The Taming of the Shrew Read online

  Enter Lucentio [disguised as Cambio] and Biondello

  BIONDELLO Cambio!

  LUCENTIO What say'st thou, Biondello?

  BIONDELLO You saw my master wink and laugh upon you?

  LUCENTIO Biondello, what of that?

  BIONDELLO Faith, nothing. But has77 left me here behind to

  expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens78.

  LUCENTIO I pray thee moralize79 them.

  BIONDELLO Then thus: Baptista is safe, talking with the

  deceiving father of a deceitful son.

  LUCENTIO And what of him?

  BIONDELLO His daughter is to be brought by you to the supper.

  LUCENTIO And then?

  BIONDELLO The old priest at Saint Luke's church is at your

  command86 at all hours.

  LUCENTIO And what of all this?

  BIONDELLO I cannot tell, except they are busied about a

  counterfeit assurance89. Take you assurance of her, cum

  privilegio ad imprimendum solum. To th'church, take the

  priest, clerk and some sufficient91 honest witnesses. If this be

  not that you look for92, I have no more to say, but bid Bianca

  farewell forever and a day.

  LUCENTIO Hear'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 Luke's to bid the priest be

  ready to come against you come99 with your appendix.

  Exit

  LUCENTIO I may, and will, if she be so contented.

  She will be pleased, then wherefore should I doubt?

  Hap102 what hap may, I'll roundly go about her.

  It shall go hard103 if Cambio go without her.

  Exit

  [Act 4 Scene 3]

  running scene 9

  Location: on the road

  Enter Petruchio, Kate, Hortensio [and Servants]

  PETRUCHIO Come on, a God's name, once more toward our father's.

  Good Lord, how bright and goodly2 shines the moon!

  KATE The moon? The sun: it is not moonlight now.

  PETRUCHIO I say it is the moon that shines so bright.

  KATE I know it is the sun that shines so bright.

  PETRUCHIO Now, by my mother's son, and that's myself,

  It shall be moon, or star, or what I list7,

  Or ere8 I journey to your father's house.--

  Go on, and fetch our horses back again.--

  To the Servants

  Evermore crossed and crossed, nothing but crossed!

  HORTENSIO Say as he says, or we shall never go.

  To Kate

  KATE Forward, I pray, since we have come so far,

  And be it moon, or sun, or what you please.

  An if you please to call it a rush-candle14,

  Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.

  PETRUCHIO I say it is the moon.

  KATE I know it is the moon.

  PETRUCHIO Nay, then you lie. It is the blessed sun.

  KATE Then, God be blessed, it is the blessed sun.

  But sun it is not, when you say it is not,

  And the moon changes even as your mind.

  What you will have it named, even that it is,

  And so it shall be so for Katherine.

  HORTENSIO Petruchio, go thy ways24, the field is won.

  Aside

  PETRUCHIO Well, forward, forward! Thus the bowl should run25,

  And not unluckily against the bias26.

  But, soft, company is coming here.

  Enter Vincentio

  Good morrow, gentle mistress. Where away?28

  To Vincentio

  Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too,

  To Kate

  Hast thou beheld a fresher30 gentlewoman?

  Such war of white and red within her cheeks!

  What stars do spangle32 heaven with such beauty,

  As those two eyes become that heav'nly face?--

  Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee.--

  To Vincentio

  Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's sake.

  To Kate

  HORTENSIO A36 will make the man mad, to make the woman of him.

  Aside

  KATE Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet,

  Whither away, or where is thy abode?

  Happy the parents of so fair a child;

  Happier the man, whom40 favourable stars

  Allots thee for his lovely bedfellow!

  PETRUCHIO Why, how now, Kate? I hope thou art not mad.

  This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, withered,

  And not a maiden, as thou say'st he is.

  KATE Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes,

  That have been so bedazzled with the sun

  That everything I look on seemeth green47.

  Now I perceive thou art a reverend father.

  Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.

  PETRUCHIO Do, good old grandsire, and withal make known

  Which way thou travellest: if along with us,

  We shall be joyful of thy company.

  VINCENTIO Fair sir, and you my merry mistress,

  That with your strange encounter54 much amazed me,

  My name is called Vincentio, my dwelling Pisa,

  And bound I am to Padua, there to visit

  A son of mine, which long I have not seen.

  PETRUCHIO What is his name?

  VINCENTIO Lucentio, gentle sir.

  PETRUCHIO Happily met, the happier for thy son.

  And now by law, as well as reverend age,

  I may entitle thee my loving father62.

  The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman,

  Thy son by this64 hath married. Wonder not,

  Nor be not grieved: she is of good esteem65,

  Her dowry wealthy, and of worthy birth;

  Beside, so qualified as may beseem67

  The spouse of any noble gentleman.

  Let me embrace with old Vincentio,

  And wander we to see thy honest70 son,

  Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.

  VINCENTIO But is this true? Or is it else your pleasure,

  Like pleasant73 travellers, to break a jest

  Upon the company you overtake?

  HORTENSIO I do assure thee, father, so it is.

  PETRUCHIO Come, go along, and see the truth hereof,

  For our first merriment hath made thee jealous77.

  Exeunt [all but Hortensio]

  HORTENSIO Well, Petruchio, this has put me in heart78.

  Have to79 my widow! And if she be froward,

  Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward80.

  Exit

  [Act 4 Scene 4]

  running scene 10

  Location: Padua

  Enter Biondello, Lucentio and Bianca. Gremio is out before

  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.

  Exit [Lucentio with Bianca]

  BIONDELLO Nay, faith, I'll see the church o'your back4, and then

  come back to my master's as soon as I can.

  [Exit]

  GREMIO I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.

  Enter Petruchio, Kate, Vincentio, Grumio, with Attendants

  PETRUCHIO Sir, here's the door, this is Lucentio's house.

  My father's8 bears more toward the marketplace.

  Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir.

  VINCENTIO You shall not choose but10 drink before you go.

  I think I shall command11 your welcome here;

  And by all likelihood, some cheer is toward12.

  Knock

  GREMIO They're busy with
in: you were best knock louder.

  Pedant looks out of the window

  PEDANT What's he that knocks as he would beat down they

  gate?

  VINCENTIO Is Signior Lucentio within, sir?

  PEDANT He's within, sir, but not to be spoken withal.

  VINCENTIO What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two

  to make merry withal?

  PEDANT Keep your hundred pounds to yourself. He shall

  need none, so long as I live.

  PETRUCHIO Nay, I told you your son was well beloved in Padua.

  Do you hear, sir? To leave frivolous circumstances23, I pray you

  tell Signior Lucentio that his father is come from Pisa, and is

  here at the door to speak with him.

  PEDANT Thou liest. His father is come from Padua26 and here

  looking out at the window.

  VINCENTIO Art thou his father?

  PEDANT Ay, sir, so his mother says, if I may believe her.

  PETRUCHIO Why, how now, gentleman! Why, this

  To Vincentio

  is flat knavery to take upon you another man's name.

  PEDANT Lay hands on the villain. I believe a means to cozen32

  somebody in this city under my countenance33.

  Enter Biondello

  BIONDELLO I have seen them in the church together.

  Aside

  God send 'em good shipping35! But who is here? Mine old master

  Vincentio! Now we are undone36 and brought to nothing.

  VINCENTIO Come hither, crack-hemp37.

  Seeing Biondello

  BIONDELLO I hope I may choose38, sir.

  VINCENTIO Come hither, you rogue. What, have you 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 What, 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.

  [Exit]

  PEDANT Help, son! Help, Signior Baptista!

  [Exit from above]

  PETRUCHIO Prithee, Kate, let's stand aside and see the end of

  this controversy.

  They stand aside

  Enter Pedant [below] with servants, Baptista, Tranio

  TRANIO Sir, what are you that offer51 to beat my servant?

  VINCENTIO What am I, sir? Nay, what are you, sir? O immortal

  gods! O fine53 villain! A silken doublet, a velvet hose, a scarlet

  cloak and a copatain54 hat! O, I am undone, I am undone!

  While I play the good husband at home, my son and my

  servant spend all at the university.

  TRANIO How now? What's the matter?

  BAPTISTA What, is the man lunatic?

  TRANIO Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by your

  habit, but your words show you a madman. Why, sir, what

  'cerns it you61 if I wear pearl and gold? I thank my good father,

  I am able to maintain62 it.

  VINCENTIO Thy father! O villain! He is a sailmaker in Bergamo63.

  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, and his

  name is Tranio.

  PEDANT 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! 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 Call forth an officer.

  [Enter an Officer]

  Carry this mad knave to the jail. Father Baptista,

  I charge you see that he be forthcoming76.

  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 Take heed, Signior Baptista, lest you be cony-catched80

  in this business. I dare swear this is the right Vincentio.

  PEDANT Swear, if thou dar'st.

  GREMIO Nay, I dare not swear it.

  TRANIO Then thou wert best say that I am not Lucentio.

  GREMIO Yes, I know thee to be Signior Lucentio.

  BAPTISTA Away with the dotard86! To the jail with him!

  Enter Biondello, Lucentio and Bianca

  VINCENTIO Thus strangers may be hailed87 and abused. O

  monstrous villain!

  BIONDELLO O, we are spoiled89 and-- yonder he is. Deny him,

  forswear him, or else we are all undone.

  Exeunt Biondello, Tranio and Pedant,

  as fast as may be

  Kneels

  LUCENTIO Pardon, sweet father.

  VINCENTIO Lives my sweet son?

  BIANCA Pardon, dear father.

  BAPTISTA How hast thou offended? Where is Lucentio?

  LUCENTIO Here's Lucentio,

  Right son to the right Vincentio,

  That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,

  While counterfeit supposes98 bleared thine eyne.

  GREMIO Here's packing99, with a witness to deceive us all!

  VINCENTIO Where is that damned villain Tranio,

  That faced and braved me in this matter so?

  BAPTISTA Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?

  BIANCA Cambio is changed103 into Lucentio.

  LUCENTIO Love wrought these miracles. Bianca's love

  Made me exchange my state105 with Tranio,

  While he did bear my countenance in the town,

  And happily I have arrived at the last

  Unto the wished 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 have sent me to

  the jail.

  BAPTISTA But do you hear, sir? Have you married my daughter

  without asking my good will?

  VINCENTIO Fear not, Baptista, we will content you, go to115. But I

  will in, to be revenged for this villainy.

  Exit

  BAPTISTA And I, to sound117 the depth of this knavery.

  Exit

  LUCENTIO Look not pale, Bianca, thy father will not frown.

  Exeunt [Lucentio and Bianca]

  GREMIO My cake is dough119, but I'll in among the rest,

  Out of hope of all120 but my share of the feast.

  [Exit]

  KATE Husband, let's follow, to see the end of this ado.

  PETRUCHIO First kiss me, Kate, and we will.

  KATE What, in the midst of the street?

  PETRUCHIO What, art thou ashamed of me?

  KATE No, sir, God forbid, but ashamed to kiss.

  PETRUCHIO Why, then let's home again.-- Come, sirrah, let's away.

  KATE Nay, I will give thee a kiss. Now pray thee, love, stay.

  They kiss

  PETRUCHIO Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate.

  Better once129 than never, for never too late.

  Exeunt

  Act 5 [Scene 1]

  running scene 11

  Enter Baptista, Vincentio, Gremio, the Pedant, Lucentio and Bianca, [Petruchio, Katherina, Hortensio,] Tranio, Biondello, Grumio and Widow. The Servingmen with Tranio bringing in a banquet

  LUCENTIO At last, though long1, our jarring notes agree,

  And time it is, when raging war is done,

  To smile at scapes3 and perils overblown.

  My fair Bianca,
bid my father welcome,

  While I with selfsame kindness5 welcome thine.

  Brother Petruchio, sister Katherina,

  And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow,

  Feast with8 the best, and welcome to my house.

  My banquet is to close9 our stomachs up

  After our great good cheer10. Pray you sit down,

  For now we sit to chat as well as eat.

  PETRUCHIO Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!

  BAPTISTA Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.

  PETRUCHIO Padua affords nothing but what is kind.

  HORTENSIO For both our sakes, I would that word were true.

  PETRUCHIO Now, for my life, Hortensio fears16 his widow.

  WIDOW Then never trust me if I be afeard17.

  PETRUCHIO You are very sensible18, and yet you miss my sense:

  I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you.

  WIDOW He that is giddy thinks the world turns round20.

  PETRUCHIO Roundly21 replied.

  KATE Mistress, how mean you that?

  WIDOW Thus I conceive by him23.

  PETRUCHIO Conceives by me! How likes Hortensio that?

  HORTENSIO My widow says, thus she conceives her tale25.

  PETRUCHIO Very well mended26. Kiss him for that, good widow.

  KATE 'He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.'

  I pray you tell me what you meant by that.

  WIDOW Your husband, being troubled with a shrew,

  Measures my husband's sorrow by his woe:

  And now you know my meaning.

  KATE A very mean32 meaning.

  WIDOW Right, I mean you.

  KATE And I am mean indeed, respecting you34.

  PETRUCHIO To her35, Kate!

  HORTENSIO To her, widow!

  PETRUCHIO A hundred marks37, my Kate does put her down.

  HORTENSIO That's my office38.

  PETRUCHIO Spoke like an officer. Ha' to thee, lad!

  Drinks to Hortensio

  BAPTISTA How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks?

  GREMIO Believe me, sir, they butt41 together well.

  BIANCA Head, and butt42! An hasty-witted body

  Would say your head and butt were head and horn43.

  VINCENTIO Ay, mistress bride, hath that awakened you?

  BIANCA Ay, but not frighted me: therefore I'll sleep again.

  PETRUCHIO Nay, that you shall not. Since you have begun,

  Have at you47 for a bitter jest or two.

  BIANCA Am I your bird48? I mean to shift my bush,

  And then pursue me as you draw your bow49.

  You are welcome all.

  Exeunt Bianca, [Katherina and Widow]

  PETRUCHIO She hath prevented51 me. Here, Signior Tranio,

  This bird you aimed at, though you hit52 her not:

  Therefore a health53 to all that shot and missed.

  Makes a toast

  TRANIO O, sir, Lucentio slipped54 me like his greyhound,

  Which runs himself and catches for his master.

  PETRUCHIO A good swift simile, but something currish56.

  TRANIO 'Tis well, sir, that you hunted for yourself:

  'Tis thought your deer58 does hold you at a bay.

  BAPTISTA O, O, Petruchio! Tranio hits you now.

  LUCENTIO I thank thee for that gird60, good Tranio.

  HORTENSIO Confess, confess, hath he not hit you here?

  PETRUCHIO A has a little galled62 me, I confess.

  And as the jest did glance away from63 me,