Kath. I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet; The meat was well, if you were so contented. Pet. I tell thee, Kate, 'twas burnt and dried away; And I expressly am forbid to touch it, For it engenders choler, planteth anger; And better 'twere, that both of us did fast,Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric,Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh. Be patient; to-morrow it shall be mended, And, for this night, we'll fast for company:Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber.

[Exeunt Petruchio, Katharina, and Curtis. Nath. [Advancing] Peter, didst ever see the like? Peter. He kills her in her own humour.

Re-enter CURTIS.

Gru. Where is he?

Curt. In her chamber,

Making a sermon of continency to her:

And rails, and swears, and rates; that she, poor soul,
Knows not which way to stand, to look, to speak;
And sits as one new-risen from a dream.
Away, away! for he is coming hither.

Re-enter PETRUCHIO.

Pet. Thus have I politicly begun my reign,
And 'tis my hope to end successfully:
My falcon now is sharp, and passing empty;
And till she stoop, she must not be full-gorg'd,
For then she never looks upon her lure.
Another way I have to man my haggard,

[Exeunt.

To make her come, and know her keeper's call,
That is, to watch her, as we watch these kites,
That bate, and beat, and will not be obedient.
She eat no meat to-day, nor none shall eat;
Last night she slept not, nor to-night she shall not;
As with the meat, some undeserved fault
I'll find about the making of the bed;

And here I'll fling the pillow, there the bolster,
This way the coverlet, another way the sheets:-

Ay, and amid this hurly, I intend,

That all is done in reverent care of her;
And, in conclusion, she shall watch all night:
And, if she chance to nod, I'll rail, and brawl,
And with the clamour keep her still awake.
This is the way to kill a wife with kindness;
And thus I'll curb her mad and headstrong humour :—
He that knows better how to tame a shrew,
Now let him speak; 'tis charity to show.

[Exit.

SCENE II. PADUA. Before BAPTISTA's House. Enter TRANIO and HORTENSIO.

Tra. Is't possible, friend Licio, that Bianca
Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?

1 tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand.
Hor. Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
Stand by, and mark the manner of his teaching.

[They stand aside.

Enter BIANCA and LUCENTIO.

Luc. Now, mistress, profit you in what you read? Bian. What, master, read you? first resolve me that. Luc. I read that I profess the art to love.

heart.

Bian. And may you prove, sir, master of you art! Luc. While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my [They retire. Hor. Quick proceeders, marry! Now tell me, I pray, You that durst swear that your mistress, Bianca, Lov'd none in the world so well as Lucentio.

Tra. O despiteful love! unconstant woman-kind!I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful.

Hor. Mistake no more: I am not Licio,
Nor a musician, as I seem to be;

But one that scorn to live in this disguise,
For such a one as leaves a gentleman,
And makes a god of such a cullion:
Know, sir, that I am call'd-Hortensio.

Tra. Signior Hortensio, I have often heard

Of your entire affection to Bianca;

And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
I will with you, if you be so contented,-
Forswear Bianca, and her love for ever.

Hor. See, how they kiss and court!-Signior Lucentio, Here is my hand, and here I firmly vowNever to woo her more; but do forswear her, As one unworthy all the former favours That I have fondly flatter'd her withal.

Tra. And here I take the like unfeigned oath,-
Ne'er to marry with her though she would entreat:
Fie on her! see, how beastly she doth court him.
Hor. 'Would all the world, but he, had quite for-
sworn!

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.

[Exit Hor.-Luc. and Bian. advance. 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. Mistress, we have.

Luc.

Then we are rid of Licio.

Tra. I'faith, he'll have a lusty widow now,

That shall be woo'd and wedded in a day.

Bian. God give him joy!

Tra. Ay, and he'll tame her. Bian. He says so, Tranio. 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, running.

Bion. O master, master, I have watch'd so long
That I'm dog-weary; but at last I spied

An ancient angel coming down the hill,
Will serve the turn.

Tra.

What is he, Biondello?
Bion. Master, a mercatanté, or a pedant,
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.

[Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca.

Enter a PEDANT.

Ped. God save you, sir!

Tra.

And you, sir, you are welcome. Travel you far on, or are you at the furthest? Ped. Sir, at the furthest for a week or two: But then up further, and as far as Rome; And so to Tripoly, if God lend me life. Tra. What countryman, I pray?

Ped.

Of Mantua.

Tra. Of Mantua, sir?-marry, 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 staid 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 you're 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.
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.

Tra. He is my father, sir; and, sooth to say, In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. Bion. As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all [Aside.

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:
Go with me, sir, to clothe you as becomes you. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. A Room in 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: