List iconThe Taming of the Shrew:
Act 4, scene 4List icon

The Taming of the Shrew
Act 4, scene 4

Synopsis:

Contents

Characters in the Play

Entire Play

The Taming of the Shrew begins with an “induction” in which a nobleman plays a trick on a beggar, Christopher Sly,…

Induction, scene 1

Christopher Sly, a drunken beggar, is driven out of an alehouse by its hostess. A great lord, returning from the…

Induction, scene 2

The newly awakened Sly is offered delicacies and fine clothes. When he demands his usual ale and beef, the lord…

Act 1, scene 1

Lucentio has come with his servant Tranio to Padua to study philosophy. They witness an encounter between Baptista and his…

Act 1, scene 2

Petruchio, with his servant Grumio, has just arrived in Padua. His friend Hortensio suggests that Petruchio woo Katherine. Petruchio enthusiastically…

Act 2, scene 1

Baptista stops Katherine from abusing Bianca and receives a visit from Petruchio, who presents Hortensio (disguised as Litio, a music…

Act 3, scene 1

Under cover of their disguises as schoolmasters, first Lucentio (as Cambio) and then Hortensio (as Litio) try for Bianca’s love….

Act 3, scene 2

Petruchio is late arriving for his wedding, to Katherine’s great embarrassment. When he finally presents himself, he is dressed in…

Act 4, scene 1

At Petruchio’s house in the country, Grumio tells his fellow servant Curtis about the wild journey home to Petruchio’s after…

Act 4, scene 2

In Padua, Hortensio (as Litio) leads Tranio (as Lucentio) to spy on Bianca and Lucentio-Cambio as the couple kiss and…

Act 4, scene 3

At Petruchio’s home, Grumio torments Katherine by promising her food that he fails to bring. Petruchio then serves Katherine himself,…

Act 4, scene 4

In Padua, the Merchant impersonating Vincentio visits Baptista with Tranio, who is still disguised as Lucentio. Baptista accepts the Merchant’s…

Act 4, scene 5

Katherine now gives assent to every word Petruchio says. On their way to her father’s, they meet the true Vincentio,…

Act 5, scene 1

After Bianca has secretly married Lucentio, Petruchio, Katherine, and Lucentio’s father arrive at Lucentio’s lodging. They are rebuffed by the…

Act 5, scene 2

Three couples attend the wedding banquet—Lucentio and Bianca, Petruchio and Katherine, and Hortensio and the Widow. Petruchio is repeatedly teased…
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⌜Scene 4⌝
Enter Tranio ⌜as Lucentio,⌝ and the ⌜Merchant,⌝ booted,
and dressed like Vincentio.

TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 
 ⌜Sir,⌝ this is the house. Please it you that I call?
⌜MERCHANT⌝ 
 Ay, what else? And but I be deceived,
 Signior Baptista may remember me,
 Near twenty years ago, in Genoa,
5 Where we were lodgers at the Pegasus.
179
The Taming of the Shrew
ACT 4. SC. 4

TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 
 ’Tis well. And hold your own in any case
 With such austerity as ’longeth to a father.
⌜MERCHANT⌝ 
 I warrant you.

Enter Biondello.

 But, sir, here comes your boy.
10 ’Twere good he were schooled.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 
 Fear you not him.—Sirrah Biondello,
 Now do your duty throughly, I advise you.
 Imagine ’twere the right Vincentio.
BIONDELLO Tut, fear not me.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 
15 But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista?
BIONDELLO 
 I told him that your father was at Venice,
 And that you looked for him this day in Padua.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 
 Thou ’rt a tall fellow. Hold thee that to drink.
⌜He gives him money.⌝

Enter Baptista and Lucentio ⌜as Cambio.⌝

 Here comes Baptista. Set your countenance, sir.
⌜Merchant stands⌝ bareheaded.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 
20 Signior Baptista, you are happily met.—
 Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of.
 I pray you stand good father to me now.
 Give me Bianca for my patrimony.
⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ Soft, son.—
25 Sir, by your leave, having come to Padua
 To gather in some debts, my son Lucentio
 Made me acquainted with a weighty cause
 Of love between your daughter and himself.
181
The Taming of the Shrew
ACT 4. SC. 4

 And, for the good report I hear of you,
30 And for the love he beareth to your daughter
 And she to him, to stay him not too long,
 I am content, in a good father’s care,
 To have him matched. And if you please to like
 No worse than I, upon some agreement
35 Me shall you find ready and willing
 With one consent to have her so bestowed,
 For curious I cannot be with you,
 Signior Baptista, of whom I hear so well.
BAPTISTA 
 Sir, pardon me in what I have to say.
40 Your plainness and your shortness please me well.
 Right true it is your son Lucentio here
 Doth love my daughter, and she loveth him,
 Or both dissemble deeply their affections.
 And therefore, if you say no more than this,
45 That like a father you will deal with him
 And pass my daughter a sufficient dower,
 The match is made, and all is done.
 Your son shall have my daughter with consent.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 
 I thank you, sir. Where then do you know best
50 We be affied and such assurance ta’en
 As shall with either part’s agreement stand?
BAPTISTA 
 Not in my house, Lucentio, for you know
 Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants.
 Besides, old Gremio is heark’ning still,
55 And happily we might be interrupted.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 
 Then at my lodging, an it like you.
 There doth my father lie, and there this night
 We’ll pass the business privately and well.
 Send for your daughter by your servant here.
⌜He indicates Lucentio, and winks at him.⌝
183
The Taming of the Shrew
ACT 4. SC. 4

60 My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently.
 The worst is this: that at so slender warning
 You are like to have a thin and slender pittance.
BAPTISTA 
 It likes me well.—Cambio, hie you home,
 And bid Bianca make her ready straight.
65 And, if you will, tell what hath happenèd:
 Lucentio’s father is arrived in Padua,
 And how she’s like to be Lucentio’s wife.
⌜Lucentio exits.⌝
BIONDELLO 
 I pray the gods she may, with all my heart.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 
 Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.—
70 Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way?
 Welcome! One mess is like to be your cheer.
 Come, sir, we will better it in Pisa.
BAPTISTA I follow you.
⌜All but Biondello⌝ exit.

Enter Lucentio.

BIONDELLO Cambio.
LUCENTIO 75What sayst thou, Biondello?
BIONDELLO You saw my master wink and laugh upon
 you?
LUCENTIO Biondello, what of that?
BIONDELLO Faith, nothing; but ’has left me here behind
80 to expound the meaning or moral of his signs
 and tokens.
LUCENTIO I pray thee, moralize them.
BIONDELLO Then thus: Baptista is safe, talking with
 the deceiving father of a deceitful son.
LUCENTIO 85And what of him?
BIONDELLO His daughter is to be brought by you to the
 supper.
185
The Taming of the Shrew
ACT 4. SC. 5

LUCENTIO And then?
BIONDELLO The old priest at Saint Luke’s Church is at
90 your command at all hours.
LUCENTIO And what of all this?
BIONDELLO I cannot tell, ⌜except⌝ they are busied
 about a counterfeit assurance. Take you assurance
 of her cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum. To th’
95 church take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient
 honest witnesses.
 If this be not that you look for, I have no more to
 say,
 But bid Bianca farewell forever and a day.
LUCENTIO 100Hear’st thou, Biondello?
BIONDELLO I cannot tarry. I knew a wench married in
 an afternoon as she went to the garden for parsley
 to stuff a rabbit, and so may you, sir. And so adieu,
 sir. My master hath appointed me to go to Saint
105 Luke’s to bid the priest be ready to come against
 you come with your appendix.He exits.
LUCENTIO 
 I may, and will, if she be so contented.
 She will be pleased. Then wherefore should I
 doubt?
110 Hap what hap may, I’ll roundly go about her.
 It shall go hard if “Cambio” go without her.
He exits.


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