The Taming of the Shrew | Act V, Scene 1

Scene 1

[Padua. Before Lucentio's house.]

Enter Biondello, Lucentio and Bianca, Gremio is out before.

BIO:
Softly and swiftly, sir; for the priest is ready.
LUC:
I fly, Biondello: but they may chance to need thee at
home; therefore leave us.

Exit Lucentio and Bianca.

BIO:
Nay, faith, I'll see the church o' your back; and then
come back to my master's as soon as I can.(5)

[Exit Biondello.]

GRE:
I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.

Enter Petruchio, Kate, Vincentio, Grumio with Attendants.

PET:
Sir, here's the door, this is Lucentio's house:
My father's bears more toward the market-place;
Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir.
VIN:
You shall not choose but drink before you go:(10)
I think I shall command your welcome here,
And, by all likelihood, some cheer is toward.

Knocks.

GRE:
They're busy within; you were best knock louder.

Pedant looks out of the window.

PED:
What's he that knocks as he would beat down the gate?
VIN:
Is Signior Lucentio within, sir?(15)
PED:
He's within, sir, but not to be spoken withal.
VIN:
What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two, to
make merry withal?
PED:
Keep your hundred pounds to yourself: he shall need
none, so long as I live.(20)
PET:
Nay, I told you your son was well beloved in Padua. Do
you hear, sir? To leave frivolous circumstances, I pray
you, tell Signior Lucentio that his father is come from
Pisa, and is here at the door to speak with him.
PED:
Thou liest: his father is come from Padua and here
looking out at the window.(25)
VIN:
Art thou his father?
PED:
Ay, sir; so his mother says, if I may believe her.
PET:
Why, how now, gentleman! why, this is flat knavery, to
take upon you another man's name.
PED:
Lay hands on the villain: I believe a' means to cozen(30)
somebody in this city under my countenance.

Enter Biondello.

BIO:
I have seen them in the church together:
God send 'em good shipping! But who is here? mine
old master Vincentio! now we are undone and brought
to nothing.(35)
VIN:
Come hither, crack-hemp.
BIO:
I hope I may choose, sir.
VIN:
Come hither, you rogue. What, have you forgot me?
BIO:
Forgot you! no, sir: I could not forget you, for I never
saw you before in all my life.(40)
VIN:
What, you notorious villain, didst thou never see thy
master's father, Vincentio?
BIO:
What, my old worshipful old master? yes, marry, sir:
see where he looks out of the window.
VIN:
Is't so, indeed?(45)

He beats Biondello.

BIO:
Help, help, help! here's a madman will murder me.

[Exit]

PED:
Help, son! help, Signior Baptista!

[Exit from above]

PET:
Prithee, Kate, let's stand aside and see the end of this
controversy.

Enter Pedant [below] with servants, Baptista, Tranio.

TRA:
Sir, what are you that offer to beat my servant?(50)
VIN:
What am I, sir! nay, what are you, sir? O immortal
gods! O fine villain! A silken doublet! a velvet hose! a
scarlet cloak! and a copatain hat! O, I am undone! I
am undone! while I play the good husband at home,
my son and my servant spend all at the university.(55)
TRA:
How now! what's the matter?
BAP:
What, is the man lunatic?
TRA:
Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by your habit,
but your words show you a madman. Why, sir, what
'cerns it you if I wear pearl and gold? I thank my good(60)
father, I am able to maintain it.
VIN:
Thy father! O villain! he is a sailmaker in Bergamo.
BAP:
You mistake, sir, you mistake, sir. Pray, what do you
think is his name?
VIN:
His name! as if I knew not his name: I have brought(65)
him up ever since he was three years old, and his name is
Tranio.
PED:
Away, away, mad ass! his name is Lucentio and he is
mine only son, and heir to the lands of me, Signior
Vincentio.(70)
VIN:
Lucentio! O, he hath murdered his master!
Lay hold on him, I charge you, in the duke's name. O, my
son, my son! Tell me, thou villain, where is my son
Lucentio?
TRA:
Call forth an officer.(75)

Enter an Officer.

Carry this mad knave to the gaol. Father Baptista, I
charge you see that he be forthcoming.
VIN:
Carry me to the gaol!
GRE:
Stay, officer: he shall not go to prison.
BAP:
Talk not, Signior Gremio: I say he shall go to prison.(80)
GRE:
Take heed, Signior Baptista, lest you be cony-catched in
this business: I dare swear this is the right Vincentio.
PED:
Swear, if thou darest.
GRE:
Nay, I dare not swear it.
TRA:
Then thou wert best say that I am not Lucentio.(85)
GRE:
Yes, I know thee to be Signior Lucentio.
BAP:
Away with the dotard! to the gaol with him!

Enter Biondello, Lucentio and Bianca.

VIN:
Thus strangers may be hailed and abused:
O monstrous villain!
BIO:
O! we are spoiled and—yonder he is: deny him, forswear(90)
him, or else we are all undone.

Exeunt Biondello, Tranio and Pedant as fast as may be.

LUC:
Pardon, sweet father.

Kneel.

VIN:
Lives my sweet son?
BIA:
Pardon, dear father.
BAP:
How hast thou offended?(95)
Where is Lucentio?
LUC:
Here's Lucentio,
Right son to the right Vincentio;
That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,
While counterfeit supposes bleared thine eyne.(100)
GRE:
Here's packing, with a witness to deceive us all!
VIN:
Where is that damned villain Tranio,
That faced and braved me in this matter so?
BAP:
Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?
BIA:
Cambio is changed into Lucentio.(105)
LUC:
Love wrought these miracles. Bianca's love
Made me exchange my state with Tranio,
While he did bear my countenance in the town;
And happily I have arrived at the last
Unto the wished haven of my bliss.(110)
What Tranio did, myself enforced him to;
Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.
VIN:
I'll slit the villain's nose, that would have sent me to
the gaol.
BAP:
But do you hear, sir? have you married my daughter(115)
without asking my good will?
VIN:
Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: but I
will in, to be revenged for this villainy.
  • over
  • gallows-bird [one who should be hanged]
  • high-crowned
  • a city northeast of Milan
  • jail
  • fool
  • beliefs
  • eyes
  • plotting
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