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- William Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew, Act IV, Scene IV
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Scene IVPadua. Before Baptista’s houseEnter Tranio, and the Pedant dressed like VincentioTranioSir, this is the house: please it you that I call?PedantAy, 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.Tranio’Tis well; and hold your own, in any case, With such austerity as ’longeth to a father.PedantI warrant you.Enter BiondelloBut, sir, here comes your boy; ‘Twere good he were school’d.TranioFear you not him. Sirrah Biondello, Now do your duty throughly, I advise you: Imagine ’twere the right Vincentio.BiondelloTut, fear not me.TranioBut hast thou done thy errand to Baptista?BiondelloI told him that your father was at Venice, And that you look’d for him this day in Padua.TranioThou’rt a tall fellow: hold thee that to drink. Here comes Baptista: set your countenance, sir.Enter Baptista and LucentioSignior Baptista, you are happily met.To the PedantSir, this is the gentleman I told you of: I pray you stand good father to me now, Give me Bianca for my patrimony.PedantSoft son! Sir, by your leave: having come to Padua 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 And she to him, to stay him not too long, I am content, in a good father’s care, To have him match’d; and if you please to like No worse than I, upon some agreement Me shall you find ready and willing With one consent to have her so bestow’d; For curious I cannot be with you, Signior Baptista, of whom I hear so well.BaptistaSir, pardon me in what I have to say: Your plainness and your shortness please me well. 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 And pass my daughter a sufficient dower, The match is made, and all is done: Your son shall have my daughter with consent.TranioI 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?BaptistaNot in my house, Lucentio; for, you know, Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants: Besides, old Gremio is hearkening still; And happily we might be interrupted.TranioThen 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.BaptistaIt likes me well. Biondello, 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.BiondelloI pray the gods she may with all my heart!TranioDally not with the gods, but get thee gone.Exit BiondelloSignior Baptista, shall I lead the way? Welcome! one mess is like to be your cheer: Come, sir; we will better it in Pisa.BaptistaI follow you.Exeunt Tranio, Pedant, and BaptistaRe-enter BiondelloBiondelloCambio!LucentioWhat sayest thou, Biondello?BiondelloYou saw my master wink and laugh upon you?LucentioBiondello, what of that?BiondelloFaith, nothing; but has left me here behind, to expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens.LucentioI pray thee, moralize them.BiondelloThen thus. Baptista is safe, talking with the deceiving father of a deceitful son.LucentioAnd what of him?BiondelloHis daughter is to be brought by you to the supper.LucentioAnd then?BiondelloThe old priest of Saint Luke’s church is at your command at all hours.LucentioAnd what of all this?BiondelloI cannot tell; expect they are busied about a counterfeit assurance: take you assurance of her, ‘cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum:’ 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.LucentioHearest thou, Biondello?BiondelloI 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.ExitLucentioI 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
William Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew, Act IV
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William Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew, Act IV, Scene II
- William Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew, Act IV, Scene II
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
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The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
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Current Events This Week: January 2023
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Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
- Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses
- Current Events This Week: January 2023
- African Americans by the Numbers
- Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
- The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
