Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 Petruchio, Kate, Hortentio
    2295Petr. Come on a Gods name, once more toward our
    fathers:
    Good Lord how bright and goodly shines the Moone.
    Kate. The Moone, the Sunne: it is not Moonelight
    now.
    2300Pet. I say it is the Moone that shines so bright.
    Kate. I know it is the Sunne that shines so bright.
    Pet. Now by my mothers sonne, and that's my selfe,
    It
    226The Taming of the Shrew.
    It shall be moone, or starre, or what I list,
    Or ere I iourney to your Fathers house:
    2305Goe on, and fetch our horses backe againe,
    Euermore crost and crost, nothing but crost.
    Hort. Say as he saies, or we shall neuer goe.
    Kate. Forward I pray, since we haue come so farre,
    And be it moone, or sunne, or what you please:
    2310And if you please to call it a rush Candle,
    Henceforth I vowe it shall be so for me.
    Petr. I say it is the Moone.
    Kate. I know it is the Moone.
    Petr. Nay then you lye: it is the blessed Sunne.
    2315Kate. Then God be blest, it in the blessed sun,
    But sunne it is not, when you say it is not,
    And the Moone changes euen as your minde:
    What you will haue it nam'd, euen that it is,
    And so it shall be so for Katherine.
    2320Hort. Petruchio, goe thy waies, the field is won.
    Petr. Well, forward, forward, thus the bowle should (run,
    And not vnluckily against the Bias:
    But soft, Company is comming here.
    Enter Vincentio.
    2325Good morrow gentle Mistris, where away:
    Tell me sweete Kate, and tell me truely too,
    Hast thou beheld a fresher Gentlewoman:
    Such warre of white and red within her cheekes:
    What stars do spangle heauen with such beautie,
    2330As those two eyes become that heauenly face?
    Faire louely Maide, once more good day to thee:
    Sweete Kate embrace her for her beauties sake.
    Hort. A will make the man mad to make the woman
    of him.
    2335Kate. Yong budding Virgin, faire, and fresh,& sweet,
    Whether away, or whether is thy aboade?
    Happy the Parents of so faire a childe;
    Happier the man whom fauourable stars
    A lots thee for his louely bedfellow.
    2340Petr. Why how now Kate, I hope thou art not mad,
    This is a man old, wrinckled, faded, withered,
    And not a Maiden, as thou saist he is.
    Kate. Pardon old father my mistaking eies,
    That haue bin so bedazled with the sunne,
    2345That euery thing I looke on seemeth greene:
    Now I p erceiue thou art a reuerent Father:
    Pardon I pray thee for my mad mistaking.
    Petr. Do good old grandsire, & withall make known
    Which way thou trauellest, if along with vs,
    2350We shall be ioyfull of thy companie.
    Vin. Faire Sir, and you my merry Mistris,
    That with your strange encounter much amasde me:
    My name is call'd Vincentio, my dwelling Pisa,
    And bound I am to Padua, there to visite
    2355A sonne of mine, which long I haue not seene.
    Petr. What is his name?
    Vinc. Lucentio gentle sir.
    Petr. Happily met, the happier for thy sonne:
    And now by Law, as well as reuerent age,
    2360I may intitle thee my louing Father,
    The sister to my wife, this Gentlewoman,
    Thy Sonne by this hath married: wonder not,
    Nor be not grieued, she is of good esteeme,
    Her dowrie wealthie, and of worthie birth;
    2365Beside, so qualified, as may beseeme
    The Spouse of any noble Gentleman:
    Let me imbrace with old Vincentio,
    And wander we to see thy honest sonne,
    Who will of thy arriuall be full ioyous.
    2370Vinc. But is this true, or is it else your pleasure,
    Like pleasant trauailors to breake a Iest
    Vpon the companie you ouertake?
    Hort. I doe assure thee father so it is.
    Petr. Come goe along and see the truth hereof,
    2375For our first merriment hath made thee iealous. Exeunt.
    Hor. Well Petruchio, this has put me in heart;
    Haue to my Widdow, and if she froward,
    Then hast thou taught Hortentio to be vntoward. Exit.