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The Taming of the Shrew - Act 4, scene 4
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The Taming of the Shrew - Act 4, scene 4Act 4, scene 4
⌜Scene 4⌝
Synopsis:
In Padua, the Merchant impersonating Vincentio visits Baptista with Tranio, who is still disguised as Lucentio. Baptista accepts the Merchant’s guarantee of Bianca’s dower and sends “Cambio” to Bianca to tell her the marriage plans. Meanwhile, Baptista arranges to visit “Lucentio” and “Vincentio” at their lodging to finalize the marriage contract. Biondello tells Lucentio that all the arrangements have been made for Lucentio to elope with Bianca.
Enter Tranio ⌜as Lucentio,⌝ and the ⌜Merchant,⌝ booted,and dressed like Vincentio.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2175 ⌜Sir,⌝ this is the house. Please it you that I call?
⌜MERCHANT⌝
2176 Ay, what else? And but I be deceived,
2177 Signior Baptista may remember me,
2178 Near twenty years ago, in Genoa,
2179 5 Where we were lodgers at the Pegasus.
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TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝ 2180 ’Tis well. And hold your own in any case
2181 With such austerity as ’longeth to a father.
⌜MERCHANT⌝
2182 I warrant you.
Enter Biondello.
2183 But, sir, here comes your boy.
2184 10 ’Twere good he were schooled.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2185 Fear you not him.—Sirrah Biondello,
2186 Now do your duty throughly, I advise you.
2187 Imagine ’twere the right Vincentio.
BIONDELLO 2188 Tut, fear not me.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2189 15 But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista?
BIONDELLO
2190 I told him that your father was at Venice,
2191 And that you looked for him this day in Padua.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2192 Thou ’rt a tall fellow. Hold thee that to drink.
⌜He gives him money.⌝
Enter Baptista and Lucentio ⌜as Cambio.⌝
2193 Here comes Baptista. Set your countenance, sir.
⌜Merchant stands⌝ bareheaded.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2194 20 Signior Baptista, you are happily met.—
2195 Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of.
2196 I pray you stand good father to me now.
2197 Give me Bianca for my patrimony.
⌜MERCHANT, as Vincentio⌝ 2198 Soft, son.—
2199 25 Sir, by your leave, having come to Padua
2200 To gather in some debts, my son Lucentio
2201 Made me acquainted with a weighty cause
2202 Of love between your daughter and himself.
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2203
And, for the good report I hear of you,2204 30 And for the love he beareth to your daughter
2205 And she to him, to stay him not too long,
2206 I am content, in a good father’s care,
2207 To have him matched. And if you please to like
2208 No worse than I, upon some agreement
2209 35 Me shall you find ready and willing
2210 With one consent to have her so bestowed,
2211 For curious I cannot be with you,
2212 Signior Baptista, of whom I hear so well.
BAPTISTA
2213 Sir, pardon me in what I have to say.
2214 40 Your plainness and your shortness please me well.
2215 Right true it is your son Lucentio here
2216 Doth love my daughter, and she loveth him,
2217 Or both dissemble deeply their affections.
2218 And therefore, if you say no more than this,
2219 45 That like a father you will deal with him
2220 And pass my daughter a sufficient dower,
2221 The match is made, and all is done.
2222 Your son shall have my daughter with consent.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2223 I thank you, sir. Where then do you know best
2224 50 We be affied and such assurance ta’en
2225 As shall with either part’s agreement stand?
BAPTISTA
2226 Not in my house, Lucentio, for you know
2227 Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants.
2228 Besides, old Gremio is heark’ning still,
2229 55 And happily we might be interrupted.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2230 Then at my lodging, an it like you.
2231 There doth my father lie, and there this night
2232 We’ll pass the business privately and well.
2233 Send for your daughter by your servant here.
⌜He indicates Lucentio, and winks at him.⌝
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2234
60 My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently.2235 The worst is this: that at so slender warning
2236 You are like to have a thin and slender pittance.
BAPTISTA
2237 It likes me well.—Cambio, hie you home,
2238 And bid Bianca make her ready straight.
2239 65 And, if you will, tell what hath happenèd:
2240 Lucentio’s father is arrived in Padua,
2241 And how she’s like to be Lucentio’s wife.
⌜Lucentio exits.⌝
BIONDELLO
2242 I pray the gods she may, with all my heart.
TRANIO, ⌜as Lucentio⌝
2243 Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.—
2244 70 Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way?
2245 Welcome! One mess is like to be your cheer.
2246 Come, sir, we will better it in Pisa.
BAPTISTA 2247 I follow you.
⌜All but Biondello⌝ exit.
Enter Lucentio.
BIONDELLO 2248 Cambio.
LUCENTIO 2249 75What sayst thou, Biondello?
BIONDELLO 2250 You saw my master wink and laugh upon
2251 you?
LUCENTIO 2252 Biondello, what of that?
BIONDELLO 2253 Faith, nothing; but ’has left me here behind
2254 80 to expound the meaning or moral of his signs
2255 and tokens.
LUCENTIO 2256 I pray thee, moralize them.
BIONDELLO 2257 Then thus: Baptista is safe, talking with
2258 the deceiving father of a deceitful son.
LUCENTIO 2259 85And what of him?
BIONDELLO 2260 His daughter is to be brought by you to the
2261 supper.
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185
LUCENTIO
2262
And then?BIONDELLO 2263 The old priest at Saint Luke’s Church is at
2264 90 your command at all hours.
LUCENTIO 2265 And what of all this?
BIONDELLO 2266 I cannot tell, ⌜except⌝ they are busied
2267 about a counterfeit assurance. Take you assurance
2268 of her cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum. To th’
2269 95 church take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient
2270 honest witnesses.
2271 If this be not that you look for, I have no more to
2272 say,
2273 But bid Bianca farewell forever and a day.
LUCENTIO 2274 100Hear’st thou, Biondello?
BIONDELLO 2275 I cannot tarry. I knew a wench married in
2276 an afternoon as she went to the garden for parsley
2277 to stuff a rabbit, and so may you, sir. And so adieu,
2278 sir. My master hath appointed me to go to Saint
2279 105 Luke’s to bid the priest be ready to come against
2280 you come with your appendix.He exits.
LUCENTIO
2281 I may, and will, if she be so contented.
2282 She will be pleased. Then wherefore should I
2283 doubt?
2284 110 Hap what hap may, I’ll roundly go about her.
2285 It shall go hard if “Cambio” go without her.
He exits.