No Fear Shakespeare
The Taming of the Shrew
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 9
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TRANIO
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?
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TRANIO
No, not a chance. You’re supposed to be here in Padua
studying. So who would fill in for you—pretend to be
Vincentio’s son, live in his house, pore over his books,
welcome his friends, and wine and dine his fellow expatriates from
Pisa?
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LUCENTIO
Basta, content thee, for I have it
full.
We have not yet been seen in any house,
Nor can we be distinguished 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 hatched, and shall be so. Tranio, at once
Uncase thee. Take my colored hat and cloak.
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LUCENTIO
Enough! Don’t worry, I have it all figured out. No one
has seen us yet, and no one knows what we look
like—which of us is master and which servant.
It’s obvious: You will be
me, Tranio—live in my
house, instruct the servants and do everything in my place just as I
would. I, meanwhile, will impersonate some other made-up
fellow—some guy from Florence or Naples, or some poor
guy from Pisa. There! That’s a plan. Take off what
you’re wearing and put on my hat and cloak.
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They exchange clothes |
They exchange clothes. |
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180 |
When Biondello comes, he waits on thee,
But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.
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Here comes Biondello. Where have you been, boy?
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BIONDELLO
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?
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BIONDELLO
Where have I been? Where are
you? Has Tranio stolen your clothes,
master? Or have you stolen his? Have you both stolen each
other’s? Please, what’s going on?
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185 190 |
LUCENTIO
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 killed 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?
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LUCENTIO
Come here, boy. It’s no time for jokes: sober up. Tranio
and I have traded clothes to save my life. I killed a man in a fight
since we came ashore, and I’m worried someone saw me. While
I make my escape, I need you to wait on Tranio as though he were me.
Understand?
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BIONDELLO
Aye, sir.
(aside) Ne'er a whit.
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BIONDELLO
Of course, sir. (to the audience)
Not a word.
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LUCENTIO
And not a jot of “Tranio” in your mouth.
Tranio is changed into Lucentio.
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LUCENTIO
And you’re not to utter a syllable of Tranio’s
name. “Tranio” is now
“Lucentio.”
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BIONDELLO
The better for him. Would I were so too.
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BIONDELLO
Lucky for him. Wish I could say the same.
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195 200 |
TRANIO
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.
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TRANIO
I’d second your wish if it automatically meant that
Lucentio could have Baptista’s youngest daughter. This is
for your master’s sake, not mine. So watch your step when
there are other people around. When we’re by ourselves you
can call me “Tranio.” Everywhere else,
address me as your master Lucentio.
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