CHARACTERS

in the INDUCTION.

A Lord, before whom the play is | Page, Players, Huntsmen, and suppos’d to be play'd.

other Servunts Christopher Sly, a drunken Tinker. Lord. Hostess.

nding on the

DRAMATIS

PERSON E.

BAPTIST A, father to Catha-y, Tranio,

ents to Lucentia. rina and Bianca; very rich. Vincentio, an old gentleman of Grumio, servant to Petruchio. Pisa.

Pedant, an old fellow set up to Lucentio, fon to Vincentio, in love perfonite Vincentio. with Bianca.

Catharina, the forew. Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona Bianca, her sister. a fuitor to Catharina.

Widow.

Hortenfio

, } prètenders 19 Bianca. Taylor, Haberdasaers; with fer

vants attending on Baptista and Petruclio.

SCENE, limetimes in Padua, and sometimes in Petruchio's house

ixi the country.

IN DU C TI O

T N.

S'C E N E

I.

Before an alehouse on a heath.

Enter Hostess and Sly.

Sly. 'LL phceze you, in faith.

Hoft. A pair of socks, you rogue !

Sly. Y'are a baggage; the Slies are no rogues. Look in the chronicles, we came in with Richard Conqueror; therefore paucus pallabris *; let the world slide : Sella. * Meaning pocas palabras, Spanish, few words, Mr Theobald. VOL. II.

Вь

Hoft. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst? Sly. No, not a deniere : go by, Jeronimo* to thy cold bed, and warm thee,

Hoft. I know my remedy ; I muft go fetch the third borough.

Sly. Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll answer him by law; I'll not budge an inch, boy; let hiin come, and kindly.

[Falls asleep.

S C Ε Ν Ε ΙΙ.

Wind horns. Enter a Lçrd from hunting, with a train.
Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my

hounds :
Leech Merriman, the poor cur is imboft ;
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.

Hun. Why, Belman is as good as he, my Lord;
He cried upon it at the meereit loss,
And twice to-day pick'd out the dallest 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 lup them well, and look unto them all,
To-morrow I intend to hunt again.

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 foundly.

Lord. O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies ! Grim death, how foul and lothsome is thy image! Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man. What think you, if he were convey'd to bed,

* Goby, Jeronim', was a kind of by-word in the author's days, as appears by is being used in the same manner by Ben. Johnson, Beaumont, an Flet jer, and other writers near that ciine. It arose firit from a passage in an old play called Hicronym, or, The Spanish traged,

Wrapp'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 Hun. Believe me, Lord, I think he cannot chuse. 2 Hun. It would seem strange unto him when he

wak'd. Lord. Even as a flatt’ring dream, or worthless fancy. Then take him up, and manage well the jeft : Carry him gently to my faireft 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 music ready when he wakes, To make a dulcet and a heav'nly found ; And if he chance to fpeak, be ready straight, And with a low submissive reverence Say, What is it your Horour will command ? Let ope attend him with a silver bafon Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers ; Another bear the ewer; a third a diaper; And say, Wilt please your Lordihip cool your hands? Some one be ready with a costly fuit, And ask him what apparel he will wear ; Another tell him of his hounds and horfe, And that his lady mourns at his disease; Persuade him that he hath been lunatic: And when he says he is, -say that he dreams ; For he is nothing but a mighty Lord. This do, and do it kindly, gentle Sirs :It will be pastime passing excellent, If it be husbanded with modefty.

I Hun, My Lord, I warrant you, we'll play our party As he shall think, by our true diligence, He is po less than what we say he is.

Lord. Take him up gently; and to bed with him; And each one to his office when he wakes.

[Some bear out Sly. Sound trumpets, . Sirrah, go

fee what trumpet is that sounds. Belike, fome noble gentleman that means, [Ex.fervant.. Travelling some journey, to repose him here..

SCENE III.

Re-enter Servant.

How now? who is it?

Ser. An't please your Honour, players
Thas offer service to your Lordship.
Lord. Bid then come near:

Enter Players.
Now, fellows, you are welcome.

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 fon :
'Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman fo well :
I have forgot your name; but, fure, that part
Was aptly fitted, and naturally perform’d.

Sim. 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 alift me much.
There is a Lord will hear you play to-night;
But I am doubtful of your modesties,
Lest, over-eying of his odd behaviour,
(For yet his Honour never heard a play),
You break into some merry passion,
And so offend himn : for I tell you, Sirs,
If you should smile, he grows in patient.

Play. Fear not, my Lord, we can contain ourfelves; Were he the veriest antic in the world.

2 Play. [to the other.] Go get a dishclout to make clean your shoes, and I'll speak for the properties.

[Exit Pinger. My Lord, we must have a shoulder of mutton for a property, and a little vinegar to make our devil roar.

Lord. Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery, And give them friendly welcome every one : Let them want nothing that the house affords.

[Exit one with the players. Sirrah, go you 10 Bartholomew my page, And see him dress’d in all suits like a lady.

That done, conduct him to the drunkard's chamberg,
And call him Madam, do him all 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 accomplished ;
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 Thew 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 esteem'd himself
No better than a poor and lothsome beggar.
And if the boy have not a woman's gift
To rain a shower of commanded tcars,
An onion will do well for such a shift;
Which in a napkin being close convey'd,
Shall in despight enforce a wat’ry eye.
See this dispatch'd with all the haite thou canst;
Anon I'll give thee more instructions. [Exit Servant
I'know the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gate, and action of a gentlewoman.
I long to hear him call the drunkard husband;
And how my men will stay themselves from laughter,
When they do homage to this simple peasant.
I'll in to counsel them : haply my prelence
May well abate the over-merry spleen,
Which otherwise will

go

into extremes. Exit Lords

Changes to a bedchamber in the Lord's bouse. Enter Sly with attendants, fome with apparel, bajon;

andewer, and other appurtenazces. Re-enter Lord. Sly. For God's sake, a pot of small ale.

i Serv, Will't please your Lordship drink a cup of sack :

Bba