TPTT The Taming of the Shrew: ACT IV
Introduction
INDUCTION
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
SCENE I. PETRUCHIO'S country house.
SCENE II. Padua. Before BAPTISTA'S house.
SCENE III. A room in PETRUCHIO'S house.
SCENE IV. Padua. Before BAPTISTA'S house.
SCENE V. A public road.
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE II. Padua. Before BAPTISTA'S house.
Enter TRANIO and HORTENSIO
TRANIO
      Is't possible, friend Licio, that Mistress Bianca
      Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?
      I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand.
HORTENSIO
      Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
5     Stand by and mark the manner of his teaching.
Enter BIANCA and LUCENTIO
LUCENTIO
      Now, mistress, profit you in what you read?
BIANCA
      What, master, read you? first resolve me that.
LUCENTIO
      I read that I profess, the Art to Love.
BIANCA
      And may you prove, sir, master of your art!
LUCENTIO
10    While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart!
HORTENSIO
      Quick proceeders, marry! Now, tell me, I pray,
      You that durst swear at your mistress Bianca
      Loved none in the world so well as Lucentio.
TRANIO
      O despiteful love! unconstant womankind!
15    I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful.
HORTENSIO
      Mistake no more: I am not Licio,
      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,
20    And makes a god of such a cullion:
      Know, sir, that I am call'd Hortensio.
TRANIO
      Signior Hortensio, I have often heard
      Of your entire affection to Bianca;
      And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
25    I will with you, if you be so contented,
      Forswear Bianca and her love for ever.
HORTENSIO
      See, how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,
      Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow
      Never to woo her no more, but do forswear her,
30    As one unworthy all the former favours
      That I have fondly flatter'd her withal.
TRANIO
      And here I take the unfeigned oath,
      Never to marry with her though she would entreat:
      Fie on her! see, how beastly she doth court him!
HORTENSIO
35    Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!
      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.
40    And so farewell, Signior Lucentio.
      Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
      Shall win my love: and so I take my leave,
      In resolution as I swore before.
Exit
TRANIO
      Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace
45    As 'longeth to a lover's blessed case!
      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
50    Then we are rid of Licio.
TRANIO
      I' faith, he'll have a lusty widow now,
      That shall be wood and wedded in a day.
BIANCA
      God give him joy!
TRANIO
      Ay, and he'll tame her.
BIANCA
55    He says so, Tranio.
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,
60    To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.
Enter BIONDELLO
BIONDELLO
      O master, master, I have watch'd so long
      That I am dog-weary: but at last I spied
      An ancient angel coming down the hill,
      Will serve the turn.
TRANIO
65    What is he, Biondello?
BIONDELLO
      Master, a mercatante, or a pedant,
      I know not what; but format in apparel,
      In gait and countenance surely like a father.
LUCENTIO
      And what of him, Tranio?
TRANIO
70    If he be credulous and trust my tale,
      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.
Exeunt LUCENTIO and BIANCA
Enter a Pedant
Pedant
75    God save you, sir!
TRANIO
      And you, sir! you are welcome.
      Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?
Pedant
      Sir, at the farthest for a week or two:
      But then up farther, and as for as Rome;
80    And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.
TRANIO
      What countryman, I pray?
Pedant
      Of Mantua.
TRANIO
      Of Mantua, sir? marry, God forbid!
      And come to Padua, careless of your life?
Pedant
85    My life, sir! how, I pray? for that goes hard.
TRANIO
      'Tis death for any one in Mantua
      To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?
      Your ships are stay'd at Venice, and the duke,
      For private quarrel 'twixt your duke and him,
90    Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly:
      'Tis, marvel, but that you are but newly come,
      You might have heard it else proclaim'd about.
Pedant
      Alas! sir, it is worse for me than so;
      For I have bills for money by exchange
95    From Florence and must here deliver them.
TRANIO
      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?
Pedant
      Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,
100   Pisa renowned for grave citizens.
TRANIO
      Among them know you one Vincentio?
Pedant
      I know him not, but I have heard of him;
      A merchant of incomparable wealth.
TRANIO
      He is my father, sir; and, sooth to say,
105   In countenance somewhat doth resemble you.
BIONDELLO
      (Aside) As much as an apple doth an oyster,
      and all one.
TRANIO
      To save your life in this extremity,
      This favour will I do you for his sake;
110   And think it not the worst of an your fortunes
      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;
115   You understand me, sir: so shall you stay
      Till you have done your business in the city:
      If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it.
Pedant
      O sir, I do; and will repute you ever
      The patron of my life and liberty.
TRANIO
120   Then go with me to make the matter good.
      This, by the way, I let you understand;
      my father is here look'd for every day,
      To pass assurance of a dower in marriage
      'Twixt me and one Baptista's daughter here:
125   In all these circumstances I'll instruct you:
      Go with me to clothe you as becomes you.
Exeunt
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