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? a 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 bitter1 jest or two. Bian. Am I your bird? I mean to shift my bush, And then pursue me as you draw your You are welcome all. bow: [Exeunt BIANCA, KATHARINA, and Widow. Pet. She hath prevented me.-Here, Signior Tranio, This bird Which runs himself, and catches for his master. 4 The old copy reads better. The emendation is Capell's. 5 Beside the original sense of speedy in motion, swift signified auitty, quick witted. So in As You Like It, the Duke says of the clown,' He is very swift and sententious.' A gird is a cut, a sarcasm, a stroke of satire. Pet. 'A has a little gall'd me, I confess; 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 assu rance, 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, Hor. Content: Luc. Pet. Twenty crowns! Twenty crowns. I'll 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, [Exit. 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. QQ 2 Hor. Sirrah, Biondello, go, and entreat my wife To come to me forthwith. [Exit BIONDEllo. O, ho! entreat her! Pet. Nay, then she must needs come. Hor. I am afraid, sir, Do what you can, yours will not be entreated. Now where's Re-enter BION dello. 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. 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 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. An awful rule, and right supremacy; And, to be short, what not, that's sweet and happy. Re-enter KATHARINA, with BIANCA, and Widow. [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. Fye! 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. Wid. Come, come, you're mocking; we will have no telling. Pet. Come on, I say; Wid. She shall not. and first begin with her. Pet. I say, she shall;-and first begin with her. Kath. Fye, fye! unknit that threat'ning unkind brow; And dart not scornful glances from those eyes, To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor : It blots thy beauty, as frosts do bite the meads; A woman mov'd, is like a fountain troubled, To watch the night in storms, the day in cold, peace; But that our soft conditions and our hearts, |