Bian. Fye! what a foolish duty call you this? Luc. I would, your duty were as foolish too: The wisdom of your duty, fair Bianca, Hath cost me an hundred crowns since supper-time. Bian. The more fool you, for laying on my duty. 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. Fye, fye! unknit that threat'ning unkind brow; And dart not scornful glances from those eyes, To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor: It blots thy beauty, as frosts bite the meads +; A woman mov'd, is like a fountain troubled, +"As frosts do bite," &c. MALONE. And, not obedient to his honest will, When they are bound to serve, love, and obey. Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare, — My hand is ready, may it do him ease. me, Kate. Come on, and kiss Luc. Well, go thy ways, old lad: for thou shalt ha't. Vin. 'Tis a good hearing, when children are toward. Luc. But a harsh hearing, when women ward. Pet. Come, Kate, we'll to-bed: — We three are married, but you two are sped.4 are fro 2 —our soft conditions,] The gentle qualities of our minds. ተ we indeed least are." MALONE. 6 4 * Then vail your stomachs,] i. e. abate your pride, your spirit. you two are sped.] i. e. the fate of you both is decided; for you have wives who exhibit early proofs of disobedience. 'Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white"; [TO LUCENTIO. And, being a winner, God give you good night! 5 [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,6 though you hit the white ;] To hit the white is a phrase borrowed from archery: the mark was commonly white. Here it alludes to the name, Bianca, or white. 6 Of this play the two plots are so well united, that they can hardly be called two without injury to the art with which they are interwoven. The attention is entertained with all the variety of a double plot, yet is not distracted by unconnected incidents. The part between Katharine and Petruchio is eminently spritely and diverting. At the marriage of Bianca the arrival of the real father, perhaps, produces more perplexity than pleasure. The whole play is very popular and diverting. JOHNSON. Steevens and Malone have mentioned several authors by whom stories like that of Sly in the induction, have been told, but it is rather singular they should make no mention of the "Sleeper Awakened," in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, vol. iii. C. |