Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor 52
[ Enter BAPTISTA , GREMIO , TRANIO , KATHERINA , BIANCA , LUCENTIO , and ATTENDANTS .]
BAPTISTA . [ To TRANIO .] Signior Lucentio , this is the ' pointed day That Katherine and Petruchio should be married , And yet we hear not of our son-in-law . What will be said ? What mockery will it be To want the bridegroom when the priest attends To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage ! What says Lucentio to this shame of ours ?
KATHERINA . No shame but mine ; I must , forsooth , be forc ' d To give my hand , oppos ' d against my heart , Unto a mad-brain rudesby , full of spleen ; Who woo ' d in haste and means to wed at leisure . I told you , I , he was a frantic fool , Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behaviour ; And to be noted for a merry man , He ' ll woo a thousand , ' point the day of marriage , Make friends invited , and proclaim the banns ; Yet never means to wed where he hath woo ' d . Now must the world point at poor Katherine , And say ' Lo ! there is mad Petruchio ' s wife , If it would please him come and marry her .'
TRANIO . Patience , good Katherine , and Baptista too . Upon my life , Petruchio means but well , Whatever fortune stays him from his word : Though he be blunt , I know him passing wise ; Though he be merry , yet withal he ' s honest .
KATHERINA . Would Katherine had never seen him though ! [ Exit , weeping , followed by BIANCA and others .]
BAPTISTA . Go , girl , I cannot blame thee now to weep , For such an injury would vex a very saint ; Much more a shrew of thy impatient humour .
[ Enter BIONDELLO .] Master , master ! News ! old news , and such news as you never heard of ! BAPTISTA . Is it new and old too ? How may that be ?