And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness

I will with you, if you be so contented,

Forswear Bianca and her love for ever.

HORTENSIO

See how they kiss and court. Signor Lucentio,

Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow

Never to woo her more, but do forswear her

As one unworthy all the former favours

That I have fondly flattered her withal.

TRANIO

And here I take the like unfeigned oath

Never to marry with her, though she would entreat.

Fie on her, see how beastly she doth court him!

HORTENSIO

Would all the world but he had quite forsworn.

For me, that I may surely keep mine oath

I will be married to a wealthy widow

Ere three days pass, which hath as long loved me

As I have loved this proud disdainful haggard.

And so farewell, Signor Lucentio.

Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,

Shall win my love; and so I take my leave,

In resolution as I swore before. Exit

TRANIO

Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace

As ‘longeth to a lover’s blessed case.

Nay, I have ta’en you napping, gentle love,

And have forsworn you with Hortensio.

BIANCA

Tranio, you jest. But have you both forsworn me?

TRANIO

Mistress, we have.

LUCENTIO Then we are rid of Licio.

TRANIO

I’faith, he’ll have a lusty widow now,

That shall be wooed and wedded in a day.

BIANCA God give him joy.

TRANIO Ay, and he’ll tame her.

BIANCA He says so, Tranio.

TRANIO

Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school.

BIANCA

The taming-school—what, is there such a place?

TRANIO

Ay, mistress, and Petruccio is the master,

That teacheth tricks eleven-and-twenty long

To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.

Enter Biondello

BIONDELLO

O, master, master, I have watched so long

That I am dog-weary, but at last I spied

An ancient angel coming down the hill

Will serve the turn.

TRANIO What is he, Biondello?

BIONDELLO

Master, a marcantant or a pedant,

I know not what, but formal in apparel,

In gait and countenance surely like a father.

LUCENTIO And what of him, Tranio?

TRANIO

If he be credulous and trust my tale,

I’ll make him glad to seem Vincentio

And give assurance to Baptista Minola

As if he were the right Vincentio.

Take in your love, and then let me alone.

Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca

Enter a Pedant

PEDANT

God save you, sir.

TRANIO

And you, sir. You are welcome.

Travel you farre on, or are you at the farthest?

PEDANT

Sir, at the farthest for a week or two,

But then up farther and as far as Rome,

And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.

TRANIO

What countryman, I pray?

PEDANT

Of Mantua.

TRANIO

Of Mantua, sir? Marry, God forbid,

And come to Padua careless of your life!

PEDANT

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

TRANIO

‘Tis death for anyone in Mantua

To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?

Your ships are stayed at Venice, and the Duke,

For private quarrel ’twixt your Duke and him,

Hath published and proclaimed it openly.

’Tis marvel, but that you are but newly come,

You might have heard it else proclaimed about.

PEDANT

Alas, sir, it is worse for me than so,

For I have bills for money by exchange

From Florence, and must here deliver them.

TRANIO

Well, sir, to do you courtesy

This will I do, and this I will advise you.

First tell me, have you ever been at Pisa?

PEDANT

Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,

Pisa renowned for grave citizens.

TRANIO

Among them know you one Vincentio?

PEDANT

I know him not, but I have heard of him,

A merchant of incomparable wealth.

TRANIO

He is my father, sir, and sooth to say,

In count’nance somewhat doth resemble you.

BIONDELLO (aside) As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one.

TRANIO

To save your life in this extremity

This favour will I do you for his sake,

And think it not the worst of all your fortunes

That you are like to Sir Vincentio.

His name and credit shall you undertake,

And in my house you shall be friendly lodged.

Look that you take upon you as you should.

You understand me, sir? So shall you stay

Till you have done your business in the city.

If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it.

PEDANT

O sir, I do, and will repute you ever

The patron of my life and liberty.

TRANIO

Then go with me to make the matter good.

This, by the way, I let you understand—

My father is here looked for every day

To pass assurance of a dower in marriage

’Twixt me and one Baptista’s daughter here.

In all these circumstances I’ll instruct you.

Go with me to clothe you as becomes you. Exeunt

4.3 Enter Katherine and Grumio

GRUMIO

No, no, forsooth. I dare not, for my life.

KATHERINE

The more my wrong, the more his spite appears.

What, did he marry me to famish me?

Beggars that come unto my father’s door

Upon entreaty have a present alms,

If not, elsewhere they meet with charity.

But I, who never knew how to entreat,