296 Tales from Shakespeare.

The next day Petruchio pursued the same course, still
speaking kind words to Katherine, but when she attempted
to eat, finding fault with everything that was set before
her, throwing the breakfast on the floor as he had done
the supper; and Katherine, the haughty Katherine, was
fain to beg the servants to bring her secretly a morsel of
food, but they, being instructed by Petruchio, replied they
dared not give her anything unknown to their master.
“« Ah,”’ said she, ‘‘ did he marry me to famish me? Beg-
gars that come to my father’s door have food given them.
But I, who never knew what it was to entreat for any-
thing, am starved for want of food, giddy for want of
sleep, with oaths kept waking, and with brawling fed, and
that which vexes me more than all, he does it under the
_ name of perfect love, pretending that if I sleep or eat, it
were present death tome.’’ Here her soliloquy was inter-
rupted by the entrance of Petruchio ; he, not meaning she
should be quite starved, had brought her a small portion
of meat, and he said to her, ‘‘ How fares my sweet Kate ?
Here, love, you see how diligentI am. Ihave dressed your
meat myself. I am sure this kindness merits thanks.
What, not aword! Nay, then you love not the meat, and
all the pains I have taken is to no purpose.” He then
ordered the servant to take the dish away. Extreme
hunger, which had abated the pride of Katherine, made
her say, though angered to the heart, ‘‘I pray you let it
stand.’ But this was not all Petruchio intended to bring
her to, and he replied, ‘‘ The poorest service is repaid with
thanks, and so shall mine before you touch the meat.”
On ais Katherine brought out a reluctant “I thank you,
sir.”’* And now he suffered her to make a slender meal,
saying, ‘“‘ Much good may it do your gentle heart, Kate: ;
eat apace! And now, my honey love, we will return to
your father’s house, and revel it as bravely as the best,
with silken coats and caps and golden rings, with ruffs
and scarfs amd fans and double change of finery ;”’ and to
make her believe he really intended to give her these gay