3

Petruchio

Not I, believe me, thus I'll visit her.    

Baptista

But thus, I trust, you will not marry her.

Petruchio

Good sooth, even thus. Therefore ha' done with words;    
To me she's married, not unto my clothes.
Could I repair what she will wear in me,        
As I can change these poor accoutrements,
'Twere well for Kate and better for myself.        
But what a fool am I to chat with you,
When I should bid good morrow to my bride,    
And seal the title with a lovely kiss!

Katherina

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;    
Though he be merry, yet withal he's honest.    

Bianca

Why, I am past my gamut long ago.    

Hortensio

Yet read the gamut of Hortensio.

Bianca

[Reads the scale which he has written out for her]
Gamut — I am the ground of all accord,    
A re — to plead Hortensio's passion.
B mi — Bianca, take him for thy lord,
C fa ut — that loves with all affection.
D sol re — One clef, two notes have I.    
E la mi — Show pity, or I die.'
Call you this ‘gamut’? Tut, I like it not.    
Old fashions please me best; I am not so nice    
To change true rules for odd inventions.    

Lucentio

Faith, mistress, then I have no cause to stay.    
[Exit Lucentio]

Hortensio

But I have cause to pry into this pedant;    
Methinks he looks as though he were in love.
Yet if thy thoughts, Bianca, be so humble    
To cast thy wandering eyes on every stale,    
Seize thee that list. If once I find thee ranging,    
Hortensio will be quit with thee by changing.    
[Exit]

Hortensio

Madam, before you touch the instrument,
To learn the order of my fingering,    
I must begin with rudiments of art,    
To teach you gamut in a briefer sort,    
More pleasant, pithy, and effectual
Than hath been taught by any of my trade,
And there it is in writing fairly drawn.    

Bianca

[To Lucentio] In time I may believe, yet I mistrust.    

Lucentio

[To Bianca] Mistrust it not. [Loudly] For, sure, Aeacides
Was Ajax, called so from his grandfather.    

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