William Shakespeare : Complete Collection (37 plays, 160 sonnets and 5 Poetry...). William Shakespeare

old father, my mistaking eyes,

      That have been so bedazzled with the sun,

      That every thing I look on seemeth green;

      Now I perceive thou are a reverent father.

      Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.

       Pet.

      Do, good old grandsire, and withal make known

      Which way thou travellest—if along with us,

      We shall be joyful of thy company.

       Vin.

      Fair sir, and you my merry mistress,

      That with your strange encounter much amaz’d 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.

       Pet.

      What is his name?

       Vin.

      Lucentio, gentle sir.

       Pet.

      Happily met, the happier for thy son.

      And now by law, as well as reverent 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 not grieved; she is of good esteem,

      Her dowry 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.

       Vin.

      But is this true, or is it else your pleasure,

      Like pleasant travellers, to break a jest

      Upon the company you overtake?

       Hor.

      I do assure thee, father, so it is.

       Pet.

      Come go along and see the truth hereof,

      For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.

       Exeunt [all but Hortensio].

       Hor.

      Well, Petruchio, this has put me in heart.

      Have to my widow! and if she [be] froward,

      Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.

       Exit.

       ¶

       I.I. Ibbetson, p. — Isaac Taylor, e.

      [ACT V]

      [Scene I]

       Enter Biondello, Lucentio, and Bianca; Gremio is out before.

      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 a’ your back, and then come back to my [master’s] as soon as I can.

       [Exeunt Lucentio, Bianca, and Biondello.]

      Gre. I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.

       Enter Petruchio, Kate, Vincentio, Grumio, with 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.

       Knock.

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

       Pedant looks out of the 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 well belov’d 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 Padua 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. [To Vincentio.] Why, how now, gentleman? 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.

       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. [Seeing Biondello.] Come hither, crack-hemp.

      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?

       He beats Biondello.

      Bion. Help, help, help! here’s a madman will murder me.

       [Exit.]

      Ped. Help, son! help, Signior Baptista!

       [Exit above.]

      Pet. Prithee, Kate, let’s stand aside and see the end of this controversy.

       [They retire.]

       Enter Pedant [below] with Servants, Baptista, Tranio [as Lucentio].