THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

Act 4 Scene 4

(Enter Tranio as Lucentio, and the Pedant dressed like Vincentio, booted and bare-headed)
l1l	Tranio	 Sir, this is the house. Please it you that I call?
l2l	Pedant	Ay, what else. And but I be deceived,
l3l		Signor Baptista may remember me
l4l		Near twenty years ago in Genoa—
l5l	Tranio	Where we were lodgers at the Pegasus.—
l6l		’Tis well, and hold your own in any case
l7l		With such austerity as ’longeth to a father.
		(Enter Biondello)
l8l	Pedant	 I warrant you. But sir, here comes your boy.
l9l		’Twere good he were schooled.
l10l	Tranio	Fear you not him. Sirrah Biondello,
l11l		Now do your duty throughly, I advise you.
l12l		Imagine ’twere the right Vincentio.
l13l	Biondello	Tut, fear not me.
l14l	Tranio	But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista?
l15l	Biondello	I told him that your father was at Venice
l16l		And that you looked for him this day in Padua.
l17l	Tranio	(giving money)
		 Thou’rt a tall fellow. Hold thee that to drink.
l18l		Here comes Baptista. Set your countenance, sir.
		(Enter Baptista, and Lucentio as Cambio)
l19l	Tranio	 Signor Baptista, you are happily met.
l20l		(To the Pedant)
		 Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of.
l21l		I pray you stand good father to me now.
l22l		Give me Bianca for my patrimony.
l23l	Pedant	Soft, son.
		(To Baptista)
		 Sir, by your leave, having come to Padua
l24l		To gather in some debts, my son Lucentio
l25l		Made me acquainted with a weighty cause
l26l		Of love between your daughter and himself,
l27l		And for the good report I hear of you,
l28l		And for the love he beareth to your daughter,
l29l		And she to him, to stay him not too long
l30l		I am content in a good father’s care
l31l		To have him matched, and if you please to like
l32l		No worse than I, upon some agreement
l33l		Me shall you find ready and willing
l34l		With one consent to have her so bestowed,
l35l		For curious I cannot be with you,
l36l		Signor Baptista, of whom I hear so well.
l37l	Baptista	Sir, pardon me in what I have to say.
l38l		Your plainness and your shortness please me well.
l39l		Right true it is your son Lucentio here
l40l		Doth love my daughter, and she loveth him,
l41l		Or both dissemble deeply their affections.
l42l		And therefore if you say no more than this,
l43l		That like a father you will deal with him
l44l		And pass my daughter a sufficient dower,
l45l		The match is made, and all is done.
l46l		Your son shall have my daughter with consent.
l47l	Tranio	I thank you, sir. Where then do you know best
l48l		We be affied, and such assurance ta’en
l49l		As shall with either part’s agreement stand?
l50l	Baptista	Not in my house, Lucentio, for you know
l51l		Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants.
l52l		Besides, old Gremio is heark’ning still,
l53l		And happily we might be interrupted.
l54l	Tranio	Then at my lodging, an it like you.
l55l		There doth my father lie, and there this night
l56l		We’ll pass the business privately and well.
l57l		Send for your daughter by your servant here.
l58l		My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently.
l59l		The worst is this, that at so slender warning
l60l		You are like to have a thin and slender pittance.
l61l	Baptista	It likes me well. Cambio, hie you home
l62l		And bid Bianca make her ready straight,
l63l		And if you will, tell what hath happened—
l64l		Lucentio’s father is arrived in Padua—
l65l		And how she’s like to be Lucentio’s wife.
		(Exit Lucentio)
l66l	Biondello	 I pray the gods she may with all my heart.
l67l	Tranio	Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.
		(Exit Biondello)
l68l		Signor Baptista, shall I lead the way?
l69l		Welcome. One mess is like to be your cheer.
l70l		Come, sir, we will better it in Pisa.
l71l	Baptista	 I follow you.
		(Exeunt)