Exeunt BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and attendants TRANIO But to her love concerneth us to add Her father's liking: which to bring to pass, As I before unparted to your worship, I am to get a man,--whate'er he be, It skills not much.we'll fit him to our turn,--And he shall be Vincentio of Pisa;
And make assurance here in Padua Of greater sums than I have promised.
So shall you quietly enjoy your hope, And marry sweet Bianca with consent.LUCENTIO Were it not that my fellow-school-master Doth watch Bianca's steps so narrowly, 'Twere good, methinks, to steal our marriage;Which once perform'd, let all the world say no, I'll keep mine own, despite of all the world.TRANIO That by degrees we mean to look into, And watch our vantage in this business:
We'll over-reach the greybeard, Gremio, The narrow-prying father, Minola, The quaint musician, amorous Licio;All for my master's sake, Lucentio.
Re-enter GREMIO
Signior Gremio, came you from the church? GREMIO As willingly as e'er I came from school.TRANIO And is the bride and bridegroom coming home? GREMIO A bridegroom say you? 'tis a groom indeed, A grumbling groom, and that the girl shall find.TRANIO Curster than she? why, 'tis impossible.GREMIO Why he's a devil, a devil, a very fiend.TRANIO Why, she's a devil, a devil, the devil's dam.GREMIO Tut, she's a lamb, a dove, a fool to him!
I'll tell you, Sir Lucentio: when the priest Should ask, if Katharina should be his wife, 'Ay, by gogs-wouns,' quoth he; and swore so loud, That, all-amazed, the priest let fall the book;And, as he stoop'd again to take it up, The mad-brain'd bridegroom took him such a cuff That down fell priest and book and book and priest:
'Now take them up,' quoth he, 'if any list.' TRANIO What said the wench when he rose again? GREMIO Trembled and shook; for why, he stamp'd and swore, As if the vicar meant to cozen him.
But after many ceremonies done, He calls for wine: 'A health!' quoth he, as if He had been aboard, carousing to his mates After a storm; quaff'd off the muscadel And threw the sops all in the sexton's face;Having no other reason But that his beard grew thin and hungerly And seem'd to ask him sops as he was drinking.
This done, he took the bride about the neck And kiss'd her lips with such a clamorous smack That at the parting all the church did echo:
And I seeing this came thence for very shame;And after me, I know, the rout is coming.
Such a mad marriage never was before:
Hark, hark! I hear the minstrels play.
Music Re-enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, BIANCA, BAPTISTA, HORTENSIO, GRUMIO, and Train PETRUCHIO Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains:
I know you think to dine with me to-day, And have prepared great store of wedding cheer;But so it is, my haste doth call me hence, And therefore here I mean to take my leave.BAPTISTA Is't possible you will away to-night? PETRUCHIO I must away to-day, before night come:
Make it no wonder; if you knew my business, You would entreat me rather go than stay.
And, honest company, I thank you all, That have beheld me give away myself To this most patient, sweet and virtuous wife:
Dine with my father, drink a health to me;For I must hence; and farewell to you all.TRANIO Let us entreat you stay till after dinner.PETRUCHIO It may not be.GREMIO Let me entreat you.PETRUCHIO It cannot be.KATHARINA Let me entreat you.PETRUCHIO I am content.KATHARINA Are you content to stay? PETRUCHIO I am content you shall entreat me stay;But yet not stay, entreat me how you can.KATHARINA Now, if you love me, stay.PETRUCHIO Grumio, my horse.GRUMIO Ay, sir, they be ready: the oats have eaten the horses.KATHARINA Nay, then, Do what thou canst, I will not go to-day;No, nor to-morrow, not till I please myself.
The door is open, sir; there lies your way;You may be jogging whiles your boots are green;For me, I'll not be gone till I please myself:
'Tis like you'll prove a jolly surly groom, That take it on you at the first so roundly.PETRUCHIO O Kate, content thee; prithee, be not angry.KATHARINA I will be angry: what hast thou to do?
Father, be quiet; he shall stay my leisure.GREMIO Ay, marry, sir, now it begins to work.KATARINA Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner:
I see a woman may be made a fool, If she had not a spirit to resist.PETRUCHIO They shall go forward, Kate, at thy command.
Obey the bride, you that attend on her;
Go to the feast, revel and domineer, Carouse full measure to her maidenhead, Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves:
But for my bonny Kate, she must with me.
Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret;I will be master of what is mine own:
She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, My household stuff, my field, my barn, My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing;And here she stands, touch her whoever dare;I'll bring mine action on the proudest he That stops my way in Padua.Grumio, Draw forth thy weapon, we are beset with thieves;Rescue thy mistress, if thou be a man.
Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate:
I'll buckler thee against a million.
Exeunt PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, and GRUMIO BAPTISTA Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones.GREMIO Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing.TRANIO Of all mad matches never was the like.LUCENTIO Mistress, what's your opinion of your sister? BIANCA That, being mad herself, she's madly mated.GREMIO I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated.BAPTISTA Neighbours and friends, though bride and bridegroom wants For to supply the places at the table, You know there wants no junkets at the feast.
Lucentio, you shall supply the bridegroom's place:
And let Bianca take her sister's room.TRANIO Shall sweet Bianca practise how to bride it? BAPTISTA She shall, Lucentio.Come, gentlemen, let's go.
Exeunt
