The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (602 page)

What stars decorate the sky with such beauty

As those two eyes become that heavenly face?

As those two eyes suit that heavenly face?

Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee.

Beautiful lovely maiden, once more a good day to you.

Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's sake.

Sweet Kate, give her a hug for being so beautiful.

HORTENSIO. 'A will make the man mad, to make a woman of him.

You will drive the man crazy, calling him a woman.

KATHERINA. Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet,

Young blooming maiden, pretty and fresh and sweet,

Whither away, or where is thy abode?

Where are you going, or where is your home?

Happy the parents of so fair a child;

The parents of such a beautiful child must be happy;

Happier the man whom favourable stars

And even happier must be the man whose good luck

Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow.

Makes you his lovely wife.

PETRUCHIO. Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad:

Why, what's going on, Kate! I hope you are not insane:

This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither'd,

This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, withered,

And not a maiden, as thou sayst he is.

And not a maiden, as you say he is.

KATHERINA. Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes,

That have been so bedazzled with the sun

That have been so blinded by the sun

That everything I look on seemeth green:

That everything I look at seems young:

Now I perceive thou art a reverend father;

Now I can see you are a dignified father;

Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.

Forgive me, please, for my crazy mistake.

PETRUCHIO. Do, good old grandsire, and withal make known

Do, good old grandfather, and also tell us

Which way thou travellest: if along with us,

Which way you are traveling: if it is the same as us,

We shall be joyful of thy company.

We shall be glad of the company.

VINCENTIO. Fair sir, and you my merry mistress,

Good sir, and you my playful lady,

That with your strange encounter much amaz'd me,

That with your strange behavior has amazed me very much,

My name is called Vincentio; my dwelling Pisa;

My name is Vincenio; my home is Pisa;

And bound I am to Padua, there to visit

And I am going to Padua, to visit there

A son of mine, which long I have not seen.

A son of mine, who I have not seen for a long time.

PETRUCHIO. What is his name?

VINCENTIO. Lucentio, gentle sir.

PETRUCHIO. Happily met; the happier for thy son.

How fortunate a coincidence; even luckier for your son.

And now by law, as well as reverend age,

And now by law, as well as your respectable age,

I may entitle thee my loving father:

I may call you my loving father:

The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman,

The sister of my wife, this noblewoman,

Thy son by this hath married. Wonder not,

Has married your son by this time. Do not be surprised,

Nor be not griev'd: she is of good esteem,

And do not be sad: she has a good reputation,

Her dowry wealthy, and of worthy birth;

Her dowry is great, and she is from fine family;

Beside, so qualified as may beseem

Besides that, she has at the qualities that are approrpriate

The spouse of any noble gentleman.

For the wife of any noble gentleman.

Let me embrace with old Vincentio;

And wander we to see thy honest son,

And let us go travel to see your honest son,

Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.

Who will be joyful to see you.

VINCENTIO. But is this true? or is it else your pleasure,

But is this true, or else is it your habit;

Like pleasant travellers, to break a jest

Like teasing travelers, to make a joke

Upon the company you overtake?

With the company you come across?

HORTENSIO. I do assure thee, father, so it is.

I do assure you, father, this is true.

PETRUCHIO. Come, go along, and see the truth hereof;

Come, go along, and see the truth of it;

For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.

For our first joke has made you suspicious.

[Exeunt all but HORTENSIO.]

HORTENSIO. Well, Petruchio, this has put me in heart.

Well, Petruchio, this has encouraged me.

Have to my widow! and if she be froward,

Now I will go to my widow! And if she is difficult,

Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.

You have taught Hortensio how to be stubborn.

[Exit.]

Padua. Before LUCENTIO'S house

[Enter on one side BIONDELLO, LUCENTIO, and BIANCA; GREMIO walking on other side.]

BIONDELLO. Softly and swiftly, sir, for the priest is ready.

Quietly and quickly, sir, for the priest is ready.

LUCENTIO. I fly, Biondello; but they may chance to need thee at home, therefore leave us.

I will hurry, Biondello; but it is possible they will need you at home, therefore leave us.

BIONDELLO. Nay, faith, I'll see the church o' your back; and then come back to my master's as soon as I can.

No, by my faith, I will see you to the church; and then come back to my master's as soon as I can.

[Exeunt LUCENTIO, BIANCA, and BIONDELLO.]

GREMIO. I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.

I am amazed Cambio has not shown up in all this time.

[Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHERINA, VINCENTIO, and ATTENDANTS.]

PETRUCHIO. Sir, here's the door; this is Lucentio's house:

Sir, here's the door; this is Lucentio's house:

My father's bears more toward the market-place;

My father's is closer to the market-place;

Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir.

I must go there, and here I leave you, sir.

VINCENTIO. You shall not choose but drink before you go.

You should have a drink before you go.

I think I shall command your welcome here,

I think I shall demand that you be invited here,

And by all likelihood some cheer is toward.

And it is likely you will be most welcome.

[Knocks.]

GREMIO. They're busy within; you were best knock louder.

They're busy inside; you should knock louder.

[Enter PEDANT above, at a window.]

PEDANT. What's he that knocks as he would beat down the gate?

Who is he that knocks as if he would beat down the gate?

VINCENTIO. Is Signior Lucentio within, sir?

Is Sir Lucentio inside, sir?

PEDANT. He's within, sir, but not to be spoken withal.

He's inside, sir, but is not available to be spoken to right now.

VINCENTIO. What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two to make merry withal?

What if a man brings him a hundred pounds or two to enjoy himself with?

PEDANT. Keep your hundred pounds to yourself: he shall need none so long as I live.

PETRUCHIO. Nay, I told you your son was well beloved in Padua. Do you hear, sir? To leave frivolous circumstances, I pray you tell Signior Lucentio that his father is come from Pisa, and is here at the door to speak with him.

No, I told you your son was well-liked in Padua. Do you hear, sir? To cut to the chase, please tell Sir Lucentio that his father has come from Pisa, and is here at the door to speak with him.

PEDANT. Thou liest: his father is come from Padua, and here looking out at the window.

You're lying: his father has come from Padua, and is here looking out the window.

VINCENTIO. Art thou his father?

Are you his father?

PEDANT. Ay, sir; so his mother says, if I may believe her.

Yes, sir; his mother says so, if I may believe her.

PETRUCHIO. [To VINCENTIO] Why, how now, gentleman! why, this is flat knavery to take upon you another man's name.

Why, what's going on, man?! Why, this is trickery to take upon yourself another man's name.

PEDANT. Lay hands on the villain: I believe 'a means to cozen somebody in this city under my countenance.

Catch the villain: I believe he means to cheat somebody in this city under my countenance.