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:

175

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.

180

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 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,

185

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.

Kath. Moved! in good time: let him that moved you

hither

Remove you hence: I knew you at the first

You were a moveable.

Pet.

Why, what's a moveable?

Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me.

Kath. A join'd-stool.

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

179. banns] Johnson. banes FfQ. 185. bonny] F4. bony FQ F2F3. 188. Kates] cates Pope.

191. sounded] founded F2
197. join'd] joint Capell.

190

195

Kath. No such jade 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-buzz!

200

Kath.
Well ta'en, and like a buzzard. 205
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; i' 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 does wear his sting? In his tail.

Kath. Yours, if you talk of tails: and so farewell.

210

Pet. What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again, 215 Good Kate; I am a gentleman.

Kath.

That I'll try. [She strikes him.

Pet. I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again.

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.
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.

Pet. What, you mean my face?

Kath.

220

225

Well aim'd of such a young one. 230

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:

235

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.

227. sour] so sour Theobald. 240. askance] Capell. a sconce F1 Q a scance F2 F3 F4. ascance Rowe

(ed. 2).

245. does] doth Rowe.

240

245

Kath. Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command.
Pet. 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!

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?

Yes; keep you warm.

250

255

Kath.

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

260

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 Kate 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

265

270

275

Kath. Call you me daughter? now, I promise you You have show'd a tender fatherly regard,

To wish me wed to one half lunatic;

A mad-cap ruffian and a swearing Jack,

280

That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.

Pet. Father, 'tis thus: yourself and all the world,

That talk'd of her, have talk'd amiss of her:

285

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

290

first.

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

our part!

Pet. Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself:

295

If she and I be pleased, 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,

300

A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.

305

Give me thy hand, Kate: I will unto Venice,