The Taming Of The Shrew

1 Enter on one side Biondello, Lucentio and Bianca; Gremio walking on
2 other side.
3 BIONDELLO.
4 Softly and swiftly, sir, for the priest is ready.
5 LUCENTIO.
6 I fly, Biondello; but they may chance to need thee at home, therefore
7 leave us.
8 BIONDELLO.
9 Nay, faith, I’ll see the church o’ your back; and then come back to my
10 master’s as soon as I can.
11 [_Exeunt Lucentio, Bianca and Biondello._]
12 GREMIO.
13 I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.
14 Enter Petruchio, Katherina, Vincentio and Attendants.
15 PETRUCHIO.
16 Sir, here’s the door; this is Lucentio’s house:
17 My father’s bears more toward the market-place;
18 Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir.
19 VINCENTIO.
20 You shall not choose but drink before you go.
21 I think I shall command your welcome here,
22 And by all likelihood some cheer is toward.
23 [_Knocks._]
24 GREMIO.
25 They’re busy within; you were best knock louder.
26 Enter Pedant above, at a window.
27 PEDANT.
28 What’s he that knocks as he would beat down the gate?
29 VINCENTIO.
30 Is Signior Lucentio within, sir?
31 PEDANT.
32 He’s within, sir, but not to be spoken withal.
33 VINCENTIO.
34 What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two to make merry withal?
35 PEDANT.
36 Keep your hundred pounds to yourself: he shall need none so long as I
37 live.
38 PETRUCHIO.
39 Nay, I told you your son was well beloved in Padua. Do you hear, sir?
40 To leave frivolous circumstances, I pray you tell Signior Lucentio that
41 his father is come from Pisa, and is here at the door to speak with
42 him.
43 PEDANT.
44 Thou liest: his father is come from Padua, and here looking out at the
45 window.
46 VINCENTIO.
47 Art thou his father?
48 PEDANT.
49 Ay, sir; so his mother says, if I may believe her.
50 PETRUCHIO.
51 [_To Vincentio_] Why, how now, gentleman! why, this is flat knavery to
52 take upon you another man’s name.
53 PEDANT.
54 Lay hands on the villain: I believe a means to cozen somebody in this
55 city under my countenance.
56 Re-enter Biondello.
57 BIONDELLO.
58 I have seen them in the church together: God send ’em good shipping!
59 But who is here? Mine old master, Vincentio! Now we are undone and
60 brought to nothing.
61 VINCENTIO.
62 [_Seeing Biondello._] Come hither, crack-hemp.
63 BIONDELLO.
64 I hope I may choose, sir.
65 VINCENTIO.
66 Come hither, you rogue. What, have you forgot me?
67 BIONDELLO.
68 Forgot you! No, sir: I could not forget you, for I never saw you before
69 in all my life.
70 VINCENTIO.
71 What, you notorious villain! didst thou never see thy master’s father,
72 Vincentio?
73 BIONDELLO.
74 What, my old worshipful old master? Yes, marry, sir; see where he looks
75 out of the window.
76 VINCENTIO.
77 Is’t so, indeed?
78 [_He beats Biondello._]
79 BIONDELLO.
80 Help, help, help! here’s a madman will murder me.
81 [_Exit._]
82 PEDANT.
83 Help, son! help, Signior Baptista!
84 [_Exit from the window._]
85 PETRUCHIO.
86 Prithee, Kate, let’s stand aside and see the end of this controversy.
87 [_They retire._]
88 Re-enter Pedant, below; Baptista, Tranio and Servants.
89 TRANIO.
90 Sir, what are you that offer to beat my servant?
91 VINCENTIO.
92 What am I, sir! nay, what are you, sir? O immortal gods! O fine
93 villain! A silken doublet, a velvet hose, a scarlet cloak, and a
94 copatain hat! O, I am undone! I am undone! While I play the good
95 husband at home, my son and my servant spend all at the university.
96 TRANIO.
97 How now! what’s the matter?
98 BAPTISTA.
99 What, is the man lunatic?
100 TRANIO.
101 Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by your habit, but your words
102 show you a madman. Why, sir, what ’cerns it you if I wear pearl and
103 gold? I thank my good father, I am able to maintain it.
104 VINCENTIO.
105 Thy father! O villain! he is a sailmaker in Bergamo.
106 BAPTISTA.
107 You mistake, sir; you mistake, sir. Pray, what do you think is his
108 name?
109 VINCENTIO.
110 His name! As if I knew not his name! I have brought him up ever since
111 he was three years old, and his name is Tranio.
112 PEDANT.
113 Away, away, mad ass! His name is Lucentio; and he is mine only son, and
114 heir to the lands of me, Signior Vincentio.
115 VINCENTIO.
116 Lucentio! O, he hath murdered his master! Lay hold on him, I charge
117 you, in the Duke’s name. O, my son, my son! Tell me, thou villain,
118 where is my son, Lucentio?
119 TRANIO.
120 Call forth an officer.
121 Enter one with an Officer.
122 Carry this mad knave to the gaol. Father Baptista, I charge you see
123 that he be forthcoming.
124 VINCENTIO.
125 Carry me to the gaol!
126 GREMIO.
127 Stay, officer; he shall not go to prison.
128 BAPTISTA.
129 Talk not, Signior Gremio; I say he shall go to prison.
130 GREMIO.
131 Take heed, Signior Baptista, lest you be cony-catched in this business;
132 I dare swear this is the right Vincentio.
133 PEDANT.
134 Swear if thou darest.
135 GREMIO.
136 Nay, I dare not swear it.
137 TRANIO.
138 Then thou wert best say that I am not Lucentio.
139 GREMIO.
140 Yes, I know thee to be Signior Lucentio.
141 BAPTISTA.
142 Away with the dotard! to the gaol with him!
143 VINCENTIO.
144 Thus strangers may be haled and abus’d: O monstrous villain!
145 Re-enter Biondello, with Lucentio and Bianca.
146 BIONDELLO.
147 O! we are spoiled; and yonder he is: deny him, forswear him, or else we
148 are all undone.
149 LUCENTIO.
150 [_Kneeling._] Pardon, sweet father.
151 VINCENTIO.
152 Lives my sweetest son?
153 [_Biondello, Tranio and Pedant run out._]
154 BIANCA.
155 [_Kneeling._] Pardon, dear father.
156 BAPTISTA.
157 How hast thou offended?
158 Where is Lucentio?
159 LUCENTIO.
160 Here’s Lucentio,
161 Right son to the right Vincentio;
162 That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,
163 While counterfeit supposes blear’d thine eyne.
164 GREMIO.
165 Here ’s packing, with a witness, to deceive us all!
166 VINCENTIO.
167 Where is that damned villain, Tranio,
168 That fac’d and brav’d me in this matter so?
169 BAPTISTA.
170 Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?
171 BIANCA.
172 Cambio is chang’d into Lucentio.
173 LUCENTIO.
174 Love wrought these miracles. Bianca’s love
175 Made me exchange my state with Tranio,
176 While he did bear my countenance in the town;
177 And happily I have arriv’d at the last
178 Unto the wished haven of my bliss.
179 What Tranio did, myself enforc’d him to;
180 Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.
181 VINCENTIO.
182 I’ll slit the villain’s nose that would have sent me to the gaol.
183 BAPTISTA.
184 [_To Lucentio._] But do you hear, sir? Have you married my daughter
185 without asking my good will?
186 VINCENTIO.
187 Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: but I will in, to be
188 revenged for this villainy.
189 [_Exit._]
190 BAPTISTA.
191 And I to sound the depth of this knavery.
192 [_Exit._]
193 LUCENTIO.
194 Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not frown.
195 [_Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca._]
196 GREMIO.
197 My cake is dough, but I’ll in among the rest;
198 Out of hope of all but my share of the feast.
199 [_Exit._]
200 Petruchio and Katherina advance.
201 KATHERINA.
202 Husband, let’s follow to see the end of this ado.
203 PETRUCHIO.
204 First kiss me, Kate, and we will.
205 KATHERINA.
206 What! in the midst of the street?
207 PETRUCHIO.
208 What! art thou ashamed of me?
209 KATHERINA.
210 No, sir; God forbid; but ashamed to kiss.
211 PETRUCHIO.
212 Why, then, let’s home again. Come, sirrah, let’s away.
213 KATHERINA.
214 Nay, I will give thee a kiss: now pray thee, love, stay.
215 PETRUCHIO.
216 Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate:
217 Better once than never, for never too late.
218 [_Exeunt._]