The Taming of the Shrew

not this my Cambio? Bianca Cambio is changed into Lucentio. Lucentio

Love wrought these miracles. Bianca’s love
Made me exchange my state with Tranio,
While he did bear my countenance in the town;
And happily I have arrived at the last
Unto the wished haven of my bliss.
What Tranio did, myself enforced him to;
Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.

Vincentio I’ll slit the villain’s nose, that would have sent me to the gaol. Baptista But do you hear, sir? have you married my daughter without asking my good will? Vincentio Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: but I will in, to be revenged for this villany. Exit. Baptista And I, to sound the depth of this knavery. Exit. Lucentio Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not frown. Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca. Gremio

My cake is dough; but I’ll in among the rest,
Out of hope of all, but my share of the feast. Exit.

Katharina Husband, let’s follow, to see the end of this ado. Petruchio First kiss me, Kate, and we will. Katharina What, in the midst of the street? Petruchio What, art thou ashamed of me? Katharina No, sir, God forbid; but ashamed to kiss. Petruchio Why, then let’s home again. Come, sirrah, let’s away. Katharina Nay, I will give thee a kiss: now pray thee, love, stay. Petruchio

Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate:
Better once than never, for never too late. Exeunt.

Scene II

Padua. Lucentio’s house.

	Enter Baptista, Vincentio, Gremio, the Pedant, Lucentio, Bianca, Petruchio, Katharina, Hortensio, and Widow, Tranio, Biondello, and Grumio: the Serving-men with Tranio bringing in a banquet.
Lucentio	At last, though long, our jarring notes agree: And time it is, when raging war is done, To smile at scapes and perils overblown. My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome, While I with self-same kindness welcome thine. Brother Petruchio, sister Katharina, And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow, Feast with the best, and welcome to my house: My banquet is to close our stomachs up, After our great good cheer. Pray you, sit down; For now we sit to chat as well as eat.
Petruchio	Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!
Baptista	Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.
Petruchio	Padua affords nothing but what is kind.
Hortensio	For both our sakes, I would that word were true.
Petruchio	Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow.
Widow	Then never trust me, if I be afeard.
Petruchio	You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense: I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you.
Widow	He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.
Petruchio	Roundly replied.
Katharina	Mistress, how mean you that?
Widow	Thus I conceive by him.
Petruchio	Conceives by me! How likes Hortensio that?
Hortensio	My widow says, thus she conceives her tale.
Petruchio	Very well mended. Kiss him for that, good widow.
Katharina	“He that is giddy thinks the world turns round:” I pray you, tell me what you meant by that.
Widow	Your husband, being troubled with a shrew, Measures my husband’s sorrow by his woe: And now you know my meaning,
Katharina	A very mean meaning.
Widow	Right, I mean you.
Katharina	And I am mean indeed, respecting you.
Petruchio	To her, Kate!
Hortensio	To her, widow!
Petruchio	A hundred marks, my Kate does put her down.
Hortensio	That’s my office.
Petruchio	Spoke like an officer: ha’ to thee, lad! Drinks to Hortensio.
Baptista	How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks?
Gremio	Believe me, sir, they butt together well.
Bianca	Head, and butt! an hasty-witted body Would say your head and butt were head and horn.
Vincentio	Ay, mistress bride, hath that awaken’d you?
Bianca	Ay, but not frighted me; therefore I’ll sleep again.
Petruchio	Nay, that you shall not: since you have begun, Have at you for a bitter jest or two!
Bianca	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.
Petruchio	She hath prevented me. Here, Signior Tranio. This bird you aim’d at, though you hit her not; Therefore a health to all that shot and miss’d.
Tranio	O, sir, Lucentio slipp’d me like his greyhound, Which runs himself and catches for his master.
Petruchio	A good swift simile, but something currish.
Tranio	’Tis well, sir, that you hunted for yourself: ’Tis thought your deer does hold you at a bay.
Baptista	O ho, Petruchio! Tranio hits you now.
Lucentio	I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio.
Hortensio	Confess, confess, hath he not hit you here?
Petruchio	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.
Baptista	Now, in good sadness, son Petruchio, I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all.
Petruchio	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.
Hortensio	Content. What is the wager?
Lucentio	Twenty crowns.
Petruchio	Twenty crowns! I’ll venture so much of my hawk or hound, But twenty times so much upon my wife.
Lucentio	A hundred then.
Hortensio	Content.
Petruchio	A match! ’tis done.
Hortensio	Who shall begin?
Lucentio	That will I. Go, Biondello, bid your mistress come to me.
Biondello	I go. Exit.
Baptista	Son, I’ll be your half, Bianca comes.
Lucentio	I’ll have no halves; I’ll bear it all myself.
	Re-enter Biondello.
	How now! what news?
Biondello	Sir, my mistress sends you word That she is busy and she cannot come.
Petruchio	How! she is busy and she cannot come! Is that an answer?
Gremio	Ay, and a kind one too: Pray God, sir, your wife send you not a worse.
Petruchio	I hope, better.
Hortensio	Sirrah Biondello, go and entreat my wife To come to me forthwith. Exit Biondello.
Petruchio	O, ho! entreat her! Nay, then she must needs come.
Hortensio	I am afraid, sir, Do what you can, yours will not be entreated.
	Re-enter Biondello.
	Now, where’s my wife?
Biondello	She says you have some goodly jest in hand: She will not come; she bids you come to her.
Petruchio	Worse and worse; she will not