2

Petruchio

Sirrah Grumio, go to your mistress;
Say I command her to come to me.
[Exit Grumio]

Hortensio

I know her answer.

Petruchio

                               What?   

Hortensio

                                           She will not.  

Petruchio

The fouler fortune mine, and there an end.    
[Late in the day of Lucentio and Bianca’s wedding. The church ceremony and the main wedding feast have taken place. The wedding party has now arrived at Lucentio’s house where he’s hosting a banquet, a final course of fruit, desserts, and wine. Enter Signor Baptista, Signor Vincentio, the elderly suitor Gremio, the Merchant, Lucentio with Bianca, Petruchio with Katherina, Hortensio with his widow bride, and the servants Tranio, Biondello, and Grumio.]

Lucentio

At last, though long, our jarring notes agree,    
And time it is when raging war is done
To smile at scapes and perils overblown.    
My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome
While I with self-same kindness welcome thine.    
Brother Petruchio, sister Katherina,    
And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow,
Feast with the best, and welcome to my house.
My banquet is to close our stomachs up    
After our great good cheer. Pray you, sit down,    
For now we sit to chat as well as eat.

Petruchio     

[Aside to Grumio] Peace, sirrah!    

Hortensio

[Aside] Grumio, mum! [Coming forward] God save you, Signor Gremio. 

Gremio (suitor)

And you are well met, Signor Hortensio. Trow you
I am going? To Baptista Minola. I promised to     
inquire carefully about a schoolmaster for the fair Bianca,
and by good fortune I have lighted well on this young
man, for learning and behavior fit for her turn, well read     
in poetry and other books — good ones, I warrant ye.    

Hortensio

'Tis well, and I have met a gentleman
Hath promised me to help me to another,    
A fine musician to instruct our mistress.
So shall I no whit be behind in duty    

Page

Thrice-noble lord, let me entreat of you
To pardon me yet for a night or two,
Or, if not so, until the sun be set,
For your physicians have expressly charged,    
In peril to incur your former malady,    
That I should yet absent me from your bed.    
I hope this reason stands for my excuse.

Sly

Ay, it stands so that I may hardly tarry so long. But I     
would be loath to fall into my dreams again. I will     
therefore tarry in despite of the flesh and the blood.    

Pages