Outline
Characters
Dreamweaver
[Enter on one side Biondello, Lucentio and Bianca; Gremio walking on]
[other side.]
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 o’ 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 Petruchio, Katherina, Vincentio and Attendants.]
Petruchio
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.
[Knocks.]
Gremio
They’re busy within; you were best knock louder.
[Enter Pedant above, at a window.]
Pedant
What’s he that knocks as he would beat down the gate?
Vincentio
Is Signior 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.
Petruchio
Nay, I told you your son was well beloved in Padua. Do you hear, sir?
To leave frivolous circumstances, I pray you tell Signior 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.
Petruchio
[_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.
[Re-enter Biondello.]
Biondello
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
[_Seeing Biondello._] Come hither, crack-hemp.
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, Signior Baptista!
[Exit from the window.]
Petruchio
Prithee, Kate, let’s stand aside and see the end of this controversy.
[They retire.]
[Re-enter Pedant, below; Baptista, Tranio and Servants.]
Tranio
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
copatain 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, Signior 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 one with an Officer.]
Tranio
Carry this mad knave to the gaol. Father Baptista, I charge you see
that he be forthcoming.
Vincentio
Carry me to the gaol!
Gremio
Stay, officer; he shall not go to prison.
Baptista
Talk not, Signior Gremio; I say he shall go to prison.
Gremio
Take heed, Signior Baptista, lest you be cony-catched in this business;
I dare swear this is the right Vincentio.
Pedant
Swear if thou darest.
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 Signior Lucentio.
Baptista
Away with the dotard! to the gaol with him!
Vincentio
Thus strangers may be haled and abus’d: O monstrous villain!
[Re-enter Biondello, with Lucentio and Bianca.]
Biondello
O! we are spoiled; and yonder he is: deny him, forswear him, or else we
are all undone.
Lucentio
[_Kneeling._] Pardon, sweet father.
Vincentio
Lives my sweetest son?
[Biondello, Tranio and Pedant run out.]
Bianca
[_Kneeling._] 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 blear’d thine eyne.
Gremio
Here ’s packing, with a witness, to deceive us all!
Vincentio
Where is that damned villain, Tranio,
That fac’d and brav’d me in this matter so?
Baptista
Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?
Bianca
Cambio is chang’d 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 arriv’d at the last
Unto the wished haven of my bliss.
What Tranio did, myself enforc’d 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 gaol.
Baptista
[_To Lucentio._] But do you hear, sir? Have you married my daughter
without asking my good will?
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.]
Gremio
Petruchio and Katherina advance.
Katherina
Husband, let’s follow to see the end of this ado.
Petruchio
First kiss me, Kate, and we will.
Katherina
What! in the midst of the street?
Petruchio
What! art thou ashamed of me?
Katherina
No, sir; God forbid; but ashamed to kiss.
Petruchio
Why, then, let’s home again. Come, sirrah, let’s away.
Katherina
Nay, I will give thee a kiss: now pray thee, love, stay.
Petruchio
Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate:
Better once than never, for never too late.
[Exeunt.]