g with the two ladies, he
continued, "See where she comes, and brings your froward wives as
prisoners to her womanly persuasion. Katharine, that cap of yours does
not become you; off with that bauble, and throw it under foot."
Katharine instantly took off her cap, and threw it down. "Lord!" said
Hortensio's wife, "may I never have a cause to sigh till I am brought to
such a silly pass!" And Bianca, she too said, "Fie, what foolish duty
call you this?" On this Bianca's husband said to her, "I wish your duty
were as foolish too! The wisdom of your duty, fair Bianca, has cost me a
hundred crowns since dinner-time."--"The more fool you," said Bianca,
"for laying on my duty."--"Katharine," said Petruchio, "I charge you
tell these headstrong women what duty they owe their lords and
husbands." And to the wonder of all present, the reformed shrewish lady
spoke as eloquently in praise of the wife-like duty of obedience, as she
had practised it implicitly in a ready submission to Petruchio's will.
And Katharine once more became famous in Padua, not as heretofore, as
Katharine the Shrew, but as Katharine the most obedient and duteous wife
in Padua.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

The states of Syracuse and Ephesus being at variance, there was a cruel
law made at Ephesus, ordaining that if any merchant of Syracuse was seen
in the city of Ephesus, he was to be put to death, unless he could pay a
thousand marks for the ransom of his life.

AEgeon, an old merchant of Syracuse, was discovered in the streets of
Ephesus, and brought before the duke, either to pay this heavy fine, or
to receive sentence of death.

AEgeon had no money to pay the fine, and the duke, before he pronounced
the sentence of death upon him, desired him to relate the history of his
life, and to tell for what cause he had ventured to come to the city of
Ephesus, which it was death for any Syracusan merchant to enter.

AEgeon said, that he did not fear to die, for sorrow had made him weary
of his life, but that a heavier task could not have been imposed upon
him than to relate the events of his unfortunate life. He then began his
own history, in the following words:

"I was born at Syracuse, and brought up to the profession of a merchant.
I married a lady, with whom I lived very happily, but being obliged to
go to Epidamnum, I was detained there by my business six months, and
then, finding I should be obliged to stay some tim