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:
