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to have been republished by the remains of that company in 1607, when Shakspeare's copy appeared at the Black-Friars or the Globe. -Nor let this seem derogatory from the character of our poet. There is no reason to believe that he wanted to claim the play as his own; for it was not even printed till some years after his death; but he merely revived it on his stage as a manager. FARMER.

In spite of the great deference which is due from every commentator to Dr. Farmer's judgment, I own I cannot entirely concur with him on the present occasion. I know not to whom I could impute this comedy, if Shakspeare was not the author of it. I think his hand is visible in almost every scene, though perhaps not so evidently as in those which pass between Catherine and Petruchio.

The title of this play was probably taken from an old story, entitled, The Wyf lapped in Morells skin, or The Taming of a Shrew.

STEEVENS.

Persons Represented.

A LORD.

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.

LUCENTIO, Son to Vincentio, in love with Bianca.

PETRUCHIO, a Gentleman of Verona, a suitor to

PEDANT, an old fellow set up to personate Vincentio.

Taylor, Haberdasher, and Servants attending on BAPTISTA and PETRUCHIO.

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

TAMING OF THE SHREW.

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 pallabris2; let the world slide: Sessa!

Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst 3?

Sly. No, not a denier: Go by, says Jeronimy4;Go to thy cold bed, and warm thee.

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 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 5 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
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,
Wrap'd in sweet cloaths, 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 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 musick 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,
Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers;
Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper,
And say, Will't please your lordshipcool 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: