The Taming of the Shrew: Act 4

Tell thou the tale! But hadst thou not crossed me, thou shouldst have heard how her horse fell, and she under her horse; thou shouldst have heard in how miry a place, how she was bemoiled, how he left her with the horse upon her...

...how her bridle was burst, how I lost my crupper, with many things of worthy memory which now shall die in oblivion, and thou return unexperienced to thy grave.

NATHANIEL: All things is ready. How near is our master?
GRUMIO: E’en at hand, alighted by this. And therefore be not—Cock’s passion, silence! I hear my master.

It was the friar of orders grey,
As he forth walkèd on his way—

Out, you rogue! You pluck my foot awry.

What's this? Mutton?

There, take it to you, trenchers, cups, and all!

I pray you, husband, be not so disquiet.
The meat was well, if you were so contented.

I tell thee, Kate, ’twas burnt and dried away,
And I expressly am forbid to touch it,
For it engenders choler, planteth anger,
And better ’twere that both of us did fast
(Since of ourselves, ourselves are choleric)
Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh.

I tell thee, Kate, ’twas burnt and dried away,
And I expressly am forbid to touch it,
For it engenders choler, planteth anger,
And better ’twere that both of us did fast
(Since of ourselves, ourselves are choleric)
Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh.

Thus have I politicly begun my reign,
And 'tis my hope to end successfully.

As with the meat, some undeservèd fault
I’ll find about the making of the bed,
And here I’ll fling the pillow, there the bolster,
This way the coverlet, another way the sheets.

Ay, and amid this hurly I intend
That all is done in reverend care of her.

And thus I’ll curb her mad and headstrong humor.
He that knows better how to tame a shrew,
Now let him speak; ’tis charity to shew.

Signior Lucentio,
Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow
Never to woo her more, but do forswear her
As one unworthy all the former favors
That I have fondly flattered her withal.

And here I take the like unfeignèd oath,
Never to marry with her, though she would entreat.

If he be credulous, and trust my tale,
I’ll make him glad to seem Vincentio
And give assurance to Baptista Minola
As if he were the right Vincentio.

To save your life in this extremity,
This favor will I do you for his sake
(And think it not the worst of all your fortunes
That you are like to Sir Vincentio):
His name and credit shall you undertake,
And in my house you shall be friendly lodged.

O sir, I do, and will repute you ever
The patron of my life and liberty.

The more my wrong, the more his spite appears.

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.

I prithee, go, and get me some repast,
I care not what, so it be wholesome food.

I fear it is too choleric a meat.
How say you to a fat tripe finely broiled?

HABERDASHER: Here is the cap your Worship did bespeak.

Why, thou sayst true. It is a paltry cap,
A custard-coffin, a bauble, a silken pie.

Why, thou sayst true. It is a paltry cap,
A custard-coffin, a bauble, a silken pie.

Marry, and did. But if you be remembered,
I did not bid you mar it to the time.

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 say unto thee, I bid thy master cut out the gown, but I did not bid him cut it to pieces. Ergo, thou liest.

I pray you stand good father to me now.
Give me Bianca for my patrimony.

The worst is this: that at so slender warning
You are like to have a thin and slender pittance.

Faith, nothing; but ’has left me here behind to expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens.

What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty
As those two eyes become that heavenly face?

Have to my widow, and if she be froward,
Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.