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Hortensio and Gremio, Lines 105-142
Performance Videos
Act 1,
Scene 1
Lines 105-142

Hortensio and Gremio perform lines 105-142 of Act 1, Scene 1 of myShakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. 

myShakespeare | Taming of the Shrew 1.1 Performance: Hortensio and Gremio, Lines 105-142

Gremio

You may go to the devil's dam. Your gifts are so    
good, here's none will hold you. [To Hortensio] Their love is not so      
great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together,     
and fast it fairly out. Our cake's dough on both sides.    
Farewell. Yet for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can
by any means light on a fit man to teach her that wherein     
she delights, I will wish him to her father.    

Hortensio

So will I, Signor Gremio; but a word, I pray.
Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brooked     
parley, know now upon advice it toucheth us both —    
that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress     
and be happy rivals in Bianca's love — to labor and
effect one thing specially.    

Gremio

What's that, I pray?

Hortensio

Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.

Gremio

A husband? A devil.

Hortensio

I say a husband.

Gremio

I say a devil. Thinkest thou, Hortensio, though her
father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married     
to hell?

Hortensio

Tush, Gremio; though it pass your patience and
mine to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be     
good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them,    
would take her with all faults, and money enough.    

Gremio

I cannot tell, but I had as lief take her dowry with    
this condition — to be whipped at the high-cross every     
morning.

Hortensio

Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten    
apples. But come, since this bar in law makes us friends,
it shall be so far forth friendly maintained till by helping     
Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband we set his youngest
free for a husband, and then have to't afresh. Sweet     
Bianca! Happy man be his dole. He that runs fastest gets     
the ring. How say you, Signor Gremio?    

Gremio

I am agreed, and would I had given him the best    
horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would     
thoroughly woo her, wed her and bed her, and rid      
the house of her! Come on.