Is ’t possible, friend Licio, that Mistress Bianca
Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?
I tell you, sir, she bears me fair in hand.
Is it possible, friend Licio, that Mistress Bianca fancies anyone other than Lucentio? I'm telling you, sir, she's giving me false hope.
Is Bianca interested in anyone besides Lucentio? Come on, friend - she's stringing me along, giving me false hope.
bianca likes lucentio but she's leading me on
Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said,
Stand by and mark the manner of his teaching.
Sir, to prove what I've just said, stay here and watch the way he teaches.
Sir, if you stick around and watch how he teaches her, you'll see what I mean.
stay and watch how he teaches her you'll see
Now, mistress, profit you in what you read?
Now, mistress, are you making progress in your reading?
So are you learning anything from what we're reading?
you learning from this
What, master, read you? First resolve me that.
What—you're the teacher, right? First, explain that to me.
Wait, you're the teacher—so first tell me what you're teaching.
you're teaching what's the lesson
I read that I profess, _The Art to Love_.
I teach what I practice: 'The Art to Love'.
I'm teaching what I practice—the art of love.
i teach the art to love
And may you prove, sir, master of your art!
And I hope you prove skillful in that art, sir!
And I hope you're really good at that art!
hope you master that art
While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart.
While you, my dear, prove that you've won my heart.
And you're proving you own my heart completely.
you've got my heart
Quick proceeders, marry! Now tell me, I pray,
You that durst swear that your Mistress Bianca
Lov’d none in the world so well as Lucentio.
Fast workers, aren't they! So tell me now, I'm asking, You who swore that Mistress Bianca Loved no one in the world as much as Lucentio.
They work fast! So now tell me—you were the one swearing that Bianca only had eyes for Lucentio and nobody else in the world.
quick progress you said she loved lucentio only him in the world
O despiteful love! unconstant womankind!
I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful.
Oh, this cruel love! inconstant womankind! I'm telling you, Licio, this is shocking.
Oh man, this cruel love! How changeable women are! Licio, I'm telling you, this is wild.
cruel love inconstant women this is shocking
Mistake no more; I am not Licio.
Nor a musician as I seem to be;
But one that scorn to live in this disguise
For such a one as leaves a gentleman
And makes a god of such a cullion:
Know, sir, that I am call’d Hortensio.
Don't misunderstand. I'm not Licio, and I'm not really a musician. I'm someone who despises living in this disguise for the sake of a woman who abandons a gentleman and worships a worthless man. Know that I'm called Hortensio.
Stop. I'm not Licio. I'm not really a musician either. I hate having to dress up like this for a girl who dumps gentlemen to fawn over some loser. I'm Hortensio.
im not licio im not a musician im hortensio i hate this disguise shes choosing a loser over me
Signior Hortensio, I have often heard
Of your entire affection to Bianca;
And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
I will with you, if you be so contented,
Forswear Bianca and her love for ever.
Signior Hortensio, I've often heard about how much you loved Bianca; and since my own eyes have seen how easily she flirts, I will join you, if you're willing, in giving up Bianca and all love for her, forever.
Hortensio, I know all about how much you wanted Bianca; and now that I've seen with my own eyes how easily she leads guys on, I'm with you—if you're down for it, we can both forget about her completely.
i know you loved bianca i saw how she flirts looks like she plays around i'll give her up with you forever
See, how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,
Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow
Never to woo her more, but do forswear her,
As one unworthy all the former favours
That I have fondly flatter’d her withal.
Look at them kissing and courting! Signior Lucentio, here is my hand, and I swear to you that I will never court her again. I renounce her as unworthy of all the attention and flattery I foolishly gave her.
Look at them making out! Lucentio, I'm done. I swear I'm not going after her anymore. She doesn't deserve all the nice things I did for her.
they're kissing lucentio you can have her i give up she doesn't deserve me
And here I take the like unfeigned oath,
Never to marry with her though she would entreat;
Fie on her! See how beastly she doth court him!
And I take the same honest oath, Never to marry her even if she wanted me to; Damn her! See how crudely she's courting him!
And I'm swearing the same real oath, I'll never marry her no matter what; To hell with her! Look at how she's throwing herself at him!
same oath never marry her even if she begged how crudely she pursues him
Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!
For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,
I will be married to a wealthy widow
Ere three days pass, which hath as long lov’d me
As I have lov’d this proud disdainful haggard.
And so farewell, Signior Lucentio.
Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
Shall win my love; and so I take my leave,
In resolution as I swore before.
I wish the whole world except him had sworn off her! As for me, so I can keep my oath for sure, I will marry a rich widow Before three days pass, one who's loved me As long as I've loved this proud, disdainful, wild woman. And so goodbye, Signior Lucentio. Kindness in women, not their beauty, Will win my love; and so I take my leave, With the same resolve I swore before.
I wish everyone in the world except him had given up on her! As for me, to make sure I keep this oath, I'm gonna marry a rich widow within three days—someone who's been crazy about me for as long as I've been hung up on this arrogant, contemptuous, wild woman. So I'm out, Lucentio. Kindness is what matters in women, not how pretty they are, That's what'll make me fall in love; and I'm leaving now, With the exact same commitment I made.
wish whole world gave her up i'm marrying rich widow within three days she's loved me a long time as long as i loved this proud disdainful woman goodbye lucentio kindness in women not beauty wins my love i'm done
The brief exchange between Lucentio and Bianca — 'I read The Art to Love' / 'And may you prove master of your art' / 'While you prove mistress of my heart' — is the moment Bianca stops being a mystery and becomes a character. She's been playing the compliant sister since Act 1, enduring her father's rules, appearing grateful, performing modesty. Here, in front of two watching men, she openly flirts and matches Lucentio wit for wit. Hortensio's jealous exit is proportionate — he's seeing that the competition was never fair. Bianca knew what she wanted and used every tool available to get it. The irony is that she is presented as the reward in a game she was running all along.
Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace
As ’longeth to a lover’s blessed case!
Nay, I have ta’en you napping, gentle love,
And have forsworn you with Hortensio.
Mistress Bianca, I bless you with the grace that belongs to someone in love's blessed state! No, I've caught you unguarded, my sweet love, and I've sworn off you along with Hortensio.
Bianca, I wish you all the grace of being in a blessed state of love! But wait, I caught you off your guard, my sweetheart, and I've sworn to give you up, just like Hortensio did.
blessed grace of lover's blessed state caught you unguarded sworn you off with hortensio
Tranio, you jest; but have you both forsworn me?
Tranio, you're joking; but have you both really given up on me?
Tranio, you're messing with me—but did you both seriously swear off me?
tranio you're joking you both forswore me
Mistress, we have.
Mistress, we have.
Mistress, we have.
Mistress, we have.
Then we are rid of Licio.
Then we're finally free of Licio.
So we're finally done with Licio.
rid of licio at last
I’ faith, he’ll have a lusty widow now,
That shall be woo’d and wedded in a day.
Truly, he'll get a lively widow now, one who'll be courted and married in a day.
Yeah, he's gonna get some feisty widow, the kind who'll be both courted and married in a single day.
lusty widow now wooed and wedded in a day
God give him joy!
May God give him happiness!
Hope he's happy with her!
hope he's happy
Ay, and he’ll tame her.
And he'll control her.
And he'll manage her pretty well.
he'll make her obey
He says so, Tranio.
That's what he says, Tranio.
That's what he claims, Tranio.
so he says
Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school.
Well, he's gone to the school for controlling difficult women.
Well, he went to the school for controlling difficult women.
he went to taming-school
The taming-school! What, is there such a place?
The school for controlling difficult women! What, there's a place like that?
School for controlling difficult women! Wait, is there really such a place?
taming-school there's such a place
Ay, mistress; and Petruchio is the master,
That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long,
To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.
Yes, mistress; and Petruchio is the master, Who teaches tricks and techniques—twenty-one of them— To control a difficult woman and silence her endless chatter.
Yep. And Petruchio's the teacher, Who's got a whole system—twenty-one tricks— To handle a shrew and get her to shut her mouth.
yes mistress petruchio's master teaches eleven and twenty tricks to tame shrew and charm chattering tongue
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.
Oh master, master! I've been watching so long that I'm exhausted; but finally I spotted An old man coming down the hill Who'll do the trick.
Oh master, master! I've been standing here watching forever and I'm beat; but finally I see this older guy coming down the hill who'll work out perfectly.
master i watched so long i'm exhausted final saw ancient angel coming down hill will serve the turn
What is he, Biondello?
Who is he, Biondello?
Who is he?
that old guy who is he
Master, a mercatante or a pedant,
I know not what; but formal in apparel,
In gait and countenance surely like a father.
Master, a merchant or a schoolmaster, I can't say which; but he looks formal in his clothes, in his walking and expression, definitely like a father figure.
Master, he's either a merchant or a teacher, I can't tell; but he's dressed fancy, walks stiffly, looks serious—basically looks like somebody's dad.
merchant or teacher can't tell formal in clothes walks like father
And what of him, Tranio?
And what about him, Tranio?
So what's the plan with him?
what about him
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.
If he's gullible and believes my story, I'll make him happy to pretend he's Vincentio, and give assurance to Baptista Minola, as if he really were Vincentio. You go in with your love, and then leave it to me.
If he's dumb enough to believe what I tell him, I'll convince him he wants to pretend to be Vincentio, and he'll give proof to Baptista Minola like he's the real Vincentio. You go pursue Bianca, and I'll handle the rest.
if he believes my tale i'll make him glad to seem vincentio assure baptista minola like he's the real one you take bianca let me alone
Tranio's recruitment of the Pedant is one of the most audacious con-artist scenes in Shakespeare. He approaches a stranger, invents a diplomatic crisis (Mantua is at war with Padua, there's a death proclamation), watches panic set in, and then offers the exact solution the stranger needs — becoming a fake father for one dinner. The speed and confidence of the lie is the trick. Tranio doesn't pause, hedge, or qualify: he delivers the false law as historical fact and the resemblance to Vincentio as genuine ('in countenance somewhat doth resemble you' — an aside immediately undercuts this as completely false). The Pedant never suspects because the offer comes too fast and solves a problem too precisely. The whole scheme, when it unravels in 5-1, does so because the real Vincentio arrives at exactly the wrong moment — probability catching up with audacity.
God save you, sir!
May God protect you, sir!
God bless you, sir!
hey there sir
And you, sir! you are welcome.
Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?
And you, sir! You're welcome. Are you traveling much farther on, or are you at the farthest point of your journey?
And you too, sir! Welcome. So are you still going far, or is this as far as you're going?
and you sir travel far or stop here
Sir, at the farthest for a week or two;
But then up farther, and as far as Rome;
And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.
Sir, I'll stay for about a week or two for now; But then I'll travel farther, all the way to Rome; And then on to Tripoli, if God lets me live.
Sir, I'll be around for a week or two right now; But after that I'm heading farther—all the way to Rome; And then to Tripoli, assuming I make it.
week or two here then to rome then tripoli if god lets me live
What countryman, I pray?
What country are you from, if I may ask?
Where are you from?
what countryman are you
Of Mantua.
Of Mantua.
Of Mantua.
Of Mantua.
Of Mantua, sir? Marry, God forbid,
And come to Padua, careless of your life!
From Mantua, sir? Well, God prevent that, and you've come to Padua, unconcerned about your life!
From Mantua? Oh man, that's not good, and you've walked into Padua like you don't care if you live or die!
from mantua god forbid you came to padua careless of your life
My life, sir! How, I pray? for that goes hard.
My life, sir! What do you mean? For that's serious business.
My life? What are you talking about? That sounds bad.
my life how that goes hard
’Tis death for anyone 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.
It's a death sentence for anyone from Mantua to come to Padua. Didn't you know? Your ships are stuck in Venice because your duke has had a private quarrel with this duke and he's publicly announced it. It's surprising you haven't heard it proclaimed everywhere, but since you just arrived, maybe you missed it.
Coming from Mantua to Padua will get you killed. You didn't know? Your ships are stuck in Venice because your duke is fighting with this duke and they've made it public knowledge. You should have heard about it everywhere by now, but I guess you just got here.
mantua people cant come to padua its a death sentence dukes quarrel with your duke ships stuck in venice you just got here so you didnt hear
Alas, sir! it is worse for me than so;
For I have bills for money by exchange
From Florence, and must here deliver them.
I'm afraid, sir! It's even worse for me than that; Because I have letters of credit for money from Florence, and I need to deliver them here.
Honestly sir, it's worse for me! Because I've got bills of exchange for money from Florence, and I have to cash them here.
worse for me i have bills for money from florence must deliver here
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?
Well, sir, to do you a kindness, I'll do this and offer you this advice: First, tell me, have you ever been to Pisa?
Okay, sir, to help you out, here's what I can do and here's my advice: First, have you ever been to Pisa?
to help you this advice have you been to pisa
Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,
Pisa renowned for grave citizens.
Yes, sir, I've been in Pisa many times, Pisa known for its serious, upstanding citizens.
Yeah, I've been to Pisa lots of times, Pisa, the city famous for having serious, respectable citizens.
yes sir been to pisa often pisa renowned for grave citizens
Among them know you one Vincentio?
Among those citizens, do you know someone named Vincentio?
Do you know someone there named Vincentio?
know vincentio there
I know him not, but I have heard of him,
A merchant of incomparable wealth.
I don't know him personally, but I've heard of him, a merchant of unmatched wealth.
I don't know him, but I've heard about him— he's a merchant with crazy amounts of money.
don't know him heard of him incomparable wealth merchant
He is my father, sir; and, sooth to say,
In countenance somewhat doth resemble you.
He is my father, sir; and to tell you the truth, in appearance he looks somewhat like you.
He's my father, sir; and honestly, you kind of look like him.
he's my father sir resemble you
[_Aside._] As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one.
As much as an apple looks like an oyster, and they're basically identical.
Yeah, like an apple and an oyster look exactly the same.
lol sure apple = oyster
To save your life in this extremity,
This favour will I do you for his sake;
And think it not the worst of all your fortunes
That you are like to Sir Vincentio.
His name and credit shall you undertake,
And in my house you shall be friendly lodg’d;
Look that you take upon you as you should!
You understand me, sir; so shall you stay
Till you have done your business in the city.
If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it.
To save your life in this crisis, I'll do you this favor for Lucentio's sake. Don't think it's the worst of all your misfortunes that you happen to look like Sir Vincentio. You'll take on his name and reputation, and I'll lodge you in my house as a friend. Make sure you act like he should! You understand me, sir? You can stay until you've finished your business in the city. If this is hospitality, sir, please accept it.
Look, to save your life right now, I'm going to help you out for my master's sake. Don't be upset that you look like Sir Vincentio—actually, that works for us. You'll pretend to be him. I'll give you a place to stay in my house and treat you well. Act like a nobleman should! Stay until you finish your business here in the city. Take the hospitality I'm offering.
ill save your life for my master you'll pretend to be vincentio stay at my house act like a nobleman finish your business then leave
O, sir, I do; and will repute you ever
The patron of my life and liberty.
Oh, sir, I do; and I'll regard you always as the protector of my life and freedom.
Oh yes, sir, I do; and I'll always think of you as the person who saved my life.
yes i do patron of my life and liberty
Then go with me to make the matter good.
This, by the way, I let you understand:
My father is here look’d for every day
To pass assurance of a dower in marriage
’Twixt me and one Baptista’s daughter here:
In all these circumstances I’ll instruct you.
Go with me to clothe you as becomes you.
Come with me to make this work. Let me explain the situation: my father is expected here any day to sign the marriage contract and settle the dowry between me and one of Baptista's daughters. I'll explain all these details to you. Come with me to get you dressed appropriately.
Come on, let's get you prepared. So here's the situation: my father should be here any day to sign the marriage agreement and discuss the dowry for me and Baptista's daughter. I'll fill you in on all the details. Let's go get you dressed right.
come with me my father coming soon to sign marriage contract for me and baptista's daughter ill explain everything lets get you dressed
The Reckoning
Two plots resolve simultaneously: the Hortensio subplot ends quietly, as he discovers Bianca was never as gentle as advertised and exits to find a widow. The Lucentio plot gets its crucial next piece — a fake father, recruited on a street corner by a brilliant lie. The scene is mostly plot mechanics, but Bianca's brief moment of visible flirtation confirms what 3-1 suggested: the quiet sister was always the sharper player.
If this happened today…
Two guys stand on a street corner and watch through a coffee shop window as the girl they've both been competing for openly flirts with a third guy. One of them says 'I'm out — I'll find someone who appreciates me' and leaves. The other immediately turns to a passing stranger, invents a story about him being in legal trouble in this city, and offers to solve it — if the stranger will pretend to be someone's father for one dinner. The stranger, panicked, agrees.