And Walter’s dagger was not come from sheathing.

There were none fine but Adam, Ralph, and Gregory.

The rest were ragged, old, and beggarly.

Yet as they are, here are they come to meet you.

PETRUCCIO

Go, rascals, go and fetch my supper in.

Exeunt servants

(Sings)

‘Where is the life that late I led?

Where are those—’

Sit down, Kate, and welcome. Soud, soud, soud, soud.

Enter servants with supper

Why, when, I say?—Nay, good sweet Kate, be merry.—

Off with my boots, you rogues, you villains. When?

(Sings)

‘It was the friar of orders gray,

As he forth walked on his way.’

Out, you rogue, you pluck my foot awry.

(Kicking a servant) Take that, and mend the plucking of the other.

Be merry, Kate. (Calling) Some water, here. What, hoa!

Enter one with water

Where’s my spaniel Troilus? Sirrah, get you hence,

And bid my cousin Ferdinand come hither—

One, Kate, that you must kiss and be acquainted with.

(Calling) Where are my slippers? Shall I have some water?

Come, Kate, and wash, and welcome heartily.

[A servant drops water]

You whoreson villain, will you let it fall?

KATHERINE

Patience, I pray you, ‘twas a fault unwilling.

PETRUCCIO

A whoreson, beetle-headed, flap-eared knave. Come, Kate, sit down, I know you have a stomach. Will you give thanks, sweet Kate, or else shall I? 145 What’s this—mutton?

FIRST SERVINGMAN

Ay.

PETRUCCIO

Who brought it?

PETER

I.

PETRUCCIO

’Tis burnt, and so is all the meat.

What dogs are these? Where is the rascal cook?

How durst you villains bring it from the dresser

And serve it thus to me that love it not?

There, (throwing food) take it to you, trenchers, cups,

and all,

You heedless jolt-heads and unmannered slaves.

What, do you grumble? I’ll be with you straight.

He chases the servants away

KATHERINE

I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet.

The meat was well, if you were so contented.

PETRUCCIO

I tell thee, Kate, ‘twas burnt and dried away,

And I expressly am forbid to touch it,

For it engenders choler, planteth anger,

And better ’twere that both of us did fast,

Since of ourselves ourselves are choleric,

Than feed it with such overroasted flesh.

Be patient, tomorrow’t shall be mended,

And for this night we’ll fast for company.

Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber. Exeunt

Enter servants severally

NATHANIEL Peter, didst ever see the like?

PETER He kills her in her own humour.

Enter Curtis, a servant

GRUMIO Where is he?

CURTIS In her chamber,

Making a sermon of continency to her,

And rails, and swears, and rates, that she, poor soul,

Knows not which way to stand, to look, to speak,

And sits as one new risen from a dream.

Away, away, for he is coming hither.

Exeunt

Enter Petruccio

PETRUCCIO

Thus have I politicly begun my reign,

And ‘tis my hope to end successfully.

My falcon now is sharp and passing empty,

And till she stoop she must not be full-gorged,

For then she never looks upon her lure.

Another way I have to man my haggard,

To make her come and know her keeper’s call—

That is, to watch her as we watch these kites

That bate and beat, and will not be obedient.

She ate no meat today, nor none shall eat.

Last night she slept not, nor tonight she shall not.

As with the meat, some undeserved fault

I’ll find about the making of the bed,

And here I’ll fling the pillow, there the bolster,

This way the coverlet, another way the sheets,

Ay, and amid this hurly I intend

That all is done in reverent care of her,

And in conclusion she shall watch all night,

And if she chance to nod I’ll rail and brawl

And with the clamour keep her still awake.

This is a way to kill a wife with kindness,

And thus I’ll curb her mad and headstrong humour.

He that knows better how to tame a shrew,

Now let him speak. ’Tis charity to show.

Exit

4.2 Enter Tranio as Lucentio, and Hortensio as Licio

TRANIO

Is’t possible, friend Licio, that Mistress Bianca

Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?

I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand.

HORTENSIO

Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,

Stand by, and mark the manner of his teaching. 5

They stand aside.

Enter Bianca, and Lucentio as Cambio

LUCENTIO

Now, mistress, profit you in what you read?

BIANCA

What, master, read you? First resolve me that.

LUCENTIO

I read that I profess, The Art to Love.

BIANCA

And may you prove, sir, master of your art.

LUCENTIO

While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart. They stand aside

HORTENSIO

Quick proceeders, marry! Now tell me, I pray,

You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca

Loved none in the world so well as Lucentio.

TRANIO

O despiteful love, unconstant womankind!

I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful.

HORTENSIO

Mistake no more, I am not Licio,

Nor a musician as I seem to be,

But one that scorn to live in this disguise

For such a one as leaves a gentleman

And makes a god of such a cullion.

Know, sir, that I am called Hortensio.

TRANIO

Signor Hortensio, I have often heard

Of your entire affection to Bianca,