took some care
To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?
TRANIO (thinking)
Ay, marry, am I, sir—and now ’tis plotted!
You will be schoolmaster
And undertake the teaching of the maid.
Take my colored hat and cloak.
LUCENTIO and TRANIO exchange clothes and exit to their benches.
Padua, the town square.
Stage right are a FRUIT VENDOR and a FLOWER VENDOR.
Stage left are a WIDOW and the WIDOW’S DATE.
Stage left center is HORTENSIO,dozing in a chair.
Enter PETRUCHIO and his man GRUMIO from stage rear. GRUMIO carries PETRUCHIO’S bag.
PETRUCHIO grabs a flower from the FLOWER VENDOR’S basket. She tries to stop him, but he keeps moving. While the FRUIT VENDOR and the FLOWER VENDOR are watching PETRUCHIO, GRUMIO grabs an apple from the FRUIT VENDOR’S basket.
PETRUCHIO gives the flower to the WIDOW, who blushes.
The WIDOW’S DATE becomes flustered, buys a bunch of flowers from the FLOWER VENDOR, and gives them to the WIDOW.
Meanwhile, PETRUCHIO walks stage left to where HORTENSIO is napping.
PETRUCHIO (to GRUMIO )
Verona, for a while I take my leave
To see in Padua
ALL onstage and offstage cheer with the exception of PETRUCHIO, GRUMIO, and HORTENSIO.
My best beloved friend, Hortensio.
Here, sirrah Grumio, knock, I say.
GRUMIO looks around, confused, and holds his fists up, ready to fight.
GRUMIO
Knock, sir? Whom should I knock? Is there
any man has rebused your Worship?
PETRUCHIO
Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.
GRUMIO
Knock you here, sir?
GRUMIO looks around him, glances at audience, shrugs, and winds up as if to punch PETRUCHIO.
PETRUCHIO sees what GRUMIO is about to do and grabs him by the ears.
PETRUCHIO
Villain, I say, knock me at this gate
And rap me well, or I’ll knock your knave’s pate.
PETRUCHIO wrings GRUMIO by the ears.
GRUMIO falls.
GRUMIO (to audience, complaining)
My master is grown quarrelsome.
PETRUCHIO mimes knocking on a door three times. At the same time, the CHORUS stomps three times on the floor, as if to make a “knocking” sound.
HORTENSIO wakes up and opens the door. He is happy to see PETRUCHIO.
HORTENSIO
How now! My old friend Grumio!
and my good friend Petruchio!
What happy gale
Blows you to Padua
ALL onstage and offstage cheer.
here from old Verona?
HORTENSIO greets them by grasping their forearms instead of shaking their hands.
PETRUCHIO
Hortensio,
I have thrust myself into this maze,
Happily to wive and thrive, as best I may.
HORTENSIO (looking at audience as if he has just had a great idea)
Petruchio, shall I then wish thee to
a shrewd ill-favored wife?
And yet I’ll promise thee she shall be rich.
(rubs fingers together)
PETRUCHIO
Signior Hortensio, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruchio’s wife
Be she as foul as was Florentius’ love, makes an
ugly face
were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatic seas (staggers as if on
a boat in high waves and winds)
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.
(rubs fingers together and smiles)
GRUMIO (to HORTENSIO)
Why, give him gold enough
and marry him to an
old trot with ne’er a tooth in her head,
