Taming of the Shrew

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.    

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.    

Tranio-as-Lucentio

I thank you, sir. Where then do you know best
We be affied and such assurance ta'en    
As shall with either part's agreement stand?    

Baptista

Not in my house, Lucentio, for you know
Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants.
Besides, old Gremio is hearkening still,    
And happily we might be interrupted.    

Lucentio

And what of all this?

Biondello

I cannot tell, except they are busied about a
counterfeit assurance. Take you assurance of her, cum     
privilegio ad imprimendum solem. To the church take the        
priest, clerk, and some sufficient honest witnesses. If
this be not that you look for, I have no more to say but     
bid Bianca farewell for ever and a day. [Starts to leave]

Biondello

I cannot tarry. I knew a wench married in an    
afternoon as she went to the garden for parsley to stuff
a rabbit, and so may you, sir; and so, adieu, sir. My
master hath appointed me to go to Saint Luke's to bid
the priest be ready to come against you come with your     
appendix.

Biondello

master hath appointed me to go to Saint Luke's to bid
the priest be ready to come against you come with your     
appendix.
[Exit]

Lucentio

I may, and will, if she be so contented.
She will be pleased — then wherefore should I doubt?    
Hap what hap may, I'll roundly go about her .    
It shall go hard if Cambio go without her.    
[Exit]

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