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Enter TRANIO [as Lucentio] and
HORTENSIO.
TRANIO
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 Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
5 Stand by and mark the manner of his teaching.
LUCENTIO
6 Now, mistress, profit you in what you read?
BIANCA
7 What, master, read you? first resolve me that.
LUCENTIO
8 I read that I profess, the Art to Love.
BIANCA
9 And may you prove, sir, master of your art!
LUCENTIO
10 While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart!
HORTENSIO
11 Quick proceeders, marry! Now, tell me, I pray,
12 You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca
13 Loved none in the world so well as Lucentio.
TRANIO
14 O despiteful love! unconstant womankind!
15 I tell thee, Litio, this is wonderful.
HORTENSIO
16 Mistake no more: I am not Litio,
17 Nor a musician, as I seem to be;
18 But one that scorn to live in this disguise,
19 For such a one as leaves a gentleman,
20 And makes a god of such a cullion:
21 Know, sir, that I am call'd Hortensio.
TRANIO
22 Signior Hortensio, I have often heard
23 Of your entire affection to Bianca;
24 And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
25 I will with you, if you be so contented,
26 Forswear Bianca and her love for ever.
HORTENSIO
27 See, how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,
28 Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow
29 Never to woo her no more, but do forswear her,
30 As one unworthy all the former favors
31 That I have fondly flatter'd her withal.
TRANIO
32 And here I take the unfeigned oath,
33 Never to marry with her though she would entreat:
34 Fie on her! see, how beastly she doth court him!
HORTENSIO
35 Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!
36 For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,
37 I will be married to a wealthy widow,
38 Ere three days pass, which hath as long loved me
39 As I have loved this proud disdainful haggard.
40 And so farewell, Signior Lucentio.
41 Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
42 Shall win my love: and so I take my leave,
43 In resolution as I swore before.
TRANIO
44 Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace
45 As 'longeth to a lover's blessed case!
46 Nay, I have ta'en you napping, gentle love,
47 And have forsworn you with Hortensio.
BIANCA
48 Tranio, you jest: but have you both forsworn me?
LUCENTIO
49 Then we are rid of Litio.
TRANIO
50 I' faith, he'll have a lusty widow now,
51 That shall be woo'd and wedded in a day.
TRANIO
53 Ay, and he'll tame her.
TRANIO
54 Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school.
BIANCA
55 The taming-school! what, is there such a place?
TRANIO
56 Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master;
57 That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long,
58 To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.
BIONDELLO
59 O master, master, I have watch'd so long
60 That I am dog-weary: but at last I spied
61 An ancient angel coming down the hill,
62 Will serve the turn.
TRANIO
62 What is he, Biondello?
BIONDELLO
63 Master, a mercatant, or a pedant,
64 I know not what; but formal in apparel,
65 In gait and countenance surely like a father.
LUCENTIO
66 And what of him, Tranio?
TRANIO
67 If he be credulous and trust my tale,
68 I'll make him glad to seem Vincentio,
69 And give assurance to Baptista Minola,
70 As if he were the right Vincentio
71 Take in your love, and then let me alone.
TRANIO
72 And you, sir! you are welcome.
73 Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?
Pedant
74 Sir, at the farthest for a week or two:
75 But then up farther, and as far as Rome;
76 And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.
TRANIO
77 What countryman, I pray?
TRANIO
78 Of Mantua, sir? marry, God forbid!
79 And come to Padua, careless of your life?
Pedant
80 My life, sir! how, I pray? for that goes hard.
TRANIO
81 'Tis death for any one in Mantua
82 To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?
83 Your ships are stay'd at Venice, and the duke,
84 For private quarrel 'twixt your duke and him,
85 Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly:
86 'Tis, marvel, but that you are but newly come,
87 You might have heard it else proclaim'd about.
Pedant
88 Alas! sir, it is worse for me than so;
89 For I have bills for money by exchange
90 From Florence and must here deliver them.
TRANIO
91 Well, sir, to do you courtesy,
92 This will I do, and this I will advise you:
93 First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa?
Pedant
94 Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,
95 Pisa renowned for grave citizens.
TRANIO
96 Among them know you one Vincentio?
Pedant
97 I know him not, but I have heard of him;
98 A merchant of incomparable wealth.
TRANIO
99 He is my father, sir; and, sooth to say,
100 In countenance somewhat doth resemble you.
BIONDELLO [Aside.]
101 As much as an apple doth an oyster,
102 and all one.
TRANIO
103 To save your life in this extremity,
104 This favor will I do you for his sake;
105 And think it not the worst of an your fortunes
106 That you are like to Sir Vincentio.
107 His name and credit shall you undertake,
108 And in my house you shall be friendly lodged:
109 Look that you take upon you as you should;
110 You understand me, sir: so shall you stay
111 Till you have done your business in the city:
112 If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it.
Pedant
113 O sir, I do; and will repute you ever
114 The patron of my life and liberty.
TRANIO
115 Then go with me to make the matter good.
116 This, by the way, I let you understand;
117 My father is here look'd for every day,
118 To pass assurance of a dower in marriage
119 'Twixt me and one Baptista's daughter here:
120 In all these circumstances I'll instruct you:
121 Go with me to clothe you as becomes you.
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