Enter Katharina. Good morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear. Kath. Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing; They call me-Katharine, that do talk of me. Kate, And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst; Kath. 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. Pet. Kath. A joint-stool. Why, what's a moveable? Pet. Kath. Asses are made to bear, and so are you. Pet. Women are made to bear, and so are you. Kath. No such jade, sir, as you, if me you mean. Pet. Alas, good Kate! I will not burden thee: For, knowing thee to be but young and light,Kath. Too light for such a swain as you to catch; And yet as heavy as my weight should be. Pet. Should be? should buz. Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me. Kath. Well ta'en, and like a buzzard. Pet. O, slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard take thee? Kath. Ay, for a turtle; as he takes a buzzard. Pet. Come, come, you wasp; i'faith, you are too angry. Kath. If I be waspish, best beware my sting. Whose tongue? Kath. Yours, if you talk of tails; and so farewel. Pet. What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman. Kath. That I'll try. [Striking him. Pet. I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again. If you strike me, you are no gentleman; Pet. A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books. craven. Pet. Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour. Kath. It is my fashion, when I see a crab. Pet. Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not Pet. Now, by saint George, I am too young for Pet. Nay, hear you, Kate: in sooth, you 'scape not so. Kath. I chafe you, if I tarry; let me go. Pet. 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; As Kate this chamber with her princely gait? Kath. Yes; keep you warm. Pet. Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharine, in thy bed: And therefore, setting all this chat aside, Thus in plain terms:-Your father hath consented Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn; Re-enter Baptista, Gremio, and Tranio. Bap. Now, Signior Petruchio: How speed you with My daughter? Pet. How but well, sir? how but well? It were impossible, I should speed amiss. Bap. Why, how now, daughter Katharine? in. your dumps? Kath. Call you me, daughter? now, I promise you, You have show'd a tender fatherly regard, To wish me wed to one half lunatick; A mad-cap ruffian, and a swearing Jack, Pet. Father, 'tis thus,-yourself and all the world, For she's not froward, but modest as the dove; And to conclude,-we have 'greed so well together, Kath. I'll see thee hang'd on sunday first. Gre. Hark, Petruchio! she says, she'll see thee hang'd first. Tra. Is this your speeding? nay, then, good night our part! Pet. Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for my self; If she and I be pleas'd, what's that to you? 'Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain, being alone, That she shall still be curst in company. I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe How much she loves me: O, the kindest Kate!- O, you are novices! 'tis a world to see, A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew. |