Par. Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper. Cle. Foh, pr'ythee, stand away; A paper from fortune's close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he comes himself. Enter LAFEU. Here is a pur of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's cat, (but not a musk-cat,) that has fallen into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says, is muddied withal: Pray you, sir, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my smiles of comfort, and leave him to your lordship. [Exit Clown. Par. My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly scratched. Laf. And what would you have me to do? 'tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady, and would not have knaves thrive long under her? There's a quart d'ecu for you: Let the justices make you and fortune friends; I am for other business. Par. I beseech your honour, to hear me one single word. Laf. You beg a single penny more: coine, you shall ha't; save your word*. Par. My name, my good lord, is Parolles. Laf. You beg more than one word then. Cox' my passion! give me your hand:-How does your drum ? Par. O my good lord, you were the first that found me. Laf. Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee. Par. It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out. Laf. Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the devil? one brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee out. [Trumpets sound.] The king's coming, I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire further after me; I had talk of you last night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat; go to, follow. Par. I praise God for you. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A Room in the Countess's Palace. Flourish. Enter King, Countess, LAFEU, esteem + Count. Was made much poorer by it: but your son, I have forgiven and forgotten all; extent. We are reconciled, and the first view shall kill I shall, my liege. That set him high in fame. Laf. Enter BERTRAM. He looks well on't. King. I am not a day of season, Ber. My high-repented blames **, Dear sovereign, pardon to me. All is whole; Not one word more of the consumed time. Ber. Admiringly, my liege: at first myself, Since I have lost, have loved, was in mine eye away Well excused: That thou didst love her, strikes some scores + Reckoning or estimate. Completely, in its full § So in As you Like it:-to have " seen much and to have nothing, is to have rich eyes and poor hands." || i. e., The first interview shall put an end to all recollection of the past. i. e., Of uninterrup.ed rain. ** Faults repented of to the utmost. To the great sender turns a sour offence, Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease! In Florence was it from a casement thrown me, I stood ingaged*: but when I had subscribed King. Plutus himself, [cinet, That knows the tinct and multiplying mediHath not in nature's mystery more science, Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's, Whoever gave it you: Then, if you know That you are well acquainted with yourself‡, Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement [surety, You got it from her: she call'd the saints to That she would never put it from her finger, Unless she gave it to yourself in bed, * In the sense of unengaged. King. Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour; $0; And makest conjectural fears to come into me, Ber. Gent. [Exit BERTRAM, guarded. Enter a Gentleman. King. I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings. Gracious sovereign, Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know Here's a petition from a Florentine, [not; Who hath, for four or five removes §, come To tender it herself. I undertook it, [short Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech Of the poor suppliant, who by this, I know, Is here attending: her business looks in her With an importing visage; and she told me, In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern Your highness with herself. King. [Reads.] Upon his many protestations to marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the count Rousillon a widower; his vows are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to his country for justice: Grant it me, O king; in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. DIANA CAPULET. Laf. I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll him ||: for this, I'll none of him. King. The heavens have thought well on [suitors:To bring forth this discovery.-Seek these Go, speedily, and bring again the count. thee, Lafeu, [Exeunt Gentleman, and some Attendants. I am afeard, the life of Helen, lady, Was foully snatch'd. Count. Now, justice on the doers! Enter BERTRAM, guarded. King. I wonder, sir, since wives are mon sters to you, [ship, And that you fly them as you swear them lordYety ou desire to marry. What woman's that? Re-enter Gentleman, with Widow, and DIANA. Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, + The philosopher's stone. the proper consciousness of your own actions. Post-stages. i. c., That you have Pay toll for him. Derived from the ancient Capulet: My suit, as I do understand, you know, And therefore know how far I may be pitied. Both suffer under this complaint we bring, Ber. My lord, I neither can, nor will deny Dia. Why do you look so strange upon your mine; You give away myself, which is known mine; Laf. Your reputation [TO BERTRAM.] comes too short for my daughter, you are no husband for her. Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature, [your highness Whom sometime I have laugh'd with let Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour, Than for to think that I would sink it here. King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend, Till your deeds gain them: Fairer prove your Than in my thought it lies! [honour, Dia. Good my lord, Ask him upon his oath, if he does think He had not my virginity. King. What say'st thou to her ? Ber. She's impudent, my lord; And was a common gamester to the campt. Dia. He does me wrong, my lord; if I He blushes, and 'tis it: King. [wite; Methought, you said, You saw one here in court could witness it. Dia. I did, my lord, but loth am to produce So bad an instrument; his name's Parolles. Laf. I saw the man to-day, if man he be. King. Find him, and bring him hither. Ber. What of him ? He's quoted for a most perfidious slave, bosh'd; Whose nature sickens, but to speak a truth: • Decease, die. † Gamester when Value. Noted. || Debauchea. her appearance of being common. Am I or that, or this, for what he'll utter, She hath that ring of yours. Ber. I think, she has certain it is, I liked her, And boarded her i'the wanton way of youth: Dia. I must be patient Ber. I have it not. 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 you? By him, and by this woman here, what know Par. So please your majesty, my master hath been an honourable gentleman; tricks he hath had in him, which gentlemen have. off,) King, Come, come, to the purpose: Did he love this woman? Par. 'Faith, sir, he did loveher: But how? Par. He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman. King. How is that? Par. He loved her, sir, and loved her not. -What an equivocal companion is this? Laf. He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator. Dia. Do you know, he promised me marriage? Par. 'Faith, I know more than I'll speak. 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 applied to a female, then meant a common woman. Love. ** Her solicitation concurring with †† May justly make me fast. Fellow. 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 their going to bed; and of other motions, as 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 art too fine * in thy evidence: therefore stand King. Where did you buy it? or who gave it you? Dia. It was not given me, nor I did not buy it. Dia. Dia. He knows himself, my bed he hath defiled; So there's my riddle, One, that's dead, is quick : Re-enter Widow, with HELENA. King. Is there no exorcistý No, my good lord; Both, both; O, pardon! Hel. O, my good lord, when I was like this maid, Will you be mine, now you are doubly won? Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly, I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly, I found you wondrons kind. There is your ring, And, look you, here's your letter; This it says, King. Who lent it you? When from my finger you can get this ring, It was not lent me neither. And are by me with child, &c. This is done: King. Where did you find it then? Dia. I found it not. King. If it were yours by none of all these How could you give it him? [ways, 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. [I know. Dia. It might be yours, or hers, for aught King. Take her away, I do not like her now; To prison with her and away with him.Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this Thou diest within this hour. Dia. King. Take her away. [ring, I'll never tell you. I'll put in bail, my liege. King. I think thee now some common customert. Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you. this while? Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty; He knows, I am no maid, and he'll swear to't: I'll swear, I am a maid, and he knows not. Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life; I am either maid, or else this old man's wife. [Pointing to LAFEU. King. She does abuse our ears; to prison with her. [royal sir; Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, [Exit Widow. The jeweller, that owes the ring, is sent for, And he shall surety me. But for this lord, Who hath abused me, as he knows himself, Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him: Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue, Deadly divorce step between me and you!O, my dear mother, do I see you living? Laf. Mine eyes smell onions, I shall weep anon:-Good Tom Drum, [To PAROLLES.] lend me a handkerchief: So, I 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 :- Advancing. The king's a beggar, now the play is done: ‡ Owns. § Enchanter. [Exeunt. i. e., Hear us Too artful. ↑ Common woman. without interruption, and take our parts, support and defend us. This play has many delightful scenes, though not sufficiently probable, and some happy characters, though not new, nor produced by any deep knowledge of human nature. Parolles is a boaster and a coward, such as has always been the sport of the stage, but perhaps never raised more laughter or contempt than in the hands of Shakspeare. I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble without generosity, and young without truth; who marries Helen as a coward, and leaves her as a profligate when she is dead by his unkindness, sneaks home to a second marriage, is accused by a woman whom he has wronged, defends himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness. The story of Bertram and Diana had been told before of Mariana and Angelo, and, to con. fess the truth, scarcely merited to be heard a second time. JOHNSON. A Lord. TAMING OF THE SHREW. Persons represented. CHRISTOPHER SLY, a drunken tinker. } Persons in the Hostess, Page, Players, Huntsmen, and other Servants attending on the Lord.) Induction Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants attending on Baptista and Petruchio. Scene, sometimes in Padua; and sometimes in Petruchio's House in the Country. INDUCTION. SCENE I. Before an Alehouse on a 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 pallabrist; let the world slide: Sessa‡! Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst ý? Sly. No, not a denier: Go by, says JeronimyGo 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: [boss'd tt. Brach Merriman, -the poor cur is emAnd couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd brach. [good Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it At the hedge corner, in the coldets 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, † Few words. 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 warmed with ale, This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly. A most delicious banquet by his bed, • Beat or knock. line and the scrap of Spanish is used in burlesque from an old play called Hieronymo, or the Spanish Tragedy. An officer whose authority equals a constable. i Be quiet. Broke. This ** Bitch. tt Strained. |