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 had she 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 Well, go with me and be not so discomfited:
Proceed in practise 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.
Exeunt all but PETRUCHIO
I will attend her here, 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 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.KATHARINA Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing:
They call me Katharina that do talk of me.PETRUCHIO You lie, in faith; for you are call'd 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 Kates, and therefore, Kate, Take this of me, Kate of my consolation;Hearing thy mildness praised in every town, Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded, Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs, Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife.KATHARINA Moved! in good time: let him that moved you hither Remove you hence: I knew you at the first You were a moveable.PETRUCHIO Why, what's a moveable? KATHARINA A join'd-stool.PETRUCHIO Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me.KATHARINA Asses are made to bear, and so are you.PETRUCHIO Women are made to bear, and so are you.KATHARINA No such jade as you, if me you mean.PETRUCHIO Alas! good Kate, I will not burden thee;For, knowing thee to be but young and light-- KATHARINA Too light for such a swain as you to catch;And yet as heavy as my weight should be.PETRUCHIO Should be! should--buzz! KATHARINA Well ta'en, and like a buzzard.PETRUCHIO O slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard take thee? KATHARINA Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a buzzard.PETRUCHIO Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you are too angry.KATHARINA If I be waspish, best beware my sting.PETRUCHIO My remedy is then, to pluck it out.KATHARINA Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies, PETRUCHIO Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting? In his tail.KATHARINA In his tongue.PETRUCHIO Whose tongue? KATHARINA Yours, if you talk of tails: and so farewell.PETRUCHIO What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman.KATHARINA That I'll try.
She strikes him PETRUCHIO I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again.KATHARINA So may you lose your arms:
If you strike me, you are no gentleman;
And if no gentleman, why then no arms.PETRUCHIO A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books! KATHARINA What is your crest? a coxcomb? PETRUCHIO A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen.KATHARINA No cock of mine; you crow too like a craven.PETRUCHIO Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour.KATHARINA It is my fashion, when I see a crab.PETRUCHIO Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not sour.KATHARINA There is, there is.PETRUCHIO Then show it me.KATHARINA Had I a glass, I would.PETRUCHIO What, you mean my face? KATHARINA Well aim'd of such a young one.PETRUCHIO Now, by Saint George, I am too young for you.KATHARINA Yet you are wither'd.PETRUCHIO 'Tis with cares.KATHARINA I care not.PETRUCHIO Nay, hear you, Kate: in sooth you scape not so.KATHARINA I chafe you, if I tarry: let me go.PETRUCHIO 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 are 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 hazel-twig Is straight and slender and as brown in hue As hazel nuts and sweeter than the kernels.
O, let me see thee walk: thou dost not halt.KATHARINA Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command.PETRUCHIO Did ever Dian so become a grove 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! KATHARINA Where did you study all this goodly speech? PETRUCHIO It is extempore, from my mother-wit.KATHARINA A witty mother! witless else her son.PETRUCHIO Am I not wise? KATHARINA Yes; keep you warm.PETRUCHIO Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharina, in thy bed:
