Page images
PDF
EPUB

That like a father you will deal with him, And passt my daughter a sufficient dower, The match is fully made, and all is done: Your son shall have my daughter with consent.

T'ra. I thank you, sir. Where then do you know

best,

We be affied; and such assurance ta'en,
As shall with either part's agreement stand?
Bap. Not in my house, Lucentio; for, you know,
Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants:
Besides, old Gremio is heark'ning still;
And, happily, we might be interrupted.

Tra. Then at my lodging, an it like you, sir:
There doth my father lie; and there, this night,
We'll pass the business privately and well:
Send for your daughter by your servant here,
My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently.
The worst is this, that, at so slender warning,
You're like to have a thin and slender pittance.
Bap. It likes me well :--Cambio, hie you home,
And bid Bianca make her ready straight;
And, if you will, tell what hath happened:
Lucentio's father is arriv'd in Padua,
And how she's like to be Lucentio's wife.
Luc. I pray the gods she may, with all my heart!
Tra. Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.

Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way?
Welcome! one mess is like to be your cheer:
Come, sir; we'll better it in Pisa.

Bap.

I follow you.

[Exeunt Tranio, Pedant, and Baptista.

Bion. Cambio.-
Luc.

What say'st thou, Biondello?

Bion. You saw my master wink and laugh upon

you?

Luc. Biondello, what of that?

Bion, 'Faith, nothing; but he has left me here

(1) Assure or convey.
(3) Accidentally.

(2) Betrothed.

behind, to expound the meaning or morall of his signs and tokens.

Luc. I pray thee, moralize them.

Bion. Then thus. Baptista is safe, talking with

the deceiving father of a deceitful son.

Luc. And what of him?.

Bion. His daughter is to be brought by you to

the supper.

Luc. And then?

Bion. The old priest at Saint Luke's church is

at your command at all hours.

Luc. And what of all this?

Bion. I cannot tell; except they are busied about a counterfeit assurance: Take you assurance of her, cum privilegio ad imprimendum solùm : to the church; take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient honest witnesses:

If this be not that you look for, I have no more to

say,

But, bid Bianca farewell for ever and a day.

[Going.

[Exit.

Luc. Hear'st thou, Biondello? Bion. 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 come with your appendix. Luc. I may, and will, if she be so contented: She will be pleas'd, then wherefore should I doubt? Hap what hap may, I'll roundly go about her; It shall go hard, if Cambio go without her. [Exit. SCENE V. A public road. Enter Petruchio, Katharina, and Hortensio.

Pet. Come on, o' God's name; once more toward our father's. Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon!

(1) Secret purpose,

7

Kath. The moon! the sun; it is not moonlight

now.

Pet. I say, it is the moon that shines so bright.
Kath. I know, it is the sun that shines so bright.
Pet. Now, by my mother's son, and that's myself,

It shall be moon, or star, or what I list,
Or ere I journey to your father's house :-
Go on, and fetch our horses back again.-
Evermore cross'd, and cross'd; nothing but cross'd!
Hor. Say as he says, or we shall never go.
Kath. Forward, I pray, since we have come so

far,

And be it moon, or sun, or what you please:
And if you please to call it a rush candle,
Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.

Pet. I say, it is the moon.

Kath.

I know it is.

Pet. Nay, then you lie; it is the blessed sun.
Kath. Then, God be bless'd, 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 nam'd, even that it is;
And so it shall be so, for Katharine.

Hor. Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won.
Pet. Well, forward, forward: thus the bowl

should run,

And not unluckily against the bias.
But soft; what company is coming here?

Enter Vincentio, in a travelling dress. Good morrow, gentle mistress: Where away?[To Vincentio.

Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too,
Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman?
Such war of white and red within her cheeks!
What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty,
As those two eyes become that heavenly face?
Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee:-
Sweet Kate embrace her for her beauty's sake.

TES

1

Hor. 'A will make the man mad, to make a woman of him.

Kath. 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, whom favourable stars
Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow!

Pet. Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not

mad:

This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither'd;
And not a maiden, as thou say'st he is.

Kath. Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes,
That have been so bedazzled with the sun,
That every thing I look on seemeth green:
Now I perceive, thou art a reverend father;
Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.
Pet. Do, good old grandsire; and, withal, make

known
Which way thou travellest: if along with us,
We shall be joyful of thy company.
Vin. Fair sir, and you my merry mistress,
That with your strange encounter much amaz'd

me;

My name is call'd-Vincentio; my dwelling-Pisa;
And bound I am to Padua; there to visit
A son of mine, which long I have not seen.

Pet. What is his name?

Vin.

Lucentio, gentle sir.

Pet. Happily met; the happier for thy son.
And now by law, as well as reverend age,
I may entitle thee-my loving father;
The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman,
Thy son by this hath married: Wonder not,
Nor be not griev'd; she is of good esteem,
Her dowry wealthy, and of worthy
Beside, so qualified as may beseem
The spouse of any noble gentleman.
Letme embrace with old Vincentio:
And wander we to see thy honest son,

birth;

Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.

Vin. But is this true? or is it else your pleasure,

Like pleasant travellers, to break a jest
Upon the company you overtake?

Hor. I do assure thee, father, so it is.
Pet. Come, go along, and see the truth hereof;
For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.
[Exeunt Petruchio, Katharina, and Vincentio.
Hor. Well, Petruchio, this hath put me in heart.
Have to my widow; and if she be forward,
Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.
[Exit.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-Padua. Before Lucentio's house. Enter on one side Biondello, Lucentio, and Bianca; Gremio walking on the other side.

Bion. Softly and swiftly, sir; for the priest is ready. Luc. I fly, Biondello: but they may chance to need thee at home, therefore leave us.

Bion. Nay, faith, I'll see the church o' your back; and then. come back to my master as soon as I can. [Exeunt Luc. Bian. and Bion. Gre. I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.

Enter Petruchio, Katharina, Vincentio, and attendants.

Pet. Sir, here's the door, this is Lucentio's house, My father's bears more toward the market-place; Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir.

Vin. 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.

[Knocks.

« PreviousContinue »