A Lord.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Christopher Sly, a drunken tinker. Hostess, Page, Players, Huntsmen, and other Servants attending on the Lord.

Baptista, a rich gentleman of Padua.
Vincentio, an old gentleman of Pisa.

Persons in

the Induc

tion.

Lucentio, son to Vincentio, in love with Bianca. Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona, a suitor to Katharina.

Gremio, suitors to Bianca.

Hortensio,

Tranio,

servants to Lucentio.

servants to Petruchio.

Grumio,

Curtis,

Pedant, an old fellow set up to personate Vincentio.

Katharina, the Shrew,

Bianca, her sister,

Widow.

} daughters to Baptista

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

Scene, sometimes in Padua; and sometimes in Petruchio's House in the Country.

CHARACTERS IN THE INDUCTION.

To the Original Play of The Taming of a Shrew, entered on the Stationers' books in 1594, and printed in quarto in 1607.

A Lord, &c.

Sly.

A Tapster.

Page, Players, Huntsmen, &c.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Alphonsus, a merchant of Athens.

Jerobel, Duke of Cestus.

Aurelius, his son,

Ferando,

suitors to the daughters of Alphonsus.

Polidor,

Valeria, servant to Aurelius.

Sander, servant to Ferando.

Phylotus, a merchant who personates the Duke.

Kate.

Emelia,

Phylema,

daughters to Alphonsus.

Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants to Ferando and Alphonsus.

Scene, Athens; and sometimes Ferando's Country House.

TAMING OF THE SHREW.

INDUCTION.

SCENE I-Before an Alehouse on a Heath. Enter Hostess and Sly.

Sly.

I'LL pheese1 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,2 let the world slide: Sessa !3

Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst ?4

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 thirdborough.6

[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.

(1) Beat or knock.

(2) Few words. (3) Be quiet. (4) Broke.

(5) This line and the scrap of Spanish is used in burlesque from an old play called Hieronymo, or the Spanish Tragedy.

(6) An officer whose authority equals a constable.

Wind horns. Enter a Lord from hunting, with Huntsmen and Servants.

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

Brach1 Merriman, the poor cur is emboss'd,2
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 Hun. 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 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 warm'd with ale,

This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly. 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.-
What think you, if he were convey'd 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.

2 Hun. It would seem strange unto him when he wak'd.

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