No Fear Shakespeare: The Taming of the Shrew: Act 4 Scene 3

Continue reading with a SparkNotes PLUS trial

Already have an account? Log in

Previous page Act 4, Scene 2 Next page Act 4, Scene 4

Test your knowledge

Take the Act 4, scenes iii-v Quick Quiz

Read the Summary

Read the Summary of Act 4, scenes iii-v.

Shakespeare’s Life & Times

Your password reset email should arrive shortly.

Something went wrong

The Taming of the Shrew

William Shakespeare

Act 4 Scene 3

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

Take the Act 4, scenes iii-v Quick Quiz

Read the Summary of Act 4, scenes iii-v.

Dive into our comprehensive guide to ace your Shakespeare assignments

Popular pages: The Taming of the Shrew

Character List CHARACTERS

Katherine CHARACTERS

Themes LITERARY DEVICES

Important Quotes Explained QUOTES

Full Book QUIZZES

Take a Study Break

QUIZ: Is This a Taylor Swift Lyric or a Quote by Edgar Allan Poe?

The 7 Most Embarrassing Proposals in Literature

The 6 Best and Worst TV Show Adaptations of Books

QUIZ: Which Greek God Are You?

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter KATHERINE and GRUMIO	Enter KATHERINE and GRUMIO
GRUMIO No, no, forsooth, I dare not for my life.	GRUMIO No, no, forsooth, I dare not for my life.
KATHERINE The more my wrong, the more his spite appears. What, did he marry me to famish me? Beggars that come unto my father’s door 5 Upon entreaty have a present alms. If not, elsewhere they meet with charity. But I, who never knew how to entreat, Nor never needed that I should entreat, Am starved for meat, giddy for lack of sleep, 10 With oaths kept waking and with brawling fed. And that which spites me more than all these wants, He does it under name of perfect love, As who should say, if I should sleep or eat, 'Twere deadly sickness or else present death. 15 I prithee, go and get me some repast, I care not what, so it be wholesome food.	KATHERINE The more my wrong, the more his spite appears. What, did he marry me to famish me? Beggars that come unto my father’s door Upon entreaty have a present alms. If not, elsewhere they meet with charity. But I, who never knew how to entreat, Nor never needed that I should entreat, Am starved for meat, giddy for lack of sleep, With oaths kept waking and with brawling fed. And that which spites me more than all these wants, He does it under name of perfect love, As who should say, if I should sleep or eat, 'Twere deadly sickness or else present death. I prithee, go and get me some repast, I care not what, so it be wholesome food.
GRUMIO What say you to a neat’s foot?	GRUMIO What say you to a neat’s foot?
KATHERINE 'Tis passing good. I prithee let me have it.	KATHERINE 'Tis passing good. I prithee let me have it.
GRUMIO I fear it is too choleric a meat. 20 How say you to a fat tripe finely broiled?	GRUMIO I fear it is too choleric a meat. How say you to a fat tripe finely broiled?
KATHERINE I like it well. Good Grumio, fetch it me.	KATHERINE I like it well. Good Grumio, fetch it me.
GRUMIO I cannot tell. I fear ’tis choleric. What say you to a piece of beef and mustard?	GRUMIO I cannot tell. I fear ’tis choleric. What say you to a piece of beef and mustard?
KATHERINE A dish that I do love to feed upon.	KATHERINE A dish that I do love to feed upon.
GRUMIO Ay, but the mustard is too hot a little.	GRUMIO Ay, but the mustard is too hot a little.
KATHERINE 25 Why then, the beef, and let the mustard rest.	KATHERINE Why then, the beef, and let the mustard rest.
GRUMIO Nay then, I will not. You shall have the mustard Or else you get no beef of Grumio.	GRUMIO Nay then, I will not. You shall have the mustard Or else you get no beef of Grumio.
KATHERINE Then both, or one, or anything thou wilt.	KATHERINE Then both, or one, or anything thou wilt.
GRUMIO Why then, the mustard without the beef.	GRUMIO Why then, the mustard without the beef.
KATHERINE 30 Go, get thee gone, thou false deluding slave, Beats him That feed’st me with the very name of meat. Sorrow on thee and all the pack of you That triumph thus upon my misery. 35 Go, get thee gone, I say.	KATHERINE Go, get thee gone, thou false deluding slave, Beats him That feed’st me with the very name of meat. Sorrow on thee and all the pack of you That triumph thus upon my misery. Go, get thee gone, I say.
Enter PETRUCHIO and HORTENSIO with meat	Enter PETRUCHIO and HORTENSIO with meat
PETRUCHIO How fares my Kate? What, sweeting, all amort?	PETRUCHIO How fares my Kate? What, sweeting, all amort?
HORTENSIO Mistress, what cheer?	HORTENSIO Mistress, what cheer?
KATHERINE Faith, as cold as can be.	KATHERINE Faith, as cold as can be.
PETRUCHIO Pluck up thy spirits. Look cheerfully upon me. Here love, thou seest how diligent I am, 40 To dress thy meat myself and bring it thee. I am sure, sweet Kate, this kindness merits thanks. What, not a word? Nay, then thou lov’st it not And all my pains is sorted to no proof. Here, take away this dish.	PETRUCHIO Pluck up thy spirits. Look cheerfully upon me. Here love, thou seest how diligent I am, To dress thy meat myself and bring it thee. I am sure, sweet Kate, this kindness merits thanks. What, not a word? Nay, then thou lov’st it not And all my pains is sorted to no proof. Here, take away this dish.
KATHERINE I pray you, let it stand.	KATHERINE I pray you, let it stand.
PETRUCHIO 45 The poorest service is repaid with thanks, And so shall mine, before you touch the meat.	PETRUCHIO The poorest service is repaid with thanks, And so shall mine, before you touch the meat.
KATHERINE I thank you, sir.	KATHERINE I thank you, sir.
HORTENSIO Signior Petruchio, fie, you are to blame. Come, mistress Kate, I’ll bear you company.	HORTENSIO Signior Petruchio, fie, you are to blame. Come, mistress Kate, I’ll bear you company.
PETRUCHIO 50 (aside to HORTENSIO) Eat it up all, Hortensio, if thou lovest me.— Much good do it unto thy gentle heart. Kate, eat apace. And now, my honey love, Will we return unto thy father’s house 55 And revel it as bravely as the best, With silken coats and caps and golden rings, With ruffs and cuffs and farthingales and things, With scarves and fans and double change of brav'ry, With amber bracelets, beads, and all this knav'ry. 60 What, hast thou dined? The tailor stays thy leisure To deck thy body with his ruffling treasure.	PETRUCHIO (aside to HORTENSIO) Eat it up all, Hortensio, if thou lovest me.— Much good do it unto thy gentle heart. Kate, eat apace. And now, my honey love, Will we return unto thy father’s house And revel it as bravely as the best, With silken coats and caps and golden rings, With ruffs and cuffs and farthingales and things, With scarves and fans and double change of brav'ry, With amber bracelets, beads, and all this knav'ry. What, hast thou dined? The tailor stays thy leisure To deck thy body with his ruffling treasure.
Enter TAILOR	Enter TAILOR
Come, tailor, let us see these ornaments. Lay forth the gown.	Come, tailor, let us see these ornaments. Lay forth the gown.
Enter HABERDASHER	Enter HABERDASHER
What news with you, sir?	What news with you, sir?
HABERDASHER Here is the cap your Worship did bespeak.	HABERDASHER Here is the cap your Worship did bespeak.
PETRUCHIO 65 Why, this was molded on a porringer! A velvet dish! Fie, fie, ’tis lewd and filthy! Why, ’tis a cockle or a walnut shell, A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby’s cap. Away with it! Come, let me have a bigger.	PETRUCHIO Why, this was molded on a porringer! A velvet dish! Fie, fie, ’tis lewd and filthy! Why, ’tis a cockle or a walnut shell, A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby’s cap. Away with it! Come, let me have a bigger.
KATHERINE 70 I’ll have no bigger. This doth fit the time, And gentlewomen wear such caps as these.	KATHERINE I’ll have no bigger. This doth fit the time, And gentlewomen wear such caps as these.
PETRUCHIO When you are gentle, you shall have one too, And not till then.	PETRUCHIO When you are gentle, you shall have one too, And not till then.
HORTENSIO (aside) That will not be in haste.	HORTENSIO (aside) That will not be in haste.
KATHERINE 75 Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak, And speak I will. I am no child, no babe. Your betters have endured me say my mind, And if you cannot, best you stop your ears. My tongue will tell the anger of my heart 80 Or else my heart, concealing it, will break, And, rather than it shall, I will be free Even to the uttermost, as I please, in words.	KATHERINE Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak, And speak I will. I am no child, no babe. Your betters have endured me say my mind, And if you cannot, best you stop your ears. My tongue will tell the anger of my heart Or else my heart, concealing it, will break, And, rather than it shall, I will be free Even to the uttermost, as I please, in words.
PETRUCHIO Why, thou say’st true. It is a paltry cap, A custard-coffin, a bauble, a silken pie. 85 I love thee well in that thou lik’st it not.	PETRUCHIO Why, thou say’st true. It is a paltry cap, A custard-coffin, a bauble, a silken pie. I love thee well in that thou lik’st it not.
KATHERINE Love me or love me not, I like the cap, And it I will have, or I will have none.	KATHERINE Love me or love me not, I like the cap, And it I will have, or I will have none.
Exit HABERDASHER	Exit HABERDASHER
PETRUCHIO Thy gown? Why, ay. Come, tailor, let us see ’t. O mercy, God! What masking stuff is here? 90What’s this? A sleeve? 'Tis like a demi-cannon.	PETRUCHIO Thy gown? Why, ay. Come, tailor, let us see ’t. O mercy, God! What masking stuff is here? What’s this? A sleeve? 'Tis like a demi-cannon.
What, up and down, carved like an apple tart? Here’s snip and nip and cut and slish and slash, Like to a censer in a barber’s shop. Why, what i' devil’s name, tailor, call’st thou this?	What, up and down, carved like an apple tart? Here’s snip and nip and cut and slish and slash, Like to a censer in a barber’s shop. Why, what i' devil’s name, tailor, call’st thou this?
HORTENSIO 95 (aside) I see she’s like to have neither cap nor gown.	HORTENSIO (aside) I see she’s like to have neither cap nor gown.
TAILOR You bid me make it orderly and well, According to the fashion and the time.	TAILOR You bid me make it orderly and well, According to the fashion and the time.
PETRUCHIO Marry, and did. But if you be remembered, I did not bid you mar it to the time. 100 Go, hop me over every kennel home, For you shall hop without my custom, sir. I’ll none of it. Hence, make your best of it.	PETRUCHIO Marry, and did. But if you be remembered, I did not bid you mar it to the time. Go, hop me over every kennel home, For you shall hop without my custom, sir. I’ll none of it. Hence, make your best of it.
KATHERINE I never saw a better-fashioned gown, More quaint, more pleasing, nor more commendable. 105 Belike you mean to make a puppet of me.	KATHERINE I never saw a better-fashioned gown, More quaint, more pleasing, nor more commendable. Belike you mean to make a puppet of me.
PETRUCHIO Why, true, he means to make a puppet of thee.	PETRUCHIO Why, true, he means to make a puppet of thee.
TAILOR She says your Worship means to make a puppet of her.	TAILOR She says your Worship means to make a puppet of her.
PETRUCHIO O monstrous arrogance! Thou liest, thou thread, thou thimble, Thou yard, three-quarters, half-yard, quarter, nail! 110 Thou flea, thou nit, thou winter cricket thou! Braved in mine own house with a skein of thread? Away, thou rag, thou quantity, thou remnant, Or I shall so be-mete thee with thy yard As thou shalt think on prating whilst thou liv’st! 115 I tell thee, I, that thou hast marred her gown.	PETRUCHIO O monstrous arrogance! Thou liest, thou thread, thou thimble, Thou yard, three-quarters, half-yard, quarter, nail! Thou flea, thou nit, thou winter cricket thou! Braved in mine own house with a skein of thread? Away, thou rag, thou quantity, thou remnant, Or I shall so be-mete thee with thy yard As thou shalt think on prating whilst thou liv’st! I tell thee, I, that thou hast marred her gown.
TAILOR Your Worship is deceived. The gown is made Just as my master had direction. Grumio gave order how it should be done.	TAILOR Your Worship is deceived. The gown is made Just as my master had direction. Grumio gave order how it should be done.
GRUMIO I gave him no order. I gave him the stuff.	GRUMIO I gave him no order. I gave him the stuff.
TAILOR 120 But how did you desire it should be made?	TAILOR But how did you desire it should be made?
GRUMIO Marry, sir, with needle and thread.	GRUMIO Marry, sir, with needle and thread.
TAILOR But did you not request to have it cut?	TAILOR But did you not request to have it cut?
GRUMIO Thou hast faced many things.	GRUMIO Thou hast faced many things.
TAILOR I have.	TAILOR I have.
GRUMIO 125Face not me. Thou hast braved many men; brave not me. I will neither be faced nor braved. I say unto thee, I bid thy master cutout the gown, but I did not bid him cut it to pieces. Ergo, thou liest.	GRUMIO Face not me. Thou hast braved many men; brave not me. I will neither be faced nor braved. I say unto thee, I bid thy master cutout the gown, but I did not bid him cut it to pieces. Ergo, thou liest.
TAILOR Why, here is the note of the fashion to testify.	TAILOR Why, here is the note of the fashion to testify.
Holds up a paper	Holds up a paper
PETRUCHIO 130 Read it.	PETRUCHIO Read it.
GRUMIO The note lies in ’s throat, if he say I said so.	GRUMIO The note lies in ’s throat, if he say I said so.
TAILOR (reads) “Imprimis, a loose-bodied gown—”	TAILOR (reads) “Imprimis, a loose-bodied gown—”
GRUMIO Master, if ever I said “loose-bodied gown,” sew me in the skirts of it, and beat me to death with a bottom of brown thread. I said “a gown.”	GRUMIO Master, if ever I said “loose-bodied gown,” sew me in the skirts of it, and beat me to death with a bottom of brown thread. I said “a gown.”
PETRUCHIO Proceed.	PETRUCHIO Proceed.
TAILOR (reads) “With a small-compassed cape—”	TAILOR (reads) “With a small-compassed cape—”
GRUMIO I confess the cape.	GRUMIO I confess the cape.
TAILOR (reads) “With a trunk sleeve—”	TAILOR (reads) “With a trunk sleeve—”
GRUMIO 140 I confess two sleeves.	GRUMIO I confess two sleeves.
TAILOR (reads) “The sleeves curiously cut.”	TAILOR (reads) “The sleeves curiously cut.”
PETRUCHIO Ay, there’s the villany.	PETRUCHIO Ay, there’s the villany.
GRUMIO Error i' the bill, sir, error i' the bill! I commanded the sleeves should be cut out and sewed up again, and that I’ll prove upon thee, though thy little finger be armed in a thimble.	GRUMIO Error i' the bill, sir, error i' the bill! I commanded the sleeves should be cut out and sewed up again, and that I’ll prove upon thee, though thy little finger be armed in a thimble.
TAILOR This is true that I say: an I had thee in place where, thou shouldst know it.	TAILOR This is true that I say: an I had thee in place where, thou shouldst know it.
GRUMIO I am for thee straight. Take thou the bill, give me thy mete- yard, and spare not me.	GRUMIO I am for thee straight. Take thou the bill, give me thy mete- yard, and spare not me.
HORTENSIO God-a-mercy, Grumio! Then he shall have no odds.	HORTENSIO God-a-mercy, Grumio! Then he shall have no odds.
PETRUCHIO Well, sir, in brief, the gown is not for me.	PETRUCHIO Well, sir, in brief, the gown is not for me.
GRUMIO You are i' the right, sir, ’tis for my mistress.	GRUMIO You are i' the right, sir, ’tis for my mistress.
PETRUCHIO Go, take it up unto thy master’s use.	PETRUCHIO Go, take it up unto thy master’s use.
GRUMIO 155Villain, not for thy life! Take up my mistress' gown for thy master’s use!	GRUMIO Villain, not for thy life! Take up my mistress' gown for thy master’s use!
PETRUCHIO Why, sir, what’s your conceit in that?	PETRUCHIO Why, sir, what’s your conceit in that?
GRUMIO O, sir, the conceit is deeper than you think for. Take up my mistress' gown to his master’s use! O, fie, fie, fie!	GRUMIO O, sir, the conceit is deeper than you think for. Take up my mistress' gown to his master’s use! O, fie, fie, fie!
PETRUCHIO 160 (aside) Hortensio, say thou wilt see the tailor paid. (to TAILOR) Go, take it hence. Begone, and say no more.	PETRUCHIO (aside) Hortensio, say thou wilt see the tailor paid. (to TAILOR) Go, take it hence. Begone, and say no more.
HORTENSIO (aside to TAILOR) Tailor, I’ll pay thee for thy gown tomorrow. Take no unkindness of his hasty words. 165 Away, I say. Commend me to thy master.	HORTENSIO (aside to TAILOR) Tailor, I’ll pay thee for thy gown tomorrow. Take no unkindness of his hasty words. Away, I say. Commend me to thy master.
Exit TAILOR	Exit TAILOR
PETRUCHIO Well, come, my Kate. We will unto your father’s Even in these honest mean habiliments. Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor, For ’tis the mind that makes the body rich, 170 And as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds, So honor peereth in the meanest habit. What, is the jay more precious than the lark Because his feathers are more beautiful? Or is the adder better than the eel 175 Because his painted skin contents the eye?	PETRUCHIO Well, come, my Kate. We will unto your father’s Even in these honest mean habiliments. Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor, For ’tis the mind that makes the body rich, And as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds, So honor peereth in the meanest habit. What, is the jay more precious than the lark Because his feathers are more beautiful? Or is the adder better than the eel Because his painted skin contents the eye?
Oh, no, good Kate. Neither art thou the worse For this poor furniture and mean array. If thou account’st it shame, lay it on me, And therefore frolic! We will hence forthwith 180 To feast and sport us at thy father’s house. (to GRUMIO) Go, call my men, and let us straight to him, And bring our horses unto Long Lane end. There will we mount, and thither walk on foot. Let’s see, I think ’tis now some seven o'clock, 185 And well we may come there by dinnertime.	Oh, no, good Kate. Neither art thou the worse For this poor furniture and mean array. If thou account’st it shame, lay it on me, And therefore frolic! We will hence forthwith To feast and sport us at thy father’s house. (to GRUMIO) Go, call my men, and let us straight to him, And bring our horses unto Long Lane end. There will we mount, and thither walk on foot. Let’s see, I think ’tis now some seven o'clock, And well we may come there by dinnertime.
KATHERINE I dare assure you, sir, ’tis almost two, And ’twill be supper time ere you come there.	KATHERINE I dare assure you, sir, ’tis almost two, And ’twill be supper time ere you come there.
PETRUCHIO It shall be seven ere I go to horse. Look what I speak, or do, or think to do, 190 You are still crossing it. Sirs, let ’t alone. I will not go today, and ere I do It shall be what o'clock I say it is.	PETRUCHIO It shall be seven ere I go to horse. Look what I speak, or do, or think to do, You are still crossing it. Sirs, let ’t alone. I will not go today, and ere I do It shall be what o'clock I say it is.
HORTENSIO (aside) Why, so this gallant will command the sun.	HORTENSIO (aside) Why, so this gallant will command the sun.
Exeunt	Exeunt