Page 1466 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

But I have cause to pry into this pedant. [85]
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. [90]

Exit.

Scene II IT

Enter Baptista, Gremio, Tranio, Katherina, Bianca, [Lucentio] and
others, Attendants.

BAPT IST A

Signor Lucentio, this is the ’pointed day
That Katherine and Petruchio should be married,
And yet we hear not of our son-in-law.
What will be said? What mockery will it be
To want the bridegroom when the priest attends [5]
To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage!
What says Lucentio to this shame of ours?

KAT HERINA

No shame but mine. I must forsooth be forc’d
To give my hand, oppos’d against my heart,
Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen, [10]
Who woo’d in haste and means to wed at leisure.
I told you, I, he was a frantic fool,
Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behaviour.
And to be noted for a merry man
He’ll woo a thousand, ’point the day of marriage, [15]
Make feast, invite friends, and proclaim the banns,
Yet never means to wed where he hath woo’d.
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.’ [20]

T RANIO

Patience, good Katherine, and Baptista too.
Upon my life, Petruchio means but well,