No Fear Shakespeare: The Taming of the Shrew: Act 3 Scene 2

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The Taming of the Shrew

William Shakespeare

Act 3 Scene 2

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter BAPTISTA , GREMIO , TRANIO as LUCENTIO , KATHERINE , BIANCA , LUCENTIO , and others, attendants	Enter BAPTISTA , GREMIO , TRANIO as LUCENTIO , KATHERINE , BIANCA , LUCENTIO , and others, attendants
BAPTISTA (to TRANIO) Signior Lucentio, this is the 'pointed day That Katherine and Petruchio should be married, And yet we hear not of our son-in-law. What will be said? What mockery will it be, 5 To want the bridegroom when the priest attends To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage? What says Lucentio to this shame of ours?	BAPTISTA (to TRANIO) Signior Lucentio, this is the 'pointed day That Katherine and Petruchio should be married, And yet we hear not of our son-in-law. What will be said? What mockery will it be, To want the bridegroom when the priest attends To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage? What says Lucentio to this shame of ours?
KATHERINE No shame but mine. I must, forsooth, be forced To give my hand, opposed against my heart, 10 Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen, Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure. I told you, I, he was a frantic fool, Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior, And, to be noted for a merry man, 15He’ll woo a thousand, 'point the day of marriage, Make friends, invite, and proclaim the banns, Yet never means to wed where he hath wooed. Now must the world point at poor Katherine And say, “Lo, there is mad Petruchio’s wife, 20 If it would please him come and marry her!”	KATHERINE No shame but mine. I must, forsooth, be forced To give my hand, opposed against my heart, Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen, Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure. I told you, I, he was a frantic fool, Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior, And, to be noted for a merry man, He’ll woo a thousand, 'point the day of marriage, Make friends, invite, and proclaim the banns, Yet never means to wed where he hath wooed. Now must the world point at poor Katherine And say, “Lo, there is mad Petruchio’s wife, If it would please him come and marry her!”
TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) Patience, good Katherine, and Baptista too. Upon my life, Petruchio means but well, Whatever fortune stays him from his word: Though he be blunt, I know him passing wise; 25 Though he be merry, yet withal he’s honest.	TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) Patience, good Katherine, and Baptista too. Upon my life, Petruchio means but well, Whatever fortune stays him from his word: Though he be blunt, I know him passing wise; Though he be merry, yet withal he’s honest.
KATHERINE Would Katherine had never seen him, though!	KATHERINE Would Katherine had never seen him, though!
Exit weeping, followed by BIANCA and others	Exit weeping, followed by BIANCA and others
BAPTISTA Go, girl. I cannot blame thee now to weep, For such an injury would vex a very saint, Much more a shrew of thy impatient humor.	BAPTISTA Go, girl. I cannot blame thee now to weep, For such an injury would vex a very saint, Much more a shrew of thy impatient humor.
Enter BIONDELLO	Enter BIONDELLO
BIONDELLO 30Master, master! News, old news, and such news as you never heard of!	BIONDELLO Master, master! News, old news, and such news as you never heard of!
BAPTISTA Is it new and old too? How may that be?	BAPTISTA Is it new and old too? How may that be?
BIONDELLO Why, is it not news to hear of Petruchio’s coming?	BIONDELLO Why, is it not news to hear of Petruchio’s coming?
BAPTISTA Is he come?	BAPTISTA Is he come?
BIONDELLO 35 Why, no, sir.	BIONDELLO Why, no, sir.
BAPTISTA What then?	BAPTISTA What then?
BIONDELLO He is coming.	BIONDELLO He is coming.
BAPTISTA When will he be here?	BAPTISTA When will he be here?
BIONDELLO When he stands where I am and sees you there.	BIONDELLO When he stands where I am and sees you there.
TRANIO 40 (as LUCENTIO) But say, what to thine old news?	TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) But say, what to thine old news?
BIONDELLO Why, Petruchio is coming in a new hat and an old jerkin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned, a pair of boots that have been candle cases, one buckled, another laced; an old rusty sword ta'en out of the town armory, with a broken hilt and chapeless; with two broken points; his horse hipped, with an old mothy saddle and stirrups of no kindred, besides possessed with the glanders and like to mose in the chine, troubled with the lampass, infected with the fashions, full of wingdalls, sped with spavins, rayed with yellows, past cure of the fives, stark spoiled with the staggers, begnawn with the bots, swayed in the back and shoulder-shotten, near-legged before and with a half-checked bit and a headstall of sheeps leather, which, being restrained to keep him from stumbling, hath been often burst, and now repaired with knots, one girth six times pieced, and a woman’s crupper of velour, which hath two letters for her name fairly set down in studs, and here and there pieced with packthread.	BIONDELLO Why, Petruchio is coming in a new hat and an old jerkin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned, a pair of boots that have been candle cases, one buckled, another laced; an old rusty sword ta'en out of the town armory, with a broken hilt and chapeless; with two broken points; his horse hipped, with an old mothy saddle and stirrups of no kindred, besides possessed with the glanders and like to mose in the chine, troubled with the lampass, infected with the fashions, full of wingdalls, sped with spavins, rayed with yellows, past cure of the fives, stark spoiled with the staggers, begnawn with the bots, swayed in the back and shoulder-shotten, near-legged before and with a half-checked bit and a headstall of sheeps leather, which, being restrained to keep him from stumbling, hath been often burst, and now repaired with knots, one girth six times pieced, and a woman’s crupper of velour, which hath two letters for her name fairly set down in studs, and here and there pieced with packthread.
BAPTISTA Who comes with him?	BAPTISTA Who comes with him?
BIONDELLO O, sir, his lackey, for all the world caparisoned like the horse; with a linen stock on one leg and a kersey boot-hose on the other, gartered with a red and blue list; an old hat and the humor of forty fancies pricked in ’t for a feather. A monster, a very monster in apparel, and not like a Christian footboy or a gentleman’s lackey.	BIONDELLO O, sir, his lackey, for all the world caparisoned like the horse; with a linen stock on one leg and a kersey boot-hose on the other, gartered with a red and blue list; an old hat and the humor of forty fancies pricked in ’t for a feather. A monster, a very monster in apparel, and not like a Christian footboy or a gentleman’s lackey.
TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) 45 'Tis some odd humor pricks him to this fashion, Yet oftentimes he goes but mean-appareled.	TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) 'Tis some odd humor pricks him to this fashion, Yet oftentimes he goes but mean-appareled.
BAPTISTA I am glad he’s come, howsoe'er he comes.	BAPTISTA I am glad he’s come, howsoe'er he comes.
BIONDELLO Why, sir, he comes not.	BIONDELLO Why, sir, he comes not.
BAPTISTA Didst thou not say he comes?	BAPTISTA Didst thou not say he comes?
BIONDELLO 50 Who? That Petruchio came?	BIONDELLO Who? That Petruchio came?
BAPTISTA Ay, that Petruchio came.	BAPTISTA Ay, that Petruchio came.
BIONDELLO No, sir, I say his horse comes, with him on his back.	BIONDELLO No, sir, I say his horse comes, with him on his back.
BAPTISTA Why, that’s all one.	BAPTISTA Why, that’s all one.
BIONDELLO Nay, by Saint Jamy, 55 I hold you a penny, A horse and a man Is more than one And yet not many.	BIONDELLO Nay, by Saint Jamy, I hold you a penny, A horse and a man Is more than one And yet not many.
Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO	Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO
PETRUCHIO Come, where be these gallants? Who’s at home?	PETRUCHIO Come, where be these gallants? Who’s at home?
BAPTISTA 60 You are welcome, sir.	BAPTISTA You are welcome, sir.
PETRUCHIO And yet I come not well.	PETRUCHIO And yet I come not well.
APTISTA And yet you halt not.	APTISTA And yet you halt not.
TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) Not so well appareled as I wish you were.	TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) Not so well appareled as I wish you were.
PETRUCHIO Were it better I should rush in thus— 65 But where is Kate? Where is my love? How does my father? Gentles, methinks you frown. And wherefore gaze this goodly company As if they saw some wondrous monument, Some comet or unusual prodigy?	PETRUCHIO Were it better I should rush in thus— But where is Kate? Where is my love? How does my father? Gentles, methinks you frown. And wherefore gaze this goodly company As if they saw some wondrous monument, Some comet or unusual prodigy?
BAPTISTA 70 Why, sir, you know this is your wedding day. First were we sad, fearing you would not come, Now sadder that you come so unprovided. Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate, An eyesore to our solemn festival.	BAPTISTA Why, sir, you know this is your wedding day. First were we sad, fearing you would not come, Now sadder that you come so unprovided. Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate, An eyesore to our solemn festival.
TRANIO 75 And tell us what occasion of import Hath all so long detained you from your wife And sent you hither so unlike yourself.	TRANIO And tell us what occasion of import Hath all so long detained you from your wife And sent you hither so unlike yourself.

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter BAPTISTA , GREMIO , TRANIO as LUCENTIO , KATHERINE , BIANCA , LUCENTIO , and others, attendants	Enter BAPTISTA , GREMIO , TRANIO as LUCENTIO , KATHERINE , BIANCA , LUCENTIO , and others, attendants
BAPTISTA (to TRANIO) Signior Lucentio, this is the 'pointed day That Katherine and Petruchio should be married, And yet we hear not of our son-in-law. What will be said? What mockery will it be, 5 To want the bridegroom when the priest attends To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage? What says Lucentio to this shame of ours?	BAPTISTA (to TRANIO) Signior Lucentio, this is the 'pointed day That Katherine and Petruchio should be married, And yet we hear not of our son-in-law. What will be said? What mockery will it be, To want the bridegroom when the priest attends To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage? What says Lucentio to this shame of ours?
KATHERINE No shame but mine. I must, forsooth, be forced To give my hand, opposed against my heart, 10 Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen, Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure. I told you, I, he was a frantic fool, Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior, And, to be noted for a merry man, 15He’ll woo a thousand, 'point the day of marriage, Make friends, invite, and proclaim the banns, Yet never means to wed where he hath wooed. Now must the world point at poor Katherine And say, “Lo, there is mad Petruchio’s wife, 20 If it would please him come and marry her!”	KATHERINE No shame but mine. I must, forsooth, be forced To give my hand, opposed against my heart, Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen, Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure. I told you, I, he was a frantic fool, Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior, And, to be noted for a merry man, He’ll woo a thousand, 'point the day of marriage, Make friends, invite, and proclaim the banns, Yet never means to wed where he hath wooed. Now must the world point at poor Katherine And say, “Lo, there is mad Petruchio’s wife, If it would please him come and marry her!”
TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) Patience, good Katherine, and Baptista too. Upon my life, Petruchio means but well, Whatever fortune stays him from his word: Though he be blunt, I know him passing wise; 25 Though he be merry, yet withal he’s honest.	TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) Patience, good Katherine, and Baptista too. Upon my life, Petruchio means but well, Whatever fortune stays him from his word: Though he be blunt, I know him passing wise; Though he be merry, yet withal he’s honest.
KATHERINE Would Katherine had never seen him, though!	KATHERINE Would Katherine had never seen him, though!
Exit weeping, followed by BIANCA and others	Exit weeping, followed by BIANCA and others
BAPTISTA Go, girl. I cannot blame thee now to weep, For such an injury would vex a very saint, Much more a shrew of thy impatient humor.	BAPTISTA Go, girl. I cannot blame thee now to weep, For such an injury would vex a very saint, Much more a shrew of thy impatient humor.
Enter BIONDELLO	Enter BIONDELLO
BIONDELLO 30Master, master! News, old news, and such news as you never heard of!	BIONDELLO Master, master! News, old news, and such news as you never heard of!
BAPTISTA Is it new and old too? How may that be?	BAPTISTA Is it new and old too? How may that be?
BIONDELLO Why, is it not news to hear of Petruchio’s coming?	BIONDELLO Why, is it not news to hear of Petruchio’s coming?
BAPTISTA Is he come?	BAPTISTA Is he come?
BIONDELLO 35 Why, no, sir.	BIONDELLO Why, no, sir.
BAPTISTA What then?	BAPTISTA What then?
BIONDELLO He is coming.	BIONDELLO He is coming.
BAPTISTA When will he be here?	BAPTISTA When will he be here?
BIONDELLO When he stands where I am and sees you there.	BIONDELLO When he stands where I am and sees you there.
TRANIO 40 (as LUCENTIO) But say, what to thine old news?	TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) But say, what to thine old news?
BIONDELLO Why, Petruchio is coming in a new hat and an old jerkin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned, a pair of boots that have been candle cases, one buckled, another laced; an old rusty sword ta'en out of the town armory, with a broken hilt and chapeless; with two broken points; his horse hipped, with an old mothy saddle and stirrups of no kindred, besides possessed with the glanders and like to mose in the chine, troubled with the lampass, infected with the fashions, full of wingdalls, sped with spavins, rayed with yellows, past cure of the fives, stark spoiled with the staggers, begnawn with the bots, swayed in the back and shoulder-shotten, near-legged before and with a half-checked bit and a headstall of sheeps leather, which, being restrained to keep him from stumbling, hath been often burst, and now repaired with knots, one girth six times pieced, and a woman’s crupper of velour, which hath two letters for her name fairly set down in studs, and here and there pieced with packthread.	BIONDELLO Why, Petruchio is coming in a new hat and an old jerkin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned, a pair of boots that have been candle cases, one buckled, another laced; an old rusty sword ta'en out of the town armory, with a broken hilt and chapeless; with two broken points; his horse hipped, with an old mothy saddle and stirrups of no kindred, besides possessed with the glanders and like to mose in the chine, troubled with the lampass, infected with the fashions, full of wingdalls, sped with spavins, rayed with yellows, past cure of the fives, stark spoiled with the staggers, begnawn with the bots, swayed in the back and shoulder-shotten, near-legged before and with a half-checked bit and a headstall of sheeps leather, which, being restrained to keep him from stumbling, hath been often burst, and now repaired with knots, one girth six times pieced, and a woman’s crupper of velour, which hath two letters for her name fairly set down in studs, and here and there pieced with packthread.
BAPTISTA Who comes with him?	BAPTISTA Who comes with him?
BIONDELLO O, sir, his lackey, for all the world caparisoned like the horse; with a linen stock on one leg and a kersey boot-hose on the other, gartered with a red and blue list; an old hat and the humor of forty fancies pricked in ’t for a feather. A monster, a very monster in apparel, and not like a Christian footboy or a gentleman’s lackey.	BIONDELLO O, sir, his lackey, for all the world caparisoned like the horse; with a linen stock on one leg and a kersey boot-hose on the other, gartered with a red and blue list; an old hat and the humor of forty fancies pricked in ’t for a feather. A monster, a very monster in apparel, and not like a Christian footboy or a gentleman’s lackey.
TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) 45 'Tis some odd humor pricks him to this fashion, Yet oftentimes he goes but mean-appareled.	TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) 'Tis some odd humor pricks him to this fashion, Yet oftentimes he goes but mean-appareled.
BAPTISTA I am glad he’s come, howsoe'er he comes.	BAPTISTA I am glad he’s come, howsoe'er he comes.
BIONDELLO Why, sir, he comes not.	BIONDELLO Why, sir, he comes not.
BAPTISTA Didst thou not say he comes?	BAPTISTA Didst thou not say he comes?
BIONDELLO 50 Who? That Petruchio came?	BIONDELLO Who? That Petruchio came?
BAPTISTA Ay, that Petruchio came.	BAPTISTA Ay, that Petruchio came.
BIONDELLO No, sir, I say his horse comes, with him on his back.	BIONDELLO No, sir, I say his horse comes, with him on his back.
BAPTISTA Why, that’s all one.	BAPTISTA Why, that’s all one.
BIONDELLO Nay, by Saint Jamy, 55 I hold you a penny, A horse and a man Is more than one And yet not many.	BIONDELLO Nay, by Saint Jamy, I hold you a penny, A horse and a man Is more than one And yet not many.
Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO	Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO
PETRUCHIO Come, where be these gallants? Who’s at home?	PETRUCHIO Come, where be these gallants? Who’s at home?
BAPTISTA 60 You are welcome, sir.	BAPTISTA You are welcome, sir.
PETRUCHIO And yet I come not well.	PETRUCHIO And yet I come not well.
APTISTA And yet you halt not.	APTISTA And yet you halt not.
TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) Not so well appareled as I wish you were.	TRANIO (as LUCENTIO) Not so well appareled as I wish you were.
PETRUCHIO Were it better I should rush in thus— 65 But where is Kate? Where is my love? How does my father? Gentles, methinks you frown. And wherefore gaze this goodly company As if they saw some wondrous monument, Some comet or unusual prodigy?	PETRUCHIO Were it better I should rush in thus— But where is Kate? Where is my love? How does my father? Gentles, methinks you frown. And wherefore gaze this goodly company As if they saw some wondrous monument, Some comet or unusual prodigy?
BAPTISTA 70 Why, sir, you know this is your wedding day. First were we sad, fearing you would not come, Now sadder that you come so unprovided. Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate, An eyesore to our solemn festival.	BAPTISTA Why, sir, you know this is your wedding day. First were we sad, fearing you would not come, Now sadder that you come so unprovided. Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate, An eyesore to our solemn festival.
TRANIO 75 And tell us what occasion of import Hath all so long detained you from your wife And sent you hither so unlike yourself.	TRANIO And tell us what occasion of import Hath all so long detained you from your wife And sent you hither so unlike yourself.