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The Taming of the Shrew - Act 4, scene 2
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The Taming of the Shrew - Act 4, scene 2Act 4, scene 2
⌜Scene 2⌝
Synopsis:
In Padua, Hortensio (as Litio) leads Tranio (as Lucentio) to spy on Bianca and Lucentio-Cambio as the couple kiss and talk of love. Hortensio, doffing his disguise as Litio, then rejects Bianca forever, resolves to marry a wealthy widow who loves him, and sets off to observe Petruchio’s taming of Katherine. In the meantime, Biondello has found a traveling merchant whom Tranio persuades to impersonate Lucentio’s father, Vincentio.
Enter Tranio ⌜as Lucentio⌝ and Hortensio ⌜as Litio.⌝TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1846 Is ’t possible, friend Litio, that mistress Bianca
1847 Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?
1848 I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand.
⌜HORTENSIO, as Litio⌝
1849 Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
1850 5 Stand by, and mark the manner of his teaching.
⌜They stand aside.⌝
Enter Bianca ⌜and Lucentio as Cambio.⌝
⌜LUCENTIO, as Cambio⌝
1851 Now mistress, profit you in what you read?
BIANCA
1852 What, master, read you? First resolve me that.
⌜LUCENTIO, as Cambio⌝
1853 I read that I profess, The Art to Love.
BIANCA
1854 And may you prove, sir, master of your art.
LUCENTIO, ⌜as Cambio⌝
1855 10 While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart.
⌜They move aside and kiss and talk.⌝
HORTENSIO, ⌜as Litio⌝
1856 Quick proceeders, marry! Now tell me, I pray,
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1857
You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca1858 Loved ⌜none⌝ in the world so well as Lucentio.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1859 O despiteful love, unconstant womankind!
1860 15 I tell thee, Litio, this is wonderful!
HORTENSIO
1861 Mistake no more. I am not Litio,
1862 Nor a musician as I seem to be,
1863 But one that scorn to live in this disguise
1864 For such a one as leaves a gentleman
1865 20 And makes a god of such a cullion.
1866 Know, sir, that I am called Hortensio.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1867 Signior Hortensio, I have often heard
1868 Of your entire affection to Bianca,
1869 And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
1870 25 I will with you, if you be so contented,
1871 Forswear Bianca and her love forever.
HORTENSIO
1872 See how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,
1873 Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow
1874 Never to woo her more, but do forswear her
1875 30 As one unworthy all the former favors
1876 That I have fondly flattered ⌜her⌝ withal.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1877 And here I take the like unfeignèd oath,
1878 Never to marry with her, though she would entreat.
1879 Fie on her, see how beastly she doth court him!
HORTENSIO
1880 35 Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!
1881 For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,
1882 I will be married to a wealthy widow
1883 Ere three days pass, which hath as long loved me
1884 As I have loved this proud disdainful haggard.
1885 40 And so farewell, Signior Lucentio.
1886 Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
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157
1887
Shall win my love, and so I take my leave,1888 In resolution as I swore before.
⌜Hortensio exits;
Bianca and Lucentio come forward.⌝
TRANIO
1889 Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace
1890 45 As ’longeth to a lover’s blessèd case!
1891 Nay, I have ta’en you napping, gentle love,
1892 And have forsworn you with Hortensio.
BIANCA
1893 Tranio, you jest. But have you both forsworn me?
TRANIO
1894 Mistress, we have.
LUCENTIO 1895 50 Then we are rid of Litio.
TRANIO
1896 I’ faith, he’ll have a lusty widow now
1897 That shall be wooed and wedded in a day.
BIANCA 1898 God give him joy.
TRANIO
1899 Ay, and he’ll tame her.
BIANCA 1900 55 He says so, Tranio?
TRANIO
1901 Faith, he is gone unto the taming school.
BIANCA
1902 The taming school? What, is there such a place?
TRANIO
1903 Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master,
1904 That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long
1905 60 To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.
Enter Biondello.
BIONDELLO
1906 O master, master, I have watched so long
1907 That I am dog-weary, but at last I spied
1908 An ancient angel coming down the hill
1909 Will serve the turn.
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159
TRANIO
1910
65 What is he, Biondello?BIONDELLO
1911 Master, a marcantant, or a pedant,
1912 I know not what, but formal in apparel,
1913 In gait and countenance surely like a father.
LUCENTIO 1914 And what of him, Tranio?
TRANIO
1915 70 If he be credulous, and trust my tale,
1916 I’ll make him glad to seem Vincentio
1917 And give assurance to Baptista Minola
1918 As if he were the right Vincentio.
1919 Take ⌜in⌝ your love, and then let me alone.
⌜Lucentio and Bianca exit.⌝
Enter a ⌜Merchant.⌝
⌜MERCHANT⌝
1920 75 God save you, sir.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 1921 And you, sir. You are welcome.
1922 Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?
⌜MERCHANT⌝
1923 Sir, at the farthest for a week or two,
1924 But then up farther, and as far as Rome,
1925 80 And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1926 What countryman, I pray?
⌜MERCHANT⌝ 1927 Of Mantua.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1928 Of Mantua, sir? Marry, God forbid!
1929 And come to Padua, careless of your life?
⌜MERCHANT⌝
1930 85 My life, sir? How, I pray? For that goes hard.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1931 ’Tis death for anyone in Mantua
1932 To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?
1933 Your ships are stayed at Venice, and the Duke,
1934 For private quarrel ’twixt your duke and him,
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161
1935
90 Hath published and proclaimed it openly.1936 ’Tis marvel, but that you are but newly come,
1937 You might have heard it else proclaimed about.
⌜MERCHANT⌝
1938 Alas, sir, it is worse for me than so,
1939 For I have bills for money by exchange
1940 95 From Florence, and must here deliver them.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1941 Well, sir, to do you courtesy,
1942 This will I do, and this I will advise you.
1943 First tell me, have you ever been at Pisa?
⌜MERCHANT⌝
1944 Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,
1945 100 Pisa renownèd for grave citizens.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1946 Among them know you one Vincentio?
⌜MERCHANT⌝
1947 I know him not, but I have heard of him:
1948 A merchant of incomparable wealth.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1949 He is my father, sir, and sooth to say,
1950 105 In count’nance somewhat doth resemble you.
BIONDELLO, ⌜aside⌝ 1951 As much as an apple doth an
1952 oyster, and all one.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1953 To save your life in this extremity,
1954 This favor will I do you for his sake
1955 110 (And think it not the worst of all your fortunes
1956 That you are like to Sir Vincentio):
1957 His name and credit shall you undertake,
1958 And in my house you shall be friendly lodged.
1959 Look that you take upon you as you should.
1960 115 You understand me, sir. So shall you stay
1961 Till you have done your business in the city.
1962 If this be court’sy, sir, accept of it.
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163
⌜MERCHANT⌝ 1963 O sir, I do, and will repute you ever
1964 The patron of my life and liberty.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
1965 120 Then go with me, to make the matter good.
1966 This, by the way, I let you understand:
1967 My father is here looked for every day
1968 To pass assurance of a dower in marriage
1969 ’Twixt me and one Baptista’s daughter here.
1970 125 In all these circumstances I’ll instruct you.
1971 Go with me to clothe you as becomes you.
They exit.