The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare (best novel books to read txt) 📕

a reverend father;

Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.

 

PETRUCHIO.

Do, good old grandsire, and withal make known

Which way thou travellest: if along with us,

We shall be joyful of thy company.

 

VINCENTIO.

Fair sir, and you my merry mistress,

That with your strange encounter much amaz’d me,

My name is called Vincentio; my dwelling Pisa;

And bound I am to Padua, there to visit

A son of mine, which long I have not seen.

 

PETRUCHIO.

What is his name?

 

VINCENTIO.

Lucentio, gentle sir.

 

PETRUCHIO.

Happily met; the happier for thy son.

And now by law, as well as reverend age,

I may entitle thee my loving father:

The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman,

Thy son by this hath married. Wonder not,

Nor be not griev’d: she is of good esteem,

Her dowry wealthy, and of worthy birth;

Beside, so qualified as may beseem

The spouse of any noble gentleman.

Let me embrace with old Vincentio;

And wander we to see thy honest son,

Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.

 

VINCENTIO.

But is this true? or is it else your pleasure,

Like pleasant travellers, to break a jest

Upon the company you overtake?

 

HORTENSIO.

I do assure thee, father, so it is.

 

PETRUCHIO.

Come, go along, and see the truth hereof;

For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.

 

[Exeunt all but HORTENSIO.]

 

HORTENSIO.

Well, Petruchio, this has put me in heart.

Have to my widow! and if she be froward,

Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.

 

[Exit.]

 

ACT V.

 

SCENE I. Padua. Before LUCENTIO’S house.

 

[Enter on one side BIONDELLO, LUCENTIO, and BIANCA; GREMIO

walking on other side.]

 

BIONDELLO.

Softly and swiftly, sir, for the priest is ready.

 

LUCENTIO.

I fly, Biondello; but they may chance to need the at

home, therefore leave us.

 

BIONDELLO.

Nay, faith, I’ll see the church o’ your back; and then

come back to my master’s as soon as I can.

 

[Exeunt LUCENTIO, BIANCA, and BIONDELLO.]

 

GREMIO.

I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.

 

[Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHERINA, VINCENTIO, and ATTENDANTS.]

 

PETRUCHIO.

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.

 

VINCENTIO.

You shall not choose but drink before you go.

I think I shall command your welcome here,

And by all likelihood some cheer is toward.

 

[Knocks.]

 

GREMIO.

They’re busy within; you were best knock louder.

 

[Enter PEDANT above, at a window.]

 

PEDANT.

What’s he that knocks as he would beat down the gate?

 

VINCENTIO.

Is Signior Lucentio within, sir?

 

PEDANT.

He’s within, sir, but not to be spoken withal.

 

VINCENTIO.

What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two to make

merry withal?

 

PEDANT.

Keep your hundred pounds to yourself: he shall need none so

long as I live.

 

PETRUCHIO.

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.

 

PEDANT.

Thou liest: his father is come from Padua, and here looking

out at the window.

 

VINCENTIO.

Art thou his father?

 

PEDANT.

Ay, sir; so his mother says, if I may believe her.

 

PETRUCHIO.

[To VINCENTIO] Why, how now, gentleman! why, this is flat

knavery to take upon you another man’s name.

 

PEDANT.

Lay hands on the villain: I believe ‘a means to cozen

somebody in this city under my countenance.

 

[Re-enter BIONDELLO.]

 

BIONDELLO.

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.

 

VINCENTIO.

[Seeing BIONDELLO.] Come hither, crack-hemp.

 

BIONDELLO.

I hope I may choose, sir.

 

VINCENTIO.

Come hither, you rogue. What, have you forgot me?

 

BIONDELLO.

Forgot you! No, sir: I could not forget you, for I never

saw you before in all my life.

 

VINCENTIO.

What, you notorious villain! didst thou never see thy

master’s father, Vincentio?

 

BIONDELLO.

What, my old worshipful old master? Yes, marry, sir; see

where he looks out of the window.

 

VINCENTIO.

Is’t so, indeed?

 

[He beats BIONDELLO.]

 

BIONDELLO.

Help, help, help! here’s a madman will murder me.

 

[Exit.]

 

PEDANT.

Help, son! help, Signior Baptista!

 

[Exit from the window.]

 

PETRUCHIO.

Prithee, Kate, let’s stand aside and see the end of this

controversy.

 

[They retire.]

 

[Re-enter PEDANT below; BAPTISTA, TRANIO, and SERVANTS.]

 

TRANIO.

Sir, what are you that offer to beat my servant?

 

VINCENTIO.

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.

 

TRANIO.

How now! what’s the matter?

 

BAPTISTA.

What, is the man lunatic?

 

TRANIO.

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 father, I am able to

maintain it.

 

VINCENTIO.

Thy father! O villain! he is a sailmaker in Bergamo.

 

BAPTISTA.

You mistake, sir; you mistake, sir. Pray, what do you

think is his name?

 

VINCENTIO.

His name! As if I knew not his name! I have brought him

up ever since he was three years old, and his name is Tranio.

 

PEDANT.

Away, away, mad ass! His name is Lucentio; and he is mine

only son, and heir to the lands of me, Signior Vicentio.

 

VINCENTIO.

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?

 

TRANIO.

Call forth an officer.

 

[Enter one with an OFFICER.]

 

Carry this mad knave to the gaol. Father Baptista, I charge you

see that he be forthcoming.

 

VINCENTIO.

Carry me to the gaol!

 

GREMIO.

Stay, officer; he shall not go to prison.

 

BAPTISTA.

Talk not, Signior Gremio; I say he shall go to prison.

 

GREMIO.

Take heed, Signior Baptista, lest you be cony-catched in

this business; I dare swear this is the right Vincentio.

 

PEDANT.

Swear if thou darest.

 

GREMIO.

Nay, I dare not swear it.

 

TRANIO.

Then thou wert best say that I am not Lucentio.

 

GREMIO.

Yes, I know thee to be Signior Lucentio.

 

BAPTISTA.

Away with the dotard! to the gaol with him!

 

VINCENTIO.

Thus strangers may be haled and abus’d: O monstrous

villain!

 

[Re-enter BIONDELLO, with LUCENTIO and BIANCA.]

 

BIONDELLO.

O! we are spoiled; and yonder he is: deny him, forswear

him, or else we are all undone.

 

LUCENTIO.

[Kneeling.] Pardon, sweet father.

 

VINCENTIO.

Lives my sweetest son?

 

[BIONDELLO, TRANIO, and PEDANT, run out.]

 

BIANCA.

[Kneeling.] Pardon, dear father.

 

BAPTISTA.

How hast thou offended?

Where is Lucentio?

 

LUCENTIO.

Here’s Lucentio,

Right son to the right Vincentio;

That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,

While counterfeit supposes blear’d thine eyne.

 

GREMIO.

Here ‘s packing, with a witness, to deceive us all!

 

VINCENTIO.

Where is that damned villain, Tranio,

That fac’d and brav’d me in this matter so?

 

BAPTISTA.

Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?

 

BIANCA.

Cambio is chang’d into Lucentio.

 

LUCENTIO.

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 arriv’d at the last

Unto the wished haven of my bliss.

What Tranio did, myself enforc’d him to;

Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.

 

VINCENTIO.

I’ll slit the villain’s nose that would have sent me to

the gaol.

 

BAPTISTA.

[To LUCENTIO.] But do you hear, sir? Have you married my

daughter without asking my good will?

 

VINCENTIO.

Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: but I

will in, to be revenged for this villainy.

 

[Exit.]

 

BAPTISTA.

And I to sound the depth of this knavery.

 

[Exit.]

 

LUCENTIO.

Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not frown.

 

[Exeunt LUCENTIO and BIANCA.]

 

GREMIO.

My cake is dough, but I’ll in among the rest;

Out of hope of all but my share of the feast.

 

[Exit.]

 

[PETRUCHIO and KATHERINA advance.]

 

KATHERINA.

Husband, let’s follow to see the end of this ado.

 

PETRUCHIO.

First kiss me, Kate, and we will.

 

KATHERINA.

What! in the midst of the street?

 

PETRUCHIO.

What! art thou ashamed of me?

 

KATHERINA.

No, sir; God forbid; but ashamed to kiss.

 

PETRUCHIO.

Why, then, let’s home again. Come, sirrah, let’s away.

 

KATHERINA.

Nay, I will give thee a kiss: now pray thee, love, stay.

 

PETRUCHIO.

Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate:

Better once than never, for never too late.

 

[Exeunt.]

 

SCENE II. A room in LUCENTIO’S house.

 

[Enter BAPTISTA, VINCENTIO, GREMIO, the PEDANT, LUCENTIO, BIANCA,

PETRUCHIO, KATHERINA, HORTENSIO, and WIDOW. TRANIO, BIONDELLO,

and GRUMIO, and Others, attending.]

 

LUCENTIO.

At last, though long, our jarring notes agree:

And time it is when raging war is done,

To smile at ‘scapes and perils overblown.

My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome,

While I with self-same kindness welcome thine.

Brother Petruchio, sister Katherina,

And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow,

Feast with the best, and welcome to my house:

My banquet is to close our stomachs up,

After our great good cheer. Pray you, sit down;

For now we sit to chat as well as eat.

 

[They sit at table.]

 

PETRUCHIO.

Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!

 

BAPTISTA.

Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.

 

PETRUCHIO.

Padua affords nothing but what is kind.

 

HORTENSIO.

For both our sakes I would that word were true.

 

PETRUCHIO.

Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow.

 

WIDOW.

Then never trust me if I be afeard.

 

PETRUCHIO.

You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense:

I mean Hortensio is afeard of you.

 

WIDOW.

He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.

 

PETRUCHIO.

Roundly replied.

 

KATHERINA.

Mistress, how mean you that?

 

WIDOW.

Thus I conceive by him.

 

PETRUCHIO.

Conceives by me! How likes Hortensio that?

 

HORTENSIO.

My widow says thus she conceives her tale.

 

PETRUCHIO.

Very well mended. Kiss him for that, good widow.

 

KATHERINA.

‘He that is giddy thinks the world turns round’:

I pray you tell me what you meant by that.

 

WIDOW.

Your husband, being troubled with a shrew,

Measures my husband’s sorrow by his woe;

And now you know my meaning.

 

KATHERINA.

A very mean meaning.

 

WIDOW.

Right, I mean you.

 

KATHERINA.

And I am mean, indeed, respecting you.

 

PETRUCHIO.

To her, Kate!

 

HORTENSIO.

To her, widow!

 

PETRUCHIO.

A hundred marks, my Kate does put her down.

 

HORTENSIO.

That’s my office.

 

PETRUCHIO.

Spoke like an officer: ha’ to thee, lad.

 

[Drinks to HORTENSIO.]

 

BAPTISTA.

How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks?

 

GREMIO.

Believe me, sir, they butt together well.

 

BIANCA.

Head and butt! An hasty-witted body

Would say your head and butt were head and horn.

 

VINCENTIO.

Ay, mistress bride, hath that awaken’d you?

 

BIANCA.

Ay, but not frighted me; therefore I’ll sleep again.

 

PETRUCHIO.

Nay, that you shall not; since you have begun,

Have at you for