The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works

by William Shakespeare

  And therefore if you say no more than this,

  That like a father you will deal with him

  And pass my daughter a sufficient dower,

  The match is made, and all is done.

  Your son shall have my daughter with consent.

  TRANIO

  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?

  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.

  TRANIO

  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.

  My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently.

  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 happened—

  Lucentio’s father is arrived in Padua—

  And how she’s like to be Lucentio’s wife.

  ExitLucentio

  BIONDELLO

  I pray the gods she may with all my heart.

  TRANIO

  Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.

  Exit Biondello

  Signor Baptista, shall I lead the way?

  Welcome. One mess is like to be your cheer.

  Come, sir, we will better it in Pisa.

  BAPTISTA I follow you.

  Exeunt

  4.5 Enter Lucentio and Biondello

  BIONDELLO Cambio.

  LUCENTIO What sayst thou, Biondello?

  BIONDELLO You saw my master wink and laugh upon you?

  LUCENTIO Biondello, what of that?

  BIONDELLO Faith, nothing, but he’s left me here behind to expound the meaning or moral of his signs 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?

  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.

  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 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.

  LUCENTIO Hear’st thou, Biondello?

  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 t’attend against you come with your appendix. Exit

  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.

  It shall go hard if Cambio go without her.

  Exit

  4.6 Enter Petruccio, Katherine, Hortensio, and servants

  PETRUCCIO

  Come on, i’ God’s name. Once more toward our father’s.

  Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon!

  KATHERINE

  The moon?—the sun. It is not moonlight now.

  PETRUCCIO

  I say it is the moon that shines so bright.

  KATHERINE

  I know it is the sun that shines so bright. 5

  PETRUCCIO

  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 crossed and crossed, nothing but crossed.

  HORTENSIO (to Katherine)

  Say as he says or we shall never go.

  KATHERINE

  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.

  PETRUCCIO

  I say it is the moon.

  KATHERINE

  I know it is the moon.

  PETRUCCIO

  Nay then you lie, it is the blessed sun.

  KATHERINE

  Then God be blessed, it is the blessèd 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 named, even that it is,

  And so it shall be still for Katherine.

  HORTENSIO

  Petruccio, go thy ways. The field is won.

  PETRUCCIO

  Well, forward, forward. Thus the bowl should run,

  And not unluckily against the bias.

  But soft, company is coming here.

  Enter old Vincentio

  (To Vincentio) Good morrow, gentle mistress, where

  away?

  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.

  HORTENSIO A will make the man mad to make the woman of him.

  KATHERINE

  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

  Allots thee for his lovely bedfellow.

  PETRUCCIO

  Why, how now, Kate, I hope thou art not mad.

  This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, withered,

  And not a maiden as thou sayst he is.

  KATHERINE

  Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes

  That have been so bedazzled with the sun

  That everything I look on seemeth green.

  Now I perceive thou art a reverend father.

  Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.

  PETRUCCIO

  Do, good old grandsire, and withal make known

  Which way thou travell’st. If along with us,

  We shall be joyful of thy company.

  VINCENTIO

  Fair sir, and you, my merry mistress,

  That with your strange encounter much amazed me,

  My name is called Vincentio, my dwelling Pisa,

  And bound I am to Padua, there to visit

  A son of mine which long I have not seen.

  PETRUCCIO

  What is his name?

  VINCENTIO Lucentio, gentle sir.

  PETRUCCIO

  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 grieved. She is of good esteem,

  Her dowry wealthy, and of worthy birth,

  Beside, so qualified as may beseem

  The spouse of any noble gentleman.

  Let me embrace with old Vincentio,

  And wander we to see thy honest son,

 
Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.

  He embraces Vincentio

  VINCENTIO

  But is this true, or is it else your pleasure

  Like pleasant travellers to break a jest

  Upon the company you overtake?

  HORTENSIO

  I do assure thee, father, so it is.

  PETRUCCIO

  Come, go along, and see the truth hereof,

  For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.

  Exeunt all but Hortensio

  HORTENSIO

  Well, Petruccio, this has put me in heart.

  Have to my widow, and if she be froward,

  Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.

  Exit

  5.1 Enter Biondello, Lucentio, and Bianca. Gremio is out before

  BIONDELLO Softly and swiftly, sir, for the priest is ready.

  LUCENTIO I fly, Biondello; but they may chance to need thee at home, therefore leave us.

  BIONDELLO Nay, faith, I’ll see the church a’ your back and then come back to my master’s as soon as I can.

  Exeunt Lucentio, Bianca, and Biondello

  GREMIO

  I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.

  Enter Petruccio, Katherine, Vincentio, Grumio, with attendants

  PETRUCCIO

  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.

  VINCENTIO

  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.

  He knocks

  GREMIO They’re busy within. You were best knock louder.

  Vincentio knocks again. The Pedant looks out of the window

  PEDANT What’s he that knocks as he would beat down the gate?

  VINCENTIO Is Signor Lucentio within, sir?

  PEDANT He’s within, sir, but not to be spoken withal.

  VINCENTIO What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two to make merry withal?

  PEDANT Keep your hundred pounds to yourself. He shall need none so long as I live.

  PETRUCCIO (to Vincentio) Nay, I told you your son was well beloved in Padua. (To the Pedant) Do you hear, sir, to leave frivolous circumstances, I pray you tell Signor Lucentio that his father is come from Pisa and is here at the door to speak with him.

  PEDANT Thou liest. His father is come from Padua and here looking out at the window.

  VINCENTIO Art thou his father?

  PEDANT Ay, sir, so his mother says, if I may believe her.

  PETRUCCIO (to Vincentio) Why, how now, gentleman?Why, this is flat knavery, to take upon you another man’s name.

  PEDANT Lay hands on the villain. I believe a means to cozen somebody in this city under my countenance.

  Enter Biondello

  BIONDELLO (aside) I have seen them in the church together, God send ’em good shipping. But who is here? Mine old master, Vincentio—now we are undone and brought to nothing.

  VINCENTIO (to Biondello) Come hither, crackhemp.

  BIONDELLO I hope I may choose, sir.

  VINCENTIO Come hither, you rogue. What, have you forgot me?

  BIONDELLO Forgot you? No, sir, I could not forget you, for I never saw you before in all my life.

  VINCENTIO What, you notorious villain, didst thou never see thy master’s father, Vincentio?

  BIONDELLO What, my old worshipful old master? Yes, marry, sir, see where he looks out of the window.

  VINCENTIO Is’t so indeed?

  He beats Biondello

  BIONDELLO Help, help, help! Here’s a madman will murder me.

  Exit

  PEDANT Help, son! Help, Signor Baptista!

  Exit above

  PETRUCCIO Prithee, Kate, let’s stand aside and see the end of this controversy.

  They stand aside.

  Enter Pedant with servants, Baptista, Tranio as Lucentio

  TRANIO (to Vincentio) Sir, what are you that offer to beat my servant?

  VINCENTIO What am I, sir? Nay, what are you, sir? O immortal gods, O fine villain, a silken doublet, a velvet hose, a scarlet cloak, and a copintank hat—O, I am undone, I am undone! While I play the good husband at home, my son and my servant spend all at the university.

  TRANIO How now, what’s the matter?

  BAPTISTA What, is the man lunatic?

  TRANIO Sir, you seem a sober, ancient gentleman by your habit, but your words show you a madman. Why sir, what ‘cerns it you if I wear pearl and gold? I thank my good father, I am able to maintain it.

  VINCENTIO Thy father! O villain, he is a sailmaker in Bergamo.

  BAPTISTA You mistake, sir, you mistake, sir. Pray what do you think is his name?

  VINCENTIO His name? As if I knew not his name—I have brought him up ever since he was three years old, and his name is Tranio.

  PEDANT Away, away, mad ass. His name is Lucentio, and he is mine only son, and heir to the lands of me, Signor Vincentio.

  VINCENTIO Lucentio? O, he hath murdered his master! Lay hold on him, I charge you, in the Duke’s name. O my son, my son! Tell me, thou villain, where is my son Lucentio?

  TRANIO Call forth an officer.

  Enter an Officer

  Carry this mad knave to the jail. Father Baptista, I

  charge you see that he be forthcoming.

  VINCENTIO Carry me to the jail?

  GREMIO Stay, officer, he shall not go to prison.

  BAPTISTA Talk not, Signor Gremio. I say he shall go to prison.

  GREMIO Take heed, Signor Baptista, lest you be cony-catched in this business. I dare swear this is the right Vincentio.

  PEDANT Swear if thou dar’st.

  GREMIO Nay, I dare not swear it.

  TRANIO Then thou wert best say that I am not Lucentio.

  GREMIO Yes, I know thee to be Signor Lucentio.

  BAPTISTA Away with the dotard. To the jail with him.

  Enter Biondello, Lucentio, and Bianca

  VINCENTIO Thus strangers may be haled and abused. O monstrous villain!

  BIONDELLO O, we are spoiled and—yonder he is. Deny him, forswear him, or else we are all undone.

  Exeunt Biondello, Tranio, and Pedant, as fast as may be

  LUCENTIO (to Vincentio) Pardon, sweet father.

  He kneels

  VINCENTIO Lives my sweet son?

  BIANCA (to Baptista) Pardon, dear father.

  BAPTISTA

  How hast thou offended? Where is Lucentio?

  LUCENTIO

  Here’s Lucentio, right son to the right Vincentio,

  That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,

  While counterfeit supposes bleared thine eyne.

  GREMIO

  Here’s packing with a witness, to deceive us all.

  VINCENTIO

  Where is that damned villain Tranio,

  That faced and braved me in this matter so?

  BAPTISTA

  Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?

  BIANCA

  Cambio is changed into Lucentio.

  LUCENTIO

  Love wrought these miracles. Bianca’s love

  Made me exchange my state with Tranio

  While he did bear my countenance in the town,

  And happily I have arrived at the last

  Unto the wished haven of my bliss.

  What Tranio did, myself enforced him to.

  Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.

  VINCENTIO I’ll slit the villain’s nose that would have sent me to the jail.

  BAPTISTA But do you hear, sir, have you married my daughter without asking my good will? 125

  VINCENTIO Fear not, Baptista. We will content you. Go to, but I will in to be revenged for this villainy.

  Exit

  BAPTISTA And I to sound the depth of this knavery. Exit

  LUCENTIO Look not pale, Bianca. Thy father will
not frown.

  Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca

  GREMIO

  My cake is dough, but I’ll in among the rest,

  Out of hope of all but my share of the feast.

  Exit

  KATHERINE (coming forward) Husband, let’s follow to see the end of this ado.

  PETRUCCIO First kiss me, Kate, and we will.

  KATHERINE What, in the midst of the street?

  PETRUCCIO What, art thou ashamed of me?

  KATHERINE No, sir, God forbid; but ashamed to kiss.

  PETRUCCIO

  Why then, let’s home again. Come sirrah, let’s away.

  KATHERINE

  Nay, I will give thee a kiss. Now pray thee love, stay. They kiss

  PETRUCCIO

  Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate.

  Better once than never, for never too late.

  Exeunt

  5.2 Enter Baptista, Vincentio, Gremio, the Pedant, Lucentio and Bianca, Petruccio, Katherine, and Hortensio, Tranio, Biondello, Grumio, and the Widow, the servingmen with Tranio bringing in a banquet

  LUCENTIO

  At last, though long, our jarring notes agree,

  And time it is when raging war is done

  To smile at scapes and perils overblown.

  My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome,

  While I with selfsame kindness welcome thine.

  Brother Petruccio, sister Katherina,

  And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow,

  Feast with the best, and welcome to my house.

  My banquet is to close our stomachs up

  After our great good cheer. Pray you, sit down,

  For now we sit to chat as well as eat.

  They sit

  PETRUCCIO

  Nothing but sit, and sit, and eat, and eat.

  BAPTISTA

  Padua affords this kindness, son Petruccio.

  PETRUCCIO

  Padua affords nothing but what is kind.

  HORTENSIO

  For both our sakes I would that word were true. 15

  PETRUCCIO

  Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow.

  WIDOW

  Then never trust me if I be afeard.

  PETRUCCIO