Padua. Before Baptista's House.
 Enter TRANIO as Lucentio, and the PEDANT, booted and bareheaded,
 dressed like Vincentio.

Tranio	Sir, this is the house. Please it you that I call?

Pedant	Ay, what else? And but I be deceived,
	Signor Baptista may remember me
	Near twenty years ago in Genoa,
	Where we were lodgers at the Pegasus.

Tranio	'Tis well; and hold your own, in any case,
	With such austerity as 'longeth to a father.

Pedant	I warrant you.

                             Enter BIONDELLO.

					But sir, here comes your boy;
	'Twere good he were schooled.

Tranio	Fear you not him. Sirrah Biondello,
	Now do your duty thoroughly, I advise you:
	Imagine 'twere the right 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 him this day in Padua.

Tranio	Thou'rt a tall fellow; hold thee that to drink.
														[Giving money.
	Here comes Baptista. Set your countenance, sir.

                       Enter BAPTISTA and LUCENTIO.

	Signor Baptista, you are happily met.
	Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of.
	I pray you, stand good father to me now,
	Give me Bianca for my patrimony.

Pedant	Soft, 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 the good report I hear of you,
	And for the love he beareth to your daughter,
	And she to him, to stay 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, upon some agreement
	Me shall you find ready and willing
	With one consent to have her so bestowed;
	For curious I cannot be with you,
	Signor 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 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 best
	We be affied 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, and I have many servants;
	Besides, old Gremio is hearkening still,
	And happily we might be interrupted.

Tranio	Then at my lodging an it like you.
	There doth my father lie, and there this night
	We'll pass the business privately and well.
	Send for your daughter by your servant here;
	My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently.
	The worst is this, that at so slender warning
	You are like to have a thin and slender pittance.

Baptista	It likes me well. Cambio, hie you home,
	And bid Bianca make her ready straight;
	And, if you will, tell what hath happend:
	Lucentio's father is arrived in Padua,
	And how she's like to be Lucentio's wife.
														[Exit LUCENTIO.
Biondello	I pray the gods she may with all my heart!

Tranio	Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.
														[Exit BIONDELLO.
	Signor Baptista, shall I lead the way?
	Welcome! One mess is like to be your cheer.
	Come, sir, we will better it in Pisa.

Baptista	I follow you.
														[Exeunt.
               Re-enter LUCENTIO as Cambio, and BIONDELLO.

Biondello	Cambio!

Lucentio	What sayst thou, Biondello?

Biondello	You saw my master wink and laugh upon you?

Lucentio	Biondello, what of that?

Biondello	Faith, nothing; but he's left me here behind to expound the 
	meaning or moral of his signs and tokens.

Lucentio	I pray thee, moralize them.

Biondello	Then thus: Baptista is safe, talking with the deceiving 
	father of a deceitful son.

Lucentio	And what of him?

Biondello	His daughter is to be brought by you to the supper.

Lucentio	And then?

Biondello	The old priest at Saint Luke's church is at your command at 
	all hours.

Lucentio	And what of all this?

Biondello	I cannot tell, except they are busied about a counterfeit 
	assurance. Take you assurance of her, cum privilegio ad 
	imprimendum solum. To th'church! Take the priest, clerk, and 
	some sufficient honest witnesses.
	If this be not that you look for, I have no more to say,
	But bid Bianca farewell for ever and a day.
														[Going.

Lucentio	Hear'st thou, Biondello-

Biondello	I cannot tarry. I knew a wench married in an afternoon as 
	she went to the garden for parsley to stuff a rabbit; and so 
	may you, sir. And so adieu, sir. My master hath appointed me 
	to go to Saint Luke's to bid the priest be ready to come 
	against you come with your appendix.
														[Exit.
Lucentio	I may and will, if she be so contented.
	She will be pleased; then wherefore should I doubt?
	Hap what hap may, I'll roundly go about her.
	It shall go hard if Cambio go without her.
														[Exit.
