Take no unkindness of his hasty words: [Exit Tailor. Pet. Well, come, my Kate; we will unto your father's, Even in these honest, mean habiliments. Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor; And as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds, What, is the jay more precious than the lark, Or is the adder better thad the eel, It shall be what o'clock I say it is. Hor. Why, so! This gallant will command the sun. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Padua. Before Baptista's House. Enter TRANIO, and the Pedant dressed like VINCENTIO. Tra. Sir, this is the house. Please it you that I call? Ped. Ay, what else? And, but I be deceived, Seignior Baptista may remember me, Near twenty years ago, in Genoa, where We were lodgers at the Pegasus. Tra. 'Tis well; And hold your own, in any case, with such Austerity as 'longeth to a father. Enter BIONdello. Ped. I warrant you. But, sir, here comes your boy, "Twere good he were schooled. Tra. Fear you not him. Sirrah, Biondello, Now do your duty thoroughly, I advise you; Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio. Bion. Tut! fear not me. Tra. But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista? Bion. I told him that your father was at Venice; And that you looked for him this day in Padua. Tra. Thou'rt a tall fellow; hold thee that to drink. Here comes Baptista. Set your countenance, sir. Enter BAPTISTA and LUCENTIO. Seignior Baptista, you are happily met.— This is the gentleman I told you of; I pray you, stand good father to me now, Ped. Soft, son! Sir, by your leave: Having come to Padua To have him matched; and, if you please to like Seignior 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. 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, And pass my daughter a sufficient dower, The match is fully 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, 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; Tra. Then at my lodging, an it like you, sir. And, if you will, tell what hath happened; And how she's like to be Lucentio's wife. Luc. I pray the gods she may, with all my heart! Tra. Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone. Seignior Baptista, shall I lead the way? Welcome! one mess is like to be your cheer. Come, sir; we'll better it in Pisa. Bap. I follow you. [Exeunt TRANIO, Pedant, and BAPTISTA. Bion. Cambio, Luc. What say'st thou, Biondello? Bion. You saw my master wink and laugh upon you? Luc. Biondello, what of that? Bion. 'Faith, nothing; but he has left me here behind, to expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens. Luc. I pray thee, moralize them. Bion. Then thus. Baptista is safe, talking with the deceiving father of a deceitful son. Luc. And what of him? Bion. His daughter is to be brought by you to the supper. Luc. And then? Bion. The old priest at St. Luke's church is at your command at all hours. Luc. And what of all this Bion. I cannot tell; except they are busied about a counterfeit assurance. Take you assurance of her, cum privilegio 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 forever and a day. [Going. Luc. Hear'st thou, Biondello? Bion. 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. [Exit. Luc. I may, and will, if she be so contented. SCENE V. A public Road. Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, and HORTENSIO. [Exit. Pet. Come on, o' God's name; once more toward our father's. Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon! I know it is the moon. Pet. I say it is the moon. But sun it is not when you say it is not; What will you have it named, even that it is; And so it shall be so, for Katharine. Hor. Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won. Pet. Well, forward, forward; thus the bowl should run, And not unluckily against the bias. But soft; what company is coming here? Enter VINCENTIO, in a travelling dress. Good-morrow, gentle mistress. Where away y?— [To VINCENTIO. Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too, Such war of white and red within her cheeks? Kath. Young, budding virgin, fair, and fresh, and sweet, Pet. Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad; This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, withered; And not a maiden, as thou say'st he is. Kath. Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes, Pet. Do, good old grandsire; and withal make known Vin. Fair sir, and you, my merry mistress, That with your strange encounter much amazed me; A son of mine which long I have not seen. Vin. Lucentio, gentle sir. Vin. But is this true? Or is it else your pleasure, Like pleasant travellers, to break a jest Upon the company you overtake? Hor. I do assure thee, father, so it is. F |