The Taming of the Shrew

The Taming of the Shrew

ACT V SCENE I	Padua. Before LUCENTIO'S house.
	GREMIO discovered. Enter behind BIONDELLO,LUCENTIO, and BIANCA
BIONDELLO	Softly and swiftly, sir; for the priest is ready.
LUCENTIO	I fly, Biondello: but they may chance to need thee
	at home; therefore leave us.
BIONDELLO	Nay, faith, I'll see the church o' your back; and	5
	then come back to my master's as soon as I can.
	Exeunt LUCENTIO, BIANCA, and BIONDELLO
GREMIO	I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.
	Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, VINCENTIO, GRUMIO,with Attendants
PETRUCHIO	Sir, here's the door, this is Lucentio's house:
	My father's bears more toward the market-place;
	Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir.	10
VINCENTIO	You shall not choose but drink before you go:
	I think I shall command your welcome here,
	And, by all likelihood, some cheer is toward.
	Knocks
GREMIO	They're busy within; you were best knock louder.
	Pedant looks out of the window
Pedant	What's he that knocks as he would beat down the gate?	15
VINCENTIO	Is Signior Lucentio within, sir?
Pedant	He's within, sir, but not to be spoken withal.
VINCENTIO	What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two, to
	make merry withal?
Pedant	Keep your hundred pounds to yourself: he shall	20
	need none, so long as I live.
PETRUCHIO	Nay, I told you your son was well beloved in Padua.
	Do you hear, sir? To leave frivolous circumstances,
	I pray you, tell Signior Lucentio that his father is
	come from Pisa, and is here at the door to speak with him.	25
Pedant	Thou liest: his father is come from Padua and here
	looking out at the window.
VINCENTIO	Art thou his father?
Pedant	Ay, sir; so his mother says, if I may believe her.
PETRUCHIO	To VINCENTIO
	is flat knavery, to take upon you another man's name.	30
Pedant	Lay hands on the villain: I believe a' means to
	cozen somebody in this city under my countenance.
	Re-enter BIONDELLO
BIONDELLO	I have seen them in the church together: God send
	'em good shipping! But who is here? mine old
	master Vincentio! now we are undone and brought to nothing.	35
VINCENTIO	Seeing BIONDELLO
	Come hither, crack-hemp.
BIONDELLO	Hope I may choose, sir.
VINCENTIO	Come hither, you rogue. What, have you forgot me?
BIONDELLO	Forgot you! no, sir: I could not forget you, for I
	never saw you before in all my life.	40
VINCENTIO	What, you notorious villain, didst thou never see
	thy master's father, Vincentio?
BIONDELLO	What, my old worshipful old master? yes, marry, sir:
	see where he looks out of the window.
VINCENTIO	Is't so, indeed.	45
	Beats BIONDELLO
BIONDELLO	Help, help, help! here's a madman will murder me.
	Exit
Pedant	Help, son! help, Signior Baptista!
	Exit from above
PETRUCHIO	Prithee, Kate, let's stand aside and see the end of
	this controversy.
	They retire
	Re-enter Pedant below; TRANIO, BAPTISTA, and Servants
TRANIO	Sir, what are you that offer to beat my servant?	50
VINCENTIO	What am I, sir! nay, what are you, sir? O immortal
	gods! O fine villain! A silken doublet! a velvet
	hose! a scarlet cloak! and a copatain hat! O, I
	am undone! I am undone! while I play the good
	husband at home, my son and my servant spend all at	55
	the university.
TRANIO	How now! what's the matter?
BAPTISTA	What, is the man lunatic?
TRANIO	Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by your
	habit, but your words show you a madman. Why, sir,	60
	what 'cerns it you if I wear pearl and gold? I
	thank my good father, I am able to maintain it.
VINCENTIO	Thy father! O villain! he is a sailmaker in Bergamo.
BAPTISTA	You mistake, sir, you mistake, sir. Pray, what do
	you think is his name?	65
VINCENTIO	His name! as if I knew not his name: I have brought
	him up ever since he was three years old, and his
	name is Tranio.
Pedant	Away, away, mad ass! his name is Lucentio and he is
	mine only son, and heir to the lands of me, Signior Vincentio.	70
VINCENTIO	Lucentio! O, he hath murdered his master! Lay hold
	on him, I charge you, in the duke's name. O, my
	son, my son! Tell me, thou villain, where is my son Lucentio?
TRANIO	Call forth an officer.
	Enter one with an Officer
	Carry this mad knave to the gaol. Father Baptista,	75
	I charge you see that he be forthcoming.
VINCENTIO	Carry me to the gaol!
GREMIO	Stay, officer: he shall not go to prison.
BAPTISTA	Talk not, Signior Gremio: I say he shall go to prison.
GREMIO	Take heed, Signior Baptista, lest you be	80
	cony-catched in this business: I dare swear this
	is the right Vincentio.
Pedant	Swear, if thou darest.
GREMIO	Nay, I dare not swear it.
TRANIO	Then thou wert best say that I am not Lucentio.	85
GREMIO	Yes, I know thee to be Signior Lucentio.
BAPTISTA	Away with the dotard! to the gaol with him!
VINCENTIO	Thus strangers may be hailed and abused: O
	monstrous villain!
	Re-enter BIONDELLO, with LUCENTIO and BIANCA
BIONDELLO	O! we are spoiled and--yonder he is: deny him,	90
	forswear him, or else we are all undone.
LUCENTIO	Kneeling
VINCENTIO	Lives my sweet son?
	Exeunt BIONDELLO, TRANIO, and Pedant, as fastas may be
BIANCA	Pardon, dear father.
BAPTISTA	How hast thou offended?
	Where is Lucentio?	95
LUCENTIO	Here's Lucentio,
	Right son to the right Vincentio;
	That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,
	While counterfeit supposes bleared thine eyne.
GREMIO	Here's packing, with a witness to deceive us all!	100
VINCENTIO	Where is that damned villain Tranio,
	That faced and braved me in this matter so?
BAPTISTA	Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?
BIANCA	Cambio is changed into Lucentio.
LUCENTIO	Love wrought these miracles. Bianca's love	105
	Made me exchange my state with Tranio,
	While he did bear my countenance in the town;
	And happily I have arrived at the last
	Unto the wished haven of my bliss.
	What Tranio did, myself enforced him to;	110
	Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.
VINCENTIO	I'll slit the villain's nose, that would have sent
	me to the gaol.
BAPTISTA	But do you hear, sir? have you married my daughter
	without asking my good will?	115
VINCENTIO	Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: but
	I will in, to be revenged for this villany.
	Exit
BAPTISTA	And I, to sound the depth of this knavery.
	Exit
LUCENTIO	Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not frown.
	Exeunt LUCENTIO and BIANCA
GREMIO	My cake is dough; but I'll in among the rest,	120
	Out of hope of all, but my share of the feast.
	Exit
KATHARINA	Husband, let's follow, to see the end of this ado.
PETRUCHIO	First kiss me, Kate, and we will.
KATHARINA	What, in the midst of the street?
PETRUCHIO	What, art thou ashamed of me?	125
KATHARINA	No, sir, God forbid; but ashamed to kiss.
PETRUCHIO	Why, then let's home again. Come, sirrah, let's away.
KATHARINA	Nay, I will give thee a kiss: now pray thee, love, stay.
PETRUCHIO	Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate:
	Better once than never, for never too late.	130
	Exeunt