And happily I have arriv'd at last

Unto the wished haven of my bliss:

What Tranio did, myself enforc'd him to ;
Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.
Vin. I'll slit the villain's nose, that would have
sent me to the gaol.

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.

[Exit. Luc. Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not [Exeunt Luc. and BIAN. Gre. My cake is dough:6 But I'll in among the

frown.

rest;

Out of hope of all,-but my share of the feast.

PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA advance.

[Exit.

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?
Pet. What, art thou ashamed of me?

Kath. No, sir; God forbid:-but ashamed to kiss. Pet. Why, then let's home again :-Come, sirrah, let's away.

6 A proverbial expression, repeated after a disappointment.

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. Enter BAPTISTA, VINCENTIO, GREMIO, the Pedant, LUCENTIO, BIANCA, PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, HORTENSIO, and Widow. TRANIO, BIONDELLO, GRUMIO, and Others, attending.

Luc. 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.

[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.

7 A banquet was a refection consisting of fruit, cakes, &c.

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 woe:

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. 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.

3. Dreads.

Bap. How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks! Gre. Believe me, sir, they butt together well.

Bian. Head, and butt? an 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 bitter 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;
Therefore, a health to all that shot and miss'd.
Tra. O, sir, Lucentio slipp'd me like his grey-
hound,

Which runs himself, and catches for his master.

Pet. A good swift" simile, but something currish. Tra. 'Tis well, sir, that you hunted for yourself; 'Tis thought, your deer does hold you at a bay. Bap. O ho, Petruchio, Tranio hits you now. Luc. I thank thee for that gird,' good Tranio. Hor. Confess, confess, hath he not hit you here? 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 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.

Hor. Content :

-What is the wager?

Twenty crowns.

Luc.

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.

Luc. I'll have no halves; I'll bear it all myself.

Re-enter BIONDELLO.

How now! what news?

Bion.

Sir, my mistress sends you

That she is busy, and she cannot come.

word

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

To come to me forthwith.

wife

[Exit BIONDELLO.