TAMING OF THE SHREW. LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. WARBURTON and Farmer have questioned the authenticity of this play; one declaring it to be certainly spuri. ous, and the other supposing that Shakspeare merely adapted it to the stage, with certain additions and cor rections. Malone, however, upon very satisfactory grounds, ranks it among the earliest efforts of Shakspeare's muse; as it abounds with the doggrel measure so common in the old comedies immediately preceding the time at which he commenced writing for the stage; and with a tiresome play upon words, which he took occasion to condemn in one of his subsequent comedies. The year 1549 is the probable date of its production. Yet Steevens discovers the hand of Shakspeare in almost every scene; and Johnson considers the whole play very popular, sprightly, and diverting. "The two plots (says the learned Doctor) are so well united, that they can hardly be called two, without injury to the art with which they are interwoven." That part of the story which suggests the title of the play, is probably a work of invention. The under-plot, which comprises the love-scenes of Lucentio, the pleasing incident of the pedant, with the characters of Vincentio, Tranio, Gremio and Biondello, is taken from a comedy of George Gascoigne's (an author of considerable popularity) called Supposes, translated from Ariosto's I Suppositi, and acted in 1566, by the gentlemen of Grey's Inn. The singular Induction to this piece is taken from Goulart's "Histories admirables de notre temps," in which its leading circumstance is related as a real fact, practised upon a mean artisan at Brussels, by Philip the Good duke of Burgundy. The Taming of the Shrew condensed within the compass of a modern after-piece invariably elicits considerable mirth; for the respective parts of Katharina and Petruchio are exceedingly spirited, ludicrous, and diverting. But, in its present form, many of the scenes are unpardonably tedious, and many of the incidents perplexingly involved. To those who look for "sermons in stones, and good in every thing," we cannot exactly point out the moral of this domestic occurrence; since the successful issue of Petruchio's experiment in one solitary instance, will scarcely warrant its practical repetition in any of the numerous cases which seem to call for a similar remedy. 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. ALPHONSUS, a merchant of Athens. JEROBEL, Duke of Cestus. rando and Alphonsus. AURELIUS, his Son, Suitors to the Daughters Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants to Fe FERANDO, POLIDOR, } of Alphonsus. SCENE, Athens; and sometimes Ferando's Country House. INDUCTION. And say, Will't please your lordship cool your hands? SCENE 1.-Before an Alehouse on a Heath. Some one be ready with a costly suit, 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; t let the world slide: Sessa! ‡ 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. 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 huntsmen and servants. Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds: Brach Merriman,-the poor cur is emboss'd,++ And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd brach. Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet, 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! [image! Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine 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. Hun. It would seem strange unto him when he wak'd. Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worth less fancy. Then take him up, and manage well the jest:- And ask him what apparel he will wear; 1 Hun. My lord, I warraut you, we'll play As he shall think, by our true diligence, And each one to his office, when he wakes.- How now? Who is it? means. Lord. 'Tis very true;-thou didst it excellent. Well, you are come to me in happy time; Were he the veriest antick 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 bim obeisance,- Wherein your lady, and your humble wife, And then-with kind embracements, tempting, On purpose trimm'd up for Semiramis. kisses, And with declining head into his bosom, See this despatch'd with all the baste thou canst; [Exit SERVANT. When they do homage to this simple peasant. SCENE II. [Exeunt. 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. Inter 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 ? 3 Serv. What raiment will your honour wear to-day ? Say, thou wilt walk; we will bestrew the ground; soar Above the morning lark: Or wilt thou hunt? As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe. Adonis, painted by a running brook: 3 Serv. Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep, 1 Serv. And, till the tears that she bath shed Sly. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady! Sly. I am Christophero Sly; call not mehonour, 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 stockings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, sometimes, more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the over-Oh! leather. Lord. Heaven cease this idle humour in your Oh! that a mighty man, of such descent, Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burtonbeath; by birth a pedlar, by education a cardmaker, 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. Oh! this it is, that mourn. makes your lady [SERVANTS present an ewer, basin, and napkin. Oh! how we joy to see your wit restor❜d! that once more you knew but what you These fifteen years you have been in a dream; пар. But did I never speak of all that time? 1 Serv. O yes, my lord; but very idle words :- Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hackel. Nor no such men, as you have reckon'd up,- |