__________________________________
From The Taming of
the Shrew, Act 2, Scene 1
By
William Shakespeare
Exeunt all but PETRUCHIO
PETRUCHIO.
I'll
attend her here,
And woo her with some spirit when she
comes.
Say that she rail; why, then I'll tell her
plain
She sings as sweetly as a nightingale.
Say that she frown; I'll say she looks as
clear
As morning roses newly wash'd with dew.
Say she be mute, and will not speak a word;
Then I'll commend her volubility,
And say she uttereth piercing eloquence.
If
she do bid me pack, I'll give her thanks,
As though she bid me stay by her a week;
If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day
When I shall ask the banns, and when be
married.
But here she comes; and now, Petruchio,
speak.
Enter KATHERINA
Good morrow, Kate—for that's your name, I
hear.
KATHERINA.
Well have you heard, but something hard of
hearing:
They call me Katherine that do talk of me.
PETRUCHIO.
You lie, in faith, for you are call'd plain
Kate,
And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the
curst;
But, Kate, the prettiest Kate in
Christendom,
Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate,
For dainties are all Kates, and therefore,
Kate,
Take this of me, Kate of my consolation—
Hearing thy mildness prais'd in every town,
Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty
sounded,
Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,
Myself am mov'd to woo thee for my wife.
KATHERINA.
Mov'd! in good time! Let him that mov'd you
hither
Remove you hence. I knew you at the first
You were a moveable.
PETRUCHIO. Why, what's a moveable?
KATHERINA. A join'd-stool.
PETRUCHIO. Thou hast hit it. Come, sit on me.
KATHERINA. Asses are made to bear, and so are
you.
PETRUCHIO. Women are made to bear, and so are
you.
KATHERINA. No such jade as you, if me you
mean.
PETRUCHIO.
Alas, good Kate, I will not burden thee!
For, knowing thee to be but young and light—
KATHERINA.
Too light for such a swain as you to catch;
And yet as heavy as my weight should be.
PETRUCHIO. Should be! should—buzz!
KATHERINA. Well ta'en, and like a buzzard.
PETRUCHIO. O, slow-wing'd turtle, shall a
buzzard take thee?
KATHERINA. Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a
buzzard.
PETRUCHIO. Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you
are too angry.
KATHERINA. If I be waspish, best beware my
sting.
PETRUCHIO. My remedy is then to pluck it out.
KATHERINA. Ay, if the fool could find it
where it lies.
PETRUCHIO.
Who knows not where a wasp does wear his
sting?
In his tail.
KATHERINA. In his tongue.
PETRUCHIO. Whose tongue?
KATHERINA. Yours, if you talk of tales; and
so farewell.
PETRUCHIO.
What, with my tongue in your tail? Nay, come
again,
Good Kate; I am a gentleman.
KATHERINA. That I'll try. [She strikes him]
PETRUCHIO. I swear I'll cuff you, if you
strike again.
KATHERINA.
So may you lose your arms.
If you strike me, you are no gentleman;
And if no gentleman, why then no arms.
PETRUCHIO. A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy
books!
KATHERINA. What is your crest—a coxcomb?
PETRUCHIO. A combless cock, so Kate will be
my hen.
KATHERINA. No cock of mine: you crow too like
a craven.
PETRUCHIO. Nay, come, Kate, come; you must
not look so sour.
KATHERINA. It is my fashion, when I see a crab.
PETRUCHIO. Why, here's no crab; and therefore
look not sour.
KATHERINA. There is, there is.
PETRUCHIO. Then show it me.
KATHERINA. Had I a glass I would.
PETRUCHIO. What, you mean my face?
KATHERINA. Well aim'd of such a young one.
PETRUCHIO. Now, by Saint George, I am too
young for you.
KATHERINA. Yet you are wither'd.
PETRUCHIO. 'Tis with cares.
KATHERINA. I care not.
PETRUCHIO. Nay, hear you, Kate—in sooth, you
scape not so.
KATHERINA. I chafe you, if I tarry; let me
go.
PETRUCHIO.
No, not a whit; I find you passing gentle.
'Twas told me you were rough, and coy, and
sullen,
And now I find report a very liar;
For thou art pleasant, gamesome, passing
courteous,
But slow in speech, yet sweet as springtime
flowers.
Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look
askance,
Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will,
Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk;
But thou with mildness entertain'st thy
wooers;
With gentle conference, soft and affable.
Why
does the world report that Kate doth limp?
O sland'rous world! Kate like the
hazel-twig
Is straight and slender, and as brown in
hue
As hazel-nuts, and sweeter than the
kernels.
O, let me see thee walk. Thou dost not
halt.
KATHERINA. Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st
command.
PETRUCHIO.
Did ever Dian so become a grove
As Kate this chamber with her princely
gait?
O, be thou Dian, and let her be Kate;
And then let Kate be chaste, and Dian
sportful!
KATHERINA. Where did you study all this
goodly speech?
PETRUCHIO. It is extempore, from my mother
wit.
KATHERINA. A witty mother! witless else her
son.
PETRUCHIO. Am I not wise?
KATHERINA. Yes, keep you warm.
PETRUCHIO.
Marry, so I mean, sweet Katherine, in thy
bed.
And therefore, setting all this chat aside,
Thus in plain terms: your father hath
consented
That you shall be my wife your dowry greed
on;
And will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn;
For, by this light, whereby I see thy
beauty,
Thy beauty that doth make me like thee
well,
Thou must be married to no man but me;
For I am he am born to tame you, Kate,
And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate
Conformable as other household Kates.
Re-enter BAPTISTA,
GREMIO, and TRANIO
Here comes your father. Never make denial;
I must and will have Katherine to my wife.
No comments:
Post a Comment