MR. MALONE supposes this comedy to have been written in 1596. It is founded on an anonymous play of nearly the same title, "The Taming of a Shrew," which was probably written about the year 1590, either by George Peele, or Robert Green. The outline of the induction may be traced, as Mr. Douce observes, through many intermediate copies, to the Sleeper Awaked of the Arabian Nights. It has been doubted by Dr. Warburton and Dr. Farmer whether this comedy is really the production of Shakspeare. They have no cther grounds for their opinion, but the inferiority of its style. The play, as a whole, is certainly not in our author's best manner, but in the induction and in the scenes between Katharine and Petruchio the traces of his hand are strongly marked. If it be not Shak speare's, to whom can it be attributed? Beaumont and Fletcher have written a sequel to this comedy, called "The Woman's Prize, or the Tamer l'amed," in which a character bearing the name of Petruchio (for nothing but the name remains to him,) is subdued by a second wife. Sly. No, not a denier: Go by, says Jeronimy ;Go to thy cold bed, and warm thee. Host. I know my remedy, I must go fetch the third borough. [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 Huntsmen and Servants. he breathe? Lord. What's here? one dead, or drunk? See, doth [with ale, 2 Hun. He breathes, my lord: Were he not warm'd This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly. Lord. O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies! 1 Hun. Believe me, lord, think he cannot choose. Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worthless fancy. [hands 1 Hun. My lord, I warrant you, we'll play our part, As he shall think, by our true diligence, Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my He is no less than what we say he is. hounds: Brach Merriman,-the poor cur is emboss'd, I would not lose the dog for twenty pound. 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 :[Exit Servant. Belike, some noble gentleman: that means, 1 Hun. Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord; 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. Lo 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 perform'd. 1 Play. I think, 'twas Soto that your honour 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, ever-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. 1 Play. Fear not, my lord; we can contain ourWere he the veriest antic in the world. [selves, 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, [Toa Serv. 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 observ'd in noble ladies Unto their lords, by them accomplish'd: Such duty to the drunkard let him do, With soft low tongue, and lowly courtesy ; And say,-What is 't your honour will command, Wherein your lady, and your humble wife, May shew 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 him No better than a poor and loathsome beggar: And if the boy hath 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 conveyed, 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 Serv. I know, the boy will well usurp the grace, and other appurtenances. Enter LORD, dressed like a servant. sack? Sly. For God's sake, a pot of small ale. 1 Serv. Will't please your lordship drink a cup of [conserves ? 2 Serv. Will't please your honour taste of these 3 Serv. What raiment will your honour wear to-day? Sly. I am Christophero Sly; call not me honour, nor lordship: I never drank sack in my life; an if you give me any conserves, give conserves of beef: Ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear: for I have no more doublets than backs, no more stockings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, sometimes, more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the overleather. Lord. Heaven cease this idle humour in your O, that a mighty man of such descent, [honour! Of such possessions, and so high esteem. Should be infused with so foul a spirit! Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am not l Christopher Sly, old Šly's son of Burton-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 1 ain 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 2 Serv. O, this it is that makes your servants droop Lord. Hence comes it that your kindred shun your As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. [house O, noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth; Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment, 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. Or wilt thou sleep? we'll have thee to a couch, On purpose trimm'd up for Semiramis. 1 Serv. Say, thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe. [as swift 2 Serv. Dost thou love pictures? we will fetch thee Adonis, painted by a running brook : [straight And Cytherea all in sedges hid; Which seem to move and wanton with her breath, Even as the waving sedges play with wind. Lord. We'll shew thee Io, as she was a maid; 3 Serv. Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny wood; Lord. Thou art a lord, and nothing but a lord 1 Serv. And, till the tears that she hath shed for taee, Sty. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady! Or do I dream, or have I dream'd till now?' : I do not sleep: I see. I hear, I speak; ; 1 Serv. O, yes, my lord; but very idle words:For though you lay here in this goodly chamber, Yet would you say, ye were beaten out of door; And rail upon the hostess of the house; And say, you would present her at the leet, Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd quarts: Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket. Sly. Ay, the woman's maid of the house [maid; 3 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor no such 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 amends! All. Amen. Sly. I thank thee; thou shalt 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 enough. Where is my wife? Page Here, noble lord; What is thy will with her? Sly. I know it well :-What must I call her? Sly. Al'ce madam, or Joan madam ? Above some fifteen vear and more. Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me; Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. Stu. Tis much; -Servants, leave me and her aione Madam, undress you, and come now to bed. Enter a Servant. Serv. Your honour's players, hearing your amend- Sly. Marry, I will; let them play it: Is not a com Sly. Well, we'll see't: Come, madam wife, sit by ACT I. SCENE I.-Padua. A public Place. Luc. Tranio, since-for the great desire I had Gave me my being, and my father first, Vincentio his son, brought up in Florence, Tra. Mi perdonate, gentle master mine, Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore, We could at once put us in readiness; And take a lodging, fit to entertain Such friends, as time in Padua shall beget. But stay awhile: What company is this? Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town. Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand asiae. Bap. Gentlemen, impórtune me no further, For how I firmly am resolv'd you know; That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter, Before I have a husband for the elder: If either of you both love Katharina, Because I know you well, and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. Gre. To cart her rather: She's too rough for me:There, there Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. I pray you, sir, [to BAP.] is it your will Te make a stale of me amongst these mates? "'r. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. [for you, Kath. I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear; I wis, it is not half way to her heart: But, if it were, doubt not her care should be To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool, And paint your face, and use you like a fool. Hor. From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us! Gre. And me too, good Lord! [toward; Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Luc. But in the other's silence I do see Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good What I have said,-Bianca, get you in: And let it not displease thee, good Bianca; For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl. Kath. A pretty peat! 'tis best Put finger in the eye-an she knew why. Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe : My books, and instruments, shall be my company; Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew her up, Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell, : And make er bear the penance of her tongue? [Exit. Kath. Why, and I trust, I may go too; May I not? What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, belike, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? Ha! [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love s not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell:-Yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man, to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father? Hor. So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both, that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love,-to labour and effect one thing 'specially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister. Hor. I say, a husband. though her father be very rich, any man is fool to be married to hell? Hor. Tush, Gremio, though it pass your patience and mine, to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all fauits, and money enough. Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition,-to be whipped at the high-cross every morning. Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten apples. But, come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained,―till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to 't afresh.-Sweet Bianca!-Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest, gets the ring. How say you, signior Gremio? Gre. I am agreed: and 'would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on. [Exeunt GRE. and HOR. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me,-Is it posThat love should of a sudden take such hold? [sible Luc. O Tranio, till I found it to be true. I never thought it possible, or likely; But see while idly I stood looking on, I found the effect of love in idleness: And now in plainness do confess to thee,That art to me as secret, and as dear, As Anna to the queen of Carthage was,Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio, If I achieve not this young modest girl : Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst ; Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt. Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now! Affection is not rated from the heart. If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so.Redime te captum quam queas minimo. Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound. Tra. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid, Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all. Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, Such as the daughter of Agenor had, That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand. Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how her Began to scold; and raise up such a storm, [sister That mortal ears might hardly endure the din? Luc. Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move, And with her breath she did perfume the air; Sacred, and sweet, was all I saw in her. Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance. I pray, awake, sir; If you love the maid, Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it Her eldest sister is se curst and shrewd, [stands :— That, till the father rid his hands of her, Master, your love must live a maid at home; And therefore has he closely mew'd her up, Because she shall not be annoy'd with suitors. Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! Tra. You will be schoolmaster And undertake the teaching of the maid: Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st thou, Hortensio, That's your device. R I uc. Luc. Basta; content thee; for I have it full. 'Tis hatch'd, and shall be so-Tranio, at once (For so your father charg'd me at our parting; Lue. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves : Here comes the rogue.-Sirrah, where have you been? Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes? Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest, Bion. 1, sir? ne'er a whit. after, [panies: One thing more rests, that thyself execute; [why, [Exeunt. 1 Serv. My lord you nod; you do not mind the play. Sly. Yes, by saint Anne, do 1. A good matter, surely; Comes there any more of it? Page. My lord, 'tis but begun. Sly. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady; Would 'twere done! To see my friends in Padua; but, of all, Gru. Knock, sir! whom should I knock? is there any man has rebused your worship? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly. Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate, And then I know after who comes by the worst. 'Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll wring it; Hor. How now! what's the matter?-My old friend Grumio and my good friend Petruchio!-How do you all at Verona? Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray ?. Hor. Alla nostra casa bene venuto, Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, what he 'leges in Latin. Pet. A senseless villain !-Good Hortensio [here. I bade the rascal knock upon your gate, Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the Where small experience grows. But, in a few, And I have thrust myself into this maze, Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee Pet. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we SCENE II.-The same. Before Hortensio's House. One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife, Enter PETRICHIO and GRUMIO. Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave, (As wealth is burden of my wooing dance,) |