Bap. O ho, Petruchio, Tranio hits you now. Luc. I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio. Hor. Confess, confess; hath he not hit you here? Pet. 'A has a little gall'd me, I confess; And, and as the jest did glance away from me, 'Tis ten to one it maim'd 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; 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. Hor. Content; What is the wager? Luc. Twenty crowns. Pet. Twenty crowns! I'll venture so much on my hawk, or hound, But twenty times so much upon my wife. Luc. A hundred then. 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. Pet. I hope, better. Hor. Sirrah, Biondello, go, and entreat my wife To come to me forthwith. Pet. [Exit Biondello. O, ho! entreat her! I am afraid, sir, Nay, then she needs must 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 endur'd! Sirrah, Grumio, go to your mistress; Say, I command her come to me. Hor. I know her answer. [Exit Grumio. Pet. Hor. What? She will not come. Pet. The fouler fortune mine, and there an end. Enter KATHARINA. Bap. Now, by my holidame, here comes Katha 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, 1 say, and bring them hither straight. [Exit Katharina. Luc. Here is a wonder, if you talk of a wonder. And, to be short, what not, that's sweet and happy. For she is chang'd, as she had never been. Pet. Nay, I will win my wager better yet; And show more sign of her obedience, Her new-built virtue and obedience. Re-enter KATHARINA, with BIANCA and Widow. See, where she comes; and brings your froward wives 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 headstrong 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, It blots thy beauty, as frosts bite the meads; Confounds thy fame, as whirlwinds shake fair buds; And in no sense is meet, or amiable. A woman mov'd, is like a fountain troubled, While thou liest warm at home, secure and safe: 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 com pare, That seeming to be most, which we least are. Then vail your stomachs 4, for it is no boot; And place your hands below your husband's foot: In token of which duty, if he please, My hand is ready, may it do him ease. |