he lover; "for you
are called plain Kate, and bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the Shrew:
but, Kate, you are the prettiest Kate in Christendom, and therefore,
Kate, hearing your mildness praised in every town, I am come to woo you
for my wife."
A strange courtship they made of it. She in loud and angry terms showing
him how justly she had gained the name of Shrew, while he still praised
her sweet and courteous words, till at length, hearing her father
coming, he said (intending to make as quick a wooing as possible),
"Sweet Katharine, let us set this idle chat aside, for your father has
consented that you shall be my wife, your dowry is agreed on, and
whether you will or no, I will marry you."
And now Baptista entering, Petruchio told him his daughter had received
him kindly, and that she had promised to be married the next Sunday.
This Katharine denied, saying she would rather see him hanged on Sunday,
and reproached her father for wishing to wed her to such a mad-cap
ruffian as Petruchio. Petruchio desired her father not to regard her
angry words, for they had agreed she should seem reluctant before him,
but that when they were alone he had found her very fond and loving; and
he said to her, "Give me your hand, Kate; I will go to Venice to buy you
fine apparel against our wedding day. Provide the feast, father, and
bid the wedding guests. I will be sure to bring rings, fine array, and
rich clothes, that my Katharine may be fine; and kiss me, Kate, for we
will be married on Sunday."
On the Sunday all the wedding guests were assembled, but they waited
long before Petruchio came, and Katharine wept for vexation to think
that Petruchio had only been making a jest of her. At last, however, he
appeared; but he brought none of the bridal finery he had promised
Katharine, nor was he dressed himself like a bridegroom, but in strange
disordered attire, as if he meant to make a sport of the serious
business he came about; and his servant and the very horses on which
they rode were in like manner in mean and fantastic fashion habited.
Petruchio could not be persuaded to change his dress; he said Katharine
was to be married to him, and not to his clothes; and finding it was in
vain to argue with him, to the church they went, he still behaving in
the same mad way, for when the priest asked Petruchio if Katharine
should be his wife, he swore so loud that she should, that, all amazed,
the priest let fall his book, and as he sto
|