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  • Title: The Taming of the Shrew (Folio, 1623)
  • Editor: Erin Kelly

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-468-4

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Erin Kelly
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Taming of the Shrew (Folio, 1623)

    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
    The Taming of the Shrew. 227
    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.
    2440Enter 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.
    2485Enter 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.
    2490Exit 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.
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