[Padua. Before Baptista's house.]

Enter Tranio, and the Pedant dressed like Vincentio.

Exit Biondello and Lucentio.

Exeunt.

Enter Lucentio and Biondello.

Exit.

Exit.

TRA:

Sir, this is the house: please it you that I call?

PED:

Ay, what else? and but I be deceived
Signior Baptista may remember me,
Near twenty years ago, in Genoa,
Where we were lodgers at the Pegasus.(5)

TRA:

'Tis well; and hold your own, in any case,
With such austerity as 'longeth to a father.

PED:

I warrant you.
But, sir, here comes your boy;
'Twere good he were school'd.(10)

Enter Biondello.

TRA:

Fear you not him. Sirrah Biondello,
Now do your duty throughly, I advise you:
Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio.

BIO:

Tut, fear not me.

TRA:

But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista?(15)

BIO:

I told him that your father was at Venice,
And that you look'd for him this day in Padua.

TRA:

Thou'rt a tall fellow: hold thee that to drink.
Here comes Baptista: set your countenance, sir.
Signior Baptista, you are happily met.(20)
Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of:
I pray you stand good father to me now,
Give me Bianca for my patrimony.

Enter Baptista and Lucentio: Pedant booted and bare headed.

PED:

Soft, son!
Sir, by your leave: having come to Padua(25)
To gather in some debts, my son Lucentio
Made me acquainted with a weighty cause
Of love between your daughter and himself:
And, for the good report I hear of you
And for the love he beareth to your daughter(30)
And she to him, to stay him not too long,
I am content, in a good father's care,
To have him match'd; and if you please to like
No worse than I, upon some agreement
Me shall you find ready and willing(35)
With one consent to have her so bestow'd;
For curious I cannot be with you,
Signior Baptista, of whom I hear so well.

BAP:

Sir, pardon me in what I have to say:
Your plainness and your shortness please me well.(40)
Right true it is, your son Lucentio here
Doth love my daughter and she loveth him,
Or both dissemble deeply their affections:
And therefore, if you say no more than this,
That like a father you will deal with him(45)
And pass my daughter a sufficient dower,
The match is made, and all is done:
Your son shall have my daughter with consent.

TRA:

I thank you, sir. Where then do you know best
We be affied and such assurance ta'en(50)
As shall with either part's agreement stand?

BAP:

Not in my house, Lucentio; for, you know,
Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants:
Besides, old Gremio is hearkening still;
And happily we might be interrupted.(55)

TRA:

Then at my lodging, an it like you:
There doth my father lie; and there, this night,
We'll pass the business privately and well.
Send for your daughter by your servant here:
My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently.(60)
The worst is this, that, at so slender warning,
You are like to have a thin and slender pittance.

BAP:

It likes me well. Cambio, hie you home,
And bid Bianca make her ready straight;
And, if you will, tell what hath happened,(65)
Lucentio's father is arrived in Padua,
And how she's like to be Lucentio's wife.

BIO:

I pray the gods she may with all my heart!

TRA:

Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.
Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way?(70)
Welcome! one mess is like to be your cheer:
Come, sir; we will better it in Pisa.

BAP:

I follow you.

BIO:

Cambio!

LUC:

What sayest thou, Biondello?(75)

BIO:

You saw my master wink and laugh upon you?

LUC:

Biondello, what of that?

BIO:

Faith, nothing; but has left me here behind, to expound
the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens.

LUC:

I pray thee, moralize them.(80)

BIO:

Then thus. Baptista is safe, talking with the deceiving
father of a deceitful son.

LUC:

And what of him?

BIO:

His daughter is to be brought by you to the supper.

LUC:

And then?(85)

BIO:

The old priest of Saint Luke's church is at your com-
mand at all hours.

LUC:

And what of all this?

BIO:

I cannot tell; except they are busied about a counterfeit
assurance: take you assurance of her, ‘cum privilegio(90)
ad imprimendum solum:’ to the church; take the
priest, clerk, and some sufficient honest witnesses:
If this be not that you look for, I have no more to say,
But bid Bianca farewell for ever and a day.

LUC:

Hearest thou, Biondello?(95)

BIO:

I cannot tarry: I knew a wench married in an afternoon
as she went to the garden for parsley to stuff a rabbit;
and so may you, sir: and so, adieu, sir. My master hath
appointed me to go to Saint Luke's, to bid the priest be
ready to come against you come with your appendix.(100)

LUC:

I may, and will, if she be so contented:
She will be pleased; then wherefore should I doubt?
Hap what hap may, I'll roundly go about her:
It shall go hard if Cambio go without her.