Sirrah, Grumio, go to your mistress; Say, I command her come to me. [Exit GRUMIO. Hor. I know her answer. 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 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: And, to be short, what not, that's sweet and happy. Re-enter KATHARINA, with BIANCA and Widow. See, where she comes; and brings your froward wives As prisoners to her womanly persuasion. Katharine, that cap of yours becomes you not; [KATHARINA pulls off her cap, and throws it 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 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. Wid. She shall not. 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, A woman mov'd, is like a fountain troubled, But love, fair looks, and true obedience ;- When they are bound to serve, love, and obey. But that our soft conditions, and our hearts, My hand is ready, may it do him ease. Pet. Why, there's a wench!-Come on, and kiss me, Kate. Luc. Well, go thy ways, old lad: for thou shalt ha't. Vin. 'Tis a good hearing, when children are toward. Luc. But a harsh hearing, when women are froward. 2our soft conditions,] The gentle qualities of our minds. 3 Then vail your stomachs,] i. e. abate your pride, your spirit. 11 Pet. Come, Kate, we'll to-bed : We three are married, but you two are sped.* "Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white ;" [TO LUCENTIO. And, being a winner, God give you good night! [Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATH. Hor. Now go thy ways, thou hast tam'd a curst 4 shrew. Luc. 'Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam'd so. [Exeunt. you two are sped.] i. e. the fate of you both is decided; for you have wives who exhibit early proofs of disobedience. 5 though you hit the white ;] To hit the white is a phrase borrowed from archery: the mark was commonly white. Here it alludes to the name, Bianca, or white. Of this play the two plots are so well united, that they can hardly be called two without injury to the art with which they are interwoven. The attention is entertained with all the variety of a double plot, yet is not distracted by unconnected incidents. The part between Katharine and Petruchio is eminently spritely and diverting. At the marriage of Bianca the arrival of the real father, perhaps, produces more perplexity than pleasure. The whole play is very popular and diverting. JOHNSON. |