Well overreach the greybeard, Gremio, Re-enter GREMIO. Signior Gremio! came you from the church? home? Gre. A bridegroom, say you? 'tis a groom, indeed, A grumbling groom, and that the girl shall find. Tra. Curster than she? why, 'tis impossible. 'Gre. Why, he's a devil, a devil, a very fiend. Tra. Why, she's a devil, a devil, the devil's dam. Gre. Tut she's a lamb, a dove, a fool to him. I'll tell you, Sir Lucentio; When the priest Should ask if Katharine should be his wife, Ay, by gogs-wouns, quoth he; and swore so loud, That, all amaz'd, the priest let fall the book: And, as he stoop'd again to take it up, The mad-brain'd bridegroom took him such a cuff That down fell priest and book, and book and priest; Now take them up, quoth he, if any list. Tra. What said the wench, when hearose again? Gre. Trembled and shook; for why, he stamp'd, and swore, As if the vicar meant to cozen him. A health, quoth he; as if But that his beard grew thin and hungerly, This done, he took the bride about the neck; [Musick. Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, BIANCA, BAPTISTA, HORTENSIO, GRUMI0 and Train. Pet. Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains; I know, you think to dine with me to- -day, To this most patient, sweet, and virtuous wife: Tra. Let us entreat you stay 'till after dinner. Gre. Let me entreat you. Pet. It cannot be. Kath. Let me entreat you. Pet. I am content. Kath. Are you content to stay? Pet. I am content you shall entreat me stays But yet not stay, entreat me how you can. Kath. Now, if you love me, stay Pet. Grumio, my horses. Gru. Ay, Sir, they be ready; the oats have eaten the horses. Kath. Nay, then,. Do what thou canst, I will not go to-day; Pet. O, Kate, content thee; prythee, be not angry, Kath. I will be angry; What hast thou to do? Father, be quiet; he shall stay my leisure. Gre. Ay, marry, Sir: now it begins to work. Kath. Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner: -I see, a woman may be made a fool, If she had not a spirit to resist. Pet. They shall go forward, Kate, at thy command:Obey the bride, you that attend on her: Go to the feast, revel and domineer, Carouse full measure to her maidenhead, Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves; But for my bonny Kate, she must with me. Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret; I will be master of what is mine own: She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing: I'll bring mine action on the proudest he Grumio, Draw forth thy weapon, we're beset with thieves; Rescue thy mistress if thou be a man: Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate; Ull buckler thee against a million. [Exeunt PETRUCHIO, KATHARINE, and GUMIoh' Bap. Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones. Gre. Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing. Tra. Of all mad matches, never was the like! Luc. Mistress, what's your opinion of your sister? Bian. That, being mad herself, she's madly mated. Gre. I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated. Bap. Neighbours and friends, though bride and bridegroom wants For to supply the places at the table, You know, there wants no junkets at the feast; Lucentio, you shall supply the bridegroom's place; And let Bianca take her sister's room. Tra. Shall sweet Bianca practise how to bride it? Bap. She shall, Lucentio. Come, Gentlemen let's go. [Exeunt, ACT IV. SCENE I. A Hall in Petruchio's Country House. Enter GRUMIO. Gru. Fie, fie, on all tired jades! on all mad ma sters! and all foul ways! Was ever man so beaten? was ever man so ray'd? 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, and soon hot, my very lips might freeze to my teeth, my tongue to the roof of my mouth, my heart in my belly, ere I should come by a fire to thaw me:- But, 1, with blowing the fire, shall warm myself; for, considering the weather, a taller man than I will take cold. Holla, hoa! Curtis! Enter CURTIS. Curt. Who is that, calls so coldly? Gru. A piece of ice: If thou doubt it, thou may'st slide from my shoulder to my heel, with no greater a un but my head and my neck. A fire, good Curtis. Curt. Is my master and his wife coming, Grumio? Gru. O, ay, Curtis, ay; and therefore fire, fire'; cast on no water. Curt. Is she so hot a shrew as she's reported? Gru. She was, good Curtis, before this frost: but, thou know'st, winter tames man, woman, and beast; for it hath tam'd my old master, and my new mistress, and myself, fellow Curtis. Curt. Away, you three-inch fool! I am no beast. Gru. 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 slow in thy hot office. Curt. I prythee, good Grumio, tell me, How goes the world? Gru. 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. Curt. There's fire ready; And therefore, good Grumio, the news? Gru. Why, Jack boy! ho boy! and as much news as thou wilt. Curt. Come, you are so full of conycatching: Gru. Why, therefore, fire; for I have caught extreme cold. Where's the cook? is supper ready, the house trimm'd, rushes strew'd, cobwebs swept; the serving men in their new fustian, their white stockings, and every officer his wedding garment |