(to GREMIO and HORTENSIO)
Gentlemen, I firmly am resolved
not to bestow my youngest daughter
Before I have a husband for the elder.
If either of you both love Katherine
ALL back away one step and yell in fear.
Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.
GREMIO (slowly backing away)
She’s too rough for me.
KATHERINE (to BAPTISTA)
Is it your will
To make a stale of me amongst these mates?
HORTENSIO
No mates for you,
Unless you were of gentler, milder mold.
KATHERINE (to HORTENSIO)
Her care should be
To comb your noddle with a three-legged stool.
KATHERINE grabs GREMIO’S cane and threatens to hit HORTENSIO with it.
GREMIO almost falls down. He grabs onto HORTENSIO to keep himself upright.
GREMIO and HORTENSIO both back away from KATHERINE.
HORTENSIO
From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us!
GREMIO
And me too, good Lord.
TRANIO (aside to LUCENTIO)
That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward.
LUCENTIO (aside to TRANIO, gazing at BIANCA)
But in the other’s silence do I see
Maid’s mild behavior and sobriety.
Peace, Tranio.
TRANIO (aside to LUCENTIO)
Well said, master, and gaze your fill.
BAPTISTA (gesturing upstage rear)
Bianca, get you in.
KATHERINE
A pretty peat!
BIANCA
Sister, content you in my discontent.
Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe.
Exit BIANCA to bench.
BAPTISTA
Katherine, you may stay,
For I have more to commune with Bianca.
ALL onstage say, “Aww,” reacting to BIANCA’S cuteness.
BIANCA stands blushingly, with a little curtsy, and then sits back down on her bench.
Exit BAPTISTA to his bench, taking BIANCA with him.
KATHERINE
I may go too, may I not? Ha!
Exit KATHERINE to her bench. Before leaving, she stops, turns around, lunges toward group onstage, and roars.
ALL onstage yell in terror.
GREMIO
You may go to the devil’s dam!
HORTENSIO
There’s small choice in rotten
apples. By helping Baptista’s eldest daughter
to a husband we set his youngest free for a husband.
Sweet Bianca!
ALL onstage swoon and say, “Aww.”
BIANCA stands to reprise her blush and curtsy, then sits back down.
He that runs fastest gets the ring.
How say you, Signior Gremio?
GREMIO
I am agreed. Come on.
Exit GREMIO and HORTENSIO to their benches.
TRANIO and LUCENTIO come center stage.
TRANIO
I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible
That love should of a sudden take such hold?
LUCENTIO (gazing over audience, thinking of BIANCA)
Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move,
And with her breath she did perfume the air.
TRANIO (to audience)
Nay, then ’tis time to stir him from his trance.
TRANIO snaps his fingers in front of LUCENTIO’S eyes. There is no response. TRANIO claps his hands.
I pray, awake, sir!
Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd
That till the father rid his hands of her,
Master, your love must live a maid at home.
LUCENTIO
But
