Tra. Is't possible, friend Licio, that Mistress Bianca Doth fancy any other but Lucentio? I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand. Hor. Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said, 5 Stand by and mark the manner of his teaching. Enter Bianca and Lucentio. Luc. Now, mistress, profit you in what you read? Bian. What, master, read you? first resolve me that. Luc. I read that I profess, the Art to Love. Bian. And may you prove, sir, master of your art! 10 Luc. While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart! Hor. Quick proceeders, marry! Now, tell me, I pray, You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca Loved none in the world so well as Lucentio. Tra. O despiteful love! unconstant womankind! 15 I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful. Hor. 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, 20 And makes a god of such a cullion: Know, sir, that I am call'd Hortensio. Tra. Signior Hortensio, I have often heard Of your entire affection to Bianca; And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness, 25 I will with you, if you be so contented, Forswear Bianca and her love for ever. Hor. 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, 30 As one unworthy all the former favours That I have fondly flatter'd her withal. Tra. 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! 35 Hor. Would all the world but he had quite forsworn! For me, that I may surely keep mine oath, I will be married to a wealthy widow, Ere three days pass, which hath as long loved me As I have loved this proud disdainful haggard. 40 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. Tra. Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace 45 As 'longeth to a lover's blessed case! Nay, I have ta'en you napping, gentle love, And have forsworn you with Hortensio. Bian. Tranio, you jest: but have you both forsworn me? Tra. Mistress, we have. Luc. Then we are rid of Licio. 50 Tra. I'faith, he'll have a lusty widow now, That shall be woo'd and wedded in a day. Bian. God give him joy! Tra. Ay, and he'll tame her. Bian. He says so, Tranio. Tra. Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school. 55 Bian. The taming-school! what, is there such a place? Tra. 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. Bion. O master, master, I have watch'd so long 60 That I am dog-weary! but at last I spied An ancient angel coming down the hill, Will serve the turn. Tra. What is he, Biondello? Bion. Master, a mercatantè, or a pedant, I know not what; but formal in apparel, 65 In gait and countenance surely like a father. Luc. And what of him, Tranio? Tra. If he be credulous and trust my tale, I'll make him glad to seem Vincentio, And give assurance to Baptista Minola, 70 As if he were the right Vincentio. Take in your love, and then let me alone. [Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca. Enter a Pedant. Ped. God save you, sir! Tra. And you, sir! you are welcome. Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest? Ped. Sir, at the farthest for a week or two: 75 But then up farther, and as far as Rome; And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life. Tra. What countryman, I pray? Ped. Of Mantua. Tra. Of Mantua, sir? marry, God forbid! And come to Padua, careless of your life? 80 Ped. My life, sir! how, I pray? for that goes hard. Tra. '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, 85 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. Ped. Alas, sir, it is worse for me than so! For I have bills for money by exchange 90 From Florence, and must here deliver them. Tra. 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? Ped. Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been; 95 Pisa renowned for grave citizens. Tra. Among them know you one Vincentio? Ped. I know him not, but I have heard of him; A merchant of incomparable wealth. Tra. He is my father, sir; and, sooth to say, 100 In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. Bion. As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one. [Aside. Tra. 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 105 That you are [like to Sir Vincentio. His name and credit shall you undertake, And in my house you shall be friendly lodged: Look that you take upon you as you should; You understand me, sir: so shall you stay 110 Till you have done your business in the city: If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it. Ped. O sir, I do; and will repute you ever The patron of my life and liberty. Tra. Then go with me to make the matter good. 115 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: 120 Go with me to clothe you as becomes you. [Exeunt.

LINENOTES:

Scene ii.] Steevens. Act v. Scene i. Pope. Scene iv. Hanmer. Act iv. Scene i. Capell. See note (xviii).

Padua] Pope.

Before B's house.] Theobald.

Enter T. and H.] Ff Q. Enter Lucentio and Bianca courting; and, on the opposite side, Tranio and Hortensio. Capell.

[1] that] om. S. Walker conj.

Mistress] om. Pope.

[4] Hor.] F2 F3 F4. Luc. F1 Q.

Sir, to satisfy you] Ff Q. To satisfy you, sir Pope. Signior, to satisfy you Anon conj.

have] om. Pope.

[5] [They stand by. Theobald.

... and Lucentio] Rowe.

[6, 8] Luc.] F2 F3 F4. Hor. F1 Q.

[7] What, master, read you? first] Theobald. What master read you first, Ff Q.

[8] to] of Rowe (ed. 2).

[10] [They retire backward. Theobald. [Court apart. Capell.

[11] Quick proceeders, marry] Marry, quick proceeders Capell.

Now, tell me] Tell me now Capell.

[11-13] Quick ... Lucentio] F1 Q F2. As prose in F3 F4.

[12] that your mistress] your mistress fair Capell.

[13] none] Rowe. me Ff Q.

in the] i'the Capell.

as] as her Capell.

[14] O] om. Capell.

[29] Never ... forswear her] om. Rowe.

[31] her] F3 F4. them F1 Q F2.

[33] Never] Ne'er Steevens.

with her] her Pope, wi'her S. Walker conj.

she would] she Pope. she'ld S. Walker conj.

[35] forsworn] forsworn her Rowe (ed. 2).

[36] oath,] Rowe. oath. Ff Q.

[38] hath] has F4.

[42] so] om. F2. thus Collier MS.

[44] Tra.] Tra. [passing to the other side]. Capell.

[45] 'longeth] Hanmer. longeth Ff Q.

[53] her] her too S. Walker conj.

[54] unto] Ff Q. into Warburton. to Heath conj.

[59] Act v. Scene ii. Pope. Scene v. Hanmer.

Enter B.] Enter B. running. Theobald.

[60] I am] I'm Pope.

[61] ancient angel] angel-merchant Steevens conj.

angel] Angel F1 F3 F4. Angell Q F2. engle Theobald. ayeul Becket conj. gentleman or gentle Mitford conj. morsel Staunton conj. ambler Collier (Collier MS.), antick Anon. conj. uncle Bubier conj.

coming] going Pope (ed. 2).

[63] mercatantè, or] Capell. marcantant or Ff Q. mercantant, or else Pope.

[65] surely] F1 Q. surly F2 F3 F4.

[66] And] om. Capell.

Tranio] om. S. Walker conj.

[69] give] give him Theobald.

[71] Take in] Theobald. Par. Take me F1 Q. Take me, F2 F3 F4. Partake or Take on Anon. conj.

Take ... and then] Partake your love within; Anon. conj.

[Exeunt L. and B.] Rowe.

[75] and] e'en Theobald conj.

[78] sir? marry] sir? Pope. sir, say you? Hanmer. sir? marry now Capell.

[81] in] of Hanmer.

[86] you are] you're Pope.

[91] courtesy] courtesy herein Capell.

[92] I will] will I Pope.

[100] countenance] count'nance F1 Q F3 F4. countnance F2.

[101] [Aside.] Rowe.

[105] like to Sir] so like to Collier MS. like, sir, to Staunton conj.

[110] the city] this city Capell conj.

[111] courtesy] court'sie Ff Q.

[117] dower] Warburton. dowre Ff Q. dowry Rowe.

[120] me] F1 Q. me, sir F2 F3 F4. See note (xix).