The Taming of the Shrew 4.2 - The Pedant impersonates Vincentio

The Taming of the Shrew

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ACT IV 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,
	Stand by and mark the manner of his teaching.	5
[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	While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart!	10
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!
	I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful.	15
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,
	And makes a god of such a cullion:	20
	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,
	I will with you, if you be so contented,	25
	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,
	As one unworthy all the former favours	30
	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	Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!	35
	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.
	And so farewell, Signior Lucentio.	40
	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
	As 'longeth to a lover's blessed case!	45
	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	Then we are rid of Licio.	50
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	He says so, Tranio.	55
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,
	To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.	60
[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	What is he, Biondello?	65
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	If he be credulous and trust my tale,	70
	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	God save you, sir!	75
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;
	And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.	80
TRANIO	What countryman, I pray?
Pedant	Of Mantua.
TRANIO	Of Mantua, sir? marry, God forbid!
	And come to Padua, careless of your life?
Pedant	My life, sir! how, I pray? for that goes hard.	85
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,
	Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly:	90
	'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
	From Florence and must here deliver them.	95
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,
	Pisa renowned for grave citizens.	100
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,
	In countenance somewhat doth resemble you.	105
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;
	And think it not the worst of an your fortunes	110
	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;
	You understand me, sir: so shall you stay	115
	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	Then go with me to make the matter good.	120
	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:
	In all these circumstances I'll instruct you:	125
	Go with me to clothe you as becomes you.
[Exeunt]