Enter Tranio as Lucentio and Hortensio as Litio. TRANIO, as Lucentio
Is ’t possible, friend Litio, that mistress Bianca
Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?
I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand. HORTENSIO, as Litio
Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
Stand by, and mark the manner of his teaching. 5 They stand aside. Enter Bianca and Lucentio as Cambio. LUCENTIO, as Cambio
Now mistress, profit you in what you read? BIANCA
What, master, read you? First resolve me that. LUCENTIO, as Cambio
I read that I profess, "The Art to Love." BIANCA
And may you prove, sir, master of your art. LUCENTIO, as Cambio
While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart. 10 They move aside and kiss and talk. HORTENSIO, as Litio
Quick proceeders, marry! Now tell me, I pray,
You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca
Loved none in the world so well as Lucentio. TRANIO, as Lucentio
O despiteful love, unconstant womankind!
I tell thee, Litio, this is wonderful! 15 HORTENSIO
Mistake no more. I am not Litio,
Nor a musician as I seem to be,
But one that scorn to live in this disguise
For such a one as leaves a gentleman
And makes a god of such a cullion. 20
Know, sir, that I am called Hortensio. TRANIO, as Lucentio
Signior Hortensio, I have often heard
Of your entire affection to Bianca,
And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
I will with you, if you be so contented, 25
Forswear Bianca and her love forever. HORTENSIO
See how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,
Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow
Never to woo her more, but do forswear her
As one unworthy all the former favors 30
That I have fondly flattered her withal. TRANIO, as Lucentio
And here I take the like unfeignèd oath,
Never to marry with her, though she would entreat.
Fie on her, see how beastly she doth court him! HORTENSIO
Would all the world but he had quite forsworn! 35
For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,
I will be married to a wealthy widow
Ere three days pass, which hath as long loved me
As I have loved this proud disdainful haggard.
And so farewell, Signior Lucentio. 40
Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
Shall win my love, and so I take my leave,
In resolution as I swore before. Hortensio exits; Bianca and Lucentio come forward. TRANIO
Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace
As ’longeth to a lover’s blessèd case! 45
Nay, I have ta’en you napping, gentle love,
And have forsworn you with Hortensio. BIANCA
Tranio, you jest. But have you both forsworn me? TRANIO
Mistress, we have. LUCENTIO Then we are rid of Litio. 50 TRANIO
I’ faith, he’ll have a lusty widow now
That shall be wooed and wedded in a day. BIANCA God give him joy. TRANIO
Ay, and he’ll tame her. BIANCA He says so, Tranio? 55 TRANIO
Faith, he is gone unto the taming school. BIANCA
The taming school? What, is there such a place? TRANIO
Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master,
That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long
To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue. 60 | Back in Padua, outside of Baptista's house, Tranio (as Lucentio) and Hortensio (as Litio) spy on Bianca and Lucentio (as Cambio) as the pair flirt with each other. Hortensio thinks Bianca is acting improperly, so he takes off his disguise and admits to Tranio (as Lucentio) that he is not in fact a musician (shocker), but Hortensio. Tranio (as Lucentio) says he's just as shocked by Bianca's behavior as Hortensio and says they should both swear to each other that they will never marry her. Hortensio agrees. Before he runs off, Hortensio says he's going to marry a rich widow. Tranio, Lucentio, and Bianca get together and laugh at how they got rid of Hortensio so Bianca and Lucentio can run off to Vegas and get married. Tranio says that Hortensio has gone to Petruchio's "taming school" to learn how to tame his future wife. |
Enter Biondello. BIONDELLO
O master, master, I have watched so long
That I am dog-weary, but at last I spied
An ancient angel coming down the hill
Will serve the turn. TRANIO What is he, Biondello? 65 BIONDELLO
Master, a marcantant, or a pedant,
I know not what, but formal in apparel,
In gait and countenance surely like a father. LUCENTIO And what of him, Tranio? TRANIO
If he be credulous, and trust my tale, 70
I’ll make him glad to seem Vincentio
And give assurance to Baptista Minola
As if he were the right Vincentio.
Take in your love, and then let me alone. Lucentio and Bianca exit. Enter a Merchant. MERCHANT
God save you, sir. 75 TRANIO, as Lucentio And you, sir. You are welcome.
Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest? MERCHANT
Sir, at the farthest for a week or two,
But then up farther, and as far as Rome,
And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life. 80 TRANIO, as Lucentio
What countryman, I pray? MERCHANT Of Mantua. TRANIO, as Lucentio
Of Mantua, sir? Marry, God forbid!
And come to Padua, careless of your life? MERCHANT
My life, sir? How, I pray? For that goes hard. 85 TRANIO, as Lucentio
’Tis death for anyone in Mantua
To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?
Your ships are stayed at Venice, and the Duke,
For private quarrel ’twixt your duke and him,
Hath published and proclaimed it openly. 90
’Tis marvel, but that you are but newly come,
You might have heard it else proclaimed about. MERCHANT
Alas, sir, it is worse for me than so,
For I have bills for money by exchange
From Florence, and must here deliver them. 95 TRANIO, as Lucentio
Well, sir, to do you courtesy,
This will I do, and this I will advise you.
First tell me, have you ever been at Pisa? MERCHANT
Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,
Pisa renownèd for grave citizens. 100 TRANIO, as Lucentio
Among them know you one Vincentio? MERCHANT
I know him not, but I have heard of him:
A merchant of incomparable wealth. TRANIO, as Lucentio
He is my father, sir, and sooth to say,
In count’nance somewhat doth resemble you. 105 BIONDELLO, aside As much as an apple doth an
oyster, and all one. TRANIO, as Lucentio
To save your life in this extremity,
This favor will I do you for his sake
(And think it not the worst of all your fortunes 110
That you are like to Sir Vincentio):
His name and credit shall you undertake,
And in my house you shall be friendly lodged.
Look that you take upon you as you should.
You understand me, sir. So shall you stay 115
Till you have done your business in the city.
If this be court’sy, sir, accept of it. MERCHANT
O sir, I do, and will repute you ever
The patron of my life and liberty. TRANIO, as Lucentio
Then go with me, to make the matter good. 120
This, by the way, I let you understand:
My father is here looked for every day
To pass assurance of a dower in marriage
’Twixt me and one Baptista’s daughter here.
In all these circumstances I’ll instruct you. 125
Go with me to clothe you as becomes you. They exit. | Biondello rushes in and says that he found the perfect guy to play the role of Lucentio's dad. Lucentio asks Tranio what he thinks, and Tranio says, "I've got this. I have a plan that will make him glad to play your dad for a bit." The Merchant arrives and says he's come from Mantua. Tranio (as Lucentio) lies and says the Merchant is up a creek without a paddle because the Duke of Padua executes all citizens of Mantua if they come within city limits. But, Tranio (as Lucentio) will help him out and let him pretend to be his father so he won't be harmed. The grateful Merchant agrees to meet with Baptista and agrees to negotiate Lucentio's wedding dowry as if he were Lucentio's real father. |