Taming of the Shrew

[Guru]

BAPTISTA


Ay, that Petruchio came.

 

[Guru]

BIONDELLO


No, sir, I say his horse comes, with him on his back.

 

[Guru]

BAPTISTA


Why, that's all one.

 

[Guru]

BIONDELLO


Nay, by Saint Jamy,
I hold you a penny,
A horse and a man
Is more than one,
And yet not many.

Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO

 

[Guru]

PETRUCHIO


Come, where be these gallants? who's at home?

 

[Guru]

BAPTISTA


You are welcome, sir.

 

[Guru]

PETRUCHIO


And yet I come not well.

 

[Guru]

BAPTISTA


And yet you halt not.

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


Not so well apparell'd
As I wish you were.

 

[Guru]

PETRUCHIO


Were it better, I should rush in thus.
But where is Kate? where is my lovely bride?
How does my father? Gentles, methinks you frown:
And wherefore gaze this goodly company,
As if they saw some wondrous monument,
Some comet or unusual prodigy?

 

[Guru]

BAPTISTA


Why, sir, you know this is your wedding-day:
First were we sad, fearing you would not come;
Now sadder, that you come so unprovided.
Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate,
An eye-sore to our solemn festival!

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


And tells us, what occasion of import
Hath all so long detain'd you from your wife,
And sent you hither so unlike yourself?

 

[Guru]

PETRUCHIO


Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear:
Sufficeth I am come to keep my word,
Though in some part enforced to digress;
Which, at more leisure, I will so excuse
As you shall well be satisfied withal.
But where is Kate? I stay too long from her:
The morning wears, 'tis time we were at church.

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


See not your bride in these unreverent robes:
Go to my chamber; Put on clothes of mine.

 

[Guru]

PETRUCHIO


Not I, believe me: thus I'll visit her.

 

[Guru]

BAPTISTA


But thus, I trust, you will not marry her.

 

[Guru]

PETRUCHIO


Good sooth, even thus; therefore ha' done with words:
To me she's married, not unto my clothes:
Could I repair what she will wear in me,
As I can change these poor accoutrements,
'Twere well for Kate and better for myself.
But what a fool am I to chat with you,
When I should bid good morrow to my bride,
And seal the title with a lovely kiss!

Exeunt PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


He hath some meaning in his mad attire:
We will persuade him, be it possible,
To put on better ere he go to church.

 

[Guru]

BAPTISTA


I'll after him, and see the event of this.

Exeunt BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and attendants

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


But to her love concerneth us to add
Her father's liking: which to bring to pass,
As I before unparted to your worship,
I am to get a man,--whate'er he be,
It skills not much. we'll fit him to our turn,--
And he shall be Vincentio of Pisa;
And make assurance here in Padua
Of greater sums than I have promised.
So shall you quietly enjoy your hope,
And marry sweet Bianca with consent.

 

[Guru]

LUCENTIO


Were it not that my fellow-school-master
Doth watch Bianca's steps so narrowly,
'Twere good, methinks, to steal our marriage;
Which once perform'd, let all the world say no,
I'll keep mine own, despite of all the world.

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


That by degrees we mean to look into,
And watch our vantage in this business:
We'll over-reach the greybeard, Gremio,
The narrow-prying father, Minola,
The quaint musician, amorous Licio;
All for my master's sake, Lucentio.

Re-enter GREMIO

Signior Gremio, came you from the church?

 

[Guru]

GREMIO


As willingly as e'er I came from school.

 

[Guru]

TRANIO


And is the bride and bridegroom coming home?

 

[Guru]

GREMIO


A bridegroom say you? 'tis a groom indeed,
A grumbling groom, and that the girl shall find.