Page images
PDF
EPUB

Pet. Come, go along, and see the truth hereof; For our first merriment hath made thee jealous. [Exeunt PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, and VINCENTIO.

Hor. Well, Petruchio, this hath put me in heart. Have to my widow; and if she be forward, Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.

[Exit,

ACT V.

SCENE I. Padua. Before Lucentio's House.

Enter on one side BIONDELLO, LUCENTIO, and BIANCA; GREMIO walking on the other side.

Bion. Softly and swiftly, sir; for the priest is ready.

Luc. I fly, Biondello: but they may chance to need thee at home, therefore leave us.

Bion. Nay, faith, I'll see the church o' your back; and then come back to my master as soon as I can.

[Exeunt LUCENTIO, BIANCA, and BIONDELLO. Gre. I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.

Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, VINCENTIO, and Attendants.

Pet. 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.

Vin. 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. Gre. They're busy within, you were best knock louder.

Enter Pedant above, at a window.·

Ped. What's he, that knocks as he would beat down the gate?

Vin. Is signior Lucentio within, sir?

Ped. He's within, sir, but not to be spoken withal.

Vin. What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two, to make merry withal?

Ped. Keep your hundred pounds to yourself; he shall need none, so long as I live.

Pet. Nay, I told you, your son was 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.

Ped. Thou liest; his father is come from Pisa, and here looking out at the window.

Vin. Art thou his father?

Ped. Ay, sir; so his mother says, if I may believe her.

Pet. Why, how now, gentleman! [To VINCEN.] why, this is flat knavery, to take upon you another

man's name.

Ped. Lay hands on the villain; I believe, 'a means to cozen somebody in this city under my

countenance.

Re-enter BIONDELLO.

Bion. 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.

Vin. Come hither, crack-hemp.

[Seeing BIONDELLO.. Bion. I hope, I may choose, sir.

Vin. Come hither, you rogue; What, have you forgot me?

Bion. Forgot you? no, sir: I could not forget you, for I never saw you before in all my life.

Vin. What, you notorious villain, didst thou never see thy master's father, Vincentio ?

Bion. What, my old, worshipful old master? yes, marry, sir; see where he looks out of the window. Vin. Is't so, indeed? [Beats BIONDELLO. Bion. Help, help, help! here's a madman will murder me.

[Exit.

Ped. Help, son! help, signior Baptista! [Exit, from the window. Pet. Pr'ythee, Kate, let's stand aside, and see the

end of this controversy.

[They retire.

Re-enter Pedant below; BAPTISTA, TRANIO, and

Servants.

Tra. Sir, what are you, that offer to beat my servant?

Vin. What am I, sir? nay, what are you, sir?O immortal gods! O fine villain! A silken doublet! á velvet hose! a scarlet cloak! and a copatain hat!3 -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.

Tra. How now! what's the matter?

Bap. What, is the man lunatick?

Tra: Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by

3 —a copatain hat !] is, I believe, a hat with a conical crown, anciently worn by well-dressed men. JOHNSON.

your habit, but your words show you a madmari: Why, sir, what concerns it you, if I wear pearl and gold? I thank my good father, I am able to maintain it.

Vin. Thy father? O, villain! he is a sail-maker in Bergamo.

Bap. You mistake, sir; you mistake, sir: Pray, what do you think is his name?

Vin. 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.

Ped. Away, away, mad ass! his name is Lucentio; and he is mine only son, and heir to the lands of me, signior Vincentio.

Vin. 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?

Tra. 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. Vin. Carry me to the gaol!

Gre. Stay, officer; he shall not go to prison. Bap. Talk not, signior Gremio; I say, he shall go to prison.

Gre. Take heed, signior Baptista, lest you be coney-catched in this business; I dare swear, this is the right Vincentio.

Ped. Swear, if thou darest.

Gre. Nay, I dare not swear it.

Tra. Then thou wert best say, that I am not Lucentio.

Gre. Yes, I know thee to be signior Lucentio. Bap. Away with the dotard; to the gaol with

him.

coney-catched-] i. e. deceived, cheated.

Vin. Thus strangers may be haled and abus'd:— O monstrous villain!

Re-enter BIONDELLO, with LUCENTIO, and
BIANCA.

Bion. O, we are spoiled, and-Yonder he is; deny him, forswear him, or else we are all undone. Luc. Pardon, sweet father.

Vin.

[Kneeling.

Lives my sweetest son? [BIONDELLO, TRANIO, and Pedant run out.

Bian. Pardon, dear father.

[blocks in formation]

[Kneeling.

How hast thou offended?

Here's Lucentio,

Right son unto the right Vincentio;

That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,
While counterfeit supposes blear'd thine eyne."
Gre. Here's packing, with a witness, to deceive
us all!

Vin. Where is that damned villain, Tranio,
That fac'd and brav'd me in this matter so?

Bap. Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?
Bian. Cambio is chang'd into Lucentio.

Luc. 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 last

Unto the wished haven of my bliss:

What Tranio did, myself enforc'd him to;
Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.

Vin. I'll slit the villain's nose, that would have sent me to the gaol.

Bap. But do you hear, sir? [To LUCENTIO.]

5 While counterfeit supposes blear'd thine eyne.] To blear the eye, was an ancient phrase signifying to deceive.

• Here's packing,] i. e. plotting, underhand contrivance.

« PreviousContinue »