Act 4, Scene II - Page 2

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 Petruchio 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 watch'd 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 mercatante, or a pedant,
I know not what; but format 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 far on, or are you at the farthest?

Pedant
Sir, at the farthest for a week or two:
But then up farther, and as for 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 any one in Mantua
To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?
Your ships are stay'd at Venice, and the duke,
For private quarrel 'twixt your duke and him,
Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly:
'Tis, marvel, but that you are but newly come,
You might have heard it else proclaim'd 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 countenance 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;