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The Taming of the Shrew (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Erin Kelly
Not Peer Reviewed
Enter Biondello, Lucentio and Bianea, Gremio
2380is out before.
Biond. Softly and swiftly sir, for the Priest is ready.
Luc. I flie Biondello; but they may chance to neede
thee at home, therefore leaue vs.
Exit.
Biond. Nay faith, Ile see the Church a your backe,
2385and then come backe to my mistris as soone as I can.
Gre. I maruaile Cambio comes not all this while.
Enter Petruchio, Kate, Vincentio, Grumio
with Attendants.
Petr. Sir heres the doore, this is Lucentios house,
2390My Fathers beares more toward the Market-place,
Thither must I, and here I leaue you sir.
Vin. You shall not choose but drinke before you go,
I thinke I shall command your welcome here;
And by all likelihood some cheere is toward.
Knock.
2395Grem. They're busie within, you were best knocke
lowder.
Pedant lookes out of the window.
Ped What's he that knockes as he would beat downe
the gate?
2400Vin. Is Signior Lucentio within sir?
Ped. He's within sir, but not to be spoken withall.
Vinc. What if a man bring him a hundred pound or
two to make merrie withall.
Ped. Keepe your hundred pounds to your selfe, hee
2405shall neede none so long as I liue.
Petr. Nay, I told you your sonne was well beloued in
Padua: doe you heare sir, to leaue friuolous circumstan-
ces, I pray you tell signior Lucentio that his Father is
come from Pisa, and is here at the doore to speake with
2410him.
Ped. Thou liest his Father is come from Padua, and
here looking out at the window.
Vin. Art thou his father?
Ped. I sir, so his mother saies, if I may beleeue her.
2415Petr. Why how now gentleman: why this is flat kna-
uerie to take vpon you another mans name.
Peda. Lay hands on the villaine, I beleeue a meanes
to cosen some bodie in this Citie vnder my countenance.
Enter Biondello.
2420Bio. I haue seene them in the Church together, God
send'em good shipping: but who is here? mine old Ma-
ster Uincentio: now wee are vndone and brought to no-
thing.
Uin. Come hither crackhempe.
2425Bion. I hope I may choose Sir.
Vin. Come hither you rogue, what haue you forgot
mee?
Biond. Forgot you, no sir: I could not forget you, for
I neuer saw you before in all my life.
2430Uinc. What, you notorious villaine, didst thou neuer
see thy Mistris father, Vincentio?
Bion. What my old worshipfull old master? yes
marie sir see where he lookes out of the window.
Uin. Ist so indeede. He beates Biondello.
2435Bion. Helpe, helpe, helpe, here's a mad man will mur-
der me.
Pedan. Helpe, sonne, helpe signior Baptista.
Petr. Pree the Kate let's stand aside and see the end of
this controuersie.
2440
Enter Pedant with seruants, Baptista, Tranio.
Tra. Sir, what are you that offer to beate my ser-
uant?
Vinc. What am I sir: nay what are you sir: oh immor-
tall Goddes: oh fine villaine, a silken doublet, a vel-
2445uet hose, a scarlet cloake, and a copataine hat: oh I am
vndone, I am vndone: while I plaie the good husband
at home, my sonne and my seruant spend all at the vni-
uersitie.
Tra. How now, what's the matter?
2450Bapt. What is the man lunaticke?
Tra. Sir, you seeme a sober ancient Gentleman by
your habit: but your words shew you a mad man: why
sir, what cernes it you, if I weare Pearle and gold: I thank
my good Father, I am able to maintaine it.
2455Vin. Thy father: oh villaine, he is a Saile-maker in
Bergamo.
Bap. You mistake sir, you mistake sir, praie what do
you thinke is his name?
Vin. His name, as if I knew not his name: I haue
2460brought him vp euer since he was three yeeres old, and
his name is Tronio.
Ped. Awaie, awaie mad asse, his name is Lucentio, and
he is mine onelie sonne and heire to the Lands of me sig-
nior Vincentio.
2465Ven. Lucentio: oh he hath murdred his Master; laie
hold on him I charge you in the Dukes name: oh my
sonne, my sonne: tell me thou villaine, where is my son
Lucentio?
Tra. Call forth an officer: Carrie this mad knaue to
2470the Iaile: father Baptista, I charge you see that hee be
forth comming.
Vinc. Carrie me to the Iaile?
Gre. Staie officer, he shall not go to prison.
Bap. Talke not signior Gremio: I saie he shall goe to
2475prison.
Gre. Take heede signior Baptista, least you be coni-
catcht in this businesse: I dare sweare this is the right
Vincentio.
Ped. Sweare if thou dar'st.
2480Gre. Naie, I dare not sweare it.
Tran. Then thou wert best saie that I am not Lu-
centio.
Gre. Yes, I know thee to be signior Lucentio.
Bap. Awaie with the dotard, to the Iaile with him.
2485
Enter Biondello, Lucentio and Bianeu.
Vin. Thus strangers may be haild and abusd: oh mon-
strous villaine.
Bion. Oh we are spoil'd, and yonder he is, denie him,
forsweare him, or else we are all vndone.
2490
Exit Biondello, Tranio and Pedant as fast as may be.
Luc. Pardon sweete father.
Kneele.
Vin. Liues my sweete sonne?
Bian. Pardon deere father.
Bap. How hast thou offended, where is Lucentio?
2495Luc. Here's Lucentio, right sonne to the right Uin-
centio,
That haue by marriage made thy daughter mine,
While counterfeit supposes bleer'd thine eine.
Gre. Here's packing with a witnesse to deceiue vs all.
2500Vin. Where is that damned villaine Tranio,
That fac'd and braued me in this matter so?
Bup. Why, tell me is not this my Cambio?
Bian. Cambio is chang'd into Lucentio.
Luc. Loue wrought these miracles. Biancas loue
2505Made me exchange my state with Tranio,
While he did beare my countenance in the towne,
And happilie I haue arriued at the last
Vnto the wished hauen of my blisse:
What Tranio did, my selfe enforst him to;
2510Then pardon him sweete Father for my sake.
Uin. Ile slit the villaines nose that would haue sent
me to the Iaile.
Bap. But doe you heare sir, haue you married my
daughter without asking my good will?
2515Vin. Feare not Baptista, we will content you, goe to:
but I will in to be reueng'd for this villanie.
Exit.
Bap. And I to sound the depth of this knauerie. Exit.
Luc. Looke not pale Bianca, thy father will not frown.
Exeunt.
2520Gre. My cake is dough, hbut Ile in among the rest,
Out of hope of all, but my share of the feast.
Kate.Husband let's follow, to see the end of this adoe.
Petr. First kisse me Kate, and we will.
Kate. What in the midst of the streete?
2525Petr. What art thou asham'd of me?
Kate. Mo sir, God forbid, but asham'd to kisse.
Petr. Why then let's home againe: Come Sirra let's
awaie.
Kate. Nay, I will giue thee a kisse, now praie thee
2530Loue staie.
Petr. Is not this well? come my sweete Kate.
Better once then neuer, for neuer to late.
Exeunt.