The Dramatic Works of Shakspeare

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
honour,

Both suffer under this complaint we bring,
And both shall cease, without your remedy.
King. Come hither, count; Do you know
these women?

further?

Ber. My lord, I neither can, nor will deny
But that I know them: Do they charge me
[wife?
Dia. Why do you look so strange upon your
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;
For I by vow am so embodied yours,
That she, which marries you, must marry me,
Either both, or none.

Laf. Your reputation [To BERTRAM.] comes too short for my daughter, you are no husband for her.

Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature, [your highness Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let Lay a more noble thought upon mine Lonour, Than for to think that I would sink it here. King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend,

Till your deeds gain them: Fairer prove your
Than in my thought it lies!
[honour,

Dia.
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 t.
Dia. He does me wrong, my lord; if I

were 60,

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 owed and worn. This is his
That ring's a thousand proofs.
[wife;
King.
Methought, you said,
You saw one here in court could witness it.
Dia. I did, my lord, but loth am to produce
So bad an instruinent; 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?
He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,
With all the spots o'the world tax'd and de-
bosh'd;
Whose nature sickens, but to speak a truth:

•Decease, die.

Value.

Am I or that, or this, for what he'll utter, That will speak any thing?

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.
I must be patient

Ber.

Dia.

Dia. You, that turn'd off a first so noble wife, May justly diet mett. 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. I have it not. King. What ring was yours, I pray you? Sir, much like The same upon your finger. King. Know you this ring? this ring was [a-bed. Dia. And this was it I gave him, being King. The story then goes false, you threw Out of a casement. [it him Dia. I have spoke the truth. Enter PAROLLES.

his of late.

Ber. My lord,I do confess, the ring was hers King. You boggle shrewdly, every feather Is this the man you speak of? [starts you.Ay, my lord.

Dia. King. Tell me, sirrah, bat tell me true, I charge you,

Not fearing the displeasure of your master, (Which, on your just proceeding, I'll keep off,) [you? By him, and by this woman here, what know Par. So please your majesty, my master hath been an honourable gentleman; tricks he hath had in him, which gentlemen have. King, Come, come, to the purpose: Did he love this woman?

Par. 'Faith, sir, ne did love her: But how? King. How, I pray you?

Par. He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman.

King. How is that?

Par. He loved her, sir, and loved her not. King. As thou art a knave, and no knave: -What an equivocal companion is this? Par. I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command.

Laf. He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator.

Dia. Do you know,he promised me marriage? Par. 'Faith, I know more than I'll speak. King. But wilt thou not speak all thou know'st?

Par. Yes, so please your majesty; I did go between them, as I said; but more than

+ Gamester when applied to a female, then meant a common woman. § Noted. Debauched. Love. ** Her solicitation concurring with her appearance of being coinmon. May justly make me fast. #Fellow

that he loved her,-for, indeed, he was mad for her, and talked of Satan and of limbo, and of furies, and I know not what; yet I was in that credit with them at that time, that I knew of their going to bed; and of other motions, as promising her marriage, and things that would derive me ill will to speak of, therefore I will not speak what I know.

King. Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say they are married: But thou art too fine in thy evidence: therefore stand aside.

Ay, my good lord.

This ring, you say, was yours?
Dia.
King. Where did you buy it? or who gave
it you?

Dia. It was not given me, nor I did not
buy it.

King. Who lent it you?
Dia.

It was not lent me neither.
King. Where did you find it then?
Dia.
I found it not.
King. If it were yours by none of all these
How could you give it him?
[ways,
Dia.
1 never gave it him.
Laf. This woman's an easy glove, my
lord; she goes off and ou at pleasure.
King. This ring was mine, I gave it his
first wife.
[I know.
Dia. It might be yours, or hers, for aught
King. Take her away, I do not like her now;
To prison with her and away with him.-
Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this
Thou diest within this hour.
[ring,
Dia.
I'll never tell you.
King. Take her away.
Dia.
I'll put in bail, my liege.
King, I think thee now some common cus-

tomer t.

Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you. King. Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while?

this maid,

I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring,
And, look you, here's your letter; This it says,
When from my finger you can get this ring,
And are by me with child, &c.-This is done:
Will you be mine, now you are doubly won?
Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know
this clearly,

I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly,

Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue, Deadly divorce step between me and you!O, my dear mother, do I see you living?

Laf. Mine eyes smell onions, I shall weep
anon:-Good Tom Drum, [T PAROLLES.]
lend me a handkerchief: So, I thank thee;
wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee
Let thy courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones.
King. Let us from point to point this story
know,
To make the even truth in pleasure flow :-
If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower.
To DIANA.
Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy
dower;

For I can guess, that, by the honest aid,
Thou kept'st a wife herself; thyself a maid.-
Of that, and all the progress, more and less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall express:
All yet seems well; and, if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.
[Flourish.

Advancing.

The king's a beggar, now the play is done:
All is well ended, if this suit be won,
That you express content; which we will pay,
With strife to please you, day exceeding day:
Ours be your patience then, and yours our
parts;

Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty; He knows, I am no maid, and he'll swear to't: I'll swear, I am a maid, and he knows not. Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life; I am either maid, or else this old man's wife. [Pointing to LAFEU. King. She does abuse our ears; to prison with her. [royal sir; Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail.-Stay, [Exit Widow. The jeweller, that owes the ring, is sent for, And he shall surety me. But for this lord, Who hath abused me, as he knows himself, Though yet he never harm'd me,here I quit him: Too artful. ↑ Common woman. without interruption, and take our parts, support and defend us. This play has many delightful scenes, though not sufficiently probable, and some happy characters, though not new, nor produced by any deep knowledge of human nature. Parolles is a boaster and a coward, such as has always been the sport of the stage, but perhaps never raised more laughter or contempt than in the hands of Shakspeare.

Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.

t Owns.

Ø Enchanter.

[Exeunt.

i. e, Hear us

I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble without generosity, and young without truth; who marries Helen as a coward, and leaves her as a profligate when she is dead by his unkindness, sneaks home to a second marriage, is accused by a woman whom he has wronged, defends himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness.

The story of Bertram and Diana had been told before of Mariana and Angelo, and, to conless the truth, scarcely merited to be heard a second time.-JOHNSON.

A Lord.

TAMING OF THE SHREW.

Persons Represented.

Persons

CHRISTOPHER SLY, a drunken tinker.

in the

Hostess, Page, Players, Huntsmen, and other Servants, attending on the Lord. Induction.

Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants attending on Baptista and Petruchio. Scene,-sometimes in Padua; and sometimes in Petruchio's House in the Country.`

INDUCTION.

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: Sessat!

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 theel. Host. I know my remedy, I must go fetch the thirdborough T. [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.

Lies down on the ground, and falls asleep. Wind Horns. Enter a Lord from hunting, with Hantsmen and Servants. Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds: [boss'd tf. Brach Merriman,-the poor cur is em And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd [good

brach.

Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault? I would not lose the dog for twenty pound. 1 Hun. Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord; He cried upon it at the merest loss,

Beat or knock.

t Few words.

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 Hun. I will, my lord.

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

2 Hun. He breathes, my lord: Were he not warmed with ale,

This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly. Lord. O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies! [thine image! Grim death, how foul and loathsome is Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man.— What think you, if he were conveyed 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 wakes, Would not the beggar then forget himself? 1 Hun. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose. [when he waked. 2 Hun. It would seem strange unto him Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worth

less 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 pic

tures:

* Be quiet.

Broke.

This

ine and the scrap of Spanish is used in burlesque from an old play called Hieronymo, or the Spanish Tragedy. An officer whose authority equals a constable.

ti Strained.

**Bitch.

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 honour will command?
Let one attend him with a silver bason, [ers;
Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flow-
Another bear the ewer, the third a diapert,
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;
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.

1 Hun. My lord, I warrant you, we'll play
our part,

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.
Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds:
[Erit 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 honour,
Players that offer service to your lordship.
Lord. Bid them come near:-
Enter Players.

Now, fellows, you are welcome.
1 Play. We thank your honour.
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 remember,

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 performed.
1 Play. I think, 'twas Soto that your ho-
[lent.-

nour means.

Lord. 'Tis very true;-thou didst it excel-
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 behaviour,
For yet his honour 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.
i Play. Fear not, my lord; we can con-
tain ourselves,

Were he the veriest antic in the world.

Lord. Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery And give them friendly welcome every one: Let them want nothing that my house affords. [Exeunt Servant and Players. Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew my page, [To a Servant.

And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady:
That done, conduct him to the drunkard's
chamber,

And call him-madam, do him obeisance,
Tell him from me, (as he will win my love
He bear himself with honourable action,
Such as he hath observed in noble ladies
Unto their Lords, by them accomplished
Such duty to the drunkard let him do,
With soft low tongue, and lowly courtesy}
And say,-What is't your honour will com
mand,

love?

Wherein your lady, and your humble wife,
May show her duty, and make known her
[ing kisses,
And then-with kind embracements, tempt-
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 twice seven years, hath esteemed

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,
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

laughter,

I'll in to counsel them: haply, my presence
When they do homage to this simple peasant.
May well abate the over-merry spleen,
Which otherwise would grow 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 up-
purtenances. 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 honour taste of
these conserves?
[wear to-day?
3 Serv. What raiment will your honour

[lord:

Sly. I am Christophero Sly; call not me-So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn honour, nor lordship: I never drank sack in Lord. Thou art a lord, and nothing but a my life; and if you give me any conserves, Thou hast a lady far more beautiful give me conserves of beef: Ne'er ask me Than any woman in this waning age. what raiment I'll wear; for I have no more 1 Serv. And, till the tears that she hath doublets than backs, no more stockings than shed for thee, legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, some-Like envious floods, o'er-ran her lovely face, times, more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the over-leather.

Lord. Heaven cease this idle humour in your honour!

She was the fairest creature in the world;
And yet she is inferior to none.

Sly. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady? Or do I dream? or have I dream'd till now? O, that a mighty man, of such descent, I do not sleep: I see, I hear, I speak; Of such possessions, and so high esteem, I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things:Should be infused with so foul a spirit! Upon my life, I am a lord, indeed; Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am And not a tinker, nor Christophero Sly.not I Christopher Siy, old Sly's son of Bur-Well, bring our lady hither to our sight; ton-heath; by birth a pedlar, by education a card-maker, 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 -----

1 Serv. O, this it is that makes your lady

mourn.

[droop. 2 Serv. O, this it is that makes your servants Lord. Hence comes it that your kindred

shun your house,

And once again, a pot o' the smallest ale.
2 Serv. Will't please your mightiness to

wash your hands?

[Servants present an ewer, bason, & napkin. O, how we joy to see your wit restored! [are! O, that once more you knew but what you These fifteen years you have been in a dream; Or, when you waked, so waked as if you slept. Sly. These fifteen years! by my fayt, a goodly nap.

But did I never speak of all that time?

1 Serv. O, yes, my lord; but very idle words:[ber, As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. For though you lay here in this goodly chamO, noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth; [ment, Yet would you say, ye were beaten out of door; Call home thy ancient thoughts from banish-And rail upon the hostess of the house; 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.

And twenty caged nightingales do sing:
Or wilt thou sleep? we'll have thee to a couch,
Softer and sweeter than the lustful bed
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.
1 Serv. Say, thou wilt course; thy grey.
hounds are as swift

As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe.
2 Serv. Dost thou love pictures? we will
fetch thee straight

Adonis, painted by a running brook:
And Cytherea all in sedges hid; [breath,
Which seem to move and wanton with her
Even as the waving sedges play with wind.
Lord. We'll show thee Io, as she was a maid;
And how she was beguiled and surprised,
As lively painted as the deed was done.

3 Serv. Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny
wood;
[bleeds:
Scratching her legs that one shall swear she
And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep,

• Distracted.

་

And say, you would present her at the icett,
Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd
quarts:
[Hacket.
Sometimes you would call out for Cicely
Sly. Ay, the woman's maid of the house.
3 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor

no such maid;

Nor no such men, as you have reckon'd up,-
As Stephen Sly, and old John Naps of Greece,
And Peter Turf, and Henry Pimpernell;
And twenty more such names and men as these,
Which never were, nor no man ever saw.
Sly. Now, Lord be thanked, for my good
All. Amen.

[amends!

Sly. I thank thee; thou shall not lose by it. Enter the Page, as a lady, with Attendants. Page. How fares my noble lord? Sly. Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer Where is my wife? [enough. Page. Here, noble lord; What is thy will [me-husband? Sly. Are you my wife, and will not call My men should call me-lord; I am your goodman. [and husband; Page. My husband and my lord, my lord I am your wife in all obedience.

with her?

Sly. I know it well:-What must I call her?
Lord. Madam.

Sly. Al'ce madam, or Joan madam?
Lord. Madam, and nothing else; so lords
call ladies.
[dream'd, and slept
Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have
Above some fifteen year and more. [me;

Page. Ay, and the time seeins thirty unto

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