Feast with the best, and welcome to my house; [They sit at table. true. Pet. Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow. Wid. Then never trust me if I be afeard. Pet. You are sensible, and yet you miss my sense. I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you. Wid. He that is giddy, thinks the world turns round. Pet. Roundly replied. Kath. Mistress, how mean you that? Wid. Thus I conceive by him. Pet. Conceives by me!-How likes Hortensio that? Hor. My widow says, thus she conceives her tale. Pet. Very well mended. Kiss him for that, good widow. Kath. He that is giddy, thinks the world turns round. I pray you, tell me what you meant by that. Wid. Your husband, being troubled with a shrew, Measures my husband's sorrow by his woe;2 And now you know my meaning. Kath. A very mean meaning. Wid. Right, I mean you. Kath. And I am mean indeed, respecting you. Pet. To her, Kate! Hor. To her, widow! Pet. A hundred marks, my Kate does put her down. 1 The banquet here, as in other places of Shakspeare, was a refection similar to our modern dessert, consisting of cakes, sweetmeats, fruits, &c. 2 As this was meant for a rhyming couplet, it should be observed that shrew was pronounced shrow. See also the finale, where it rhymes to so. 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, Hor. Content. Pet. A match; 'tis done. Hor. Who shall begin? That will I. Go, [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 That she is busy, and she cannot come. Pet. How! she is busy, and she cannot come ! word 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. I am afraid, sir, Nay, then she must needs come. Hor. 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. Pet. Worse and worse; she will not come! O vile, Intolerable, not to be endured! Sirrah, Grumio, go to your mistress; Say, I command her come to me. Pet. Hor. [Exit GRUMIO. What? She will not. 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. 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, |