No Fear Shakespeare
The Taming of the Shrew
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 1, Scene 2, Page 11
Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
|
|
Fair Leda’s daughter had a thousand wooers;
Then well one more may fair Bianca have.
And so she shall. Lucentio shall make one,
Though Paris came in hope to speed alone.
|
The beautiful Helen of Troy had a thousand suitors. Let Bianca
have one more—anyway, she’s got one. Lucentio
shall join the ranks, even if Paris himself comes to woo her.
|
|
220 |
GREMIO
What! This gentleman will out-talk us all.
|
GREMIO
This fellow will out-talk us all.
|
|
LUCENTIO
(as
CAMBIO) Sir, give him head; I know
he’ll prove a jade.
|
LUCENTIO
(speaking as
CAMBIO) Well, let him. He’ll
talk himself out, soon.
|
|
|
PETRUCHIO
Hortensio, to what end are all these words?
|
PETRUCHIO
Hortensio, what’s all this about?
|
|
|
|
HORTENSIO
(to
TRANIO) Sir, let me be so bold as ask
you,
Did you yet ever see Baptista’s daughter?
|
HORTENSIO
(to
TRANIO) Forgive me for asking, but
have you ever actually seen Baptista’s daughter?
|
|
225 |
TRANIO
(as
LUCENTIO) No, sir, but hear I do that
he hath two,
The one as famous for a scolding tongue
As is the other for beauteous modesty.
|
TRANIO
(speaking as
LUCENTIO) No, but I hear he has two,
the one as famous for her scolding tongue as the other is for her
modesty and beauty.
|
|
PETRUCHIO
Sir, sir, the first’s for me; let her go by.
|
PETRUCHIO
The first one’s mine, so hands off!
|
|
|
230 |
GREMIO
Yea, leave that labor to great Hercules,
And let it be more than Alcides' twelve.
|
GREMIO
Yes, leave that labor to great Hercules—it’s
worse than the previous twelve put together.
|
|
235 |
PETRUCHIO
(to
TRANIO) Sir, understand you this of
me, in sooth:
The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for,
Her father keeps from all access of suitors
And will not promise her to any man
Until the elder sister first be wed.
The younger then is free, and not before.
|
PETRUCHIO
(to
TRANIO) Sir, let me be clear. As far
as the youngest daughter, the one you were asking about, is
concerned, the father refuses any suitors access to her. He will not
promise her to any man until the elder sister is married. Then and
only then will the younger be free to marry.
|
