The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (588 page)

For shame, thou hilding of a devilish spirit,

For shame, you offspring of an evil spirit,

Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong thee?

Why do you wrong her that never did you wrong?

When did she cross thee with a bitter word?

When did she ever insult or attack you?

KATHERINA. Her silence flouts me, and I'll be reveng'd.

It is her silence that insults me, and I'll have my revenge.

[Flies after BIANCA.]

[Chases after BIANCA.]

BAPTISTA. What! in my sight? Bianca, get thee in.

What? Even when I'm watching! Bianca, go inside.

[Exit BIANCA.]

KATHERINA. What! will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see

What? Will you not endure me? No, now I see

She is your treasure, she must have a husband;

I must dance bare-foot on her wedding-day,

And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell.

And, for your love of her, lead apes in hell.

Talk not to me: I will go sit and weep

Do not talk to me: I will go sit and cry

Till I can find occasion of revenge.

Until I can find a chance for revenge.

[Exit.]

BAPTISTA. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd as I? But who comes here?

Was a nobleman ever as troubled as I? But who comes here?

[Enter GREMIO, with LUCENTIO in the habit of a mean man; PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as a musician; and TRANIO, with BIONDELLO bearing a lute and books.]

[Enter GREMIO, with LUCENTIO in the clothes of a poor man; PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as a musician; and TRANIO, with BIONDELLO carrying a lute and books.]

GREMIO. Good morrow, neighbour Baptista.

Good day, neighbor Baptista.

BAPTISTA. Good morrow, neighbour Gremio. God save you, gentlemen!

Good day, neighbor Gremio. God save you, gentlemen!

PETRUCHIO. And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter

And you, good sir! Please tell me, don't you have a daughter

Call'd Katherina, fair and virtuous?

Called Katherina, beautiful and good?

BAPTISTA. I have a daughter, sir, call'd Katherina.

GREMIO. You are too blunt: go to it orderly.

Your are too blunt: be more refined about it.

PETRUCHIO. You wrong me, Signior Gremio: give me leave.

You wrong me, Sir Gremio: give me a chance.

I am a gentleman of Verona, sir,

I am a nobleman of Verona, sir,

That, hearing of her beauty and her wit,

That, hearing of her beauty and her intelligence,

Her affability and bashful modesty,

Her pleasantness and humility,

Her wondrous qualities and mild behaviour,

Her wonderful qualities and quiet behavior,

Am bold to show myself a forward guest

Am bold enough to make myself a guest

Within your house, to make mine eye the witness

Within your house, to make myself a witness

Of that report which I so oft have heard.

Of that report which I so often have heard.

And, for an entrance to my entertainment,

And, in exchange for hosting me,

I do present you with a man of mine,

I now present you with one of my servants,

[Presenting HORTENSIO.]

Cunning in music and the mathematics,

Clever in music and mathematics,

To instruct her fully in those sciences,

To instruct her fully in those fields,

Whereof I know she is not ignorant.

Where I am aware she has some knowledge.

Accept of him, or else you do me wrong:

Accept him, or else you do me wrong:

His name is Licio, born in Mantua.

His name is Licio, born in Mantua.

BAPTISTA. You're welcome, sir, and he for your good sake;

You're welcome, sir, and he is too for your sake;

But for my daughter Katherine, this I know,

Except when it comes to my daughter Katherine, this I know,

She is not for your turn, the more my grief.

She is not for you, I'm afraid.

PETRUCHIO. I see you do not mean to part with her;

I see you do not mean to separate from her;

Or else you like not of my company.

Or else you do not like my company.

BAPTISTA. Mistake me not; I speak but as I find. Whence are you, sir? What may I call your name?

Do not misunderstand me; I only say what I believe. Where do you come from, sir? What is your name?

PETRUCHIO. Petruchio is my name, Antonio's son;

 A man well known throughout all Italy.

BAPTISTA. I know him well: you are welcome for his sake.

GREMIO. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray,

Save it, Petruchio, please,

Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too.

Let us, that are poor beggars, speak too.

Backare! you are marvellous forward.

My goodness! You aren't very polite about it.

PETRUCHIO. O, pardon me, Signior Gremio; I would fain be doing.

Oh, pardon me, Sir Gremio; I would rather be doing.

GREMIO. I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your wooing.  Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure of it. To express the like kindness, myself, that have been more kindly beholding to you than any, freely give unto you this young scholar, [Presenting LUCENTIO.] that has been long studying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in music and mathematics. His name is Cambio; pray accept his service.

I do not doubt it, sir; but you will curse your wooing. Neighbor, this is a gift for which you will be very grateful, I am sure of it. To express similar kindness, myself, that have been kinder to you than any, I freely give to you this young scholar, [Presenting LUCENTIO.] that has studied at Rheims for a long time; he is as clever in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other is in music and mathematics. His name is Cambio; please accept his service.

BAPTISTA. A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio; welcome, good Cambio.-- [To TRANIO.] But, gentle sir, methinks you walk like a stranger: may I be so bold to know the cause of your coming?

A thousand thanks, Sir Gremio; welcome, good Cambio. -- [To TRANIO.] But, gentle sir, I think you walk like a stranger: may I ask why you have come here?

TRANIO. Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own,

Pardon me sir, the boldness is my own,

That, being a stranger in this city here,

Do make myself a suitor to your daughter,

Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous.

To Bianca, beautiful and virtuous.

Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me,

And I am aware of your decision

In the preferment of the eldest sister.

In favor of the eldest sister.

This liberty is all that I request,

This freedom is all that I request,

That, upon knowledge of my parentage,

That, once you know of my family,

I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo,

I may be welcome among the rest that woo,

And free access and favour as the rest:

And as much access and favor as the rest:

And, toward the education of your daughters,

I here bestow a simple instrument,

I here give you the gift of a simple musical instrument,

And this small packet of Greek and Latin books:

And this small bag of Greek and Latin books:

If you accept them, then their worth is great.

If you accept them, then they have much worth.

BAPTISTA. Lucentio is your name, of whence, I pray?

Lucentio is your name, from where, may I ask?

TRANIO. Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio.

BAPTISTA. A mighty man of Pisa: by report I know him well: you are very welcome, sir.

A mighty man of Pisa: I know him by reputation: you are very welcome, sir.

[To HORTENSIO.]

Take you the lute,

You take the lute,

[To LUCENTIO.] and you the set of books;

You shall go see your pupils presently. Holla, within!

You shall go see your students in a moment. Hello, you people inside!

[Enter a SERVANT.]

Sirrah, lead these gentlemen

My man, lead these noblemen

To my two daughters, and tell them both

These are their tutors: bid them use them well.

These are their tutors: tell them to treat them well.

[Exit SERVANT, with HORTENSIO, LUCENTIO, and BIONDELLO.]

We will go walk a little in the orchard,

And then to dinner. You are passing welcome,

And then to dinner. You are most welcome,

And so I pray you all to think yourselves.

And in that way I request all of you to consider yourselves.

PETRUCHIO. Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste,

Sir Baptista, I have to hurry because of business,

And every day I cannot come to woo.

And I cannot come to woo every day.

You knew my father well, and in him me,

You knew my father well, and through him me,,

Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,

The only heir to all his lands and wealth,

Which I have bettered rather than decreas'd:

Which I have made better rather than decreased:

Then tell me, if I get your daughter's love,

What dowry shall I have with her to wife?

What dowry shall I have with her as my wife?

BAPTISTA. After my death, the one half of my lands,

And in possession twenty thousand crowns.

PETRUCHIO. And, for that dowry, I'll assure her of

And, for that dowry, I'll promise her

Her widowhood, be it that she survive me,

As a widow, if she survives me,

In all my lands and leases whatsoever.

In all my lands and property whatsoever.

Let specialities be therefore drawn between us,

Let a contract be therefore drawn up between us,

That covenants may be kept on either hand.