THE TAMING OF

THE SHREW

III: A

PERSONS REPRESENTED

A LORD.

CHRISTOPHER SLY: A TINKER. PERSONS IN THE

HOSTESS, PAGE, PLAYERS, HUNTSMEN,
AND SERVANTS.

INDUCTION.

BAPTISTA: A RICH GENTLEMAN OF PADUA.

VINCENTIO: AN OLD GENTLEMAN OF PISA.

TAILOR, HABERDASHER, AND SERVANTS ATTENDING ON BAPTISTA AND PETRUCHIO,

SCENE-Padua; Petruchio's House.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

THE INDUCTION

SCENE I. A Hedge-Tavern on a Heath.

Enter Hostess and SLY.

SLY. I'll pheeze you,1 in faith.

Host. A pair of stocks, you Rogue!

SLY. Y'are a baggage: the Slys are no rogues; look in
the Chronicles; we came in with Richard Conqueror.
Therefore, paucas pallabris; let the world slide: sessa!
Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst ?
SLY. No; not a denier. Go by, Jeronimy: go to thy
cold bed, and warm thee.

8

Host. I know my remedy; I must go fetch the third

borough.*

[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.5

[falls asleep.

Wind horns. Enter a Lord from hunting,

with his Train.

LORD. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds:
Trash Merriman-the poor cur is emboss'd;"

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.

FIRST HUN. Why, Belman is as good as he, my Lord; 20

He cried1o 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.

INDUC. LORD. Thou art a fool: if Echo were as fleet,
Sc. I
I would esteem him worth a dozen such.
But sup them well, and look unto them all :
To-morrow I intend to hunt again.

FIRST HUN. I will, my Lord.

LORD. What's here? one dead, or drunk? See, doth he breathe ?

SEC. HUN. He breathes, my Lord. Were he not warm'd
with ale,

This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly.
LORD. O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies!

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Grim Death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
Sirs, I will practise1 on this drunken man.

What think you : if he were convey'd to bed,

Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, 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?

FIRST HUN. Believe me, Lord, I think he cannot choose.
SEC. HUN. It would seem strange unto him when he
wak'd.

LORD. Even as a flattering dream or worthless fancy.
Then 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 distilled waters,
And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet :

41

Procure me music, ready when he wakes

To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound;
And, if he chance to speak, be ready straight,
And with a low submissive reverence

50

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 say Will't please your Lordship cool your hands?

Some one be ready with a costly suit,

And ask him what apparel he will wear;

Another tell him of his hounds and horse,
And that his Lady mourns at his disease :

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