Characters in the Induction.

Lord, before whom the Play is fuppos'd to be play'd.
Christopher Sly, a drunken Tinker.

1

A

Hoftefs.

Page, Players, Huntsmen, and other Servants attending on

the Lord.

Dramatis Perfonæ.

Baptifta, Father to Catharina and Bianca; very rich.
Vincentio, an old Gentleman of Pifa.
Lucentio, Son to Vincentio, in love with Bianca.

Petruchio, a Gentleman of Verona, a Suitor to Catharina.

Gremio, } Pretenders to Bianca.

Hortenfio,

Tranio, } Servants to Lucentio.

Biondello,

Grumio, Servant to Petruchio.

Pedant, an old fellow fet up to perfonate Vincentio.

Catharina, the Shrew.

Bianca, ber Sifter.
Widow.

Taylor, Haberdashers; with Servants attending on
Baptifta and Petruchio.

SCENE, fometimes in Padua; and fometimes in Petruchio's Houfe in the Country.

THE

THE

TAMING of the SHREW.

INDUCTION.

I

SCENE

I.

Before an Alehoufe on a Heath.

Enter Hoftefs and Sly.

SLY.

"'LL pheefe you', in faith.

rogues.

Hoft. A pair of stocks, you rogue! Sly. Y'are a baggage; the Slies are no Look in the Chronicles, we came in with Richard Conqueror; therefore, paucus pallabris ; let the world Aide: Seffa.

2

go to

Hoft. You will not pay for the glaffes you have burst? Sly. No, not a denier: go by, Jeronimo thy cold bed, and warm thee3. Hoft. I know my remedy; I must go fetch the Thirdborough+.

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

Wind borns. Enter a Lord from bunting, with a Train.

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

Brach, Merriman, the poor cur is imboft';
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 coldeft fault?
I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.

Hun. Why, Belman is as good as he, my Lord;
He cried upon it at the meereft lofs,
And twice to day pick'd out the dulleft scent:
Trust me, I take him for the better dog.

Lord. Thou art a fool; if Eccho 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? fee, doth he breathe?

2 Hun. He breathes, my Lord. Were he not warm'd with ale,

5 Brach, Merriman,] Sir T. Hanmer reads, Leech Merriman, that is, apply fome remedies to Merriman, the poor cur has his joints favelled. Perhaps we might read, bathe Merriman, which is

II.

This were a bed but cold, to fleep fo foundly.

Lord. O monftrous beast! how like a fwine he lies!
-Grim death, how foul and loathfome is thy image!-
Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man.
What think you, if he were convey'd to bed,
Wrapt in fweet cloaths; rings put upon his fingers;
A most delicious banquet by his bed,

B 3

I believe the common practice of huntfmen, but the prefent reading may stand

tender well my bounds, Brach. Merriman ---the poor cur is imboft.

And

And brave attendants near him, when he wakes;
Would not the beggar then forget himself?

1 Hun. Believe me, Lord, I think he cannot chuse, 2 Hun. It would feem ftrange 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 bafop
Full of rose water, and bestrew'd with flowers;
Another bear the ewer; a third a diaper;

And fay, will't please 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;
Persuade him, that he hath been lunatick.
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 paftime paffing excellent,

If it be hufbanded with modesty o.

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;

modity.] By modefty is meant moderation, without fuffering Our merriment to break into any excefs.

And