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The Taming of the Shrew (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Erin Kelly
Not Peer Reviewed
The Taming of the Shrew.
211
355Because I know you well, and loue you well,
Leaue shall you haue to court her at your pleasure.
Gre. To cart her rather. She's to rough for mee,
There, there Hortensio, will you any Wife?
Kate. I pray you sir, is it your will
360To make a stale of me amongst these mates?
Hor. Mates maid, how meane you that?
No mates for you,
Vnlesse you were of gentler milder mould.
Kate. I'faith sir, you shall neuer neede to feare,
365I-wis it is not halfe way to her heart:
But if it were, doubt not, her care should be,
To combe your noddle with a three-legg'd stoole,
And paint your face, and vse you like a foole.
Hor. From all such diuels, good Lord deliuer vs.
370Gre. And me too, good Lord.
Tra.Husht master, heres some good pastime toward;
That wench is starke mad, or wonderfull froward.
Lucen. But in the others silence do I see,
Maids milde behauiour and sobrietie.
375Peace Tranio.
Tra. Well said M, mum, and gaze your fill.
Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soone make good
What I haue said, Bianca get you in,
And let it not displease thee good Bianca,
380For I will loue thee nere the lesse my girle.
Kate. A pretty peate, it is best put finger in the eye,
and she knew why.
Bian. Sister content you, in my discontent.
Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe:
385My bookes and instruments shall be my companie,
On them to looke, and practise by my selfe.
Luc. Harke Tranio, thou maist heare Minerua speak.
Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange,
Sorrie am I that our good will effects
390Bianca's greefe.
Gre. Why will you mew her vp
(Signior Baptista) for this fiend of hell,
And make her beare the pennance of her tongue.
Bap. Gentlemen content ye: I am resolud:
395Go in Bianca.
And for I know she taketh most delight
In Musicke, Instruments, and Poetry,
Schoolemasters will I keepe within my house,
Fit to instruct her youth. If you Hortensio,
400Or signior Gremio you know any such,
Preferre them hither: for to cunning men,
I will be very kinde and liberall,
To mine owne children, in good bringing vp,
And so farewell: Katherina you may stay,
405For I haue more to commune with Bianca.
Exit.
Kate. Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not?
What shall I be appointed houres, as though
(Belike) I knew not what to take,
And what to leaue? Ha.
Exit
410Gre. You may go to the diuels dam: your guifts are
so good heere's none will holde you: Their loue is not
so great Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together,
and fast it fairely out. Our cakes dough on both sides.
Farewell: yet for the loue I beare my sweet Bianca, if
415I can by any meanes light on a fit man to teach her that
wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father.
Hor. So will I signiour Gremio: but a word I pray:
Though the nature of our quarrell yet neuer brook'd
parle, know now vpon aduice, it toucheth vs both: that
420we may yet againe haue accesse to our faire Mistris, and
be happie riuals in Bianca's loue, to labour and effect
one thing specially.
Gre. What's that I pray?
Hor. Marrie sir to get a husband for her Sister.
425Gre. A husband: a diuell.
Hor. I say a husband.
Gre. I say, a diuell: Think'st thou Hortensio, though
her father be verie rich, any man is so verie a foole to be
married to hell ?
430Hor. Tush Gremio: though it passe your patience &
mine to endure her lowd alarums, why man there bee
good fellowes in the world, and a man could light on
them, would take her with all faults, and mony enough.
Gre. I cannot tell: but I had as lief take her dowrie
435with this condition; To be whipt at the hie crosse euerie
morning.
Hor. Faith (as you say) there's small choise in rotten
apples: but come, since this bar in law makes vs friends,
it shall be so farre forth friendly maintain'd, till by hel-
440ping Baptistas eldest daughter to a husband, wee set his
yongest free for a husband, and then haue too t afresh:
Sweet Bianca, happy man be his dole: hee that runnes
fastest, gets the Ring: How say you signior Gremio?
Grem I am agreed, and would I had giuen him the
445best horse in Padua to begin his woing that would tho-
roughly woe her, wed her, and bed her, and ridde the
house of her. Come on.
Exeunt ambo. Manet Tranio and Lucentio
Tra. I pray sir tel me, is it possible
450That loue should of a sodaine take such hold.
Luc. Oh Tranio, till I found it to be true,
I neuer thought it possible or likely.
But see, while idely I stood looking on,
I found the effect of Loue in idlenesse,
455And now in plainnesse do confesse to thee
That art to me as secret and as deere
As Anna to the Queene of Carthage was:
Tranio I burne, I pine, I perish Tranio,
If I atchieue not this yong modest gyrle:
460Counsaile me Tranio, for I know thou canst:
Assist me Tranio, for I know thou wilt.
Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now,
Affection is not rated from the heart:
If loue haue touch'd you, naught remaines but so,
465Redime te captam quam queas minimo.
Luc Gramercies Lad: Go forward, this contents,
The rest wil comfort, for thy counsels sound.
Tra. Master, you look'd so longly on the maide,
Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all.
470Luc. Oh yes, I saw sweet beautie in her face,
Such as the daughter of Agenor had,
That made great Ioue to humble him to her hand,
When with his knees he kist the Cretan strond.
Tra.Saw you no more? Mark'd you not how hir sister
475Began to scold, and raise vp such a storme,
That mortal eares might hardly indure the din.
Luc. Tranio, I saw her corrall lips to moue,
And with her breath she did perfume the ayre,
Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.
480Tra. Nay, then 'tis time to stirre him frō his trance:
I pray awake sir: if you loue the Maide,
Bend thoughts and wits to atcheeue her. Thus it stands:
Her elder sister is so curst and shrew'd,
That til the Father rid his hands of her,
485Master, your Loue must liue a maide at home,
And therefore has he closely meu'd her vp,
Because