Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Erin Kelly
Not Peer Reviewed

The Taming of the Shrew (Folio, 1623)

2180Enter Tranio, and the Pedant drest like Vincentio.
Tra. Sirs, this is the house, please it you that I call.
Ped. I what else, and but I be deceiued,
Signior Baptista may remember me
Neere twentie yeares a goe in Genoa.
2185Tra. Where we were lodgers, at the Pegasus,
Tis well, and hold your owne in any case
With such austeritie as longeth to a father.
Enter Biondello.
Ped. I warrant you: but sir here comes your boy,
2190'Twere good he were school'd.
Tra. Feare you not him: sirra Biondello,
Now doe your dutie throughlie I aduise you:
Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio.
Bion. Tut, feare not me.
2195Tra. But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista.
Bion. I told him that your father was at Venice,
And that you look't for him this day in Padua.
Tra. Th'art a tall fellow, hold thee that to drinke,
Here comes Baptista: set your countenance sir.
2200Enter Baptista and Lucentio: Pedant booted
and bare headed.
Tra. Signior Baptista you are happilie met:
Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of,
I pray you stand good father to me now,
2205Giue me Bianca for my patrimony.
Ped. Soft son: sir by your leaue, hauing com to Padua
To gather in some debts, my son Lucentio
Made me acquainted with a waighty cause
Of loue betweene your daughter and himselfe:
2210And for the good report I heare of you,
And for the loue he beareth to your daughter,
And she to him: to stay him not too long,
I am content in a good fathers care
To haue him matcht, and if you please to like
2215No worse then I, vpon some agreement
Me shall you finde readie and willing
With one consent to haue her so bestowed:
For curious I cannot be with you
Signior Baptista, of whom I heare so well.
2220Bap. Sir, pardon me in what I haue to say,
Your plainnesse and your shortnesse please me well:
Right true it is your sonne Lucentio here
Doth loue my daughter, and she loueth him,
Or both dissemble deepely their affections:
2225And therefore if you say no more then this,
That like a Father you will deale with him,
And passe my daughter a sufficient dower,
The match is made, and all is done,
Your sonne shall haue my daughter with consent.
2230Tra. I thanke you sir, where then doe you know best
We be affied and such assurance tane,
As shall with either parts agreement stand.
Bap. Not in my house Lucentio, for you know
Pitchers haue eares, and I haue manie seruants,
2235Besides old Gremio is harkning still,
And happilie we might be interrupted.
Tra. Then at my lodging, and it like you,
There doth my father lie: and there this night
Weele passe the businesse priuately and well:
2240Send for your daughter by your seruant here,
My Boy shall fetch the Scriuener presentlie,
The worst is this that at so slender warning,
You are like to haue a thin and slender pittance.
Bap. It likes me well:
2245Cambio hie you home, and bid Bianca make her readie
straight:
And if you will tell what hath hapned,
Lucentios Father is arriued in Padua,
And how she's like to be Lucentios wife.
2250Biond. I praie the gods she may withall my heart.
Exit.
Tran. Dallie not with the gods, but get thee gone.
Enter Peter.
Signior Baptista, shall I leade the way,
2255Welcome, one messe is like to be your cheere,
Come sir, we will better it in Pisa.
Bap. I follow you. Exeunt.
Enter Lucentio and Biondello.
Bion. Cambio.
2260Luc. What saist thou Biondello.
Biond. You saw my Master winke and laugh vpon
you?
Luc. Biondello, what of that?
Biond. Faith nothing: but has left mee here behinde
2265to expound the meaning or morrall of his signes and to-
kens.
Luc. I pray thee moralize them.
Biond. Then thus: Baptista is safe talking with the
deceiuing Father of a deceitfull sonne.
2270Luc. And what of him?
Biond. His daughter is to be brought by you to the
supper.
Luc. And then.
Bio. The old Priest at Saint Lukes Church is at your
2275command at all houres.
Luc. And what of all this.
Bion. I cannot tell, expect they are busied about a
counterfeit assurance: take you assurance of her, Cum
preuilegio ad Impremendum solem, to th' Church take the
2280Priest, Clarke, and some sufficient honest witnesses:
If this be not that you looke fot, I haue no more to say,
But bid Bianca farewell for euer and a day.
Luc. Hear'st thou Biondello.
Biond. I cannot tarry: I knew a wench maried in an
2285afternoone as shee went to the Garden for Parseley to
stuffe a Rabit, and so may you sir: and so adew sir, my
Master hath appointed me to goe to Saint Lukes to bid
the Priest be readie to come against you come with your
appendix. Exit.
2290Luc. I may and will, if she be so contented:
She will be pleas'd, then wherefore should I doubt:
Hap what hap may, Ile roundly goe about her:
It shall goe hard if Cambio goe without her. Exit.