King. All is whole; Not one word more of the consumed time! For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees Ber. Admiringly, my liege: at first I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart King. Well excus'd! That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease! Ber. Her's it was not. King. Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye, While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't. — This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen, I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood Necessitied to help, that by this token I would relieve her. Had you that craft, to reave her Of what should stead her most? Ber. My gracious sovereign, Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, The ring was never her's. Count. Son, on my life, I have seen her wearit; and she reckoned it At her life's rate. Laf. I am sure, I saw her wear it. Ber. You are deceiv'd, my lord, she never saw it: In Florence was it from a casement thrown me, Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain❜d the name Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought I stood engag'd: but when I had subscrib'd To mine own fortune, and inform'd her fully, I could not answer in that course of honour, As she had made the overture, she ceas'd, In heavy satisfaction, and would never Receive the ring again. King. Plutus himself, That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine, King.Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour, And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me, Which I would fain shut out. If it should prove That thou art so inhuman, -'twill not prove so; And yet I know not:- thou didst hate her deadly, And she is dead; which nothing, but to close Her eyes myself, could win me to believe, More than to see this ring. Take him away![Guards seize Bertram. My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall, Shall tax my fears of little vanity, Having vainly fear'd too little. - Away with him! We'll sift this matter further. Ber. If you shall prove, This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy Enter a Gentleman. King. I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings. Who hath, for four or five removes, come short 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; inyou 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. I wonder, sir, since wives are monsters to you, And that you fly them, as, you swear them lordship, Yet you desire to marry. What woman's that? Re-enter Gentleman, with Widow, and Diana. Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, Derived from the ancient Capulet; My suit, as I do understand, you know, And therefore know, how far I may be pitied. Wid. I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour Both suffer under this complaint, we bring, King.Come hither, count! Do you know these womeu? But that I know them. Do they charge me further? Dia. Why do you look so strange upon your wife? Ber. She's none of mine, my lord. Dia. If you shall marry, You give away this hand, and that is mine; You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine; That she, which marries you, must marry me, Laf. Your reputation [To Bertram] comes too short King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend, Till your deeds gain them. Fairer prove your honour, Than in my thought it lies! Dia. Good my lord, Ask him, upon his oath, if he does think, King. What say'st thou to her? Ber. She's impudent, my lord, And was a common gamester to the camp. Dia. He does me wrong, my lord; if I were so, He might have bought me at a common price. Do not believe him! O, behold this ring, Whose high respect, and rich validity, Did lack a parallel; yet, for all that, He gave it to a commoner o'the camp, If I be one. Count. He blushes, and 'tis it: Of six preceding ancestors, that gem King. Methought, you said, You saw one here in court could witness it. He's quoted for a most perfidious slave, With all the spots o'the world tax'dand debosh'd; King. She hath that ring of yours. Ber. I think, she has: certain it is, I lik'd her, Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine, Dia. I must be patient; You that turn'd off a first so noble wife, (Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband,) Send for your ring, I will return it home, Ber. I have it not. King. What ring was yours, I pray you? The same upon your finger. King. Know you this ring? this ring was his of late. Out of a casement. Dia. I have spoke the truth. Enter PAROLLES. Ber. My lord, I do confess the ring was hers. Is this the man you speak of? 1 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,) By him, and by 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 did love her. But how? Par Hedid love her, sir,as a gentleman loves a woman. Par. He loved her, sir, and 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. 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 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 aside! This ring, you say, was yours? Dia. Ay, my good lord. King. 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, How could you give it him? 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. I'll never tell you. King. Take her away! Dia. I'll put in bail, my liege. King. I think thee now some common customer. Dia. Because, he's guilty, and he is not guilty; [Pointing to Lafer. TAMING OF THE SHREW, ACT I.] Re-enter Widow, with HELENA. King. Is there no exorcist Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes? Hel. No, my good lord: 'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, The name, and not the thing. Ber. Both, both; 0, pardon! Hel. O, my good lord, when I was like this maid, Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly, 215 I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly. King. Let us from point to point this story know, Thou kept'st a wife herself, thyself a maid. - All yet seems well, and if it end so meet, The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet. [Flourish. The king's a beggar, now the play is done: That you express content: which we will pay, [Exeunt. LUCENTIO, son to Vincentio, in love with Bianca. HORTENSIO, }suitors to Bianca. servants to Petruchio. PEDANT, an old fellow, set up to personate Vin centio. CATHARINA, the Shrew, daughters to Baptista. Widow. Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants attending on SCENE,- Sometimes in Padua; and sometimes in Petruchio's house in the country. INDUCTION. SCENE I.-Before an ale-house on a heath. Sly. I'll pheese you, in faith. Wind horns.Enter a Lord from hunting,with Hunts- Lord. Huntsman,I charge thee,tender well my hounds: Sly. Y'are a baggage; the Slies are no rogues! Look Sessa! · Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst? 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, [Exit. I would esteem him worth a dozen such. Sly. Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll answer But sup them well, and look unto them all! him by law: I'll not budge an inch, boy; let him come, To-morrow I intend to hunt again. and kindly.[Lies down on the ground, and falls asleep. 1 Hun. I will, my lord. Host. I know my remedy, I must go fetch the thirdborough. Lord. What's here; one dead, or drunk? See, doth | Lest, over-eying of his odd behaviour, 2 Hun. He breathes, my lord. Were he not warm'd You break into some merry passion, This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly. 1 Hun. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose. Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worthless fancy. Say, What is it your honour will command? Let one attend him with a silver basin, Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers; Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper, And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs, [Exeunt Servant and Players. Bid him shed tears, as being overjoyed To see her noble lord restor❜d to health, Who, for twice seven years, hath esteem'd him And say, Wil't please your lordship coolyour hands? And if the boy have not a woman's gift, Some one be ready with a costly suit, And ask him what apparel he will wear; And that his lady mourns at his disease; And, when he says he is, say, that he dreams; This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs! If it be husbanded with modesty. 1 IIun. My lord, I warrant you, we'll play our part, As he shall think, by our true diligence, He is no 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. A trumpet sounds. Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds! [Exit Servant. To rain a shower of commanded tears, See this despatch'd with all the haste thou canst! I long to hear him call the drunkard, husband; SCENE II.A bedchamber in the Lord's house. SLY is discovered in urich night-gown, with Attendants; some with apparel, others with basin, ewer, and other appurtenances. Enter Lord, dressed like a servant. Sly. For God's sake, a pot of small ale! 1 Serv. Will't please your lordship drink a cup of sack? 2 Serv. Will't please your honour taste of these conserves? 3 Serv. What raiment will your honour wear to-day? Lord.lieaven cease this idle humour in your honour! Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burtonheath; by birth a pedlar, by education a cardmaker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of Wincot, if she [Music. As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. 1 Serv. Say, thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are As breathed stags, ay, flecter than the roe. Sly. Ay, the woman's maid of the house. Sly. Now, Lord be thanked for my good amends! Sly. I thank thee; thou shalt not lose by it. Enter the Page, as a lady, with Attendants. Page. How fares my noble lord? Sly. Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer enough. Where is my wife? Page. Here, noble lord; what is thy will with her? Sly. I know it well. What must I call her? Sly. Al'ce madam, or Joan madam? Lord. Madam, and nothing else; so lords call ladies. Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have dream'd and slept Above some fifteen year and more. Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me, Sly.'Tis much;-servants, leave me and her alone! 2 Serv. Dost thou love pictures? we will fetch thee Madam, undress you, and come now to bed! straight Adonis, painted by a running brook : And Cytherea all in sedges hid; Which seem to move and wanton with her breath, Even as the waving sedges play with wind. Lord. We'll show thee Io, as she was a maid; 3 Serv. Or Daphne,roaming through a thorny wood; 1 Serv. And, till the tears,that she hath shed for thee, And yet she is inferior to none. Sly. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady? I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things :- 2 Serv. Will't please your mightiness to wash your [Servants present an ewer, basin and napkin. Sly. These fifteen years! by my fay, a goodly nap. 1 Serv. O, yes, my lord; but very idle words.- I Page. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you, To pardon me yet for a night or two; Or, if not so, until the sun be set! For your physicians have expressly charg'd, In peril to incur your former malady, That I should yet absent me from your bed. hope, this reason stands for my excuse. Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so long. But I would be loath to fall into my dreams again;I will therefore tarry, in despite of the flesh and the blood. Enter a Servant. Serv. Your honour's players, hearing your amend- Are come to play a pleasant comedy, Sly. Well, we'll see't. Come, madam wife, sit by my side, and let the world slip; we shall ne'er be younger. [They sit down. |