Shakespeare in Autumn (Seasons Edition -- Fall): Select Plays and the Complete Sonnets
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About this ebook
Shakespeare in Autumn: Select Plays and the Complete Sonnets, by William Shakespeare, the greatest writer in the English language, is available in a fine exclusive collector’s edition featuring a laser-cut jacket on a textured book with foil stamping, making it ideal for fiction lovers and book collectors alike. Each collectible volume will be the perfect addition to any well-appointed library.
The Shakespeare in Autumn Seasons Edition--Fall:
- Features selected works from William Shakespeare, history’s greatest and most influential writer of the English language. His poetry and plays have been recited and studied for generation upon generation and remain iconic works of literature
- Presents a small yet wide-reaching collection of the Bard’s finest works, including The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, and the complete sonnets
- Is distinctively and seasonally nuanced for autumnal reading
- Explores such important themes as love and romance, the economic ramifications of marriage, the immutable irreversibility of fate, the destructive nature of jealousy, the power dynamics of relationships, and the absurdity of ambition
- Is ideal for special-edition book collectors, fans of literary fiction and classic literature, Anglophiles, and people who love all things Shakespearean and the many cinematic adaptations of the Bard’s work
Whether you’re buying this as a gift or as a self-purchase, this remarkable limited edition features:
- Beautiful hardcover with a distinctive one-of-a-kind, high-end/high-treatment laser-cut jacket, perfect for standing out on any discerning fiction-lover’s bookshelf
- Trim Size: 6 x 9
- Beautiful decorative interior pages featuring pull quotes distributed throughout
- An exquisite matching laser-cut bookmark
- Part of a 4-volume Fall Seasons series including Anne of Green Gables, Dracula, and Sense and Sensibility
William Shakespeare has been lauded as one of history’s greatest and most influential writers of the English language. His poems and plays have been recited and studied for generations, and remain iconic works of literature. Shakespeare in Autumn includes a nuanced selection of Shakespeare’s finest works, including:
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- Twelfth Night
- As You Like It
- The Taming of the Shrew
- Romeo and Juliet
- The Sonnets
Shakespeare in Autumn: Select Plays and the Complete Sonnets by William Shakespeare (Seasons Edition--Fall) is one of four titles available in the Fall Seasons series. The Fall collection also includes Anne of Green Gables, Dracula, and Sense and Sensibility.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest playwright the world has seen. He produced an astonishing amount of work; 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 5 poems. He died on 23rd April 1616, aged 52, and was buried in the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford.
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Shakespeare in Autumn (Seasons Edition -- Fall) - William Shakespeare
Produced by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.
The Taming of the Shrew was composed 1590–94 and published in 1594.
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet was composed 1594–96 and published in 1597.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream was composed 1595–96 and published in 1600.
As You Like It was composed 1598–1600 and published in 1623.
Twelfth Night was composed 1600–1602 and published in 1623.
The Sonnets were first published in 1609.
All rights reserved. No copyrighted parts of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
ISBN: 978-0-7852-5302-0 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-0-7852-5313-6 (e-book)
ISBN: 978-0-7852-5315-0 (audio download)
Epub Edition June 2021 9780785253136
Printed in China
21 22 23 24 25 DSC 5 4 3 2 1
CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
The Taming of the Shrew
Induction
Scene I. Before an alehouse on a heath.
Scene II. A bedchamber in the LORD’S house.
ACT I
Scene I. Padua. A public place.
Scene II. Padua. Before HORTENSIO’S house.
ACT II
Scene I. Padua. A room in BAPTISTA’S house.
ACT III
Scene I. Padua. A room in BAPTISTA’S house.
Scene II. The same. Before BAPTISTA’S house.
ACT IV
Scene I. A hall in PETRUCHIO’S country house.
Scene II. Padua. Before BAPTISTA’S house.
Scene III. A room in PETRUCHIO’S house.
Scene IV. Padua. Before BAPTISTA’S house.
Scene V. A public road.
ACT V
Scene I. Padua. Before LUCENTIO’S house.
Scene II. A room in LUCENTIO’S house.
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
The Prologue
ACT I
Scene I. A public place.
Scene II. A Street.
Scene III. Room in Capulet’s House.
Scene IV. A Street.
Scene V. A Hall in Capulet’s House.
ACT II
Scene I. An open place adjoining Capulet’s Garden.
Scene II. Capulet’s Garden.
Scene III. Friar Lawrence’s Cell.
Scene IV. A Street.
Scene V. Capulet’s Garden.
Scene VI. Friar Lawrence’s Cell.
ACT III
Scene I. A public place.
Scene II. A Room in Capulet’s House.
Scene III. Friar Lawrence’s Cell.
Scene IV. A Room in Capulet’s House.
Scene V. An open Gallery to Juliet’s Chamber, overlooking the Garden.
ACT IV
Scene I. Friar Lawrence’s Cell.
Scene II. Hall in Capulet’s House.
Scene III. Juliet’s Chamber.
Scene IV. Hall in Capulet’s House.
Scene V. Juliet’s Chamber; Juliet on the bed.
ACT V
Scene I. Mantua. A Street.
Scene II. Friar Lawrence’s Cell.
Scene III. A churchyard; in it a Monument belonging to the Capulets.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
ACT I
Scene I. Athens. A room in the Palace of Theseus.
Scene II. The Same. A Room in a Cottage.
ACT II
Scene I. A wood near Athens.
Scene II. Another part of the wood.
ACT III
Scene I. The Wood.
Scene II. Another part of the wood.
ACT IV
Scene I. The Wood.
Scene II. Athens. A Room in Quince’s House.
ACT V
Scene I. Athens. An Apartment in the Palace of Theseus.
As You Like It
ACT I
Scene I. Orchard of OLIVER’S house.
Scene II. A lawn before the DUKE’S palace.
Scene III. The DUKE’s palace.
ACT II
Scene I. The Forest of Arden.
Scene II. The DUKE’S palace.
Scene III. Before OLIVER’S house.
Scene IV. The Forest of Arden.
Scene V. Another part of the forest.
Scene VI. The forest.
Scene VII. The forest.
ACT III
Scene I. The palace.
Scene II. The forest.
Scene III. The forest.
Scene IV. The forest.
Scene V. Another part of the forest.
ACT IV
Scene I. The forest.
Scene II. The forest.
Scene III. The forest.
ACT V
Scene I. The forest.
Scene II. The forest.
Scene III. The forest.
Scene IV. The forest.
Twelfth Night: Or, What You Will
ACT I
Scene I. An Apartment in the Duke’s Palace.
Scene II. The sea-coast.
Scene III. A Room in Olivia’s House.
Scene IV. A Room in the Duke’s Palace.
Scene V. A Room in Olivia’s House.
ACT II
Scene I. The sea-coast.
Scene II. A street.
Scene III. A Room in Olivia’s House.
Scene IV. A Room in the Duke’s Palace.
Scene V. Olivia’s garden.
ACT III
Scene I. Olivia’s garden.
Scene II. A Room in Olivia’s House.
Scene III. A street.
Scene IV. Olivia’s garden.
ACT IV
Scene I. The Street before Olivia’s House.
Scene II. A Room in Olivia’s House.
Scene III. Olivia’s Garden.
ACT V
Scene I. The Street before Olivia’s House.
The Sonnets
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
CONTENTS
Induction
Scene I. Before an alehouse on a heath.
Scene II. A bedchamber in the LORD’S house.
ACT I
Scene I. Padua. A public place.
Scene II. Padua. Before HORTENSIO’S house.
ACT II
Scene I. Padua. A room in BAPTISTA’S house.
ACT III
Scene I. Padua. A room in BAPTISTA’S house.
Scene II. The same. Before BAPTISTA’S house.
ACT IV
Scene I. A hall in PETRUCHIO’S country house.
Scene II. Padua. Before BAPTISTA’S house.
Scene III. A room in PETRUCHIO’S house.
Scene IV. Padua. Before BAPTISTA’S house.
Scene V. A public road.
ACT V
Scene I. Padua. Before LUCENTIO’S house.
Scene II. A room in LUCENTIO’S house.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
PERSONS IN THE INDUCTION
A LORD
CHRISTOPHER SLY, a tinker
HOSTESS
PAGE
PLAYERS
HUNTSMEN
SERVANTS
BAPTISTA MINOLA, a rich gentleman of Padua
VINCENTIO, an old gentleman of Pisa
LUCENTIO, son to Vincentio; in love with Bianca
PETRUCHIO, a gentleman of Verona; suitor to Katherina
SUITORS TO BIANCA
GREMIO
HORTENSIO
SERVANTS TO LUCENTIO
TRANIO
BIONDELLO
SERVANTS TO PETRUCHIO
GRUMIO
CURTIS
PEDANT, set up to personate Vincentio
DAUGHTERS TO BAPTISTA
KATHERINA, the shrew
BIANCA
WIDOW
Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants attending on Baptista and Petruchio
SCENE: Sometimes in Padua, and sometimes in PETRUCHIO’S house in the country.
INDUCTION
SCENE I. Before an alehouse on a heath.
Enter HOSTESS and SLY.
SLY
I’ll pheeze you, in faith.
HOSTESS
A pair of stocks, you rogue!
SLY
Y’are a baggage; the Slys are no rogues; look in the chronicles: we came in with Richard Conqueror. Therefore, paucas pallabris; let the world slide. Sessa!
HOSTESS
You will not pay for the glasses you have burst?
SLY
No, not a denier. Go by, Saint Jeronimy, go to thy cold bed and warm thee.
HOSTESS
I know my remedy; I must go fetch the third-borough.
[Exit.]
SLY
Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I’ll answer him by law. I’ll not budge an inch, boy: let him come, and kindly.
[Lies down on the ground, and falls asleep.]
Horns winded. Enter a LORD from hunting, with HUNTSMEN and SERVANTS.
LORD
Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds;
Brach Merriman, the poor cur is emboss’d,
And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth’d brach.
Saw’st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
At the hedge-corner, in the coldest fault?
I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.
FIRST HUNTSMAN
Why, Bellman is as good as he, my lord;
He cried upon it at the merest loss,
And twice today pick’d out the dullest scent;
Trust me, I take him for the better dog.
LORD
Thou art a fool: if Echo were as fleet,
I would esteem him worth a dozen such.
But sup them well, and look unto them all;
Tomorrow I intend to hunt again.
FIRST HUNTSMAN
I will, my lord.
LORD
[Sees Sly.]
What’s here? One dead, or drunk?
See, doth he breathe?
SECOND HUNTSMAN
He breathes, my lord. Were he not warm’d with ale,
This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly.
LORD
O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies!
Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man.
What think you, if he were convey’d to bed,
Wrapp’d in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers,
A most delicious banquet by his bed,
And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
Would not the beggar then forget himself?
FIRST HUNTSMAN
Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose.
SECOND HUNTSMAN
It would seem strange unto him when he wak’d.
LORD
Even as a flattering dream or worthless fancy.
Then take him up, and manage well the jest.
Carry him gently to my fairest chamber,
And hang it round with all my wanton pictures;
Balm his foul head in warm distilled waters,
And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet.
Procure me music ready when he wakes,
To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound;
And if he chance to speak, be ready straight,
And with a low submissive reverence
Say ‘What is it your honour will command?’
Let one attend him with a silver basin
Full of rose-water and bestrew’d with flowers;
Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper,
And say ‘Will’t please your lordship cool your hands?’
Someone be ready with a costly suit,
And ask him what apparel he will wear;
Another tell him of his hounds and horse,
And that his lady mourns at his disease.
Persuade him that he hath been lunatic;
And, when he says he is—say that he dreams,
For he is nothing but a mighty lord.
This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs;
It will be pastime passing excellent,
If it be husbanded with modesty.
FIRST HUNTSMAN
My lord, I warrant you we will play our part,
As he shall think by our true diligence,
He is no less than what we say he is.
LORD
Take him up gently, and to bed with him,
And each one to his office when he wakes.
[SLY is bourne out. A trumpet sounds.]
Sirrah, go see what trumpet ’tis that sounds:
[Exit SERVANT.]
Belike some noble gentleman that means,
Travelling some journey, to repose him here.
Re-enter SERVANT.
How now! who is it?
SERVANT
An, it please your honour, players
That offer service to your lordship.
LORD
Bid them come near.
Enter PLAYERS.
Now, fellows, you are welcome.
PLAYERS
We thank your honour.
LORD
Do you intend to stay with me tonight?
PLAYER
So please your lordship to accept our duty.
LORD
With all my heart. This fellow I remember
Since once he play’d a farmer’s eldest son;
’Twas where you woo’d the gentlewoman so well.
I have forgot your name; but, sure, that part
Was aptly fitted and naturally perform’d.
PLAYER
I think ’twas Soto that your honour means.
LORD
’Tis very true; thou didst it excellent.
Well, you are come to me in happy time,
The rather for I have some sport in hand
Wherein your cunning can assist me much.
There is a lord will hear you play tonight;
But I am doubtful of your modesties,
Lest, over-eying of his odd behaviour,—
For yet his honour never heard a play,—
You break into some merry passion
And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs,
If you should smile, he grows impatient.
PLAYER
Fear not, my lord; we can contain ourselves,
Were he the veriest antick in the world.
LORD
Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery,
And give them friendly welcome everyone:
Let them want nothing that my house affords.
[Exit one with the PLAYERS.]
Sirrah, go you to Barthol’mew my page,
And see him dress’d in all suits like a lady;
That done, conduct him to the drunkard’s chamber,
And call him ‘madam,’ do him obeisance.
Tell him from me—as he will win my love,—
He bear himself with honourable action,
Such as he hath observ’d in noble ladies
Unto their lords, by them accomplished;
Such duty to the drunkard let him do,
With soft low tongue and lowly courtesy,
And say ‘What is’t your honour will command,
Wherein your lady and your humble wife
May show her duty and make known her love?’
And then with kind embracements, tempting kisses,
And with declining head into his bosom,
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy’d
To see her noble lord restor’d to health,
Who for this seven years hath esteemed him
No better than a poor and loathsome beggar.
And if the boy have not a woman’s gift
To rain a shower of commanded tears,
An onion will do well for such a shift,
Which, in a napkin being close convey’d,
Shall in despite enforce a watery eye.
See this dispatch’d with all the haste thou canst;
Anon I’ll give thee more instructions.
[Exit SERVANT.]
I know the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman;
I long to hear him call the drunkard husband;
And how my men will stay themselves from laughter
When they do homage to this simple peasant.
I’ll in to counsel them; haply my presence
May well abate the over-merry spleen,
Which otherwise would grow into extremes.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE II. A bedchamber in the LORD’S house.
SLY is discovered in a rich nightgown, with ATTENDANTS: some with apparel, basin, ewer, and other appurtenances; and LORD, dressed like a servant.
SLY
For God’s sake! a pot of small ale.
FIRST SERVANT
Will’t please your lordship drink a cup of sack?
SECOND SERVANT
Will’t please your honour taste of these conserves?
THIRD SERVANT
What raiment will your honour wear today?
SLY
I am Christophero Sly; call not me honour nor lordship. I ne’er drank sack in my life; and if you give me any conserves, give me conserves of beef. Ne’er ask me what raiment I’ll wear, for I have no more doublets than backs, no more stockings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet: nay, sometime more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the over-leather.
LORD
Heaven cease this idle humour in your honour!
O, that a mighty man of such descent,
Of such possessions, and so high esteem,
Should be infused with so foul a spirit!
SLY
What! would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly’s son of Burton-heath; by birth a pedlar, by education a cardmaker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of Wincot, if she know me not: if she say I am not fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, score me up for the lyingest knave in Christendom. What! I am not bestraught. Here’s—
THIRD SERVANT
O! this it is that makes your lady mourn.
SECOND SERVANT
O! this is it that makes your servants droop.
LORD
Hence comes it that your kindred shuns your house,
As beaten hence by your strange lunacy.
O noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth,
Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment,
And banish hence these abject lowly dreams.
Look how thy servants do attend on thee,
Each in his office ready at thy beck:
Wilt thou have music? Hark! Apollo plays,
[Music.]
And twenty caged nightingales do sing:
Or wilt thou sleep? We’ll have thee to a couch
Softer and sweeter than the lustful bed
On purpose trimm’d up for Semiramis.
Say thou wilt walk: we will bestrew the ground:
Or wilt thou ride? Thy horses shall be trapp’d,
Their harness studded all with gold and pearl.
Dost thou love hawking? Thou hast hawks will soar
Above the morning lark: or wilt thou hunt?
Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them
And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth.
FIRST SERVANT
Say thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are as swift
As breathed stags; ay, fleeter than the roe.
SECOND SERVANT
Dost thou love pictures? We will fetch thee straight
Adonis painted by a running brook,
And Cytherea all in sedges hid,
Which seem to move and wanton with her breath
Even as the waving sedges play with wind.
LORD
We’ll show thee Io as she was a maid
And how she was beguiled and surpris’d,
As lively painted as the deed was done.
THIRD SERVANT
Or Daphne roaming through a thorny wood,
Scratching her legs, that one shall swear she bleeds
And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep,
So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn.
LORD
Thou art a lord, and nothing but a lord:
Thou hast a lady far more beautiful
Than any woman in this waning age.
FIRST SERVANT
And, till the tears that she hath shed for thee
Like envious floods o’er-run her lovely face,
She was the fairest creature in the world;
And yet she is inferior to none.
SLY
Am I a lord? and have I such a lady?
Or do I dream? Or have I dream’d till now?
I do not sleep: I see, I hear, I speak;
I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things:
Upon my life, I am a lord indeed;
And not a tinker, nor Christophero Sly.
Well, bring our lady hither to our sight;
And once again, a pot o’ the smallest ale.
SECOND SERVANT
Will’t please your mightiness to wash your hands?
[Servants present a ewer, basin and napkin.]
O, how we joy to see your wit restor’d!
O, that once more you knew but what you are!
These fifteen years you have been in a dream,
Or, when you wak’d, so wak’d as if you slept.
SLY
These fifteen years! by my fay, a goodly nap.
But did I never speak of all that time?
FIRST SERVANT
O! yes, my lord, but very idle words;
For though you lay here in this goodly chamber,
Yet would you say ye were beaten out of door,
And rail upon the hostess of the house,
And say you would present her at the leet,
Because she brought stone jugs and no seal’d quarts.
Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket.
SLY
Ay, the woman’s maid of the house.
THIRD SERVANT
Why, sir, you know no house nor no such maid,
Nor no such men as you have reckon’d up,
As Stephen Sly, and old John Naps of Greece,
And Peter Turph, and Henry Pimpernell;
And twenty more such names and men as these,
Which never were, nor no man ever saw.
SLY
Now, Lord be thanked for my good amends!
ALL
Amen.
Enter the PAGE, as a lady, with ATTENDANTS.
SLY
I thank thee; thou shalt not lose by it.
PAGE
How fares my noble lord?
SLY
Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer enough.
Where is my wife?
PAGE
Here, noble lord: what is thy will with her?
SLY
Are you my wife, and will not call me husband?
My men should call me lord: I am your goodman.
PAGE
My husband and my lord, my lord and husband;
I am your wife in all obedience.
SLY
I know it well. What must I call her?
LORD
Madam.
SLY
Alice madam, or Joan madam?
LORD
Madam, and nothing else; so lords call ladies.
SLY
Madam wife, they say that I have dream’d
And slept above some fifteen year or more.
PAGE
Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me,
Being all this time abandon’d from your bed.
SLY
’Tis much. Servants, leave me and her alone.
Madam, undress you, and come now to bed.
PAGE
Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you
To pardon me yet for a night or two;
Or, if not so, until the sun be set:
For your physicians have expressly charg’d,
In peril to incur your former malady,
That I should yet absent me from your bed:
I hope this reason stands for my excuse.
SLY
Ay, it stands so that I may hardly tarry so long; but I would be loath to fall into my dreams again: I will therefore tarry in despite of the flesh and the blood.
Enter a MESSENGER.
MESSENGER
Your honour’s players, hearing your amendment,
Are come to play a pleasant comedy;
For so your doctors hold it very meet,
Seeing too much sadness hath congeal’d your blood,
And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy:
Therefore they thought it good you hear a play,
And frame your mind to mirth and merriment,
Which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.
SLY
Marry, I will; let them play it. Is not a commonty a Christmas gambold or a tumbling-trick?
PAGE
No, my good lord; it is more pleasing stuff.
SLY
What! household stuff?
PAGE
It is a kind of history.
SLY
Well, we’ll see’t. Come, madam wife, sit by my side and let the world slip: we shall ne’er be younger.
ACT I
SCENE I. Padua. A public place.
Flourish. Enter LUCENTIO and TRANIO.
LUCENTIO
Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arriv’d for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy,
And by my father’s love and leave am arm’d
With his good will and thy good company,
My trusty servant well approv’d in all,
Here let us breathe, and haply institute
A course of learning and ingenious studies.
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
Gave me my being and my father first,
A merchant of great traffic through the world,
Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii.
Vincentio’s son, brought up in Florence,
It shall become to serve all hopes conceiv’d,
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds:
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study,
Virtue and that part of philosophy
Will I apply that treats of happiness
By virtue specially to be achiev’d.
Tell me thy mind; for I have Pisa left
And am to Padua come as he that leaves
A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep,
And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.
TRANIO
Mi perdonato, gentle master mine;
I am in all affected as yourself;
Glad that you thus continue your resolve
To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy.
Only, good master, while we do admire
This virtue and this moral discipline,
Let’s be no stoics nor no stocks, I pray;
Or so devote to Aristotle’s checks
As Ovid be an outcast quite abjur’d.
Balk logic with acquaintance that you have,
And practise rhetoric in your common talk;
Music and poesy use to quicken you;
The mathematics and the metaphysics,
Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you:
No profit grows where is no pleasure ta’en;
In brief, sir, study what you most affect.
LUCENTIO
Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise.
If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore,
We could at once put us in readiness,
And take a lodging fit to entertain
Such friends as time in Padua shall beget.
But stay awhile; what company is this?
TRANIO
Master, some show to welcome us to town.
[LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand aside.]
Enter BAPTISTA, KATHERINA, BIANCA, GREMIO and HORTENSIO.
BAPTISTA
Gentlemen, importune me no farther,
For how I firmly am resolv’d you know;
That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter
Before I have a husband for the elder.
If either of you both love Katherina,
Because I know you well and love you well,
Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.
GREMIO
To cart her rather: she’s too rough for me.
There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife?
KATHERINA
[To Baptista.]
I pray you, sir, is it your will
To make a stale of me amongst these mates?
HORTENSIO
Mates, maid! How mean you that? No mates for you,
Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.
KATHERINA
I’ faith, sir, you shall never need to fear;
I wis it is not half way to her heart;
But if it were, doubt not her care should be
To comb your noddle with a three-legg’d stool,
And paint your face, and use you like a fool.
HORTENSIO
From all such devils, good Lord deliver us!
GREMIO
And me, too, good Lord!
TRANIO
Husht, master! Here’s some good pastime toward:
That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward.
LUCENTIO
But in the other’s silence do I see
Maid’s mild behaviour and sobriety.
Peace, Tranio!
TRANIO
Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill.
BAPTISTA
Gentlemen, that I may soon make good
What I have said,—Bianca, get you in:
And let it not displease thee, good Bianca,
For I will love thee ne’er the less, my girl.
KATHERINA
A pretty peat! it is best put finger in the eye, and she knew why.
BIANCA
Sister, content you in my discontent.
Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe:
My books and instruments shall be my company,
On them to look, and practise by myself.
LUCENTIO
Hark, Tranio! thou mayst hear Minerva speak.
HORTENSIO
Signior Baptista, will you be so strange?
Sorry am I that our good will effects
Bianca’s grief.
GREMIO
Why will you mew her up,
Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,
And make her bear the penance of her tongue?
BAPTISTA
Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv’d.
Go in, Bianca.
[Exit BIANCA.]
And for I know she taketh most delight
In music, instruments, and poetry,
Schoolmasters will I keep within my house
Fit to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio,
Or, Signior Gremio, you, know any such,
Prefer them hither; for to cunning men
I will be very kind, and liberal
To mine own children in good bringing up;
And so, farewell. Katherina, you may stay;
For I have more to commune with Bianca.
[Exit.]
KATHERINA
Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not? What! shall I be appointed hours, as though, belike, I knew not what to take and what to leave? Ha!
[Exit.]
GREMIO
You may go to the devil’s dam: your gifts are so good here’s none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake’s dough on both sides. Farewell: yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father.
HORTENSIO
So will I, Signior Gremio: but a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brooked parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both,—that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca’s love,—to labour and effect one thing specially.
GREMIO
What’s that, I pray?
HORTENSIO
Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.
GREMIO
A husband! a devil.
HORTENSIO
I say, a husband.
GREMIO
I say, a devil. Thinkest thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell?
HORTENSIO
Tush, Gremio! Though it pass your patience and mine to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, and a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough.
GREMIO
I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition: to be whipp’d at the high cross every morning.
HORTENSIO
Faith, as you say, there’s small choice in rotten apples. But come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained, till by helping Baptista’s eldest daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to’t afresh. Sweet Bianca! Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the ring. How say you, Signior Gremio?
GREMIO
I am agreed; and would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on.
[Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO.]
TRANIO
I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible
That love should of a sudden take such hold?
LUCENTIO
O Tranio! till I found it to be true,
I never thought it possible or likely;
But see, while idly I stood looking on,
I found the effect of love in idleness;
And now in plainness do confess to thee,
That art to me as secret and as dear
As Anna to the Queen of Carthage was,
Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,
If I achieve not this young modest girl.
Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst:
Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.
TRANIO
Master, it is no time to chide you now;
Affection is not rated from the heart:
If love have touch’d you, nought remains but so:
Redime te captum quam queas minimo.
LUCENTIO
Gramercies, lad; go forward; this contents;
The rest will comfort, for thy counsel’s sound.
TRANIO
Master, you look’d so longly on the maid.
Perhaps you mark’d not what’s the pith of all.
LUCENTIO
O, yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face,
Such as the daughter of Agenor had,
That made great Jove to humble him to her hand,
When with his knees he kiss’d the Cretan strand.
TRANIO
Saw you no more? mark’d you not how her sister
Began to scold and raise up such a storm
That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?
LUCENTIO
Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move,
And with her breath she did perfume the air;
Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.
TRANIO
Nay, then, ’tis time to stir him from his trance.
I pray, awake, sir: if you love the maid,
Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands:
Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd,
That till the father rid his hands of her,
Master, your love must live a maid at home;
And therefore has he closely mew’d her up,
Because she will not be annoy’d with suitors.
LUCENTIO
Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father’s he!
But art thou not advis’d he took some care
To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?
TRANIO
Ay, marry, am I, sir, and now ’tis plotted.
LUCENTIO
I have it, Tranio.
TRANIO
Master, for my hand,
Both our inventions meet and jump in one.
LUCENTIO
Tell me thine first.
TRANIO
You will be schoolmaster,
And undertake the teaching of the maid:
That’s your device.
LUCENTIO
It is: may it be done?
TRANIO
Not possible; for who shall bear your part
And be in Padua here Vincentio’s son;
Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends;
Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?
LUCENTIO
Basta, content thee, for I have it full.
We have not yet been seen in any house,
Nor can we be distinguish’d by our faces
For man or master: then it follows thus:
Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead,
Keep house and port and servants, as I should;
I will some other be; some Florentine,
Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa.
’Tis hatch’d, and shall be so: Tranio, at once
Uncase thee; take my colour’d hat and cloak.
When Biondello comes, he waits on thee;
But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.
[They exchange habits.]
TRANIO
So had you need.
In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is,
And I am tied to be obedient;
For so your father charg’d me at our parting,
‘Be serviceable to my son,’ quoth he,
Although I think ’twas in another sense:
I am content to be Lucentio,
Because so well I love Lucentio.
LUCENTIO
Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves;
And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid
Whose sudden sight hath thrall’d my wounded eye.
Enter BIONDELLO.
Here comes the rogue. Sirrah, where have you been?
BIONDELLO
Where have I been? Nay, how now! where are you?
Master, has my fellow Tranio stol’n your clothes?
Or you stol’n his? or both? Pray, what’s the news?
LUCENTIO
Sirrah, come hither: ’tis no time to jest,
And therefore frame your manners to the time.
Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life,
Puts my apparel and my count’nance on,
And I for my escape have put on his;
For in a quarrel since I came ashore
I kill’d a man, and fear I was descried.
Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes,
While I make way from hence to save my life.
You understand me?
BIONDELLO
I, sir! Ne’er a whit.
LUCENTIO
And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth:
Tranio is changed to Lucentio.
BIONDELLO
The better for him: would I were so too!
TRANIO
So could I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after,
That Lucentio indeed had Baptista’s youngest daughter.
But, sirrah, not for my sake but your master’s, I advise
You use your manners discreetly in all kind of companies:
When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio;
But in all places else your master, Lucentio.
LUCENTIO
Tranio, let’s go.
One thing more rests, that thyself execute,
To make one among these wooers: if thou ask me why,
Sufficeth my reasons are both good and weighty.
[Exeunt.]
[The Presenters above speak.]
FIRST SERVANT
My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.
SLY
Yes, by Saint Anne, I do. A good matter, surely: comes there any more of it?
PAGE
My lord, ’tis but begun.
SLY
’Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady: would ’twere done!
[They sit and mark.]
SCENE II. Padua. Before HORTENSIO’S house.
Enter PETRUCHIO and his man GRUMIO.
PETRUCHIO
Verona, for a while I take my leave,
To see my friends in Padua; but of all
My best beloved and approved friend,
Hortensio; and I trow this is his house.
Here, sirrah Grumio, knock, I say.
GRUMIO
Knock, sir? Whom should I knock? Is there any man has rebused your worship?
PETRUCHIO
Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.
GRUMIO
Knock you here, sir? Why, sir, what am I, sir, that I should knock you here, sir?
PETRUCHIO
Villain, I say, knock me at this gate;
And rap me well, or I’ll knock your knave’s pate.
GRUMIO
My master is grown quarrelsome. I should knock you first,
And then I know after who comes by the worst.
PETRUCHIO
Will it not be?
Faith, sirrah, and you’ll not knock, I’ll ring it;
I’ll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it.
[He wrings Grumio by the ears.]
GRUMIO
Help, masters, help! my master is mad.
PETRUCHIO
Now, knock when I bid you, sirrah villain!
Enter HORTENSIO.
HORTENSIO
How now! what’s the matter? My old friend Grumio! and my good friend Petruchio! How do you all at Verona?
PETRUCHIO
Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray?
Con tutto il cuore ben trovato, may I say.
HORTENSIO
Alla nostra casa ben venuto; molto honorato signor mio Petruchio.
Rise, Grumio, rise: we will compound this quarrel.
GRUMIO
Nay, ’tis no matter, sir, what he ’leges in Latin. If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service, look you, sir, he bid me knock him and rap him soundly, sir: well, was it fit for a servant to use his master so; being, perhaps, for aught I see, two-and-thirty, a pip out? Whom would to God I had well knock’d at first, then had not Grumio come by the worst.
PETRUCHIO
A senseless villain! Good Hortensio,
I bade the rascal knock upon your gate,
And could not get him for my heart to do it.
GRUMIO
Knock at the gate! O heavens! Spake you not these words plain: ‘Sirrah knock me here, rap me here, knock me well, and knock me soundly’? And come you now with ‘knocking at the gate’?
PETRUCHIO
Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you.
HORTENSIO
Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio’s pledge;
Why, this’s a heavy chance ’twixt him and you,
Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio.
And tell me now, sweet friend, what happy gale
Blows you to Padua here from old Verona?
PETRUCHIO
Such wind as scatters young men through the world
To seek their fortunes farther than at home,
Where small experience grows. But in a few,
Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me:
Antonio, my father, is deceas’d,
And I have thrust myself into this maze,
Haply to wive and thrive as best I may;
Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home,
And so am come abroad to see the world.
HORTENSIO
Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee
And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour’d wife?
Thou’dst thank me but a little for my counsel;
And yet I’ll promise thee she shall be rich,
And very rich: but th’art too much my friend,
And I’ll not wish thee to her.
PETRUCHIO
Signior Hortensio, ’twixt such friends as we
Few words suffice; and therefore, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruchio’s wife,
As wealth is burden of my wooing dance,
Be she as foul as was Florentius’ love,
As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates’ Xanthippe or a worse,
She moves me not, or not removes, at least,
Affection’s edge in me, were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatic seas:
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.
GRUMIO
Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is: why, give him gold enough and marry him to a puppet or an aglet-baby; or an old trot with ne’er a tooth in her head, though she have as many diseases as two-and-fifty horses: why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal.
HORTENSIO
Petruchio, since we are stepp’d thus far in,
I will continue that I broach’d in jest.
I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife
With wealth enough, and young and beauteous;
Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman:
Her only fault,—and that is faults enough,—
Is, that she is intolerable curst,
And shrewd and froward, so beyond all measure,
That, were my state far worser than it is,
I would not wed her for a mine of gold.
PETRUCHIO
Hortensio, peace! thou know’st not gold’s effect:
Tell me her father’s name, and ’tis enough;
For I will board her, though she chide as loud
As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.
HORTENSIO
Her father is Baptista Minola,
An affable and courteous gentleman;
Her name is Katherina Minola,
Renown’d in Padua for her scolding tongue.
PETRUCHIO
I know her father, though I know not her;
And he knew my deceased father well.
I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her;
And therefore let me be thus bold with you,
To give you over at this first encounter,
Unless you will accompany me thither.
GRUMIO
I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O’ my word, and she knew him as well as I do, she would