Taming of the Shrew

Katherina

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

Petruchio

Thus have I politicly begun my reign,    
And 'tis my hope to end successfully.    
My falcon now is sharp and passing empty,    
And till she stoop, she must not be full-gorged,    
For then she never looks upon her lure.
Another way I have to man my haggard,    
To make her come and know her keeper's call:
That is to watch her, as we watch these kites    
That bate and beat, and will not be obedient.    

Petruchio

Thus have I politicly begun my reign,    
And 'tis my hope to end successfully.    
My falcon now is sharp and passing empty,    
And till she stoop, she must not be full-gorged,    
For then she never looks upon her lure.
Another way I have to man my haggard,    
To make her come and know her keeper's call:
That is to watch her, as we watch these kites    
That bate and beat, and will not be obedient.    

Curtis

Do you hear, ho? You must meet my master to     
countenance my mistress.    

Grumio

Why? She hath a face of her own.

Curtis

Who knows not that?

Grumio

Thou, it seems, that calls for company to     
countenance her.

Grumio

Why, therefore fire, for I have caught extreme cold.    
Where's the cook? Is supper ready, the house trimmed,     
rushes strewed, cobwebs swept, the servingmen in their
new fustian, their white stockings, and every officer his     
wedding-garment on? Be the Jacks fair within, the Jills fair     
without, the carpets laid, and everything in order?

Grumio

Why, therefore fire, for I have caught extreme cold.    
Where's the cook? Is supper ready, the house trimmed,     
rushes strewed, cobwebs swept, the servingmen in their
new fustian, their white stockings, and every officer his     
wedding-garment on? Be the Jacks fair within, the Jills fair     
without, the carpets laid, and everything in order?

Grumio

Lend thine ear.    

Curtis

Here.

Grumio

[Striking him] There.

Curtis

This is to feel a tale, not to hear a tale!

Grumio

And therefore 'tis called a sensible tale, and this    
cuff was but to knock at your ear and beseech listening.     

Curtis

By this reckoning, he is more shrew than she.    

Grumio

Ay, and that thou and the proudest of you all shall
find when he comes home. But what talk I of this? Call
forth Nathaniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Philip, Walter, Sugarsop
and the rest. Let their heads be slickly combed, their
blue coats brushed, and their garters of an indifferent     
knit. Let them curtsy with their left legs, and not presume
to touch a hair of my master's horse-tail till they kiss their
hands. Are they all ready?

Curtis

I prithee, good Grumio, tell me how goes the world?

Grumio

A cold world, Curtis, in every office but thine,     
and therefore, fire. Do thy duty, and have thy duty, for
my master and mistress are almost frozen to death.

Curtis

There's fire ready, and therefore, good Grumio, the news.    

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