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Modern English
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 self-same kindness welcome thine. Brother Petruchio, sister Katharina, 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.
Finally, after all this time, we’re in harmony: And it’s the right time, now that the fighting’s over, To laugh about all the dangers that were overblown. My lovely Bianca, welcome my father, While I, with the same kindness, welcome yours. Brother Petruchio, sister Katharina, And you, Hortensio, with your beloved widow, Enjoy the best, and welcome to my house: My banquet is to fill our stomachs, After our big feast. Please, sit down; Now we sit to talk as much as to eat.
Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!
All we do is sit and sit, and eat and eat!
Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.
Padua offers this kind hospitality, son Petruchio.
Padua affords nothing but what is kind.
Padua offers only what’s kind.
For both our sakes, I would that word were true.
For both our sakes, I wish that were true.
Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow.
Honestly, Hortensio, you’re afraid of your widow.
Then never trust me, if I be afeard.
Then never trust me if I’m afraid.
You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense: I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you.
You’re very smart, but you don’t get what I’m saying: I mean, Hortensio is afraid of you.
He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.
The dizzy one thinks the world is spinning.
Roundly replied.
Well said.
Mistress, how mean you that?
What do you mean by that, Mistress?
Thus I conceive by him.
This is what I understand from him.
Conceives by me! How likes Hortensio that?
You understand me! How does Hortensio feel about that?
My widow says, thus she conceives her tale.
My widow says, this is how she understands her story.
Very well mended. Kiss him for that, good widow.
Very well said. Kiss him for that, good widow.
’He that is giddy thinks the world turns round:’ I pray you, tell me what you meant by that.
"He who is dizzy thinks the world is spinning:" Please tell me what you meant by that.
Your husband, being troubled with a shrew, Measures my husband’s sorrow by his woe: And now you know my meaning,
Your husband, being bothered by a sharp-tongued woman, Measures my husband’s pain by his suffering: And now you understand what I meant,
A very mean meaning.
A very poor explanation.
Right, I mean you.
Exactly, I meant you.
And I am mean indeed, respecting you.
And I am indeed poor, considering you.
To her, Kate!
To her, Kate!
To her, widow!
To her, widow!
A hundred marks, my Kate does put her down.
A hundred marks, my Kate puts her in her place.
That’s my office.
That’s my job.
Spoke like an officer; ha’ to thee, lad!
Well said like a servant; here’s to you, lad!
How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks?
How does Gremio like these quick-thinking people?
Believe me, sir, they butt together well.
Believe me, sir, they get along very well.
Head, and butt! an hasty-witted body Would say your head and butt were head and horn.
Head, and butt! A quick-witted person Would say your head and your backside were the same.
Ay, mistress bride, hath that awaken’d you?
Yes, bride, has that woken you up?
Ay, but not frighted me; therefore I’ll sleep again.
Yes, but it didn’t scare me; so I’ll go back to sleep.
Nay, that you shall not: since you have begun, Have at you for a bitter jest or two!
No, you won’t: since you’ve started this, I’ll go after you with a few harsh jokes!
Am I your bird? I mean to shift my bush; And then pursue me as you draw your bow. You are welcome all.
Am I your target? I’m going to change my plans; And then you can chase me like you would with an arrow. You’re welcome to try.
She hath prevented me. Here, Signior Tranio. This bird you aim’d at, though you hit her not; Therefore a health to all that shot and miss’d.
She’s stopped me. Here, Signior Tranio. This bird you were aiming for, even though you missed her; So here’s to everyone who shot and missed.
O, sir, Lucentio slipp’d me like his greyhound, Which runs himself and catches for his master.
Oh, sir, Lucentio left me behind like his greyhound, Which runs ahead and catches the prey for its master.
A good swift simile, but something currish.
A good, quick comparison, but a bit rough.
’Tis well, sir, that you hunted for yourself: ’Tis thought your deer does hold you at a bay.
It’s true, sir, that you hunted for yourself: It’s said your deer has you stuck at a standstill.
O ho, Petruchio! Tranio hits you now.
Oh, Petruchio! Tranio’s got you there.
I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio.
Thanks for that jab, good Tranio.
Confess, confess, hath he not hit you here?
Admit it, admit it, hasn’t he got you with that one?
A’ has a little gall’d me, I confess; And, as the jest did glance away from me, ’Tis ten to one it maim’d you two outright.
He’s stung me a little, I admit; And since the joke went right over my head, I’d say it probably hurt you two a lot more.
Now, in good sadness, son Petruchio, I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all.
Honestly, son Petruchio, I think you’ve got the worst wife of all.
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.
Well, I disagree: and just to be sure, Let’s each send for our wives; And the one whose wife is the most obedient To come when called shall win the bet we make.
Content. What is the wager?
Fine. What’s the bet?
Twenty crowns.
Twenty crowns.
Twenty crowns! I’ll venture so much of my hawk or hound, But twenty times so much upon my wife.
Twenty crowns! I’ll bet that much on my hawk or dog, But I’ll bet twenty times that much on my wife.
A hundred then.
A hundred then.
Content.
Fine.
A match! ’tis done.
It’s a deal! It’s settled.
Who shall begin?
Who’s going first?
That will I. Go, Biondello, bid your mistress come to me.
I’ll go. Go, Biondello, tell your mistress to come to me.
I go.
I’m going.
Son, I’ll be your half, Bianca comes.
Son, I’ll be your partner, Bianca is coming.
I’ll have no halves; I’ll bear it all myself.
I don’t need a partner; I’ll handle it all myself.
How now! what news?
How’s it going? What’s the news?
Sir, my mistress sends you word That she is busy and she cannot come.
Sir, my mistress sends you word That she’s busy and can’t come.
How! she is busy and she cannot come! Is that an answer?
What! She’s busy and can’t come! Is that really the answer?
Ay, and a kind one too: Pray God, sir, your wife send you not a worse.
Yes, and it’s a kind one too: I pray, sir, that your wife doesn’t send you something worse.
I hope better.
I hope for something better.
Sirrah Biondello, go and entreat my wife To come to me forthwith.
Biondello, go and ask my wife To come to me right away.
O, ho! entreat her! Nay, then she must needs come.
Oh, really? Ask her? Well, then she has to come.
I am afraid, sir, Do what you can, yours will not be entreated.
I’m afraid, sir, No matter what you do, she won’t listen.
Now, where’s my wife?
Now, where’s my wife?
She says you have some goodly jest in hand: She will not come: she bids you come to her.
She says you have some joke going on: She won’t come; she tells you to go to her.
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.
Worse and worse; she won’t come! Oh, this is awful, Unbearable, completely intolerable! Biondello, go to your mistress; Tell her I order her to come to me.
I know her answer.
I know what she’ll say.
What?
What?
She will not.
She won’t come.
The fouler fortune mine, and there an end.
My luck just keeps getting worse, and that’s the end of it.
Now, by my holidame, here comes Katharina!
By my word, here comes Katharina!
What is your will, sir, that you send for me?
What do you want, sir, that you called for me?
Where is your sister, and Hortensio’s wife?
Where is your sister, and Hortensio’s wife?
They sit conferring by the parlor fire.
They’re sitting and talking by the parlor fire.
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.
Go get them: if they refuse to come, Give them a good hard smack and send them to their husbands: Go, I say, and bring them here right now.
Here is a wonder, if you talk of a wonder.
Here’s a surprise, if you’re talking about surprises.
And so it is: I wonder what it bodes.
And so it is: I wonder what this means.
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?
Well, it means peace, and love, and a quiet life, And respectful authority and rightful power; And, to put it briefly, everything that’s sweet and happy.
Now, fair befal 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.
Now, may good fortune be with you, good Petruchio! You’ve won the wager; and I will add Twenty thousand crowns to their losses; Another dowry for another daughter, Since she’s changed, as though she had never been.
Nay, I will win my wager better yet And show more sign of her obedience, Her new-built virtue and obedience. See where she comes and brings your froward wives As prisoners to her womanly persuasion.
No, I’ll win my bet even better, And show more proof of her obedience, Her newly built virtue and obedience. Look, here she comes, bringing your rebellious wives As captives to her womanly influence.
Katharina, that cap of yours becomes you not: Off with that bauble, throw it under-foot.
Katharina, that hat of yours doesn’t suit you: Take it off, throw it on the ground.
Lord, let me never have a cause to sigh, Till I be brought to such a silly pass!
Lord, may I never have a reason to complain, Until I’m brought to such a ridiculous state!
Fie! what a foolish duty call you this?
Fie! What kind of foolish obedience is this?
I would your duty were as foolish too: The wisdom of your duty, fair Bianca, Hath cost me an hundred crowns since supper-time.
I wish your obedience were just as foolish too: The wisdom of your obedience, fair Bianca, Has cost me a hundred crowns since dinner.
The more fool you, for laying on my duty.
You’re the bigger fool for paying attention to my obedience.
Katharina, I charge thee, tell these headstrong women What duty they do owe their lords and husbands.
Katharina, I tell you, explain to these stubborn women What duty they owe to their husbands and lords.
Come, come, you’re mocking: we will have no telling.
Come on, stop joking: we don’t want to hear this.
Come on, I say; and first begin with her.
Come on, I say; start with her first.
She shall not.
She won’t.
I say she shall: and first begin with her.
I say she will: and begin with her first.
Fie, fie! unknit that threatening 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 labour 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.
Shame on you! Stop making that angry face, And don’t give me those scornful looks, That wound your husband, your king, your ruler: It ruins your beauty like frost ruins the meadows, Damages your reputation like a storm shakes the flowers, And it’s neither fitting nor attractive. A woman who’s upset is like a muddy fountain, Dirty, unattractive, thick, without beauty; And while it’s like this, no one will want to drink Or even touch it. Your husband is your lord, your life, your protector, Your head, your ruler; someone who cares for you, And works hard to provide for you, Working both at sea and on land, Staying up at night in storms, enduring cold by day, While you lie at home, safe and warm; And he asks for nothing from you But love, kindness, and true obedience; That’s too little for such a big debt. A woman owes the same duty to her husband As a subject owes to their prince; And when she’s difficult, sulky, moody, bitter, And doesn’t follow his honest wishes, What is she but a rebellious traitor And an ungrateful enemy to her loving husband? I’m embarrassed that women are so foolish To start a fight when they should be asking for peace; Or want control, power, and dominance, When they’re meant to serve, love, and obey. Why are our bodies soft and weak and smooth, Unfit for the hard work and struggles of the world, Except that our delicate nature and our hearts Should match our gentle appearance? Come on, come on, you difficult and useless worms! I’ve had a mind as big as any of yours, A heart as big, my reason probably stronger, To argue word for word and frown for frown; But now I see that our strength is like straw, Weak and helpless beyond comparison, And what looks like strength is really nothing at all. So bow your heads, it’s pointless to resist, And place your hands at your husband’s feet: In proof of this duty, if he wants, My hand is ready; may it bring him peace.
Why, there’s a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate.
Well, that’s a girl! Come on, kiss me, Kate.
Well, go thy ways, old lad; for thou shalt ha’t.
Well, go on then, old man; you’ve won.
’Tis a good hearing when children are toward.
It’s good to hear when children are turning out well.
But a harsh hearing when women are froward.
But it’s harsh when women are stubborn.
Come, Kate, we’ll to bed. We three are married, but you two are sped.
Come, Kate, let’s go to bed. We’re all married now, but you two are finished.
’Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white; And, being a winner, God give you good night!
I won the bet, even though you hit the target; And as the winner, goodnight to you!
Now, go thy ways; thou hast tamed a curst shrew.
Well, off you go; you’ve tamed a cursed shrew.
’Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tamed so.
It’s a wonder, if I may say, she’ll be tamed like that.