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The Taming of the Shrew: Act IV, Scene 2

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The Taming of the Shrew
Act IV, Scene 2

Padua. Before Baptista’s house.

Costume study for the pedant

Costume study for the pedant

Robert L. Bööcke, circa 1890

  1. Enter Tranio as Lucentio and Hortensio as Litio.

Tranio

1 - 3
  1. Is’t possible, friend Litio, that Mistress Bianca
  2. Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?
  3. I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand.

Hortensio

4 - 5
  1. Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
  2. Stand by and mark the manner of his teaching.
  1. They stand aside.
  1. Enter Bianca and Lucentio as Cambio.

Lucentio

6
  1. Now, mistress, profit you in what you read?

Bianca

7
  1. What, master, read you? First resolve me that.

Lucentio

8
  1. I read that I profess, the Art to Love.

Bianca

9
  1. And may you prove, sir, master of your art!

Lucentio

10
  1. While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart!
  1. They retire.

Hortensio

11 - 13
  1. Quick proceeders, marry! Now tell me, I pray,
  2. You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca
  3. Lov’d none in the world so well as Lucentio.

Tranio

14 - 15
  1. O despiteful love, unconstant womankind!
  2. I tell thee, Litio, this is wonderful.

Hortensio

16 - 21
  1. Mistake no more, I am not Litio,
  2. Nor a musician, as I seem to be,
  3. But one that scorn to live in this disguise
  4. For such a one as leaves a gentleman,
  5. And makes a god of such a cullion.
  6. Know, sir, that I am call’d Hortensio.

Tranio

22 - 26
  1. Signior Hortensio, I have often heard
  2. Of your entire affection to Bianca,
  3. And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
  4. I will with you, if you be so contented,
  5. Forswear Bianca and her love forever.

Hortensio

27 - 31
  1. See how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,
  2. Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow
  3. Never to woo her more, but do forswear her
  4. As one unworthy all the former favors
  5. That I have fondly flatter’d her withal.

Tranio

32 - 34
  1. And here I take the like unfeigned oath,
  2. Never to marry with her though she would entreat.
  3. Fie on her, see how beastly she doth court him!

Hortensio

35 - 43
  1. Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!
  2. For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,
  3. I will be married to a wealthy widow,
  4. Ere three days pass, which hath as long lov’d me
  5. As I have lov’d this proud disdainful haggard.
  6. And so farewell, Signior Lucentio.
  7. Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
  8. Shall win my love, and so I take my leave,
  9. In resolution as I swore before.
  1. Exit.

Tranio

44 - 47
  1. Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace
  2. As ’longeth to a lover’s blessed case!
  3. Nay, I have ta’en you napping, gentle love,
  4. And have forsworn you with Hortensio.

Bianca

48
  1. Tranio, you jest, but have you both forsworn me?

Tranio

49
  1. Mistress, we have.

Lucentio

50
  1.                    Then we are rid of Litio.

Tranio

51 - 52
  1. I’ faith, he’ll have a lusty widow now,
  2. That shall be woo’d and wedded in a day.

Bianca

53
  1. God give him joy!

Tranio

54
  1. Ay, and he’ll tame her.

Bianca

55
  1.                         He says so, Tranio?

Tranio

56
  1. Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school.

Bianca

57
  1. The taming-school! What, is there such a place?

Tranio

58 - 60
  1. Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master,
  2. That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long,
  3. To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.
  1. Enter Biondello.

Biondello

61 - 64
  1. O master, master, I have watch’d so long
  2. That I am dog-weary, but at last I spied
  3. An ancient angel coming down the hill,
  4. Will serve the turn.

Tranio

65
  1. What is he, Biondello?

Biondello

66 - 68
  1. Master, a marcantant, or a pedant,
  2. I know not what, but formal in apparel,
  3. In gait and countenance surely like a father.
Otis Skinner as Lucentio

Otis Skinner as Lucentio

Napoleon Sarony, 1887

Lucentio

69
  1. And what of him, Tranio?

Tranio

70 - 74
  1. If he be credulous, and trust my tale,
  2. I’ll make him glad to seem Vincentio,
  3. And give assurance to Baptista Minola,
  4. As if he were the right Vincentio.
  5. Take in your love, and then let me alone.
  1. Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca.
  1. Enter a Pedant.

Pedant

75
  1. God save you, sir!

Tranio

76 - 77
  1.                    And you, sir! You are welcome.
  2. Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?

Pedant

78 - 80
  1. Sir, at the farthest for a week or two,
  2. But then up farther, and as far as Rome,
  3. And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.

Tranio

81
  1. What countryman, I pray?

Pedant

82
  1.                          Of Mantua.

Tranio

83 - 84
  1. Of Mantua, sir? Marry, God forbid!
  2. And come to Padua, careless of your life?

Pedant

85
  1. My life, sir? How, I pray? For that goes hard.

Tranio

86 - 92
  1. ’Tis death for any one in Mantua
  2. To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?
  3. Your ships are stay’d at Venice, and the Duke,
  4. For private quarrel ’twixt your Duke and him,
  5. Hath publish’d and proclaim’d it openly.
  6. ’Tis marvel, but that you are but newly come,
  7. You might have heard it else proclaim’d about.

Pedant

93 - 95
  1. Alas, sir, it is worse for me than so,
  2. For I have bills for money by exchange
  3. From Florence, and must here deliver them.

Tranio

96 - 98
  1. Well, sir, to do you courtesy,
  2. This will I do, and this I will advise you.
  3. First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa?

Pedant

99 - 100
  1. Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,
  2. Pisa renowned for grave citizens.

Tranio

101
  1. Among them know you one Vincentio?

Pedant

102 - 103
  1. I know him not, but I have heard of him;
  2. A merchant of incomparable wealth.

Tranio

104 - 105
  1. He is my father, sir, and sooth to say,
  2. In count’nance somewhat doth resemble you.

Biondello

106
  1. Aside.
  2. As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one.

Tranio

107 - 116
  1. To save your life in this extremity,
  2. This favor will I do you for his sake;
  3. And think it not the worst of all your fortunes
  4. That you are like to Sir Vincentio.
  5. His name and credit shall you undertake,
  6. And in my house you shall be friendly lodg’d.
  7. Look that you take upon you as you should;
  8. You understand me, sir? So shall you stay
  9. Till you have done your business in the city.
  10. If this be court’sy, sir, accept of it.

Pedant

117 - 118
  1. O sir, I do, and will repute you ever
  2. The patron of my life and liberty.

Tranio

119 - 125
  1. Then go with me to make the matter good.
  2. This by the way I let you understand:
  3. My father is here look’d for every day,
  4. To pass assurance of a dow’r in marriage
  5. ’Twixt me and one Baptista’s daughter here.
  6. In all these circumstances I’ll instruct you;
  7. Go with me to clothe you as becomes you.
  1. Exeunt.
Joseph Holland as Hortensio

Joseph Holland as Hortensio

circa 1887

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