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Act 4, Scene 4
The Taming of the Shrew Translation Act 4, Scene 5
Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHERINE, HORTENSIO and Servants
PETRUCHIO
Come on, i' God’s name, once more toward our father’s.Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon!
PETRUCHIO
Come on, in God's name, let's continue on to your father's house. Good Lord, the moon is so bright and beautiful tonight!
KATHERINE
The moon? The sun! It is not moonlight now.
KATHERINE
The moon? That's the sun! There's no moonlight now.
PETRUCHIO
I say it is the moon that shines so bright.
PETRUCHIO
I say it's the moon that shines so bright.
KATHERINE
I know it is the sun that shines so bright.
KATHERINE
I know it's the sun that shines so bright.
PETRUCHIO
Now, by my mother’s son, and that’s myself, It shall be moon, or star, or what I list, Or e'er I journey to your father’s house. [To servants] Go on, and fetch our horses back again.— Evermore crossed and crossed, nothing but crossed!
PETRUCHIO
Now, I swear by my mother's son, and that's myself, it will be the moon, or a star, or whatever I want it to be before I'll journey on to your father's house.
[To servants] Go on, bring our horses back again.—I'm constantly contradicted and contradicted, nothing but contradicted!
HORTENSIO
[To KATHERINE] Say as he says, or we shall never go.
HORTENSIO
[To KATHERINE] Say what he wants you to say, or we'll never go.
KATHERINE
Forward, I pray, since we have come so far, And be it moon, or sun, or what you please. An if you please to call it a rush candle, Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.
KATHERINE
Let's keep going, please, since we've come so far already. And it can be the moon, or the sun, or whatever you like. If you want to call it a tea candle, then I swear it will be a tea candle to me from now on.
PETRUCHIO
I say it is the moon.
PETRUCHIO
I say it is the moon.
KATHERINE
I know it is the moon.
KATHERINE
I know it is the moon.
PETRUCHIO
Nay, then you lie. It is the blessèd sun.
PETRUCHIO
No, you're a liar. It's the blessed sun.
KATHERINE
Then God be blessed, it is the blessèd sun. But sun it is not, when you say it is not, And the moon changes even as your mind. What you will have it named, even that it is, And so it shall be so for Katherine.
KATHERINE
Then God be blessed, it's the blessed sun. But it's not the sun when you say it isn't, and the moon changes with your mind. Whatever you name it, that's what the thing is, and so it will always be for Katherine.
HORTENSIO
Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won.
HORTENSIO
Petruchio, let's go on. You've won the war.
PETRUCHIO
Well, forward, forward! Thus the bowl should run,And not unluckily against the bias.But, soft! Company is coming here.
PETRUCHIO
Well, forward, forward then! This is how things should go, smooth and straight. But wait! Someone's coming.
Enter VINCENTIO
[To VINCENTIO] Good morrow, gentle mistress, where away?— Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too, Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman? Such war of white and red within her cheeks! What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty As those two eyes become that heavenly face?— Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee.— Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty’s sake.
[To VINCENTIO] Good morning, gentle mistress, where are you off to?—Tell me, sweet Kate, and be honest, have you ever seen a prettier, healthier-looking young lady? See how the shades of white and red do battle with each other in her cheeks! And what stars in heaven sparkle with as much beauty as the two eyes in that heavenly face?—Fair lovely maid, once more I say good day to you.—Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's sake.
HORTENSIO
[aside] He will make the man mad, to make a woman of him.
HORTENSIO
[To himself] He'll make the man go crazy, pretending that he's a woman.
KATHERINE
Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet, Whither away, or where is thy abode? Happy the parents of so fair a child. Happier the man whom favorable stars Allot thee for his lovely bedfellow!
KATHERINE
Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet, where are you off to, and where is your home? Happy are the parents of such a fair child. And happier the man whose destiny is to share your bed!
PETRUCHIO
Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad.This is a man—old, wrinkled, faded, withered— And not a maiden, as thou say’st he is.
PETRUCHIO
Why, what's going on, Kate! I hope you haven't gone crazy. This is a man—old, wrinkled, faded, and withered—not a girl, as you say he is.
KATHERINE
Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes That have been so bedazzled with the sun That everything I look on seemeth green. Now I perceive thou art a reverend father. Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.
KATHERINE
Pardon me, sir! My eyes were so blinded by the sun that everything I see looks young and fresh. But now I can see that you're a respectable old gentleman. Pardon me, please, for my crazy mistake.
PETRUCHIO
Do, good old grandsire, and withal make knownWhich way thou travellest. If along with us,We shall be joyful of thy company.
PETRUCHIO
Do pardon her, good old grandfather, and also tell us which way you're traveling. If you're going the same way we are, we'd be glad to have your company.
VINCENTIO
Fair sir, and you, my merry mistress, That with your strange encounter much amazed me, My name is called Vincentio, my dwelling Pisa, And bound I am to Padua, there to visit A son of mine which long I have not seen.
VINCENTIO
Well, fair sir, and you, my cheerful mistress, you've surprised me with your strange behavior, but know that my name is Vincentio, my home is Pisa, and I am headed for Padua. I'm going to visit my son who I haven't seen in a long time.
PETRUCHIO
What is his name?
PETRUCHIO
What is his name?
VINCENTIO
Lucentio, gentle sir.
VINCENTIO
Lucentio, gentle sir.
PETRUCHIO
Happily met, the happier for thy son. And now by law as well as reverend age, I may entitle thee my loving father. The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman, Thy son by this hath married. Wonder not Nor be grieved. She is of good esteem, Her dowry wealthy, and of worthy birth. Beside, so qualified as may beseem The spouse of any noble gentleman. Let me embrace with old Vincentio, And wander we to see thy honest son, Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.
PETRUCHIO
What a happy coincidence, and even happier for your son. I can now call you "father" legally, and not just as a term of respect for your age. This gentlewoman here is my wife, and her sister is now married to your son. Don't be amazed or upset. His wife has a good reputation, a wealthy dowry, and a noble bloodline. She has all the qualities that would make her a worthy spouse for any noble gentleman. Now let me embrace you, Vincentio, and then we'll go out of our way to see your honest son. He'll be overjoyed at your coming.
VINCENTIO
But is this true, or is it else your pleasure,Like pleasant travelers, to break a jestUpon the company you overtake?
VINCENTIO
But is all this true? Or are you just having fun, like silly travelers, and playing jokes on people you meet along the way?
HORTENSIO
I do assure thee, father, so it is.
HORTENSIO
I assure you, father, it's true.
PETRUCHIO
Come, go along and see the truth hereof,For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.
PETRUCHIO
Come along with us and you'll see the truth for yourself, if our initial joke has made you suspicious.
Exeunt all but HORTENSIO
HORTENSIO
Well, Petruchio, this has put me in heart.Have to my widow, and if she be froward, Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.
HORTENSIO
Well, Petruchio, this has been encouraging to me. I'll go to my widow now, and if she's stubborn, you've taught me how to tame her—by being even more difficult than she is.
Exit
