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  • Title: The Taming of the Shrew (Folio, 1623)
  • Editor: Erin Kelly

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-468-4

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Erin Kelly
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Taming of the Shrew (Folio, 1623)

    The Taming of the Shrew. 217
    1140And then let Kate be chaste, and Dian sportfull.
    Kate. Where did you study all this goodly speech?
    Petr. It is extempore, from my mother wit.
    Kate. A witty mother, witlesse else her sonne.
    Pet. Am I not wise?
    1145Kat. Yes, keepe you warme.
    Pet. Marry so I meane sweet Katherine in thy bed:
    And therefore setting all this chat aside,
    Thus in plaine termes: your father hath consented
    That you shall be my wife; your dowry greed on,
    1150And will you, nill you, I will marry you.
    Now Kate, I am a husband for your turne,
    For by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,
    Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well,
    Thou must be married to no man but me,

    1155Enter Baptista, Gremio, Trayno.

    For I am he am borne to tame you Kate,
    And bring you from a wilde Kate to a Kate
    Conformable as other houshold Kates:
    Heere comes your father, neuer make deniall,
    1160Imust, and will haue Katherine to my wife.
    Bap. Now Signior Petruchio, how speed you with my (daughter?
    Pet. How but well sir?how but well?
    It were impossible I should speed amisse.
    Bap. Why how now daughter Katherine, in your (dumps?
    1165Kat. Call you me daughter? now I promise you
    You haue shewd a tender fatherly regard,
    To wish me wed to one halfe Lunaticke,
    A mad-cap ruffian, and a swearing Iacke,
    That thinkes with oathes to face the matter out.
    1170Pet. Father, 'tis thus, your selfe and all the world
    That talk'd of her, haue talk'd amisse of her:
    If she be curst, it is for pollicie,
    For shee's not froward, but modest as the Doue,
    Shee is not hot, but temperate as the morne,
    1175For patience shee will proue a second Grissell,
    And Romane Lucrece for her chastitie:
    And to conclude, we haue greed so well together,
    That vpon sonday is the wedding day.
    Kate. Ile see thee hang'd on sonday first.
    1180Gre. Hark Petruchio, she saies shee'll see thee hang'd (first.
    Tra.Is this your speeding?nay thē godnight our part.
    Pet. Be patient gentlemen, I choose her for my selfe,
    If she and I be pleas'd, what's that to you?
    'Tis bargain'd twixt vs twaine being alone,
    1185That she shall still be curst in company.
    I tell you 'tis incredible to beleeue
    How much she loues me: oh the kindest Kate,
    Shee hung about my necke, and kisse on kisse
    Shee vi'd so fast, protesting oath on oath,
    1190That in a twinke she won me to her loue.
    Oh you are nouices, 'tis a world to see
    How tame when men and women are alone,
    A meacocke wretch can make the curstest shrew:
    Giue me thy hand Kate, I will vnto Venice
    1195To buy apparell 'gainst the wedding day;
    Prouide the feast father, and bid the guests,
    I will be sure my Katherine shall be fine.
    Bap. I know not what to say, but giue me your hāds,
    God send you ioy, Petruchio, 'tis a match.
    1200Gre.Tra. Amen say we, we will be witnesses.
    Pet. Father, and wife, and gentlemen adieu,
    I will to Venice, sonday comes apace,
    We will haue rings, and things, and fine array,
    And kisse me Kate, we will be married a sonday.
    1205Exit Petruchio and Katherine.
    Gre. Was euer match clapt vp so sodainly?
    Bap. Faith Gentlemen now I play a marchants part,
    And venture madly on a desperate Mart.
    Tra. Twas a commodity lay fretting by you,
    1210'Twill bring you gaine, or perish on the seas.
    Bap. The gaine I seeke, is quiet me the match.
    Gre. No doubt but he hath got a quiet catch:
    But now Baptista, to your yonger daughter,
    Now is the day we long haue looked for,
    1215I am your neighbour, and was suter first.
    Tra. And I am one that loue Bianca more
    Then words can witnesse, or your thoughts can guesse.
    Gre. Yongling thou canst not loue so deare as I.
    Tra. Gray-beard thy loue doth freeze.
    1220Gre. But thine doth frie,
    Skipper stand backe, 'tis age that nourisheth.
    Tra. But youth in Ladies eyes that florisheth.
    Bap.Content you gentlemen, I wil cōpound this strife
    'Tis deeds must win the prize, and he of both
    1225That can assure my daughter greatest dower,
    Shall haue my Biancas loue.
    Say signior Gremio, what can you assure her?
    Gre. First, as you know, my house within the City
    Is richly furnished with plate and gold,
    1230Basons and ewers to laue her dainty hands:
    My hangings all of tirian tapestry:
    In Iuory cofers I haue stuft my crownes:
    In Cypres chests my arras counterpoints,
    Costly apparell, tents, and Canopies,
    1235Fine Linnen, Turky cushions bost with pearle,
    Vallens of Venice gold, in needle worke:
    Pewter and brasse, and all things that belongs
    To house or house-keeping: then at my farme
    I haue a hundred milch-kine to the pale,
    1240Sixe-score fat Oxen standing in my stalls,
    And all things answerable to this portion.
    My selfe am strooke in yeeres I must confesse,
    And if I die to morrow this is hers,
    If whil'st I liue she will be onely mine.
    1245Tra. That only came well in: sir, list to me,
    I am my fathers heyre and onely sonne,
    If I may haue your daughter to my wife,
    Ile leaue her houses three or foure as good
    Within rich Pisa walls, as any one
    1250Old Signior Gremio has in Padua,
    Besides, two thousand Duckets by the yeere
    Of fruitfull land, all which shall be her ioynter.
    What, haue I pincht you Signior Gremio?
    Gre. Two thousand Duckets by the yeere of land,
    1255My Land amounts not to so much in all:
    That she shall haue, besides an Argosie
    That now is lying in Marcellus roade:
    What, haue I choakt you with an Argosie?
    Tra. Gremio, 'tis knowne my father hath no lesse
    1260Then three great Argosies, besides two Galliasses
    And twelue tite Gallies, these I will assure her,
    And twice as much what ere thou offrest next.
    Gre. Nay, I haue offred all, I haue no more,
    And she can haue no more then all I haue,
    1265If you like me, she shall haue me and mine.
    Tra. Why then the maid is mine from all the world
    By your firme promise, Gremio is out-vied.
    Bap. I must confesse your offer is the best,
    And let your father make her the assurance,
    T Shee
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