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THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
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Truly it was a strange courtship, wherein the girl did show that her title of the Shrew was well bestowed, but to all her railings Petruchio did but smile, and give soft answers, and the preparations for the wedding were made. Upon the appointed day the groom was long in coming, and Katharina wept with shame and anger to think that he had made but a jest of her. When he did appear, he was dressed in strange and fantastic garb, and could not be persuaded to change his dress, saying that it was himself, and not his clothes, that she was to marry. Never was so wild a marriage. Like a madman the groom raved and swore, and called for wine, and gave the priest a cuff that rolled him on the ground, and such like antics, until even his high-spirited bride shook with fear. A great wedding feast had been prepared, but Petruchio, claiming a husband's right to dispose of his wife as he pleased, and despite her furious remonstrances, mounted Katharina upon a miserable horse, he himself being no better mounted, and hurried her away, along rough and miry ways. At length, after a weary
journey, during which Katharina had heard nothing but the furious ravings of her husband, directed at herself, the servant, and the horses, they arrived at his house. The tables were lavishly spread with the finest food, but Petruchio dashed dish after dish upon the floor, in order, he said, that Katharina might not eat meat improperly prepared. And when the bride, worn out and supperless, retired to rest, he found fault with the bed, and threw the coverings and pillows about the room, so that she was forced to sit upon a chair. Whenever she dozed, she was awakened by the loud voice of her husband, storming at the servants for not properly preparing his wife's bridal bed.
The next day he followed the same course, till Katharina was near dead for food and rest, and so humbled that she gave him grateful thanks when he allowed her a little meat. Gorgeous gowns he ordered for her, but no sooner were they presented, and she had expressed her delight, than he tore them in pieces and drove the tailors from the house.
"Well, come, my Kate, we will go
THE WEDDING
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