Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

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 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?

Tra. Call forth an officer: [Enter one with an Officer.] carry this mad knave to the goal:-Father Baptista, I charge you see, that he be forthcoming.

Vin. Carry me to the gaol!

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 coneycatched in this business; I dare swear, this is the right Vincentio.

Ped. Swear, if thou darest.

Gre. Nay, I dare not swear it.

Tru. 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 gaol with him! Vin. Thus strangers may be haled and abus'd:O, monstrous villain!

Re-enter BIONDELLO, with LUCENTIO and BIANCA.

Bion, O, we are spoiled, and-Yonder he is; deny him, forswear him, or else we are all undone.

Luc. Pardon, sweet father.

[Kneeling.

Vin. Lives my sweetest son?

[BION. TRA. and Pedant run out.

Bian. Pardon, dear father.

[Kneeling.

Bap. How hast thou offended?

Where is Lucentio ?

Luc. Here's Lucentio,

Right son unto 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 brav'd 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 arriv'd at 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 gaol.

Bap. But do you hear, sir? [To LUCENTIO.] Have you married my daughter without asking my goodwill?

Vin. Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: But I will in, to be revenged for this villainy. [Exit. Bap. And I, to sound the depth of this knavery.

[Exit.

Luc. Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not [Exeunt Luc. and BIAN.

frown.

Gre. My cake is dough: But I'll in among the rest; Out of hope of all,—but my share of the feast. [Exit.

PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA advance.

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 ashamed of me?

Kath. No, sir; God forbid :-but ashamed 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-A Room in LUCENTIO'S House.

A Banquet set out. Enter BAPTISTA, VINCENTIO,
GREMIO, the Pedant, LUCENTIO, BIANCA, Petru-
CHIO, KATHARINA, HORTENSIO, and Widow. TRA-
NIO, BIONDELLO, GRUMIO, and Others, attending.
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,-sister Katharina,-

[ocr errors]

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.

[They sit at table.
Pet. Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!
Bap. Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.
Pet. Padua affords nothing but what is kind.
Hor. For both our sakes, I would that word were

true.

Pet. Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow.
Wid. Then never trust me, if I be afeard.

Pet. You are sensible, and yet you miss my sense;

I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you.

Wid. He, that is giddy, thinks the world turns round.
Pet. Roundly replied.

Kath. Mistress, how mean you that?

Wid. Thus I conceive by him.

Pet. Conceives by me!-How likes Hortensio that?

Hor. My widow says, thus she conceives her tale.

Pet. Very well mended: Kiss him for that, good

widow.

Kath. He, that is giddy, thinks the world turns round :

I pray you, tell me what you meant by that.

Wid. Your husband, being troubled with a shrew, Measures my husband's sorrow by his woe:

And now you know my meaning.

Kath. A very mean meaning.

Wid. Right, I mean you.

Kath. And I am mean, indeed, respecting you.

Pet. To her, Kate!

Hor. To her, widow!

Pet. A hundred marks, my Kate does put her down.
Hor. That's my office.

Pet. Spoke like an officer :-Ha' to thee, lad.

[Drinks to HORTENSIO. Bap. How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks? Gre. Believe me, sir, they butt together well.

Bian. Head, and butt? an hasty-witted body Would say, your head and butt were head and horn.

Vin. Ay, mistress bride, hath that awaken'd you? Bian. Ay, but not frighted me; therefore I'll sleep again.

Pet. Nay, that you shall not; since you have begun, Have at you for a bitter jest or two.

Bian. Am I your bird? I mean to shift my bush,
And then pursue me as you draw your bow:-
You are welcome all.

[Exeunt BIANCA, KATHARINA, and Widow.
Pet. She hath prevented me.-Here, signior Tranio,
This bird you aim'd at, though you hit her not;
Therefore, a health to all that shot and miss'd.
Tra. O, sir, Lucentio slipp'd me like his grey-hound,
Which runs himself, and catches for his master.
Pet. A good swift simile, but something currish.
Tra. 'Tis well, sir, that you hunted for yourself;
'Tis thought, your deer does hold you at a bay.
Bap. O ho, Petruchio, Tranio hits you now.
Luc. I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio.
Hor. Confess, confess, hath he not hit you here?

« ZurückWeiter »