HERE lived in Padua a gentleman named Baptista, who had two fair
daughters. The eldest, Katharine, was so very cross, and ill-
tempered, and unmannerly, that no one ever dreamed of marrying
her, while her sister, Bianca, was so sweet and pretty, and pleasant-
spoken, that more than one suitor asked her father for her hand. But
Baptista said the elder daughter must marry first.

So Bianca’s suitors decided among themselves to try and get some
one to marry Katharine-—and then the father could at least be got to
listen to their suit for Bianca.

A gentleman from Verona, named Petruchio, was the one they
thought of, and, half in jest, they asked him if he would marry Katharine,
the disagreeable scold. Much to their surprise he said yes, that was
just the sort of wife for him, and if Katharine were handsome and rich,
he himself would undertake soon to make her good-tempered.

Petruchio began by asking Baptista’s permission to pay court to his
gentle daughter Katharine—and Baptista was obliged to own that she
was anything but gentle. And just then her music master rushed in,