THE

TAMING OF THE SHREW.

CHARACTERS IN THE INDUCTION.

A Lord, before whom the play is | Page, Players, Huntfmen, and

Suppos'd to be play'd.

Chriftopher Sly, a drunken Tinker.

Hoflefs.

other Servants attending on the

Lord.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

BAPTISTA, father to Catharina | Tranio,
and Bianca; very rich.
Vincentio, an old gentleman of
Pija.

Lucentio, fon to Vincentio, in love
with Bianca.

Betruchio, a gentleman of Verona,
a fuitor to Catharina.
Gremio,
Hortenfio, pretenders to Bianca.

fervants to Lucentio Biondello, Grumio, fervant to Petruchio. Pedant, an old fellow fet up to perfonate Vincentigs Catharina, the fhrew. Bianca, her fifter.

Widow.

Taylor, Haberdafhers; with fervants attending on Baptifta and Petruchio.

SCENE, fometimes in Padua, and sometimes in Petruchio's house in the country.

INDUCTION.

SCENE I.

Before an alehoufe on a heath.

Enter Hoftefs and Sly.

S'. I'LL pheeze you, in faith.

Hoft. 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 paucus pallabris*; let the world flide: Selfa.

Hoft.

Meaning pocas palabras, Spanish, few words. Mr. Theobald.

K

Hoft. You will not pay for the glaffes you have burst? Syl. No, not a denier: go by, Jeronimo*. thy cold bed, and warm thee.

go to

Hoft. I know my remedy; I must go fetch the third borough.

Sly. Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll anfwer him by law; I'll not budge an inch, boy; let him come, and kindly. [Falls afleep.

SCENE II.

Wind horns. Enter a Lord from hunting, with a train.

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

Leech Merriman, the poor cur is imbost;

And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd Brach.
Saw'st thou not, boy, how filver made it good
At the hedge-corner in the coldest fault?
I would not lofe the dog for twenty pound.

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 dulleft fcent:
Trust me, I take him for the better dog.

Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet,

I would efteem him worth a dozen fuch.
But fup them well, and look unto them all,
To-morrow I intend to hunt again.

Hun. I will, my Lord.

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

breathe?

2 Hun. He breathes, my

with ale,

Lord. Were he not warm'd

This were a bed but cold to fleep fo foundly.

Lord. O monftrous beaft! how like a fwine he lies! Grim death, how foul and loathfome is thy image! VOL. II.

B b

Wrapp'd

Go by, Jeronimo, was a kind of by-word in the author's days, as appears by its being used in the fame manner by Ben Johnson, Beaumont, and Fletcher, and other writers near that time. It arofe first from a paffage in an old play called Hieronyms, or, The Spanish tragedy.

Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man.

What think you, if he were convey'd to bed,

Wrapp'd in fweet 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 chufe. 2 Hun. It would seem strange unto him when he wak’d. Lord. Even as a flatt'ring dream, or worthless fancy. Then take him up, and manage well the jeft:

Carry him gently to my faireft chamber,

And hang it round with all my wanton pictures;
Balm his foul head with warm diftilled waters,
And burn fweet wood to make the lodging fweet.
Procure me mufic ready when he wakes,
To make a dulcet and a heav'nly found;
And if he chance to fpeak, be ready ftraight,
And with a low fubmiffive reverence

Say, What is it your Honour will command?
Let one attend him with a filver bafon

Full of rofe-water, and beftrew'd with flowers;
Another bear the ewer; a third a diaper;

And fay, Wilt pleafe your Lordship cool your hands?
Some one be ready with a coftly fuit,
And ask him what apparel he will wear;
Another tell him of his hounds and horfe,
And that his lady mourns at his disease;
Perfuade him that he hath been lunatic.
And when he fays he is,- -fay that he dreams;
For he is nothing but a mighty Lord,
This do, and do it kindly, gentle Sirs:
It will be paltime paffing excellent,
If it be husbanded with modefty.

1 Hun. My Lord, I warrant you, we'll play our part, As he fhall think, by our true diligence,

He is no less than what we fay 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. Sirrah, go fee what trumpet is that founds. Belike, fome noble gentleman that means, Travelling fome journey, to repofe him here.

Sound trumpets.

[Ex. fervant.

SCENE

SCENE III. Re-enter Servant.

How now? who is it?

Ser. An't pleafe your Honour, players
That offer fervice to your Lordship.
Lord. Bid them come near.

Enter Players.

Now, fellows, you are welcome.
Play. We thank your Honour.

Lord. Do you intend to ftay with me to-night?
2 Play. So please your Lordship to accept our duty.
Lord. With all my heart. This fellow I remember,
Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest fon:

'Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman fo well:
I have forgot your name; but, fure, that part
Was aptly fitted, and naturally perform’d.

Sim. I think 'twas Soto that your Honour means.
Lord. 'Tis very true; thou didft it excellent.
Well, you are come to me in happy time,
The rather for I have fome fport in hand,
Wherein your cunning can affift me much.
There is a Lord will hear you play to-night;
But I am doubtful of your modefties,
Left, over-cying of his odd behaviour,
(For yet his honour never heard a play,)
You break into fome merry paffion,

And fo offend him: for I tell

you, Sirs,. If you should fmile, he grows impatient.

Play. Fear not, my Lord, we can contain ourselves; Were he the veriest antic in the world.

2 Play. [to the other.] Go get a difhclout to make clean your fhoes, and I'll speak for the properties.

[Exit Player. My Lord, we must have a fhoulder of mutton for a property, and a little vinegar to make our devil roar. Lord. Go, firrah, take them to the buttery, And give them friendly welcome every one: Let them want nothing that the house affords.

[Exit one with the players. Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew my page, And fee him drefs'd in all fuits like a lady. B b 2

That

That done, conduct him to the drunkard's chamber,
And call him Madam, do him all obeifance,
Tell him from me, (as he will win my love,)
He bear himself with honourable action,
Such as he hath obferv'd in noble ladies
Unto their Lords, by them accomplished;
Such duty to the drunkard let him do,
With foft low tongue, and lowly courtesy;
And say, What is't your Honour will command,
Wherein your lady, and your humble wife,
May fhew her duty, and make known her love?
And then with kind embracements, tempting kisses,
And with declining head into his bofom,
Bid him fhed tears, as being overjoy'd
To fee her Noble Lord reftor'd to health,
Who for twice feven years hath efteem'd himself
No better than a poor and loathfome beggar.
And if the boy have not a woman's gift
To rain a fhower of commanded tears,
An onion will do well for fuch a shift;
Which in a napkin being clofe convey'd,
Shall in defpight enforce a wat❜ry eye.
See this difpatch'd with all the hafte thou canft;
Anon I'll give thee more inftructions.

1 know the boy will well ufurp the grace,
Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman.

[Exit Servant.

I long to hear him call the drunkard husband;

And how my men will stay themselves from laughter,
When they do homage to this fimple peafant.

I'll in to counfel them: haply my prefence
May well abate the over-merry fpleen,
Which otherwife will go into extremes.

SCENE IV.

[Exit Lord.

Changes to a bedchamber in the Lord's houfe.

Enter Sly with attendants, fome with apparel, bafon, and ewer, and other appurtenances. Re-enter Lord.

Sly. For God's fake, a pot of fmall ale.

1 Serv. Will't please your Lordship drink a cup of

fack?

2 Serv.