Whose nature 'sickens but to speak a 'truth. King. You, that turned-off a 'first so noble wife, King. 'What ring was yours, I pray you? King. The story then goes false! You 'threw it him, Dia. ... I have spoke the 'truth. Ber. My lord, I do confess the ring was 'hers. King. You boggle" shrewdly; every feather starts you. Dia. Re-enter Attendant with Parolles. -Is 'this the man you speak of? To Ay, my lord. King. [] Tell me, sirrah,—but tell me 'true, I charge you, Not fearing the displeasure of your master (Which, on your 'just proceeding, I'll keep off) Of him, and of this woman here, what know you? 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, he loved her, and he 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. a O. R. boarded. O. R. her insuits comming. O R. you that have turned off. blunder, hesitate. 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 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 his 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 are too fine in thy evidence; therefore, stand aside!-[Pares To [Diana] 'This ring, you say, was 'yours? 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 ways, Dia. I 'never gave it him. Laf. This woman 's an easy glove, my lord: she goes off and on at pleasure. King. This ring was 'mine: I gave it his 'first wife. Dia. Unless thou tell'st me 'where thou hadst this ring, I'll 'never tell you. I'll put-in 'bail, my liege. King. Wherefore hast thou 'accused him all this while? Dia. Because he 's 'guilty-and he is 'not guilty. Exit Widow. King. She does 'abuse our ears. To prison with her! The Old Widow re-enters with Helena. Hel. Beguiles the 'truer office of mine eyes? No, my good lord; The 'name, and not the thing. Count Bertram exclaims in astonishment and remorse : Ber. And, look you, here 's your 'letter; this it says: Will you be 'mine, now you are 'doubly won? 'Deadly divorce step between me and you!— Old Lord Lafeu can scarce restrain his emotion: I Laf. Mine eyes smell onions! I shall weep anon.-[P] Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkerchief: so, 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. To [D] If thou be'st yet a fresh unplighted flower, The King 's a 'beggar, now the play is done. END OF ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. [Exeunt. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. There is now to be easily obtained a copy of an old play called "The Taming of a Shrew," which was first printed in 1594,a and again in 1596 and 1607. The authorship of this earlier play has never been ascertained; but it is possible (as a German critic supposes,) that it may have been a youthful production of Shakespeare himself. It cannot now be determined at what time Shakespeare's version was first performed, but its earliest printed appearance was in the folio of 1623. In both plays, we have, with very little change, almost the same plot-the same characters, but under different names-very often the same language,—and more frequently the same ideas; but refined and improved by greater wealth of wit, smoother versification, and freer poetical expansion. If these statements detract from Shakespeare's originality, they heighten our admiration of his exquisite art, in beautifying whatever he touched; and of his peculiar genius, in filling up another's outline with felicities of thought, expression, and character, entirely his own. Scene-Sometimes in Padua, and sometimes in Petrucio's House in the Country. a The following is the title-page of this anonymous play: "A plesant conceited Historie called The taming of a Shrew: As it was sundry times acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Pembrook his seruants 1594." The authorship has been assigned by some critics to Philip Marlowe: by others, to Robert Greene, to George Peele, or to Thomas Kyd. b Ludwig Tieck, born 1773-died 1853. ca city in Lombardy, on the Brenta. da city in Tuscany, on the Arno. eO. R. Petruchio (spelt so throughout the Comedy). f the Italian name is Caterina. INDUCTION. We have before us a Village Ale-house in a sporting country: outside the door stand the Hostess and Christopher Sly,-a drunken travelling Tinker, noisy at being refused more liquor: Sly. I'll 'pheese" you, in faith! Host. A pair of stocks," you rogue! Sly. Ye 're a baggage: the Slys are 'no rogues; look in the Chronicles, we came-in with Richard Conqueror. Therefore, paucas pallabris, let the world slide." Sessa !e Host. You 'will not pay for the glasses you have burst? Sly. No, not a denier. "Go by," says Saint Jeronimy: "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.k The drunken sot lies down on the ground, and falls asleep. Here a Lord enters, followed by his Huntsmen. After giving some directions, he sees the Pedlar lying on the ground: 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! What think you, if he were conveyed to 'bed, Wrapped in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers, And brave' attendants near him when he wakes,— 2 Hun. It would seem 'strange unto him when he waked. a scratch your head (as with a comb). and feet, in which petty d let things go as they may. ba wooden frame, with holes for the hands offenders were exposed. cfew words. e be quiet, "shut up!" f broken. h inserted word. I confounding Jeronimo Spanish Tragedy," 1591,-with St. Jerome k welcome. 1 showily dressed g the twelfth part of a French penny. (Hieronymo)-a character in Kyd's ja petty constable (O. R. head-borough). |