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The Taming of the Shrew: Act Induction, Scene 1

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The Taming of the Shrew
Act Induction, Scene 1

Scene 1

Before an alehouse on a heath.

  1. Enter beggar, Christopher Sly, and Hostess.

Christopher Sly

1
  1. I’ll pheeze you, in faith.

Hostess

2
  1. A pair of stocks, you rogue!

Christopher Sly

3 - 5
  1. Y’ are a baggage, the Slys are no rogues. Look in the
  2. chronicles; we came in with Richard Conqueror. Therefore
  3. paucas pallabris, let the world slide. Sessa!

Hostess

6
  1. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst?

Christopher Sly

7 - 8
  1. No, not a denier. Go by, Saint Jeronimy! Go to thy cold bed,
  2. and warm thee.

Hostess

9
  1. I know my remedy; I must go fetch the thirdborough.
  1. Exit.

Christopher Sly

10 - 11
  1. Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I’ll answer him by law.
  2. I’ll not budge an inch, boy; let him come, and kindly.
  1. Falls asleep.
  1. Wind horns. Enter a Lord from hunting, with his Train.

Lord

12 - 17
  1. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds
  2. (Brach Merriman, the poor cur, is emboss’d),
  3. And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth’d brach.
  4. Saw’st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
  5. At the hedge-corner, in the coldest fault?
  6. I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.

First Huntsman

18 - 21
  1. Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord;
  2. He cried upon it at the merest loss,
  3. And twice today pick’d out the dullest scent.
  4. Trust me, I take him for the better dog.

Lord

22 - 25
  1. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet,
  2. I would esteem him worth a dozen such.
  3. But sup them well, and look unto them all,
  4. Tomorrow I intend to hunt again.

First Huntsman

26
  1. I will, my lord.

Lord

27
  1. What’s here? One dead, or drunk? See, doth he breathe?

Second Huntsman

28 - 29
  1. He breathes, my lord. Were he not warm’d with ale,
  2. This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly.

Lord

30 - 37
  1. O monstrous beast, how like a swine he lies!
  2. Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
  3. Sirs, I will practice on this drunken man.
  4. What think you, if he were convey’d to bed,
  5. Wrapp’d in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers,
  6. A most delicious banquet by his bed,
  7. And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
  8. Would not the beggar then forget himself?

First Huntsman

38
  1. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose.

Second Huntsman

39
  1. It would seem strange unto him when he wak’d.

Lord

40 - 64
  1. Even as a flatt’ring dream or worthless fancy.
  2. Then take him up, and manage well the jest.
  3. Carry him gently to my fairest chamber,
  4. And hang it round with all my wanton pictures.
  5. Balm his foul head in warm distilled waters,
  6. And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet.
  7. Procure me music ready when he wakes,
  8. To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound;
  9. And if he chance to speak, be ready straight,
  10. And with a low submissive reverence
  11. Say, “What is it your honor will command?”
  12. Let one attend him with a silver basin
  13. Full of rose-water and bestrew’d with flowers,
  14. Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper,
  15. And say, “Will’t please your lordship cool your hands?”
  16. Some one be ready with a costly suit,
  17. And ask him what apparel he will wear;
  18. Another tell him of his hounds and horse,
  19. And that his lady mourns at his disease.
  20. Persuade him that he hath been lunatic,
  21. And when he says he is, say that he dreams,
  22. For he is nothing but a mighty lord.
  23. This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs;
  24. It will be pastime passing excellent,
  25. If it be husbanded with modesty.

Go by, Saint Jeronimy!

J. Coghlan, circa 1825

First Huntsman

65 - 67
  1. My lord, I warrant you we will play our part
  2. As he shall think by our true diligence
  3. He is no less than what we say he is.

Lord

68 - 73
  1. Take him up gently and to bed with him,
  2. And each one to his office when he wakes.
  3. Some bear out Sly.
  4. Sound trumpets.
  5. Sirrah, go see what trumpet ’tis that sounds.
  6. Exit Servingman.
  7. Belike some noble gentleman that means
  8. (Traveling some journey) to repose him here.
  9. Enter Servingman.
  10. How now? Who is it?

First Servingman

74 - 75
  1. An’t please your honor, players
  2. That offer service to your lordship.
  1. Enter Players.

Lord

76
  1. Bid them come near. Now, fellows, you are welcome.

All Players

77
  1. We thank your honor.

Lord

78
  1. Do you intend to stay with me tonight?

Second Player

79
  1. So please your lordship to accept our duty.

Lord

80 - 84
  1. With all my heart. This fellow I remember
  2. Since once he play’d a farmer’s eldest son.
  3. ’Twas where you woo’d the gentlewoman so well.
  4. I have forgot your name; but sure that part
  5. Was aptly fitted and naturally perform’d.

First Player

85
  1. I think ’twas Soto that your honor means.

Lord

86 - 96
  1. ’Tis very true; thou didst it excellent.
  2. Well, you are come to me in happy time,
  3. The rather for I have some sport in hand,
  4. Wherein your cunning can assist me much.
  5. There is a lord will hear you play tonight;
  6. But I am doubtful of your modesties,
  7. Lest, over-eyeing of his odd behavior
  8. (For yet his honor never heard a play),
  9. You break into some merry passion,
  10. And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs,
  11. If you should smile, he grows impatient.

First Player

97 - 98
  1. Fear not, my lord, we can contain ourselves,
  2. Were he the veriest antic in the world.

You will not pay for the glasses you have burst?

Henry Courtney Selous, 1830

Lord

99 - 135
  1. Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery,
  2. And give them friendly welcome every one.
  3. Let them want nothing that my house affords.
  4. Exit one with the Players.
  5. Sirrah, go you to Barthol’mew my page,
  6. And see him dress’d in all suits like a lady;
  7. That done, conduct him to the drunkard’s chamber,
  8. And call him madam, do him obeisance.
  9. Tell him from me, as he will win my love,
  10. He bear himself with honorable action,
  11. Such as he hath observ’d in noble ladies
  12. Unto their lords, by them accomplished;
  13. Such duty to the drunkard let him do,
  14. With soft low tongue and lowly courtesy,
  15. And say, “What is’t your honor will command,
  16. Wherein your lady, and your humble wife,
  17. May show her duty and make known her love?”
  18. And then with kind embracements, tempting kisses,
  19. And with declining head into his bosom,
  20. Bid him shed tears, as being overjoyed
  21. To see her noble lord restor’d to health,
  22. Who for this seven years hath esteemed him
  23. No better than a poor and loathsome beggar.
  24. And if the boy have not a woman’s gift
  25. To rain a shower of commanded tears,
  26. An onion will do well for such a shift,
  27. Which in a napkin (being close convey’d)
  28. Shall in despite enforce a watery eye.
  29. See this dispatch’d with all the haste thou canst;
  30. Anon I’ll give thee more instructions.
  31. Exit First Servingman.
  32. I know the boy will well usurp the grace,
  33. Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman.
  34. I long to hear him call the drunkard husband,
  35. And how my men will stay themselves from laughter
  36. When they do homage to this simple peasant.
  37. I’ll in to counsel them; haply my presence
  38. May well abate the over-merry spleen,
  39. Which otherwise would grow into extremes.
  1. Exeunt.
Costume study for Christopher Sly

Costume study for Christopher Sly

Robert L. Bööcke, circa 1880

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