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? That's the sun! There's no moonlight now.

PETRUCHIO

I say it's the moon that shines so bright.

KATHERINE

I know it's the sun that shines so bright.

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 what he wants you to say, or we'll never go.

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.

KATHERINE

I know it is the moon.

PETRUCHIO

No, you're a liar. It's the blessed sun.

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, let's go on. You've won the war.

PETRUCHIO

Well, forward, forward then! This is how things should go, smooth and straight. But wait! Someone's coming.

[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

[To himself] He'll make the man go crazy, pretending that he's a woman.

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, 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 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 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

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?

VINCENTIO

Lucentio, gentle sir.

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 all this true? Or are you just having fun, like silly travelers, and playing jokes on people you meet along the way?

HORTENSIO

I assure you, father, it's true.

PETRUCHIO

Come along with us and you'll see the truth for yourself, if our initial joke has made you suspicious.

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.