a

b

с

d

Whose nature 'sickens but to speak a 'truth.
Am I or that, or this, for what 'he 'll utter,

That will speak 'anything?
King.

She hath that ring of 'yours ? Ber. I 'think she has: certain it is, I liked her,

And courted her i' the wanton way of youth.
She knew her 'distance; but, in fine, my liege,
Her infinite cunning, with her modern grace,

Subdued me to her rate: she 'got the ring!
Dia. I must be patient;

You, that turned-off a 'first so noble wife,
May justly diet' 'me. I pray you yet, -
Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband,-

Send for 'your ring, and give me mine again.
Ber. I have it not.
King. 'What ring was yours, I pray you?
Dia. Sir, much like the same upon your finger.
King. Know you 'this ring? this ring 'was his of late.
Dia. And this was it I

gave

him. King. The story then goes false! You 'threw it him,

Out of a 'casement ?
Dia. ... I have spoke the 'truth.
Ber. My lord, I do confess the ring was 'hers.
King. You boggles shrewdly; every feather starts you.

Re-enter Attendant with Parolles.
Is 'this the man you speak of?
Dia.

Ay, my lord.
King. [PM] Tell me, sirrah,—but tell me 'true, I charge

you,
Not fearing the displeasure of your master-
(Which, on your 'just proceeding, I 'll keep off)

Of him, and of this woman here, what know you?
Par. So please your majesty, my master 'hath been an

'honourable gentleman: 'tricks he hath had in him,

which gentlemen have. King. Come, come, to the purpose. Did he 'love this

woman? Par. Faith, sir, he loved her,—and he loved her 'not. King. As 'thou art a knave, and 'no knave ! – What an

equivocal companion is this! Par. I am a 'poor man, and at your majesty's command.

I 'know more than I 'll 'speak. 10. R. boarded. b two inserted words.

°0. R. her insuite comming. d graceful accomplishments.

• R. you that have turned off. prescribed for (direct.)

& blunder, hesitate.

Par.

f

Parolles

To

King. But wilt thou not speak 'all thou know'st?
Par. Yes, so please your majesty. I'did go between them,

as I said; but more than that, he loved her,—for, indeed,
he was 'mad for her, and talked of Satan, and of limbo,
and of Furies, and I know not what: yet I was in that
credit with them at that time, that I knew of his prom-
ising her 'marriage, and things that would derive me
ill-will to speak of: therefore, I will 'not speak what I

know. King. Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say

they 'are married. But thou are too fine in thy evi-
dence; therefore, stand aside!--[Petiress
[Diana.] 'This ring, you say, was 'yours?

Where did you 'buy it? or who 'gave it you?
Dia. It was 'not given me, nor I did not buy it.
King. Who 'lent it you ?
Dia.

It was not lent me neither.
King. Where did you 'find it then?
Dia.

I found it not.
King. If it were yours by 'none of all these ways,

How could you give it him? Dia.

I 'never gave it him.
Luf. This woman 's an easy glove, my lord: she goes off

and on at pleasure.
King. This ring was 'mine: I gave it his 'first wife.
Dia. It might be yours, or hers, for aught I know.
King. Take her away: I do not like her now.-

Unless thou tell'st me 'where thou hadst this ring,

Thou diest within this hour!
Dia.

I'll 'never tell you.
King. Take her away.
Dia.

I'll put-in 'bail, my liege.
King. Wherefore hast thou 'accused him all this while ?
Dia. Because he's guilty-and he is 'not guilty.
King. She does 'abuse our ears. To prison with her!
Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail. [www.]—Stay, royal sir:

Widow
The jeweller, that owns the ring, is sent for,
And he shall surety me. But for this lord,
Who hath 'abused me, (as he knows himself,)
Though yet he never 'harmed me-here I 'quito him.
So there's my riddle,-one that 's 'dead, is 'quick ;
And now 'behold the meaning !

Beguiles the 'truer office of mine eyes ?

Is 't 'real that I see ? Hel.

No, my good lord ; 'Tis but the 'shadow of a wife you see ; The 'name, and not the thing.

Count Bertram exclaims in astonishment and remorse : Ber.

Both, both ! O, pardon! Hel. O my good lord, there is your 'ring again.

And, look you, here 's your 'letter ; this it says:
“When from my finger you can get this ring
See! it is done:

Will you be 'mine, now you are 'doubly won ?
Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly,

I 'll love her dearly! ever! 'ever dearly!
Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue,

'Deadly divorce step between me and you !--
...O my dear mother, do I see you living ?

Old Lord Lafeu can scarce restrain his emotion :
Laf. Mine eyes smell onions! I shall weep anon.—[Par.]

Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkerchief: so, ... I thank thee. Wait on me home, I 'll make sport with

thee: let thy courtesies alone, they are 'scurvy ones. King. Let us from point to point this story know,

To make the even truth in pleasure flow.
(DO) If thou be'st yet a fresh unplighted flower,
'Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower ;
'All yet seems 'well; and, if it 'end so meet,
The 'bitter 'past, more welcome is the 'sweet.

The King advances to speak the Epilogue :
The King 's a 'beggar, now the play is done.
“All is 'well ended,” if 'this suit be won,
That you express "content; which we will pay
With strife to please you, day 'exceeding day:
Ours be your patience then, and yours our 'parts;
Your gentle 'hands lend us,—and take our 'hearts !

To

To

(Flourish.

[Exeunt.

END OF ALL 'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

THE

TAMING OF THE SHREW.

There is now to be easily obtained a copy of an old play called “The Taming of a Shrew,” which was first printed in 1594,4 and again in 1596 and 1607. The authorship of this earlier play has never been ascertained; but it is possible (as a German critic' supposes,) that it may have been a youthful production of Shakespeare himself. It cannot now be determined at what time Shakespeare's version was first performed, but its earliest printed appearance was in the folio of 1623. In both plays, we have, with very little change, almost the same plot-the same characters, but under different names—very often the same language,-and more frequently the same ideas; but refined and improved by greater wealth of wit, smoother versification, and freer poetical expansion. If these statements detract from Shakespeare's originality, they heighten our admiration of his exquisite art, in beautifying whatever he touched; and of his peculiar genius, in filling up another's outline with felicities of thought, expression, and character, entirely his own.

The Characters retained in this Condensation are :

a

IN THE INDUCTION :

PETRUCIO,

Gentleman

of

a

b

INDUCTION. We have before us a Village Ale-house in a sporting country: outside the door stand the Hostess and Christopher Sly,-a drunken travelling Tinker, noisy at being refused more liquor : Sly. I 'll 'pheeseyou, in faith! Host. A pair of stocks," you rogue! Sly. Ye 're a baggage: the Slys are 'no rogues; look in

the Chronicles-we came-in with Richard Conqueror. Therefore, paucas pallabris, 6 let the world slide.

Sessa ! IIost. You 'will not pay for the glasses you have burst ?' Sly. No, not a denier. “Go by," says" Saint Jeronimy: ,

' 'go to thy cold bed, and warm thee.” Flost. 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.k The drunken sot lies down on the ground, and falls asleep. Here a Lord enters, followed by his Huntsmen. After giving some directions, he sees the Pedlar lying on the ground: Lord. What's here? One dead, or drunk? See, doth he

breathe? 2 Hun. He breathes, my lord. Were he not warmed 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!-
Sirs, I will 'practise on this drunken man.
What think you, if he were conveyed to 'bed,
Wrapped 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 ? 2 Hun. It would seem 'strange unto him when he waked. Lord. Even as a flattering 'dream, or worthless fancy.

Then take him up and manage 'well the jest.