Enter Biondello, Lucentio ⌜as himself,⌝ and Bianca.
Gremio is out before ⌜and stands to the side.⌝BIONDELLO Softly and swiftly, sir, for the priest is ready.LUCENTIO I fly, Biondello. But they may chance to need thee at home. Therefore leave us.⌜Lucentio exits with Bianca.⌝BIONDELLO 5Nay, faith, I’ll see the church a’ your back, and then come back to my ⌜master’s⌝ as soon as I can.⌜He exits.⌝GREMIO I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.Enter Petruchio, Katherine, Vincentio, Grumio, with
Attendants.PETRUCHIO Sir, here’s the door. This is Lucentio’s house.10 My father’s bears more toward the marketplace. Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir.VINCENTIO You shall not choose but drink before you go. I think I shall command your welcome here, And by all likelihood some cheer is toward.⌜He⌝ knocks.
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GREMIO, ⌜coming forward⌝ 15 They’re busy within. You were best knock louder.⌜Merchant⌝ looks out of the window.⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ What’s he that knocks as he would beat down the gate?VINCENTIO Is Signior Lucentio within, sir?⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ He’s within, sir, but not to20 be spoken withal.VINCENTIO What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two to make merry withal?⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ Keep your hundred pounds to yourself. He shall need none so long as I25 live.PETRUCHIO, ⌜to Vincentio⌝ Nay, I told you your son was well beloved in Padua.—Do you hear, sir? To leave frivolous circumstances, I pray you tell Signior Lucentio that his father is come from Pisa and is30 here at the door to speak with him.⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ Thou liest. His father is come from Padua and here looking out at the window.VINCENTIO Art thou his father?⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 35Ay, sir, so his mother says, if I may believe her.PETRUCHIO, ⌜to Vincentio⌝ Why, how now, gentleman! Why, this is flat knavery, to take upon you another man’s name.⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 40Lay hands on the villain. I believe he means to cosen somebody in this city under my countenance.Enter Biondello.BIONDELLO, ⌜aside⌝ I have seen them in the church together. God send ’em good shipping! But who is45 here? Mine old master Vincentio! Now we are undone and brought to nothing.
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VINCENTIO, ⌜to Biondello⌝ Come hither, crack-hemp.BIONDELLO I hope I may choose, sir.VINCENTIO Come hither, you rogue! What, have you50 forgot me?BIONDELLO Forgot you? No, sir. I could not forget you, for I never saw you before in all my life.VINCENTIO What, you notorious villain, didst thou never see thy ⌜master’s⌝ father, Vincentio?BIONDELLO 55What, my old worshipful old master? Yes, marry, sir. See where he looks out of the window.VINCENTIO Is ’t so indeed?He beats Biondello.BIONDELLO Help, help, help! Here’s a madman will murder me.⌜Biondello exits.⌝⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 60Help, son! Help, Signior Baptista!⌜He exits from window.⌝PETRUCHIO Prithee, Kate, let’s stand aside and see the end of this controversy.⌜They move aside.⌝Enter ⌜Merchant⌝ with Servants, ⌜and⌝ Baptista ⌜and⌝
Tranio ⌜disguised as Lucentio.⌝TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ Sir, what are you that offer to65 beat my servant?VINCENTIO What am I, sir? Nay, what are you, sir! O immortal gods! O fine villain! A silken doublet, a velvet hose, a scarlet cloak, and a copatain hat! O, I am undone, I am undone! While I play the good70 husband at home, my son and my servant spend all at the university.TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ How now, what’s the matter?BAPTISTA What, is the man lunatic?TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ Sir, you seem a sober ancient75 gentleman by your habit, but your words show you a madman. Why, sir, what ’cerns it you if I wear pearl and gold? I thank my good father, I am able to maintain it.
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VINCENTIO Thy father! O villain, he is a sailmaker in80 Bergamo.BAPTISTA You mistake, sir, you mistake, sir! Pray, what do you think is his name?VINCENTIO His name? As if I knew not his name! I have brought him up ever since he was three years old,85 and his name is Tranio.⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ Away, away, mad ass! His name is Lucentio and he is mine only son, and heir to the lands of me, Signior Vincentio.VINCENTIO Lucentio? O, he hath murdered his master!90 Lay hold on him, I charge you in the Duke’s name. O, my son, my son! Tell me, thou villain, where is my son Lucentio?TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ Call forth an officer.⌜Enter an Officer.⌝ Carry this mad knave to the jail.—Father Baptista, I95 charge you see that he be forthcoming.VINCENTIO Carry me to the jail?GREMIO Stay, officer. He shall not go to prison.BAPTISTA Talk not, Signior Gremio. I say he shall go to prison.GREMIO 100Take heed, Signior Baptista, lest you be cony-catched in this business. I dare swear this is the right Vincentio.⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ Swear, if thou dar’st.GREMIO Nay, I dare not swear it.TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 105Then thou wert best say that I am not Lucentio.GREMIO Yes, I know thee to be Signior Lucentio.BAPTISTA Away with the dotard, to the jail with him.VINCENTIO Thus strangers may be haled and abused.—110 O monstrous villain!Enter Biondello, Lucentio and Bianca.
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BIONDELLO O, we are spoiled, and yonder he is! Deny him, forswear him, or else we are all undone.Biondello, Tranio, and ⌜Merchant⌝
exit as fast as may be.LUCENTIO Pardon, sweet father.⌜Lucentio and Bianca⌝ kneel.VINCENTIO Lives my sweet son?BIANCA 115 Pardon, dear father.BAPTISTA How hast thou offended? Where is Lucentio?LUCENTIO Here’s Lucentio, Right son to the right Vincentio,120 That have by marriage made thy daughter mine While counterfeit supposes bleared thine eyne.GREMIO Here’s packing, with a witness, to deceive us all!VINCENTIO Where is that damnèd villain, Tranio, That faced and braved me in this matter so?BAPTISTA 125 Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?BIANCA Cambio is changed into Lucentio.LUCENTIO Love wrought these miracles. Bianca’s love Made me exchange my state with Tranio, While he did bear my countenance in the town,130 And happily I have arrivèd at the last Unto the wishèd haven of my bliss. What Tranio did, myself enforced him to. Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.VINCENTIO I’ll slit the villain’s nose that would have135 sent me to the jail!BAPTISTA But do you hear, sir, have you married my daughter without asking my goodwill?
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VINCENTIO Fear not, Baptista, we will content you. Go to! But I will in to be revenged for this villainy.He exits.BAPTISTA 140And I to sound the depth of this knavery.He exits.LUCENTIO Look not pale, Bianca. Thy father will not frown.They exit.GREMIO My cake is dough, but I’ll in among the rest, Out of hope of all but my share of the feast.⌜He exits.⌝KATHERINE 145Husband, let’s follow to see the end of this ado.PETRUCHIO First kiss me, Kate, and we will.KATHERINE What, in the midst of the street?PETRUCHIO What, art thou ashamed of me?KATHERINE 150⌜No,⌝ sir, God forbid, but ashamed to kiss.PETRUCHIO Why, then, let’s home again. ⌜To Grumio.⌝ Come, sirrah, let’s away.KATHERINE Nay, I will give thee a kiss.⌜She kisses him.⌝ Now pray thee, love, stay.PETRUCHIO 155 Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate. Better once than never, for never too late.They exit.
The Taming of the Shrew
