Pet. I say it is the moon that shines so bright. Or ere I journey to your father's house :- Pet. Nay, then you lie, it is the blessed sun, Kath. Then, God be bless'd, it is the blessed sun : But sun it is not, when you say it is not; And the moon changes, even as your mind. What you will have it named, even that it is; And so it shall be so, for Katharine. Hor (to himself) Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won. Pet. Well, forward, forward: thus the bowl should run, And not unluckily against the bias. But soft; what company is coming here? Enter VINCENTIO, in a travelling dress. Good-morrow, gentle mistress; Where away?- [To VINCENTIO Hor. 'A will make the man mad, to make a woman of him. Whither away: or where is thy abode ? Happy the parents of so fair a child; Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow! Pet. Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad ; This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither'd; And not a maiden, as thou say'st he is. Kath. Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes, That have beer so bedazzled with the sun, That everything I look on seemeth green : The bride and bridegroom have now arrived at their place of destination, and the gentlemen of the party are talking in a room by themselves: 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; And he, whose wife is most obedient To come at first when he doth send for her, Shall win the wager which we will propose. Bion. Re-enter BIONDELLO. Sir, my mistress sends you word That she is busy, and she cannot come Hor. Sirrah Biondello, go, and ENTREAT my wife To come to me forthwith. Pet. Oho! ENTREAT her ' Nay, then she must needs come. [Exit. Erit BIONDELLO Hor. I am afraid, sir, Do what you can, your's will not be entreated. Now, where's my wife? Re-enter BIONDELLO. 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 endur'd! Sirrah, Grumio, go to your mistress, Say, I COMMAND her come to me. Hor. I know her answer. [Exit GRUMIO Pet. The fouler fortune mine, and there an end. Enter KATHARINA. Bap. Now, by my holidame, here comes Katharina! Luc. Here is a wonder, if you talk of a wonder. And, to be short, what not, that's sweet and happy. The wager thou hast won; and I will add Her new-built virtue and obedience. [Exit KATHARINA Re-enter KATHARINA, with BIANCA and WIDOW. See where she comes; and brings your froward wives Katharine, that cap of yours becomes you not; Off with that bauble; throw it under foot. [KATHARINA pulls off her cap and throws it down Wid. Lord, let me never have a cause to sigh, Till I be brought to such a silly pass! Bian. Fye! what a foolish duty call you this? 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. Wid. Come, come, you're mocking; we will have no telhog Pet. I say she shall; and first begin with her. Kath. Fye, fye! unknit that threat'ning unkind brow; To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor : A woman mov'd is like a fountain troubled, Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee, To painful labor, both by sea and land; To watch the night in storms, the day in cold, While thou liest warm at home, secure and safe, Too little payment for so great a debt. Such duty as the subject owes the prince, And, when she's troward, peevish, sullen, sour, What is she, but a foul contending rebel, And graceless traitor to her loving lord ?— I am asham'd, that women are so simple To offer war, where they should kneel for peace; Or seek for rule, supremacy and sway, When they are bound to serve, love, and obey. But now, I see our lances are but straws; Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,— And place your hands below your husbands' foot: My hand is ready, may it do him ease. Pet. Why, there's a wench!-Come on, and kiss me, Kate. Pet. Come, Kate, we'll to bed; We three are married, but you two are sped. Hor. Now go thy ways, thou hast tam'd a curst shrew. [Exeunt 1 "His horse hipped," &c., &c.—If Ben Jonson had poured forth this profusion of horse-dealer's knowledge (a little overdone, it must be confessed, even for farce), it would have been charged against him as ostentation. "Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam'd so."-He means to intimate that he does not think her tamed after all. A woman, by the way, like Katharine, could never have uttered those beautiful words about "a fountain troubled," &c. But this is the constant exception to Shakspeare's otherwise perfect nature. He makes all his characters, unless they are downright fools, talk as well as himself. |