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

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, a velvet hose, a scarlet cloak, and a copatain hat! 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 lunatic?

      Tra. Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by your habit; but your words show you a madman. Why, sir, what ’cerns 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 sailmaker 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 murd’red 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.

       [Exit Servant, who returns with an Officer.]

      Carry this mad knave to the jail. Father Baptista, I charge you see that he be forthcoming.

      Vin. Carry me to the jail?

      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 cony- catch’d in this business. I dare swear this is the right Vincentio.

      Ped. Swear if thou dar’st.

      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 jail with him!

       Enter Biondello, Lucentio, and Bianca.

      Vin. Thus strangers may be hal’d and abus’d. O monstrous villain!

      Bion. O, we are spoil’d and—yonder he is. Deny him, forswear him, or else we are all undone.

       Exeunt Biondello, Tranio, and Pedant as fast as may be.

       Luc.

      Pardon, sweet father.

       Kneel.

       Vin.

      Lives my sweet son?

       Bian.

      Pardon, dear father.

       Bap.

      How hast thou offended?

      Where is Lucentio?

       Luc.

      Here’s Lucentio,

      Right son to 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 braved 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 arrived at the 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 jail.

      Bap. But do you hear, sir? Have you married my daughter without asking my good will?

      Vin. Fear not, Baptista, we will content you, go to; but I will in to be reveng’d for this villainy.

       Exit.

      Bap. And I, to sound the depth of this knavery.

       Exit.

      Luc. Look not pale, Bianca, thy father will not frown.

       Exeunt [Lucentio and Bianca].

       Gre.

      My cake is dough, but I’ll in among the rest,

      Out of hope of all but my share of the feast.

       Exit.

       Kath.

      Husband, let’s follow, to see the end of this ado.

       Pet.

      First kiss me, Kate, and we will.

       Kath.

      What, in the midst of the street?

       Pet.

      What, art thou asham’d of me?

       Kath.

      No, sir, God forbid, but asham’d to kiss.

       Pet.

      Why then let’s home again. Come, sirrah, let’s away.

       Kath.

      Nay, I will give thee a kiss; now pray thee, love, stay.

       Pet.

      Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate:

      Better once than never, for never too late.

       Exeunt.

       ¶

[Scene II]

       Enter Baptista, Vincentio, Gremio, the Pedant, Lucentio, and Bianca; [Petruchio, Katherina, Hortensio,] Tranio, Biondello, Grumio, and Widow: the servingmen with Tranio bringing in a banquet.

       Luc.

      At last, though long, our jarring notes agree,

      And time it is, when raging war is [done],

      To smile at scapes and perils overblown.

      My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome,

      While I with self-same kindness welcome thine.

      Brother Petruchio,