 Act 4 of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Act 4 Scene 1 A hall in Petruccio's country house Enter Grumio Fire on all tired jades On all mad masters And all foul ways Was ever man so beaten Was ever man so raid Was ever man so weary I am sent before to make a fire And they are coming after to warm them Now, were not I a little pot But dead soon hot My very lips might freeze to my teeth My tongue to the roof of my mouth My heart in my belly I should come by a fire to thaw me But I with blowing the fire shall warm myself For considering the weather A taller man than I will take cold Oh, Curtis Enter Curtis Who is that that calls so codely? A piece of ice If thou doubt it, thou matesed Slide from my shoulder to my heel With no greater a run But my head and my neck A fire Good Curtis Is my master and his wife coming, Grumio? Oh, I, Curtis, I And therefore fire Fire Cast no water Is she so hot as shrew as she reported? She was, good Curtis, before this frost But thou knowest winter tames Man, woman, and beast For it hath tamed my old master And my new mistress and myself Fellow, Curtis Hey, you three-inch fool, I am no beast Am I but three inches? Why, thy horn is a foot And so long am I at the least But wilt thou make a fire Or shall I complain on thee to our mistress Whose hand, she being now at hand Thou shalt soon feel to thy cold comfort For being so slow in thy hot office I pretty, good Grumio, tell me, how goes the world? A cold world, Curtis, in every office but thine And therefore fire Do thy duty and have thy duty For my master and mistress are almost frozen to death There's fire ready, and therefore, good Grumio, the news? Jack-boy, whole-boy, and as much news as thou wilt Come, you are so full of Coney-catching Why, therefore, fire, for I have caught extreme cold Where's the cook? Is supper ready? The house trimmed, rushes strewed Cobwebs swept, the serving men and their new fustion Their white stockings And every officer his wedding garment on Be the jacks fair within The jills fair without And carpets laid and everything in order Already, and therefore I pray the news? First, know my horse is tired My master and mistress fallen out How? Out of their saddles into the dirt And thereby hangs a tail Let's hot, good Grumio Lend thine ear Here There This tears to fill a tale, not to hear a tale And, therefore, is called a sensible tale And this cuff was but to knock at your car And be siege, listening Now, I begin Imprimus became down a foul hill My master riding behind my mistress Both of one horse? What's that to thee? Why a horse? Tell thou the tale But hets thou not crossed me Thou shouldst have heard how her horse fell And she under her horse Thou shouldst have heard in how myery a place How she was bemoiled How he left her with the horse upon her How he beat me because her horse stumbled How she waded through the dirt to pluck him off me How he swore, how she prayed That never prayed before How I cried, how the horses ran away How her bridle was burst How I lost my crepper With many things of worthy memory Which now shall die in oblivion And return unexperienced to thy grave By this reckoning he is more shrew than she I, and that thou and the proudest of you All shall find when he comes home But what talk I of this? Call forth Nathaniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Philip, Walter, Sugarsop and the rest Let their heads be sleekly combed Their blue coats brushed and their garters Of an indifferent knit Let them curtsy with their left legs And not presume to touch a hair of my master's horsetail Till they kiss their hands Are they all ready? They are Call them forth You hear, whole, you must be my master To countenance my mistress Why, she hath a face of her own Who knows not that? Thou, it seems, that calls for company to countenance her I call them forth to credit her Why, she comes to borrow nothing of them Enter several servants Welcome home, Grumio How now, Grumio? Fellow, Grumio How now, old lad? Welcome, you How now, you What, you Fellow, you And thus much for greeting Now, my spruce companions Is all ready and all things neat All things is ready How near is our master? Aim that hand, alighted by this And therefore be not Cocks, passion, silence I hear my master Enter Petruccio and Caterina Where be these nays? What, no man at door To hold my stirrup nor to take my horse? Where is Nathaniel, Gregory, Philip? Here, sir Here, sir Here, sir Here, sir Here, sir You lager-headed and unpolished rooms What, no attendance, no regard, no duty? Where is the foolish nave I sent before? Here, sir As foolish as I was before You peasant swain You horse-unmalt-horse dredge Did I not bid thee meet me in the park And bring along these rascal naves with thee? Nathaniel's coat, sir Was not fully made And Gabriel's pumps Were all unpinked in the heel There was no link To color Peter's hat And Walter's dagger Was not come from sheathing There was none fine But Adam, Ralph and Gregory The rest were ragged old and beckerly Yet as they are Here are they come to meet you Go, rascals, go And fetch my supper in Exit some of the servants Where is the life that late I led? Where are those Sit down, Kate, and welcome Soad, soad, soad, soad Re-enter servants with supper Why, when I say Nay, good sweet Kate, be merry Off with my boots, you rogues You villains, when? It was the friar of order's gray As he forth walked on his way Out, you rogue, you pluck my foot awry Take that, and mend the plucking off the other Be merry, Kate, some otter here What ho? Where's my spaniel-trollots? Sirah, get you hence, and bid my cousin Ferdinand Come hither Exit, servant One, Kate, that you must kiss and be acquainted with Where are my slippers? Shall I have some water? Come, Kate, and wash, and welcome heartily Servant, let's do you a fall Petruchio strikes him You horse-unvillain, will you let it fall? Patience, I pray you, twas a fault unwilling A horse-un, beetle-headed, flappiered knave Come, Kate, sit down, I know you have a stomach Will you give thanks, sweet Kate, or else shall I What's this, mutton? I Who brought it? I 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? Throws the meat, etc. at them There, 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 I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet The meat was well if you were so contented I tell thee, Kate, twas burnt and dried away And I expressly am forbid to touch it For it engenders collar, planteth anger And better to her that both of us did fast Sense of ourselves, ourselves are choleric Then feed it with such overroasted flesh Be patient, Tamara should be mended And for this night we'll fast for company Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber Excellent Petruccio, Caterina and Curtis Peter, didst ever see the like? He kills her in her own humor Re-enter, Curtis Where is he? In her chamber, making a sermon of contentancy 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 Excellent Re-enter, Petruccio Thus have I politically begun my reign And tis my hope to end successfully My falcon now is sharp and passing empty Until she's stoop she must not be vulgarged 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 bait and beat and will not be obedient She eats no meat to-day, nor none shall eat Last night she slept not, nor to-night 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 I, 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 chants 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 Scene 2 Padua Before Baptista's house Enter Tranio and Hortensio It's possible, friend Licio, that Mistress Bianca Doth fancy any other but Luchensio I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said Stand by and mark the manner of his teaching They stand aside Enter Bianca in Luchensio Now, Mistress, profit you in what you read? What master read you? First resolve me that I read that I profess The art to love And may you prove, sir, master of your art While you, sweet dear, prove Mistress of my heart They retire Quick procedures, Mary Now tell me, I pray, you that Durst swear That your Mistress Bianca Loved none in the world so well as Luchensio Oh, despiteful love, Unconstant womankind I tell thee, Luchio, this is wonderful Make no mistake, I am not Luchio Nor a musician as I seem to be But one that's scorn to live in this disguise For such a one as leaves a gentleman And makes a god of such a cullian Know, sir, that I am called Hortensio Signor Hortensio, I have often heard Of your entire affection to Bianca And since my eyes are witness of her lightness I will with you, if you be so contented For swear Bianca and her love for ever See how they kiss in court Signor Luchensio, here is my hand And here I firmly vow never to woo her more But do for swear her as one unworthy All the former favours that I Have fondly flattered her with all And here I take the like on feynid oath Never to marry with her though she would entreat Fie on her, see how beastly she doth court him Would all the world but he had quite foresworn For me that I may surely keep mine oath I will be married to a wealthy widow There three days pass Which hath as long loved me as I Have loved this proud, disdainful haggard And so farewell, Signor Luchensio Kindness in women, not their Beautyous looks shall win my love And so I take my leave in resolution As I swore before Exit Hortensio, Luchensio and Bianca advance Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace As longeth to a lover's blessed case Nay, I have tain you napping gentle love And have foresworn you with Hortensio Tronio, you chast! But have you both foresworn me? Mistress, we have Then we are rid of Luchensio If Faith Hill have a lusty widow now That shall be wooed and wedded in a day God give him joy Aye, and he'll tame her He says so, Tronio Faith, he has gone unto the taming school The taming school? What, is there such a place? Aye, Mistress, and Petruccio is the master That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue Enter Biondello, running Oh, master, master I have watched so long that I am dog-weary But at last I spied an ancient angel Coming down the hill will serve the turn What is he, Biondello? Master, a mercantante, or a pedant I know not what, but formal in apparel In gate and countenance surely like a father And what of him, Tronio? If he be credulous and trust my tale I'll make him glad to seem Vincencio And give assurance to Baptiste Minola As if he were the right Vincencio Take in your love, and then let me alone Exeunt Lucencio and Bianca Enter a pedant God save you, sir And you, sir, you are welcome Travel you far on, or are you with the farthest? Sir, at the farthest hole we go to But then a father, and as far as Rome And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life What countrymen I pray? Of Mantua Of Mantua, sir Marry God forbid And come to Padua, careless of your life My life, sir, how I pray That goes hard To his death for anyone in Mantua To come to Padua Know you not the cause Your ships are stayed at Venice And the Duke, for private, quarrel-twixed Your Duke and him, hath published And proclaimed it openly His marvel, but that you are but newly come You might have heard it else proclaimed about Alas, sir, it is worse for me than so For I have bills for money by exchange from Florence And must hear deliver them Well, sir, to do you courtesy this will I do And this I will advise you First tell me, have you ever been at Pisa? Aye, sir, in Pisa have I often been Pisa renowned for grave citizens Among them know you one Vincencio I know him not, but I have heard of him Merchant of incomparable wealth He is my father, sir, and sooth to say In countenance somewhat doth resemble you Viandello, aside As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one To save your life in this extremity This favour will I do you for his sake And think it not the worst of all your fortunes That you are like to serve Vincencio His name and credit shall you undertake And in my house you shall be friendly-larged Look that you take upon you as you should You understand me, sir So shall you stay till you have done your business in the city If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it Oh, sir, I do, and will repute you ever The patron of my life and liberty Then go with me to make the matter good This, by the way, I let you understand My father is here looked for every day To pass assurance of a dour in marriage Twixed me in one Baptista's daughter here In all these circumstances I'll instruct you Go with me to clothe you as becomes you Excellent Sin three A room in Petruccio's house Enter Caterina and Crumio No, no for sooth I dare not for my life The more my wrong the more his spite appears What did he marry me to famish me? Beggars that come unto my father's door One and treaty have a present alms If not, elsewhere they meet with charity But I, who never knew how to entreat Nor never needed that I should entreat Am starved from me to giddy for lack of sleep With oaths kept waking and with brawling fed And that which spites me more than all these wants He does it under name of perfect love As who should say if I should sleep or eat For a deadly sickness or else present death I'd prithee go and get me some repast I care not what so it be wholesome food What say you to a neat's foot? Tis passing good, I prithee let me have it I fear it is too caloric a meat How say you to a fat tripe finally broiled I like it well good, Grumio, fetch it me I cannot tell, I fear tis caloric What say you to a piece of beef and mustard A dish that I do love to feed upon Aye, but the mustard is too hot a little Why then the beef and let the mustard rest Nay, then I will not and you shall have the mustard Or else you get no beef of Grumio Then both or one or anything thou wilt Why then the mustard without the beef Beats him Go, get thee gone thou false deluding slave That feeds me with the very name of meat Sorrow and thee and all the pack of you That triumph thus upon my misery Go, get thee gone, I say Enter petruchio with a dish of meat and hotensio How fair is my Kate, what seating all a mort Mistress, what cheer Faith as cold as can be Pluck up thy spirits, look cheerfully upon me Hear, love, thou seest how diligent I am To dress thy meat myself and bring it thee Sets the dish on a table I am sure, sweet Kate, this kindness merits thanks What, not a word? Nay, then thou lovest not And all my pains is sorted, to no proof Here, take away this dish I pray you let it stand The poorest service is repaid with thanks And so shall mine before you touch the meat I thank you, sir Signor Petruchio, fie, you are to blame Come, Mistress Kate, I'll bear you company Petruchio, aside Eat it all up, Hortensio, if thou lovest me Much could do it unto thy gentle heart Kate, eat a pace, and now my honey love Will we return unto thy father's house And revel it as bravely as the best With soaken coats and caps and golden rings With ruffs and cuffs and farthing-gales and things With scarps and fans and double-change of bravery With amber bracelets, beads, and all this navery What, hast thou dined? The tailor stays thy leisure To duck thy body with his ruffling treasure Enter, tailor Come, tailor, let us see these ornaments Blay forth the gown Enter, habitation What news with you, sir? Here is the cap your worship did bespeak Why, this was molded on a poringer, a velvet dish Fie, fie, tis lewd and filthy Why, tis a cockle or a walnut shell A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby's cap Away with it, come, let me have a bigger I'll have no bigger, the stuff fit the time And gentle women wear such caps as these When you are gentle, you shall have one too And not till then Hortensio, aside That will not be in haste Why, sir, I trust I may have left to speak And speak I will I am no child, no babe Your betters have endured me, say my mind And if you cannot, best you stop your ears My tongue will tell the anger of my heart Or else my heart concealing it will break And rather than it shall I will be free even to the utmost As I please in words Why, thou sayest true, it is a paltry cap A custard coffin, a bobble, a soaken pie I love thee well in that thou likeest not Love me or love me not, I like the cap And it I will have, or I will have none Exit, haberdasher Thy gown, why, come, Taylor Let us see it Oh, mercy, God, what masking stuff is here What's this, a sleeve, tis like a demicanon What, up and down, carved like an apple-tart Here snip and nip and cut and slish and slash Like to a censor in a barbershop Why, what in devil's name, Taylor, calls thou this Hortensio, aside I see she's like to have neither cap nor gown You bid me make it orderly and well According to the fashion and the time Mary and did, but if you be remembered I did not bid you marred to the time Go hop me over every kennel home For you shall hop without my custom, sir I own none of it, hence make your best of it I never saw a better-fashioned gown More quaint, more pleasing, nor more commendable Be like you mean to make a puppet of me Why, true, he means to make a puppet of thee She says your worship means to make a puppet of her O monstrous arrogance, thou liest, thou thread, thou thimble Thou yard three quarters, half yard, quarter nail Thou fleen, thou knit, thou winter cricket, thou Braved in mine own house with a skein of thread Away, thou rag, thou quantity, thou remnant Or I shall so be meet thee with thy yard As thou shall think on preting whilst thou liest I tell thee, I, that thou hast marred her gown Your worship is deceived, the gown is made just as my master had direction Grumio gave order how it should be done I gave him no order, I gave him the stuff But how did you desire it should be made Mary, sir, with needle and thread But did you not request to have it cut Thou hast faced many things I have Face not me, thou hast braved many men Brave not me, I will neither be faced nor braved I say unto thee, I bid thy master cut out the gown But I did not bid him cut it to pieces Ergo, thou liest Why, here's the note of the fashion to testify Read it The note lies in throat, if he say I said so Imprimus, a loose-bodied gown Master, if ever I said loose-bodied gown So me, in the skirts of it And beat me to death with a bottom of brown thread I said a gown Proceed With a small, compassed cape I confess the cape With a trunk sleeve I confess two sleeves The sleeves curiously cut Aye, there's the billoning Error in the bill, sir Error in the bill I commanded the sleeves should be cut out And sewed up again And that I'll prove upon thee Though thy little finger be armed in a thimble This is true, that I say And I had thee in place, but I should know it I am for thee straight Take thou the bill, give me thy meat-yard And spare not me God, a mercy, Grumio Then he shall have no odds Well, sir, in brief, the gown is not for me You are the right, sir Tis for my mistress Go, take it up unto thy master's use Villain, not for thy life Take up my mistress's gown For thy master's use Why, sir, what's your conceit in that? Oh, sir, the conceit is deeper Than you think for Take up my mistress's gown To his master's use Oh, fie, fie, fie Petruchio, aside Hortensio, say thou wilt see the tailor paid To tailor Go take it hence, begone, and say no more Hortensio, aside to tailor Taylor, I'll pay thee for thy gown tomorrow Take no unkindness of his hasty words May I say commend me to thy master Exit, Taylor Well, come, my Kate, we will unto your fathers Even in these honest mean habillaments Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor Fortis the mind that makes the body rich And as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds So honor pyrrhus in the meanest habit What, is the jay more precious than the lark Because his feathers are more beautiful Or is the adder better than the eel Because his painted skin contends the eye Oh, no good Kate, neither art thou the worse For this poor furniture and mean array If thou accountest its shame, lay it on me And therefore, frolic, we will hence forthwith To feast and sport us at thy father's house Go call my men, and let us straight to him And bring our horses unto long-lane end There we will mount and dither walk on foot Let's see, I think tis now some seven o'clock And well we may come there by dinnertime I dare assure you, sir, it is almost two And it will be supper time ere you come there It shall be seven ere I go to horse Look what I speak, or do, or think to do You are still crossing it, sirs, let alone I will not go to day, and ere I do It shall be what o'clock I say it is Why, so this galant will command the sun Excellent Scene four Padua, before Baptista's house Enter Tranio and the pedant dressed like Vincenzo Sir, this is the house, please it you that I call Aye, what else, and, but I be deceived Señor Baptista may remember me, near twenty years ago in Genoa Where we were lodges at the Pegasus Tis well, and hold your own in any case With such austerity as longeth to a father I warrant you, but, sir, here comes your boy To a good he was schooled Enter Biondello Fear you not him, Sirabiendello Now do your duty thoroughly, I advise you Imagine where the right Vincenzo Tut, fear not me But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista I told him that your father was at Venice And that you looked for him this day in Padua Thou art a tall fellow Hold thee that to drink Here comes Baptista, set your countenance, sir Enter Baptista and Lucencio Señor Baptista, you are happily met To the pedant Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of I pray you stand good father to me now Give me Bianca for my patrimony Soft, son Sir, by your leave, having come to Padua To gather in some debts My son Lucencio may be acquainted With a weighty cause of love Between your daughter and himself And, for the good report I hear of you And for the love he beareth to your daughter And she to him, to stay him not too long I am content in a good father's care To have him matched And, if you pleased a like No worse than I, upon some agreement Me shall you find ready and willing With one consent to have her so bestowed For curious I cannot be with you Señor Baptista, of whom I hear so well Sir, pardon me in what I have to say Your plainness and your shortness please me well Right through it is your son Lucencio here Doth love my daughter, and she loveeth him For both resemble deeply their affections And therefore, if you say no more than this That, like a father, you will deal with him And pass my daughter a sufficient dower The match is made, and all is done Your son shall have my daughter with consent I thank you, sir Where, then, do you know best we beified And such assurance tain as shall With either parts agreement stand Not in my house, Lucencio For you know, pictures have ears And I have many servants Besides, a grame you is harkening still And happily we might be interrupted Then at my lodging, an' it like you There doth my father lie And there this night will pass the business Privately and well Send for your daughter by your servant here My boy shall fetch the Scribner presently The worst is this, that hath so slender warning You are like to have a thin and slender pittance It lacks me well Come, you, are you home And bid Bianca make her ready straight And, if you will, tell what hath happened Lucencio's father is arriving, Padua And how she's like to be Lucencio's wife I pray the gods she may, with all my heart Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone Signor Baptista, shall I lead the way? Welcome, one mess is like to be your cheer Come, sir, we will better it in Pisa I follow you Exeunt Tranio, pedant and Baptista Cambio What sayest thou, Biondello? You saw my master wink and laugh upon you Biondello, what of that? Faith, nothing, but hath left me here behind To expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens I pray thee, moralize them Then, thus, Baptista is safe Talking with the deceiving father of a deceitful son And what of him? His daughter is to be brought by you to the supper And then? The old priest at St. Luke's church is at your command at all hours And what of this? I cannot tell, except they are busied about a counterfeit assurance Take your assurance of her, com privilegio Add imprimandum solemn To the church, take the priest, clerk And some sufficient, honest witnesses If this be not that you look for, I have more to say But bid Bianca farewell forever and a day Here's thou, Biondello I cannot tarry I knew a wench married in an afternoon As she went to the garden for parsley to stoff a rabbit And so may you, sir, and so adieu, sir My master hath appointed me to go to St. Luke's Did the priest be ready to come against you, come with your appendix? Exit I may and will, if she be so contented She will be pleased Then wherefore should I doubt? Hap what hap may, oh, roundly go about her It shall be hard, if can be all go without her Exit Scene five A public road Enter Petruccio, Caterina, Hortensio, and Servants The moon, in God's name, once more towards our fathers Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon The moon, the sun, it is not moonlight now I say it is the moon that shines so bright I know it is the sun that shines so bright Now by my mother's son, and that's myself It shall be moon, or star, or what I list Or ere I journey to your father's house Go on and fetch our horses back again Evermore crossed and crossed, nothing but crossed Say as he says or wish I'll never go For would I pray since we have come so far And be it moon or sun or what you please And if you please to call it a rush candle Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me I say it is the moon I know it is the moon Nathan, you lie, it is the blessed sun Then God be blessed, it is the blessed sun But sun it is not when you say it is not And the moon changes even as your mind What you will have it named, even that it is And so it shall be so for Catherine Petruchio, go thy ways, the field is won Well forward, forward, thus the bull should run And not unluckily against the bias But soft, company is coming here Enter Vincenzo in a travelling dress To Vincenzo Good morrow, gentle mistress, wear away Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too Has Thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman Such war of white and red within her cheeks What stars do spangled heaven with such beauty As those two eyes become that heavenly face Fair, lovely maid, once more good day to thee Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's sake We'll make the man mad to make a woman of him Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet Wither away, or where is thy abode Happy the parents of so fair a child Happier the man whom favourable stars allot thee For his lovely bed-fellow Why, how now, Kate, I hope thou art not mad This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, withered And not a maiden, as thou sayest he is Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes You've been so bedazzled with the sun That everything I look on seemeth green Now I perceive thou art a reverent father Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking Do good, old grandsire, and with all make known Which way thou travelest, if along with us We shall be joyful of thy company Fair, sir, and you, my merry mistress That with your strange encounter much amazed me My name is called Vincencio, my dwelling Pisa And bound I am to Padua there to visit a son of mine Which long I have not seen What is his name? Lucencio, gentle sir Happily met, the happier for thy son And now by law, as well as reverent age I may entitle thee, my loving father The sister to my wife, this gentle woman Thy son by this hath married And or not, nor be not grieved She is of good esteem Her dowry wealthy, and of worthy birth Beside, and so qualified as may be seen The spouse of any noble gentleman Let me embrace with old Vincencio And wonder we to see thy honest son Who will of thy arrival be full and joyous But is this true? Or is it else your pleasure, like pleasant travelers To break a jest upon the company you overtake? I do assure thee, father, so it is Come, go along, and see the truth hereof For our first merriment hath made thee jealous Excent all, but hath tensio Well, Petruchio, this has put me in heart Have to my widow, and if she be fraught Then thou hast taught Hortensio to be untoward Exit End of Act 4 Act 5 of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit LibriVox.org Act 5 Scene 1 Padua, before Lucencio's house Enter on one side Biondello, Lucencio, and Bianca Gremio walking on other side Softly and swiftly, sir, for the priest is ready I fly, Biondello! But they may chance to need thee at home Therefore leave us Nay, Faith, I'll see the church, or your back And then come back to my masters as soon as I can Excent Lucencio, Bianca, and Biondello I marvel, Cambio comes not all this while Enter Petruchio, Caterina, Vincencio, and the tendons Sir, here's the door This is Lucencio's house My father's bears more toward the marketplace Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir You shall not choose but drink before you go I think I shall command your welcome here And by all likelihood some cheer is toward Nox They're busy within You were best knock louder Enter Pedant above, at the window What's he that knocks as he would beat down the gate? Is Signor Lucentio within, sir? He's within, sir, but not to be spoken with all What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two To make merry with all? Keep your hundred pounds to yourself He shall need none so long as I live Nay, I told you your son was well-beloved in Padua Do you hear, sir, to leave frivolous circumstances I pray you tell Signor Lucentio That his father is come from Pisa Here at the door to speak with him Thou liest, his father is come from Padua And here looking out at the window Art thou his father? Aye, sir, so his mother says if I may believe her Why, how now, gentlemen? Why, this is flat navery to take upon you Another man's name Lay hands on the villain I believe her means to cousin somebody in this city Under my countenance Re-enter Piondello I have seen them in the church together God send them good shipping But who is here? Mine old master, Vincencio Now we are undone and brought to nothing Vincencio, seeing Piondello Come hither, crack-hemp I hope I may choose, sir Come hither, you rogue What, have you forgot me? Forgot you? No, sir, I could not forget you For I never saw you before in all my life What, you notorious villain? Didst thou never see thy master's father, Vincencio? What, my old worship, poor old master? Yes, marry, sir, see where he looks out of the window Is it so, indeed? He beats Piondello Help, help, help Here's a madman will murder me Exit Help, son, help, senior baptista! Exit from the window Prithikate, let's stand aside and see the end of this controversy They retire, re-entaped and below Baptista, trannio and servants Sir, what are you that offer to beat my servant? What am I, sir? Nay, what are you, sir? Oh, immortal gods! Oh, fine villain! A sukin doublet, a velvet hose, a scarlet cloak, and a cupatin hat Oh, I am undone, I am undone! While I play the good husband at home My son and my servant spend all at the university How now, what's the matter? What is the man lunatic? Sir, you seem a sober, ancient gentleman by your habit But your words show you a madman Why, sir, what cerns it you if I wear pearl and gold? I thank my good father, I am able to maintain it Thy father? Oh, villain! He is a sailmaker in Bergamo You mistake, sir, you mistake, sir, pray What do you think is his name? His name is if I knew not his name I have brought him up ever since he was three years old And his name is trannio Away, away, mad ass! His name is Lucentio And he is my only son and heir to the lands of me, senor Vicentio Lucentio, oh, he hath murdered his master Lay hold on him, I charge you, in the Duke's name Oh, my son, my son! Tell me, thou villain, where is my son, Lucentio? Call forth an officer Enter one with an officer Carry this mad knave to the jail Father Baptista, I charge you, see that he be forthcoming Carry me to the jail Stay, officer, he shall not go to prison Talk not, senor Grimew, I say he shall go to prison Take heed, senor Baptista, lest you be cony-cached in this business I dare swear this is the right Vicentio Swear, if thou darest Nay, I dare not swear it Then thou art best say that I am not Lucentio Yes, I know thee to be senor Lucentio Away with the daughter to the jail with him The strangers may be hailed and abused, oh monstrous villain Re-enter beyond the law with Lucentio and Bianca Oh, we are spoiled and yonder he is Deny him, forswear him, or else we are all undone Lucentio, kneeling Pardon, sweet father Lives my sweetest son Biandello, Traneo and Perrant run out Bianca, kneeling Pardon, dear father How hast thou offended? Where is Lucentio? Here's Lucentio, right son to the right Vicentio That have by marriage made thy daughter mine While counterfeit supposes bleared thy nine Here's packing with a witness to deceive us all Where is that damned villain, Traneo That faced and brave me in this matter so Why tell me, is not this my cameo? Cambio is changed into Lucentio Love wrought these miracles Bianca's love made me exchange my state with Traneo While he did bear my countenance in the town And happily I have arrived at the last Unto the wished haven of my bliss What Traneo did, myself enforced him to Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake I slit the villain's nose that would have sent me to the jail Baptista, to Lucentio But do you hear, sir Have you married my daughter without asking my good will? Fear not, Baptista We will content you, go too But I will in to be revenged for this villainy Exit And I to sound the depth of this navery Exit Look not pale, Bianca Thy father will not frown Exit, Lucentio and Bianca My cake is dough, but I'll in among the rest Out of hope of all by my share of the feast Exit Petruccio and Caterina advance Husband, let us follow to see the end of this adieu First, kiss me, Kate, and we will What, in the midst of the street? What, art thou ashamed of me? No, sir, God forbid But ashamed to kiss Why, then let's home again Come, Sera, let's away Nay, I will give thee a kiss Of stay Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate, better once than never For never too late Exit Scene two A room in Lucentio's house Enter Baptista, Vincencio, Gremio, the pedant Lucentio, Bianca, Petruccio, Caterina, Hortensio and widow Taranio, Biondello and Crumio and others attending At last, though long, our jarring notes agree And time it is when raging war is done To smile at scapes and perils overblown My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome While I with self-same kindness welcome thine Brother Petruccio, sister Caterina, and thou Hortensio, with thy loving widow Feast with the best, and welcome to my house My banquet is to close our stomachs up After all great good cheer Pray you sit down, for now we sit to chat as well as eat They sit at table Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat Padua affords this kindness on Petruccio Padua affords nothing but what is kind For both our sakes I would that word were true Now for my life, Hortensio fears his widow Then never trust me if I be a feared You are very sensible, and yet you miss mine sense I mean Hortensio is a feared of you He that is giddy thinks the world turns round Roundly replied Mistress, how mean you that Thus I conceive by him Conceives by me? How likes Hortensio that? My widow says thus she conceives her tale Very well mended, kiss him for that good widow He that is giddy thinks the world turns round? I pray you tell me what you meant by that Your husband, being troubled with a shrew Measures my husband sorrow by his woe And now you know my meaning A very mean meaning Right, I mean you And I am mean indeed respecting you To her Kate To her widow A hundred marks my Kate does put her down That's my office Spoke like an officer Hey to thee, lad Drinks to Hortensio How likes Grimio these quick-witted folks? Believe me, sir, they butt together well Head and butt An heasty-witted body would say Your head and butt were head and horn I, Mistress Bride, hath that awakened you? Aye, but not frighted me Therefore I'll sleep again Nay, that you shall not Since you have begun Have at you for a bitter just or two Am I your bird? I mean to shift my bush And then pursue me as you draw your bow You are welcome, all Exunct Bianca, Caterina, and Widow She hath prevented me Here, senor Tranio This bird you aimed at Though you hit her not Therefore a health to all that shot and missed Oh, sir, Luchensio slipped me like his greyhound Which runs himself and catches for his master A good swift simile But something courage Tis well, sir, that you hunted for yourself Tis thought your deer does hold you at a bay Oh, Petruccio, Tranio hits you now I thank thee for that good, good Tranio Confess, confess, hath he not hit you here? Aye, has a little galled me I confess, and as the jest did glance away from me Tis ten to one, it maimed you two outright Now, in good sadness on Petruccio I think thou hast the various true of all Well, I say no, and therefore for assurance Let's each one send unto his wife And he whose wife is most obedient To come at first when he doth send for her Shall win the wager which we will propose Content, what's the wager? Twenty crowns Twenty crowns? I'll venture so much of my hawk or hound But twenty times so much upon my wife A hundred, then Content A match, tis done Who shall begin? That will I Go, Biondello, bid your mistress come to me I go Exit Son, I'll be your half, Bianca comes I'll have no halves, I'll bear it all myself Riente, Biondello How now? What news? Sir, my mistress sends you word that she is busy And she cannot come How? She's busy and she cannot come? Is that an answer? Aye, and a kind one, too Pray God, sir, your wife sent you not a worse I hope, better Sir, I'll, Biondello Go and entreat my wife to come to me forthwith Exit, Biondello Oh, oh, entreat her, nay, then she must needs come I am afraid, sir, do what you can Yours will not be entreated Riente, Biondello Now, where's my wife? She says you have some goodly jest in hand She will not come, she bids you come to her Worse and worse, she will not come Oh, vile, intolerable, not to be endured Sara Gromio, go to your mistress Say, I command her come to me Exit, Gromio I know her answer What? She will not The fowler fortune mine, and there an end Riente, Catherina Now, by my holy name, here comes Catherina What is your will, sir, that you send for me? Where is your sister and Hortensio's wife? They sit conferring by the parlour fire They will fetch them hither, if they deny to come Swing me them soundly forth unto their husbands Away, I say, and bring them hither straight Exit, Catherina Here is a wonder if you talk of a wonder And so it is, and wonder when it bodes Mary, peace it bodes, and love and quiet life And awful rule, and right supremacy And to be short, what not, that's sweet and happy Now, fair before thee, good Petruccio The hast one, and I will add unto their losses Twenty thousand crowns, another dowry to another daughter For she is changed, as she had never been Nay, I will win my wager better yet And show more sign of her obedience Her new-built virtue and obedience See where she comes, and brings your fro-route wives As prisoners to her womanly persuasion Riente, Catherina, with Bianca and Widow Catherine, that cap of yours becomes you not Off with that bobble, throw it under foot Catherina pulls off her cap, and throws it down Lord, let me never have a cause to sigh Till I be brought to such a silly pass Bye, what a foolish duty calling you this I would your duty were as foolish too The wisdom of your duty, fair Bianca Have cost me a hundred crowns in supper time More fool you for laying on my duty Catherine, I charge thee Tell these headstrong women What duty they do owe their lords and husbands Come, come, you're mocking We will have no telling Come on, I say, and first begin with her She shall not I say she shall, and first begin with her Thigh, thigh Unit that threatening, unkind brow And dart not scornful glances From those eyes to wound thy lord Thy king, thy governor It blots thy beauty as frosts To bite the meads Confounds thy fame as whirlwind Shake fair buds, and in no sense His meat or amiable A woman moved is like a fountain troubled Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty And while it is so, none so dry Or thirsty, will dain to sip Or touch one drop of it Thy husband is thy lord, thy life Thy keeper, thy head, thy sovereign One that cares for thee And for thy maintenance commits his body To painful labour both by sea and land To watch the night in storms, the day in cold Whilst thou liest warm at home Secure and safe And craves no other tribute at thy hands But love, fair looks and true obedience Too little payment for so great a debt Such duty as the subject owes the prince Even such a woman o'eth to her husband And when she is forward, peevish, sullen, sour And not obedient to his honest will What is she but a foul contending rebel And graceless traitor to her loving lord I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace Or seek for rule, supremacy and sway When they are bound to serve, love and obey Why are our bodies soft and weak and smooth Unapt to toil and trouble in the world But that our soft conditions and our hearts Should well agree with our external parts Come, come, you fro'ward and unable worms My mind hath been as big as one of yours My heart is great, my reason haply more To bandy word for word and frown for frown But now I see our lances are but straws Our strength is weak, our weakness past compare That seeming to be most which we indeed least are Then veil your stomachs, for it is no boot And place your hands below your husband's foot In token of which duty, if he please My hand is ready, may it do him ease Why, there's a wench, come on and kiss me, Kate Well, go thy ways, old lad, for thou shalt have it It is a good hearing when children are to word But harsh hearing when women are fro'ward Come, Kate, and will to bed We three are married, but you two are sped Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white And being a winner, God give you good night Accent Petruccio and Caterina Now go thy ways, thou hast tamed a cursed shrew Tis I'll wonder by your leave, she will be tamed so Accent End of Act V End of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare Transcribed by ESO, translated by —