William Shakespeare: The Taming of the Shrew

ACT V. 1. SCENE I. Padua. Before LUCENTIO'S house. (continued)

GREMIO.
Take heed, Signior Baptista, lest you be cony-catched in
this business; I dare swear this is the right Vincentio.

PEDANT.
Swear if thou darest.

GREMIO.
Nay, I dare not swear it.

TRANIO.
Then thou wert best say that I am not Lucentio.

GREMIO.
Yes, I know thee to be Signior Lucentio.

BAPTISTA.
Away with the dotard! to the gaol with him!

VINCENTIO.
Thus strangers may be haled and abus'd: O monstrous
villain!

[Re-enter BIONDELLO, with LUCENTIO and BIANCA.]

BIONDELLO.
O! we are spoiled; and yonder he is: deny him, forswear
him, or else we are all undone.

LUCENTIO.
[Kneeling.] Pardon, sweet father.

VINCENTIO.
Lives my sweetest son?

[BIONDELLO, TRANIO, and PEDANT, run out.]

BIANCA.
[Kneeling.] Pardon, dear father.

BAPTISTA.
How hast thou offended?
Where is Lucentio?

LUCENTIO.
Here's Lucentio,
Right son to the right Vincentio;
That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,
While counterfeit supposes blear'd thine eyne.

GREMIO.
Here 's packing, with a witness, to deceive us all!

VINCENTIO.
Where is that damned villain, Tranio,
That fac'd and brav'd me in this matter so?

BAPTISTA.
Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?

BIANCA.
Cambio is chang'd into Lucentio.

LUCENTIO.
Love wrought these miracles. Bianca's love
Made me exchange my state with Tranio,
While he did bear my countenance in the town;
And happily I have arriv'd at the last
Unto the wished haven of my bliss.
What Tranio did, myself enforc'd him to;
Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake.