338 
be for life humble, and obedient to the 
victor. 
Florella remained for some time mo- 
tionless, so surprized was she at her hus- 
bund’s strange discourse ; but at length, re- 
covering her spirits, of which her fright 
had deprived her, she replied, Alas!’ my 
Pisardo, what is the meaning of all this? 
are you not the husband, my lord, and 
master, who has aright to claim duty and 
obedience from me, and all my household. 
T am the wife, obedient to your will and 
command. Is not the precept and law 
of our high and mighty creator, consented 
to by allthe female race? How, my lord, 
can I act thus? Am I privileged above the 
rest of my sex? Take your breeches then, 
Pisardo; wear them, sincetheyareyour’s, 
and it is you alone they fit. The field re- 
mains your’s without a combat; I ac- 
knowledge you the conqueror, and my- 
self vanquished. Talsoacknowledge my- 
-selfa woman, which name contains all 
the properties of subjection; and [ hum- 
bly submit myself to you with pleasure. 
Florella, replied Pisardo, I am ex- 
tremely pleased to find that you acknow- 
ledge all that I desire of you; but Ido not 
implicitly confide in yourconstancy, since 
you are, as you say, a woman, which 
name comprehends so many qualities; 
but I advise you not to alter your mind: 
if youdo not, although you have promised 
obedience, and acknowledged me for 
your master, I will serve you, and treat 
you with the greatest kindness. 
Florella, very prudently confirmed all 
that had been said; her husband imme- 
diately delivered up to her the keys of all 
his coffers, and gave her directions how 
to manage. He thensaid, Florella, come 
with me, I wish to shew you nay horses, 
that, in my absence, you may know how 
they should be treated. When they 
came to the door of the stable, Pisardo 
said, What do you think my dear, of my 
horses, are not they beautiful and well 
kept? Indeed, answered she, they are 
very fine, and in excellent order. But, 
observe above all,said Pisardo,how ready, 
light, and well-managed they are; and 
whipping first one,then the other, he cried, 
Cross over there! Come here! The 
horses, fearful of chastisement,immediate- 
dy obeyed their master. Amongst these 
horses, Pisardo had one, more beautiful 
to appearance than the others; but so 
malicious, and so little to be depended 
upon, thathe did notvaluehimatall. He 
went up to him, with the whip in hand, 
and-slashing him, é¢ried out, Come, stop; 
ge on! but the horse, being naturally vici- 
Origin of Shakespeares Taming the Shrew. 
ous, received blows, and returned kicks. 
Seeing the obstinacy of the horse, Pisarde 
took a cudgel and laid it on him, till he 
fell; when he saw him on the ground, he 
came up to him and said, Get up, Troy : 
but instead of obeying him, the horse, ina 
rage, attacked him in the leg, and bit him 
violently; upon which Pisardo drew his 
sword, and stabbed him. 
When Florella saw the horse dead ; 
melting into tears. Good God! said she, 
is it possible, Pisardo, you can have the 
heart to kill so fine an animal? Pisardo, 
stifling the pain occasioned by the bite, 
replied, Know, my Florella, that all who 
eat my bread, and do not what I com- 
mand them, I serve in this manner, even 
should I love and esteem them more than 
I do you.” This retort grieved Florella 
very much, and she said toherself, Alas! 
unhappy creature that I am, to be united 
to aman so violent and so passionate. I 
thought I had a husband both steady and 
prudent;but I have bestowed my hand ona 
madman. See, for what a trifling offence, 
he has killed this beautiful horse, the best 
he has. She said this, ignorant of ‘the 
cause that had made Pizardo act thus; and 
ever after she trembled, if he evinced the 
smallest sign of displeasure ; so that there 
was nothing to be heard in their house, 
butayes and ano. Perpetual concord ! 
Silverio,who loved his brother very much, 
visited him often, and saw the good beha- 
viour and virtuous obedience of Florella. 
He reflected within himself, Good God ! 
why have I not deserved a wife as obe- 
dient as Florella? She governs, com- 
mands, and directs every thing, at the 
pleasure ofherhusband. How obedient, 
virtuous, and polite she is in every thing 
she says and does to him; with how much 
love she serves and obeys him; how dif- 
ferent to my wife! She, on the con- 
trary, 1s my most mortal enemy. 
Qne day, when the brothers were talk- 
ing together, Silverio said to Pisardo, Bro- 
ther, 1 have no occasion to mention our 
fraternal affection, or any other pream- 
ble; I shall therefore only intreat you as 
a brother, to tell me, how you have ma- 
naged to bring your wife into such good 
order. She is truly a samt; she obeys 
you in every thing; while Espinela, my 
wife, is not to be restrained either by love 
or fear. She answers me, flies at me, 
curses me; in aword, she has her own will 
in every thing. 
Pisardo, smiling, gave his brother a de- 
tail of all his proceedings the day that 
he brought Florella home. This plan 
pleased Silverioso much, that he resolved 
1 imamediately- 
[Mayl, 
