Pet. A good swift simile, but something currish. I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all. Pet. 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, Hor. Content. What is the wager? Luc. Twenty crowns. Pet. Twenty crowns! I'll venture so much of my hawk or hound, But twenty times so much upon my wife. Luc. A hundred then. Go, Biondello, bid your mistress come to me. Bion. I go. 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. Hor. Sirrah Biondello, go and entreat my wife To come to me forthwith. Pet. [Exit. [Exit BIONDELLO. O ho! entreat her! Nay, then she must needs come. Hor. I am afraid, Sir, Do what you can, yours will not be entreated. Re-enter BIONDELLO. Now, where's 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. What? Hor. She will not. [Exit GRUND Pet. The fouler fortune mine, and there an end. Re-enter KATHARINA. Kath. What is your will, Sir, that you send for me? Away, I say, and bring them hither straight. [Exit KATHARINA Hor. And so it is: I wonder what it bodes. Pet. Marry, peace it bodes, and love, and quiet life, And, to be short, what not, that's sweet and happy. For she is chang'd, as she had never been. And show more sign of her obedience, See, where she comes, and brings your froward wives Re-enter KATHARINA, with BIANCA and Widow. [KATHARINA pulls off her cap, and throws it den Wid. Lord! let me never have a cause to sigh, Till I be brought to such a silly pass! Bian. Fie! what a foolish duty call you this? 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. Fie, fie! unknit that threatening unkind brow; 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, What is she but a foul contending rebel, I am asham'd that women are so simple To offer war, where they should kneel for peace; Or seek for rule, supremacy, and sway, When they are bound to serve, love, and obey. Come, come, you froward and unable worms! Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,— And place your hands below your husband's foot: My hand is ready, may it do him ease. Pet. Why, there's a wench!-Come on, and kiss me, Kate. Luc. But a harsh hearing, when women are froward. We three are married, but you two are sped. 'Twas I won the wager, [To LUCENTIO.] though you hit the white; And, being a winner, God give you good night! [Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATH. Hor. Now, go thy ways; thou hast tam'd a curst shrew. Luc. 'Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam'd so. [Exeunt |