Say, that she frown; I'll say, she looks as clear
As morning roses newly wash'd with dew:
Say, she be mute, and will not speak a word;
Then I'll commend her volubility,

And say-she uttereth piercing eloquence:
If she do bid me pack, I'll give her thanks,
As though she bid me stay by her a week;
If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day

When I shall ask the banns, and when be married :-
But here she comes; and now, Petruchio, speak.

Enter KATHARINA.

Good-morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear.
Kath. Well have you heard, but something hard of

hearing;

They call me-Katharine, that do talk of me.

Pet. You lie, in faith; for you are called plain Kate, And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst; But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom, Kate of Kate-Hall, my super-dainty Kate, For dainties are all cates; and therefore, Kate, Take this of me, Kate of my consolation ;Hearing thy mildness prais'd in every town, Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded, (Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,)

Myself am mov'd to woo thee for my wife.

Kath. Mov'd! in good time: let him that mov'd you

hither,

Remove you hence: I knew you at the first,

Kath. Asses are made to bear, and so are you.

A joint-stool.] This is a proverbial expression;
"Cry you mercy, I took you for a join'd stool."

Sce Ray's Collection.

Pet. Women are made to bear, and so are you.
Kath. No such jade, sir, as you, if me you mean.
Pet. Alas, good Kate! I will not burden thee:
For, knowing thee to be but young and light,—
Kath. Too light for such a swain as you to catch;
And yet as heavy as my weight should be.

Pet. Should be? should buz.

Kath.

Well ta'en, and like a buzzard. Pet. O, slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard take

thee?

Kath. Ay, for a turtle; as he takes a buzzard.

Pet. Come, come, you wasp; i̇'faith, you are too

angry.

Kath. If I be waspish, best beware my sting.

Pet. My remedy is then, to pluck it out.

Kath. Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies.

Pet. Who knows not where a wasp doth wear his sting?

In his tail.

Kath.

Pet.

In his tongue.

Whose tongue?

Kath. Yours, if you talk of tails; and so farewell.
Pet. What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come

again,

Good Kate; I am a gentleman.

Kath.

That I'll try.

[Striking him.

strike again.

Pet. I swear I'll cuff you, if you
Kath. So may you lose your arms:

If you strike me, you are no gentleman;

And if no gentleman, why, then no arms.

Pet. A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books.
Kath. What is your crest? a coxcomb?

Pet. A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen.
Kath. No cock of mine, you crow too like a craven.

7 a craven.] A craven is a degenerate, dispirited cock. Craven, was a term also applied to those who in appeals of battle

Pet. Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so

sour.

Kath. It is my fashion, when I see a crab.

Pet. Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not

sour.

Kath. There is, there is.

Pet. Then show it me.
Kath.

Had I a glass, I would.

Well aim'd of such a young one.

Pet. What, you mean my face?

Kath.

Pet. Now, by Saint George, I am too young for you.

Kath. Yet you are wither'd.

Pet.

Kath.

'Tis with cares.

I care not.

Pet. Nay, hear you, Kate: in sooth, you 'scape not so. Kath. I chafe you, if I tarry; let me go.

Pet. No, not a whit; I find you passing gentle. 'Twas told me, you were rough, and coy, and sullen, And now I find report a very liar;

For thou art pleasant, gamesome, passing courteous ;
But slow in speech, yet sweet as spring-time flowers:
Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look askance,
Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will;

Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk ;
But thou with mildness entertain'st thy wooers,
With gentle conference, soft and affable.

Why does the world report, that Kate doth limp?
O slanderous world! Kate, like the hazle-twig,
Is straight, and slender; and as brown in hue,
As hazle nuts, and sweeter than the kernels.
O, let me see thee walk: thou dost not halt.
Kath. Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command.
Pet. Did ever Dian so become a grove,

became recreant, and by pronouncing this word, called for quarter from their opponents, the consequence of which was they were for ever after deemed infamous.

As Kate this chamber with her princely gait?
O, be thou Dian, and let her be Kate;

And then let Kate be chaste, and Dian sportful !
Kath. Where did you study all this goodly speech?
Pet. It is extempore, from my mother-wit.

Kath. A witty mother! witless else her son.
Pet. Am I not wise?

Kath.

Yes; keep you warm.

Pet. Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharine, in thy bed: And therefore, setting all this chat aside,

Thus in plain terms:-Your father hath consented
That you shall be my wife; your dowry 'greed on ;-
And, will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn;
For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,
(Thy beauty, that doth make me like thee well,)
Thou must be married to no man but me:
For I am he, am born to tame you, Kate;
And bring you from a wild cat to a Kate†
Conformable, as other household Kates.
Here comes your father; never make denial,
I must and will have Katharine to my wife.

Re-enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and TRANIO.

Bap. Now,

Signior Petruchio: How speed you with

My daughter?

Pet.

How but well, sir? how but well?

It were impossible, I should speed amiss.

Bap. Why, how now, daughter Katharine? in your dumps?

Kath. Call you me, daughter? now I promise you,

You have show'd a tender fatherly regard,

To wish me wed to one half lunatick;

A mad-cap ruffian, and a swearing Jack,

That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.

"a wild Kate to a Kate" MALONE.

Pet. Father, 'tis thus,-yourself and all the world, That talk'd of her, have talk'd amiss of her;

If she be curst, it is for policy:

For she's not froward, but modest as the dove;
She is not hot, but temperate as the morn;
For patience she will prove a second Grissel;
And Roman Lucrece for her chastity :

And to conclude,—we have 'greed so well together,
That upon Sunday is the wedding-day.

Kath. I'll see thee hang'd on Sunday first.

Gre. Hark, Petruchio! she says, she'll see thee hang'd first.

Tra. Is this your speeding? nay, then, good night our part!

Pet. Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself; If she and I be pleas'd, what's that to you? 'Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain, being alone, That she shall still be curst in company.

I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe

How much she loves me: O, the kindest Kate!—
She hung about my neck; and kiss on kiss
She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath,
That in a twink she won me to her love.
O, you are novices! 'tis a world to see'
How tame, when men and women are alone,

A meacock wretch' can make the curstest shrew.-
Give me thy hand, Kate: I will unto Venice,
To buy apparel 'gainst the wedding-day :-
Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests;
I will be sure, my Katharine shall be fine.

Bap. I know not what to say: but give me your hands; God send you joy, Petruchio! 'tis a match.

8 She vied so fast,] Vye and revye were terms at cards, now superseded by the more modern word, brag.

9 'tis a world to see] i. e. it is wonderful to see. This expression is often met with in old historians as well as dramatic writers.

1

A meacock wretch —] i. e. a timorous, dastardly creature.