Softly and swiftly, sir, for the priest is ready.
Quietly and quickly, sir, because the priest is ready.
Hurry up quietly—the priest is already waiting.
go fast & quiet priest is ready
I fly, Biondello; but they may chance to need thee at home, therefore
leave us.
I'm going right away, Biondello; but they might need you at home, so stay there.
I'm heading out fast, Biondello, but someone might need you back at the house, so stick around there.
gotta run but they might need u at home so stay
Nay, faith, I’ll see the church o’ your back; and then come back to my
master’s as soon as I can.
No, I'll watch you go into the church and then come back to my master's place right away.
No way—I'm going to watch you head into the church, and then I'll get back to my master's house as quick as I can.
i'm watching you go in then heading back to master's
I marvel Cambio comes not all this while.
I'm surprised Cambio hasn't shown up all this time.
I'm starting to wonder where Cambio is—he should be here by now.
where's cambio? he's taking forever
Sir, here’s the door; this is Lucentio’s house:
My father’s bears more toward the market-place;
Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir.
Sir, here's the door—this is Lucentio's house. My father's is further toward the market square. I must go there, and I'm leaving you here, sir.
Sir, here's the door to Lucentio's house. Mine is actually over that way toward the marketplace. I've got to head there myself, so I'll leave you here.
this is lucentio's place mine's that way gotta go
You shall not choose but drink before you go.
I think I shall command your welcome here,
And by all likelihood some cheer is toward.
You won't have any choice but to drink something before you leave. I believe I can arrange for you to be welcomed here, and there's definitely going to be some food and drink prepared.
You're not getting out of here without having a drink with me. I can make sure you're welcomed properly, and there's definitely going to be some good food and hospitality coming.
you're drinking first i'll make sure you're welcomed food's coming
They’re busy within; you were best knock louder.
They're busy inside; you should knock louder.
They're busy in there—you better knock harder if you want them to hear you.
they're inside knock louder
What’s he that knocks as he would beat down the gate?
Who is this person knocking as if he's trying to break down the gate?
What kind of person knocks like they're trying to smash the door in?
who's knocking like that? tryna break the door?
Is Signior Lucentio within, sir?
Is Signior Lucentio inside, sir?
Is Signior Lucentio home right now?
is lucentio in?
He’s within, sir, but not to be spoken withal.
He's inside, sir, but he can't be spoken to right now.
He's in there, but he's not available to talk to anyone.
he's here but can't talk
What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two to make merry withal?
What if someone brought him a hundred pounds or so to spend on having fun?
What if I handed him a hundred pounds or so to help him have a good time?
what if i bring him money? like a hundred pounds? to party?
Keep your hundred pounds to yourself: he shall need none so long as I
live.
Keep your hundred pounds for yourself—he won't need any money as long as I'm alive.
Keep your money—he's not going to need anything from you while I'm around.
keep your money he doesn't need it i got him
Nay, I told you your son was well beloved in Padua. Do you hear, sir?
To leave frivolous circumstances, I pray you tell Signior Lucentio that
his father is come from Pisa, and is here at the door to speak with
him.
No, I told you your son is well-liked in Padua. Listen to me, sir—to get to the point, please tell Signior Lucentio that his father has come from Pisa and is here at the door wanting to talk to him.
I already told you your son is popular in Padua. Sir, listen—let me just cut to the chase here: tell Signior Lucentio that his father came all the way from Pisa and is here at the door wanting to speak with him.
your son's loved in padua tell lucentio his dad's here from pisa he's at the door
Thou liest: his father is come from Padua, and here looking out at the
window.
You're lying—his father has come from Padua and is right here, looking out the window.
You're lying—his father already came from Padua and he's right here looking out that window.
you're lying his dad's from padua he's at the window
Art thou his father?
Are you his father?
So you're claiming to be his father now?
you his dad?
Ay, sir; so his mother says, if I may believe her.
Yes, sir—that's what his mother says, if I can believe her.
Yeah, that's what his mother claims, anyway—if I trust her word.
that's what his mom says if i believe her
[_To Vincentio_] Why, how now, gentleman! why, this is flat knavery to
take upon you another man’s name.
Wait, what's this, sir? This is outright fraud—taking on another man's name.
Hold on, what are you doing? This is just lying about who you are.
straight up fraud / pretending to be someone else
Lay hands on the villain: I believe a means to cozen somebody in this
city under my countenance.
Grab this criminal—I believe he's trying to cheat someone in this city by using my name and appearance.
Seize him, you villain—I think he's trying to con someone in this town by pretending to be me.
grab him! he's cheating someone using my name
I have seen them in the church together: God send ’em good shipping!
But who is here? Mine old master, Vincentio! Now we are undone and
brought to nothing.
I've seen them together in the church—God give them safe passage! But who is this here? It's my old master, Vincentio! Now we're ruined and finished.
I saw those two together in the church—I wish them well! But wait—who's this? Oh no, it's my old master, Vincentio! We're completely done for now.
saw them in church but oh no it's old master vincentio we're screwed
[_Seeing Biondello._] Come hither, crack-hemp.
Come here, you rascal.
Come over here, you crook.
come here
I hope I may choose, sir.
I hope I have a choice in the matter, sir.
I'm hoping I actually get a choice here, sir.
i hope i have a choice
Come hither, you rogue. What, have you forgot me?
Come here, you rascal. What, have you forgotten me?
Come over here, you rogue. Have you forgotten who I am?
come here you forgot me?
Forgot you! No, sir: I could not forget you, for I never saw you before
in all my life.
Forgotten you? No, sir—I couldn't forget you because I've never actually seen you in my entire life.
Forget you? No, sir—I can't forget someone I've never actually laid eyes on before.
forget you? i've never even seen you
What, you notorious villain! didst thou never see thy master’s father,
Vincentio?
What, you notorious criminal! Have you never seen your master's father, Vincentio?
You infamous rogue! You're telling me you've never met your master's father, Vincentio?
you never saw your master's dad? vincentio?
What, my old worshipful old master? Yes, marry, sir; see where he looks
out of the window.
My old respected master? Yes, indeed, sir—look, he's the one looking out of the window.
My old esteemed master? Yes, of course, sir—there he is, looking out that window.
my old master? yeah there he is at the window
5-1 is structured as a collision between two kinds of reality: the narrative fiction Tranio and the Pedant have constructed (Lucentio's father is Vincentio the Pedant) and the external fact (there's another man claiming to be Vincentio). The scene works because the lie has been so thoroughly internalized that it outweighs the truth. Baptista, Gremio, and even Vincentio himself are momentarily convinced that the real Vincentio is mad. This is social psychology: the lie has critical mass. It requires physical proof (Lucentio + Bianca = actual marriage) to shatter it. The real question: which is more real — the constructed story or the actual facts?
Is’t so, indeed?
Is that really true?
Really? You're serious?
wait, for real?
Help, help, help! here’s a madman will murder me.
Help, help, help! There's a madman here who's going to kill me.
Help! Help! Help! Some crazy person is about to murder me.
help! there's a madman here he's gonna kill me
Help, son! help, Signior Baptista!
Please, someone help me! Son, assist me! Signior Baptista, help!
Help me! Son! Baptista, I need your help!
someone help son! baptista!
Prithee, Kate, let’s stand aside and see the end of this controversy.
Please, Kate, let's step aside and watch how this dispute ends.
Kate, come on, let's move over here and watch how this all plays out.
let's watch from over here
Sir, what are you that offer to beat my servant?
Sir, who are you to offer to beat my servant?
Sir, who do you think you are, threatening to beat my servant?
who are you why you hitting my servant?
What am I, sir! nay, what are you, sir? O immortal gods! O fine
villain! A silken doublet, a velvet hose, a scarlet cloak, and a
copatain hat! O, I am undone! I am undone! While I play the good
husband at home, my son and my servant spend all at the university.
Who am I, sir? No, who are you, sir? Oh gods! What a rogue! Silk clothing, velvet pants, a scarlet cape, and a fancy tall hat! Oh, I'm ruined! I'm absolutely ruined! While I'm working hard at home, my son and my servant are spending all my money at the university.
Who am I? No, who are you? My gods! What a villain! Look at this silk doublet, velvet pants, a scarlet cloak, and that ridiculous fancy hat! I'm destroyed! Completely destroyed! I'm back home working while my son and my servant are blowing all my money at the university.
who are you?! silk clothes fancy hat i'm ruined my son's spending all my money at school
How now! what’s the matter?
What's going on? What's the problem?
Hey now, what's wrong? What's happening?
what's going on? what's wrong?
What, is the man lunatic?
What, is this man insane?
Is this guy crazy?
is he crazy?
Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by your habit, but your words
show you a madman. Why, sir, what ’cerns it you if I wear pearl and
gold? I thank my good father, I am able to maintain it.
Sir, you look like a serious, old-fashioned gentleman based on what you're wearing, but your words make you sound like a madman. Why, sir, what does it matter to you if I wear pearls and gold? I'm grateful to my good father—I have the means to support it.
Sir, you dress like a sober, dignified older man, but you're talking like you're crazy. What's it to you if I'm wearing fancy pearls and gold? My father has set me up well—I can afford this lifestyle.
you look old & serious but you're acting insane why you care if i wear gold? my dad set me up
Thy father! O villain! he is a sailmaker in Bergamo.
Your father! Oh you criminal! He's a sailmaker in Bergamo.
Your father? You lying rogue! He's a sailmaker, not a nobleman—and he's in Bergamo!
your dad's a sailmaker in bergamo liar!
You mistake, sir; you mistake, sir. Pray, what do you think is his
name?
You're wrong, sir; you're mistaken, sir. Please, what do you think his name is?
You've got it wrong, sir; you're making a mistake. So what do you think his name really is?
you're wrong what's his name?
His name! As if I knew not his name! I have brought him up ever since
he was three years old, and his name is Tranio.
His name? Of course I know his name! I've raised him since he was three years old, and his name is Tranio.
Look, I know exactly who this is—I've been raising him since he was a toddler, and his name is Tranio.
i know his name! i raised him since he was 3 it's tranio
Away, away, mad ass! His name is Lucentio; and he is mine only son, and
heir to the lands of me, Signior Vincentio.
Get out of here, you madman! His name is Lucentio, and he is my one and only son and heir to my lands, Signior Vincentio.
Get away, you lunatic! His name is Lucentio, and he's my only son and heir to everything I own.
his name's lucentio! he's my only son he gets my lands
Lucentio! O, he hath murdered his master! Lay hold on him, I charge
you, in the Duke’s name. O, my son, my son! Tell me, thou villain,
where is my son, Lucentio?
Lucentio! Oh, he has killed his master! Grab him—I order you in the Duke's name! Oh, my son, my son! Tell me, you criminal, where is my son, Lucentio?
Lucentio! He's killed his master! Seize him—I'm ordering you in the Duke's authority! My son, my son! You villain, tell me—where is my actual son, Lucentio?
he killed his master! grab him! where's my real son lucentio?
Call forth an officer.
Call an officer out here.
Get an officer over here now.
get an officer
Carry this mad knave to the gaol. Father Baptista, I charge you see
that he be forthcoming.
Take this crazy man to prison. Father Baptista, I'm ordering you to make sure he remains in custody.
Get this lunatic to jail. Baptista, you need to keep him locked up and available.
take the madman to jail baptista keep him there no excuses
Carry me to the gaol!
Take me to the jail!
Lock me up then! Take me to jail!
just haul me off to jail
Stay, officer; he shall not go to prison.
Wait, officer—he's not going to prison.
Hold on, officer—this man's not going to jail.
wait don't take him
Talk not, Signior Gremio; I say he shall go to prison.
Don't speak, Signior Gremio—I'm telling you he will go to prison.
Be quiet, Gremio—I'm saying he goes to jail, period.
shut up gremio he's going to jail
Take heed, Signior Baptista, lest you be cony-catched in this business;
I dare swear this is the right Vincentio.
Be careful, Signior Baptista, or you'll be tricked in this whole situation—I swear to you this is the real Vincentio.
Watch out, Baptista, or you'll get conned here—I'm telling you this really is the actual Vincentio.
be careful baptista this is the real vincentio i swear
Swear if thou darest.
Swear to it if you dare.
Go ahead and swear if you've got the guts.
prove it then
Nay, I dare not swear it.
No, I can't swear to it.
No, I'm not going to swear to that.
nah i can't swear to it
Then thou wert best say that I am not Lucentio.
Then you better say that I'm not Lucentio.
Then you should just go ahead and say I'm not Lucentio.
then say i'm not lucentio
Yes, I know thee to be Signior Lucentio.
Yes, I recognize you as Signior Lucentio.
Yes, I know you're Signior Lucentio.
yeah you're lucentio
Away with the dotard! to the gaol with him!
Get this foolish old man out of here! Off to jail with him!
Take this senile fool away! Lock him up!
get this old fool out to jail
Thus strangers may be haled and abus’d: O monstrous villain!
This is how strangers are dragged around and abused—what a terrible crime!
So this is how travelers get treated in this town—dragged around and beaten. What an outrage!
so strangers get treated like this dragged & abused terrible
Biondello's scene is one of perfect betrayal: he denies Vincentio to his face, points at the Pedant as 'proof,' and then panics when the true Lucentio appears. He screams for help, flees with Tranio and the Pedant, and never reappears. Unlike Tranio (who claims a bond to Lucentio), Biondello disappears the moment the con fails. His survival depends entirely on the lie; when it collapses, he has nothing — no identity, no master, no story. He's the purest instrument of the plot, and when the plot breaks, so does he.
O! we are spoiled; and yonder he is: deny him, forswear him, or else we
are all undone.
Oh! We're ruined! And there he is—deny knowing him, refuse to acknowledge him, or we're all finished.
Oh no, we're destroyed! And there's the real master—pretend you don't know him, or we're all going down.
we're screwed he's here pretend you don't know him or we're done
[_Kneeling._] Pardon, sweet father.
Forgive me, sweet father.
Forgive me, Dad.
sorry dad
Lives my sweetest son?
Is my beloved son alive?
Is my dear son still alive?
my son alive?
[_Kneeling._] Pardon, dear father.
Forgive me, dear father.
Forgive me, Dad.
sorry dad
How hast thou offended?
Where is Lucentio?
How have you done wrong? Where is Lucentio?
What have you done? Where's Lucentio?
what'd you do? where's 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.
Here's Lucentio, the true son of the true Vincentio. I have made your daughter mine through marriage while false assumptions confused your sight.
Here I am—Lucentio, the real son of the real Vincentio. Through marriage I've made your daughter my wife, while all these fake appearances kept you confused.
i'm lucentio real son of real vincentio i married your daughter fake stuff confused you
Here ’s packing, with a witness, to deceive us all!
There's scheming going on here, that's for certain—all to deceive us!
Well, there's definitely some serious scheming going on here to trick us all!
they totally played us this whole scheme
Where is that damned villain, Tranio,
That fac’d and brav’d me in this matter so?
Where is that cursed rogue, Tranio, who confronted me and bullied me so openly about this?
Where is that damned scoundrel Tranio, the one who stood right up to me and defied me so brazenly?
where's tranio? he totally defied me to my face
Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?
Tell me, isn't this my Cambio?
Tell me—isn't this the Cambio I know?
this is cambio? right?
Cambio is chang’d into Lucentio.
Cambio has transformed into Lucentio.
Cambio has turned out to be Lucentio all along.
cambio was lucentio whole time
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.
Love has created these miracles. Bianca's love made me trade places with Tranio, while he pretended to be me in town. Fortunately, I have finally reached the place of happiness I wished for. I forced Tranio to do what he did, so please forgive him, my dear father, for my sake.
Love made all this happen. Bianca's love made me switch positions with Tranio—he played my part around town while I was here. And I finally got what I wanted—a life of happiness with her. I made Tranio help me, so please forgive him, Father, because I'm asking you to.
love made this happen bianca's love i switched with tranio he played me in town i finally got happy i made him do it forgive him for me dad
I’ll slit the villain’s nose that would have sent me to the gaol.
I'll slit the nose of that criminal who tried to send me to jail.
I'm going to cut off the nose of whoever tried to throw me in jail.
i'll cut him he tried to jail me
[_To Lucentio._] But do you hear, sir? Have you married my daughter
without asking my good will?
But wait, sir—did you marry my daughter without asking my permission?
Hold on. You married my daughter without asking me first?
wait / you married her without asking
Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: but I will in, to be
revenged for this villainy.
Don't worry, Baptista; we will make this right with you, I assure you. But I'm going inside to get revenge for this terrible crime.
Don't worry, Baptista—we'll make it up to you, trust me. But I'm heading in there to get revenge on this scoundrel.
don't worry baptista i'll make it right i'm getting revenge for this
And I to sound the depth of this knavery.
And I'm going to find out exactly how deep this criminal scheme goes.
And I'm going to get to the bottom of this whole con and figure out what really happened.
i'm figuring out what really happened
Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not frown.
Don't look frightened, Bianca; your father won't be angry.
Don't look so scared, Bianca—your father's not going to stay mad.
don't be scared your dad won't be mad
My cake is dough, but I’ll in among the rest;
Out of hope of all but my share of the feast.
My plans have fallen through, but I'm going inside anyway to join everyone else. I've given up hope for everything else but at least I'll get my share of the food.
My plans totally fell apart, but I might as well head in and join the others. I'm only hoping for one thing now—making sure I get my piece of the feast.
my plans failed but i'm going in at least i get food
Petruchio and Katherina advance.
Petruchio and Katherina come forward.
Petruchio and Katherina walk up.
p and k show up
Husband, let’s follow to see the end of this ado.
Husband, let's go follow them to see how this commotion ends.
Come on, let's follow them and see how this whole mess gets resolved.
let's follow them see what happens
First kiss me, Kate, and we will.
Give me a kiss first, Kate, and then we'll go.
Come on, kiss me first, Kate, and we'll head out.
kiss me first then we'll go
What! in the midst of the street?
What! In the middle of the street?
What? Right here in the middle of the street?
in the street? right now?
What! art thou ashamed of me?
What! Are you ashamed of me?
What? Are you embarrassed by me?
you ashamed of me?
No, sir; God forbid; but ashamed to kiss.
No, sir; God forbid—but I'm embarrassed to kiss you here.
No, sir, of course not—but I'm too self-conscious to kiss you in public like this.
nah i like you just embarrassed to kiss here
Why, then, let’s home again. Come, sirrah, let’s away.
Well then, let's go back home. Come on, let's leave.
Fine then, let's just head back home. Come on, let's go.
then we're going home let's go
Nay, I will give thee a kiss: now pray thee, love, stay.
No, I'll give you a kiss. Please stay, my love.
No wait, I'll give you that kiss. Please don't leave, my love.
wait i'll kiss you please stay
Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate:
Better once than never, for never too late.
Isn't this good? Come, my sweet Kate. It's better to do it once than never, and it's never too late.
Isn't that better? Come on, my sweet Kate. One kiss is better than no kiss, and it's never too late to show affection.
that's better my sweet kate better late than never
The Reckoning
This is the catastrophe of the Tranio-Pedant subplot, and it works entirely through collision: two Vincentios in the same space, two identities claiming to be true. The scene is kinetic — rapid accusation, mistaken identity, violence (beating Biondello), flight, reconciliation. The tone lurches from farce to cruelty to relief. Biondello and Tranio get away; Vincentio is angry but satisfied; Lucentio proves his love is real. The subplot exits as it should: with lying exposed and real love vindicated.
If this happened today…
A fake hiring manager is conducting interviews using a stolen executive's credentials. The real executive walks in. Chaos. They mistake him for a fraud. He demands legal action. Then the actual hire walks in with their real resume and the legitimate hiring paperwork — and everyone suddenly sees that the con was a cover for real love, not theft.