The Taming of the Shrew (Folger Shakespeare Library)

by William Shakespeare

I’ll feeze you, in faith.

Seeing too much sadness hath congealed your 133 blood, 134 And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy.

MESSENGER Your Honor’s players, hearing your amendment, 130 Are come to play a pleasant comedy, 131 For so your doctors hold it very meet, 132 Seeing too much sadness hath congealed your 133 blood, 134 And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy. 135 . . . Footnotes 130. players: actors; amendment: recovery 132. hold . . . meet: regard it to be most suitable 133. Seeing: i.e., seeing that 135. nurse of frenzy: nourisher of madness or delirium

sit by my 145 side, and let the world slip. We shall ne’er be 146 younger.

Tranio, since for the great desire I had 1 To see fair Padua, nursery of arts, 2 I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy, 3 The pleasant garden of great Italy, 4 And by my father’s love and leave am armed 5 With his goodwill and thy good company.

< ACT 1 > < Scene 1 > Flourish. Enter Lucentio and his man Tranio. LUCENTIO Tranio, since for the great desire I had 1 To see fair Padua, nursery of arts, 2 I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy, 3 The pleasant garden of great Italy, 4 And by my father’s love and leave am armed 5 With his goodwill and thy good company. 6

And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study 17 Virtue, and that part of philosophy 18 Will I apply that treats of happiness 19 By virtue specially to be achieved.

< ACT 1 > < Scene 1 > Flourish. Enter Lucentio and his man Tranio. LUCENTIO And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study 17 Virtue, and that part of philosophy 18 Will I apply that treats of happiness 19 By virtue specially to be achieved. 20 Footnote 17. the: i.e., this 19–20. Will I apply . . . achieved: i.e., I will devote myself to that part of philosophy that deals with the happiness achieved through virtue

No profit grows where is no pleasure ta’en. 39 In brief, sir, study what you most affect.

To cart her, rather. She’s too rough for me.—

GREMIO To cart her, rather. She’s too rough for me.—55 There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife? 56 Footnote 55. cart: Women who transgressed community standards were shamed by being paraded through the streets in open carts.

Husht, master, here’s some good pastime toward; 69 That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward.

TRANIO, < aside to Lucentio > Husht, master, here’s some good pastime toward; 69 That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward. 70 Footnote 70. wonderful froward: amazingly ungovernable

A husband? A devil!

there’s small choice in 136 rotten apples.

I am agreed, and would I had given him the 144 best horse in Padua to begin his wooing that would 145 thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid 146 the house of her.

GREMIO I am agreed, and would I had given him the 144 best horse in Padua to begin his wooing that would 145 thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid 146 the house of her. Come on. 147 < Gremio and Hortensio > exit. Tranio and Lucentio remain onstage.

while idly I stood looking on, 152 I found the effect of love-in-idleness,

LUCENTIO . . . while idly I stood looking on, 152 I found the effect of love-in-idleness, Footnote 153. I found . . . love-in-idleness: i.e., I fell in love (Lucentio plays with the idea that idleness begets love, “love-in-idleness” being the name of a flower whose juice in one’s eyes, according to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, causes one to love the next thing that one sees.)

Redime te <captum> quam queas minimo.

TRANIO Redime te < captum > quam queas minimo. Footnote 164. Redime . . . minimo: i.e., ransom yourself from capture as cheaply as possible (Latin)

Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd

’Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady. 263 Would ’twere done.

FIRST SERVINGMAN My lord, you nod. You do not mind the play. 259 SLY Yes, by Saint Anne, do I. A good matter, surely. 260 Comes there any more of it? 261 < PAGE, as > LADY My lord, ’tis but begun. 262 SLY ’Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady. 263 Would ’twere done. 264 They sit and mark.

Be she as foul as was Florentius’ love, 70 As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd 71 As Socrates’ Xanthippe,

PETRUCHIO . . . Be she as foul as was Florentius’ love, 70 As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd 71 As Socrates’ Xanthippe, . . . Footnotes 70. foul: ugly; Florentius’ love: Florentius, in John Gower’s fourteenth-century Confessio Amantis, agrees to marry an old hag, who is later transformed into a young beauty. 71. Sibyl: the Sibyl of Cumae, who had been granted as many years of life as there are grains in a handful of sand (See picture.) curst and shrewd: bad-tempered 72. Socrates’ Xanthippe: The wife of Socrates is usually represented as a shrew.

She moves me not, or not removes at least 73 Affection’s edge in me,

I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; 76 If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal.

Whate’er I read to her, I’ll plead for you 155 As for my patron, stand you so assured, 156 As firmly as yourself were still in place, 157 Yea, and perhaps with more successful words 158 Than you—unless you were a scholar, sir. 159 GREMIO O this learning, what a thing it is!

LUCENTIO, < as CAMBIO > Whate’er I read to her, I’ll plead for you 155 As for my patron, stand you so assured, 156 As firmly as yourself were still in place, 157 Yea, and perhaps with more successful words 158 Than you—unless you were a scholar, sir. 159 GREMIO O this learning, what a thing it is! 160

I know she is an irksome, brawling scold.

But will you woo this wildcat?

Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? 202 Have I not in my time heard lions roar? 203 Have I not heard the sea, puffed up with winds, 204 Rage like an angry boar chafèd with sweat? 205 Have I not heard great ordnance in the field 206 And heaven’s artillery thunder in the skies? 207 Have I not in a pitchèd battle heard 208 Loud ’larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets clang? 209 And do you tell me of a woman’s tongue, 210 That gives not half so great a blow to hear 211 As will a chestnut in a farmer’s fire? 212 Tush, tush, fear boys with bugs!

PETRUCHIO Why came I hither but to that intent? 201 Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? 202 Have I not in my time heard lions roar? 203 Have I not heard the sea, puffed up with winds, 204 Rage like an angry boar chafèd with sweat? 205 Have I not heard great ordnance in the field 206 And heaven’s artillery thunder in the skies? 207 Have I not in a pitchèd battle heard 208 Loud ’larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets clang? 209 And do you tell me of a woman’s tongue, 210 That gives not half so great a blow to hear 211 As will a chestnut in a farmer’s fire? 212 Tush, tush, fear boys with bugs! 213 GRUMIO For he fears none. 214

For shame, thou hilding of a devilish 27 spirit!

BAPTISTA Why, how now, dame, whence grows this 23 insolence?—24 Bianca, stand aside.—Poor girl, she weeps! 25 < He unties her hands. > < To Bianca. > Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her. 26 < To Katherine. > For shame, thou hilding of a devilish 27 spirit! 28 Why dost thou wrong her that did ne’er wrong 29 thee? 30 When did she cross thee with a bitter word? 31 Footnote 27. hilding: beast

Her silence flouts me, and I’ll be revenged!

PETRUCHIO And you, good sir. Pray, have you not a daughter 45 Called Katherina, fair and virtuous? 46 BAPTISTA I have a daughter, sir, called Katherina. 47

PETRUCHIO And you, good sir. Pray, have you not a daughter 45 Called Katherina, fair and virtuous? 46 BAPTISTA I have a daughter, sir, called Katherina. 47

Why, that is nothing. For I tell you, father, 137 I am as peremptory as she proud-minded; 138 And where two raging fires meet together, 139 They do consume the thing that feeds their fury. 140 Though little fire grows great with little wind, 141 Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all. 142 So I to her and so she yields to me, 143 For I am rough and woo not like a babe.

PETRUCHIO Why, that is nothing. For I tell you, father, 137 I am as peremptory as she proud-minded; 138 And where two raging fires meet together, 139 They do consume the thing that feeds their fury. 140 Though little fire grows great with little wind, 141 Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all. 142 So I to her and so she yields to me, 143 For I am rough and woo not like a babe. 144

Ay, to the proof, as mountains are for winds, 147 That shakes not, though they blow perpetually.

PETRUCHIO Ay, to the proof, as mountains are for winds, 147 That shakes not, though they blow perpetually. 148 Enter Hortensio < as Litio > with his head broke. Footnote 147. to the proof: in tested or proven armor, invulnerable 147–48. as mountains . . . perpetually: i.e., as mountains, which do not shake, even though winds blow against them perpetually

BAPTISTA Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute? 154 HORTENSIO, <as LITIO> Why, no, for she hath broke the lute to me. 155

BAPTISTA Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute? 154 HORTENSIO, < as LITIO > Why, no, for she hath broke the lute to me. 155

Say that she rail, why then I’ll tell her plain 178 She sings as sweetly as a nightingale. 179 Say that she frown, I’ll say she looks as clear 180 As morning roses newly washed with dew. 181 Say she be mute and will not speak a word, 182 Then I’ll commend her volubility 183 And say she uttereth piercing eloquence.

BAPTISTA . . . Signior Petruchio, will you go with us, 174 Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you? 175 PETRUCHIO I pray you do. I’ll attend her here—176 All but Petruchio exit. And woo her with some spirit when she comes! 177 Say that she rail, why then I’ll tell her plain 178 She sings as sweetly as a nightingale. 179 Say that she frown, I’ll say she looks as clear 180 As morning roses newly washed with dew. 181 Say she be mute and will not speak a word, 182 Then I’ll commend her volubility 183 And say she uttereth piercing eloquence. 184 If she do bid me pack, I’ll give her thanks 185 As though she bid me stay by her a week. 186 If she deny to wed, I’ll crave the day 187 When I shall ask the banns, and when be marrièd. 188 But here she comes—and now, Petruchio, speak. 189 Enter Katherine. Good morrow, Kate, for that’s your name, I hear. 190

You lie, in faith, for you are called plain Kate, 193 And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst. 194 But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom, 195 Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate 196 (For dainties are all Kates)—and therefore, Kate, 197 Take this of me, Kate of my consolation: 198 Hearing thy mildness praised in every town, 199 Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded 200 (Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs), 201 Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife.

PETRUCHIO You lie, in faith, for you are called plain Kate, 193 And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst. 194 But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom, 195 Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate 196 (For dainties are all Kates)—and therefore, Kate, 197 Take this of me, Kate of my consolation: 198 Hearing thy mildness praised in every town, 199 Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded 200 (Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs), 201 Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife. 202

Let him that moved you 203 hither 204 Remove you hence.

KATHERINE Asses are made to bear, and so are you. 210 PETRUCHIO Women are made to bear, and so are you. 211

KATHERINE Asses are made to bear, and so are you. 210 PETRUCHIO Women are made to bear, and so are you. 211

PETRUCHIO Come, come, you wasp! I’ faith, you are too angry. 222 KATHERINE If I be waspish, best beware my sting. 223 PETRUCHIO My remedy is then to pluck it out. 224 KATHERINE Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies. 225 PETRUCHIO Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting? 226 In his tail. 227 KATHERINE In his tongue. 228 PETRUCHIO Whose tongue? 229 KATHERINE Yours, if you talk of tales, and so farewell. 230 PETRUCHIO What, with my tongue in your tail? 231 Nay, come again, good Kate. I am a gentleman— 232

PETRUCHIO Come, come, you wasp! I’ faith, you are too angry. 222 KATHERINE If I be waspish, best beware my sting. 223 PETRUCHIO My remedy is then to pluck it out. 224 KATHERINE Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies. 225 PETRUCHIO Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting? 226 In his tail. 227 KATHERINE In his tongue. 228 PETRUCHIO Whose tongue? 229 KATHERINE Yours, if you talk of tales, and so farewell. 230 PETRUCHIO What, with my tongue in your tail? 231 Nay, come again, good Kate. I am a gentleman—232

KATHERINE What is your crest? A coxcomb? 239 PETRUCHIO A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen. 240 KATHERINE No cock of mine. You crow too like a craven. 241

KATHERINE What is your crest? A coxcomb? 239 PETRUCHIO A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen. 240 KATHERINE No cock of mine. You crow too like a craven. 241

For I am he am born to tame you, Kate, 291 And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate 292 Conformable as other household Kates. 293

If she and I be pleased, what’s that to you?

She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath, 328 That in a twink she won me to her love. 329 O, you are novices! ’Tis a world to see 330 How tame, when men and women are alone, 331 A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.—

PETRUCHIO . . . She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath, 328 That in a twink she won me to her love. 329 O, you are novices! ’Tis a world to see 330 How tame, when men and women are alone, 331 A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.—332 Footnotes 328. vied: repeated, piled up 329. twink: i.e., twinkling of an eye 332. meacock: meek

We will have rings, and things, and fine array, 342 And kiss me, Kate. We will be married o’ Sunday.

PETRUCHIO Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu. 340 I will to Venice. Sunday comes apace. 341 We will have rings, and things, and fine array, 342 And kiss me, Kate. We will be married o’ Sunday. 343 Petruchio and Katherine exit < through different doors. >

Old fashions please me best.

Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure.

such an injury would vex a very saint, 28 Much more a shrew of <thy> impatient humor.

A monster, 68 a very monster in apparel,

’Tis some odd humor pricks him to this fashion, 71 Yet oftentimes he goes but mean-appareled.

GREMIO Why, he’s a devil, a devil, a very fiend. 157 TRANIO, <as LUCENTIO> Why, she’s a devil, a devil, the Devil’s dam. 158

GREMIO Why, he’s a devil, a devil, a very fiend. 157 TRANIO, < as LUCENTIO > Why, she’s a devil, a devil, the Devil’s dam. 158

he took the bride about the neck 179 And kissed her lips with such a clamorous smack 180 That at the parting all the church did echo.

Such a mad marriage never was before!

Hark, hark, I hear the minstrels play.

I am content you shall entreat me stay, 207 But yet not stay, entreat me how you can.

TRANIO, < as LUCENTIO > Let us entreat you stay till after dinner. 200 PETRUCHIO It may not be. 201 GREMIO Let me entreat you. 202 PETRUCHIO It cannot be. 203 KATHERINE Let me entreat you. 204 PETRUCHIO I am content. 205 KATHERINE Are you content to stay? 206 PETRUCHIO I am content you shall entreat me stay, 207 But yet not stay, entreat me how you can. 208 KATHERINE Now, if you love me, stay.

I see a woman may be made a fool 226 If she had not a spirit to resist.