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