Gre. Here's packing7, with a witness, to deceive us all! Vin. Where is that damned villain, Tranio, That fac'd and brav'd me in this matter so? Bap. Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio? Unto the wished haven of my bliss: Bap. But do you hear, sir? [To LUCENTIO.] Have you married my daughter without asking my good-will? Vin. Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: But I will in, to be revenged for this villainy. [Exit. Bap. And I, to sound the depth of this knavery. frown. [Exit. Luc. Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not [Exeunt Luc. and BIAN. Gre. My cake is dough 8: But I'll in among the rest: Out of hope of all,—but my share of the feast. 7 Plottings, underhand contrivances. [Exit. 8 An obsolete proverb, repeated on the loss of hope or expectation. Its meaning is not easily explained. It has been suggested that a cake which comes out of the oven in the state of dough is utterly spoiled. VOL. III. PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA advance. Kath. Husband, let's follow, to see the end of this ado. Pet. First kiss me, Kate, and we will. Kath. What, in the midst of the street? Kath. No, sir; God forbid :—but ashamed to kiss. let's away. Kath. Nay, I will give thee a kiss: now pray thee, love, stay. Pet. Is not this well?- Come, my sweet Kate; Better once than never, for never too late. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Room in Lucentio's House. A Banquet set out. 2 1 The old copy reads come, the emendation is Rowe's. 2 The banquet here, as in other places of Shakspeare, was a refection similar to our modern dessert, consisting of cakes, sweetmeats, fruits, &c. According to Baret' banketting dishes brought at the end of meales' were junkettes, tartes, marchpanes.' Yet from the same authority it appears that a banquet and a feast were also then synonymous, and the word is often used by Shakspeare in that sense also. After our great good cheer: Pray you, sit down; For now we sit to chat, as well as eat. [They sit at table. Pet. Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat! Bap. Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio. Pet. Padua affords nothing but what is kind. Hor. For both our sakes, I would that word were true. Pet. Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow. Wid. Then never trust me if I be afeard. Pet. You are sensible, and yet you miss my sense; I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you. Wid. He that is giddy, thinks the world turns round. Pet. Roundly replied. Kath. Mistress, how mean you that? Wid. Thus I conceive by him. Pet. Conceives by me!-How likes Hortensio that? Hor. My widow says, thus she conceives her tale. Pet. Very well mended: Kiss him for that, good widow. Kath. He that is giddy, thinks the world turns round: I pray you, tell me what you meant by that. Wid. Your husband, being troubled with a shrew, Measures my husband's sorrow by his woe3: And now you know my meaning. Kath. A very mean meaning. Wid. Right, I mean you. Kath. And I am mean indeed, respecting you. Pet. To her, Kate! Hor. To her, widow! 3 As this was meant for a rhyming couplet, it should be observed that shrew was pronounced shrow. See also the finale, where it rhymes to so. 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 bow: : You are welcome all. [Exeunt BIANCA, KATHARINA, and Widow. Pet. She hath prevented me.-Here, Signior Tranio, This bird you aim'd at, though you hit her not; Tra. O, sir, Lucentio slipp'd me like his greyhound, Which runs himself, and catches for his master. The old copy reads better. The emendation is Capell's. Beside the original sense of speedy in motion, swift signified witty, 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, 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. 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. |