LITMIR.BIZ

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I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your wooing. Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure of it. To express the like kindness, myself, that have been more kindly beholding to you than any, freely give unto you this young scholar, [Presenting LUCENTIO.]

      that has been long studying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in music and mathematics. His name is Cambio; pray accept his service.

      BAPTISTA.

       A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio; welcome, good Cambio.—

       [To TRANIO.]

       But, gentle sir, methinks you walk like a stranger: may

       I be so bold to know the cause of your coming?

      TRANIO.

       Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own,

       That, being a stranger in this city here,

       Do make myself a suitor to your daughter,

       Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous.

       Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me,

       In the preferment of the eldest sister.

       This liberty is all that I request,

       That, upon knowledge of my parentage,

       I may have welcome ‘mongst the rest that woo,

       And free access and favour as the rest:

       And, toward the education of your daughters,

       I here bestow a simple instrument,

       And this small packet of Greek and Latin books:

       If you accept them, then their worth is great.

      BAPTISTA.

       Lucentio is your name, of whence, I pray?

      TRANIO.

       Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio.

      BAPTISTA.

       A mighty man of Pisa: by report

       I know him well: you are very welcome, sir.

       [To HORTENSIO.] Take you the lute,

       [To LUCENTIO.] and you the set of books;

       You shall go see your pupils presently.

       Holla, within!

       [Enter a SERVANT.]

      Sirrah, lead these gentlemen

       To my two daughters, and tell them both

       These are their tutors: bid them use them well.

       [Exit SERVANT, with HORTENSIO, LUCENTIO, and BIONDELLO.]

      We will go walk a little in the orchard,

       And then to dinner. You are passing welcome,

       And so I pray you all to think yourselves.

      PETRUCHIO.

       Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste,

       And every day I cannot come to woo.

       You knew my father well, and in him me,

       Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,

       Which I have bettered rather than decreas’d:

       Then tell me, if I get your daughter’s love,

       What dowry shall I have with her to wife?

      BAPTISTA.

       After my death, the one half of my lands,

       And in possession twenty thousand crowns.

      PETRUCHIO.

       And, for that dowry, I’ll assure her of

       Her widowhood, be it that she survive me,

       In all my lands and leases whatsoever.

       Let specialities be therefore drawn between us,

       That covenants may be kept on either hand.

      BAPTISTA.

       Ay, when the special thing is well obtain’d,

       That is, her love; for that is all in all.

      PETRUCHIO.

       Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father,

       I am as peremptory as she proud-minded;

       And where two raging fires meet together,

       They do consume the thing that feeds their fury:

       Though little fire grows great with little wind,

       Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all;

       So I to her, and so she yields to me;

       For I am rough and woo not like a babe.

      BAPTISTA.

       Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed!

       But be thou arm’d for some unhappy words.

      PETRUCHIO.

       Ay, to the proof, as mountains are for winds,

       That shake not though they blow perpetually.

       [Re-enter HORTENSIO, with his head broke.]

      BAPTISTA.

       How now, my friend! Why dost thou look so pale?

      HORTENSIO.

       For fear, I promise you, if I look pale.

      BAPTISTA.

       What, will my daughter prove a good musician?

      HORTENSIO.

       I think she’ll sooner prove a soldier:

       Iron may hold with her, but never lutes.

      BAPTISTA.

       Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute?

      HORTENSIO.

       Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me.

       I did but tell her she mistook her frets,

       And bow’d her hand to teach her fingering;

       When, with a most impatient devilish spirit,

       ‘Frets, call you these?’ quoth she ‘I’ll fume with them’;

       And with that word she struck me on the head,

       And through the instrument my pate made way;

       And there I stood amazed for a while,

       As on a pillory, looking through the lute;

       While she did call me rascal fiddler,

       And twangling Jack, with twenty such vile terms,

       As she had studied to misuse me so.

      PETRUCHIO.

       Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench!

       I love her ten times more than e’er I did:

       O! how I long to have some chat with her!

      BAPTISTA.

       [To HORTENSIO.] Well, go with me, and be not so discomfited;

       Proceed in practice with my younger daughter;

       She’s apt to learn, and thankful for good turns.

       Signior Petruchio, will you go with us,

       Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you?

      PETRUCHIO.

       I pray you do. I will attend her here.

       [Exeunt BAPTISTA, GREMIO, TRANIO, and HORTENSIO.]

      And woo her with some spirit when she comes.

       Say that she rail; why, then I’ll tell her plain

       She sings as sweetly as a nightingale:

       Say that she frown; I’ll say she looks

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