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Padua. Before BAPTISTA’S House. | |
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Enter TRANIO and HORTENSIO. | |
| Tra. Is ’t possible, friend Licio, that Mistress Bianca | |
| Doth fancy any other but Lucentio? | |
| I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand. | 5 |
| Hor. Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said, | |
| Stand by, and mark the manner of his teaching. [They stand aside. | |
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Enter BIANCA and LUCENTIO. | |
| Luc. Now, mistress, profit you in what you read? | |
| Bian. What, master, read you? first resolve me that. | 10 |
| Luc. I read that I profess, the Art to Love. | |
| Bian. And may you prove, sir, master of your art! | |
| Luc. While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart. [They retire. | |
| Hor. Quick proceeders, marry! Now, tell me, I pray, | |
| You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca | 15 |
| Lov’d none in the world so well as Lucentio. | |
| Tra. O despiteful love! unconstant womankind! | |
| I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful. | |
| Hor. Mistake no more: I am not Licio, | |
| Nor a musician, as I seem to be; | 20 |
| But one that scorns to live in this disguise, | |
| For such a one as leaves a gentleman, | |
| And makes a god of such a cullion: | |
| Know, sir, that I am call’d Hortensio. | |
| Tra. Signior Hortensio, I have often heard | 25 |
| Of your entire affection to Bianca; | |
| And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness, | |
| I will with you, if you be so contented, | |
| Forswear Bianca and her love for ever. | |
| Hor. See, how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio, | 30 |
| Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow | |
| Never to woo her more; but I do forswear her, | |
| As one unworthy all the former favours | |
| That I have fondly flatter’d her withal. | |
| Tra. And here I take the like unfeigned oath, | 35 |
| Never to marry with her though she would entreat. | |
| Fie on her! see how beastly she doth court him. | |
| Hor. Would all the world, but he had quite forsworn! | |
| For me, that I may surely keep mine oath, | |
| I will be married to a wealthy widow | 40 |
| Ere three days pass, which hath as long lov’d me | |
| As I have lov’d this proud disdainful haggard. | |
| And so farewell, Signior Lucentio. | |
| Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks, | |
| Shall win my love: and so I take my leave, | 45 |
| In resolution as I swore before. [Exit HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and BIANCA advance. | |
| Tra. Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace | |
| As ’longeth to a lover’s blessed case! | |
| Nay, I have ta’en you napping, gentle love, | |
| And have forsworn you with Hortensio. | 50 |
| Bian. Tranio, you jest. But have you both forsworn me? | |
| Tra. Mistress, we have. | |
| Luc. Then we are rid of Licio. | |
| Tra. I’ faith, he’ll have a lusty widow now, | |
| That shall be woo’d and wedded in a day. | 55 |
| Bian. God give him joy! | |
| Tra. Ay, and he’ll tame her. | |
| Bian. He says so, Tranio. | |
| Tra. Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school. | |
| Bian. The taming-school! what, is there such a place? | 60 |
| Tra. Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master; | |
| That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long, | |
| To tame a shrew, and charm her chattering tongue. | |
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Enter BIONDELLO, running. | |
| Bion. O master, master! I have watch’d so long | 65 |
| That I’m dog-weary; but at last I spied | |
| An ancient angel coming down the hill | |
| Will serve the turn. | |
| Tra. What is he, Biondello? | |
| Bion. Master, a mercatante, or a pedant, | 70 |
| I know not what; but formal in apparel, | |
| In gait and countenance surely like a father. | |
| Luc. And what of him. Tranio? | |
| Tra. If he be credulous and trust my tale, | |
| I’ll make him glad to seem Vincentio, | 75 |
| And give assurance to Baptista Minola, | |
| As if he were the right Vincentio. | |
| Take in your love, and then let me alone. [Exeunt LUCENTIO and BIANCA. | |
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Enter a Pedant. | |
| Ped. God save you, sir! | 80 |
| Tra. And you, sir! you are welcome. | |
| Travel you far on, or are you at the furthest? | |
| Ped. Sir, at the furthest for a week or two; | |
| But then up further, and as far as Rome; | |
| And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life. | 85 |
| Tra. What countryman, I pray? | |
| Ped. Of Mantua. | |
| Tra. Of Mantua, sir! marry, God forbid! | |
| And come to Padua, careless of your life? | |
| Ped. My life, sir! how, I pray? for that goes hard. | 90 |
| Tra. ’Tis death for any one in Mantua | |
| To come to Padua. Know you not the cause? | |
| Your ships are stay’d at Venice; and the duke,— | |
| For private quarrel ’twixt your duke and him,— | |
| Hath publish’d and proclaim’d it openly. | 95 |
| ’Tis marvel, but that you are but newly come, | |
| You might have heard it else proclaim’d about. | |
| Ped. Alas, sir! it is worse for me than so; | |
| For I have bills for money by exchange | |
| From Florence, and must here deliver them. | 100 |
| Tra. Well, sir, to do you courtesy, | |
| This will I do, and this I will advise you: | |
| First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa? | |
| Ped. Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been; | |
| Pisa, renowned for grave citizens. | 105 |
| Tra. Among them, know you one Vincentio? | |
| Ped. I know him not, but I have heard of him; | |
| A merchant of incomparable wealth. | |
| Tra. He is my father, sir; and, sooth to say, | |
| In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. | 110 |
| Bion. [Aside.] As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one. | |
| Tra. To save your life in this extremity, | |
| This favour will I do you for his sake; | |
| And think it not the worst of all your fortunes | |
| That you are like to Sir Vincentio. | 115 |
| His name and credit shall you undertake, | |
| And in my house you shall be friendly lodg’d, | |
| Look that you take upon you as you should! | |
| You understand me, sir; so shall you stay | |
| Till you have done your business in the city. | 120 |
| If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it. | |
| Ped. O sir, I do; and will repute you ever | |
| The patron of my life and liberty. | |
| Tra. Then go with me to make the matter good. | |
| This, by the way, I let you understand: | 125 |
| My father is here look’d for every day, | |
| To pass assurance of a dower in marriage | |
| ’Twixt me and one Baptista’s daughter here: | |
| In all these circumstances I’ll instruct you. | |
| Go with me to clothe you as becomes you. [Exeunt. | 130 |
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