a head-stall of sheeps leather which, being restrained to keep him from stumbling, hath been often burst and now repaired with knots; one girth six time pieced and a woman’s crupper of velure, which hath two letters for her name fairly set down in studs, and here and there pieced with packthread.

  Baptista

  Who comes with him?

  Biondello

  O, sir, his lackey, for all the world caparisoned like the horse; with a linen stock on one leg and a kersey boot-hose on the other, gartered with a red and blue list; an old hat and ‘the humour of forty fancies’ pricked in’t for a feather: a monster, a very monster in apparel, and n
ot like a Christian footboy or a gentleman’s lackey.

  Tranio

  ’Tis some odd humour pricks him to this fashion;

  Yet oftentimes he goes but mean-apparell’d.

  Baptista

  I am glad he’s come, howsoe’er he comes.

  Biondello

  Why, sir, he comes not.

  Baptista

  Didst thou not say he comes?

  Biondello

  Who? that Petruchio came?

  Baptista

  Ay, that Petruchio came.

  Biondello

  No, sir, I say his horse comes, with him on his back.

  Baptista

  Why, that’s all one.

  Biondello

  Nay, by Saint Jamy,

  I hold you a penny,

  A horse and a man

  Is more than one,

  And yet not many.

  Enter Petruchio and Grumio

  Petruchio

  Come, where be these gallants? who’s at home?

  Baptista

  You are welcome, sir.

  Petruchio

  And yet I come not well.

  Baptista

  And yet you halt not.

  Tranio

  Not so well apparell’d

  As I wish you were.

  Petruchio

  Were it better, I should rush in thus.

  But where is Kate? where is my lovely bride?

  How does my father? Gentles, methinks you frown:

  And wherefore gaze this goodly company,

  As if they saw some wondrous monument,

  Some comet or unusual prodigy?

  Baptista

  Why, sir, you know this is your wedding-day:

  First were we sad, fearing you would not come;

  Now sadder, that you come so unprovided.

  Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate,

  An eye-sore to our solemn festival!

  Tranio

  And tells us, what occasion of import

  Hath all so long detain’d you from your wife,

  And sent you hither so unlike yourself?

  Petruchio

  Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear:

  Sufficeth I am come to keep my word,

  Though in some part enforced to digress;

  Which, at more leisure, I will so excuse

  As you shall well be satisfied withal.

  But where is Kate? I stay too long from her:

  The morning wears, ’tis time we were at church.

  Tranio

  See not your bride in these unreverent robes:

  Go to my chamber; Put on clothes of mine.

  Petruchio

  Not I, believe me: thus I’ll visit her.

  Baptista

  But thus, I trust, you will not marry her.

  Petruchio

  Good sooth, even thus; therefore ha’ done with words:

  To me she’s married, not unto my clothes:

  Could I repair what she will wear in me,

  As I can change these poor accoutrements,

  ’Twere well for Kate and better for myself.

  But what a fool am I to chat with you,

  When I should bid good morrow to my bride,

  And seal the title with a lovely kiss!

  Exeunt Petruchio and Grumio

  Tranio

  He hath some meaning in his mad attire:

  We will persuade him, be it possible,

  To put on better ere he go to church.

  Baptista

  I’ll after him, and see the event of this.

  Exeunt Baptista, Gremio, and attendants

  Tranio

  But to her love concerneth us to add

  Her father’s liking: which to bring to pass,

  As I before unparted to your worship,

  I am to get a man,— whate’er he be,

  It skills not much. we’ll fit him to our turn,—

  And he shall be Vincentio of Pisa;

  And make assurance here in Padua

  Of greater sums than I have promised.

  So shall you quietly enjoy your hope,

  And marry sweet Bianca with consent.

  Lucentio

  Were it not that my fellow-school-master

  Doth watch Bianca’s steps so narrowly,

  ’Twere good, methinks, to steal our marriage;

  Which once perform’d, let all the world say no,

  I’ll keep mine own, despite of all the world.

  Tranio

  That by degrees we mean to look into,

  And watch our vantage in this business:

  We’ll over-reach the greybeard, Gremio,

  The narrow-prying father, Minola,

  The quaint musician, amorous Licio;

  All for my master’s sake, Lucentio.

  Re-enter Gremio

  Signior Gremio, came you from the church?

  Gremio

  As willingly as e’er I came from school.

  Tranio

  And is the bride and bridegroom coming home?

  Gremio

  A bridegroom say you? ’tis a groom indeed,

  A grumbling groom, and that the girl shall find.

  Tranio

  Curster than she? why, ’tis impossible.

  Gremio

  Why he’s a devil, a devil, a very fiend.

  Tranio

  Why, she’s a devil, a devil, the devil’s dam.

  Gremio

  Tut, she’s a lamb, a dove, a fool to him!

  I’ll tell you, Sir Lucentio: when the priest

  Should ask, if Katharina should be his wife,

  ‘Ay, by gogs-wouns,’ quoth he; and swore so loud,

  That, all-amazed, the priest let fall the book;

  And, as he stoop’d again to take it up,

  The mad-brain’d bridegroom took him such a cuff

  That down fell priest and book and book and priest:

  ‘Now take them up,’ quoth he, ‘if any list.’

  Tranio

  What said the wench when he rose again?

  Gremio

  Trembled and shook; for why, he stamp’d and swore,

  As if the vicar meant to cozen him.

  But after many ceremonies done,

  He calls for wine: ‘A health!’ quoth he, as if

  He had been aboard, carousing to his mates

  After a storm; quaff’d off the muscadel

  And threw the sops all in the sexton’s face;

  Having no other reason

  But that his beard grew thin and hungerly

  And seem’d to ask him sops as he was drinking.

  This done, he took the bride about the neck

  And kiss’d her lips with such a clamorous smack

  That at the parting all the church did echo:

  And I seeing this came thence for very shame;

  And after me, I know, the rout is coming.

  Such a mad marriage never was before:

  Hark, hark! I hear the minstrels play.

  Music

  Re-enter Petruchio, Katharina, Bianca, Baptista, Hortensio, Grumio, and Train

  Petruchio

  Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains:

  I know you think to dine with me to-day,

  And have prepared great store of wedding cheer;

  But so it is, my haste doth call me hence,

  And therefore here I mean to take my leave.

  Baptista

  Is’t possible you will away to-night?

  Petruchio

  I must away to-day, before night come:

  Make it no wonder; if you knew my business,

  You would entreat me rather go than stay.

  And, honest company, I thank you all,

  That have beheld me give away myself

  To this most patient, sweet and virtuous wife:

  Dine with my father, drink a health to me;

  For I must hence; and farewell to you all. />
  Tranio

  Let us entreat you stay till after dinner.

  Petruchio

  It may not be.

  Gremio

  Let me entreat you.

  Petruchio

  It cannot be.

  Katharina

  Let me entreat you.

  Petruchio

  I am content.

  Katharina

  Are you content to stay?

  Petruchio

  I am content you shall entreat me stay;

  But yet not stay, entreat me how you can.

  Katharina

  Now, if you love me, stay.

  Petruchio

  Grumio, my horse.

  Grumio

  Ay, sir, they be ready: the oats have eaten the horses.

  Katharina

  Nay, then,

  Do what thou canst, I will not go to-day;

  No, nor to-morrow, not till I please myself.

  The door is open, sir; there lies your way;

  You may be jogging whiles your boots are green;

  For me, I’ll not be gone till I please myself:

  ’Tis like you’ll prove a jolly surly groom,

  That take it on you at the first so roundly.

  Petruchio

  O Kate, content thee; prithee, be not angry.

  Katharina

  I will be angry: what hast thou to do?

  Father, be quiet; he shall stay my leisure.

  Gremio

  Ay, marry, sir, now it begins to work.

  Katharina

  Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner:

  I see a woman may be made a fool,

  If she had not a spirit to resist.

  Petruchio

  They shall go forward, Kate, at thy command.

  Obey the bride, you that attend on her;

  Go to the feast, revel and domineer,

  Carouse full measure to her maidenhead,

  Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves:

  But for my bonny Kate, she must with me.

  Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret;

  I will be master of what is mine own:

  She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house,

  My household stuff, my field, my barn,

  My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing;

  And here she stands, touch her whoever dare;

  I’ll bring mine action on the proudest he

  That stops my way in Padua. Grumio,

  Draw forth thy weapon, we are beset with thieves;

  Rescue thy mistress, if thou be a man.

  Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate:

  I’ll buckler thee against a million.

  Exeunt Petruchio, Katharina, and Grumio

  Baptista

  Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones.

  Gremio

  Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing.

  Tranio

  Of all mad matches never was the like.

  Lucentio

  Mistress, what’s your opinion of your sister?

  Bianca

  That, being mad herself, she’s madly mated.