Hor. I think she'll sooner prove a soldier ; Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. Bup. Why then thou canst not break her to the lute? Hor. Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me. I did but tell her, she mistook her frets,1 And bowed her hand to teach her fingering, When, with a most impatient, devilish spirit, Frets, calls you these? quoth she; I'll fume with them; As on a pillory, looking through the lute; And, twangling Jack; with twenty such vile terms, Pet. 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! Bap. 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.Seignior Petruchio, will you go with us? Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you Pet. I pray you, do; I will attend her here,[Exeunt BAPTISTA, GREMIO, TRANIO, and HORTENSIO. ? And woo her with some spirit when she comes. 1 Frets are the points at which a string is to be stopped, formerly marked on the neck of such instruments as the lute or guitar. If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day When I shall ask the bans, and when be married. 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 praised in every town, Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauties 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, hence. I knew you at the first, Remove you hence. You were a movable. Pet. Kath. A joint-stool. Why, what's a movable? Pet. Kath. Asses are made to bear, and so are you. 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. Thou hast hit it; come, sit on me. Pet. Should be? should buzz. Kath. Well ta'en, and like a buzzard. Pet. O, slow-winged turtle! shall a buzzard take thee? 1 This is a poor quibble upon heard, which was then pronounced hard. Kath. Ay, for a turtle; as he takes a buzzard.1 angry. Kath. If I be waspish, best beware my 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. Pet. I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again. If you strike me, you are no gentleman; Pet. A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books. Pet. A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen. craven.2 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? 1 This kind of expression seems to have been proverbial. So in The Three Lords of London, 1590: Kath. Well aimed of such a young one. Pet. Now, by Saint George, I am too young for you. Kath. Yet you are withered. 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; Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk; Kath. Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command. 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. A witty-mother! witless else her son. Kath. Yes; keep you warm.1 Thus in plain terms:--Your father hath consented 1 This appears to allude to some proverb. And, will you, nill you, I will marry you. Re-enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and TRANIO. Seignior Petruchio, how speed you with Pet. How but well, sir? how but well? It were impossible I should speed amiss. Вар. Why, how now, daughter Katharine; in your dumps? Kath. Call you me daughter? Now, I promise you, You have showed a tender, fatherly regard, To wish me wed to one half lunatic; A mad-cap ruffian, and a swearing Jack, That thinks with oaths to face the matter out. Pet. Father, 'tis thus:-Yourself and all the world, For she's not froward, but modest as the dove; 2 And to conclude,-we have 'greed so well together, That upon Sunday is the wedding-day. Kath. I'll see thee hanged on Sunday first. 1 Thus the first folio. The second folio reads: "a wild Kat to a Kate;" the modern editors, "a wild cat." 2 The story of Griselda, so beautifully related by Chaucer, was taken oy him from Boccaccio. It is thought to be older than the time of the Florentine, as it is to be found among the old fabliaux. |