The Taming of the Shrew: Act 4, Scene 4
Enter TRANIO [as Lucentio], and the
PEDANT dress'd like Vincentio.
TRANIO
1
Sir, this is the house: please it you that I call?
Pedant
2. Ay, what else? i.e., Yes, I know that part, but what's next? The Pedant is rehearsing what he is to say in his role as Vincentio, Lucentio's father. but: unless.
2
Ay, what else? and but I be deceived 3
Signior Baptista may remember me, 4
Near twenty years ago, in Genoa,5. the Pegasus: i.e., an inn so named, marked by a sign displaying the winged horse of classical myth.
7. 'longeth: belongs
7. 'longeth: belongs
5
Where we were lodgers at the Pegasus.
TRANIO
6
'Tis well; and hold your own, in any case, 7
With such austerity as 'longeth to a father.
Enter BIONDELLO.
Pedant
8. your boy: i.e., your servant-boy.
8
I warrant you. But, sir, here comes your boy;9. 'Twere good he were school'd: i.e., it would be a good idea to make sure he knows how to play his part.
9
'Twere good he were school'd.
TRANIO
10. Fear you not: have no fears about.
10
Fear you not him. Sirrah Biondello,11. throughly: thoroughly.
11
Now do your duty throughly, I advise you:12. Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio: i.e., imagine that this Pedant is the real Vincentio.
12
Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio.
BIONDELLO
13. fear not me: i.e., have no fear that I will make a mistake.
13
Tut, fear not me.
TRANIO
14
But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista?
BIONDELLO
15
I told him that your father was at Venice, 16
And that you look'd for him this day in Padua.
TRANIO
17. tall: fine, clever. hold thee that to drink: take this to buy yourself a drink. Tranio tips him. 18. set your countenance: look grave.
17
Thou'rt a tall fellow: hold thee that to drink. 18
Here comes Baptista: set your countenance, sir.
Enter BAPTISTA and
LUCENTIO [as Cambio].
19
Signior Baptista, you are happily met.
[To the Pedant.]
20
Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of: 21
I pray you stand good father to me now, 22
Give me Bianca for my patrimony.
Pedant
23. Soft: not so fast.
23
Soft son! 24
Sir, by your leave: having come to Padua 25
To gather in some debts, my son Lucentio 26
Made me acquainted with a weighty cause 27
Of love between your daughter and himself: 28
And, for the good report I hear of you 29
And for the love he beareth to your daughter30. to stay him: keep him waiting
30
And she to him, to stay him not too long, 31
I am content, in a good father's care, 32
To have him match'd; and if you please to like 33
No worse than I, upon some agreement 34
Me shall you find ready and willing 35
With one consent to have her so bestow'd;36. curious: overly particular about every detail.
36
For curious I cannot be with you, 37
Signior Baptista, of whom I hear so well.
BAPTISTA
38
Sir, pardon me in what I have to say: 39
Your plainness and your shortness please me well. 40
Right true it is, your son Lucentio here 41
Doth love my daughter and she loveth him, 42
Or both dissemble deeply their affections: 43
And therefore, if you say no more than this, 44
That like a father you will deal with him45. pass: settle on. dower: dowry
45
And pass my daughter a sufficient dower, 46
The match is made, and all is done: 47
Your son shall have my daughter with consent.
TRANIO
48
I thank you, sir. Where then do you know best49. affied: betrothed.
49
We be affied and such assurance ta'en50. As shall with either part's agreement stand?: As shall confirm the agreement of both parties.
50
As shall with either part's agreement stand?
BAPTISTA
51
Not in my house, Lucentio; for, you know,52. Pitchers have ears: Proverbial for "someone may be eavesdropping." Pitcher handles are the "ears." 53. heark'ning still: always listening. 54. happily: haply, perchance.
52
Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants: 53
Besides, old Gremio is heark'ning still; 54
And happily we might be interrupted.
TRANIO
55. an it like: if it please.
55
Then at my lodging, an it like you:56. lie: lodge.
56
There doth my father lie; and there, this night,57. pass: transact.
57
We'll pass the business privately and well. 58
Send for your daughter by your servant here:59. scrivener: notary, one to draw up contracts. presently: immediately.
59
My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently. 60
The worst is this, that, at so slender warning,61. like: likely. pittance: scanty meal.
61
You are like to have a thin and slender pittance.
BAPTISTA
62
It likes me well. Cambio, hie you home, 63
And bid Bianca make her ready straight; 64
And, if you will, tell what hath happened, 65
Lucentio's father is arrived in Padua,66. like: likely.
66
And how she's like to be Lucentio's wife.
[Exit Lucentio.]
BIONDELLO
67
I pray the gods she may with all my heart!
TRANIO
68
Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.
[Exit Biondello.]
Enter PETER, [a servant, who whispers
to Tranio].
69
Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way?70. mess: dish. cheer: welcome, entertainment.
70
Welcome! one mess is like to be your cheer:71. we will better it in Pisa: i.e., we'll have a better meal in Pisa. Pretend Lucentio (Tranio) is assuming that when Lucentio and Bianca are married, Baptista will come to Pisa on a visit to them.
71
Come, sir; we will better it in Pisa.
BAPTISTA
72
I follow you.
Exeunt [Tranio, Pedant, Baptista,
and Peter].
Enter LUCENTIO [as Cambio]
and BIONDELLO.
BIONDELLO
73
Cambio!
LUCENTIO
74
What sayest thou, Biondello?
BIONDELLO
75
You saw my master wink and laugh upon 76
you?
LUCENTIO
77
Biondello, what of that?
BIONDELLO
78. h'as: he has.
78
Faith, nothing; but h'as left me here behind, to79. moral: hidden meaning.
79
expound the meaning or moral of his signs and 80
tokens.
LUCENTIO
81. moralize: elucidate, interpret.
81
I pray thee, moralize them.
BIONDELLO
82. safe: i.e., safely taken care of; i.e., deceived.
82
Then thus. Baptista is safe, talking with the 83
deceiving father of a deceitful son.
LUCENTIO
84
And what of him?
BIONDELLO
85
His daughter is to be brought by you to 86
the supper.
LUCENTIO
87
And then?
BIONDELLO
88
The old priest of Saint Luke's church is at your 89
command at all hours.
LUCENTIO
90
And what of all this?
BIONDELLO
91. except: unless.
91
I cannot tell; expect they are busied about a92. counterfeit assurance: pretended betrothal agreement. Take you assurance of her: make yourself sure. 93. cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum: with exclusive rights to print. This is a copyright formula in impressive Latin. Biondello's point is that any agreement made by pretend Vincentio (the Pedant) has no legal standing, and that therefore Lucentio needs to make Bianca his lawful wife as quickly as possible.
92
counterfeit assurance: take you assurance of her, 93
"cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum"; to the 94
church; take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient 95
honest witnesses: If this be not that you look for, 96
I have no more to say, But bid Bianca farewell for 97
ever and a day.
LUCENTIO
98. Hearest thou, Biondello? i.e., Biondello, could you wait a minute and listen to me? Apparently Lucentio is not particularly bright; it seems to take him a little time to figure out what is going on.
98
Hearest thou, Biondello?
BIONDELLO
99
I cannot tarry: I knew a wench married in an100
afternoon as she went to the garden for parsley to101
stuff a rabbit; and so may you, sir: and so, adieu,102
sir. My master hath appointed me to go to Saint103-104. against you come: in anticipation of your arrival
103
Luke's, to bid the priest be ready to come against104. appendix: addition, i.e., the bride (continuing the metaphor of printing).
104
you come with your appendix.
Exit.
LUCENTIO
105
I may, and will, if she be so contented:106
She will be pleased; then wherefore should I doubt?107. Hap ... her: i.e., Whatever happens, I'll make a bold move to marry her. 108. go hard: be really bad luck.
107
Hap what hap may, I'll roundly go about her:108
It shall go hard if Cambio go without her.
Exit.