The Taming of the Shrew

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Authors: William Shakespeare
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Sirrah Biondello,
    Now do your duty throughly 11 , I advise you:
    Imagine ’twere the right 12 Vincentio.
    BIONDELLO     Tut, fear not me.
    TRANIO     But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista?
    BIONDELLO     I told him that your father was at Venice,
    And that you looked for 16 him this day in Padua.
    TRANIO     Thou’rt a tall 17 fellow. Hold thee that to drink.
    Gives money
        Here comes Baptista: set your countenance 18 , sir.
    Enter Baptista and Lucentio

    Signior Baptista, you are happily met.
    Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of.
    To the Pedant
        I pray you stand 21 good father to me now,
    Give me Bianca for my patrimony 22 .
    PEDANT      Soft 23 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 28 the good report I hear of you,
    And for the love he beareth to your daughter,
    And she to him, to stay 30 him not too long,
    I am content, in a good father’s care,
    To have him matched. And if you please to like
    No worse than I 32 , upon some agreement
    Me shall you find ready and willing
    With one consent 35 to have her so bestowed,
    For curious 36 I cannot be with you,
    Signior Baptista, of whom I hear so well.
    BAPTISTA     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 45 my daughter a sufficient dower,
    The match is made and all is done.
    Your son shall have my daughter with consent.
    TRANIO     I thank you, sir. Where then do you know 48 best
    We be affied 49 and such assurance ta’en
    As shall with either part’s agreement stand?
    BAPTISTA     Not in my house, Lucentio, for you know
     Pitchers have ears 52 , and I have many servants.
    Besides, old Gremio is heark’ning still 53 ,
    And haply 54 we might be interrupted.
    TRANIO     Then at my lodging, an it like you.
    There doth my father lie 56 , and there, this night,
    We’ll pass 57 the business privately and well.
    Send for your daughter by your servant here.
    Indicates Lucentio, and winks at him
        My boy shall fetch the scriv’ner 59 presently.
        The worst is this, that at so slender warning
    You are like to have a thin and slender pittance 61 .
    BAPTISTA     It likes me well. Cambio, hie 62 you home,
    And bid Bianca make her ready straight.
    And, if you will, tell what hath happened:
    Lucentio’s father is arrived in Padua,
    And how she’s like 66 to be Lucentio’s wife.
    [
Exit Lucentio
]
    BIONDELLO     I pray the gods she may with all my heart!
    Exit
    TRANIO     Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.
    Enter Peter

    Signior Baptista, shall I lead the way?
    Welcome! One mess 70 is like to be your cheer.
    Come, sir, we will better it in Pisa.
    BAPTISTA     I follow you.
    Exeunt
[
Tranio, Pedant and Baptista
]
    Enter Lucentio
[
disguised as Cambio
]
and Biondello
    BIONDELLO     Cambio!
    LUCENTIO     What say’st thou, Biondello?
    BIONDELLO     You saw my master wink and laugh upon you?
    LUCENTIO     Biondello, what of that?
    BIONDELLO     Faith, nothing. But has 77 left me here behind to
    expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens 78 .
    LUCENTIO     I pray thee moralize 79 them.
    BIONDELLO     Then thus: Baptista is safe, talking with the
    deceiving father of a deceitful son.
    LUCENTIO     And what of

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