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The Taming of the Shrew
  
 
Act V, Scene i:
Padua. Before LUCENTIO'S house.
 
[Enter on one side BIONDELLO, LUCENTIO, and BIANCA; GREMIOwalking on other side.]
BIONDELLO:
Softly and swiftly, sir, for the priest is ready.
LUCENTIO:
I fly, Biondello; but they may chance to need the at
home, therefore leave us.
BIONDELLO:
Nay, faith, I'll see the church o' your back; and 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, KATHERINA, VINCENTIO, and 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.
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.
[Enter PEDANT above, at a window.]
PEDANT:
What's he that knocks as he would beat down the gate?
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 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.
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] Why, how now, gentleman! why, this is flat
knavery to take upon you another man's name.
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.
VINCENTIO:
[Seeing BIONDELLO.] Come hither, crack-hemp.
BIONDELLO:
I 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.
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?
[He beats BIONDELLO.]
BIONDELLO:
Help, help, help! here's a madman will murder me.
[Exit.]
PEDANT:
Help, son! help, Signior Baptista!
[Exit from the window.]
PETRUCHIO:
Prithee, Kate, let's stand aside and see the end of this
controversy.
[They retire.]
[Re-enter PEDANT below; BAPTISTA, TRANIO, and SERVANTS.]
TRANIO:
Sir, what are you that offer to beat my servant?
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 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, 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?
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 Vicentio.
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, 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 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.
GREMIO:
Yes, I know thee to be Signior Lucentio.
BAPTISTA:
Away with the dotard! to the gaol with him!
VINCENTIO:
Thus strangers may be haled and abus'd: O monstrous
villain!
[Re-enter BIONDELLO, with LUCENTIO and BIANCA.]
BIONDELLO:
O! we are spoiled; and yonder he is: deny him, forswear
him, or else we are all undone.
LUCENTIO:
[Kneeling.] Pardon, sweet father.
VINCENTIO:
Lives my sweetest son?
[BIONDELLO, TRANIO, and PEDANT, run out.]
BIANCA:
[Kneeling.] Pardon, dear father.
BAPTISTA:
How hast thou offended?
Where is Lucentio?
LUCENTIO:
Here's Lucentio,
Right son to the right Vincentio;
That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,
While counterfeit supposes blear'd thine eyne.
GREMIO:
Here 's packing, with a witness, to deceive us all!
VINCENTIO:
Where is that damned villain, Tranio,
That fac'd and brav'd me in this matter so?
BAPTISTA:
Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?
BIANCA:
Cambio is chang'd into Lucentio.
LUCENTIO:
Love wrought these miracles. Bianca's love
Made me exchange my state with Tranio,
While he did bear my countenance in the town;
And happily I have arriv'd at the last
Unto the wished haven of my bliss.
What Tranio did, myself enforc'd him to;
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:
[To LUCENTIO.] But do you hear, sir? Have you married my
daughter without asking my good will?
VINCENTIO:
Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: but I
will in, to be revenged for this villainy.
[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;
Out of hope of all but my share of the feast.
[Exit.]
[PETRUCHIO and KATHERINA advance.]
KATHERINA:
Husband, let's follow to see the end of this ado.
PETRUCHIO:
First kiss me, Kate, and we will.
KATHERINA:
What! in the midst of the street?
PETRUCHIO:
What! art thou ashamed of me?
KATHERINA:
No, sir; God forbid; but ashamed to kiss.
PETRUCHIO:
Why, then, let's home again. Come, sirrah, let's away.
KATHERINA:
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.
[Exeunt.]
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