The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]

Bap. Signior Lucentio [to Tranio], this is the 'pointed day.

That Katharine 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?

Kath. 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 behaviour:

And, to be noted for a merry man.

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

Make friends, invite, and proclaim the banns;

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

Now must the world point at poor Katharine,

And say, 'Lo, there is mad Petruchio's wife,

If it would please him come and marry her!'

Tra. Patience, good Katharine, 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.

Kath. Would Katharine had never seen him though!

[Exit weeping, followed by Bianca and others.

Bap. 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.

Bion. Master, master! news, old news, and such news

as you never heard of!

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

Bion. Why, is it not news, to hear of Petruchio's coming?

Bap. Is he come?

Bion. Why, no, sir.

Bap. What then?

Bion. He is coming.

Bap. When will he be here?

Bion. When he stands where I am and sees you there.

Tra. But say, what to thine old news?

Bion. 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-armoury, 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 windgalls, sped with spavins, rayed with

the 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-checked

bit and a head-stall of sheep's leather which, being

restrained to keep him from stumbling, hath been often

burst and now repaired with knots; one girth six times

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.

Bap. Who comes with him?

Bion. 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

not like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey.

Tra. 'Tis some odd humour pricks him to this fashion;

Yet oftentimes he goes but mean-apparell'd.

Bap. I am glad he's come, howsoe'er he comes.

Bion. Why, sir, he comes not.

Bap. Didst thou not say he comes?

Bion. Who? that Petruchio came?

Bap. Ay, that Petruchio came.

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

back.

Bap. Why, that's all one.

Bion. 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.

Pet. Come, where be these gallants? who's at home?

Bap. You are welcome, sir.

Pet. And yet I come not well.

Bap. And yet you halt not.

Tra. Not so well apparell'd

As I wish you were.

Pet. 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?

Bap. 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!

Tra. And tell us, what occasion of import

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

And sent you hither so unlike yourself?

Pet. Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear:

100

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:

105

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

Tra. See not your bride in these unreverent robes:

Go to my chamber; put on clothes of mine.

Pet. Not I, believe me: thus I'll visit her.

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

110

Pet. 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.

115

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 Gremio.

Tra. He hath some meaning in his mad attire:

We will persuade him, be it possible,

120

To put on better ere he go to church.

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

[Exeunt Baptista, Gremio, and attendants.

Tra. But to her love concerneth us to add

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

As I before imparted to your worship,

125

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.

130

So shall you quietly enjoy your hope,

And marry sweet Bianca with consent.

Luc. Were it not that my fellow-schoolmaster

Doth watch Bianca's steps so narrowly,

'Twere good, methinks, to steal our marriage;

135

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

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

Tra. That by degrees we mean to look into,

And watch our vantage in this business:

We'll over-reach the greybeard, Gremio,

140

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?

Gre. As willingly as e'er I came from school.

145

Tra. And is the bride and bridegroom coming home?

Gre. A bridegroom say you? 'tis a groom indeed,

A grumbling groom, and that the girl shall find.

Tra. Curster than she? why, 'tis impossible.

Gre. Why, he's a devil, a devil, a very fiend.

150

Tra. Why, she's a devil, a devil, the devil's dam.

Gre. Tut, she's a lamb, a dove, a fool to him!

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

Should ask, if Katharine should be his wife,

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

155

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.'

160

Tra. What said the wench when he rose again?

Gre. 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

165

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

170

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;

175

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.

Pet. Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains:

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

180

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.

Bap. Is't possible you will away to-night?

Pet. I must away to-day, before night come:

185

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:

190

Dine with my father, drink a health to me;

For I must hence; and farewell to you all.

Tra. Let us entreat you stay till after dinner.

Pet. It may not be.

Gru. Let me entreat you.

Pet. It cannot be.

Kath. Let me entreat you.

Pet. I am content.

195

Kath. Are you content to stay?

Pet. I am content you shall entreat me stay;

But yet not stay, entreat me how you can.

Kath. Now, if you love me, stay.

Pet. Grumio, my horse.

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

200

horses.

Kath. 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;

205

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.

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

210

Kath. I will be angry: what hast thou to do?

Father, be quiet: he shall stay my leisure.

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

Kath. Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner:

I see a woman may be made a fool,

215

If she had not a spirit to resist.

Pet. 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,

220

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,

225

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,

230

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.

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

235

Gre. Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing.

Tra. Of all mad matches never was the like.

Luc. Mistress, what's your opinion of your sister?

Bian. That, being mad herself, she's madly mated.

Gre. I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated.

240

Bap. Neighbours and friends, though bride and bridegroom wants

For to supply the places at the table,

You know there wants no junkets at the feast.

Lucentio, you shall supply the bridegroom's place;

And let Bianca take her sister's room.

245

Tra. Shall sweet Bianca practise how to bride it?

Bap. She shall, Lucentio. Come, gentlemen, let's go. [Exeunt.

LINENOTES:

[Scene ii.] Pope. Act iii. Scene i. Capell.

Before B.'s house.] Malone. Court before the house. Capell.

Lucentio] Rowe. om. Ff Q.

attendants.] attendants; Lucentio, and Hortensio among them. Capell.

[1] Bap.] Bap. [to Tra.] Capell.

['pointed] Pope. pointed Ff Q.

[14] man.] Rowe. man; F1 Q F2 F3. man: F4.

[15] 'point] Pope. point Ff Q.

[16] Make friends, invite,] F1 Q. Make friends, invite, yes F2 F3 F4. Make friends, invite them Malone. Make friends invite, yes Singer. Make friends invited Grant White. Make friends invite guests Dyce conj. Make feasts, invite friends Anon. conj.

banns] Johnson. banes Ff Q.

[18] Katharine] Katharina Rowe.

[24] know] Ff. knew Q.

[26] him] om. Q.

[Exit ... others.] Exit weeping. Ff Q. Exit weeping: is follow'd by Bianca, Gremio, Hortensio, and Others. Capell.

[28] a very saint] F1 Q. a saint F2 F3 F4.

[29] thy] F2 F3 F4. om. F1 Q.

Enter B.] Enter B., hastily. Capell.

[30.] Scene iii. Pope.

news, old news, and such news] Capell. news, and such news Ff Q. old news, and such news Rowe. news, and such old news Collier (Collier MS.).

[33] hear] heard F1. heare Q.

[40] what to] what be Capell. what:—to Malone. what is Collier MS.

thine] F1 Q F2. thy F3 F4.

[41] a new] an old Anon. conj.

[43, 45] laced; an ... points] laced with two broken points; an ... chapeless Rann (Johnson conj.).

[45-47] his horse ... kindred;] with an old mothy saddle, the stirrups of no kindred: his horse hip'd, Rann.

[46] hipped] hip'd Ff Q. heaped Collier MS.

and] F1 Q. the F2 F3 F4. with the Hanmer (ed. 2).

[48] mose] mourn Hanmer.

[49] fashions] farcin Hanmer. farcy Long conj. MS.

[50] fives] vives Hanmer.

[51] swayed] Hanmer. waid Ff Q.

[52] near-legged] neere leg'd F1 Q F2. neer leg'd F3 F4. ne'er legg'd Malone.

[55] now repaired] new-repaired S. Walker conj.

girth] girt Rowe (ed. 2).

[57] down] dower F2.

[63] the humour of] the amours or Collier MS. See note (xiv).

pricked] prickt up F3 F4.

[65] or a] F1 Q. or F3 F4.

[66] odd] old Q.

[66, 67] 'Tis ... apparell'd Printed as prose in Q.

[68] he's come] he is come Johnson. he's come though Capell.

howsoe'er] howsoere F1 Q. howsoever F2 F3 F4.

[71] that Petruchio] that that Petruchio F3 F4.

came] came not Warburton.

[73] say] say, that Capell.

[76-80] Nay ... many.] Printed as prose in Ff Q; as five lines of verse by Collier; as two lines by Rowe (ed. 2).

[81] Scene iv. Pope.

Enter P. and G.] Enter P. and G. fantastically habited. Rowe.

Come] Come, come S. Walker conj.

gallants?] gallants here? Capell.

who's] who is Pope.

[81-84] Come ... were] Verse as in Capell. Printed as prose in Ff Q. See note (xv).

[81, 83, 85] Come ... Not so well ... Were it ... thus.] Come, come ... Nor so ... Were it not ... thus? Lettsom conj., ending lines 83, 84 at halt not ... were.

[82] you are] you're Pope.

[82, 83] sir. Pet. And yet I come not well. Bap. And yet you halt not] sir: and yet you come not well. Pet. And yet I halt not Capell conj.

[83] apparell'd] 'parell'd Pope, reading as one verse Not ... were.

[84] wish] could wish Capell.

[85] Were] Why, were Hanmer. Tut! were Capell. Wer't S. Walker conj.

better] much better Collier MS.

thus.] thus? Rann.

[86] is my] is is my Q.

[95] An] And Anon. conj.

[103] withal] with all F1 F2.

[110] ha'] F4. ha F1 Q F2 F3. have Capell.

[113] can] F1 Q F2. could F3 F4.

[117] lovely] loving Collier (Collier MS.).

[Exeunt P. and G.] Dyce. [Exit. Ff Q. [Exeunt Pet. Gru. and Bio. Capell.

[121] [Exeunt B., G., and attendants.] Exit. Ff Q. [Exeunt Bap. and Attendants. Tranio follows; but is beckon'd back by Lucentio, who converses a while apart. Capell.

[122] Scene v. Pope.

But to her love] Grant White. But sir, Love Ff Q. But, sir, our love Pope. But to her love, sir Capell. But, sir, her love Rann (Ritson conj.). But, sir, to her love Malone (Tyrwhitt conj.). But to our love Collier MS. But, sir, to love Knight.

[124] I before] Pope. before F1 Q. before I F2 F3 F4.

[126] our turn] turn Capell (corrected in MS).

[140] narrow-prying] Pope. narrow prying Ff Q.

[143] Scene vi. Pope.

Re-enter Gremio] Re-enter G. laughing. Capell.

Signior] Now, signior Pope.

[145] is] are Hanmer.

[147] grumbling] grumlling F1. grumling Q.

[148] she?] F4. she F1 Q F2 F3.

[153] Should ask] Did ask Hanmer.

[160] wench] wretch Capell conj.

rose] F1 Q. rose up F2 F3 F4. arose Reed (1803).

[161-177] Trembled ... play] Arranged as in Reed (1803). Printed as prose in F1 Q; as verse first in F2, making 16 lines, ending swore ... him ... done ... if ... mates ... muscadell ... face ... beard ... aske ... tooke ... lips ... parting ... this ... me ... marryage ... play.