SCENE.-Sometimes in PADUA; and sometimes in Petruchio's House in the Country. CHARACTERS IN THE INDUCTION To the original Play of The Taming of a Shrew, entered on the Stationers' books in 1594, and printed in quarto, in 1607. SCENE.-Athens; and sometimes Ferando's Country House. INDUCTION. SCENE I-Before an Alehouse on a Heath. Enter HOSTESS and SLY. Sly. I'll pheese* you, in faith. Host. A pair of stocks, you rogue! Sly. Y'are a baggage; the Slies are no rogues: Look in the chronicles, we came in with Richard Conqueror. paucas pallabris;+ let the world slide: Sessa !I Therefore, Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst? Sly. No, not a denier: Go by, Jeronimy ;-Go to thy cold bed, and warm thee.§ Host. I know my remedy, I must go fetch the thirdborough. [Exit. Sly. Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll answer him by law: I'll not budge an inch, boy; let him come, and kindly. [Lies down on the ground, and falls asleep. Wind horns. Enter a LORD from hunting, with Huntsmen and Servants. Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee tender well my hounds: Brace Merriman,-the poor cur is emboss'd; T And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd brach.** At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault? I would not lose the dog for twenty pound. 1 Hun. Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord; He cried upon it at the merest loss, And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent: Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet, But sup them well, and look unto them all; 1 Hun. I will, my lord. Lord. What's here ? one dead or drunk? See, doth he breathe? 2 Hun. He breathes, my lord: Were he not warm'd with ale, This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly. Lord. O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies! Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image! Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers, *Beat; pay you off. A line introduced, in ridicule, from Kyd's play of the Spanish Tragedy, the hero of which, Jeronimo, Sly confounds with Saint Jerome (Dyce). An officer whose authority equals a constable. ¶ Strained. **A small scenting-hound. A most delicious banquet by his bed, And brave attendants near him when he wakes, 1 Hun. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose. 2 Hun. It would seem strange unto him when he waked. And hang it round with all my wanton pictures: Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers; And say,-Will't please your lordship cool your hands? And ask him what apparel he will wear; If it be husbanded with modesty.t 1 Hun. My lord, I warrant you we'll play our part, As he shall think, by our true diligence, He is no less than what we say he is. Lord. Take him up gently, and to bed with him; And each one to his office, when he wakes. [Some bear out SLY. A trumpet sounds Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds:- [Exit SERVANT. Belike, some noble gentleman, that means, Travelling some journey, to repose him here.— How now? who is it? Re-enter a SERVANT. Serv. An it please your honour, Players that offer service to your lordship. Enter PLAYERS. Now, fellows, you are welcome. 1 Play. We thank your honour. Lord. Do you intend to stay with me to-night? * Naturally. Moderation. 2 Play. So please your lordship to accept our duty. 1 Play. I think 'twas Soto that your honour means. 1 Play. Fear not, my lord; we can contain ourselves, Were he the veriest antick in the world. Lord. Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery, And give them friendly welcome every one: Let them want nothing that my house affords. [Exeunt SERVANT and PLAYERS. Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew my page, Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd To see her noble lord restored to health, Who, for twice seven years, hath esteemed him No better than a poor and loathsome beggar: To rain a shower of commanded tears, [Exit SERVANT. See this despatch'd with all the haste thou canst; I long to hear him call the drunkard, husband: VOL. II. F And how my men will stay themselves from laughter, When they do homage to this simple peasant. I'll in to counsel them: haply* my presence Which otherwise would grow into extremes. [Exeunt. SCENE II-A Bedchamber in the LORD'S House. SLY is discovered in a rich night-gown, with Attendants; some with apparel, others with basin, ewer, and other appurtenances. Enter LORD, dressed like a Servant. Sly. For God's sake a pot of small ale. 1 Serv. Will't please your lordship drink a cup of sack? 2 Serv. Will't please your honour taste of these conserves? 3 Serv. What raiment will your honour wear to-day? Sly. I am Christopher Sly; call not me-honour, nor lordship. I never drank sack in my life; and if you give me any conserves, give me conserves of beef: Ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear; for I have no more doublets than backs, no more stockings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, sometimes more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the over-leather. Lord. Heaven cease this idle humour in your honour! Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Barton-heath; by birth a pedlar, by education a card-maker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat alewife of Woncot, if she know me not: if she say I am not fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, score me up for the lyingest knave in Christendom. What, I am not bestraught:† Here's 1 Serv. O, this it is that makes your lady mourn. 2 Serv. O, this it is that makes your servants droop. Lord. Hence comes it that your kindred shun your house, As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. O, noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth; Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment, And banish hence these abject lowly dreams: Look how thy servants do attend on thee, Each in his office ready at thy beck. Wilt thou have music? hark! Apollo plays, And twenty caged nightingales do sing; Or wilt thou sleep? we'll have thee to a couch, Say, thou wilt walk; we will bestrew the ground: * Perhaps. + Distraught distracted. [Music. |