The Taming of the Shrew: Act 3, Scene 2
Enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, TRANIO
[disguised as Lucentio], KATHARINA,
BIANCA, [LUCENTIO disguised as
Cambio,] and others, attendants.
BAPTISTA [To Tranio.]
1
Signior Lucentio, this is the 'pointed day. 2
That Katharina and Petruchio should be married, 3
And yet we hear not of our son-in-law. 4
What will be said? what mockery will it be, 5
To want the bridegroom when the priest attends 6
To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage! 7
What says Lucentio to this shame of ours?
KATHARINA
8
No shame but mine: I must, forsooth, be forced 9
To give my hand opposed against my heart10. rudesby: rude, boisterous fellow. spleen: ill-humored impulsiveness.
10
Unto a mad-brain rudesby full of spleen; 11
Who woo'd in haste and means to wed at leisure. 12
I told you, I, he was a frantic fool,13. blunt: insensitive, obtuse. Katharina's point is that all of the insensitive things that Petruchio says and does are really deliberately cruel. 14. be noted for: gain a reputation as. 15. 'point: appoint.
13
Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior: 14
And, to be noted for a merry man, 15
He'll woo a thousand, 'point the day of marriage, 16
Make feasts, invite friends, and proclaim the banns; 17
Yet never means to wed where he hath woo'd. 18
Now must the world point at poor Katharina, 19
And say, "Lo, there is mad Petruchio's wife, 20
If it would please him come and marry her!"
TRANIO
21
Patience, good Katharina, and Baptista too.22-23. Petruchio . . . word: Petruchio always means well, no matter what bad luck has prevented him from keeping his word.
22
Upon my life, Petruchio means but well, 23
Whatever fortune stays him from his word: 24
Though he be blunt, I know him passing wise;25. withal: i.e., despite all that. honest: honorable.
25
Though he be merry, yet withal he's honest.
KATHARINA
26
Would Katharina had never seen him though!
Exit weeping [followed by BIANCA
and others].
BAPTISTA
27
Go, girl; I cannot blame thee now to weep; 28
For such an injury would vex a very saint, 29
Much more a shrew of thy impatient humor.
Enter BIONDELLO.
BIONDELLO
30
Master, master! news, old news, and such 31
news as you never heard of!
BAPTISTA
32
Is it new and old too? how may that be?
BIONDELLO
33
Why, is it not news, to hear of Petruchio's
34
coming?
BAPTISTA
35
Is he come?
BIONDELLO
36
Why, no, sir.
BAPTISTA
37
What then?
BIONDELLO
38
He is coming.
BAPTISTA
39
When will he be here?
BIONDELLO
40
When he stands where I am and sees you
41
there.
TRANIO
42
But say, what to thine old news?
BIONDELLO
43
Why, Petruchio is coming in a new hat and
44. jerkin: sleeveless leather jacket. breeches . . . turned: breeches turned from front to back for longer wear (??). 45. boots . . . candle-cases: i.e., discarded boots, used only as receptacles for candle ends.
44
an old jerkin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned, 45
a pair of boots that have been candle-cases, one 46
buckled, another laced, an old rusty sword ta'en 47
out of the town armory, with a broken hilt, and 48. chapeless: without a chape, the metal tip of the sheath. points: tagged laces for attaching hose to doublet. hipp'd: lame in the hip. ...more 50. glanders: swellings underneath the horse's jaw. 51. mose in the chine: as a result of glanders, produce black snot. lampass: a swelling of the fleshy lining of the roof of the mouth behind the front teeth. 52. fashions: farcy (a form of glanders) windgalls: soft tumors on either side of a horse's leg just above the fetlock. sped: far gone. 53. spavins: bony tumors in the splint bone. ray'd with yellows: disfigured by jaundice. 54. fives: swellings of the ear. staggers: a disease with produces a staggering gait. 55. bots: parasitic intestinal worms. sway'd: i.e., sway-backed. 56. shoulder-shotten: with a dislocated shoulder. near-legg'd before: with knock-kneed forelegs. 57. half-cheek'd bit: a gentle, light bit. head-stall: part of the bridle that goes over the horse's head. sheep's leather: Sheep's leather is soft and weak. 58. restrain'd: drawn back tight. 59. burst: broken. 60. girth: the strap placed round the horse's body to keep the saddle on. piec'd: pieced together. crupper: strap fastened to the saddle and passing under the horse's tail. 61. velure: velvet.
48
chapeless; with two broken points: his horse hipp'd 49
with an old mothy saddle and stirrups of no kindred; 50
besides, possess'd with the glanders and
51
like to mose in the chine; troubled with the lampass,
52
infected with the fashions, full of windgalls, sped 53
with spavins, ray'd with yellows, past cure 54
of the fives, stark spoiled with the staggers, 55
begnawn with the bots, sway'd in the back and 56
shoulder-shotten; near-legg'd before and with 57
a half-cheek'd bit and a head-stall of sheep's leather 58
which, being restrain'd to keep him from stumbling, 59
hath been often burst and now repaired with knots; 60
one girth six time piec'd and a woman's crupper of 61
velure, which hath two letters for her name fairly 62
set down in studs, and here and there pieced with 63
packthread.
BAPTISTA
64
Who comes with him?
BIONDELLO
65
O, sir, his lackey, for all the world caparisoned66. stock: stocking.
66
like the horse; with a linen stock on one leg and a67. kersey boot-hose: coarse woollen stocking for wearing under boots. 68-69. list: strip of cloth. humor of forty fancies': i.e., some ornament of highly whimsical design and fantastic appearance.
67
kersey boot-hose on the other, gartered with a red 68
and blue list; an old hat and 'the humor of forty 69
fancies' prick'd in't for a feather: a monster, a 70
very monster in apparel, and not like a Christian 71
footboy or a gentleman's lackey.
TRANIO
72
'Tis some odd humor pricks him to this fashion; 73
Yet oftentimes he goes but mean-apparell'd.
BAPTISTA
74
I am glad he's come, howsoe'er he comes.
BIONDELLO
75
Why, sir, he comes not.
BAPTISTA
76
Didst thou not say he comes?
BIONDELLO
77
Who? that Petruchio came?
BAPTISTA
78
Ay, that Petruchio came.
BIONDELLO
79
No, sir, I say his horse comes, with him
80
on his back.
BAPTISTA
81. all one: the same thing.
81
Why, that's all one.
BIONDELLO
82
Nay, by Saint Jamy,83. hold: wager.
83
I hold you a penny, 84
A horse and a man 85
Is more than one, 86
And yet not many.
Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO.
PETRUCHIO
87. gallants: gentlemen.
87
Come, where be these gallants? who's at home?
BAPTISTA
88
You are welcome, sir.
PETRUCHIO
88
And yet I come not well.
BAPTISTA
89. halt: limp, move slowly.
89
And yet you halt not.
TRANIO
89
Not so well apparell'd 90
As I wish you were.
PETRUCHIO
91. Were . . . thus: i.e., even if my clothes were better, I would still rush in thus to see my bride.
91
Were it better, I should rush in thus. 92
But where is Kate? where is my lovely bride?93. How does my father? Petruchio is talking to his future father-in-law, Baptista. Gentles: Gentlemen.
93
How does my father? Gentles, methinks you frown: 94
And wherefore gaze this goodly company, 95
As if they saw some wondrous monument, 96
Some comet or unusual prodigy?
BAPTISTA
97
Why, sir, you know this is your wedding-day: 98
First were we sad, fearing you would not come;99. unprovided: poorly equipped.
99
Now sadder, that you come so unprovided.100. habit: costume. estate: station in life.
100
Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate,101. solemn: dignified.
101
An eye-sore to our solemn festival!
TRANIO
102. occasion of import: important occurance.
102
And tells us, what occasion of import103
Hath all so long detain'd you from your wife,104
And sent you hither so unlike yourself?
PETRUCHIO
105. harsh: rough.
105
Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear:106
Sufficeth I am come to keep my word,107. in some part enforced to digress: to a certain extent forced to deviate [from my promised arrival time].
107
Though in some part enforced to digress;108
Which, at more leisure, I will so excuse109
As you shall well be satisfied withal.110
But where is Kate? I stay too long from her:111
The morning wears, 'tis time we were at church.
TRANIO
112. unreverent robes: disrespectful clothes.
112
See not your bride in these unreverent robes:113
Go to my chamber; Put on clothes of mine.
PETRUCHIO
114
Not I, believe me: thus I'll visit her.
BAPTISTA
115
But thus, I trust, you will not marry her.
PETRUCHIO
116. Good sooth: indeed. ha': have.
116
Good sooth, even thus; therefore ha' done with words:117
To me she's married, not unto my clothes:118. repair what she will wear in me: i.e., get back the years of life that having sex with her will cost me (??).
118
Could I repair what she will wear in me,119
As I can change these poor accoutrements,120
'Twere well for Kate and better for myself.121
But what a fool am I to chat with you,122
When I should bid good morrow to my bride,123. lovely: loving.
123
And seal the title with a lovely kiss!
Exit [with Grumio].
TRANIO
124
He hath some meaning in his mad attire:125
We will persuade him, be it possible,126
To put on better ere he go to church.
BAPTISTA
127. event: outcome.
127
I'll after him, and see the event of this.
Exit [with Gremio].
TRANIO
128-129. But . . . liking: i.e., your love for Bianca requires that in addition to getting her love, we add her father's approval (of the bargain that Tranio, pretending to be Lucentio, made about Bianca's dowry).
128
But, sir, love concerneth us to add129
Her father's liking, which to bring to pass,130
As I before imparted to your worship,131
I am to get a man,what e'er he be,132. skills: matters.
132
It skills not much. we'll fit him to our turn,133
And he shall be Vincentio of Pisa;134
And make assurance here in Padua135
Of greater sums than I have promised.136
So shall you quietly enjoy your hope,137. with consent: with Bianca's father's approval.
137
And marry sweet Bianca with consent.
LUCENTIO
137. my fellow schoolmaster: i.e., Hortensio in his disguise as Litio, the music teacher. 139. narrowly: closely.
138
Were it not that my fellow schoolmaster139
Doth watch Bianca's steps so narrowly,140. steal our marriage: elope.
140
'Twere good, methinks, to steal our marriage;141
Which once perform'd, let all the world say no,142
I'll keep mine own, despite of all the world.
TRANIO
143. That by degrees we mean to look into: i.e., In order enable you to elope, I'm going to carefully consider every possible step we should take. watch our vantage in this business: i.e., be on the lookout for our best opportunity to pull off an elopement. 147. quaint: clever.
143
That by degrees we mean to look into,144
And watch our vantage in this business:145
We'll over-reach the greybeard, Gremio,146
The narrow-prying father, Minola,147
The quaint musician, amorous Litio;148
All for my master's sake, Lucentio.
Enter GREMIO.
149
Signior Gremio, came you from the church?
GREMIO
150
As willingly as e'er I came from school.
TRANIO
151
And is the bride and bridegroom coming home?
GREMIO
152
A bridegroom say you? 'tis a groom indeed,152. grumbling groom: sulky servingman.
153
A grumbling groom, and that the girl shall find.
TRANIO
154
Curster than she? why, 'tis impossible.
GREMIO
155
Why he's a devil, a devil, a very fiend.
TRANIO
156. dam: mother.
156
Why, she's a devil, a devil, the devil's dam.
GREMIO
157. fool: i.e., poor weak creature. to: compared with.
157
Tut, she's a lamb, a dove, a fool to him!158
I'll tell you, Sir Lucentio: when the priest159
Should ask, if Katharina should be his wife,160. gogs-wouns: God's (Christ's) wounds.
160
"Ay, by gogs-wouns," quoth he; and swore so loud,161. amaz'd: bewildered.
161
That, all-amaz'd, the priest let fall the book;162
And, as he stoop'd again to take it up,163. took him such a cuff: gave him such a whack.
163
The mad-brain'd bridegroom took him such a cuff164
That down fell priest and book and book and priest:165. list: choose.
165
"Now take them up," quoth he, "if any list."
TRANIO
166
What said the wench when he rose again?
GREMIO
167. for why: because.
167
Trembled and shook; for why, he stamp'd and swore,168. cozen: cheat.
168
As if the vicar meant to cozen him.169
But after many ceremonies done,170
He calls for wine: "A health!" quoth he, as if171. aboard: aboard ship.
171
He had been aboard, carousing to his mates172. muscadel: muscatel, a sweet wine.
172
After a storm; quaff'd off the muscadel173. sops: dregs.
173
And threw the sops all in the sexton's face;174
Having no other reason175. hungerly: sparsely.
176. seem'd to ask him sops: seemed to beg for sops (bits of bread soaked in wine).
181. rout: noisy crowd.
176. seem'd to ask him sops: seemed to beg for sops (bits of bread soaked in wine).
181. rout: noisy crowd.
175
But that his beard grew thin and hungerly176
And seem'd to ask him sops as he was drinking.177
This done, he took the bride about the neck178
And kiss'd her lips with such a clamorous smack179
That at the parting all the church did echo:180
And I seeing this came thence for very shame;181
And after me, I know, the rout is coming.182
Such a mad marriage never was before:183
Hark, hark! I hear the minstrels play.
Music plays.
Enter PETRUCHIO, KATE, BIANCA,
HORTENSIO, BAPTISTA, [GRUMIO
and TRAIN].
PETRUCHIO
184
Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains:185
I know you think to dine with me today,186
And have prepared great store of wedding cheer;187
But so it is, my haste doth call me hence,188
And therefore here I mean to take my leave.
BAPTISTA
189
Is't possible you will away tonight?
PETRUCHIO
190
I must away today, before night come:191. Make it no wonder: don't wonder at it.
191
Make it no wonder; if you knew my business,192
You would entreat me rather go than stay.193. honest: worthy, kind.
193
And, honest company, I thank you all,194
That have beheld me give away myself195
To this most patient, sweet and virtuous wife:196
Dine with my father, drink a health to me;197
For I must hence; and farewell to you all.
TRANIO
198
Let us entreat you stay till after dinner.
PETRUCHIO
199
It may not be.
GREMIO
199
Let me entreat you.
PETRUCHIO
200
It cannot be.
KATHARINA
200
Let me entreat you.
PETRUCHIO
201
I am content.
KATHARINA
201
Are you content to stay?
PETRUCHIO
202
I am content you shall entreat me stay;203
But yet not stay, entreat me how you can.
KATHARINA
204
Now, if you love me, stay.
PETRUCHIO
204
Grumio, my horse.
GRUMIO
205-206. the oats have eaten the horses: If Grumio were to say this straight, he would say, "Ay, sir, the horses are ready because they have been fed and are full of oats."
205
Ay, sir, they be ready; the oats have eaten
206
the horses.
KATHARINA
207
Nay, then,208
Do what thou canst, I will not go today;209
No, nor tomorrow, not till I please myself.210
The door is open, sir; there lies your way;211. be jogging whiles your boots are green: i.e., get an early start. green: fresh, new.
211
You may be jogging whiles your boots are green;212
For me, I'll not be gone till I please myself:213. like: likely. jolly: overbearing.
213
'Tis like you'll prove a jolly surly groom,214. take it on you: i.e., throw your weight around. roundly: outspokenly, unceremoniously.
214
That take it on you at the first so roundly.
PETRUCHIO
215
O Kate, content thee; prithee, be not angry.
KATHARINA
216
I will be angry: what hast thou to do?217
Father, be quiet; he shall stay my leisure.
GREMIO
218. now it begins to work: i.e., now we see how it's going to work out between them.
218
Ay, marry, sir, now it begins to work.
KATHARINA
219
Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner:220
I see a woman may be made a fool,221
If she had not a spirit to resist.
PETRUCHIO
222
They shall go forward, Kate, at thy command.223
Obey the bride, you that attend on her;224. domineer: feast riotously, carouse.
224
Go to the feast, revel and domineer,225
Carouse full measure to her maidenhead,226
Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves:227
But for my bonny Kate, she must with me.228. big: threatening. I think this is addressed to the "rout," though it is probably Katharina who is looking big.
228
Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret;229
I will be master of what is mine own:230
She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house,231
My household stuff, my field, my barn,232. my ox, my ass, my any thing: Perhaps this is an intentional echo of the Tenth Commandant.
232
My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing;233
And here she stands, touch her whoever dare;234. bring mine action on: bring legal action against.
234
I'll bring mine action on the proudest he235
That stops my way in Padua. Grumio,236
Draw forth thy weapon, we are beset with thieves;237
Rescue thy mistress, if thou be a man.238
Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate!239
I'll buckler thee against a million.
Exeunt Petruchio, Katharina, [And Grumio].
BAPTISTA
240
Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones.
GREMIO
241
Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing.
TRANIO
242
Of all mad matches never was the like.
LUCENTIO
243
Mistress, what's your opinion of your sister?
BIANCA
244
That, being mad herself, she's madly mated.
GREMIO
245
I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated.
BAPTISTA
246
Neighbours and friends, though bride and bridegroom246. wants: are lacking.
wants247. For to: to.
247
For to supply the places at the table,248. junkets: sweetmeats.
248
You know there wants no junkets at the feast.249
Lucentio, you shall supply the bridegroom's place:250
And let Bianca take her sister's room.
TRANIO
251
Shall sweet Bianca practise how to bride it?
BAPTISTA
252
She shall, Lucentio. Come, gentlemen, let's go.
Exeunt.