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,
Signior 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 school'd.

Tra. Fear you not him. Sirrah, Biondello, Now do your duty throughly, I advise you; Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio.

Bion. Tut! fear not me.

Tra. But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista? Lion. I told him, that your father was at Venice; And that you look'd 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.

Signior Baptista, you are happily met:-
Sir, [To the Pedant.]

This is the gentleman I told you of;
I pray you, stand good father to me now,
Give me Bianca for my patrimony.

Ped. Soft, son!

Sir, by your leave; having come to Padua
To gather in some debts, my son Lucentio
Made me acquainted with a weighty cause
Of love between your daughter and himself:
And, for the good report I hear of you;
And for the love he beareth to your daughter,
And she to him,-to stay him not too long,
I am content, in a good father's care,
To have him match'd; and,—if you please to like
No worse than I, sir,-upon some agreement,
Me shall you find most ready and most willing
With one consent to have her so bestow'd:
For curious I cannot be with you,
Signior 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 heark'ning still; And, happily, we might be interrupted.

Tra. Then at my lodging, an it like you, sir: There doth my father lie; and there, this night, We'll pass the business privately and well: Send for your daughter by your servant here, My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently. The worst is this, that, at so slender warning, You're like to have a thin and slender pittance.

Bap. It likes me well:-Cambio, hie you home, And bid Bianca make her ready straight: And, if you will, tell what hath happened:— Lucentio's father is arriv'd in Padua, 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. Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way?

your cheer:

Welcome! one mess is like to be
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 saint 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 solùm: 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 farewel for ever 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: She will be pleas'd, then wherefore should I doubt; Hap what hap may, I'll roundly go about her; It shall go hard, if Cambio go without her.

[Exit.

SCENE V.

A PUBLICK ROAD.

Enter Petruchio, Katharina, and Hortensio. Pet. Come on, o'God's name; once more toward our father's.

Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the

moon!

Kath. The moon! the sun; it is not moonlight

now.

Pet. I say, it is the moon that shines so bright.
Kath. I know, it is the sun that shines so bright.
Pet. Now, by my mother's son, and that's my-
self,

It shall be moon, or star, or what I list,
Or ere I journey to your father's house:-
Go on, and fetch our horses back again.—
Evermore crost, and crost; nothing but crost!
Hor. Say as he says, or we shall never go.
Kath. Forward, I pray, since we have come so

far,

And be it moon, or sun, or what you please:
And if you please to call it a rush candle,
Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.

Pet. I say, it is the moon.
Kath.
I know it is.
Pet. Nay, then you lie; it is the blessed sun.
Kath. Then, God be bless'd, it is the blessed

sun:

But sun it is not, when you say it is not;