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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Enter Baptista, Gremio, Tranio, Katherine, Bianca, and o-
    thers, attendants.
    Bap. Signior Lucentio, this is the pointed day
    1390That Katherine and Petruchio should be married,
    And yet we heare not of our sonne in Law:
    What will be said, what mockery will it be?
    To want the Bride-groome when the Priest attends
    To speake the ceremoniall rites of marriage?
    1395What saies Lucentio to this shame of ours?
    No
    The Taming of the Shrew. 219
    Kate. No shame but mine, I must forsooth be forst
    To giue my hand oppos'd against my heart
    Vnto a mad-braine rudesby, full of spleene,
    Who woo'd in haste, and meanes to wed at leysure:
    1400I told you I, he was a franticke foole,
    Hiding his bitter iests in blunt behauiour,
    And to be noted for a merry man;
    Hee'll wooe a thousand, point the day of marriage,
    Make friends, inuite, and proclaime the banes,
    1405Yet neuer meanes to wed where he hath woo'd:
    Now must the world point at poore Katherine,
    And say, loe, there is mad Petruchio's wife
    If it would please him come and marry her.
    Tra. Patience good Katherine and Baptista too,
    1410Vpon my life Petruchio meanes but well,
    What euer fortune stayes him from his word,
    Though he be blunt, I know him passing wise,
    Though he be merry, yet withall he's honest.
    Kate. Would Katherine had neuer seen him though.
    1415Exit weeping.
    Bap. Goe girle, I cannot blame thee now to weepe,
    For such an iniurie would vexe a very saint,
    Much more a shrew of impatient humour.
    Enter Biondello.
    1420Bion. Master, master, newes, and such newes as you
    neuer heard of,
    Bap. Is it new and olde too? how may that be?
    Bion. Why, is it not newes to heard of Petruchio's (comming?
    Bap. Is he come?
    1425Bion. Why no sir.
    Bap. What then?
    Bion. He is comming.
    Bap. When will he be heere?
    Bion. When he stands where I am, and sees you there.
    1430Tra. But say, what to thine olde newes?
    Bion. Why Petruchio is comming, in a new hat and
    an old ierkin, a paire of old breeches thrice turn'd; a
    paire of bootes that haue beene candle-cases, one buck-
    led, another lac'd: an olde rusty sword tane out of the
    1435Towne Armory, with a broken hilt, and chapelesse: with
    two broken points: his horse hip'd with an olde mo-
    thy saddle, and stirrops of no kindred: besides possest
    with the glanders, and like to mose in the chine, trou-
    bled with the Lampasse, infected with the fashions, full
    1440of Windegalls, sped with Spauins, raied with the Yel-
    lowes, past cure of the Fiues, starke spoyl'd with the
    Staggers, begnawne with the Bots, Waid in the backe,
    and shoulder-shotten, neere leg'd before, and with a
    halfe-chekt Bitte,& a headstall of sheepes leather, which
    1445being restrain'd to keepe him from stumbling, hath been
    often burst, and now repaired with knots: one girth sixe
    times peec'd, and a womans Crupper of velure, which
    hath two letters for her name, fairely set down in studs,
    and heere and there peec'd with packthred.
    1450Bap. Who comes with him?
    Bion. Oh sir, his Lackey, for all the world Capari-
    son'd like the horse: with a linnen stock on one leg, and
    a kersey boot-hose on the other, gartred with a red and
    blew list; an old hat, & the humor of forty fancies prickt
    1455in't for a feather: a monster, a very monster in apparell,
    & not like a Christian foot-boy, or a gentlemans Lacky.
    Tra. 'Tis some od humor pricks him to this fashion,
    Yet oftentimes he goes but meane apparel'd.
    Bap. I am glad he's come, howsoere he comes.
    1460Bion. Why sir, he comes not.
    Bap. Didst thou not say hee comes?
    Bion. Who, that Petruchio came?
    Bap. I, that Petruchio came.
    Bion. No sir, I say his horse comes with him on his (backe.
    1465Bap. Why that's all one.
    Bion. Nay by S.Iamy, I hold you a penny, a horse and
    a man is more then one, and yet not many.
    Enter Petruchio and Grumio.
    Pet. Come, where be these gallants? who's at home?
    1470Bap. You are welcome sir.
    Petr. And yet I come not well.
    Bap. And yet you halt not.
    Tra. Not so well apparell'd as I wish you were.
    Petr. Were it better I should rush in thus:
    1475But where is Kate? where is my louely Bride?
    How does my father? gentles methinkes you frowne,
    And wherefore gaze this goodly company,
    As if they saw some wondrous monument,
    Some Commet, or vnusuall prodigie?
    1480Bap. Why sir, you know this is your wedding day:
    First were we sad, fearing you would not come,
    Now sadder that you come so vnprouided:
    Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate,
    An eye-sore to our solemne festiuall.
    1485Tra. And tell vs what occasion of import
    Hath all so long detain'd you from your wife,
    And sent you hither so vnlike your selfe?
    Petr. Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to heare,
    Sufficeth I am come to keepe my word,
    1490Though in some part inforced to digresse,
    Which at more leysure I will so excuse,
    As you shall well be satisfied with all.
    But where is Kate? I stay too long from her,
    The morning weares, 'tis time we were at Church.
    1495Tra. See not your Bride in these vnreuerent robes,
    Goe to my chamber, put on clothes of mine.
    Pet. Not I, beleeue me, thus Ile visit her.
    Bap. But thus I trust you will not marry her.
    Pet. Good sooth euen thus: therefore ha done with (words,
    1500To me she's married, not vnto my cloathes:
    Could I repaire what she will weare in me,
    As I can change these poore accoutrements,
    'Twere well for Kate, and better for my selfe.
    But what a foole am I to chat with you,
    1505When I should bid good morrow to my Bride?
    And seale the title with a louely kisse. Exit.
    Tra. He hath some meaning in his mad attire,
    We will perswade him be it possible,
    To put on better ere he goe to Church.
    1510Bap. Ile after him, and see the euent of this. Exit.
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