Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
Act 4 - Scene 2
Padua. Before BAPTISTA’S house
Tranio : Is 't possible, friend Licio, that Mistress Bianca
[p]Doth fancy any
other but Lucentio?
[p]I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand.
Hortensio : Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
[p]Stand by and mark the
manner of his teaching.
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 : While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart.
Hortensio : Quick proceeders, marry! Now tell me, I pray,
[p]You that durst swear
that your Mistress Bianca
[p]Lov'd none in the world so well as
Lucentio.
Tranio : O despiteful love! unconstant womankind!
[p]I tell thee, Licio, this
is wonderful.
Hortensio : Mistake no more; I am not Licio.
[p]Nor a musician as I seem to
be;
[p]But one that scorn to live in this disguise
[p]For such a one
as leaves a gentleman
[p]And makes a god of such a cullion.
[p]Know,
sir, that I am call'd Hortensio.
Tranio : Signior Hortensio, I have often heard
[p]Of your entire affection to
Bianca;
[p]And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
[p]I will
with you, if you be so contented,
[p]Forswear Bianca and her love for
ever.
Hortensio : See, how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,
[p]Here is my hand,
and here I firmly vow
[p]Never to woo her more, but do forswear
her,
[p]As one unworthy all the former favours
[p]That I have fondly
flatter'd her withal.
Tranio : And here I take the like unfeigned oath,
[p]Never to marry with her
though she would entreat;
[p]Fie on her! See how beastly she doth
court him!
Hortensio : Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!
[p]For me, that I may
surely keep mine oath,
[p]I will be married to a wealtlly widow
[p]Ere
three days pass, which hath as long lov'd me
[p]As I have lov'd this
proud disdainful haggard.
[p]And so farewell, Signior
Lucentio.
[p]Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
[p]Shall
win my love; and so I take my leave,
[p]In resolution as I swore
before. Exit
Tranio : Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace
[p]As 'longeth to a lover's
blessed case!
[p]Nay, I have ta'en you napping, gentle love,
[p]And
have forsworn you with Hortensio.
Bianca : Tranio, you jest; but have you both forsworn me?
Tranio : Mistress, we have.
Lucentio : Then we are rid of Licio.
Tranio : I' faith, he'll have a lusty widow now,
[p]That shall be woo'd and
wedded in a day.
Bianca : God give him joy!
Tranio : Ay, and he'll tame her.
Bianca : 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,
[p]That teacheth tricks
eleven and twenty long,
[p]To tame a shrew and charm her chattering
tongue.
Biondello : O master, master I have watch'd so long
[p]That I am dog-weary; but at
last I spied
[p]An ancient angel coming down the hill
[p]Will serve
the turn.
Tranio : What is he, Biondello?
Biondello : Master, a mercatante or a pedant,
[p]I know not what; but formal in
apparel,
[p]In gait and countenance surely like a father.
Lucentio : And what of him, Tranio?
Tranio : If he be credulous and trust my tale,
[p]I'll make him glad to seem
Vincentio,
[p]And give assurance to Baptista Minola
[p]As if he were
the right Vincentio.
[p]Take in your love, and then let me alone.
Pedant : God save you, sir!
Tranio : And you, sir; you are welcome.
[p]Travel you far on, or are you at the
farthest?
Pedant : Sir, at the farthest for a week or two;
[p]But then up farther, and as
far as Rome;
[p]And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.
Tranio : What countryman, I pray?
Pedant : Of Mantua.
Tranio : Of Mantua, sir? Marry, God forbid,
[p]And come to Padua, careless of
your life!
Pedant : My life, sir! How, I pray? For that goes hard.
Tranio : 'Tis death for any one in Mantua
[p]To come to Padua. Know you not the
cause?
[p]Your ships are stay'd at Venice; and the Duke,
[p]For
private quarrel 'twixt your Duke and him,
[p]Hath publish'd and
proclaim'd it openly.
[p]'Tis marvel- but that you are but newly
come,
[p]You might have heard it else proclaim'd about.
Pedant : Alas, sir, it is worse for me than so!
[p]For I have bills for money
by exchange
[p]From Florence, and must here deliver them.
Tranio : Well, sir, to do you courtesy,
[p]This will I do, and this I will
advise you-
[p]First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa?
Pedant : Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,
[p]Pisa renowned for grave
citizens.
Tranio : Among them know you one Vincentio?
Pedant : I know him not, but I have heard of him,
[p]A merchant of incomparable
wealth.
Tranio : He is my father, sir; and, sooth to say,
[p]In count'nance somewhat
doth resemble you.
Biondello : [Aside] As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all
[p]one.
Tranio : To save your life in this extremity,
[p]This favour will I do you for
his sake;
[p]And think it not the worst of all your fortunes
[p]That
you are like to Sir Vincentio.
[p]His name and credit shall you
undertake,
[p]And in my house you shall be friendly lodg'd;
[p]Look
that you take upon you as you should.
[p]You understand me, sir. So
shall you stay
[p]Till you have done your business in the city.
[p]If
this be court'sy, sir, accept of it.
Pedant : O, sir, I do; and will repute you ever
[p]The patron of my life and
liberty.
Tranio : Then go with me to make the matter good.
[p]This, by the way, I let
you understand:
[p]My father is here look'd for every day
[p]To pass
assurance of a dow'r in marriage
[p]'Twixt me and one Baptista's
daughter here.
[p]In all these circumstances I'll instruct you.
[p]Go
with me to clothe you as becomes you. Exeunt
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Next: Act 4 - Scene 3
