| [Enter TRANIO, and the Pedant dressed like VINCENTIO] | |
| TRANIO | Sir, this is the house: please it you that I call? |
| Pedant | 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. |
| TRANIO | 'Tis well; and hold your own, in any case, With such austerity as 'longeth to a father. |
| Pedant | I warrant you. |
| [Enter BIONDELLO] | |
| But, sir, here comes your boy; 'Twere good he were school'd. |
|
| TRANIO | 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 | But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista? |
| BIONDELLO | I told him that your father was at Venice, And that you look'd for him this day in Padua. |
| TRANIO | Thou'rt a tall fellow: hold thee that to drink. Here comes Baptista: set your countenance, sir. |
| [Enter BAPTISTA and LUCENTIO] | |
| Signior Baptista, you are happily met. | |
| [To the Pedant] | |
| Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of: I pray you stand good father to me now, Give me Bianca for my patrimony. |
|
| Pedant | Soft 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. |
| BAPTISTA | Sir, 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. |
| 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 hearkening 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. 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. |
| BIONDELLO | I pray the gods she may with all my heart! |
| TRANIO | Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone. |
| [Exit BIONDELLO] | |
| Signior 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 TRANIO, Pedant, and BAPTISTA] | |
| [Re-enter BIONDELLO] | |
| BIONDELLO | Cambio! |
| LUCENTIO | What sayest thou, Biondello? |
| 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 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 of Saint Luke's church is at your command at all hours. |
| LUCENTIO | And what of all this? |
| BIONDELLO | I 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. |
| LUCENTIO | Hearest 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 to come 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] |