The Complete Works of Shakespeare. William Shakespeare

[Exit.]

       Tra.

      Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace

      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 Litio.

       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.

       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

      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 mercantant, or a pedant,

      I know not what, but formal in apparel,

      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,

      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,

      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?

       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,

      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

      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,

      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,

      In count’nance somewhat doth resemble you.

      Bion. [Aside.]

      As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one.

       Tra.

      To save your life in this extremity,

      This favor will I do you for his sake;

      And think it not the worst of all your fortunes

      That you are like to Sir Vincentio.

      His name and credit shall you undertake,

      And in my house you shall be friendly lodg’d.

      Look that you take upon you as you should;

      You understand me, sir? So shall you stay

      Till you have done your business in the city.

      If this be court’sy, 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.

      This by the way I let you understand:

      My father is here look’d for every day,

      To pass assurance of a dow’r in marriage

      ’Twixt