[Lucentio and Hortensio have been posing as teachers to get access to Bianca, and in Act 3, Scene 1, they both revealed their true identities to her. While Lucentio and his servant Tranio know that the supposed music teacher Litio is actually Hortensio, Hortensio has no idea that the language tutor Cambio is actually Lucentio, nor that the man he thinks is Lucentio is actually Tranio. In front of Signor Baptista’s house, enter Tranio-as-Lucentio and Hortensio-as-Litio.]
Tranio-as-Lucentio
Is't possible, friend Litio, that Mistress Bianca doth fancy
any other but Lucentio? I tell you, sir,
she bears me fair in hand.
Hortensio-as-Litio
Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said, stand by and mark
the manner of his teaching.
[Tranio and Hortensio stand aside as Bianca and Lucentio enter. In front of the others, Bianca and Lucentio are still pretending that Lucentio’s her language teacher.]
Lucentio-as-Cambio
Now, mistress, profit you in what you read?
Bianca
What, master, read you? First resolve me that.
Lucentio
I read that I profess, The Art to Love.
Bianca
And may you prove, sir, master of your art.
Lucentio
While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart.
[Bianca and Lucentio move away out of hearing, and Hortensio-as-Litio and Tranio-as-Lucentio come forward. Hortensio thinks that they’ve just overheard Bianca flirting with her language tutor.]
Hortensio-as-Litio
[To Tranio-as-Lucentio] Now, tell me, I pray,
you that durst swear that your mistress Bianca
loved none in the world so well as Lucentio —
Tranio-as-Lucentio
O despiteful love! Unconstant womankind!
I tell thee, Litio, this is wonderful.
Hortensio (as himself)
Mistake no more; I am not Litio,
Nor a musician as I seem to be,
But one that scorn to live in this disguise
For such a one as leaves a gentleman
And makes a god of such a cullion.
Know, sir, that I am called Hortensio.
Tranio-as-Lucentio
Signor Hortensio, I have often heard
Of your entire affection to Bianca,
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 no more, but do forswear her
As one unworthy all the former favors
That I have fondly flattered her withal.
Tranio-as-Lucentio
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 Hortensio. Enter Lucentio and Bianca.]
Tranio (as himself)
Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace
As 'longeth to a lover's blessèd 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
Lucentio (as himself)
Then we are rid of Litio.
Tranio
I' faith, he'll have a lusty widow now,
That shall be wooed and wedded in a day.
Bianca
Tranio
Bianca
Tranio
Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school.
Bianca
The taming-school! What, is there such a place?
Tranio
Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master
That teacheth tricks eleven-and-twenty long
To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.
[Enter Biondello, who continues to address his fellow servant Tranio as his master, even though the only others around are Lucentio and Bianca, who are in on the ruse.]
Biondello
[To Tranio] 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
Tranio
Biondello
Master, a marcantant, or a pedant,
I know not what; but formal in apparel,
In gait, and countenance — surely like a father.
Lucentio
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.
[Exit Lucentio and Bianca. Enter a Merchant.]
Merchant
Tranio-as-Lucentio
And you, sir. You are welcome.
Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?
Merchant
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-as-Lucentio
Merchant
Tranio-as-Lucentio
Of Mantua, sir? Marry, God forbid!
And come to Padua, careless of your life?
Merchant
My life, sir? How, I pray? For that goes hard.
Tranio-as-Lucentio
'Tis death for any one 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.
Merchant
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-as-Lucentio
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?
Merchant
Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,
Pisa renowned for grave citizens.
Tranio-as-Lucentio
Among them know you one Vincentio?
Merchant
I know him not, but I have heard of him,
A merchant of incomparable wealth.
Tranio-as-Lucentio
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-as-Lucentio
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.
Merchant
O sir, I do; and will repute you ever
The patron of my life and liberty.
Tranio-as-Lucentio
Then go with me to make it so.
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.
[Exit]
