Kath. A very mean meaning. Wid. Right, I mean you. Kath. And I am mean, indeed, respecting you. Hor. To her, widow! Pet. A hundred marks, my Kate does put her down. Hor. 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? An hasty-witted body Would say, your head and butt were head and horn. Vin. Ay, mistress bride, hath that awaken'd 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 bitter 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, signior Tranio, This bird you aim'd at, though you hit her not; Which runs himself, and catches for his master. I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all. Pet. Well, say no and therefore, for assur ance, Let's each one send unto his wife; And he, whose wife is most obedient * Witty. + Sarcasm. To come at first when he doth send for her, Luc. Twenty crowns. Pet. Twenty crowns! 11 venture so much on my hawk, or hound, But twenty times so much upon my wife. Luc. A hundred then. Hor. Content. Pet. A match; 'tis done. Hor. Who shall begin? Luc. That will I. Go, Biondello, bid your mistress come to me. Bion. I go. [Exit. Bap. Son, I will be your half, Bianca comes. Luc. I'll have no halves; I'll bear it all myself. 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. Hor. Sirrah, Biondello, go, and entreat my wife To come to me forthwith. Pet. 0, ho! entreat her! Nay, then she must needs come. [Exit Biondello. Do what you can, yours will not be entreated. Re-enter BIONDELLO. Now, where's my wife? Bion. She says, you have some goodly jest in hand; She will not come; she bids you come to her.. Sirrah, Grumio, go to your mistress; Pet. What? Hor. She will not come. [Exit Grumio. Pet. The fouler fortune mine, and there an end. Enter KATHARINA. Bap. Now, by my holidame, here comes Kathia rina: 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 parlour 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. Re-enter KATHARINA, with BIANCA, and WIDOW. See, where she comes; and brings your froward wives As prisoners to her womanly persuasion. Katharine, that cap of yours becomes you not; [Katharina pulls off her Cap, and Wid. Lord, let me never have a cause to sigh, Til 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 an hundred crowns since supper-time. Bian. The more fool you, for laying on my duty. Pet. Katharine, I charge thee, tell these head strong women What duty they do owe their lords and husbands. Wid. Come, come, you're mocking; we will have no telling. 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, To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor : A woman moved, is like a fountain troubled, To offer war where they should kneel for peace; When they are bound to serve, love, and obey. Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,- 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. Gentle temper. Abate your spirits., 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 : We three are married, but you two are sped. 'Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white. [To Lucentio. And, being a winner, God give you good night! [Exeunt Petruchio and Katharina. Hor. Now go thy ways, thou hast tamed a curst shrew. Luc. 'Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be [Exeunt. tamed so. TAMING OF THE SHREW.]-Of this play the two plots are so well united, that they can hardly be called two, without injury to the art with which they are interwoven. The attention is entertained. with all the variety of a double plot, yet is not distracted by unconnected incidents. The parts between Katharine and Petruchio is eminently spritely and diverting. At the marriage of Bianca, the arrival of the real father, perhaps, produces more perplexity than pleasure. The whole play is very popular and diverting. JOHNSON. |