SCENE IV. Padua. Before Baptista's House. Enter TRANIO, and the Pedant dressed like Tra. Sir, this is the house; Please it you, that I call? Ped. Ay, what else? and, but1 I be deceived, Signior Baptista may remember me. Near twenty years ago, in Genoa, where Tra. "Tis well: And hold your own, in any case, with such Enter BIONDello. Ped. I warrant you: But, sir, here comes your boy; "Twere good, he were school'd. Tra. Fear you not him. Sirrah, Biondello, Now do your duty throughly, I advise you; Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio. Bion. Tut! fear not me. Tra. But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista? Bion. I told him, that your father was at Venice; And that you look'd for him this day in Padua. Tra. Thou'rt a tall 3 fellow; hold thee that to drink. Here comes Baptista:-set your countenance, sir. See the note on Act iii. Sc. 1, at p. 393. 2 Shakspeare has here taken a sign out of London, and hung it up in Padua. The Pegasus is the arms of the Middle Temple, and is a very popular sign. 3 i. e. a high fellow, a brave boy, as we now say. on Merry Wives of Windsor, Act i. Sc. 4, p. 174. Vide note VOL. III. PP Enter BAPTISTA and LUCentio. Signior Baptista, you are happily met:- This is the gentleman I told you of; I pray you, stand good father to me now, Ped. Soft, son! Sir, by your leave: having come to Padua To have him match'd; and,-if you please to like Bap. Sir, pardon me in what I have to say :- Your son shall have my daughter with consent. best, 4 i. e. scrupulous. Where then do you know 5 Assure, or convey; a law term. We be affied; and such assurance ta'en, As shall with either part's agreement stand? Bap. 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. Tra. Then at my lodging, an it like you, sir: 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're like to have a thin and slender pittance. Bap. It likes me well:-Cambio, 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. Luc. I pray the gods she may, with all my heart! Tra. Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone. Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way? Welcome! one mess is like to be your cheer: I follow you. [Exeunt TRANIO, Pedant, and BAPTISTA. Bion. Cambio.— Luc. What say'st thou, Biondello? Bion. You saw my master wink and laugh upon you? Luc. Biondello, what of that? Bion. 'Faith, nothing; but he has left me here behind, to expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens. 6 Betrothed. 7 Happily, in Shakspeare's time, signified peradventure, as well as fortunately; we now write it haply. 8 i. e. the secret purpose. Luc. I pray thee, moralize them. Bion. Then thus. Baptista is safe, talking with the deceiving father of a deceitful son. Luc. And what of him? Bion. His daughter is to be brought by you to the supper. Luc. And then?- Bion. The old priest at St. Luke's church is at your command at all hours. Luc. And what of all this? Bion. I cannot tell; except they are busied about a counterfeit assurance: Take you assurance of her, cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum 10 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. Luc. Hear'st thou, Biondello? [Going. Bion. 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. Luc. I may, and will, if she be so contented: She will be pleas'd, 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 11. 9 The first folio reads expect. 10 These were the words of the old exclusive privilege for imprinting a book. A quibble is meant. 11 Here in the old play, the Tinker speaks again : 'Slie. Sim, must they be married now? Lord. I, my lord.' Enter FERANDO and SANDER. Slie. Look, Sim, the foole is come againe now. SCENE V. A publick road. Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, and HOR TENSIO. Pet. Come on, o' God's name; once more toward our father's. Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon! Kath. I know, it is the moon. Pet. Nay, then you lie; it is the blessed sun. Kath. Then, God be bless'd, it is the blessed sun: But sun it is not, when you say it is not; Hor. Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won. Pet. Well, forward, forward: thus the bowl should run, And not unluckily against the bias. But soft; what company is coming here? We should probably read, and so it shall be still, for Ka tharine.' |