The Taming of the Shrew: Act 2, Scene 1
Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA.
[Bianca's hands are tied.]
BIANCA
1
Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself, 2
To make a bondmaid and a slave of me;3. gawds: ornaments.
3
That I disdain: but for these other gawds, 4
Unbind my hands, I'll pull them off myself, 5
Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat; 6
Or what you will command me will I do, 7
So well I know my duty to my elders.
KATHARINA
8
Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell 9
Whom thou lovest best: see thou dissemble not.
BIANCA
10
Believe me, sister, of all the men alive 11
I never yet beheld that special face
12
Which I could fancy more than any other.
KATHARINA
13. Minion: hussy.
13
Minion, thou liest. Is't not Hortensio?
BIANCA
14. affect: like, want to pursue.
14
If you affect him, sister, here I swear 15
I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have him.
KATHARINA
16
O then, belike, you fancy riches more:17. keep you fair: i.e., well supplied with fine clothes and cosmetics.
17
You will have Gremio to keep you fair.
BIANCA
18. envy me: have a grudge against me.
18
Is it for him you do envy me so? 19
Nay then you jest, and now I well perceiveCharlotte Randle as Bianca
Monica Dolan as Katharina
20
You have but jested with me all this while: 21
I prithee, sister Kate, untie my hands.
KATHARINA
22
If that be jest, then all the rest was so.
Strikes her.
Enter BAPTISTA.
BAPTISTA
23
Why, how now, dame! whence grows this insolence? 24
Bianca, stand aside. Poor girl! she weeps.
25
Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her.
26. hilding of a devilish sprit: worthless beast with a devilish spirit.
26
For shame, thou hilding of a devilish spirit, 27
Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong thee? 28
When did she cross thee with a bitter word?
KATHARINA
29
Her silence flouts me, and I'll be revenged.
Flies after BIANCA.
BAPTISTA
30
What, in my sight? Bianca, get thee in.
Exit BIANCA.
KATHARINA
31. suffer me: allow me [to take revenge on Bianca].
31
What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see 32
She is your treasure, she must have a husband;33-34. dance . . . hell: Dancing barefoot at a sister's wedding and leading apes in hell were both, according to folklore, properly humiliating punishments for old maids.
Spinster Leading Apes in Hell
Spinster Leading Apes in Hell
33
I must dance bare-foot on her wedding day 34
And for your love to her lead apes in hell. 35
Talk not to me: I will go sit and weep 36
Till I can find occasion of revenge.
Exit.
BAPTISTA
37
Was ever gentleman thus grieved as I? 38
But who comes here?
Enter GREMIO, LUCENTIO in the
stage direction. habit: clothing. mean: of low rank. Lucentio is disguised as a schoolmaster, and schoolmasters are not gentlemen.
habit of a mean man; PETRUCHIO,
[with HORTENSIO disguised as a
musician; and] TRANIO [disguised
as Lucentio] with his boy [BIONDELLO]
bearing a lute and books.
GREMIO
39
Good morrow, neighbor Baptista.
BAPTISTA
40
Good morrow, neighbor Gremio. 41
God save you, gentlemen!
PETRUCHIO
42
And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter 43
Call'd Katharina, fair and virtuous?
BAPTISTA
44
I have a daughter, sir, called Katharina.
GREMIO
45. orderly: properly; i.e., more ceremoniously.
45
You are too blunt: go to it orderly.
PETRUCHIO
46
You wrong me, Signior Gremio: give me leave. 47
I am a gentleman of Verona, sir, 48
That, hearing of her beauty and her wit, 49
Her affability and bashful modesty,50. qualities: natural gifts.
50
Her wondrous qualities and mild behavior, 51
Am bold to show myself a forward guest 52
Within your house, to make mine eye the witness 53
Of that report which I so oft have heard.54. for an entrance to my entertainment: i.e., as an entrance fee for being allowed to join the group of men who are acknowledged suitors of Bianca.
54
And, for an entrance to my entertainment, 55
I do present you with a man of mine,
[Presenting Hortensio.]
56
Cunning in music and the mathematics, 57
To instruct her fully in those sciences, 58
Whereof I know she is not ignorant: 59
Accept of him, or else you do me wrong: 60
His name is Litio, born in Mantua.
BAPTISTA
61
Y' are welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake. 62
But for my daughter Katharina, this I know, 63
She is not for your turn, the more my grief.
PETRUCHIO
64
I see you do not mean to part with her, 65
Or else you like not of my company.
BAPTISTA
66. as I find: i.e., as the facts stand.
66
Mistake me not; I speak but as I find. 67
Whence are you, sir? what may I call your name?
PETRUCHIO
68
Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son, 69
A man well known throughout all Italy.
BAPTISTA
70. I know him well: i.e., his reputation is well known to me.
70
I know him well: you are welcome for his sake.
GREMIO
71. Saving your tale: with all due respect for everything you have to say about yourself. (Said with heavy irony.)
71
Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, 72
Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too:73. Backare: back off (?). This Italian-sounding word is probably Shakespeare's invention.
73
Backare! you are marvellous forward.
PETRUCHIO
74. would fain be doing: am eager to get into action. Also, then as now, "do" could have a sexual meaning.
74
O, pardon me, Signior Gremio; I would fain be doing.
GREMIO
75. curse: put a curse on; ruin.
75
I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your wooing.76. this is a gift very grateful: i.e., this gift of the services of "Litio" (Hortensio disguised as a schoolmaster with expertise in music and mathematics) is surely very welcome. 78. kindly: naturally. Gremio is reminding Baptista that he is Baptista's neighbor and deserves as much consideration as Hortensio.
76
Neighbor, this is a gift very grateful, I am 77
sure of it. To express the like kindness, myself, 78
that have been more kindly beholding to you than 79
any, freely give unto you this young scholar,
[Presenting Lucentio.]
80. Rheims: i.e., Reims University, "one of the largest and most important universities in Europe during the Middle Ages."
80
that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning 81
in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other 82
in music and mathematics: his name is Cambio; pray, 83
accept his service.
BAPTISTA
84
A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio. 85
Welcome, good Cambio.
[To Tranio.]
86. stranger: foreigner.
86
But, gentle sir, methinks you walk like a stranger: 87
may I be so bold to know the cause of your coming?
TRANIO
88
Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own, 89
That, being a stranger in this city here, 90
Do make myself a suitor to your daughter, 91
Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous. 92
Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, 93
In the preferment of the eldest sister. 94
This liberty is all that I request, 95
That, upon knowledge of my parentage, 96
I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo97. favor: leave, permission.
97
And free access and favor as the rest: 98
And, toward the education of your daughters,99. a simple instrument: a musical instrument suitable for beginners (?); it's a lute (see line 106).
99
I here bestow a simple instrument,100
And this small packet of Greek and Latin books:101
If you accept them, then their worth is great.
BAPTISTA
102. Lucentio is your name: It's hard to tell how Baptista knows this, but it's important for the audience to be reminded that Tranio is pretending to be his master, Lucentio.
102
Lucentio is your name; of whence, I pray?
TRANIO
103
Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio.
BAPTISTA
104. report: reputation.
104
A mighty man of Pisa; by report105
I know him well: you are very welcome, sir,106
[To Hortensio.] Take you the lute, and106
[To Lucentio.] you the set of books;107. presently: immediately.
107
You shall go see your pupils presently.
108
Holla, within!
Enter a SERVANT.
108
Sirrah, lead these gentlemen109
To my daughters; and tell them both,110
These are their tutors: bid them use them well.
[Exit Servant, with Lucentio and Hortensio,
Biondello following.]
111. orchard: garden.
111
We will go walk a little in the orchard,112. passing: exceedingly.
112
And then to dinner. You are passing welcome,113
And so I pray you all to think yourselves.
PETRUCHIO
114
Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste,115
And every day I cannot come to woo.116
You knew my father well, and in him me,117
Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,118
Which I have better'd rather than decreased:119
Then tell me, if I get your daughter's love,120
What dowry shall I have with her to wife?
BAPTISTA
121
After my death the one half of my lands,122. possession: i.e., immediate possession.
122
And in possession twenty thousand crowns.
PETRUCHIO
123
And, for that dowry, I'll assure her of124. widowhood: widow's share of the estate.
124
Her widowhood, be it that she survive me,125
In all my lands and leases whatsoever:126. specialties: the specific terms of a contract.
126
Let specialties be therefore drawn between us,127
That covenants may be kept on either hand.
BAPTISTA
128
Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd,129
That is, her love; for that is all in all.
PETRUCHIO
130
Why, that is nothing: for I tell you, father,131
I am as peremptory as she proud-minded;132
And where two raging fires meet together133. They do consume the thing that feeds their fury: i.e., they cancel each other out.
133
They do consume the thing that feeds their fury:134
Though little fire grows great with little wind,135
Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all:136
So I to her and so she yields to me;137
For I am rough and woo not like a babe.
BAPTISTA
138. speed: fortune, luck.
138
Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed!139
But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words.
PETRUCHIO
140. Ay, to the proof: i.e., yes, I understand you, and I'm ready for the test of facing down Katharina's shrewishness.
140
Ay, to the proof, as mountains are for winds,141
That shake not, though they blow perpetually.
Enter HORTENSIO [disguised as Litio],
(stage direction).with his head broke: with a bleeding cut on his head. In current productions, Hortensio usually appears wearing a broken lute.
with his head broke.
BAPTISTA
142
How now, my friend! why dost thou look so pale?
HORTENSIO
143
For fear, I promise you, if I look pale.
BAPTISTA
144
What, will my daughter prove a good musician?
HORTENSIO
145
I think she'll sooner prove a soldier146. hold with her: hold out against her.
146
Iron may hold with her, but never lutes.
BAPTISTA
147. break her to: break her in to; introduce her to.
147
Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute?
HORTENSIO
148
Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me.149. frets: ridges or bars on the finger board of a lute.
149
I did but tell her she mistook her frets,150. bow'd: bent.
150
And bow'd her hand to teach her fingering;151
When, with a most impatient devilish spirit,152. fume: get angry, as in the common phrase "fret and fume."
152
"Frets, call you these?" quoth she; "I'll fume with them."153
And, with that word, she struck me on the head,154
And through the instrument my pate made way;155. amazed: in confusion. 156. pillory: a device with holes for the neck and hands, used in shaming punishments. . . . . more
155
And there I stood amazed for a while,156
As on a pillory, looking through the lute;157
While she did call me rascal fiddler158. twangling Jack: twanging knave.
158
And twangling Jack; with twenty such vile terms,159. As had she: as if she had. studied: prepared beforehand.
159
As had she studied to misuse me so.
PETRUCHIO
160. lusty: lively, vigorous.
160
Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench;161
I love her ten times more than e'er I did:162
O, how I long to have some chat with her!
BAPTISTA
163
Well, go with me and be not so discomfited:164
Proceed in practise with my younger daughter;165. apt: willing, quick.
165
She's apt to learn and thankful for good turns.166
Signior Petruchio, will you go with us,167
Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you?
PETRUCHIO
168
I pray you do.
Exeunt [all but] Petruchio.
168. attend: await.
168
I will attend her here,169
And woo her with some spirit when she comes.170
Say that she rail; why then I'll tell her plain171
She sings as sweetly as a nightingale:172. clear: cheerful, serene.
172
Say that she frown, I'll say she looks as clear173
As morning roses newly wash'd with dew:174
Say she be mute and will not speak a word;175
Then I'll commend her volubility,176
And say she uttereth piercing eloquence:177. pack: be gone.
177
If she do bid me pack, I'll give her thanks,178
As though she bid me stay by her a week:179. deny: refuse. crave the day: inquire the date.
179
If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day180. ask the banns: have a reading of the required announcement in church of a forthcoming marriage.
180
When I shall ask the banns and when be married.181
But here she comes; and now, Petruchio, speak.
as Katharina |
Enter KATHARINA.
182
Good morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear.
KATHARINA
183. heard, hard: Pronounced nearly alike. something: somewhat.
183
Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing:184
They call me Katharina that do talk of me.
PETRUCHIO
185
You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain Kate,186
And bonny Kate and sometimes Kate the curst;187
But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom
KATHARINA
188. Kate of Kate Hall:. i.e., the renowned Kate. ...more 189. all Kates: Both "dainties" and "cates" are words for confections, delicacies. 190. of me: from me.
188
Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate,189
For dainties are all Kates, and therefore, Kate,190
Take this of me, Kate of my consolation;191
Hearing thy mildness praised in every town,192. sounded: proclaimed.
192
Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded,193
Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,194
Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife.
KATHARINA
195. in good time: indeed, forsooth.
195
Moved! in good time: let him that moved you hither196
Remove you hence: I knew you at the first197. moveable: a piece of furniture.
197
You were a moveable.
PETRUCHIO
197
Why, what's a moveable?
KATHARINA
198. join'd-stool: i.e., a very ordinary piece of furniture. A "join'd-stool" is so called because it is made by a craftsman trained in joinery, the art of joining together pieces of wood to make furniture. Thus the term "join'd-stool" distinguishes a piece of furniture from natural stools, such as stumps or toadstools.
199. bear: carry (with following puns on "bear children" and "support a man during sexual intercourse").
199. bear: carry (with following puns on "bear children" and "support a man during sexual intercourse").
198
A join'd-stool.
PETRUCHIO
198
Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me.
KATHARINA
199
Asses are made to bear, and so are you.
PETRUCHIO
200
Women are made to bear, and so are you.
KATHARINA
201. jade: an ill-conditioned horse that soon tires.
201
No such jade as you, if me you mean.
PETRUCHIO
202
Alas! good Kate, I will not burden thee;203. light: 1) of delicate stature, slight; 2) lascivious, wanton. In her reply, Katherine uses "light" in the sense of "elusive."
203
For, knowing thee to be but young and light
KATHARINA
204. swain: country bumpkin.
204
Too light for such a swain as you to catch;205. as heavy as my weight should be: i.e., as serious and sober as is appropriate.
205
And yet as heavy as my weight should be.
PETRUCHIO
206. buzz: Petruchio is punning on be/bee, and he means that all of Katharina's talk is just random buzzing.
206
Should be! shouldbuzz!
KATHARINA
206. buzzard: fool.
206
Well ta'en, and like a buzzard.
PETRUCHIO
207. turtle: turtledove. buzzard: an inferior kind of hawk. take thee: capture you.
207
O slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard take thee?
KATHARINA
208. Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a buzzard: i.e., yes, he will mistake me for a sweet turtledove just as he is about to snap up a stinging, buzzing insect.
208
Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a buzzard.
PETRUCHIO
209
Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you are too angry.
KATHARINA
210
If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
PETRUCHIO
211
My remedy is then to pluck it out.
KATHARINA
212
Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies,
PETRUCHIO
213
Who knows not where a wasp does214
wear his sting? In his tail.
KATHARINA
215
In his tongue.
PETRUCHIO
216
Whose tongue?
KATHARINA
217. talk of tales: talk idly.
217
Yours, if you talk of tales: and so farewell.
PETRUCHIO
218
What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again,219
Good Kate; I am a gentleman
KATHARINA
219. try: test.
219
That I'll try.
She strikes him.
PETRUCHIO
220
I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again.
KATHARINA
221
So may you lose your arms:222
If you strike me, you are no gentleman;223. arms: coat of arms (with a pun on arms as limbs of the body).
223
And if no gentleman, why then no arms.
PETRUCHIO
224. herald: authority on heraldry. books: (1) heraldic registers; (2) good books; i.e., grace, favor.
224
A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books!
KATHARINA
225. crest: (1) topmost part of a coat of arms; (2) comb, as on a cock's head. coxcomb: The cap of a court fool. . . . more
225
What is your crest? a coxcomb?
PETRUCHIO
226. combless cock: gentle rooster (?). And of course there is a sexual pun.
226
A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen.
KATHARINA
227. craven: a cock that will not fight.
227
No cock of mine; you crow too like a craven.
PETRUCHIO
228
Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour.
KATHARINA
229. crab: crab apple. Crab apples are notoriously sour.
229
It is my fashion, when I see a crab.
PETRUCHIO
230
Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not sour.
KATHARINA
231
There is, there is.
PETRUCHIO
232
Then show it me.
KATHARINA
233. glass: mirror.
233
Had I a glass, I would.
PETRUCHIO
234
What, you mean my face?
KATHARINA
235. aim'd of: guessed by. young: inexperienced, ignorant.
235
Well aim'd of such a young one.
PETRUCHIO
236. young: i.e., strong.
236
Now, by Saint George, I am too young for you.
KATHARINA
237
Yet you are wither'd.
PETRUCHIO
238. 'Tis with cares: Here Petruchio may be claiming to be a melancholy lover who is wasting away because the beloved lady will not return his love.
238
'Tis with cares.
KATHARINA
239
I care not.
PETRUCHIO
240. scape: escape.
240
Nay, hear you, Kate: in sooth you scape not so.
KATHARINA
241. chafe: irritate. let me go: Apparently Petruchio physically keeps Katharina from leaving. A little later she is limping.
241
I chafe you if I tarry: let me go.
PETRUCHIO
242
No, not a whit: I find you passing gentle.243. coy: disdainful.
243
'Twas told me you were rough and coy and sullen,244
And now I find report a very liar;245
For thou are pleasant, gamesome, passing courteous,246. But slow in speech: i.e., a bit slow in response to what others have to say. 247. askance: scornfully.
246
But slow in speech, yet sweet as spring-time flowers:247
Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look askance,248
Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will,249
Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk,250
But thou with mildness entertain'st thy wooers,251. conference: conversation.
251
With gentle conference, soft and affable.252
Why does the world report that Kate doth limp?253
O slanderous world! Kate like the hazel-twig254
Is straight and slender and as brown in hue255
As hazel nuts and sweeter than the kernels.256. halt: limp.
256
O, let me see thee walk: thou dost not halt.
KATHARINA
257. whom thou keep'st command: i.e., command your servants, not me.
257
Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command.
PETRUCHIO
258. Dian: Diana, goddess of the hunt and of chastity. become: adorn.
258
Did ever Dian so become a grove259
As Kate this chamber with her princely gait?260
O, be thou Dian, and let her be Kate;261. sportful: amorous.
261
And then let Kate be chaste and Dian sportful!
KATHARINA
262
Where did you study all this goodly speech?
PETRUCHIO
263. mother-wit: native intelligence.
263
It is extempore, from my mother-wit.
KATHARINA
264. Witless else her son: i.e., without the intelligence inherited from his mother, he would have none at all.
264
A witty mother! witless else her son.
PETRUCHIO
265
Am I not wise?
KATHARINA
266. keep you warm: Alluding to the proverbial "wit enough to keep oneself warm" (very similar to "sense enough to come in out of the rain"), which she implies is as much wit as he possesses.
266
Yes; keep you warm.
PETRUCHIO
267
Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharina, in thy bed:268
And therefore, setting all this chat aside,269
Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented270
That you shall be my wife; your dowry 'greed on;271. nill you: will you not.
271
And, Will you, nill you, I will marry you.272. for your turn: to suit you.
272
Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn;273
For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,274
Thy beauty, that doth make me like thee well,275
Thou must be married to no man but me;276
For I am he am born to tame you Kate,277. wild Kate: Perhaps with a pun on wildcat.
277
And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate278
Conformable as other household Kates.279
Here comes your father: never make denial;280
I must and will have Katharina to my wife.
Enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and TRANIO
[disguised as Lucentio].
BAPTISTA
281. speed: succeed, fare.
281
Now, Signior Petruchio, how speed you with my daughter?
PETRUCHIO
282
How but well, sir? how but well?283
It were impossible I should speed amiss.
BAPTISTA
284. in your dumps: downcast.
284
Why, how now, daughter Katharina! in your dumps?
KATHARINA
285. promise: assure.
285
Call you me daughter? now, I promise you286
You have show'd a tender fatherly regard,287
To wish me wed to one half lunatic;288
A madcap ruffian and a swearing Jack,289. face: brazen.
289
That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.
PETRUCHIO
290
Father, 'tis thus: yourself and all the world,291
That talk'd of her, have talk'd amiss of her:292. policy: ulterior motive, crafty purpose.
292
If she be curst, it is for policy,293
For she's not froward, but modest as the dove;294
She is not hot, but temperate as the morn;295. Grissel: Griselda, a model of wifely patience. ...more 296. Lucrece: Lucretia, a
Roman lady who committed suicide after her rape by Sextus Tarquinius. Shakespeare told the story in The Rape of Lucrece.
295
For patience she will prove a second Grissel,296
And Roman Lucrece for her chastity:297
And to conclude, we have 'greed so well together,298
That upon Sunday is the wedding-day.
KATHARINA
299
I'll see thee hang'd on Sunday first.
GREMIO
300
Hark, Petruchio; she says she'll see thee hang'd first.
TRANIO
301
Is this your speeding? nay, then, good night our part!
PETRUCHIO
302
Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself:303
If she and I be pleased, what's that to you?304
'Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain, being alone,305
That she shall still be curst in company.306
I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe307
How much she loves me: O, the kindest Kate!308
She hung about my neck; and kiss on kiss309. vied: i.e., kept matching in an effort to go me one better, kiss for kiss. 310. in a twink: in the blink of an eye.
309
She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath,310
That in a twink she won me to her love.311. a world: worth a whole world, matter for wonder.
311
O, you are novices! 'tis a world to see,312
How tame, when men and women are alone,313. meacock: timid, cowardly.
313
A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.314. Venice: Venice is famous for its luxury goods.
314
Give me thy hand, Kate: I will unto Venice,315. 'gainst: in preparation for.
315
To buy apparel 'gainst the wedding-day.316
Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests;317. fine: handsomely or elegantly dressed.
317
I will be sure my Katharina shall be fine.
BAPTISTA
318
I know not what to say: but give me your hands;319
God send you joy, Petruchio! 'tis a match.
GREMIO, TRANIO
320
Amen, say we: we will be witnesses.
PETRUCHIO
321
Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu;322
I will to Venice; Sunday comes apace:323
We will have rings and things and fine array;324. kiss me, Kate: Petruchio makes this demand/request twice more, at Act 5, Scene 1, line 143 and at Act 5, Scene 2, line 180.
324
And kiss me, Kate, we will be married o'Sunday.
Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA.
GREMIO
325. clapp'd up: settled (by a shaking of hands).
325
Was ever match clapp'd up so suddenly?
BAPTISTA
326
Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant's part,327. mart: bargain.
327
And venture madly on a desperate mart.
TRANIO
328. lay fretting: decaying in disuse (with a play on "irritable"). The "commodity" is Katharina as a prospective bride.
328
'Twas a commodity lay fretting by you:329
'Twill bring you gain, or perish on the seas.
BAPTISTA
330
The gain I seek is, quiet in the match.
GREMIO
331. quiet catch: i.e., acquisition (Kate) that others will yield him without dispute (?).
331
No doubt but he hath got a quiet catch.332
But now, Baptista, to your younger daughter:333
Now is the day we long have looked for:334
I am your neighbor, and was suitor first.
TRANIO
335
And I am one that love Bianca more336
Than words can witness, or your thoughts can guess.
GREMIO
337
Youngling, thou canst not love so dear as I.
TRANIO
338
Graybeard, thy love doth freeze.
GREMIO
338
But thine doth fry.339. Skipper: flighty fellow.
339
Skipper, stand back: 'tis age that nourisheth.
TRANIO
340
But youth in ladies' eyes that flourisheth.
BAPTISTA
341. Content you: be calm. compound: settle.
341
Content you, gentlemen: I will compound this strife:342. he of both: whichever of you two.
342
'Tis deeds must win the prize; and he of both343. dower: guaranteed widow's benefits.
343
That can assure my daughter greatest dower344
Shall have my Bianca's love.345
Say, Signior Gremio, What can you assure her?
GREMIO
346
First, as you know, my house within the city347
Is richly furnished with plate and gold;348. lave: wash.
348
Basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands;349. Tyrian: purple or dark red.
349
My hangings all of Tyrian tapestry;350. crowns: gold coins.
350
In ivory coffers I have stuff'd my crowns;351. arras counterpoints: tapestry counterpanes.
351
In cypress chests my arras counterpoints,352. tents: bed curtains, hangings.
352
Costly apparel, tents, and canopies,353
Fine linen, Turkey cushions boss'd with pearl,353. boss'd: embossed, studded. 354. Valence: fringes or short draperies edging bed canopies.
354
Valance of Venice gold in needlework,355
Pewter and brass and all things that belong356
To house or housekeeping: then, at my farm357. milch-kine to the pail: dairy cattle.
357
I have a hundred milch-kine to the pail,358
Sixscore fat oxen standing in my stalls,359. all things answerable to this portion: i.e., everything else on the same scale. 360. struck: i.e., advanced.
359
And all things answerable to this portion.360
Myself am struck in years, I must confess;361
And if I die tomorrow, this is hers,362
If whilst I live she will be only mine.
TRANIO
363
That "only" came well in. Sir, list to me:364
I am my father's heir and only son:365
If I may have your daughter to my wife,366
I'll leave her houses three or four as good,367
Within rich Pisa walls, as any one368
Old Signior Gremio has in Padua;369. ducats: Venetian gold coins.
369
Besides two thousand ducats by the year370. jointure: marriage settlement.
370
Of fruitful land, all which shall be her jointure.371. pinch'd: discomfited.
371
What, have I pinch'd you, Signior Gremio?
GREMIO
372
Two thousand ducats by the year of land!373
My land amounts not to so much in all:374. argosy: large merchant vessel.
374
That she shall have; besides an argosy375. Marseilles' road: harbor of Marseilles.
375
That now is lying in Marseilles' road.376. chok'd: silenced.
376
What, have I chok'd you with an argosy?
TRANIO
377
Gremio, 'tis known my father hath no less378. galliasses: heavy, low-built vessels; large galleys.
378
Than three great argosies; besides two galliasses,379. tight: watertight, sound.
379
And twelve tight galleys: these I will assure her,380
And twice as much, whate'er thou offer'st next.
GREMIO
381
Nay, I have offer'd all, I have no more;382
And she can have no more than all I have:383
If you like me, she shall have me and mine.
TRANIO
384. from all the world: to the exclusion of the claim of anyone else. 385. out-vied: outbid.
384
Why, then the maid is mine from all the world,385
By your firm promise: Gremio is out-vied.
BAPTISTA
386
I must confess your offer is the best;387. let your father make her the assurance: i.e., if your father will guarantee the bargain.
387
And, let your father make her the assurance,388
She is your own; else, you must pardon me,389
if you should die before him, where's her dower?
TRANIO
390
That's but a cavil: he is old, I young.
GREMIO
391
And may not young men die, as well as old?
BAPTISTA
392
Well, gentlemen,393
I am thus resolved: on Sunday next you know394
My daughter Katharina is to be married:395
Now, on the Sunday following, shall Bianca396
Be bride to you, if you make this assurance;397. If not, to Signior Gremio: i.e., if your father will not guarantee the bargain, Bianca goes to Signior Gremio.
397
If not, to Signior Gremio.398
And so, I take my leave, and thank you both.
GREMIO
399
Adieu, good neighbor.
Exit [BAPTISTA].
399
Now I fear thee not:400. gamester: Perhaps alluding to the fact that Tranio's offer rests on a gamble, not a certainty.
400
Sirrah young gamester, your father were a fool401
To give thee all, and in his waning age402. Set foot under thy table: i.e., become a dependent in your household. a toy: nonsense.
402
Set foot under thy table: tut, a toy!403
An old Italian fox is not so kind, my boy.
Exit.
TRANIO
404
A vengeance on your crafty wither'd hide!405. fac'd it with a card of ten: i.e., bluffed my way to a win at this hand of cards with only a ten-spot.
405
Yet I have fac'd it with a card of ten.406
'Tis in my head to do my master good:407
I see no reason but supposed Lucentio408
Must get a father, call'd supposed Vincentio;409
And that's a wonder: fathers commonly410. get: beget.
410
Do get their children; but in this case of wooing,411
A child shall get a sire, if I fail not of my cunning.
Exit.