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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 4Scene 5
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“Thus the bowl should run, and not unluckily against the bias.”
Metaphor
Act 4,
Scene 5
Lines 17-25

An explanation of “against the bias” in Act 4, Scene 5 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Petruchio

Nay, then you lie. It is the blessèd sun.

Katherina

Then, God be blessed, it is the blessèd sun,
But sun it is not when you say it is not,
And the moon changes even as your mind.    
What you will have it named, even that it is,    
And so it shall be so for Katherine.

Hortensio

Petruchio, go thy ways, the field is won.    

Petruchio

Well, forward, forward! Thus the bowl should run,    
And not unluckily against the bias.

Petruchio is saying that things with Katherina are turning out just as he expected. The metaphor is from the game of lawn bowling where the expected curve of the ball is called the bias.