My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,
Shall tax my fears of little vanity,
Having vainly fear'd too little.-Away with him;-
We'll sift this matter further.

Ber.

If you shall prove
This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy
Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence,
Where yet she never was.

[Exit BERTRAM, guarded.
Enter a Gentleman.

King. I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.
Gent.
Gracious sovereign,
Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know not;
Here's a petition from a Florentine,
Who hath for four or five removes,' come short
To tender it herself. I undertook it,
Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech
Of the poor suppliant, who by this, I know.
Is here attending: her business looks in her
With an important visage; and she told me,
In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern
Your highness with herself.

King. [Reads.] Upon his many protestations to
marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to say
it, he won me. Now is the count Rousillon a
widower; his vows are forfeited to me, and my
honor's paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking
no leave, and I follow him to his country for jus-
tice: Grant it me, O king; in you it best lies;
otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is
undone.
DIANA CAPULET.
Laf. I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and
toll him: for this, I'll none of him.

King. The heavens have thought well on thee,
Lafeu,

To bring forth this discovery.-Seek these suitors:-
Go, speedily, and bring again the count.

[Exeunt Gentleman, and some Attendants.
I am afeard, the life of Helen, lady,
Was foully snatch'd.
Count.

For I by vow am so embodied yours,
That she, which marries you, must marry me,
Either both or none.

Laf. Your reputation [7b BERTRAM.] comes to short for my daughter; you are no husband for her Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate crea

ture,

Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your
highness

Lay a more noble thought upon mine honor,
Than for to think that I would sink it here.

King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill ta
friend,

Till your deeds gain them: Fairer prove your honor,

Than in my thought it lies!

Dra.
Good my lord,
Ask him upon his oath, if he does think
He had not my virginity.

King. What say'st thou to her?

Ber.

She's impudent, my lord
And was a common gamester to the camp.
Dia. He does me wrong, my lord; if I were so,
He might have bought me at a common price:
Do not believe him: O, behold this ring,
Whose high respect, and rich validity,
Did lack a parallel; yet, for all that,
He gave it to a commoner o' the camp,
If I be one.

Count. He blushes, and 'tis it:
Of six preceding ancestors, that gem
Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue,
Hath it been ow'd and worn. This is his wife;
That ring's a thousand proofs.
King.
Methought, you said
You saw one here in court could witness it.
Dia. I did, my lord, but loath am to produce
So bad an instrument; his name's Parolles.
Laf. I saw the man to-day, if man he be.
King. Find him, and bring him hither.
Ber.
What of him

Now, justice on the doers! He's quoted' for a most perfidious slave,
With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd;
Enter BERTRAM, guarded.
Whose nature sickens, but to speak a truth:
Am I or that, or this, for what he'll utter,
That will speak any thing?

King. I wonder, sir, since wives are monsters to

you,

And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,
Yet you desire to marry.-What woman's that?
Re-enter Gentleman, with Widow, and DIANA.
Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine,
Derived from the ancient Capulet;
My suit, as I do understand, you know,
And therefore know how far I may be pitied.
Wid. I am her mother, sir, whose age and honor
Both suffer under this complaint we bring,
And both shall cease, without your remedy.
King. Come hither, count: Do you know these
women?

Ber. My lord, I neither can, nor will deny
But that I know them: Do they charge me further?
Dia. Why do you look so strange upon your
wife?

Ber. She's none of mine, my lord.
Dia.
If you shall marry,
You give away this hand, and that is mine;
You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine;
You give away myself, which is known mine;

Post-stages.
Decease, die.

King

She hath that ring of yours

Ber. I think she has: certain it is, I liked her,
And boarded her i'the wanton way of youth:
She knew her distance, and did angle for me.
Madding my eagerness with her restraint.
As all impediments in fancy's' course
Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine,
Her insuit coming with her modern grace,"
Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring;
And I had that, which any inferior might
At market price have bought.

Dia.
I must be patient;
You that turn'd 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, I will return it home,
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.

1 Gamester, when applied to a female, then meant a com Noted. Debauch'd. Love Her solicitation concurring with her appearance of being common.

mon woman.

Pay toll for him.

TAMING OF THE SHREW.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

TRANIO,

ALLSTOPHER SLY, a drunken Tinker.) Persons in BIONDELLO,

Hostess, Page, Players, Huntsmen and the Induc-
other Servants attending on the Lord.) tion.

BAPTISTA, a rich Gentleman of Padua.
VINCENTIO, an old Gentleman of Pisa.

Servants to Lucentio.

GUIO, Servants to Petruchio.
CURTIS,

PEDANT, an old Fellow, set up to perso vate Vi

centio.

LUCENTIO, Son to Vincentio, in love with Bianca. B1, A, The Shrew, Daughters to Baptista. PETRUCHIO, a Gentleman of Verona, a Suitor to

GREMIO,

Katharina.

HORTENSIO, Suitors to Bianca.

BIANCA, her Sister,
Widow.

Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants attending on
Baptista and Petruchio.

SCENE, sometimes in Padua; and sometimes in PETRUCHIO's House in the Country.

INDUCTION.

SCENE I.—Before an Alehouse on a Heath.

Enter HOSTESS and SLY.

Sly. I'll pheese' you, in faith.
Host. 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 paucas pallabris; let the

world slide: Sessa! 3

Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have

burst?

Sly. No, not a denier: Go by, says Jeronimy Go to thy cold bed, and warm thee.*

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?
I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.

1 Hunt. 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 dullest scent:
Trust me, I take him for the better dog.

Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet,
I would esteem him worth a dozen such.
But sup them well, and look unto them all.
;-To-morrow I intend to hunt again.
1 Hunt. I will, my lord.

Host. 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

gim come, and kindly.

• Be quiet. • This line and scrap of Spanish is used in burlesque from an old play called Hieronymo, or the Spanish Tragedy. An officer whose authority equals that of a constable. • Bitch. Strained.

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

2 Hunt. He breathes, my lord: Were he not This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly. warm'd with ale,

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.-
Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers
What think you, if he were convey'd to bed,
A most delicious banquet by his bed,
And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
Would not the beggar then forget himself?

1 Hunt. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose
2 Hunt. It would seem strange unto him when

he wak'd.

Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worthless
fancy.

Then take him up, and manage well the jest:-
Carry him gently to my fairest chamber,

And hang it round with all my wanton pictures:
Balm his foul head with warm distilled waters,
And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet:
Procure me music ready when he wakes,
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 bason,

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 And say-What is't your honor will command,

hands?

Some one be ready with a costly suit,
And ask him what apparel he will wear;
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."

Wherein your lady, and your humble wife,
May show her duty, and make known her love?
And then-with kind embracements, tempting
kisses,

And with declining head into his bosom,-
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd

To see her noble lord restor❜d to health,

Who, for twice seven years, hath esteemed hin.

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,

1 Hun. My lord, I warrant you, we'll play our part, An onion will do well for such a shift; 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 with him; And each one to his office when he wakes.

[Some bear out SLY. A trumpet sounds.
Birrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds:
[Exit Servant.
Belike, some noble gentleman; that means,
Travelling some journey, to repose him here.-
Re-enter a Servant.

How now? who is it?
Serv.
An it please your honor,
Players that offer service to your lordship.
Lord. Bid them come near :-

Enter Players.

Now, fellows, you are welcome.
Play. We thank your honor.
Lord. Do you intend to stay with me to-night?
2 Play. So please your lordship to accept our duty.
Lord. With all my heart.-This fellow I re-
member,

Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest son;—
"Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman so well:
I have forgot your name; but sure that part
Was aptly fitted, and naturally perform❜d.

1 Play. I think, 'twas Soto that your honor means.
Lord. "Tis very true;-thou didst it excellent.
Well, you are come to me in happy time:
The rather, for I have some sport in hand,
Wherein your cunning can assist me much.
There is a lord will hear you play to-night:
But I am doubtful of your modesties;
Lest, over-eying of his odd behavior,
(For yet his honor never heard a play,)
You break into some merry passion,
And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs,
If you should smile, he grows impatient.

Which in a napkin being close convey'd,
Shall in despite enforce a watery eye.
See this despatch'd with all the haste thou canst
Anon I'll give thee more instructions.

[Exit Servant.
I know, the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman:
I long to hear him call the drunkard, husband;
And how my men will stay themselves from laugh-

ter,

When they do homage to this simple peasant
I'll in to counsel them: haply my presence
May well abate the over merry spleen,
Which otherwise would go into extremes.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-A Bedchamber in the Lord's House

SLY is discovered in a rich night-gown, with Attendants; some with apparel, others with bason, ewer, and other appurtenances. Enter Lord, dressed like a Servant.

Sly. For God's sake, a pot of small ale.

1 Serv. Will't please your lordship drink a cup of sack?

2 Serv. Will 't please your honor taste of these conserves?

3 Serv. What raiment will your honor wear to-day? Sly. I am Christopher Sly; call not me-honor nor lordship: I never 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 stock ings 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 humer in you honor!

1 Play. Fear not, my lord; we can contain our O, that a mighty man of such descent,

selves,

Were he the veriest antic in the world,

• Moderation.

Of such possessions, and so high esteem,
Should be infused with so foul a spirit!

Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am ne

I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burton-heath; by | For though you lay here in this goodly chamber, birth a pedlar, by education a card-maker, by trans-Yet would you say, ye were beaten out of doors, mutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession And rail upon the hostess of the house; a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of And say, you would present her at the leet,' Wincot, if she know me not: if she say I am not Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd quarts! fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, score me Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket. up for the lyingest knave in Christendom. What, I Sly. Ay, the woman's maid of the house. am not bestraught;9 Here's