The Taming of the Shrew: Act 4, Scene 5
Enter PETRUCHIO, KATE,
HORTENSIO.
PETRUCHIO
1. our father's: i.e., Baptista's house. —Baptista is Katharina's father and Petruchio's father-in-law.
1 Come on, i' God's name; once more toward our father's. 2 Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon!
KATHARINA
3 The moon! the sun: it is not moonlight now.
PETRUCHIO
4 I say it is the moon that shines so bright.
KATHARINA
5 I know it is the sun that shines so bright.
PETRUCHIO
6 Now, by my mother's son, and that's myself,7. what I list: whatever I want it to be.
7 It shall be moon, or star, or what I list,8. Or ere: before.
8 Or ere I journey to your father's house. 9 Go on, and fetch our horses back again.10. cross'd: crossed, contradicted.
10 Evermore cross'd and cross'd; nothing but cross'd!
HORTENSIO
11 Say as he says, or we shall never go.
KATHARINA
12 Forward, I pray, since we have come so far, 13 And be it moon, or sun, or what you please:14. An: if. rush-candle: --A "rush-candle" was made by dipping a rush into grease. It produced a very feeble light.
14 An if you please to call it a rush-candle, 15 Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.
PETRUCHIO
Image Source:
Making 'Candles' from Animal Fat and Soft Rush
16 I say it is the moon.
KATHARINA
16 I know it is the moon.
PETRUCHIO
17 Nay, then you lie: it is the blessed sun.
KATHARINA
18 Then, God be bless'd, it is the blessed sun: 19 But sun it is not, when you say it is not;20. the moon changes even as your mind: —Katharina is saying that she will agree with anything that Petruchio says, but she's also mocking him, as it is only a lunatic whose mind changes as the moon does.
20 And the moon changes even as your mind. 21 What you will have it named, even that it is; 22 And so it shall be so for Katharina.
HORTENSIO
23 Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won.
PETRUCHIO
24. bowl: ball in the game of bowls.
24 Well, forward, forward! thus the bowl should run,25. against the bias: i.e., off the proper course.
25 And not unluckily against the bias. 26 But, soft! company is coming here.
Enter VINCENTIO.
27 Good morrow, gentle mistress: where away? 28 Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too, 29 Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman? 30 Such war of white and red within her cheeks! 31 What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty, 32 As those two eyes become that heavenly face? 33 Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee. 34 Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's sake.
HORTENSIO
35 A' will make the man mad, to make a 36 woman of him.
KATHARINA
37 Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet, 38 Whither away, or where is thy abode? 39 Happy the parents of so fair a child; 40 Happier the man, whom favorable stars 41 Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow!
PETRUCHIO
42 Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad: 43 This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither'd, 44 And not a maiden, as thou say'st he is.
KATHARINA
45 Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes, 46 That have been so bedazzled with the sun47. green: young and fresh.
47 That everything I look on seemeth green:48. reverent: reverend.
48 Now I perceive thou art a reverent father; 49 Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.
PETRUCHIO
50 Do, good old grandsire; and withal make known 51 Which way thou travellest: if along with us, 52 We shall be joyful of thy company.
VINCENTIO
53 Fair sir, and you my merry mistress,54. encounter: manner of address, behavior.
54 That with your strange encounter much amazed me, 55 My name is call'd Vincentio; my dwelling Pisa; 56 And bound I am to Padua; there to visit 57 A son of mine, which long I have not seen.
PETRUCHIO
58 What is his name?
VINCENTIO
58 Lucentio, gentle sir.
PETRUCHIO
59 Happily we met; the happier for thy son. 60 And now by law, as well as reverent age, 61 I may entitle thee my loving father: 62 The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman,63. this: this time.
63 Thy son by this hath married. Wonder not,64. esteem: reputation.
64 Nor be grieved: she is of good esteem, 65 Her dowery wealthy, and of worthy birth;66. so qualified: of such qualities.
66 Beside, so qualified as may beseem 67 The spouse of any noble gentleman. 68 Let me embrace with old Vincentio,69. wander we: we are going at a leisurely pace.
69 And wander we to see thy honest son, 70 Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.
VINCENTIO
71 But is it true? or else is it your pleasure, 72 Like pleasant travellers, to break a jest 73 Upon the company you overtake?
HORTENSIO
74 I do assure thee, father, so it is.
PETRUCHIO
75 Come, go along, and see the truth hereof;76. jealous: suspicious.
76 For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.
Exeunt [all but Hortensio].
HORTENSIO
77 Well, Petruchio, this has put me in heart.78. froward: difficult.
78 Have to my widow! and if she be froward,79. untoward: unmannerly.
79 Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.
Exit.