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b"THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
\\n
\\nby William Shakespeare
\\n
\\n1594
\\n
\\nDramatis Personae
\\n
\\nPersons in the Induction
\\nA LORD
\\nCHRISTOPHER SLY, a tinker
\\nHOSTESS
\\nPAGE
\\nPLAYERS
\\nHUNTSMEN
\\nSERVANTS
\\n
\\nBAPTISTA MINOLA, a gentleman of Padua
\\nVINCENTIO, a Merchant of Pisa
\\nLUCENTIO, son to Vincentio, in love with Bianca
\\nPETRUCHIO, a gentleman of Verona, a suitor to Katherina
\\n
\\nSuitors to Bianca
\\nGREMIO
\\nHORTENSIO
\\n
\\nServants to Lucentio
\\nTRANIO
\\nBIONDELLO
\\n
\\nServants to Petruchio
\\nGRUMIO
\\nCURTIS
\\nA PEDANT
\\n
\\nDaughters to Baptista
\\nKATHERINA, the shrew
\\nBIANCA
\\nA WIDOW
\\n
\\nTailor, Haberdasher, and Servants attending on Baptista and
\\nPetruchio
\\nSCENE: Padua, and PETRUCHIO'S house in the country
\\n
\\nSC_1
\\nINDUCTION. SCENE I.
\\nBefore an alehouse on a heath
\\n
\\nEnter HOSTESS and SLY
\\n
\\nSLY. I'll pheeze you, in faith.
\\nHOSTESS. A pair of stocks, you rogue!
\\nSLY. Y'are a baggage; the Slys are no rogues. Look in the
\\nchronicles: we came in with Richard Conqueror. Therefore,
\\npaucas
\\npallabris; let the world slide. Sessa!
\\nHOSTESS. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst?
\\nSLY. No, not a denier. Go by, Saint Jeronimy, go to thy cold
\\nbed
\\nand warm thee.
\\nHOSTESS. I know my remedy; I must go fetch the third-borough.
\\nExit
\\nSLY. Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll answer him by
\\nlaw.
\\nI'll not budge an inch, boy; let him come, and kindly.
\\n[Falls asleep]
\\n
\\nWind horns. Enter a LORD from bunting, with his train
\\n
\\nLORD. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds;
\\nBrach Merriman, the poor cur, is emboss'd;
\\nAnd couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd brach.
\\nSaw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
\\nAt the hedge corner, in the coldest fault?
\\nI would not lose the dog for twenty pound.
\\nFIRST HUNTSMAN. Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord;
\\nHe cried upon it at the merest loss,
\\nAnd twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent;
\\nTrust me, I take him for the better dog.
\\nLORD. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet,
\\nI would esteem him worth a dozen such.
\\nBut sup them well, and look unto them all;
\\nTo-morrow I intend to hunt again.
\\nFIRST HUNTSMAN. I will, my lord.
\\nLORD. What's here? One dead, or drunk?
\\nSee, doth he breathe?
\\nSECOND HUNTSMAN. He breathes, my lord. Were he not warm'd with
\\nale,
\\nThis were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly.
\\nLORD. O monstrous beast, how like a swine he lies!
\\nGrim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
\\nSirs, I will practise on this drunken man.
\\nWhat think you, if he were convey'd to bed,
\\nWrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers,
\\nA most delicious banquet by his bed,
\\nAnd brave attendants near him when he wakes,
\\nWould not the beggar then forget himself?
\\nFIRST HUNTSMAN. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose.
\\nSECOND HUNTSMAN. It would seem strange unto him when he wak'd.
\\nLORD. Even as a flatt'ring dream or worthless fancy.
\\nThen take him up, and manage well the jest:
\\nCarry him gently to my fairest chamber,
\\nAnd hang it round with all my wanton pictures;
\\nBalm his foul head in warm distilled waters,
\\nAnd burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet;
\\nProcure me music ready when he wakes,
\\nTo make a dulcet and a heavenly sound;
\\nAnd if he chance to speak, be ready straight,
\\nAnd with a low submissive reverence
\\nSay 'What is it your honour will command?'
\\nLet one attend him with a silver basin
\\nFull of rose-water and bestrew'd with flowers;
\\nAnother bear the ewer, the third a diaper,
\\nAnd say 'Will't please your lordship cool your hands?'
\\nSome one be ready with a costly suit,
\\nAnd ask him what apparel he will wear;
\\nAnother tell him of his hounds and horse,
\\nAnd that his lady mourns at his disease;
\\nPersuade him that he hath been lunatic,
\\nAnd, when he says he is, say that he dreams,
\\nFor he is nothing but a mighty lord.
\\nThis do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs;
\\nIt will be pastime passing excellent,
\\nIf it be husbanded with modesty.
\\nFIRST HUNTSMAN. My lord, I warrant you we will play our part
\\nAs he shall think by our true diligence
\\nHe is no less than what we say he is.
\\nLORD. Take him up gently, and to bed with him;
\\nAnd each one to his office when he wakes.
\\n[SLY is carried out. A trumpet sounds]
\\nSirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds-
\\nExit SERVANT
\\nBelike some noble gentleman that means,
\\nTravelling some journey, to repose him here.
\\n
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