The Taming of the Shrew

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Book: Read The Taming of the Shrew for Free Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
sake, Lucentio.
    Enter Gremio
        Signior Gremio, came you from the church?
    GREMIO     As willingly as e’er I came from school.
    TRANIO     And is the bride and bridegroom coming home?
    GREMIO     A bridegroom, say you? ’Tis a groom 145 indeed,
    A grumbling groom, and that the girl shall find.
    TRANIO      Curster 147 than she? Why, ’tis impossible.
    GREMIO     Why he’s a devil, a devil, a very fiend.
    TRANIO     Why, she’s a devil, a devil, the devil’s dam.
    GREMIO     Tut, she’s a lamb, a dove, a fool to 150 him.
    I’ll tell you, Sir 151 Lucentio, when the priest
    Should ask if Katherine should be his wife,
    ‘Ay, by gogs-wouns 153 ’, quoth he, and swore so loud
    That all amazed the priest let fall the book 154 ,
    And as he stooped again to take it up,
    This mad-brained bridegroom took 156 him such a cuff
    That down fell priest and book and book and priest.
    ‘Now take them 158 up,’ quoth he, ‘if any list.’
    TRANIO     What said the wench when he rose again?
    GREMIO     Trembled and shook, for why 160 , he stamped and swore,
    As if the vicar meant to cozen 161 him.
    But after many 162 ceremonies done,
    He calls for wine: ‘A health!’ quoth he, as if
    He had been aboard, carousing to his mates
    After a storm, quaffed off 165 the muscadel
    And threw the sops 166 all in the sexton’s face,
    Having no other reason
    But that his beard grew thin and hungerly 168
    And seemed to ask him 169 sops as he was drinking.
    This done, he took the bride about the neck
    And kissed her lips with such a clamorous smack
    That at the parting all the church did echo.
    And I seeing this came thence for very shame,
    And after me, I know, the rout 174 is coming.
    Such a mad marriage never was before.
    Hark, hark! I hear the minstrels 176 play.
    Music plays
    Enter Petruchio, Kate, Bianca, Hortensio
[
disguised as Litio
]
, Baptista,
[
Grumio and others
]
    PETRUCHIO     Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains.
    I know you think 178 to dine with me today,
    And have prepared great store of wedding cheer 179 ,
    But so it is, my haste doth call me hence,
    And therefore here I mean to take my leave.
    BAPTISTA     Is’t possible you will away tonight?
    PETRUCHIO     I must away today, before night come.
     Make it no wonder 184 . If you knew my business,
    You would entreat me rather go than stay.
    And honest 186 company, I thank you all,
    That have beheld me give away myself
    To this most patient, sweet and virtuous wife.
    Dine with my father, drink a health to me,
    For I must hence, and farewell to you all.
    TRANIO     Let us entreat you stay till after dinner.
    PETRUCHIO     It may not be.
    GREMIO     Let me entreat you.
    PETRUCHIO     It cannot be.
    KATE     Let me entreat you.
    PETRUCHIO     I am content.
    KATE     Are you content to stay?
    PETRUCHIO     I am content you shall entreat me stay,
    But yet not stay 199 , entreat me how you can.
    KATE     Now, if you love me, stay.
    PETRUCHIO     Grumio, my horse.
    GRUMIO     Ay, sir, they be ready, the oats have eaten the horses 202 .
    KATE     Nay, then,
    Do what thou canst, I will not go today,
    No, nor tomorrow, not till I please myself.
    The door is open, sir, there lies your way,
    You may be jogging whiles your boots are green 207 .
    For me, I’ll not be gone till I please myself.
    ’Tis like you’ll prove a jolly 209 surly groom,
    That take it on you at the first so roundly 210 .
    PETRUCHIO     O Kate, content thee. Prithee be not angry.
    KATE     I will be angry. What hast thou to do 212 ?—
    Father, be quiet. He shall stay my leisure 213

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