easy; the boisterous airs he assumed
when he became the husband of Katharine being but in sport, or more
properly speaking, affected by his excellent discernment, as the only
means to overcome, in her own way, the passionate ways of the furious
Katharine.

A courting then Petruchio went to Katharine the Shrew; and first of all
he applied to Baptista her father, for leave to woo his _gentle
daughter_ Katharine, as Petruchio called her, saying archly, that having
heard of her bashful modesty and mild behaviour, he had come from Verona
to solicit her love. Her father, though he wished her married, was
forced to confess Katharine would ill answer this character, it being
soon apparent of what manner of gentleness she was composed, for her
music-master rushed into the room to complain that the gentle Katharine,
his pupil, had broken his head with her lute, for presuming to find
fault with her performance; which, when Petruchio heard, he said, "It is
a brave wench; I love her more than ever, and long to have some chat
with her;" and hurrying the old gentleman for a positive answer, he
said, "My business is in haste, Signior Baptista, I cannot come every
day to woo. You knew my father: he is dead, and has left me heir to all
his lands and goods. Then tell me, if I get your daughter's love, what
dowry you will give with her." Baptista thought his manner was somewhat
blunt for a lover; but being glad to get Katharine married, he answered
that he would give her twenty thousand crowns for her dowry, and half
his estate at his death: so this odd match was quickly agreed on, and
Baptista went to apprise his shrewish daughter of her lover's addresses,
and sent her in to Petruchio to listen to his suit.

In the meantime Petruchio was settling with himself the mode of
courtship he should pursue; and he said, "I will woo her with some
spirit when she comes. If she rails at me, why then I will tell her she
sings as sweetly as a nightingale; and if she frowns, I will say she
looks as clear as roses newly washed with dew. If she will not speak a
word, I will praise the eloquence of her language; and if she bids me
leave her, I will give her thanks as if she bid me stay with her a
week." Now the stately Katharine entered, and Petruchio first addressed
her with "Good morrow, Kate, for that is your name, I hear." Katharine,
not liking this plain salutation, said disdainfully, "They call me
Katharine who do speak to me." "You lie," replied t