The Taming of the Shrew: Act 5, Scene 2
Enter BAPTISTA, VINCENTIO, GREMIO,
the PEDANT, LUCENTIO, and BIANCA;
[PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, HORTENSIO,]
TRANIO, BIONDELLO, GRUMIO, and
WIDOW: the Servingmen with Tranio bringing
stage direction. a banquet: i.e., the dessert trolley.
in a banquet.
LUCENTIO
1
At last, though long, our jarring notes agree: 2
And time it is, when raging war is done,3. scapes: escapes; close calls with disaster. overblown: blown over.
3
To smile at scapes and perils overblown. 4
My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome, 5
While I with self-same kindness welcome thine. 6
Brother Petruchio, sister Katharina, 7
And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow, 8
Feast with the best, and welcome to my house:9. close our stomachs up: 1) finish off the feast; 2) end our quarrels.
9
My banquet is to close our stomachs up, 10
After our great good cheer. Pray you, sit down; 11
For now we sit to chat as well as eat.
PETRUCHIO
12
Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!
BAPTISTA
13
Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.
PETRUCHIO
kind: natural and pleasant.
14
Padua affords nothing but what is kind.
HORTENSIO
15
For both our sakes, I would that word were true.
PETRUCHIO
16. fears: The verb "to fear" was used to mean both "to be afraid" and "to make someone else afraid."
16
Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow.
Widow
17. afeard: afraid. The widow asserts that she is not at all afraid of Hortensio.
17
Then never trust me, if I be afeard.
PETRUCHIO
18
You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense: 19
I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you.
Widow
20. He ... round: This saying means that people project their own faults on others.
20
He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.
PETRUCHIO
21. Roundly: frankly; plainly.
21
Roundly replied.
KATHARINA
21
Mistress, how mean you that?
Widow
22. Thus I conceive by him: i.e., I got my idea by observing Petruchio. The Widow explains exactly what she means in lines 28-30.
22
Thus I conceive by him.
PETRUCHIO
23. Conceives by me!: Petruchio takes up conceives in the sense of is made pregnant.
23
Conceives by me! How likes Hortensio that?
HORTENSIO
24. conceives her tale: devises (with possible pun on tale, tail).
24
My widow says, thus she conceives her tale.
PETRUCHIO
25
Very well mended. Kiss him for that, good widow.
KATHARINA
26
"He that is giddy thinks the world turns round": 27
I pray you, tell me what you meant by that.
Widow
28
Your husband, being troubled with a shrew,29. Measures: Judges.
29
Measures my husband's sorrow by his woe: 30
And now you know my meaning.
KATHARINA
31. very mean: i.e., very contemptible.
31
A very mean meaning.
Widow
31
Right, I mean you.
KATHARINA
32. I am mean indeed, respecting you: I am in the meanmoderate and even-temperedin comparison to you.
32
And I am mean indeed, respecting you.
PETRUCHIO
33
To her, Kate!
HORTENSIO
34
To her, widow!
PETRUCHIO
35. mark: coin worth about ⅔ of a pound. put her down: overcome or defeat her.
35
A hundred marks, my Kate does put her down.
HORTENSIO
36. That's my office: i.e. I'm her husband, so it's my job to have sex with her.
36
That's my office.
PETRUCHIO
37. ha': i.e., here's.
37
Spoke like an officer; ha' to thee, lad!
Drinks to Hortensio.
BAPTISTA
38
How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks?
GREMIO
39. butt together well: i.e., are entertaining and well-matched in their battles of wits.
39
Believe me, sir, they butt together well.
BIANCA
40-41. head ... horn: I think "horn" must be an allusion to the horns of a cuckold, but I don't understand by what pass of wit Bianca gets from "butt" to "Head, and butt," and thence to "head and horn."
40
Head, and butt! an hasty-witted body 41
Would say your head and butt were head and horn.
VINCENTIO
42
Ay, mistress bride, hath that awaken'd you?
BIANCA
43
Ay, but not frighted me; therefore I'll sleep again.
PETRUCHIO
44
Nay, that you shall not: since you have begun,45. Have at you: I shall come at you. bitter: shrewd, sharp.
45
Have at you for a bitter jest or two!
BIANCA
46. your bird: i.e., the bird you are aiming your darts at. shift my bush: fly to another tree (so that he will have to follow her if he intends to keep her as his target).
46
Am I your bird? I mean to shift my bush; 47
And then pursue me as you draw your bow. 48
You are welcome all.
Exit Bianca [with Katharina
and Widow].
PETRUCHIO
49. prevented: forestalled.
49
She hath prevented me. Here, Signior Tranio.50. This bird you aim'd at: i.e., This Bianca, (bird) whom Tranio courted (aim'd at) in his disguise as Lucentio.
50
This bird you aim'd at, though you hit her not; 51
Therefore a health to all that shot and miss'd.
TRANIO
52. slipp'd: unleashed.
52
O, sir, Lucentio slipp'd me like his greyhound, 53
Which runs himself and catches for his master.
PETRUCHIO
54. swift: (1) ready-witted; (2) having reference to swiftness. currish: (1) ignoble; (2) concerning dogs.
54
A good swift simile, but something currish.
TRANIO
55
'Tis well, sir, that you hunted for yourself:56. does hold you at a bay: turn to make a stand against you; turns on you like a cornered animal and holds you at a distance (hunting term).
56
'Tis thought your deer does hold you at a bay.
BAPTISTA
57
O ho, Petruchio! Tranio hits you now.
LUCENTIO
58. gird: taunt; sharp, biting jest.
58
I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio.
HORTENSIO
59
Confess, confess, hath he not hit you here?
PETRUCHIO
60. gall'd: wounded.
60
A' has a little gall'd me, I confess; 61
And, as the jest did glance away from me, 62
'Tis ten to one it maim'd you two outright.
BAPTISTA
63. good sadness: all seriousness.
63
Now, in good sadness, son Petruchio, 64
I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all.
PETRUCHIO
65. assurance: proof.
65
Well, I say no: and therefore for assurance 66
Let's each one send unto his wife; 67
And he whose wife is most obedient 68
To come at first when he doth send for her, 69
Shall win the wager which we will propose.
HORTENSIO
70
Content. What is the wager?
LUCENTIO
70
Twenty crowns.
PETRUCHIO
71
Twenty crowns!72. of my hawk: on my hawk.
72
I'll venture so much of my hawk or hound, 73
But twenty times so much upon my wife.
LUCENTIO
74
A hundred then.
HORTENSIO
74
Content.
PETRUCHIO
74. A match: agreed.
74
A match! 'tis done.
HORTENSIO
75
Who shall begin?
LUCENTIO
75
That will I. 76
Go, Biondello, bid your mistress come to me.
BIONDELLO
77
I go.
Exit.
BAPTISTA
78. I'll be your half: I'll share the wager with you by paying half your bet.
78
Son, I'll be your half, Bianca comes.
LUCENTIO
79
I'll have no halves; I'll bear it all myself.
Enter BIONDELLO. 80
How now! what news?
BIONDELLO
80
Sir, my mistress sends you word 81
That she is busy and she cannot come.
PETRUCHIO
82
How! she is busy and she cannot come! 83
Is that an answer?
GREMIO
83
Ay, and a kind one too: 84
Pray God, sir, your wife send you not a worse.
PETRUCHIO
85. hope: expect.
85
I hope better.
HORTENSIO
86
Sirrah Biondello, go and entreat my wife 87
To come to me forthwith.
Exit Biondello.
PETRUCHIO
87
O, ho! entreat her! 88
Nay, then she must needs come.
HORTENSIO
88
I am afraid, sir, 89
Do what you can, yours will not be entreated.
Enter BIONDELLO. 90
Now, where's my wife?
BIONDELLO
91
She says you have some goodly jest in hand: 92
She will not come: she bids you come to her.
PETRUCHIO
93
Worse and worse; she will not come! O vile, 94
Intolerable, not to be endured! 95
Sirrah Grumio, go to your mistress; 96
Say, I command her to come to me.
Exit [Grumio].
HORTENSIO
97
I know her answer.
PETRUCHIO
97
What?
HORTENSIO
97
She will not.
PETRUCHIO
98
The fouler fortune mine, and there an end.
BAPTISTA
99. by my holidame: i.e., by my Holy Dame (the Virgin Mary). The phrase was a common one, with little or no Christian meaning.
99
Now, by my holidame, here comes Katharina!
Enter KATHARINA.
KATHARINA
100
What is your will, sir, that you send for me?
PETRUCHIO
101
Where is your sister, and Hortensio's wife?
KATHARINA
102. conferring: i.e., chatting.
102
They sit conferring by the parlor fire.
PETRUCHIO
103
Go fetch them hither: if they deny to come,104. Swinge me: i.e., Thrash them at my behest.
104
Swinge me them soundly forth unto their husbands:105
Away, I say, and bring them hither straight.
[Exit Katharina.]
LUCENTIO
106
Here is a wonder, if you talk of a wonder.
HORTENSIO
107
And so it is: I wonder what it bodes.
PETRUCHIO
108
Marry, peace it bodes, and love and quiet life,109. aweful rule: authority commanding respect or awe.
109
And aweful rule and right supremacy;110
And, to be short, what not, that's sweet and happy?
BAPTISTA
111. fair: good fortune.
111
Now, fair befall thee, good Petruchio!112-113. I will add ...crowns: Baptista has just doubled Katharina's dowry; See Act 2, Scene 1, line 122.
112
The wager thou hast won; and I will add113
Unto their losses twenty thousand crowns;114
Another dowry to another daughter,115
For she is changed, as she had never been.
PETRUCHIO
116
Nay, I will win my wager better yet117
And show more sign of her obedience,118
Her new-built virtue and obedience.
Enter KATE, BIANCA, and WIDOW.
119. froward wives: difficult wives.
119
See where she comes and brings your froward wives120
As prisoners to her womanly persuasion.121
Katharina, that cap of yours becomes you not:122
Off with that bauble, throw it under-foot.
[Kate throws down her cap and treads on it.]
Widow
123
Lord, let me never have a cause to sigh,124. pass: state of affairs.
124
Till I be brought to such a silly pass!
BIANCA
125. duty: obedience.
125
Fie! what a foolish duty call you this?
LUCENTIO
126
I would your duty were as foolish too:127
The wisdom of your duty, fair Bianca,128
Hath cost me an hundred crowns since supper-time.
BIANCA
129. laying: wagering, betting.
129
The more fool you, for laying on my duty.
PETRUCHIO
130
Katharina, I charge thee, tell these headstrong women131
What duty they do owe their lords and husbands.
Widow
132
Come, come, you're mocking: we will have no telling.
PETRUCHIO
133
Come on, I say; and first begin with her.
Widow
134
She shall not.
PETRUCHIO
135
I say she shall: and first begin with her.
KATHARINA
136
Fie, fie! unknit that threatening unkind brow,137
And dart not scornful glances from those eyes,138
To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor:139. as frosts do bite the meads: as frosts disfigure the meadow. 140. Confounds thy fame: ruins your reputation. 141. meet: fitting; appropriate.
139
It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads,140
Confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds,141
And in no sense is meet or amiable.142. mov'd: angry.
142
A woman mov'd is like a fountain troubled,143. ill-seeming: ugly.
143
Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty;144
And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty145
Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it.146
Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,147
Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee,148
And for thy maintenance commits his body149
To painful labor both by sea and land,150
To watch the night in storms, the day in cold,151
Whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe;152
And craves no other tribute at thy hands153
But love, fair looks and true obedience;154
Too little payment for so great a debt.155
Such duty as the subject owes the prince156
Even such a woman oweth to her husband;157. froward: difficult, wayward.
157
And when she is froward, peevish, sullen, sour,158
And not obedient to his honest will,159
What is she but a foul contending rebel160
And graceless traitor to her loving lord?161. simple: foolish.
161
I am ashamed that women are so simple162
To offer war where they should kneel for peace;163
Or seek for rule, supremacy and sway,164
When they are bound to serve, love and obey.165
Why are our bodies soft and weak and smooth,166. Unapt to: Unfit for.
166
Unapt to toil and trouble in the world,167. conditions: dispositions.
167
But that our soft conditions and our hearts168
Should well agree with our external parts?169. unable worms: i.e., poor weak creatures.
169
Come, come, you froward and unable worms!170. as big: as haughty, arrogant.
170
My mind hath been as big as one of yours,171
My heart as great, my reason haply more,172
To bandy word for word and frown for frown;173
But now I see our lances are but straws,174
Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,175
That seeming to be most which we indeed least are.176. Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot: Then lower your pride, for there is no help for it.
176
Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot,177
And place your hands below your husband's foot:178
In token of which duty, if he please,179. do him ease: give him pleasure.
179
My hand is ready; may it do him ease.
PETRUCHIO
180
Why, there's a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate.
LUCENTIO
go ... ha't: i.e., Good going, my good old buddy Petruchio, for you're going to have everything you want.
181
Well, go thy ways, old lad; for thou shalt ha't.
VINCENTIO
182. 'Tis a good hearing when children are toward: i.e., one likes to hear when children are obedient.
182
'Tis a good hearing when children are toward.
LUCENTIO
183. froward: difficult.
183
But a harsh hearing when women are froward.
PETRUCHIO
184
Come, Kate, we'll to bed.185. We three are married, but you two are sped: i.e., all we three men have taken wives, but you two are done for (sped) because you've lost the bet.
185
We three are married, but you two are sped.
[To Lucentio.]186. white: center of the target; playing on Bianca's name, which in Italian means "white."
186
'Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white;187
And, being a winner, God give you good night!
Exit Petruchio [with Kate].
HORTENSIO
188
Now, go thy ways; thou hast tam'd a curst shrow.
LUCENTIO
189
'Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam'd so.
[Exeunt.]