THE stage copy of "The Taming of the Shrew," which, under the name of "Katharine and Petruchio," has for many years been in common use, was made by Garrick. The present version-giving the text and the stage-business used by Edwin Booth—is an alteration of that piece. The original play, which, obviously, is much better in the reading than it would be in the representation, is never acted. A large part of it, comprising the Induction,-with the capital character of Christopher Sly,-and the whole of the underplot, relative to the loves of Hortensio and Bianca, has been rejected, in adapting it to the modern stage. The scenes retained are those which it is thought were exclusively the work of Shakespeare. "The Taming of the Shrew" is based on an earlier play, published in 1594, but, presumably, known and popular on the stage before that time, and supposed, by Knight, to be the work of Robert Greene. That piece was entitled "The Taming of A Shrew"; and it is believed that Shakespeare either co-laboured with another writer, in making a new version of it, or by himself enlarged and improved a version of it which another writer had already made. There is no evidence that he ever claimed the play as his own; and it was not published till after his death. first appeared in the Folio of 1623. Dowden thinks that Shakespeare's part in it was written about 1597. "I am satisfied," says Collier, "that Shakespeare had little to do It 4 with any of the scenes in which Katharine and Petruchio are not engaged." The piece is known to have been acted, by Shakespeare's company, at the Blackfriars, at Newington Butts, and at the Globe. John Fletcher wrote a sequel to it, entitled "The Woman's Prize, or The Tamer Tamed" (1647), in which Petruchio re-appears, and, having now taken a second wife, is by her discomfited and subdued. "Sawney the Scot," by John Lacy (1698), and “The Cobler of Preston," by Charles Johnson (1716), were based on "The Taming of the Shrew"; and John Tobin's comedy of "The Honeymoon" (1805), may also be named, though dissimilar, as one of its consequences. The view which is taken, in "Katharine and Petruchio," whether of the feminine character or the matrimonial relation, is, certainly, neither exalted nor refined. Yet even out of this rude and bleak combination of nettles and the east wind the poet has drawn a wholesome lesson, a lovely ideal, and a humourous view of life. W. W. New-York, October 15th, 1878. "Her very smile was haughty, though so sweet; As though they were quite conscious of her station,- A humourous dare-devil."-BULWER. "I'll crown thee with a garland of straw, then, And I'll marry thee with a rush ring."-Davenant. Quoth she, the matter's not so far gone As you suppose; two words t'a bargain."-SAMUEL BUTLER. "I glow, I burn, I freeze, I shiver! My fears are true, I see my wife."-ADDISON. "Rum creeters is women,' said the dirty-faced man. There's rummer things than women in this world though, mind you,' said the man with the black eye."-DICKENS. 44 Young wives, like changing winds, their power display Now zephyrs mild, now whirlwinds in their force, They sometimes speed, but often thwart our course; Who sails with them on life's tempestuous sea."- CRABBE. Sir, she had read the old romances, and had got into her head the fantastical notion that a woman of spirit should use her lover like a dog. So, sir, at first she told me that I rode too fast, and that she could not keep up with me; and when I rode a little slower she passed me, and complained that I lagged behind. I was not to be made the slave of caprice; and I resolved to begin as I meant to end. I therefore pushed on briskly, till I was fairly out of her sight. The road lay between two hedges, so I was sure she could not miss it; and I contrived that she should soon come up with me. When she did, I observed her to be in tears." DR. JOHNSON. "The Gordian knot, Which true lovers knit, Undo it you cannot, Nor yet break it."-OLD Ballad. |