Enter Tranio as Lucentio, and the Merchant, booted,
and dressed like Vincentio. TRANIO, as Lucentio
Sir, this is the house. Please it you that I call? MERCHANT
Ay, what else? And but I be deceived,
Signior Baptista may remember me,
Near twenty years ago, in Genoa,
Where we were lodgers at the Pegasus. 5 TRANIO, as Lucentio
’Tis well. And hold your own in any case
With such austerity as ’longeth to a father. MERCHANT
I warrant you. Enter Biondello. But, sir, here comes your boy.
’Twere good he were schooled. 10 TRANIO, as Lucentio
Fear you not him.—Sirrah Biondello,
Now do your duty throughly, I advise you.
Imagine ’twere the right Vincentio. BIONDELLO Tut, fear not me. TRANIO, as Lucentio
But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista? 15 BIONDELLO
I told him that your father was at Venice,
And that you looked for him this day in Padua. TRANIO, as Lucentio
Thou ’rt a tall fellow. Hold thee that to drink. He gives him money. Enter Baptista and Lucentio as Cambio. Here comes Baptista. Set your countenance, sir. Merchant stands bareheaded. TRANIO, as Lucentio
Signior Baptista, you are happily met.— 20
Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of.
I pray you stand good father to me now.
Give me Bianca for my patrimony. MERCHANT, as Vincentio Soft, son.—
Sir, by your leave, having come to Padua 25
To gather in some debts, my son Lucentio
Made me acquainted with a weighty cause
Of love between your daughter and himself.
And, for the good report I hear of you,
And for the love he beareth to your daughter 30
And she to him, to stay him not too long,
I am content, in a good father’s care,
To have him matched. And if you please to like
No worse than I, upon some agreement
Me shall you find ready and willing 35
With one consent to have her so bestowed,
For curious I cannot be with you,
Signior Baptista, of whom I hear so well. BAPTISTA
Sir, pardon me in what I have to say.
Your plainness and your shortness please me well. 40
Right true it is your son Lucentio here
Doth love my daughter, and she loveth him,
Or both dissemble deeply their affections.
And therefore, if you say no more than this,
That like a father you will deal with him 45
And pass my daughter a sufficient dower,
The match is made, and all is done.
Your son shall have my daughter with consent. TRANIO, as Lucentio
I thank you, sir. Where then do you know best
We be affied and such assurance ta’en 50
As shall with either part’s agreement stand? BAPTISTA
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. 55 TRANIO, as Lucentio
Then at my lodging, an it like you.
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.
He indicates Lucentio, and winks at him.
My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently. 60
The worst is this: that at so slender warning
You are like to have a thin and slender pittance. BAPTISTA
It likes me well.—Cambio, hie you home,
And bid Bianca make her ready straight.
And, if you will, tell what hath happenèd: 65
Lucentio’s father is arrived in Padua,
And how she’s like to be Lucentio’s wife. Lucentio exits. BIONDELLO
I pray the gods she may, with all my heart. TRANIO, as Lucentio
Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.—
Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way? 70
Welcome! One mess is like to be your cheer.
Come, sir, we will better it in Pisa. BAPTISTA I follow you. All but Biondello exit. | Back in Padua, Tranio (as Lucentio) and the Merchant (as Lucentio's father Vincentio) wait for Baptista outside his house The Merchant is introduced to Baptista as Vincentio and the two men seem pleased with one another and the kids' engagement. They all agree to go to Lucentio's place to settle their business and sign some contracts. Baptista sends "Cambio" (really Lucentio) to fetch Bianca and tell her the good news about her upcoming marriage to Lucentio. |
Enter Lucentio. BIONDELLO Cambio. LUCENTIO What sayst thou, Biondello? 75 BIONDELLO You saw my master wink and laugh upon
you? LUCENTIO Biondello, what of that? BIONDELLO Faith, nothing; but ’has left me here behind
to expound the meaning or moral of his signs 80
and tokens. LUCENTIO I pray thee, moralize them. BIONDELLO Then thus: Baptista is safe, talking with
the deceiving father of a deceitful son. LUCENTIO And what of him? 85 BIONDELLO His daughter is to be brought by you to the
supper. LUCENTIO And then? BIONDELLO The old priest at Saint Luke’s Church is at
your command at all hours. 90 LUCENTIO And what of all this? BIONDELLO I cannot tell, except they are busied
about a counterfeit assurance. Take you assurance
of her cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum. To th’
church take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient 95
honest witnesses.
If this be not that you look for, I have no more to
say,
But bid Bianca farewell forever and a day. LUCENTIO Hear’st thou, Biondello? 100 BIONDELLO 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 105
you come with your appendix. He exits. LUCENTIO
I may, and will, if she be so contented.
She will be pleased. Then wherefore should I
doubt?
Hap what hap may, I’ll roundly go about her. 110
It shall go hard if “Cambio” go without her. He exits. | Instead of fetching Bianca and taking her to her dad, Lucentio catches up with Biondello, who brings him up to speed on the arrangements for his elopement with Bianca. While Baptista is kept busy signing fake contracts with Tranio (as Lucentio) and the Pedant (as Vincentio), Bianca and Lucentio will go to St. Luke's church, where a priest is waiting. Biondello tells Lucentio to get to the church ASAP and to make sure he has some reliable witnesses to confirm the marriage. Lucentio runs off to find Bianca. |