No Fear Shakespeare

The Taming of the Shrew

William Shakespeare

Get this No Fear to go!

Act 3, Scene 1

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter LUCENTIO disguised as CAMBIO, HORTENSIO disguised as LITIO, and BIANCA
BIANCA enters with LUCENTIO disguised as CAMBIO, and HORTENSIO disguised as LITIO



LUCENTIO
(as CAMBIO) Fiddler, forbear. You grow too forward, sir.
Have you so soon forgot the entertainment
Her sister Katherina welcomed you withal?
LUCENTIO
(speaking as CAMBIO) Restrain yourself, fiddler! You’re too insistent. Have you forgotten how her sister Katherine thanked you for your lessons?


5


HORTENSIO
(as LITIO) But, wrangling pedant, this is
The patroness of heavenly harmony.
Then give me leave to have prerogative,
And when in music we have spent an hour,
Your lecture shall have leisure for as much.
HORTENSIO
(speaking as LITIO) Quarrelsome teacher! This lady is the queen of heavenly harmony. Therefore allow me to claim her attention first, and after we have spent an hour on music you can have equal time for your lecture.


10



LUCENTIO
(as CAMBIO) Preposterous ass, that never read so far
To know the cause why music was ordained.
Was it not to refresh the mind of man
After his studies or his usual pain?
Then give me leave to read philosophy
And, while I pause, serve in your harmony.
LUCENTIO
(as CAMBIO) Ridiculous ass! You’re not even educated enough to know why music was created. Wasn’t it to refresh the mind of man after his studies and daily toil? Therefore allow me to read philosophy with her, and then, when I am finished, indulge in your harmony.

15
HORTENSIO
(as LITIO) Sirrah, I will not bear these braves of thine.
HORTENSIO
(as LITIO) Sir, you go too far! I will not stand for it!





20
BIANCA
Why, gentlemen, you do me double wrong
To strive for that which resteth in my choice.
I am no breeching scholar in the schools.
I’ll not be tied to hours nor 'pointed times
But learn my lessons as I please myself.
And, to cut off all strife, here sit we down.
BIANCA
Gentlemen, it seems to me you’re both out of line to be laying down the law about things that are really up to me. I am no schoolboy, and I won’t be dictated to with hours and schedules. I’ll have my lessons in the order and manner I prefer. So to cut short this argument, let’s figure this out.

More Help

Read The Taming of the Shrew SparkNote

Summary, analysis, themes, essay topics, and more

Download the iPhone app

Download No Fear Shakespeare for iPhone®/iPod touch™ from iTunes for $.99

Buy No Fear The Taming of the Shrew at BN.com

Get the No Fear Shakespeare you can hold in your hand at BN.com

EVEN MORE HELP! ↓

Take a Study Break

Green YOUR SCHOOL!

Click here to get involved with dosomething.org!

John Krasinski's BIG MIRACLE

Click to watch the trailer and read exclusive star interviews!

Do you like Anna?

Read Dear Albert... from ANNA's perspective!

BATTLESHIP, the movie

Here's why we're super jazzed about it.