The Taming of the Shrew William Shakespeare (english love story books .txt) 📖

she never looks upon her lure.
Another way I have to man my haggard,
To make her come and know her keeper’s call,
That is, to watch her, as we watch these kites
That bate and beat and will not be obedient.
She eat no meat to-day, nor none shall eat;
Last night she slept not, nor to-night she shall not;
As with the meat, some undeserved fault
I’ll find about the making of the bed;
And here I’ll fling the pillow, there the bolster,
This way the coverlet, another way the sheets:
Ay, and amid this hurly I intend
That all is done in reverend care of her;
And in conclusion she shall watch all night:
And if she chance to nod I’ll rail and brawl
And with the clamour keep her still awake.
This is a way to kill a wife with kindness;
And thus I’ll curb her mad and headstrong humour.
He that knows better how to tame a shrew,
Now let him speak: ’tis charity to show. Exit. Scene II

Padua. Before Baptista’s house.

Enter Tranio and Hortensio. Tranio

Is’t possible, friend Licio, that Mistress Bianca
Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?
I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand.

Hortensio

Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
Stand by and mark the manner of his teaching.

Enter Bianca and Lucentio. Lucentio Now, mistress, profit you in what you read? Bianca What, master, read you? first resolve me that. Lucentio I read that I profess, the Art to Love. Bianca And may you prove, sir, master of your art! Lucentio While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart! Hortensio

Quick proceeders, marry! Now, tell me, I pray,
You that durst swear at your mistress Bianca
Loved none in the world so well as Lucentio.

Tranio

O despiteful love! unconstant womankind!
I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful.

Hortensio

Mistake no more: I am not Licio,
Nor a musician, as I seem to be;
But one that scorn to live in this disguise,
For such a one as leaves a gentleman,
And makes a god of such a cullion:
Know, sir, that I am call’d Hortensio.

Tranio

Signior Hortensio, I have often heard
Of your entire affection to Bianca;
And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
I will with you, if you be so contented,
Forswear Bianca and her love for ever.

Hortensio

See, how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,
Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow
Never to woo her no more, but do forswear her,
As one unworthy all the former favours
That I have fondly flatter’d her withal.

Tranio

And here I take the unfeigned oath,
Never to marry with her though she would entreat:
Fie on her! see, how beastly she doth court him!

Hortensio

Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!
For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,
I will be married to a wealthy widow,
Ere three days pass, which hath as long loved me
As I have loved this proud disdainful haggard.
And so farewell, Signior Lucentio.
Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
Shall win my love: and so I take my leave,
In resolution as I swore before. Exit.

Tranio

Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace
As ’longeth to a lover’s blessed case!
Nay, I have ta’en you napping, gentle love,
And have forsworn you with Hortensio.

Bianca Tranio, you jest: but have you both forsworn me? Tranio Mistress, we have. Lucentio Then we are rid of Licio. Tranio

I’ faith, he’ll have a lusty widow now,
That shall be woo’d and wedded in a day.

Bianca God give him joy! Tranio Ay, and he’ll tame her. Bianca He says so, Tranio. Tranio Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school. Bianca The taming-school! what, is there such a place? Tranio

Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master;
That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long,
To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.

Enter Biondello. Biondello

O master, master, I have watch’d so long
That I am dog-weary: but at last I spied
An ancient angel coming down the hill,
Will serve the turn.

Tranio What is he, Biondello? Biondello

Master, a mercatante, or a pedant,
I know not what; but format in apparel,
In gait and countenance surely like a father.

Lucentio And what of him, Tranio? Tranio

If he be credulous and trust my tale,
I’ll make him glad to seem Vincentio,
And give assurance to Baptista Minola,
As if he were the right Vincentio
Take in your love, and then let me alone. Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca.

Enter a Pedant. Pedant God save you, sir! Tranio And you, sir! you are welcome. Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest? Pedant

Sir, at the farthest for a week or two:
But then up farther, and as far as Rome;
And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.

Tranio What countryman, I pray? Pedant Of Mantua. Tranio

Of Mantua, sir? marry, God forbid!
And come to Padua, careless of your life?

Pedant My life, sir! how, I pray? for that goes hard. Tranio

’Tis death for any one in Mantua
To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?
Your ships are stay’d at Venice, and the duke,
For private quarrel ’twixt your duke and him,
Hath publish’d and proclaim’d it openly:
’Tis marvel, but that you are but newly come,
You might have heard it else proclaim’d about.

Pedant

Alas! sir, it is worse for me than so;
For I have bills for money by exchange
From Florence and must here deliver them.

Tranio

Well, sir, to do you courtesy,
This will I do, and this I will advise you:
First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa?

Pedant

Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,
Pisa renowned for grave citizens.

Tranio Among them know you one Vincentio? Pedant

I know him not, but I have heard of him;
A merchant of incomparable wealth.

Tranio

He is my father, sir; and, sooth to say,
In countenance somewhat doth resemble you.

Biondello Aside. As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one. Tranio

To save your life in this extremity,
This favour will I do you for his sake;
And think it not the worst of an your fortunes
That you are like to Sir Vincentio.
His name and credit shall you undertake,
And in my house you shall be friendly lodged:
Look that you