No Fear Shakespeare
The Taming of the Shrew
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 2, Scene 1, Page 13
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O slanderous world! Kate like the hazel-twig
Is straight and slender and as brown in hue
As hazel nuts, and sweeter than the kernels.
Oh, let me see thee walk! Thou dost not halt.
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The world’s a liar. Kate is as straight and slender as a
hazel-twig, her hair as brown as hazelnut shells, and she herself
sweeter than the kernels. Take a few steps—I want to see
you walk. You don’t limp at all!
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KATHERINE
Go, fool, and whom thou keep’st command.
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KATHERINE
Get out of here, fool, and give orders to your servants, not
me.
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PETRUCHIO
Did ever Dian so become a grove
As Kate this chamber with her princely gait?
Oh, be thou Dian, and let her be Kate,
And then let Kate be chaste and Dian sportful.
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PETRUCHIO
Did Diana ever beautify a grove as much as Kate beautifies this
room with her queenly movements? You be Diana, and let Diana be
Kate. Then let Kate be the chaste one, while Diana plays with
me.
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KATHERINE
Where did you study all this goodly speech?
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KATHERINE
Where do you memorize all this smart talk?
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PETRUCHIO
It is extempore, from my mother wit.
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PETRUCHIO
I make it up as I go. It’s born of my mother wit.
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KATHERINE
A witty mother! Witless else her son.
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KATHERINE
A witty mother! Too bad about the son!
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PETRUCHIO
Am I not wise?
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PETRUCHIO
Am I not wise?
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KATHERINE
Yes, keep you warm.
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KATHERINE | |
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PETRUCHIO
Marry, so I mean, sweet Katherine, in thy bed.
And therefore, setting all this chat aside,
Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented
That you shall be my wife, your dowry 'greed on,
And, will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn,
For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,
Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well,
Thou must be married to no man but me.
For I am he am born to tame you, Kate,
And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate
Conformable as other household Kates.
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PETRUCHIO
Yes, I intend to keep myself warm, sweet Katherine—in
your bed. So let’s cut to the chase: your father has
consented for you to become my wife. Your dowry is agreed upon, and
whether you like it or not, I will marry you. I tell you,
I’m the man for you, Kate. I swear by this light, which
shows me your beauty—the beauty that makes me love
you—that you must be married to no man but me.
I’m the man who was born to tame you and change you from a
wildcat Kate into a Kate as gentle and domestic as other household
Kates.
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