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I LIBRARY

AMOR LENOX

YUNDATIONS

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THE SHREW.

TAMING OF THE

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE.

WARBURTON and Farmer have questioned the authenticity of this play; one declaring it to be certainly spuri. ous, and the other supposing that Shakspeare merely adapted it to the stage, with certain additions and cor rections. Malone, however, upon very satisfactory grounds, ranks it among the earliest efforts of Shakspeare's muse; as it abounds with the doggrel measure so common in the old comedies immediately preceding the time at which he commenced writing for the stage; and with a tiresome play upon words, which he took occasion to condemn in one of his subsequent comedies. The year 1549 is the probable date of its production. Yet Steevens discovers the hand of Shakspeare in almost every scene; and Johnson considers the whole play very popular, sprightly, and diverting. "The two plots (says the learned Doctor) are so well united, that they can hardly be called two, without injury to the art with which they are interwoven." That part of the story which suggests the title of the play, is probably a work of invention. The under-plot, which comprises the love-scenes of Lucentio, the pleasing incident of the pedant, with the characters of Vincentio, Tranio, Gremio and Biondello, is taken from a comedy of George Gascoigne's (an author of considerable popularity) called Supposes, translated from Ariosto's I Suppositi, and acted in 1566, by the gentlemen of Grey's Inn. The singular Induction to this piece is taken from Goulart's "Histories admirables de notre temps," in which its leading circumstance is related as a real fact, practised upon a mean artisan at Brussels, by Philip the Good duke of Burgundy. The Taming of the Shrew condensed within the compass of a modern after-piece invariably elicits considerable mirth; for the respective parts of Katharina and Petruchio are exceedingly spirited, ludicrous, and diverting. But, in its present form, many of the scenes are unpardonably tedious, and many of the incidents perplexingly involved. To those who look for "sermons in stones, and good in every thing," we cannot exactly point out the moral of this domestic occurrence; since the successful issue of Petruchio's experiment in one solitary instance, will scarcely warrant its practical repetition in any of the numerous cases which seem to call for a similar remedy.

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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.

A LORD, &c.

SLY.

A Tapster.

Page, Players, Huntsmen, &c.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

ALPHONSUS, a merchant of Athens.

JEROBEL, Duke of Cestus.

AURELIUS, his Son,

FERANDO,

POLIDOR,

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rando and Alphonsus.

Suitors to the Daughters Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants to Fe of Alphonsus.

SCENE, Athens; and sometimes Ferando's Country House.

INDUCTION.

And say, Will't please your lordship cool your bands?

SCENE I-Before an Alehouse on a Heath. Some one be ready with a costly suit,

Enter HOSTESS and SLY.

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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. Therefore, paucas pallabris; † let
the world slide: Sessalt

Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst? §

Sly. No, not a denier: Go by, says 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: Brach ** Merriman,-the poor cur is emboss'd,tt And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd

brach.

Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
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
He cried upon it at the merest loss, [lord;
And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent:
Trust me, I take him for the better dog.

Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet,
I would esteem bim worth a dozen such.
But sup them well, and look unto them all;
To-morrow I intend to hunt again.

1 Hun. I will, my lord.

Lord. What's here ? one dead, or drunk? See, doth be 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!
[image!
Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine
Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man.-
What think you, if he were convey'd to bed,
Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his
fingers,

A most delicious banquet by his bed,
And brave attendants near him when he wakes
Would not the beggar then forget himself?
1 Hun. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot

choose.

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And ask him what apparel be will wear;
Another tell him of his hounds and horse,
And that his lady mourns at his disease:
Persuade him, that he hath been lunatic;
And, when he says he is-, say, that he dreams,
For he is nothing but a mighty lord.
This do, and do it kindly, gentle Sirs;
It will be pastime passing excellent,
If it be husbanded with modesty. ↑

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
bim;

And each one to his office, when he wakes.

[Some bear out SLY. A trumpet sounds. Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds :Belike, some noble gentleman; that meaus, [Exit SERVANT. Travelling some journey, to repose him here.Re-enter a SERVANT.

How now? Who is it?

Serv. An it please your honour,
Players that offer service to your lordship.
Lord. Bid them come near :-

Enter PLAYERS.

Now; fellows, you are welcome.
1 Play. We thank your honour.
Lord. Do you intend to stay with me to-
night?

2 Play. So please your lordship to accept our
duty.

Lord. With all my heart.-This fellow I re-
member,

Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest son ;-
'Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman so
well :

I have forgot your name; but, sure, that part
Was aptly fitted, and naturally perform'd.
1 Play. I think, 'twas Soto that your honour

means.

Lord. 'Tis very true;-thou didst it excel-
lent.-

The rather for I have some sport in hand,
Well, you are come to me in happy time;
Wherein your cunning can assist me much.
There is a lord will hear you play to-night:
But I am doubtful of your modesties:
(For yet his honour never heard a play,)
Lest, over-eying of his odd behaviour,
You break into some merry passion,
And so offend him: for I tell you, Sirs,
If you should smile, he grows impatient.
1 Play. Fear not, my lord: we can contain
Were he the veriest antick in the world.
ourselves,

Lord. Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery,
And give them friendly welcome every one:
Let them want nothing that my house affords.
Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew my page,
[Exeunt SERVANT and PLAYERS.
[To a SERVANT.
And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady:
That done, conduct him to the drunkard's cham-
ber,

Aud call him-madam, do him obeisance,-
Tell him from me, (as he will win my love,-
He bear himself with bonourable action,
Such as he hath observ'd in noble ladies
Unto their lords, by them accomplished:
Such duty to the drunkard let him do,
With soft low tongue, and lowly courtesy;
And say,-What is't your honour will com-
mand,

Wherein your lady, and your humble wife,
May show her duty, and make known her love t

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And then-with kind embracements, tempting, On purpose trimm'd up for Semiramis.

kisses,

And with declining head into his bosom,
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd
To see her noble lord restor'd to health,
Who, for twice seven years, hath esteemed him
No better than a poor and loathsome beggar :
And if the boy bave not a woman's gift,
To rain a shower of commanded tears,
An onion will do well for such a shift;
Which in a napkin being close convey'd,
Shall in despite enforce a watery eye.
See this despatch'd with all the haste thou canst;
Anon I'll give thee more instructions.▬▬▬
[Exit SERVANT.
I know, the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman:
I long to hear him call the drunkard, husband;
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
May well abate the over-merry spleen,
Which otherwise would grow into extremes.

SCENE 11.

[Exeunt.

A Bedchamber in the LORD's House. SLY is discovered in a rich night gown, with attendants; some with apparel, others with bason, 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 ?

a Serv. What raiment will your honour wear to-day?

Sly. I am Christophero Sly; call not mehonour, 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 !

Oh! that a mighty man, of such descent,
Of such possessions, and so high esteem,
Should be infused with so foul a spirit!

Say, thou wilt walk; we will bestrew the ground: Or wilt thou ride? thy horses shall be trapp'd, Their harness studded all with gold and pearl. Dost thou love hawking? thou hast hawks will

soar

Above the morning lark: Or wilt thou hunt? Thy hounds shall make the welkin auswer them, And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth. 1 Serv. Say, thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are as swift

As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe. 2 Serv. Dost thou love pictures? we will fetch thee straight

[breath,

Adonis, painted by a running brook :
And Cytherea all in sedges hid;
Which seem to move and wanton with her
Even as the waving sedges play with wind.
Lord. We'll show thee lo, as she was a maid;
And how she was beguiled and surpris'd,
As lively painted as the deed was done.

3 Serv. Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny wood;

Scratching her legs that one shall swear she bleeds:

And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep,
So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn.
Lord. Thou art a lord, and nothing but a lord:
Thou hast a lady far more beautiful
Than any woman in this waning age.

1 Serv. And, till the tears that she bath shed for thee,

Like envious floods, o'er-ran her lovely face,
She was the fairest creature in the world;
And yet she is inferior to none.

Sly. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady?
Or do I dream? or have I dream'd till now?
I do not sleep: I see, I hear, I speak;
I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things :-
Upon my life, I am a lord, indeed;
And not a tinker, nor Christophero Sly.-
Well, bring our lady hither to our sight;
And once again, a pot o' the smallest ale.
2 Serv. Will't please your mightiness to wash
your hands?

[SERVANTS present an ewer, basin, and
napkin.

Oh! how we joy to see your wit restor❜d!
Oh! that once more you knew but what you

are !

These fifteen years you have been in a dream; Or, when you wak'd, so wak'd as if you slept. Sly. These fifteen years, by my fay, a goodly

nap.

But did I never speak of all that time?

And rail upon the hostess of the house;
And say, you would present her at the leet,+
Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd
quarts:

Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am 1 Serv. O yes, my lord; but very idle words :not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burton- For though you lay here in this goodly chamber, beath; by birth a pedlar, by education a card-Yet would you say, ye were beaten out of door; maker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of Wincot, 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. Oh! this it is, that

mourn.

makes your lady 2 Serv. Oh! 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 banish-

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Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket. Sly. Ay, the woman's inaid of the house.

3 Serv. Why, Sir, you know no house, nor no such maid;

Nor no such men, as you have reckon'd up,-
As Stephen Sly, and old John Naps of Greece,
And Peter Turf, and Henry Pimpernell;
And twenty more such names and men as these,
Which never were, nor no man ever saw.
Sly. Now, Lord be thanked for my good
amends!

All. Amen.

Sly. I thank thee; thou shalt not lose by it.

Enter the PAGE, as a lady, with attendants. Page. How fares my noble lord?

[Music.

and twenty caged nightingales do sing: Or wilt thou sleep? we'll have thee to a couch, Softer and sweeter than the lustful bed

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Sly. Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer enough.

Where is my wife?

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