Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor 31
GRUMIO. [ Aside.] And that his bags shall prove.
HORTENSIO. Gremio, ' tis now no time to vent our love: Listen to me, and if you speak me fair, I ' ll tell you news indifferent good for either. Here is a gentleman whom by chance I met, Upon agreement from us to his liking, Will undertake to woo curst Katherine; Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.
GREMIO. So said, so done, is well. Hortensio, have you told him all her faults?
PETRUCHIO. I know she is an irksome brawling scold; If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.
GREMIO. No, say ' st me so, friend? What countryman?
PETRUCHIO. Born in Verona, old Antonio ' s son. My father dead, my fortune lives for me; And I do hope good days and long to see.
GREMIO. O Sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange! But if you have a stomach, to ' t i ' God ' s name; You shall have me assisting you in all. But will you woo this wild-cat?
PETRUCHIO. Will I live? GRUMIO. Will he woo her? Ay, or I ' ll hang her.
PETRUCHIO. Why came I hither but to that intent? Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? Have I not in my time heard lions roar? Have I not heard the sea, puff ' d up with winds, Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat? Have I not heard great ordnance in the field, And heaven ' s artillery thunder in the skies? Have I not in a pitched battle heard Loud ' larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets ' clang? And do you tell me of a woman ' s tongue, That gives not half so great a blow to hear As will a chestnut in a farmer ' s fire? Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.