READ STUDY GUIDE: Act I, scene ii |
|
Act I, Scene ii:
Padua. Before HORTENSIO'S house.
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, an 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 has 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, an she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding |
| would do little good upon him. She may perhaps call him half a |
| score knaves or so; why, that's nothing; and he begin once, he'll |
| rail in his rope-tricks. I'll tell you what, sir, an she stand him |
| but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and so disfigure |
| her with it that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a |
| cat. You know him not, sir. |
| HORTENSIO: |
| Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee, |
| For in Baptista's keep my treasure is: |
| He hath the jewel of my life in hold, |
| His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca, |
| And her withholds from me and other more, |
| Suitors to her and rivals in my love; |
| Supposing it a thing impossible, |
| For those defects I have before rehears'd, |
| That ever Katherina will be woo'd: |
| Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en, |
| That none shall have access unto Bianca |
| Till Katherine the curst have got a husband. |
| GRUMIO: |
| Katherine the curst! |
| A title for a maid of all titles the worst. |
| HORTENSIO: |
| Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace, |
| And offer me disguis'd in sober robes, |
| To old Baptista as a schoolmaster |
| Well seen in music, to instruct Bianca; |
| That so I may, by this device at least |
| Have leave and leisure to make love to her, |
| And unsuspected court her by herself. |
| GRUMIO: |
| Here's no knavery! See, to beguile the old folks, how the |
| young folks lay their heads together! |
| [Enter GREMIO, and LUCENTIO disguised, with books under his arm.] |
| Master, master, look about you: who goes there, ha? |
| HORTENSIO: |
| Peace, Grumio! 'tis the rival of my love. Petruchio, |
| stand by awhile. |
| GRUMIO: |
| A proper stripling, and an amorous! |
| GREMIO: |
| O! very well; I have perus'd the note. |
| Hark you, sir; I'll have them very fairly bound: |
| All books of love, see that at any hand, |
| And see you read no other lectures to her. |
| You understand me. Over and beside |
| Signior Baptista's liberality, |
| I'll mend it with a largess. Take your papers too, |
| And let me have them very well perfum'd; |
| For she is sweeter than perfume itself |
| To whom they go to. What will you read to her? |
| LUCENTIO: |
| Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you, |
| As for my patron, stand you so assur'd, |
| As firmly as yourself were still in place; |
| Yea, and perhaps with more successful words |
| Than you, unless you were a scholar, sir. |
| GREMIO: |
| O! this learning, what a thing it is. |
| GRUMIO: |
| O! this woodcock, what an ass it is. |
| PETRUCHIO: |
| Peace, sirrah! |
| HORTENSIO: |
| Grumio, mum! God save you, Signior Gremio! |
| GREMIO: |
| And you are well met, Signior Hortensio. |
| Trow you whither I am going? To Baptista Minola. |
| I promis'd to enquire carefully |
| About a schoolmaster for the fair Bianca; |
| And by good fortune I have lighted well |
| On this young man; for learning and behaviour |
| Fit for her turn, well read in poetry |
| And other books, good ones, I warrant ye. |
| HORTENSIO: |
| 'Tis well; and I have met a gentleman |
| Hath promis'd me to help me to another, |
| A fine musician to instruct our mistress: |
| So shall I no whit be behind in duty |
| To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me. |
| GREMIO: |
| Belov'd of me, and that my deeds shall prove. |
| GRUMIO: |
| [Aside.] And that his bags shall prove. |
| HORTENSIO: |
| Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love: |
| Listen to me, and if you speak me fair, |
| I'll tell you news indifferent good for either. |
| Here is a gentleman whom by chance I met, |
| Upon agreement from us to his liking, |
| Will undertake to woo curst Katherine; |
| Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please. |
| GREMIO: |
| So said, so done, is well. |
| Hortensio, have you told him all her faults? |
| PETRUCHIO: |
| I know she is an irksome brawling scold; |
| If that be all, masters, I hear no harm. |
| GREMIO: |
| No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman? |
| PETRUCHIO: |
| Born in Verona, old Antonio's son. |
| My father dead, my fortune lives for me; |
| And I do hope good days and long to see. |
| GREMIO: |
| O Sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange! |
| But if you have a stomach, to't i' God's name; |
| You shall have me assisting you in all. |
| But will you woo this wild-cat? |
| PETRUCHIO: |
| Will I live? |
| GRUMIO: |
| Will he woo her? Ay, or I'll hang her. |
| PETRUCHIO: |
| Why came I hither but to that intent? |
| Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? |
| Have I not in my time heard lions roar? |
| Have I not heard the sea, puff'd up with winds, |
| Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat? |
| Have I not heard great ordnance in the field, |
| And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies? |
| Have I not in a pitched battle heard |
| Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? |
| And do you tell me of a woman's tongue, |
| That gives not half so great a blow to hear |
| As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire? |
| Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs. |
| GRUMIO: |
| [Aside] For he fears none. |
| GREMIO: |
| Hortensio, hark: |
| This gentleman is happily arriv'd, |
| My mind presumes, for his own good and ours. |
| HORTENSIO: |
| I promis'd we would be contributors, |
| And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er. |
| GREMIO: |
| And so we will, provided that he win her. |
| GRUMIO: |
| I would I were as sure of a good dinner. |
| [Enter TRANIO, bravely apparelled;and BIONDELLO.] |
| TRANIO: |
| Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be bold, |
| Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way |
| To the house of Signior Baptista Minola? |
| BIONDELLO: |
| He that has the two fair daughters; is't he you mean? |
| TRANIO: |
| Even he, Biondello! |
| GREMIO: |
| Hark you, sir, you mean not her to— |
| TRANIO: |
| Perhaps him and her, sir; what have you to do? |
| PETRUCHIO: |
| Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray. |
| TRANIO: |
| I love no chiders, sir. Biondello, let's away. |
| LUCENTIO: |
| [Aside] Well begun, Tranio. |
| HORTENSIO: |
| Sir, a word ere you go. |
| Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no? |
| TRANIO: |
| And if I be, sir, is it any offence? |
| GREMIO: |
| No; if without more words you will get you hence. |
| TRANIO: |
| Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free |
| For me as for you? |
| GREMIO: |
| But so is not she. |
| TRANIO: |
| For what reason, I beseech you? |
| GREMIO: |
| For this reason, if you'll know, |
| That she's the choice love of Signior Gremio. |
| HORTENSIO: |
| That she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio. |
| TRANIO: |
| Softly, my masters! If you be gentlemen, |
| Do me this right; hear me with patience. |
| Baptista is a noble gentleman, |
| To whom my father is not all unknown; |
| And were his daughter fairer than she is, |
| She may more suitors have, and me for one. |
| Fair Leda's daughter had a thousand wooers; |
| Then well one more may fair Bianca have; |
| And so she shall: Lucentio shall make one, |
| Though Paris came in hope to speed alone. |
| GREMIO: |
| What!this gentleman will out-talk us all. |
| LUCENTIO: |
| Sir, give him head; I know he'll prove a jade. |
| PETRUCHIO: |
| Hortensio, to what end are all these words? |
| HORTENSIO: |
| Sir, let me be so bold as ask you, |
| Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter? |
| TRANIO: |
| No, sir, but hear I do that he hath two, |
| The one as famous for a scolding tongue |
| As is the other for beauteous modesty. |
| PETRUCHIO: |
| Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by. |
| GREMIO: |
| Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules, |
| And let it be more than Alcides' twelve. |
| PETRUCHIO: |
| Sir, understand you this of me, in sooth: |
| The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for, |
| Her father keeps from all access of suitors, |
| And will not promise her to any man |
| Until the elder sister first be wed; |
| The younger then is free, and not before. |
| TRANIO: |
| If it be so, sir, that you are the man |
| Must stead us all, and me amongst the rest; |
| And if you break the ice, and do this feat, |
| Achieve the elder, set the younger free |
| For our access, whose hap shall be to have her |
| Will not so graceless be to be ingrate. |
| HORTENSIO: |
| Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive; |
| And since you do profess to be a suitor, |
| You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman, |
| To whom we all rest generally beholding. |
| TRANIO: |
| Sir, I shall not be slack; in sign whereof, |
| Please ye we may contrive this afternoon, |
| And quaff carouses to our mistress' health; |
| And do as adversaries do in law, |
| Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. |
| GRUMIO, BIONDELLO. |
| O excellent motion! Fellows, let's be gone. |
| HORTENSIO: |
| The motion's good indeed, and be it so:— |
| Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. |
| [Exeunt.] |
|
|
||||
|
