READ STUDY GUIDE: Act IV, scenes i–ii |
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Act IV, Scene ii:
Padua. Before BAPTISTA'S house.
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. |
| [They stand aside.] |
| [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. |
| [They retire.] |
| HORTENSIO: |
| Quick proceeders, marry! Now tell me, I pray, |
| You that durst swear that your Mistress Bianca |
| Lov'd none in the world so well as Lucentio. |
| TRANIO: |
| O despiteful love! unconstant womankind! |
| I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful. |
| 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: |
| 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, |
| 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 more, but do forswear her, |
| As one unworthy all the former favours |
| That I have fondly flatter'd her withal. |
| TRANIO: |
| And here I take the like 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! |
| For me, that I may surely keep mine oath, |
| I will be married to a wealtlly widow |
| Ere three days pass, which hath as long lov'd me |
| As I have lov'd this proud disdainful haggard. |
| And so farewell, Signior Lucentio. |
| Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks, |
| Shall win my love; and so I take my leave, |
| In resolution as I swore before. |
| [Exit HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and BIANCA advance.] |
| TRANIO: |
| Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace |
| As 'longeth to a lover's blessed case! |
| 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. |
| TRANIO: |
| I' faith, he'll have a lusty widow now, |
| That shall be woo'd and wedded in a day. |
| BIANCA: |
| God give him joy! |
| TRANIO: |
| Ay, and he'll tame her. |
| BIANCA: |
| He says so, Tranio. |
| 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. |
| [Enter BIONDELLO, running.] |
| 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? |
| BIONDELLO: |
| Master, a mercatante or a pedant, |
| I know not what; but formal 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, |
| 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! |
| 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 far as Rome; |
| And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| '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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 all your fortunes |
| That you are like to Sir Vincentio. |
| His name and credit shall you undertake, |
| And in my house you shall be friendly lodg'd; |
| Look that you take upon you as you should! |
| You understand me, sir; so shall you stay |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Go with me to clothe you as becomes you. |
| [Exeunt.] |
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