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Tranio, since for the great desire I had To see fair Padua, nursery of arts, I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy, The pleasant garden of great Italy; And by my father’s love and leave am arm’d With his good will and thy good company, My trusty servant, well approved in all, Here let us breathe and haply institute A course of learning and ingenious studies. Pisa renown’d for grave citizens Gave me my being and my father first, A merchant of great traffic through the world, Vincetino come of Bentivolii. Vincetino’s son brought up in Florence It shall become to serve all hopes conceived, To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds: And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study, Virtue and that part of philosophy Will I apply that treats of happiness By virtue specially to be achieved. Tell me thy mind; for I have Pisa left And am to Padua come, as he that leaves A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.
Tranio, since I’ve always wanted To see beautiful Padua, the birthplace of learning, I’ve come to the rich land of Lombardy, The beautiful garden of great Italy; And thanks to my father’s love and permission, I’m armed with his approval and your good company, My loyal servant, trusted in everything, Let’s rest here for a bit and maybe start A course of study and intellectual pursuits. Pisa, famous for its wise citizens, Gave me life and my father first, A merchant with great trade all over the world, From Vincetino, a family of Bentivolii. Vincetino’s son was raised in Florence, And now it’s time to serve any hopes I have, To dress my future with virtuous actions: So, Tranio, for now I’ll focus on study, Specifically on the part of philosophy That teaches about happiness, Which is mainly achieved through virtue. Tell me your thoughts; for I’ve left Pisa And come to Padua, like someone who leaves A shallow puddle to dive into the deep, And who, when thirsty, seeks to satisfy his hunger.
Mi perdonato, gentle master mine, I am in all affected as yourself; Glad that you thus continue your resolve To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy. Only, good master, while we do admire This virtue and this moral discipline, Let’s be no stoics nor no stocks, I pray; Or so devote to Aristotle’s cheques As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured: Balk logic with acquaintance that you have And practise rhetoric in your common talk; Music and poesy use to quicken you; The mathematics and the metaphysics, Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you; No profit grows where is no pleasure ta’en: In brief, sir, study what you most affect.
Forgive me, my kind master, I feel the same way as you; I’m glad you’ve decided to stick with your plan To embrace the sweet rewards of learning. But, good master, while we admire This virtue and moral discipline, Let’s not be rigid Stoics or wooden fools, I ask; Or so absorbed in Aristotle’s logic That Ovid becomes an outcast, completely rejected: Use the logic you’re familiar with, And practice rhetoric in your daily speech; Use music and poetry to inspire you; Mathematics and metaphysics, approach them as you like; There’s no benefit if there’s no enjoyment: In short, sir, study what you most enjoy.
Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore, We could at once put us in readiness, And take a lodging fit to entertain Such friends as time in Padua shall beget. But stay a while: what company is this?
Thank you, Tranio, that’s good advice. If Biondello were here, We could quickly get ready, And find a place to stay that’s suitable for Any friends we might make in Padua. But wait a minute: what company is this?
Master, some show to welcome us to town.
Master, it’s a group coming to welcome us to town.
Gentlemen, importune me no farther, For how I firmly am resolved you know; That is, not bestow my youngest daughter Before I have a husband for the elder: If either of you both love Katharina, Because I know you well and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.
Gentlemen, don’t bother me anymore, You know how firmly I’ve made my decision; That is, I won’t marry off my youngest daughter Until I find a husband for the older one: If either of you loves Katharina, Since I know you both and care for you, You’ll have my permission to court her as you wish.
[Aside] To cart her rather: she’s too rough for me. There, There, Hortensio, will you any wife?
[Aside] I’d rather cart her off: she’s too wild for me. There, there, Hortensio, do you want a wife?
I pray you, sir, is it your will To make a stale of me amongst these mates?
I beg your pardon, sir, is it your wish To make a fool of me in front of these men?
Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you, Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.
Fool? Maid! What do you mean by that? No fool for you, Unless you were gentler, kinder by nature.
I’faith, sir, you shall never need to fear: I wis it is not half way to her heart; But if it were, doubt not her care should be To comb your noddle with a three-legg’d stool And paint your face and use you like a fool.
I swear, sir, you need never fear: I’m sure it’s not even half her heart; But if it were, don’t worry, her job would be To beat your head with a three-legged stool And paint your face and treat you like an idiot.
From all such devils, good Lord deliver us!
Good Lord, deliver us from all such devils!
And me too, good Lord!
And me too, good Lord!
Hush, master! here’s some good pastime toward: That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward.
Hush, master! This is going to be fun: That girl is either completely mad or terribly stubborn.
But in the other’s silence do I see Maid’s mild behavior and sobriety. Peace, Tranio!
But in the other’s silence do I see The gentle behavior and calmness of a maid. Quiet, Tranio!
Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill.
Well said, master; quiet! and stare all you want.
Gentlemen, that I may soon make good What I have said, Bianca, get you in: And let it not displease thee, good Bianca, For I will love thee ne’er the less, my girl.
Gentlemen, so that I can soon prove What I’ve said, Bianca, go inside: And don’t be upset, dear Bianca, For I will love you just the same, my girl.
A pretty peat! it is best Put finger in the eye, an she knew why.
What a lovely little brat! It’s best To poke her in the eye, if she knew why.
Sister, content you in my discontent. Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: My books and instruments shall be my company, On them to took and practise by myself.
Sister, stay calm in my unhappiness. Sir, I humbly agree with your wishes: My books and instruments will be my companions, I’ll study and practice alone with them.
Hark, Tranio! thou may’st hear Minerva speak.
Listen, Tranio! You might hear Minerva speak.
Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I that our good will effects Bianca’s grief.
Signior Baptista, why are you being so strange? I’m sorry that our good intentions Cause Bianca’s sorrow.
Why will you mew her up, Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell, And make her bear the penance of her tongue?
Why are you locking her up, Signior Baptista, for this hellish devil, And making her suffer for her tongue?
Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolved: Go in, Bianca:
Gentlemen, calm down; I’ve made my decision: Go inside, Bianca:
And for I know she taketh most delight In music, instruments and poetry, Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, Fit to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio, Or Signior Gremio, you, know any such, Prefer them hither; for to cunning men I will be very kind, and liberal To mine own children in good bringing up: And so farewell. Katharina, you may stay; For I have more to commune with Bianca.
And because I know she takes the most joy In music, instruments, and poetry, I’ll keep schoolteachers in my house, Fit to teach her young mind. If you, Hortensio, Or Signior Gremio, know any such teachers, Send them here; for I will be very kind and generous To skilled men, and give them a good reward For teaching my children well: So goodbye. Katharina, you can stay; For I need to talk more with Bianca.
Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not? What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, belike, I knew not what to take and what to leave, ha?
Well, I trust I can go too, can’t I? What, Am I going to be given specific hours, as if I Didn’t know what to keep and what to leave, huh?
You may go to the devil’s dam: your gifts are so good, here’s none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out: our cakes dough on both sides. Farewell: yet for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father.
You can go to the devil’s damnation: your gifts are so Wonderful, no one will hold you back. Their love isn’t So great, Hortensio, that we can’t just wait it out, And see how things turn out: we’re both stuck in the same position. Goodbye: but for the love I have for my Sweet Bianca, if I can find a good Man to teach her what she enjoys, I will Recommend him to her father.
So will I, Signior Gremio: but a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brooked parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both, that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress and be happy rivals in Bianco’s love, to labour and effect one thing specially.
So will I, Signior Gremio: but a word, please. Although our quarrel hasn’t allowed us to talk yet, Know this now, after thinking it over, it affects us both, That we might again get a chance to court our fair Mistress and be happy rivals for Bianca’s love, to Work together and achieve one thing in particular.
What’s that, I pray?
What’s that, I pray?
Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister.
Well, sir, it’s to find a husband for her sister.
A husband! a devil.
A husband! A devil.
I say, a husband.
I said, a husband.
I say, a devil. Thinkest thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell?
I said, a devil. Do you think, Hortensio, that even though her father is very rich, any man would be foolish enough to marry her, who’s like hell?
Tush, Gremio, though it pass your patience and mine to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough.
Come on, Gremio, even if it tries both your patience and mine to deal with her loud complaints, there are good guys out there who, if they found the right one, would take her with all her faults and enough money.
I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whipped at the high cross every morning.
I don’t know; but I’d rather take her dowry with the condition that I get whipped at the town square every morning.
Faith, as you say, there’s small choice in rotten apples. But come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained all by helping Baptista’s eldest daughter to a husband we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to’t a fresh. Sweet Bianca! Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the ring. How say you, Signior Gremio?
Well, like you said, there’s not much choice with rotten apples. But come on, since this legal agreement makes us friends, we’ll continue being friendly by helping Baptista’s oldest daughter find a husband, while we set his youngest free to find one, and then we start again. Sweet Bianca! Happy is the man who gets her! The fastest one wins the ring. What do you think, Signior Gremio?
I am agreed; and would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing that would thoroughly woo her, wed her and bed her and rid the house of her! Come on.
I agree; I only wish I had given him the best horse in Padua to start his courtship, the one who would win her, marry her, bed her, and get her out of the house! Let’s go.
I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible That love should of a sudden take such hold?
Please, sir, tell me, is it possible That love could suddenly take such hold?
O Tranio, till I found it to be true, I never thought it possible or likely; But see, while idly I stood looking on, I found the effect of love in idleness: And now in plainness do confess to thee, That art to me as secret and as dear As Anna to the queen of Carthage was, Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio, If I achieve not this young modest girl. Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst; Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.
Oh Tranio, before I saw it happen, I never thought it possible or even likely; but look, while I was idly standing by, I saw the effects of love in idleness: And now, honestly, I confess to you, that you are as dear and as secret to me as Anna was to the queen of Carthage, Tranio, I burn, I ache, I can’t go on, Tranio, unless I win this sweet, modest girl. Advise me, Tranio, I know you can; Help me, Tranio, I know you will.
Master, it is no time to chide you now; Affection is not rated from the heart: If love have touch’d you, nought remains but so, ’Redime te captum quam queas minimo.’
Master, now is not the time to scold you; Love doesn’t listen to reason: If love has touched you, then there’s nothing to do but follow this advice: ‘Buy yourself free as cheaply as you can.’
Gramercies, lad, go forward; this contents: The rest will comfort, for thy counsel’s sound.
Thanks, boy, go ahead; this works for me: The rest will be easy, because your advice is good.
Master, you look’d so longly on the maid, Perhaps you mark’d not what’s the pith of all.
Master, you looked so long at the girl, Maybe you didn’t notice what’s really important.
O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, Such as the daughter of Agenor had, That made great Jove to humble him to her hand. When with his knees he kiss’d the Cretan strand.
Oh yes, I saw such sweet beauty in her face, Just like the daughter of Agenor did, Who made great Jove humble himself to her hand. When, on his knees, he kissed the Cretan shore.
Saw you no more? mark’d you not how her sister Began to scold and raise up such a storm That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?
Didn’t you see anything else? Didn’t you notice how her sister Started yelling and creating such a ruckus That normal ears could barely stand the noise?
Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move And with her breath she did perfume the air: Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.
Tranio, I saw her lips move And with her breath she made the air smell sweet: Everything I saw in her was sacred and sweet.
Nay, then, ’tis time to stir him from his trance. I pray, awake, sir: if you love the maid, Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands: Her eldest sister is so curst and shrewd That till the father rid his hands of her, Master, your love must live a maid at home; And therefore has he closely mew’d her up, Because she will not be annoy’d with suitors.
Well then, it’s time to wake him from his daze. I beg you, wake up, sir: if you love the girl, Focus your thoughts and energy on winning her. Here’s the situation: Her older sister is so nasty and mean That until the father gets rid of her, Master, your love must stay a single girl at home; And that’s why he’s locked her away, Because she doesn’t want to be bothered by suitors.
Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father’s he! But art thou not advised, he took some care To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?
Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father he is! But aren’t you aware, he’s made some effort To hire clever tutors to teach her?
Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now ’tis plotted.
Yes, indeed, I am, sir; and now it’s all planned.
I have it, Tranio.
I have it, Tranio.
Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one.
Master, as for my part, Our ideas meet and match perfectly.
Tell me thine first.
Tell me your plan first.
You will be schoolmaster And undertake the teaching of the maid: That’s your device.
You’ll be the schoolmaster And take on the task of teaching the girl: That’s your idea.
It is: may it be done?
That’s it: can it be done?
Not possible; for who shall bear your part, And be in Padua here Vincentio’s son, Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends, Visit his countrymen and banquet them?
Not possible; who will play your part, And pretend to be Vincentio’s son here in Padua, Run the household, study his books, welcome his friends, Visit his fellow countrymen and host them?
Basta; content thee, for I have it full. We have not yet been seen in any house, Nor can we lie distinguish’d by our faces For man or master; then it follows thus; Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead, Keep house and port and servants as I should: I will some other be, some Florentine, Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa. ’Tis hatch’d and shall be so: Tranio, at once Uncase thee; take my colour’d hat and cloak: When Biondello comes, he waits on thee; But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.
Enough; don’t worry, I’ve got it figured out. We haven’t been seen in anyone’s house yet, Nor can we be recognized by our faces As either man or master; so here’s the plan: You, Tranio, will be the master in my place, Run the household, manage the servants as I would: I’ll pretend to be someone else, some Florentine, A Neapolitan, or a lowly man from Pisa. It’s decided and will be done: Tranio, at once Take off your clothes; wear my colored hat and cloak: When Biondello arrives, he’ll be your servant; But I’ll first charm him into keeping quiet.
So had you need. In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is, And I am tied to be obedient; For so your father charged me at our parting, ’Be serviceable to my son,’ quoth he, Although I think ’twas in another sense; I am content to be Lucentio, Because so well I love Lucentio.
You’ll need to do that. In short, sir, since it’s your wish, And I am bound to obey; As your father told me when we parted, "Be helpful to my son," he said, Although I think he meant something else; I’m happy to be Lucentio, Because I love Lucentio so much.
Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves: And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid Whose sudden sight hath thrall’d my wounded eye. Here comes the rogue.
Tranio, be that, because Lucentio loves: And let me be a servant, to win that girl Whose sudden appearance has captivated my heart. Here comes the rascal.
Sirrah, where have you been?
Hey, where have you been?
Where have I been! Nay, how now! where are you? Master, has my fellow Tranio stolen your clothes? Or you stolen his? or both? pray, what’s the news?
Where have I been! Wait, what’s going on? Where are you? Master, did my friend Tranio steal your clothes? Or did you steal his? Or did you both steal from each other? What’s happening?
Sirrah, come hither: ’tis no time to jest, And therefore frame your manners to the time. Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life, Puts my apparel and my countenance on, And I for my escape have put on his; For in a quarrel since I came ashore I kill’d a man and fear I was descried: Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes, While I make way from hence to save my life: You understand me?
Hey, come here: it’s not the time for jokes, So act properly according to the situation. Your friend Tranio here, to save my life, Put on my clothes and my face, And I, to escape, put on his clothes; Because after a fight when I arrived here, I killed a man and I think I was seen: Stay with him, I order you, as you should, While I find a way to escape and save myself: Do you understand me?
I, sir! ne’er a whit.
Yes, sir! Not at all.
And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth: Tranio is changed into Lucentio.
And not even a word about Tranio from you: Tranio has turned into Lucentio.
The better for him: would I were so too!
Good for him: I wish I were him too!
So could I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after, That Lucentio indeed had Baptista’s youngest daughter. But, sirrah, not for my sake, but your master’s, I advise You use your manners discreetly in all kind of companies: When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio; But in all places else your master Lucentio.
I would too, truly, boy, if I could have the next wish after, That Lucentio actually had Baptista’s youngest daughter. But, hey, not for my sake, but for your master’s, I suggest You act properly in every company: When I’m alone, I’m Tranio; But everywhere else, you’re master Lucentio.
Tranio, let’s go: one thing more rests, that thyself execute, to make one among these wooers: if thou ask me why, sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty.
Tranio, let’s go: one more thing remains, that you must do, to join the other suitors: if you ask why, my reasons are both good and important.
My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.
My lord, you’re nodding off; you’re not paying attention to the play.
Yes, by Saint Anne, do I. A good matter, surely: comes there any more of it?
Yes, by Saint Anne, I am. It’s a good story, really: is there more of it?
My lord, ’tis but begun.
My lord, it’s just started.
’Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady: would ’twere done!
It’s a very excellent piece of work, madam lady: I wish it were finished!