The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare Read Free Book Online Page A

Gregory, Philip?
    ALL SERVINGMEN     Here, here, sir, here, sir.
    PETRUCHIO     Here, sir, here, sir, here, sir, here, sir!
    You logger-headed 107 and unpolished grooms!
    What, no attendance? No regard? No duty?
    Where is the foolish knave I sent before?
    GRUMIO     Here, sir, as foolish as I was before.
    PETRUCHIO     You peasant swain 111 . You whoreson malt-horse drudge.
    Did I not bid thee meet me in the park 112 ,
    And bring along these rascal knaves with thee?
    GRUMIO     Nathaniel’s coat, sir, was not fully made 114 ,
    And Gabriel’s pumps were all unpinked 115 i’th’heel.
    There was no link 116 to colour Peter’s hat,
    And Walter’s dagger was not come from sheathing 117 .
    There were none fine 118 but Adam, Rafe and Gregory,
    The rest were ragged, old, and beggarly.
    Yet, as they are, here are they come to meet you.
    PETRUCHIO     Go, rascals, go, and fetch my supper in.
    Exeunt Servingmen
           ‘Where is the life that late I led?
      Where are those 122 —’
    Sings
        Sit down, Kate, and welcome.— Soud 124 , soud, soud, soud!
    They sit
    Enter Servants with supper

    Why, when, I say? Nay, good sweet Kate, be merry.—
    Off with my boots, you rogues! You villains, when 126 ?
    A Servant takes off his boots
           ‘It was the friar of orders grey,
      As he forth walkèd on his way 127 —’
    Sings
         Out 129 , you rogue! You pluck my foot awry.
    Take that, and mend 130 the plucking of the other.
    Kicks him
        Be merry, Kate.— Some water 131 , here. What, ho!
    Enter one with water

    Where’s my spaniel Troilus 132 ? Sirrah, get you hence,
    And bid my cousin Ferdinand 133 come hither.—
    One, Kate, that you must kiss, and be acquainted with.—
    Where are my slippers? Shall I have some water?
    Come, Kate, and wash, and welcome heartily.—
    Servant spills water
        You whoreson villain, will you let it fall?
    Strikes the Servant
    KATE     Patience, I pray you. ’Twas a fault unwilling.
    PETRUCHIO     A whoreson beetle-headed 139 , flap-eared knave!—
    Come, Kate, sit down, I know you have a stomach 140 .
    Will you give thanks 141 , sweet Kate, or else shall I?
    What’s this? Mutton?
    FIRST SERVANT     Ay.
    PETRUCHIO     Who brought it?
    PETER     I.
    PETRUCHIO     ’Tis burnt, and so is all the meat.
    What dogs are these? Where is the rascal cook?
    How durst you, villains, bring it from the dresser 148
    And serve it thus to me that love it not?
    There, take it to you, trenchers 150 , cups, and all.
    Throws the meat and dishes at them
        You heedless joltheads 151 and unmannered slaves!
        What, do you grumble? I’ll be with you straight 152 .
    KATE     I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet.
    The meat was well 154 , if you were so contented.
    PETRUCHIO     I tell thee, Kate, ’twas burnt and dried away,
    And I expressly am forbid to touch it,
    For it engenders choler 157 , planteth anger,
    And better ’twere that both of us did fast,
    Since, of ourselves 159 , ourselves are choleric,
    Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh.
    Be patient, tomorrow’t shall be mended,
    And for this night we’ll fast for company 162 .
    Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber.
    Exeunt
    Enter Servants severally
    NATHANIEL     Peter, didst ever see the like?
    PETER     He kills her in her own humour 165 .
    GRUMIO     Where is he?
    Enter Curtis, a servant
    CURTIS     In her chamber, making a sermon of continency 167
    to her,
    And rails and swears and rates 169 that she, poor soul,
    Knows not which way to stand, to look, to speak,
    And sits as one new-risen 171 from a dream.
    Away, away, for he