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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    214The Taming of the Shrew.
    Vpon agreement from vs to his liking,
    Will vndertake to woo curst Katherine,
    750Yea, and to marrie her, if her dowrie please.
    Gre. So said, so done, is well:
    Hortensio, haue you told him all her faults?
    Petr. I know she is an irkesome brawling scold:
    If that be all Masters, I heare no harme.
    755Gre. No, sayst me so, friend? What Countreyman?
    Petr. Borne in Verona, old Butonios sonne:
    My father dead, my fortune liues for me,
    And I do hope, good dayes and long, to see.
    Gre. Oh sir, such a life with such a wife, were strange:
    760But if you haue a stomacke, too't a Gods name,
    You shal haue me assisting you in all.
    But will you woo this Wilde-cat?
    Petr. Will I liue?
    Gru. Wil he woo her? I: or Ile hang her.
    765Petr. Why came I hither, but to that intent?
    Thinke you, a little dinne can daunt mine eares?
    Haue I not in my time heard Lions rore?
    Haue I not heard the sea, puft vp with windes,
    Rage like an angry Boare, chafed with sweat?
    770Haue I not heard great Ordnance in the field?
    And heauens Artillerie thunder in the skies?
    Haue I not in a pitched battell heard
    Loud larums, neighing steeds, & trumpets clangue?
    And do you tell me of a womans tongue?
    775That giues not halfe so great a blow to heare,
    As wil a Chesse-nut in a Farmers fire.
    Tush, tush, feare boyes with bugs.
    Gru. For he feares none.
    Grem. Hortensio hearke:
    780This Gentleman is happily arriu'd,
    My minde presumes for his owne good, and yours.
    Hor. I promist we would be Contributors,
    And beare his charge of wooing whatsoere.
    Gremio. And so we wil, prouided that he win her.
    785Gru. I would I were as sure of a good dinner.

    Enter Tranio braue, and Biondello.
    Tra. Gentlemen God saue you. If I may be bold
    Tell me I beseech you, which is the readiest way
    To the house of Signior Baptista Minola?
    790Bion. He that ha's the two faire daughters: ist he you
    meane?
    Tra. Euen he Biondello.
    Gre. Hearke you sir, you meane not her to---
    Tra. Perhaps him and her sir, what haue you to do?
    795Petr. Not her that chides sir, at any hand I pray.
    Tranio. I loue no chiders sir: Biondello, let's away.
    Luc Well begun Tranio.
    Hor. Sir, a word ere you go:
    Are you a sutor to the Maid you talke of, yea or no?
    800Tra. And if I be sir, is it any offence?
    Gremio.No: if without more words you will get you
    hence.
    Tra. Why sir, I pray are not the streets as free
    For me, as for you?
    805Gre. But so is not she.
    Tra. For what reason I beseech you.
    Gre. For this reason if you'l kno,
    That she's the choise loue of Signior Gremio.
    Hor. That she's the chosen of signior Hortensio.
    810Tra. Softly my Masters: If you be Gentlemen
    Do me this right: heare me with patience.
    Baptista is a noble Gentleman,
    To whom my Father is not all vnknowne,
    And were his daughter fairer then she is,
    815She may more sutors haue, and me for one.
    Faire Laedaes daughter had a thousand wooers,
    Then well one more may faire Bianca haue;
    And so she shall: Lucentio shal make one,
    Though Paris came, in hope to speed alone.
    820Gre. What, this Gentleman will out-talke vs all.
    Luc. Sir giue him head, I know hee'l proue a Iade.
    Petr. Hortensio, to what end are all these words?
    Hor. Sir, let me be so bold as aske you,
    Did you yet euer see Baptistas daughter?
    825Tra. No sir, but heare I do that he hath two:
    The one, as famous for a scolding tongue,
    As is the other, for beauteous modestie.
    Petr. Sir, sir, the first's for me, let her go by.
    Gre. Yea, leaue that labour to great Hercules,
    830And let it be more then Alcides twelue.
    Petr. Sir vnderstand you this of me (insooth)
    The yongest daughter whom you hearken for,
    Her father keepes from all accesse of sutors,
    And will not promise her to any man,
    835Vntill the elder sister first be wed.
    The yonger then is free, and not before.
    Tranio. If it be so sir, that you are the man
    Must steed vs all, and me amongst the rest:
    And if you breake the ice, and do this seeke,
    840Atchieue the elder: set the yonger free,
    For our accesse, whose hap shall be to haue her,
    Wil not so gracelesse be, to be ingrate.
    Hor. Sir you say wel, and wel you do conceiue,
    And since you do professe to be a sutor,
    845You must as we do, gratifie this Gentleman,
    To whom we all rest generally beholding.
    Tranio. Sir, I shal not be slacke, in signe whereof,
    Please ye we may contriue this afternoone,
    And quaffe carowses to our Mistresse health,
    850And do as aduersaries do in law,
    Striue mightily, but eate and drinke as friends.
    Gru.Bion.Oh excellent motion: fellowes let's be gon.
    Hor. The motions good indeed, and be it so,
    Petruchio, I shal be your Been venuto. Exeunt.

    855Enter Katherina and Bianca.
    Bian.Good sister wrong me not, nor wrong your self,
    To make a bondmaide and a slaue of mee,
    That I disdaine: but for these other goods,
    Vnbinde my hands, Ile pull them off my selfe,
    860Yea all my raiment, to my petticoate,
    Or what you will command me, wil I do,
    So well I know my dutie to my elders.
    Kate. Of all thy sutors heere I charge tel
    Whom thou lou'st best: see thou dissemble not.
    865Bianca. Beleeue me sister, of all the men aliue,
    I neuer yet beheld that speciall face,
    Which I could fancie, more then any other.
    Kate. Minion thou lyest: Is't not Hortensio?
    Bian. If you affect him sister, heere I sweare
    870Ile pleade for you my selfe, but you shal haue him.
    Kate. Oh then belike you fancie riches more,
    You wil haue Gremio to keepe you faire.
    Bian. Is it for him you do enuie me so?
    Nay then you iest, and now I wel perceiue
    875You haue but iested with me all this while:
    I prethee sister Kate, vntie my hands.
    Ka. If that be iest, then all the rest was so. Strikes her
    Enter
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