THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. . 57

with such spirit and such moderation, that she turmmed the laugh against
the new bride. :

After dinner, when the ladies were retired, Baptista joined in a
laugh against Petruchio, saying—

“Now in good sadness, son Petruchio, I fear you have got the
veriest shrew of all.” .

“You are wrong,” said Petruchio, “let me prove it to you. Each
of us shall send a message to his wife, desiring her to come to him, and
the one whose wife comes most readily shall win a wager which we will
agree on.”

The others said yes readily enough, for each thought his own wife
the most dutiful, and each thought he was quite sure to win the wager.

They proposed a wager of twenty crowns. :

“Twenty crowns,” said Petruchio, “Tll venture so much on my
hawk or hound, but twenty times as much upon my wife.”