Ilor. That's my office. Pet. Spoke like an officer.-Ha' to thee, lad. [Drinks to HORTENSIO. Bap. How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks? Gre. Believe me, sir, they butt together well. Bian. Head, and butt? A hasty-witted body Would say, your head and butt were head and horn. Vin. Ay, mistress bride, hath that awakened you? Bian. Ay, but not frighted me; therefore I'll sleep again. Pet. Nay, that you shall not; since you have begun, Have at you for a bitter1 jest or two. Bian. Am I your bird? I mean to shift my bush, And then pursue me as you draw your bow.You are welcome all. [Exeunt BIANCA, KATHARINA, and Widow. Pet. She hath prevented me. Here, seignior Tranio, This bird you aimed at, though you hit her not; Tra. O, sir, Lucentio slipped me like his greyhound, Which runs himself, and catches for his master. Pet. A good swift 2 simile, but something currish. Tra. 'Tis well, sir, that you hunted for yourself, 'Tis thought, your deer does hold you at a bay. Bap. O ho, Petruchio, Tranio hits you now. Luc. I thank thee for that gird,3 good Tranio. Hor. Confess, confess, hath he not hit you here? Pet. 'A has a little galled me, I confess; And, as the jest did glance away from me, 'Tis ten to one it maimed you two outright. Bap. Now, in good sadness, son Petruchio, I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all. Pet. Well, I say-no; and therefore, for assurance Let's each one send unto his wife; 1 The old copy reads better. The emendation is Capell's. 2 Beside the original sense of speedy in motion, swift signified witty quick-witted. 3 A gird is a cut, a sarcasm, a stroke of satire. And he whose wife is most obedient Pet. Twenty crowns! Twenty crowns. I'll venture so much on my hawk, or hound, [Exit. Luc. Biondello, bid your mistress come to me. Bap. Son, I will be your half, Bianca comes. Re-enter BIOndello. How now! what news? Bion. Sir, my mistress sends you word That she is busy, and she cannot come. Pet. How! she is busy, and she cannot come ! Is that an answer? Gre. Ay, and a kind one too. Pray God, sir, your wife send you not a worse. Pet. I hope, better. Hor. Sirrah, Biondello, go, and entreat my wife To come to me forthwith. Pet. [Exit BIONDELlo. Nay, then she must needs come. Hor. Do what you can, yours will not be entreated. Now where's my Re-enter BIOndello. wife? Bion. She says, you have some goodly jest in hand; She will not come; she bids you come to her. Pet. Worse and worse; she will not come! O vile, Intolerable, not to be endured! Pet. The fouler fortune mine, and there an end. Enter KATHARINA. Bap. Now, by my holidame, here comes Katharina! Kath. What is your will, sir, that you send for me? Pet. Where is your sister, and Hortensio's wife? Kath. They sit conferring by the parlor fire. Pet. Go fetch them hither; if they deny to come, Swinge me them soundly forth unto their husbands. Away, I say, and bring them hither straight. [Exit KATHARINA. Luc. Here is a wonder, if you talk of a wonder. Hor. And so it is; I wonder what it bodes. Pet. Marry, peace it bodes, and love, and quiet life An awful rule, and right supremacy; And, to be short, what not, that's sweet and happy. For she is changed, as she had never been. Her new-built virtue and obedience. Re-enter KATHARINA, with BIANCA and Widow. See, where she comes; and brings your froward wives Katharina, that cap of yours becomes you not; [KATHARINA pulls off her cap, and throws Wid. Lord, let me never have a cause to sigh, Till I be brought to such a silly pass! Bian. Fie! what a foolish duty call you this? Luc. I would your duty were as foolish too. The wisdom of your duty, fair Bianca, Hath cost me a hundred crowns since supper-time. Bian. The more fool you for laying on my duty. Pet. Katharine, I charge thee, tell these headstrong women What duty they do owe their lords and husbands. Pet. Come on, I say; and first begin with her. Pet. I say, she shall;-and first begin with her. brow; And dart not scornful glances from those eyes, A woman moved, is like a fountain troubled, What is she, but a foul, contending rebel, When they are bound to serve, love, and obey. But that our soft conditions1 and our hearts 2 And place your hands below your husband's foot. My hand is ready; may it do him ease. Pet. Why, there's a wench!-Come on, and kiss me, Kate. Luc. Well, go thy ways, old lad; for thou shalt ha't. Vin. 'Tis a good hearing when children are toward. Luc. But a harsh hearing when women are froward. Pet. Come, Kate, we'll to bed. 4 We three are married, but you two are sped.3 'Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white; [To LUCENTIO. And, being a winner, God give you good night! [Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATH. 1 That is, the gentle qualities of our minds. 2 "Vail your stomachs," abate your pride, your spirit; it is no boot, i. e. it is profitless, it is no advantage. 3 i. e. the fate of you both is decided; for you both have wives who exhibit early proofs of disobedience. 4 The white was the central part of the mark or butt in archery. Here is also a play upon the name of Bianca, which is white in Italian. VOL. II. 68 |