The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (598 page)

Will serve the turn.

Who will suit your need.

TRANIO. What is he, Biondello?

BIONDELLO. Master, a mercatante or a pedant,

Master, a merchant or a traveling teacher,

I know not what; but formal in apparel,

I don't know what; but dressed formally,

In gait and countenance surely like a father.

In way of walking and appearance surely like a father.

LUCENTIO. And what of him, Tranio?

And what about him, Tranio?

TRANIO. If he be credulous and trust my tale,

If he believes things easily and trusts my tale,

I'll make him glad to seem Vincentio,

And give assurance to Baptista Minola,

As if he were the right Vincentio.

As if he were the actual Vincentio.

Take in your love, and then let me alone.

Take your love inside, and then leave me alone.

[Exeunt LUCENTIO and BIANCA.]

[Enter a PEDANT.]

PEDANT. God save you, sir!

TRANIO. And you, sir! you are welcome. Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?

And you, sir! You are welcome. Are you traveling much further, or is this your destination?

PEDANT. Sir, at the farthest for a week or two;

Sir, this is as far as I'm going for a week or two;

But then up farther, and as far as Rome;

And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.

TRANIO. What countryman, I pray?

What country are you from, may I ask?

PEDANT. Of Mantua.

TRANIO. Of Mantua, sir? Marry, God forbid,

You are of Mantua, sir? By Mary, God forbid,

And come to Padua, careless of your life!

And come to Padua, so recklessly with your life!

PEDANT. My life, sir! How, I pray? for that goes hard.

My life, sir! How, may I ask? For I would hate to lose it.

TRANIO. 'Tis death for any one in Mantua

It's certain death for anyone in Manua

To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?

To come to Padua. Don't you know why?

Your ships are stay'd at Venice; and the duke,

Your ships are stranded in Venice; and the duke,

-- For private quarrel 'twixt your duke and him,--

--
Because of a private quarrel between your duke and him, --

Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly.

Has published and proclaimed it all around.

'Tis marvel, but that you are but newly come

It is a marvel, and if you hadn't been so new here

You might have heard it else proclaim'd about.

You would have otherwise might have heard it announced.

PEDANT. Alas, sir! it is worse for me than so;

Oh no, sir! It will be even worse for me;

For I have bills for money by exchange

From Florence, and must here deliver them.

From Florence, and must deliver them here.

TRANIO. Well, sir, to do you courtesy,

Well, sir, to do you a favor,

This will I do, and this I will advise you:

I will do this, and I will give you this advice:

First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa?

First, tell me, have you ever been to Pisa?

PEDANT. Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,

Yes, sir, I have often been to Pisa,

Pisa renowned for grave citizens.

Pisa which is well known for its wise citizens.

TRANIO. Among them know you one Vincentio?

Among them do you know Vincentio?

PEDANT. I know him not, but I have heard of him,

I do not know him, but I have heard of him,

A merchant of incomparable wealth.

TRANIO. He is my father, sir; and, sooth to say,

He is my father, sir; and, to tell the truth,

In countenance somewhat doth resemble you.

Has a face that somewhat resembles yours.

BIONDELLO. [Aside.] As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one.

As much as an apple looks like an oyster, anyway.

TRANIO. To save your life in this extremity,

To save your life in this difficulty,

This favour will I do you for his sake;

I will do you this favor for his sake;

And think it not the worst of all your fortunes

And do not think it the worst of your luck

That you are like to Sir Vincentio.

That you are similar to Sir Vincentio.

His name and credit shall you undertake,

You shall take his name and duties,

And in my house you shall be friendly lodg'd;

And in my house you shall be lodged as a friend;

Look that you take upon you as you should!

Make sure you behave as you should!

You understand me, sir; so shall you stay

You understand me, sir; and so you shall stay

Till you have done your business in the city.

If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it.

PEDANT. O, sir, I do; and will repute you ever

Oh, sir, I do; and will always consider you

The patron of my life and liberty.

The savior of my life and liberty.

TRANIO. Then go with me to make the matter good.

Then go with me to settle the matter.

This, by the way, I let you understand:

My father is here look'd for every day

My father is waited for here every day

To pass assurance of a dower in marriage

To promise a dower in marriage

'Twixt me and one Baptista's daughter here:

Between me and a man named Baptista's daughter, here;

In all these circumstances I'll instruct you.

Go with me to clothe you as becomes you.

Go with me to clothe you as fits the role.

[Exeunt.]

A room in PETRUCHIO'S house

[Enter KATHERINA and GRUMIO.]

GRUMIO. No, no, forsooth; I dare not for my life.

No, no, truthfully; I do not dare - it's life or death.

KATHERINA. The more my wrong, the more his spite appears.

The more I am wronged, the more his anger appears.

What, did he marry me to famish me?

What, did he marry me to starve me?

Beggars that come unto my father's door

Beggars that come to my father's door

Upon entreaty have a present alms;

After begging receive a small donation;

If not, elsewhere they meet with charity;

And even if not, they get charity somewhere else;

But I, who never knew how to entreat,

But I, who never knew how to beg,

Nor never needed that I should entreat,

Or never needed to beg,

Am starv'd for meat, giddy for lack of sleep;

Am starved for food, dizzy for lack of sleep;

With oaths kept waking, and with brawling fed.

With yells kept awake, and with noise fed.

And that which spites me more than all these wants,

And that which bothers me more than all these wants,

He does it under name of perfect love;

He does it in the name of perfect love;

As who should say, if I should sleep or eat

As if saying, if I slept or ate

'Twere deadly sickness, or else present death.

That it were deadly sickness, or else immediate death.

I prithee go and get me some repast;

Please go and get me a meal;

I care not what, so it be wholesome food.

I do not care what, as long as it is nutritious food.

GRUMIO. What say you to a neat's foot?

What would you say to a pig's foot?

KATHERINA. 'Tis passing good; I prithee let me have it.

That would be very good; please let me have it.

GRUMIO. I fear it is too choleric a meat. How say you to a fat tripe finely broil'd?

I fear it would be too rich for you. What about some finely boiled tripe?

KATHERINA. I like it well; good Grumio, fetch it me.

I like it very much; good Grumio, bring it to me.

GRUMIO. I cannot tell; I fear 'tis choleric. What say you to a piece of beef and mustard?

I can't tell; I fear it is too rich. What do you say to a piece of beef and mustard?

KATHERINA. A dish that I do love to feed upon.

A dish that I do love to eat.

GRUMIO. Ay, but the mustard is too hot a little.

Yes, but the mustard is a little too hot.

KATHERINA. Why then the beef, and let the mustard rest.

Why then the beef, and skip the mustard.

GRUMIO. Nay, then I will not: you shall have the mustard,

No, then I will not; you shall have the mustard,

Or else you get no beef of Grumio.

Or else you will get no beef from Grumio.

KATHERINA. Then both, or one, or anything thou wilt.

Then both, or one, or anything you wish.

GRUMIO. Why then the mustard without the beef.