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THE TAMING OF THE SHREW.

(WRITTEN ABOUT 1597.)

INTRODUCTION.

This comedy first appeared in the folio of 1623, but it is in some way closely connected with a play published in 1594, and bearing the almost identical title, The Taming of A Shrew. Pope was of the opinion that Shakespeare wrote both plays, but this is hardly plausible. The play in the folio is certainly an enlargement and alteration of the earlier play, and it only remains to ask, was Shakespeare the sole reviser and adapter, or did his task consist of adding and altering certain scenes, so as to render yet more amusing and successful an enlarged version of the play of 1594, already made by some unknown hand? The last seems upon the whole the opinion best supported by the interhal evidence. In The Taming of the Shrew three parts may be distinguished: (1) The humorous Induction, in which Sly, the drunken tinker, is the chief person; (2) A comedy of character, the Shrew and her tamer, Petruchio, being the hero and heroine; (3) A comedy of intrigue the story of Bianca and her rival lovers. Now the old play of A Shrew contains, in a rude form, the scenes of the Induction and the chief scenes in which Petruchio and Katharina (named by the original writer Ferando and Kate) appear; but nothing in the old play corresponds with the intrigues of Bianca's disguised lovers. It is, however, in the scenes concerned with these intrigues that Shakespeare's Land is least apparent. It may be said that Shakespeare's genius goes in and out with the person of Katharina. We would therefore conjecturally assign the intrigue-comedy to the adapter of the old play, reserving for Shakespeare a title to those scenes in the main enlarged from the play of A brew-in which Katharina, Petruchio, and Grumio are speakers. Turning this statement into gures we find that Shakespeare's part in The Taming of the Shrew is comprised in the following Portions: Induction; Act II., Sc. I., L. 169-326; Act III., Sc. II., L. 1-125, and 151-241; Act IV., Sc. 1. 11. and IIL; Act V., Sc. 11., LL. 1-180. Such a division, it must be borne in mind, is no more than a concture, but it seems to be suggested and fairly indicated by the style of the several parts of the medy. However this may be, it is clear that Shakespeare cared little for the other charneta in comparison with Sly, Katharina, and Petruchio. The play is full of energy and busing movement; and the characters of Katharina and Petruchio in particular, are firmly and hely drawn, the scenes in which they appear, though infinitely amusing, never quite passing into wnright farce. Widely separated dates have been assigned for The Taming of the Shrew, from 34 to 1606. The best portions are in the manner of Shakespeare's comedies of the second period; and attributing the Bianca intrigue-comedy to a writer intermediate between the author of the play Shrew and Shakespeare, there is no difficulty in supposing that the Shakespeare scenes were ritten about 1597. Fletcher wrote a humorous continuation of Shakespeare's play, entitled The oman's Prize, or the Tamer Tamed, in which Petruchio reappears.

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INDUCTION.

SCENE I. Before an alehouse on a heath.
Enter HOSTESS and SLY.

Sly. I'll pheeze you, in faith.

Host. A pair of stocks, you rogue! Sly. Ye are a baggage: the Slys are no rogues; look in the chronicles; we came in with Richard Conqueror. Therefore paucas pallabris; let the world slide: sessa!

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.

10

Host. I know my remedy; I must go fetch the third-borough. [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. [Falls asleep. Horns winded. Enter a Lord from hunting, with his train.

Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds:

†Brach Merriman, the poor cur is emboss'd; 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? 20 I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.

First Hun. Why, Belınan 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 :
Trust me, I take him for the better dog.

Lord. Thou art a fool: if Echo were as

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Carry him gently to my fairest chamber And hang it round with all my wanton pie tures:

Balm his foul head in warm distilled waters And burn sweet wood to make the lodging

sweet:

Procure me music ready when he wakes, 50
To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound;
And if he chance to speak, be ready straight
And with a low submissive reverence
Say 'What is it your honor will command ?'
Let one attend him with a silver basin
Full of rose-water and bestrew'd with flowers;
Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper,
And say 'Will't please your lordship cool your
hands?'

Some one be ready with a costly suit
And ask him what apparel he will wear; 60
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.
First Hun. My lord, I warrant you we wil

play our part,

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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 will
him;

And each one to his office when he wakes.
[Some bear out Sly. A trumpet sounil
Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds
[Exit Servingma

Belike, some noble gentleman that means,
Travelling some journey, to repose him her
Re-enter Servingman.

How now! who is it?
Serv.

An't please your honor, playe

That offer service to your lordship.
Lord. Bid them come near.
Enter Players.

30

Lord. What's here? one dead, or drunk ?

See, doth he breathe?

Sec. Hun. He breathes, my lord. Were he not warm'd with ale,

Players. We thank your honor.
Lord. Do you intend to stay with me t

Now, fellows, you are welcom

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 practice 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 40

wakes,

Would not the beggar then forget himself? First Hun. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose.

Sec. Hun. It would seem strange unto him when he waked.

less fancy.

Lord. Even as a flattering dream or worth

Then take him up and manage well the jest:

night?

A Player. So please your lordship to ace

our duty.

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

Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest son: 'Twas where you woo'd the gentlewomar well:

I have forgot your name; but, sure, that t Was aptly fitted and naturally perform'd. A Player. I think 'twas Soto that 31

honor means.

Lord. "Tis very true: thou didst it ex lent.

Well, you are come to me in happy time; The rather for I have some sport in hand Wherein your cunning can assist me m There is a lord will hear you play to-night

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And then with kind embracements, tempting
And with declining head into his bosom,
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd
To see her noble lord restored to health,
Who for this seven years hath esteem'd him
No better than a poor and loathsome beggar :

And if the boy have 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

Stall in despite enforce a watery eye.

canst:

Sly. I am Christopher Sly; call not me 'honor' nor 'lordship:' I ne'er 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 humor in your honor!

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

Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burtonheath, by birth a pedlar, by education a cardmaker, 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

Third Serv. O, this it is that makes your lady mourn!

Sec. Serv. O, this is it that makes your servants droop!

Lord. Hence comes it that your kindred shuns your house,

30

As beaten hence by your strange lunacy.
O noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth,
Call home thy ancient thoughts from banish-

ment

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
[Music.

See this dispatch'd with all the haste thou And twenty caged nightingales do sing :

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[Exit a Servingman.

now the boy will well usurp the grace, Voice, gait and action of a gentlewoman : ag to hear him call the drunkard husband, And how my men will stay themselves

from laughter When they do homage to this simple peasant. in to counsel them; haply my presence My well abate the over-merry spleen Which otherwise would grow into extremes. [Exeunt.

SCENE II. A bedchamber in the Lord's house. Enter aloft SLY, with Attendants; some with apparel, others with basin and ewer and other appurtenances; and Lord.

Sly. For God's sake, a pot of small ale. First Serv. Will't please your lordship

drink a cup of sack?

Sec. Serv. Will't please your honor taste of

these conserves ?

Third Serv. What raiment will your honor wear to-day?

Or wilt thou sleep? we'll have thee to a couch Softer and sweeter than the lustful bed 40 On purpose trimm'd up for Semiramis. 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 answer them

And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth. First Serv. Say thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are as swift

As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe. 50 Sec. Serv. Dost thou love pictures? we will

fetch thee straight Adonis painted by a running brook, And Cytherea all in sedges hid, Which seem to move and wanton with her

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And slept above some fifteen year or more. Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me,

Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. Sly. 'Tis much. Servants, leave me and her alone.

Madam, undress you and come now to bed. Page. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you 120

To pardon me yet for a night or two,
Or, if not so, until the sun be set:
For your physicians have expressly charged,
In peril to incur your former malady,
That I should yet absent me from your bed:
I hope this reason stands for my exense.

Sly. Ay, it stands so that I may hardly tarry so long. But I would be loath to fall into my dreams again: I will therefore tarry in despite of the flesh and the blood.

Enter a Messenger.

150

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SCENE I. Padua. A public place. Enter LUCENTIO and his man TRANIO Luc. Tranio, since for the great desire had

To see fair Padua, nursery of arts

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Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii.

Vincentio's son brought up in Florence

It shall become to serve all hopes conceived,
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds :
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study,
Virtue and that part of philosophy
Will I apply that treats of happiness
By virtue specially to be achieved.
Tell me thy mind; for I have Pisa left
And am to Padua come, as he that leaves
A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep
And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.

Tra. Mi perdonato, gentle master mine,
I am in all affected as yourself ;
Glad that you thus continue your resolve
To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy.
Only, good master, while we do admire
This virtue and this moral discipline,
Let's be no stoics nor no stocks, I pray;
Or so devote to Aristotle's checks

As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured:
Balk logie with acquaintance that you have
And practise rhetoric in your common talk;
Music and poesy use to quicken you;
The mathematics and the metaphysics,

I wis it is not half way to her heart;
But if it were, doubt not her care should be
To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool
And paint your face and use you like a fool.
Hor. From all such devils, good Lord de-
liver us!

Gre. And me too, good Lord!
Tra. Hush, master! here's some good pas-

time toward:

That wench is stark mad or wonderful fro

ward.

Luc. But in the other's silence do I see 70

20 Maid's mild behavior and sobriety.

Peace, Tranio!

Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill.

Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make
good

What I have said, Bianca, get you in:
And let it not displease thee, good Bianca,
For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl.

Kath. A pretty peat! it is best

30 Put finger in the eye, an she knew why.

Fall to them as you find your stomach serves

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Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou
advise.

If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore,
We could at once put us in readiness,

And take a lodging fit to entertain

Such friends as time in Padua shall beget.
Bat stay a while: what company is this?

Tra, Master, some show to welcome us to
town.

Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GRE-
MIO, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and
TRANIO stand by.

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Bian. Sister, content you in my discon-
Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe :
My books and instruments shall be my com-

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Goin, Bianca :

90

[Exit Bianca.

And for I know she taketh most delight
In music, instruments and poetry,
Schoolmasters will I keep within my house,
Fit to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio,
Or Signior Gremio, you, know any such,

Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no far- Prefer them hither; for to cunning men

ther,

For how I firmly am resolved you know;
That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter
Before I have a husband for the elder :
f either of you both love Katharina,

Because I know you well and love you well,

51

Leave shall you have to court her at your

pleasure.

too rough for me.

Gre. [Aside] To cart her rather: she's

There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife?
Kath. I pray you, sir, is it your will

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make a stale of me amongst these mates? | may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly

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