The Taming of the Shrew

daughter with consent. Tranio

I thank you, sir. Where then do you know best
We be affied and such assurance ta’en
As shall with either part’s agreement stand?

Baptista

Not in my house, Lucentio; for, you know,
Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants:
Besides, old Gremio is hearkening still;
And happily we might be interrupted.

Tranio

Then at my lodging, an it like you:
There doth my father lie; and there, this night,
We’ll pass the business privately and well.
Send for your daughter by your servant here;
My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently.
The worst is this, that, at so slender warning,
You are like to have a thin and slender pittance.

Baptista

It likes me well. Biondello, hie you home,
And bid Bianca make her ready straight;
And, if you will, tell what hath happened,
Lucentio’s father is arrived in Padua,
And how she’s like to be Lucentio’s wife.

Biondello I pray the gods she may with all my heart! Tranio

Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone. Exit Biondello.
Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way?
Welcome! one mess is like to be your cheer:
Come, sir; we will better it in Pisa.

Baptista I follow you. Exeunt Tranio, Pedant, and Baptista. Re-enter Biondello. Biondello Cambio! Lucentio What sayest thou, Biondello? Biondello You saw my master wink and laugh upon you? Lucentio Biondello, what of that? Biondello Faith, nothing; but has left me here behind, to expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens. Lucentio I pray thee, moralize them. Biondello Then thus. Baptista is safe, talking with the deceiving father of a deceitful son. Lucentio And what of him? Biondello His daughter is to be brought by you to the supper. Lucentio And then? Biondello The old priest of Saint Luke’s church is at your command at all hours. Lucentio And what of all this? Biondello

I cannot tell; expect they are busied about a counterfeit assurance: take you assurance of her, “cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum:” to the church; take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient honest witnesses:

If this be not that you look for, I have no more to say,
But bid Bianca farewell for ever and a day.

Lucentio Hearest thou, Biondello? Biondello I cannot tarry: I knew a wench married in an afternoon as she went to the garden for parsley to stuff a rabbit; and so may you, sir: and so, adieu, sir. My master hath appointed me to go to Saint Luke’s, to bid the priest be ready to come against you come with your appendix. Exit. Lucentio

I may, and will, if she be so contented:
She will be pleased; then wherefore should I doubt?
Hap what hap may, I’ll roundly go about her:
It shall go hard if Cambio go without her. Exit.

Scene V

A public road.

	Enter Petruchio, Katharina, Hortensio, and Servants.
Petruchio	Come on, i’ God’s name; once more toward our father’s. Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon!
Katharina	The moon! the sun: it is not moonlight now.
Petruchio	I say it is the moon that shines so bright.
Katharina	I know it is the sun that shines so bright.
Petruchio	Now, by my mother’s son, and that’s myself, It shall be moon, or star, or what I list, Or ere I journey to your father’s house. Go on, and fetch our horses back again. Evermore cross’d and cross’d; nothing but cross’d!
Hortensio	Say as he says, or we shall never go.
Katharina	Forward, I pray, since we have come so far, And be it moon, or sun, or what you please: An if you please to call it a rush-candle, Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.
Petruchio	I say it is the moon.
Katharina	I know it is the moon.
Petruchio	Nay, then you lie: it is the blessed sun.
Katharina	Then, God be bless’d, it is the blessed sun: But sun it is not, when you say it is not; And the moon changes even as your mind. What you will have it named, even that it is; And so it shall be so for Katharine.
Hortensio	Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won.
Petruchio	Well, forward, forward! thus the bowl should run, And not unluckily against the bias. But, soft! company is coming here.
	Enter Vincentio.
	To Vincentio. Good morrow, gentle mistress: where away? Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too, Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman? Such war of white and red within her cheeks! What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty, As those two eyes become that heavenly face? Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee. Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty’s sake.
Hortensio	A’ will make the man mad, to make a woman of him.
Katharina	Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet, Whither away, or where is thy abode? Happy the parents of so fair a child; Happier the man, whom favourable stars Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow!
Petruchio	Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad: This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither’d, And not a maiden, as thou say’st he is.
Katharina	Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes, That have been so bedazzled with the sun That everything I look on seemeth green: Now I perceive thou art a reverend father; Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.
Petruchio	Do, good old grandsire: and withal make known Which way thou travellest: if along with us, We shall be joyful of thy company.
Vincentio	Fair sir, and you my merry mistress, That with your strange encounter much amazed me, My name is call’d Vincentio; my dwelling Pisa; And bound I am to Padua; there to visit A son of mine, which long I have not seen.
Petruchio	What is his name?
Vincentio	Lucentio, gentle sir.
Petruchio	Happily met; the happier for thy son. And now by law, as well as reverend age, I may entitle thee my loving father: The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman, Thy son by this hath married. Wonder not, Nor be grieved: she is of good esteem, Her dowery wealthy, and of worthy birth; Beside, so qualified as may beseem The spouse of any noble gentleman. Let me embrace with old Vincentio, And wander we to see thy honest son, Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.
Vincentio	But is this