Complete Plays, The (413 page)

Katharina

The moon! the sun: it is not moonlight now.

Petruchio

I say it is the moon that shines so bright.

Katharina

I know it is the sun that shines so bright.

Petruchio

Now, by my mother’s son, and that’s myself,
It shall be moon, or star, or what I list,
Or ere I journey to your father’s house.
Go on, and fetch our horses back again.
Evermore cross’d and cross’d; nothing but cross’d!

Hortensio

Say as he says, or we shall never go.

Katharina

Forward, I pray, since we have come so far,
And be it moon, or sun, or what you please:
An if you please to call it a rush-candle,
Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.

Petruchio

I say it is the moon.

Katharina

I know it is the moon.

Petruchio

Nay, then you lie: it is the blessed sun.

Katharina

Then, God be bless’d, it is the blessed sun:
But sun it is not, when you say it is not;
And the moon changes even as your mind.
What you will have it named, even that it is;
And so it shall be so for Katharina.

Hortensio

Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won.

Petruchio

Well, forward, forward! thus the bowl should run,
And not unluckily against the bias.
But, soft! company is coming here.

Enter Vincentio

To Vincentio

Good morrow, gentle mistress: where away?
Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too,
Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman?
Such war of white and red within her cheeks!
What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty,
As those two eyes become that heavenly face?
Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee.
Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty’s sake.

Hortensio

A’ will make the man mad, to make a woman of him.

Katharina

Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet,
Whither away, or where is thy abode?
Happy the parents of so fair a child;
Happier the man, whom favourable stars
Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow!

Petruchio

Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad:
This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither’d,
And not a maiden, as thou say’st he is.

Katharina

Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes,
That have been so bedazzled with the sun
That everything I look on seemeth green:
Now I perceive thou art a reverend father;
Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.

Petruchio

Do, good old grandsire; and withal make known
Which way thou travellest: if along with us,
We shall be joyful of thy company.

Vincentio

Fair sir, and you my merry mistress,
That with your strange encounter much amazed 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.

Petruchio

What is his name?

Vincentio

 
Lucentio, gentle sir.

Petruchio

Happily we met; the happier for thy son.
And now by law, as well as reverend 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 grieved: she is of good esteem,
Her dowery 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.

Vincentio

But is it true? or else is it your pleasure,
Like pleasant travellers, to break a jest
Upon the company you overtake?

Hortensio

I do assure thee, father, so it is.

Petruchio

Come, go along, and see the truth hereof;
For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.

Exeunt all but Hortensio

Hortensio

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

A
CT
V

S
CENE
I. P
ADUA
. B
EFORE
L
UCENTIO
’
S
HOUSE
.

Gremio discovered. Enter behind Biondello, Lucentio, and Bianca

Biondello

Softly and swiftly, sir; for the priest is ready.

Lucentio

I fly, Biondello: but they may chance to need thee at home; therefore leave us.

Biondello

Nay, faith, I’ll see the church o’ your back; and then come back to my master’s as soon as I can.

Exeunt Lucentio, Bianca, and Biondello

Gremio

I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.

Enter Petruchio, Katharina, Vincentio, Grumio, with Attendants

Petruchio

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.

Vincentio

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.

Knocks

Gremio

They’re busy within; you were best knock louder.

Pedant looks out of the window

Pedant

What’s he that knocks as he would beat down the gate?

Vincentio

Is Signior Lucentio within, sir?

Pedant

He’s within, sir, but not to be spoken withal.

Vincentio

What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two, to make merry withal?

Pedant

Keep your hundred pounds to yourself: he shall need none, so long as I live.

Petruchio

Nay, I told you your son was well beloved 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.

Pedant

Thou liest: his father is come from Padua and here looking out at the window.

Vincentio

Art thou his father?

Pedant

Ay, sir; so his mother says, if I may believe her.

Petruchio

[To Vincentio]
 
Why, how now, gentleman! why, this is flat knavery, to take upon you another man’s name.

Pedant

Lay hands on the villain: I believe a’ means to cozen somebody in this city under my countenance.

Re-enter Biondello

Biondello

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.

Vincentio

[Seeing Biondello]
Come hither, crack-hemp.

Biondello

Hope I may choose, sir.

Vincentio

Come hither, you rogue. What, have you forgot me?

Biondello

Forgot you! no, sir: I could not forget you, for I never saw you before in all my life.

Vincentio

What, you notorious villain, didst thou never see thy master’s father, Vincentio?

Biondello

What, my old worshipful old master? yes, marry, sir: see where he looks out of the window.

Vincentio

Is’t so, indeed.

Beats Biondello

Biondello

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

Exit

Pedant

Help, son! help, Signior Baptista!

Exit from above

Petruchio

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

They retire

Re-enter Pedant below; Tranio, Baptista, and Servants

Tranio

Sir, what are you that offer to beat my servant?

Vincentio

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.

Tranio

How now! what’s the matter?

Baptista

What, is the man lunatic?

Tranio

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.

Vincentio

Thy father! O villain! he is a sailmaker in Bergamo.

Baptista

You mistake, sir, you mistake, sir. Pray, what do you think is his name?

Vincentio

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.

Pedant

Away, away, mad ass! his name is Lucentio and he is mine only son, and heir to the lands of me, Signior Vincentio.

Vincentio

Lucentio! O, he hath murdered 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?

Tranio

Call forth an officer.

Enter one with an Officer

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

Vincentio

Carry me to the gaol!

Gremio

Stay, officer: he shall not go to prison.

Baptista

Talk not, Signior Gremio: I say he shall go to prison.

Gremio

Take heed, Signior Baptista, lest you be cony-catched in this business: I dare swear this is the right Vincentio.

Pedant

Swear, if thou darest.

Gremio

Nay, I dare not swear it.

Tranio

Then thou wert best say that I am not Lucentio.

Gremio

Yes, I know thee to be Signior Lucentio.

Baptista

Away with the dotard! to the gaol with him!

Vincentio

Thus strangers may be hailed and abused: O monstrous villain!

Re-enter Biondello, with Lucentio and Bianca

Biondello

O! we are spoiled and — yonder he is: deny him, forswear him, or else we are all undone.

Lucentio

[Kneeling]
 
Pardon, sweet father.

Vincentio

Lives my sweet son?

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

Bianca

Pardon, dear father.

Baptista

How hast thou offended?
Where is Lucentio?

Lucentio

 
Here’s Lucentio,
Right son to the right Vincentio;
That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,
While counterfeit supposes bleared thine eyne.

Gremio

Here’s packing, with a witness to deceive us all!

Vincentio

Where is that damned villain Tranio,
That faced and braved me in this matter so?

Baptista

Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?

Bianca

Cambio is changed into Lucentio.

Lucentio

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 enforced him to;
Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.

Vincentio

I’ll slit the villain’s nose, that would have sent me to the gaol.

Baptista

But do you hear, sir? have you married my daughter without asking my good will?

Vincentio

Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: but
I will in, to be revenged for this villany.

Exit

Baptista

And I, to sound the depth of this knavery.

Exit

Lucentio

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

Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca

Gremio

My cake is dough; but I’ll in among the rest,
Out of hope of all, but my share of the feast.

Exit

Katharina

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

Petruchio

First kiss me, Kate, and we will.

Katharina

What, in the midst of the street?

Petruchio

What, art thou ashamed of me?

Katharina

No, sir, God forbid; but ashamed to kiss.

Petruchio

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

Katharina

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

Petruchio

Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate:
Better once than never, for never too late.

Exeunt

S
CENE
II. P
ADUA
. L
UCENTIO
’
S
HOUSE
.

Enter Baptista, Vincentio, Gremio, the Pedant, Lucentio, Bianca, Petruchio, Katharina, Hortensio, and Widow, Tranio, Biondello, and Grumio the Serving-men with Tranio bringing in a banquet

Lucentio

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, sister Katharina,
And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow,
Feast with the best, and welcome to my house:
My banquet is to close our stomachs up,
After our great good cheer. Pray you, sit down;
For now we sit to chat as well as eat.