Taming of the Shrew - Shakespeare Stories Collection (Includes CD)

Author: (Eng) Shakespeare / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: "Forgive her, kind sir," said Pickwick. "Also, please tell us where you are going. If we are traveling the same way, we would be happy to accompany you." The old gentleman replied, "Good sir, and you, this interesting girl, to meet you in such a strange way. My name is Vincentio, and I am going to find my son who lives in Padua." Pickwick then realized that this old man was Vincentio's father, and that the young man Vincentio was about to marry Bianca, the youngest daughter of Bartholo. Pickwick said that his son had married into a wealthy family, and Vincentio was very happy to hear this. They set off happily and arrived at Bartholo's house, where many guests had already arrived to celebrate Bianca and Vincentio's wedding. After marrying Catherine, Bartholo was delighted to agree to Bianca's marriage. As soon as they entered, Bartholo welcomed them to the wedding, and there was another newly married couple present. Vincentio, Bianca's husband, and the newly married man, Horatio, could not help but tease each other, subtly mocking the fiery personality of Pickwick's wife. These two overconfident newlyweds seemed to be immensely relieved that they had chosen good-tempered wives and mocked Pickwick's unfortunate choice. Pickwick paid little attention to their jokes. After dinner, the ladies left, and he discovered that Bartholo had joined the ranks of those mocking him. Pickwick insisted that his wife was certainly more obedient than theirs. Catherine's father said, "Oh, dear Pickwick, how sad it must be for you. I'm afraid you've married the fiercest shrew." "Oh, I assure you otherwise," Pickwick replied. "To prove that I am right, let's have someone call our wives out. Whose wife comes out first, the more obedient one will be, and the winner will take the bet." The other two husbands agreed enthusiastically. Compared to the stubborn Catherine, they were very confident that their gentle wives were undoubtedly more obedient. They proposed a bet of twenty crowns, but Pickwick replied cheerfully that even a bet on a falconhound would be worth that much, and his wife's bet should be twenty times more. Vincentio and Horatio then raised the bet to one hundred crowns. Vincentio sent his servant to ask Bianca to come over. When the servant returned, he said, "Sir, the lady said she is busy and cannot come." "What?" Pickwick said. "She said she is busy and cannot come? Can a wife answer like that?"