Act 4 Scene 2

The scene returns to Padua, where Hortensio (still disguised as the music-teacher, Litio) has told Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) that Bianca is in love with their rival. They stand aside to overhear Bianca and the real Lucentio declare their love for each other# and then together Hortensio and Tranio renounce their love for Bianca. Hortensio leaves the stage, vowing to wed a rich widow — and Tranio puts off his disguise and congratulates his old master and his new mistress on the success of their plot. Biondello brings news of the arrival of a stranger in town, and Tranio, practising a clever deception on the old man, induces him to play the part of Vincentio, the father of Lucentio.
3	bears . . . hand: is leading me on with false hopes.
4	satisfy you in: prove to you.
5	mark: note.
6	read: study# the two use this word in several senses as they come to their declaration of love.
7	read: teach.
resolve me that: answer that for me.
8	that I profess: what I practise.
The Art to Love: i.e. Ovid’s Ars Amatoria.
9	master of your art: successful in your study# this reference to a university degree (M.A.) initiates a word-play in the following lines.
11	quick proceeders: fast learners# “proceed” is the technical term for a university scholar who moves to a higher degree — from “bachelor” to “master”.
12	durst: dare.
14	despiteful: cruel.
15	wonderful: incredible.
18	scorn: scorns# the singular verb agrees with “I” in the preceding line.
20	cullion: peasant.
23	entire affection to: sincere love for.
24	lightness: unfaithfulness.
31	fondly: foolishly.
33	though she would entreat: even if she asked me to.
34	beastly: lasciviously# perhaps the lovers are kissing.
35	“I wish that everyone else would give up completely” — so that Bianca would have to marry her tutor# in his spite, Hortensio does not realize that this is exactly what Bianca wants.
36	mine oath: the vow he has just made.
37	a wealthy widow: This is the first time that this character has been mentioned# it may be that there has been some revision of the play, especially affecting the role and function of Hortensio.
39	haggard: Hortensio uses the same hawk imagery as Petruccio.
41	Kindness: affection, the readiness to love him.
43	In resolution: quite determined.
45	’longeth: belongs.
case: situation.
46	ta’en you napping: caught you by surprise.
50	lusty: merry.
58	eleven-and-twenty long: just the job, the right ones (compare 1, 2, 33 note).
59	charm: put a spell on, silence.
61	dog-weary: tired out.
62	ancient: of the old style (i.e. trustworthy, honest# the adjective prepares for a double meaning in the noun).
angel: messenger from heaven# and a gold coin stamped with the archangel Michael.
63	serve the turn: do for the job.
64	marcantant: merchant# presumably Biondello mispronounces the Italian mercatante.
pedant: teacher# the pedant was one of the stock characters of the commedia dell’arte.
66	countenance: appearance.
68	trust my tale: believe what I tell him.
69	seem: pretend to be.
74	farre on: any farther.
at the farthest: as far as you go.
77	if . . . life: if I live long enough.
78	What countryman: Where do you come from?
Of Mantua: This Pedant is travelling an odd route# but Shakespeare is not interested in his itinerary: it is only important to establish that he is a complete stranger.
81	goes hard: sounds serious.
84	stayed: held up# Mantua is not a sea-port, but cities in northern Italy were linked by a network of canals.
the Duke: i.e. of Venice, who might also have been the ruler of Padua.
86	published: declared.
87	“If you were not such a stranger you would certainly have heard about it’# Tranio’s sentence-structure suggests his excitement.
89	worse . . . than: even worse than that.
90	bills . . . exchange: notes which can be exchanged for cash.
91	deliver: exchange.
92	do you courtesy: do you a favour.
96	This seems to be a repetition of a proverbial saying — compare 1, 1, 10.
97	one: a certain.
102	apple. . . oyster: A proverbial comparison.
103	and all one: never mind about that.
104	extremity: danger.
108	credit: position.
undertake: assume.
109	friendly: as a friend.
110	Look that: see to it that.
take upon you: do what is required of you.
113	If . . . courtesy: If you think I’m doing you a kindness.
114	repute: consider.
115	patron: saviour.
116	make the matter good: put this plan into action.
117	by the way: as we go along.
118	looked for: expected.
119	pass assurance: make a formal agreement.
121	circumstances: details.
122	becomes you: i.e. is appropriate for your new identity (as Vincentio of Pisa).