The Taming of the Shrew

[Dramatis PersonaeChristopher sly, a tinker and beggar,hostess of an alehouse, a lord,  Persons in the a page, servants, huntsmen, Inductionplayers, Baptista, a rich gentleman of PaduaKatharina, the shrew, also called Katharine and Kate, Baptista's elder daughterBianca, Baptista's younger daughterPetruchio, a gentleman of Verona, suitor to KatharinaGrumio, Petruchio's servantCurtis, nathaniel, Philip, Joseph, Nicholas, peter, and other servants of Petruchiogremio, elderly suitor to BiancaHortensio, suitor to BiancaLucentio, son of Vincentio, in love with BiancaTranio, Lucentio's servantBiondello, Lucentio's servantVincentio, a gentleman of Pisaa pedant (or Merchant) of Mantuaa widow, courted by Hortensioa tailora haberdasher an officerOther Servants of Baptista and Lucentioscene: Padua, and Petruchio's country house in Italy;the Induction is located in the countryside andat a Lord's house in England]Induction.1 Location: Before an alehouse and, subsequently, before the Lord's house nearby. (See lines 75, 135.)1 feeze you i.e., fix you, get even with you2 A . . . stocks i.e., I'll have you put in the stocks3 baggage contemptible woman or prostitute.4 Richard (Sly's mistake for "William.")5 Paucas Pallabris i.e., pocas palabras, "few words." (Spanish.)  Sessa (Of doubtful meaning, perhaps "be quiet," "cease," or "let it go.")8 denier French copper coin of little value.  Go . . . Jeronimy (Sly's variation of an often quoted line from Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy, urging caution.)8-9 go . . . thee (Perhaps a proverb; see King Lear, 3.4.46-7.)10-11 thirdborough constable.12 Third (Sly shows his ignorance; the third in "thirdborough" derives from the Old English word frith, "peace.")13 by law in the law courts.14 kindly welcome. (Said ironically.)14.1 Wind Blow14.2 train retinue.15 tender care for16 Breathe Merriman Give the dog Merriman time to recover its breath.  embossed foaming at the mouth from exhaustion17 couple leash together.  deep-mouthed brach bitch hound with the deep baying voice.18 made it good i.e., picked up the lost scent19 in the coldest fault when the scent was lost by a fault or break in the scent.22 cried . . . loss bayed to signal his recovery of the scent after it had been completely lost[Induction.1] A Enter Beggar (Christopher Sly) andHostess.sly I'll feeze you, in faith. 1hostess A pair of stocks, you rogue! 2sly You're a baggage. The Slys are no rogues. Look in 3the chronicles; we came in with Richard Conqueror. 4Therefore paucas pallabris, let the world slide. Sessa! 5hostess You will not pay for the glasses you haveburst?sly No, not a denier. Go by, Saint Jeronimy, go to thy 8cold bed and warm thee. 9hostess I know my remedy; I must go fetch the third- 10borough. [Exit.] 11sly Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll answer him 12by law. I'll not budge an inch, boy. Let him come, and 13kindly. Falls asleep. 14Wind horns [within]. Enter a Lord from hunt-ing, with his train.lordHuntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds. 15Breathe Merriman–the poor cur is embossed– 16And couple Clowder with the deep-mouthed brach. 17Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good 18At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault? 19I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.first huntsmanWhy, Bellman is as good as he, my lord.He cried upon it at the merest loss, 2227 sup them well feed them a good supper34 image likeness (since sleep was regarded as a likeness of death).35 practice on play a joke on37 sweet perfumed38 banquet light repast39 brave finely arrayed41 cannot choose is bound to.43 fancy flight of imagination.47 Balm Bathe, anointAnd twice today picked out the dullest scent.Trust me, I take him for the better dog.lordThou 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. 27Tomorrow I intend to hunt again.first huntsman I will, my lord.lord [seeing Sly]What's here? One dead, or drunk? See, doth he breathe?second huntsman [examining Sly]He breathes, my lord. Were he not warmed with ale,This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly.lordOh, monstrous beast, how like a swine he lies!Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image! 34Sirs, I will practice on this drunken man. 35What think you, if he were conveyed to bed,Wrapped in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers, 37A most delicious banquet by his bed, 38And brave attendants near him when he wakes, 39Would not the beggar then forget himself?first huntsmanBelieve me, lord, I think he cannot choose. 41second huntsmanIt would seem strange unto him when he waked.lordEven as a flatt'ring dream or worthless fancy. 43Then take him up, and manage well the jest.Carry him gently to my fairest chamber,And hang it round with all my wanton pictures.Balm his foul head in warm distilld waters, 47And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet.Procure me music ready when he wakes,50 dulcet melodious51 straight at once52 reverence bow56 ewer jug, pitcher.  diaper towel60 horse horses61 disease i.e., mental derangement.63 when . . . is i.e., when he says he must be mad indeed. (The is is stressed.)65 kindly naturally (and thus persuasively).  gentle kind66 passing surpassingly67 husbanded with modesty managed with decorum.69 As so that.  by as a result of72 office duty73 Sirrah (Usual form of address to inferiors.)74 Belike Perhaps76 An't If itTo make a dulcet and a heavenly sound. 50And if he chance to speak, be ready straight, 51And with a low submissive reverence 52Say, "What is it Your Honor will command?"Let one attend him with a silver basinFull of rosewater and bestrewed with flowers;Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper, 56And say, "Will 't please Your Lordship cool your hands?"Someone be ready with a costly suit,And ask him what apparel he will wear;Another tell him of his hounds and horse, 60And that his lady mourns at his disease. 61Persuade him that he hath been lunatic,And when he says he is, say that he dreams, 63For he is nothing but a mighty lord.This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs. 65It will be pastime passing excellent, 66If it be husbanded with modesty. 67first huntsmanMy lord, I warrant you we will play our partAs he shall think by our true diligence 69He is no less than what we say he is.lordTake him up gently, and to bed with him,And each one to his office when he wakes. 72[Some bear out Sly.] Sound trumpets [within].Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds. 73[Exit a Servingman.]Belike some noble gentleman that means, 74Traveling some journey, to repose him here.Enter [a] Servingman.How now? Who is it?servingman An't please Your Honor, players 76That offer service to Your Lordship.81 So please If it please.  duty expression of respect and dutiful service.89 happy opportune90 The rather for the more so since91 cunning professional skill93 doubtful apprehensive.  modesties discretion, self-control94 overeyeing of witnessing96 merry passion outburst of laughter100 veriest antic oddest buffoon or eccentric101 buttery pantry, or a room for storing liquor (in butts) and other provisionsEnter Players.lordBid them come near.–Now, fellows, you are welcome.players We thank Your Honor.lordDo you intend to stay with me tonight?first playerSo please Your Lordship to accept our duty. 81lordWith all my heart. This fellow I rememberSince once he played a farmer's eldest son.–'Twas where you wooed the gentlewoman so well.I have forgot your name, but sure that partWas aptly fitted and naturally performed.second playerI think 'twas Soto that Your Honor means.lord'Tis very true. Thou didst it excellent.Well, you are come to me in happy time, 89The rather for I have some sport in hand 90Wherein your cunning can assist me much. 91There is a lord will hear you play tonight.But I am doubtful of your modesties, 93Lest, overeyeing of his odd behavior– 94For yet His Honor never heard a play–You break into some merry passion 96And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs,If you should smile, he grows impatient.first playerFear not, my lord, we can contain ourselves,Were he the veriest antic in the world. 100lord [to a Servingman]Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery, 101And give them friendly welcome every one.103 want lack105 in all suits in every detail. (With a pun on suits of clothes.)107 do him obeisance show him dutiful respect.108 him i.e., the page Bartholomew.  as he will if he wishes to111 by them accomplished performed by the ladies.121 him himself125 shift purpose126 napkin handkerchief.  close secretly127 in despite i.e., notwithstanding a natural inclination to laugh rather than cry129 Anon Soon130 usurp assume133 And how i.e., and to see how135 I'll in I'll go inLet them want nothing that my house affords. 103Exit one with the Players.Sirrah, go you to Barthol'mew my page,And see him dressed in all suits like a lady. 105That done, conduct him to the drunkard's chamber,And call him "madam," do him obeisance. 107Tell him from me, as he will win my love, 108He bear himself with honorable actionSuch as he hath observed in noble ladiesUnto their lords by them accomplishd. 111Such duty to the drunkard let him doWith soft low tongue and lowly courtesy,And say, "What is't Your Honor will command,Wherein your lady and your humble wifeMay show 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 overjoyedTo see her noble lord restored to health,Who for this seven years hath esteemed him 121No better than a poor and loathsome beggar.And if the boy have not a woman's giftTo rain a shower of commanded tears,An onion will do well for such a shift, 125Which in a napkin being close conveyed 126Shall in despite enforce a watery eye. 127See this dispatched with all the haste thou canst.Anon I'll give thee more instructions. 129Exit a Servingman.I know the boy will well usurp the grace, 130Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman.I long to hear him call the drunkard husband,And how my men will stay themselves from laughter 133When they do homage to this simple peasant.I'll in to counsel them. Haply my presence 135136 spleen mood. (The spleen was the supposed seat of laughter and anger.)Induction.2 Location: A bedchamber in the Lord's house.0.1 aloft i.e., in the gallery over the rear facade of the stage1 small weak (and therefore cheap)2 sack sweet Spanish wine (suited for a gentleman to drink).3 conserves candied fruit.7 conserves of beef preserved (salted) beef.9 doublets men's jackets11 as that12 overleather upper leather of the shoe.13 idle humor foolish whim18 Burton-heath (Perhaps Barton on the Heath, about sixteen miles from Stratford, the home of Shakespeare's aunt.)19 cardmaker maker of cards or combs used to prepare wool for spinning20 bearherd keeper of a performing bear.  tinker pot mender.21 alewife woman who keeps an alehouse.  Wincot small village about four miles from Stratford. (The parish register shows that there were Hackets living there in 1591.)May well abate the overmerry spleen 136Which otherwise would grow into extremes.[Exeunt.][Induction.2] A Enter aloft the drunkard [Sly], with attendants; some with apparel, basin, and ewer and other appurtenances; and Lord.sly For God's sake, a pot of small ale. 1first servingmanWill't please Your Lordship drink a cup of sack? 2second servingmanWill't please Your Honor taste of these conserves? 3third servingmanWhat raiment will Your Honor wear today?sly I am Christophero Sly. Call not me "Honor" nor"Lordship." I ne'er drank sack in my life; and if yougive me any conserves, give me conserves of beef. 7Ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear, for I have nomore doublets than backs, no more stockings than 9legs, nor no more shoes than feet–nay, sometimesmore feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look 11through the overleather. 12lordHeaven cease this idle humor in Your Honor! 13Oh, that a mighty man of such descent,Of such possessions and so high esteem,Should be infused with so foul a spirit!sly What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christo-pher Sly, old Sly's son of Burton-heath, by birth a 18peddler, by education a cardmaker, by transmutation 19a bearherd, and now by present profession a tinker? 20Ask Marian Hacket, the fat alewife of Wincot, if she 2122-3 on the score in debt (since such reckonings were originally notched or scored on a stick)23 sheer nothing but.  score me up for reckon me to be24 bestraught distracted29 As as if31 ancient former34 beck nod.35 Apollo i.e., as god of music39 Semiramis legendary queen of Assyria, famous for her voluptuousness.40 bestrew i.e., scatter rushes on41 trapped adorned45 welkin sky, heavens47 course hunt the hare48 breathed in good physical condition, with good wind.  roe small, swift deer.50 Adonis a young huntsman with whom Venus is vainly in love. (See Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book 10, and Shakespeare's poem, Venus and Adonis.)know me not. If she say I am not fourteen pence on 22the score for sheer ale, score me up for the lyingest 23knave in Christendom. What, I am not bestraught: 24here's–third servingmanOh, this it is that makes your lady mourn!second servingmanOh, this is it that makes your servants droop!lordHence comes it that your kindred shuns your house,As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. 29Oh, noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth.Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment, 31And banish hence these abject lowly dreams.Look how thy servants do attend on thee,Each in his office ready at thy beck. 34Wilt thou have music? Hark, Apollo plays, Music. 35And twenty caged nightingales do sing.Or wilt thou sleep? We'll have thee to a couch,Softer and sweeter than the lustful bedOn purpose trimmed up for Semiramis. 39Say thou wilt walk; we will bestrew the ground. 40Or wilt thou ride? Thy horses shall be trapped, 41Their harness studded all with gold and pearl.Dost thou love hawking? Thou hast hawks will soarAbove the morning lark. Or wilt thou hunt?Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them 45And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth.first servingmanSay thou wilt course, thy greyhounds are as swift 47As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe. 48second servingmanDost thou love pictures? We will fetch thee straightAdonis painted by a running brook, 50