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Act 5, Scene 1
The Taming of the Shrew Translation Act 5, Scene 2
Enter BAPTISTA, VINCENTIO, GREMIO, the MERCHANT, LUCENTIO, BIANCA, PETRUCHIO, KATHERINE, HORTENSIO, WIDOW, TRANIO, BIONDELLO, and GRUMIO, with the Servingmen bringing in a banquet
LUCENTIO
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 selfsame kindness welcome thine. Brother Petruchio, sister Katherina, 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.
LUCENTIO
It's taken a long time, but at last we've all been reconciled. Now that the raging war is over, it's time to smile at our past dangers and adventures. My fair Bianca, welcome my father, while I with equal kindness welcome yours. Brother Petruchio, Sister Katherina, and you, Hortensio, with your loving widow, feast with the best of them, and welcome to my house. This dessert is to close up our stomachs—and any hard feelings—after our great feast. Please, sit down, for now we sit to chat as well as to eat.
PETRUCHIO
Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!
PETRUCHIO
Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!
BAPTISTA
Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.
BAPTISTA
Padua can afford this pleasant lifestyle, my son Petruchio.
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PETRUCHIO
Padua affords nothing but what is kind.
PETRUCHIO
Padua contains nothing that isn't pleasant.
HORTENSIO
For both our sakes, I would that word were true.
HORTENSIO
For both our sakes, I hope that's true.
PETRUCHIO
Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow.
PETRUCHIO
Now, I swear! Hortensio fears his widow.
WIDOW
Then never trust me if I be afeard.
WIDOW
Don't worry, I'm not afraid of him.
PETRUCHIO
You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense:I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you.
PETRUCHIO
You are very sensible, but you mistook my meaning: I meant that Hortensio is afraid of you.
WIDOW
He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.
WIDOW
He who is dizzy thinks the world spins round.
PETRUCHIO
Roundly replied.
PETRUCHIO
Well said.
KATHERINE
Mistress, how mean you that?
KATHERINE
Mistress, what do you mean by that?
WIDOW
Thus I conceive by him.
WIDOW
That's what I conceive of Petruchio.
PETRUCHIO
Conceives by me? How likes Hortensio that?
PETRUCHIO
She conceives by me? And what does Hortensio think of that?
HORTENSIO
My widow says, thus she conceives her tale.
HORTENSIO
My widow means that that's how she understands you.
PETRUCHIO
Very well mended. Kiss him for that, good widow.
PETRUCHIO
Good job fixing that. Kiss him for that, good widow.
KATHERINE
“He that is giddy thinks the world turns round”—I pray you, tell me what you meant by that.
KATHERINE
"He who is dizzy thinks the world spins round"—Please, tell me what you meant by that.
WIDOW
Your husband being troubled with a shrew Measures my husband’s sorrow by his woe.And now you know my meaning.
WIDOW
Your husband, who has to live with a shrew, projects his own troubles onto my husband. And now you know my meaning.
KATHERINE
A very mean meaning.
KATHERINE
A very mean meaning.
WIDOW
Right, I mean you.
WIDOW
Right, because I mean you.
KATHERINE
And I am mean indeed, respecting you.
KATHERINE
And I demean myself by paying you any attention.
PETRUCHIO
To her, Kate!
PETRUCHIO
Get her, Kate!
HORTENSIO
To her, widow!
HORTENSIO
Get her, widow!
PETRUCHIO
A hundred marks, my Kate does put her down.
PETRUCHIO
I'll bet you a hundred marks, my Kate will have her on her back.
HORTENSIO
That’s my office.
HORTENSIO
That's my job.
PETRUCHIO
Spoke like an officer! Ha' to thee, lad!
PETRUCHIO
Spoken like a good worker! Here's to you, boy!
Drinks to HORTENSIO
BAPTISTA
How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks?
BAPTISTA
How does Gremio like these quick-witted folks?
GREMIO
Believe me, sir, they butt together well.
GREMIO
Believe me, sir, they butt heads well.
BIANCA
Head and butt! An hasty-witted bodyWould say your head and butt were head and horn.
BIANCA
Head and butt! A clever person would say your butting head had horns.
VINCENTIO
Ay, mistress bride, hath that awakened you?
VINCENTIO
Ah, mistress bride, have we woken you up?
BIANCA
Ay, but not frighted me. Therefore I’ll sleep again.
BIANCA
Yes, but it hasn't frightened me. So I'll go back to sleep.
PETRUCHIO
Nay, that you shall not. Since you have begun,Have at you for a bitter jest or two!
PETRUCHIO
No, you certainly won't. Now that you've gotten started, be ready for a sharp joke or two!
BIANCA
Am I your bird? I mean to shift my bush,And then pursue me as you draw your bow.—You are welcome all.
BIANCA
Am I the bird you're shooting at now? I'll fly to a different tree, so you must follow me with your bow. You are all welcome here. Ladies, let me lead you out.
Exeunt BIANCA, KATHERINE and WIDOW
PETRUCHIO
She hath prevented me. Here, Signior Tranio,This bird you aimed at, though you hit her not.—Therefore a health to all that shot and missed.
PETRUCHIO
Well, she's escaped me. Sir Tranio, you also aimed at that bird, though you didn't hit her.—So here's a toast to all who have shot and missed.
TRANIO
Oh, sir, Lucentio slipped me like his greyhound,Which runs himself and catches for his master.
TRANIO
Oh, sir, Lucentio just let me off his leash like a greyhound. I did the running, but the catch was for my master.
PETRUCHIO
A good swift simile, but something currish.
PETRUCHIO
A good and fast answer, but also one for the dogs.
TRANIO
'Tis well, sir, that you hunted for yourself.'Tis thought your deer does hold you at a bay.
TRANIO
It's good, sir, that you hunted for yourself. There's a rumor that your deer has faced you down and cornered you.
BAPTISTA
Oh, Oh, Petruchio! Tranio hits you now.
BAPTISTA
Oh, oh, Petruchio! Now Tranio hits you with a good one.
LUCENTIO
I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio.
LUCENTIO
I thank you for that taunt, good Tranio.
HORTENSIO
Confess, confess, hath he not hit you here?
HORTENSIO
Admit it, admit, didn't that one hit close to home?
PETRUCHIO
He has a little galled me, I confess.And, as the jest did glance away from me,'Tis ten to one it maimed you two outright.
PETRUCHIO
He has wounded me a little, I confess. But since the taunt grazed me and kept flying, it's ten to one that it hit you two straight on.
BAPTISTA
Now, in good sadness, son Petruchio, I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all.
BAPTISTA
In all seriousness though, my son Petruchio, I think you have the biggest shrew of all.
PETRUCHIO
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.
PETRUCHIO
Well, I have to disagree. But let's have some proof. Each one of us should send for his wife, and whoever's wife is most obedient, and comes immediately when he sends for her, that man will win the bet we make.
HORTENSIO
Content. What’s the wager?
HORTENSIO
Sounds good. What's the bet?
LUCENTIO
Twenty crowns.
LUCENTIO
Twenty crowns.
PETRUCHIO
Twenty crowns?I’ll venture so much of my hawk or hound, But twenty times so much upon my wife.
PETRUCHIO
Twenty crowns? I'd bet that much on my hawk or my hound, but I'd bet twenty times that on my wife.
LUCENTIO
A hundred then.
LUCENTIO
A hundred then.
HORTENSIO
Content.
HORTENSIO
Agreed.
PETRUCHIO
A match! 'Tis done.
PETRUCHIO
It's a bet! Let's do it.
HORTENSIO
Who shall begin?
HORTENSIO
Who should begin?
LUCENTIO
That will I.Go, Biondello, bid your mistress come to me.
LUCENTIO
I will. Go, Biondello, and tell your mistress to come to me.
BIONDELLO
I go.
BIONDELLO
I go.
Exit
BAPTISTA
Son, I’ll be your half Bianca comes.
BAPTISTA
Son, I'll take half your bet that Bianca comes.
LUCENTIO
I’ll have no halves. I’ll bear it all myself.
LUCENTIO
I don't want any halves. I'll bear it all myself.
Enter BIONDELLO
How now, what news?
Well, what's the news?
BIONDELLO
Sir, my mistress sends you wordThat she is busy, and she cannot come.
BIONDELLO
Sir, my mistress says to tell you that she's busy, and she cannot come.
PETRUCHIO
How! “She’s busy, and she cannot come!”Is that an answer?
PETRUCHIO
What! "She's busy, and she cannot come!" Is that her answer?
GREMIO
Ay, and a kind one too.Pray God, sir, your wife send you not a worse.
GREMIO
Yes, and a kind one at that. Pray to God, sir, that your wife doesn't send you a worse one.
PETRUCHIO
I hope better.
PETRUCHIO
I expect something better.
HORTENSIO
Sirrah Biondello, go and entreat my wifeTo come to me forthwith.
HORTENSIO
Biondello, boy, go and ask my wife to come to me right away.
Exit BIONDELLO
PETRUCHIO
O, ho, entreat her!Nay, then she must needs come.
PETRUCHIO
Oh ho, ask her! Well, then she has to come.
HORTENSIO
I am afraid, sir,Do what you can, yours will not be entreated.
HORTENSIO
I'm afraid that no matter what you do, sir, your wife won't let herself be asked for anything.
Enter BIONDELLO
Now, where’s my wife?
Now, where's my wife?
BIONDELLO
She says you have some goodly jest in hand.She will not come. She bids you come to her.
BIONDELLO
She says you must be playing some kind of joke. She will not come. She tells you to come to her.
PETRUCHIO
Worse and worse. She will not come! O vile, intolerable, not to be endured!— Sirrah Grumio, go to your mistress, Say I command her to come to me.
PETRUCHIO
Worse and worse. She will not come! Oh, it's vile, intolerable, not to be endured!—Grumio, go to your mistress. Say that I command her to come to me.
Exit GRUMIO
HORTENSIO
I know her answer.
HORTENSIO
I know what her answer will be.
PETRUCHIO
What?
PETRUCHIO
What?
HORTENSIO
She will not.
HORTENSIO
She will not.
PETRUCHIO
The fouler fortune mine, and there an end.
PETRUCHIO
That'll be the worse for me, and an end to the matter.
Enter KATHERINE
BAPTISTA
Now, by my holidam, here comes Katherina!
BAPTISTA
Now, by all that's holy, here comes Katherina!
KATHERINE
What is your will, sir, that you send for me?
KATHERINE
What is your will, sir, that you sent for me?
PETRUCHIO
Where is your sister, and Hortensio’s wife?
PETRUCHIO
Where are your sister and Hortensio's wife?
KATHERINE
They sit conferring by the parlor fire.
KATHERINE
They sit talking by the fire in the parlor.
PETRUCHIO
Go fetch them hither. If they deny to come,Swinge me them soundly forth unto their husbands.Away, I say, and bring them hither straight.
PETRUCHIO
Go bring them here. If they refuse to come, give them a beating on my behalf to get them out here to their husbands. Go on, I say, and bring them here right away.
Exit KATHERINE
LUCENTIO
Here is a wonder, if you talk of a wonder.
LUCENTIO
Here is a miracle, if we're speaking of miracles.
HORTENSIO
And so it is. I wonder what it bodes.
HORTENSIO
So it is. I wonder what it means.
PETRUCHIO
Marry, peace it bodes, and love, and quiet life,And awful rule, and right supremacy,And, to be short, what not that’s sweet and happy?
PETRUCHIO
Well, it means peace, and love, and a quiet life, and authority commanding respect, and proper hierarchy, and, in brief, everything sweet and happy.
BAPTISTA
Now, fair befall thee, good Petruchio! The wager thou hast won, and I will add Unto their losses twenty thousand crowns, Another dowry to another daughter,For she is changed as she had never been.
BAPTISTA
Well, may you have good fortune, good Petruchio! You've won the bet, and I'll add twenty thousand crowns to these two men's losses. It will be a new dowry for a new daughter, for indeed she is so changed that she's like a whole new woman.
PETRUCHIO
Nay, I will win my wager better yet,And show more sign of her obedience,Her new-built virtue and obedience.
PETRUCHIO
Wait, I'll win the bet even more completely, and show more signs of her obedience, her newly-created virtue and obedience.
Enter KATHERINE with BIANCA and WIDOW
See where she comes and brings your froward wives As prisoners to her womanly persuasion.— Katherine, that cap of yours becomes you not. Off with that bauble, throw it underfoot.
See, here she comes, bringing your willful wives with her as prisoners of her womanly duty. Katherine, that cap of yours doesn't look good. Take off the silly thing and stomp on it.
WIDOW
Lord, let me never have a cause to sigh,Till I be brought to such a silly pass!
WIDOW
Lord, don't let me ever be brought to such a silly state of affairs where someone could treat me like that!
BIANCA
Fie! What a foolish duty call you this?
BIANCA
For shame! What kind of foolish "obedience" do you call this?
LUCENTIO
I would your duty were as foolish too.The wisdom of your duty, fair Bianca,Hath cost me an hundred crowns since suppertime.
LUCENTIO
I wish your obedience was just as foolish. The wisdom of your obedience, fair Bianca, has cost me a hundred crowns since dinnertime.
BIANCA
The more fool you for laying on my duty.
BIANCA
Then you're the bigger fool for betting money on my obedience.
PETRUCHIO
Katherine, I charge thee, tell these headstrong women What duty they do owe their lords and husbands.
PETRUCHIO
Katherine, I want you to tell these headstrong women what kind of obedience they owe to their lords and husbands.
WIDOW
Come, come, you’re mocking. We will have no telling.
WIDOW
Come on, you're joking. She won't tell us anything.
PETRUCHIO
Come on, I say, and first begin with her.
PETRUCHIO
Do it, I say, and begin with her.
WIDOW
She shall not.
WIDOW
She won't.
PETRUCHIO
I say she shall.—And first begin with her.
PETRUCHIO
I say she will.—And first begin with her.
KATHERINE
Fie, fie! 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 do bite the meads, Confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds, And in no sense is meet or amiable. A woman moved is like a fountain troubled, Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty, And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it. Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, Thy head, thy sovereign, one that cares for thee, And for thy maintenance commits his body To painful labor both by sea and land, To watch the night in storms, the day in cold, Whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe, And craves no other tribute at thy hands But love, fair looks and true obedience— Too little payment for so great a debt. Such duty as the subject owes the prince, Even such a woman oweth to her husband. And when she is froward, peevish, sullen, sour, And not obedient to his honest will, What is she but a foul contending rebel And graceless traitor to her loving lord? I am ashamed 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. Why are our bodies soft and weak and smooth, Unapt to toil and trouble in the world, But that our soft conditions and our hearts Should well agree with our external parts? Come, come, you froward and unable worms! My mind hath been as big as one of yours, My heart as great, my reason haply more, To bandy word for word and frown for frown. But now I see our lances are but straws, Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare, That seeming to be most which we indeed least are. Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot, And place your hands below your husband’s foot: In token of which duty, if he please, My hand is ready, may it do him ease.
KATHERINE
For shame, for shame! Don't furrow your brow and glare so scornfully to try to wound the man who is your lord, your king, and your governor. It tarnishes your beauty like frost blights the meadows, and ruins your reputation like a strong wind shaking a flower bud. In no sense whatsoever is it appropriate or pleasant. An angry woman is like a stirred-up fountain—muddy, ugly, thick, lacking beauty—and while it's in this condition, no one, not even a dry or thirsty man, will stoop to sip or touch one drop of it. Your husband is your lord, your life, your keeper, your head, your ruler, and one who cares for you. To keep you safe and comfortable he commits his body to painful labor on both sea and land, to staying awake on stormy nights and cold days at sea, while you stay at home, warm and secure. And in exchange all he asks for is love, beauty, and true obedience—too little payment for so great a debt. A woman owes her husband the same obedience that a subject owes to his prince. And when she is stubborn, peevish, sullen, sour, and not obedient to his honest will, then what is she but a foul, vicious rebel, and a cursed traitor to her loving lord? I am ashamed that women are so foolish as to declare war when they should kneel and plead for peace. I'm ashamed that they should seek rulership, supremacy, and power when they are obligated to serve, love and obey. Why else are our bodies so soft and weak and smooth, unfit for labor and trouble in the world, if not so that our soft qualities and our hearts should agree with our external parts? Come, come, you weak, willful worms! My mind was once just as arrogant as yours, my courage just as great, and my wit perhaps even better when it came to tossing words back and forth and exchanging frowns for frowns. But now I see that our swords are only straws, our strength is just as weak, and our weakness is beyond compare, so that we seem to be exactly the thing we are not. So humble your pride, for it's useless. Place your hands beneath your husband's boot as a gesture of obedience. My hand is always ready to comfort and pleasure my husband, if he wants me to.
PETRUCHIO
Why, there’s a wench! Come on and kiss me, Kate.
PETRUCHIO
Why, there's a good girl! Come on and kiss me, Kate.
LUCENTIO
Well, go thy ways, old lad, for thou shalt ha ’t.
LUCENTIO
Well, what do you know, old boy, you've done it.
VINCENTIO
'Tis a good hearing when children are toward.
VINCENTIO
It's good to hear children being obedient.
LUCENTIO
But a harsh hearing when women are froward.
LUCENTIO
But it's unpleasant to hear women being willful.
PETRUCHIO
[To LUCENTIO] Come, Kate, we’ll to bed. We three are married, but you two are sped. 'Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white, And, being a winner, God give you good night!
PETRUCHIO
Come, Kate, we'll go to bed. We three are all married, but you two are done for—your wives are too disobedient.
[To LUCENTIO] I won the wager, but you hit the white. And as the winner, I now bid you good night!
Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHERINE
HORTENSIO
Now, go thy ways, thou hast tamed a curst shrew.
HORTENSIO
Well, go on. You've tamed a terrible shrew.
LUCENTIO
'Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tamed so.
LUCENTIO
And it's a miracle, if I may say so, that she could be tamed like that.
Exeunt
