ACT IV
Sc. II

As one unworthy all the former favours,
That I have fondly flatter'd her withal.
TRA. And here I take the like unfeigned oath

Never to marry her, though she would entreat:

Fie on her! see, how beastly she doth court him!

30

HOR. Would all the world but he had quite forsworn

her!

For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,

I will be married to a wealthy widow,

Ere three days pass, which hath as long lov'd me
As I have lov'd this proud disdainful haggard.
And so farewell, Signior Lucentio.

Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
Shall win my love: and so I take my leave,
In resolution as I swore before.

TRA. Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace

As 'longeth to a lover's blessed case!

Nay; I have ta'en you napping, gentle Love,
And have forsworn you with Hortensio.

BIAN. Tranio, you jest: but have you both forsworn me?

TRA. Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school.

BIAN. The taming-school! what, is there such a place ?
TRA. Ay, Mistress; and Petruchio is the master,

That teacheth tricks, eleven and twenty long,

To tame a shrew, and charm her chattering tongue.

Enter BIONDELLO.

BION. O Master, Master, I have watch'd so long
That I am dog-weary! but at last I spied
An ancient angel1 coming down the hill,
Will serve the turn.

TRA,

What is he, Biondello?

BION. Master, a mercatante, or a pedant,

1 'Angelot à la grosse escaille-an old angel; by metaphor, a fellow of th' old, sound, honest, worthy stamp.'-Cotgrave.

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60

I know not what; but formal in apparel,

In gait and countenance surely like a father. Luc. And what of him, Tranio?

TRA. If he be credulous and trust my tale,

I'll make him glad to seem Vincentio ;
And give assurance to Baptista Minola,
As if he were the right Vincentio.

Take in your love, and then let me alone.

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[Exeunt LUCENTIO and BIANCA.

Enter a Pedant.

PED. God save you, Sir!
TRA.
Travel you far, or are you at the farthest?
PED. Sir, at the farthest for a week or two:
But then up farther, and as far as Rome;
And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.
TRA. What countryman, I pray?

And you, Sir! you are welcome.

Of Mantua.

PED.
TRA. Of Mantua, Sir? marry, now God forbid !
And come to Padua, careless of your life?
PED. My life, Sir! how, I pray? for that goes hard.
TRA. "Tis death for any one in Mantua

To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?
Your ships are stay'd at Venice; and the Duke
(For private quarrel 'twixt your Duke and him)
Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly:

'Tis marvel; but that y' are but newly come, You might have heard it else proclaim'd about. PED. Alas, Sir, it is worse for me than so!

For I have bills for money by exchange
From Florence, and must here deliver them.

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90

ACT IV

Sc. II

TRA. Well, Sir, to do you courtesy,

This will I do, and this will I advise you : First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa? PED. Ay, Sir; in Pisa have I often been, Pisa renowned for grave citizens.

TRA. Among them know you one Vincentio?
PED. I know him not, but I have heard of him ;
A merchant of incomparable wealth.

Sc. II

ACT IV TRA. He is my father, Sir; and, sooth to say,
In countenance somewhat doth resemble you.
BION. [aside.] As much as an apple doth an oyster, and

all one.

TRA. To save your life in this extremity,

This favour will I do you for his sake;

And think it not the worst of all your fortunes
That you are like to Sir Vincentio.

His name and credit shall you undertake,
And in my house you shall be friendly lodg'd:
Look that you take upon you as you should;
You understand me, Sir: so shall you stay
Till you have done your business in the City:
If this be courtesy, Sir, accept of it.

PED. O, Sir, I do; and will repute you ever

The patron of my life and liberty.

TRA. Then go with me to make the matter good.
This, by the way, I let you understand;

My father is here look'd for every day,

To pass assurance of a dower in marriage
"Twixt me and one Baptista's daughter here:

In all these circumstances I'll instruct you:

100

Go with me, Sir, to clothe you as becomes you. [exeunt.

SCENE III. PETRUCHIO'S House.

Enter KATHARINA and GRUMIO.

GRU. No, no, forsooth; I dare not, for my life.

KATH. The more my wrong, the more his spite appears:

What, did he marry me to famish me?

Beggars, that come unto my father's door,
Upon entreaty have a present alms;

If not, elsewhere they meet with charity :
But I, who never knew how to entreat,

Nor never needed that I should entreat,

Am starv'd for meat, giddy for lack of sleep,

With oaths kept waking, and with brawling fed:

ΤΟ

And, that which spites me more than all these wants,

He does it under name of perfect love;

As who should say If I should sleep or eat,
'Twere deadly sickness or else present death!
I pr'ythee go and get me some repast;
I care not what, so it be wholesome food.
GRU. What say you to a neat's foot?1

KATH. 'Tis passing good: I pr'ythee let me have it.
GRU. I fear it is too choleric a meat.

How say you to a fat tripe finely broil'd?
KATH. I like it well: good Grumio, fetch it me.
GRU. I cannot tell; I fear 'tis choleric.

What say you to a piece of beef and mustard?
KATH. A dish that I do love to feed upon.
GRU. Ay; but the mustard is too hot a little.

KATH. Why, then the beef, and let the mustard rest.
GRU. Nay; then I will not: you shall have the mustard,
Or else you get no beef of Grumio.

20

KATH. Then both, or one, or any thing thou wilt.
GRU. Why, then the mustard, and without the beef. 30
KATH. Go, get thee gone, thou false deluding Slave,

That feed'st me with the very name of meat:

Sorrow on thee, and all the pack of you,

That triumph thus upon my misery!

Go, get thee gone, I say.

[beats him.

Enter PETRUCHIO and HORTENSIO with meat.

PET. How fares my Kate? What, Sweeting, all amort ?3
HOR. Mistress, what cheer?

KATH

Faith, Sir, as cold as can be.

PET. Pluck up thy sprights, look cheerfully upon me.
Here, Love; thou see'st how diligent I am

To dress thy meat myself, and bring it thee:

I am sure, sweet Kate, this kindness merits thanks.
What, not a word? Nay; then thou lov'st it not,
And all my pains is sorted to no proof.*
Here, take away this dish.

КАТН.

Pray let it stand.

PET. The poorest service is repaid with thanks;
And so shall mine, before you touch the meat.

40

3 in the dumps; 'off colour.' 4 allotted no approval.
57

ACT IV

Sc. III

ACT IV
Sc. III

KATH. I thank you, Sir.

HOR. Signior Petruchio, fie! you are to blame.
Come, Mistress Kate, I'll bear you company.
PET. [aside.] Eat it up all, Hortensio, if thou lov'st

me.

Much good do it unto thy gentle heart!

Kate, eat apace: and now, my honey Love,
Will we return unto thy father's house,

And revel it as bravely as the best,

With silken coats, and caps, and golden rings,
With ruffs, and cuffs, and farthingales, and things;
With scarfs, and fans, and double change of bravery,1
With amber bracelets, beads, and all this knavery.
What, hast thou din'd? The tailor stays thy leisure,
To deck thy body with his ruffling2 treasure.

Enter Tailor.

Come, Tailor, let us see these ornaments;

Lay forth the gown.

Enter Haberdasher.

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60

What news with you, Sir, ha?

HAB. Here is the cap your Worship did bespeak.
PET. Why, this was moulded on a porringer;
A velvet dish: fie, fie! 'tis lewd and filthy:
Why, 'tis a cockle or a walnut-shell,

A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby's cap:

Away with it! come, let me have a bigger.
KATH. I'll have no bigger: this doth fit the time,

And gentlewomen wear such caps as these.
PET. When you are gentle, you shall have one too,
And not till then.

HOR. [aside.]

That will not be in haste.

KATH. Why, Sir, I trust I may have leave to speak,

And speak I will; I am no child, no babe:
Your betters have endur'd me say my mind;
And if you cannot, best you stop your ears.
My tongue will tell the anger of my heart,
Or else my heart, concealing it, will break:

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