The Taming Of The Shrew

1 Enter Tranio and Hortensio.
2 TRANIO.
3 Is ’t possible, friend Licio, that Mistress Bianca
4 Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?
5 I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand.
6 HORTENSIO.
7 Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
8 Stand by and mark the manner of his teaching.
9 [_They stand aside._]
10 Enter Bianca and Lucentio.
11 LUCENTIO.
12 Now, mistress, profit you in what you read?
13 BIANCA.
14 What, master, read you? First resolve me that.
15 LUCENTIO.
16 I read that I profess, _The Art to Love_.
17 BIANCA.
18 And may you prove, sir, master of your art!
19 LUCENTIO.
20 While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart.
21 [_They retire._]
22 HORTENSIO.
23 Quick proceeders, marry! Now tell me, I pray,
24 You that durst swear that your Mistress Bianca
25 Lov’d none in the world so well as Lucentio.
26 TRANIO.
27 O despiteful love! unconstant womankind!
28 I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful.
29 HORTENSIO.
30 Mistake no more; I am not Licio.
31 Nor a musician as I seem to be;
32 But one that scorn to live in this disguise
33 For such a one as leaves a gentleman
34 And makes a god of such a cullion:
35 Know, sir, that I am call’d Hortensio.
36 TRANIO.
37 Signior Hortensio, I have often heard
38 Of your entire affection to Bianca;
39 And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
40 I will with you, if you be so contented,
41 Forswear Bianca and her love for ever.
42 HORTENSIO.
43 See, how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,
44 Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow
45 Never to woo her more, but do forswear her,
46 As one unworthy all the former favours
47 That I have fondly flatter’d her withal.
48 TRANIO.
49 And here I take the like unfeigned oath,
50 Never to marry with her though she would entreat;
51 Fie on her! See how beastly she doth court him!
52 HORTENSIO.
53 Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!
54 For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,
55 I will be married to a wealthy widow
56 Ere three days pass, which hath as long lov’d me
57 As I have lov’d this proud disdainful haggard.
58 And so farewell, Signior Lucentio.
59 Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
60 Shall win my love; and so I take my leave,
61 In resolution as I swore before.
62 [_Exit Hortensio. Lucentio and Bianca advance._]
63 TRANIO.
64 Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace
65 As ’longeth to a lover’s blessed case!
66 Nay, I have ta’en you napping, gentle love,
67 And have forsworn you with Hortensio.
68 BIANCA.
69 Tranio, you jest; but have you both forsworn me?
70 TRANIO.
71 Mistress, we have.
72 LUCENTIO.
73 Then we are rid of Licio.
74 TRANIO.
75 I’ faith, he’ll have a lusty widow now,
76 That shall be woo’d and wedded in a day.
77 BIANCA.
78 God give him joy!
79 TRANIO.
80 Ay, and he’ll tame her.
81 BIANCA.
82 He says so, Tranio.
83 TRANIO.
84 Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school.
85 BIANCA.
86 The taming-school! What, is there such a place?
87 TRANIO.
88 Ay, mistress; and Petruchio is the master,
89 That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long,
90 To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.
91 Enter Biondello, running.
92 BIONDELLO.
93 O master, master! I have watch’d so long
94 That I am dog-weary; but at last I spied
95 An ancient angel coming down the hill
96 Will serve the turn.
97 TRANIO.
98 What is he, Biondello?
99 BIONDELLO.
100 Master, a mercatante or a pedant,
101 I know not what; but formal in apparel,
102 In gait and countenance surely like a father.
103 LUCENTIO.
104 And what of him, Tranio?
105 TRANIO.
106 If he be credulous and trust my tale,
107 I’ll make him glad to seem Vincentio,
108 And give assurance to Baptista Minola,
109 As if he were the right Vincentio.
110 Take in your love, and then let me alone.
111 [_Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca._]
112 Enter a Pedant.
113 PEDANT.
114 God save you, sir!
115 TRANIO.
116 And you, sir! you are welcome.
117 Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?
118 PEDANT.
119 Sir, at the farthest for a week or two;
120 But then up farther, and as far as Rome;
121 And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.
122 TRANIO.
123 What countryman, I pray?
124 PEDANT.
125 Of Mantua.
126 TRANIO.
127 Of Mantua, sir? Marry, God forbid,
128 And come to Padua, careless of your life!
129 PEDANT.
130 My life, sir! How, I pray? for that goes hard.
131 TRANIO.
132 ’Tis death for anyone in Mantua
133 To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?
134 Your ships are stay’d at Venice; and the Duke,—
135 For private quarrel ’twixt your Duke and him,—
136 Hath publish’d and proclaim’d it openly.
137 ’Tis marvel, but that you are but newly come
138 You might have heard it else proclaim’d about.
139 PEDANT.
140 Alas, sir! it is worse for me than so;
141 For I have bills for money by exchange
142 From Florence, and must here deliver them.
143 TRANIO.
144 Well, sir, to do you courtesy,
145 This will I do, and this I will advise you:
146 First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa?
147 PEDANT.
148 Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,
149 Pisa renowned for grave citizens.
150 TRANIO.
151 Among them know you one Vincentio?
152 PEDANT.
153 I know him not, but I have heard of him,
154 A merchant of incomparable wealth.
155 TRANIO.
156 He is my father, sir; and, sooth to say,
157 In countenance somewhat doth resemble you.
158 BIONDELLO.
159 [_Aside._] As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one.
160 TRANIO.
161 To save your life in this extremity,
162 This favour will I do you for his sake;
163 And think it not the worst of all your fortunes
164 That you are like to Sir Vincentio.
165 His name and credit shall you undertake,
166 And in my house you shall be friendly lodg’d;
167 Look that you take upon you as you should!
168 You understand me, sir; so shall you stay
169 Till you have done your business in the city.
170 If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it.
171 PEDANT.
172 O, sir, I do; and will repute you ever
173 The patron of my life and liberty.
174 TRANIO.
175 Then go with me to make the matter good.
176 This, by the way, I let you understand:
177 My father is here look’d for every day
178 To pass assurance of a dower in marriage
179 ’Twixt me and one Baptista’s daughter here:
180 In all these circumstances I’ll instruct you.
181 Go with me to clothe you as becomes you.
182 [_Exeunt._]