The mild and amiable Bianca forms a pleasing contrast to her haughty sister.-Grumio is a fellow of such infinite jest, that we never feel happier than when we are in his company. His description of the effects of cold on his " three-inch" body—his piteous ejaculations for fire-and his reply to Curtis-“ A piece of ice! if thou doubt it, thou mayst slide from my shoulder to my heel, with no greater a run but my head and my neck"-are in the highest degree diverting. His account of Petruchio's mad wedding-Petruchio's description of his wife's cap and gown-his contemptuous sneer at the puny effects of a woman's tongue,

"That gives not half so great a blow to th' ear,"

As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire"

may be selected for their wit; while his address to Katharine, proving that the mind alone is valuable

"What, is the jay more precious than the lark,
Because his feathers are more beautiful?

Or is the adder better than the eel,

Because his painted slime contents the eye?

O, no, good Kate, neither art thou the worse
For this poor furniture and mean array;"

and Katharine's concluding speech, showing a wife's duty to her husband, are examples of beautiful writing.

The effervescence and fire of Lewis well fitted him for Petruchio. As was usual with that great actor, he threw all his energies into the character, and ran through its romantic extravagancies with untired spirit. Mr. Charles Kemble and Mr. Elliston display their several excellencies in this character, but neither of them are entirely Petruchio. Mrs. Gibbs, in Katharine, was a Shrew, but no lady-Mrs. Charles Kemble was a lady, but no Shrew.

DG.

PETRUCHIO.-First dress: Buff-coloured pantaloons and jerkins, trimmed-russet boots-small cloak-high-topp'd hat, and feathers. Second dress: Trunk-dress-jerkin and cloak, very much patched-old boots-sword, &c.

BAPTISTA.-Dark velvet body and trunks-stockings-bootscloak-sword-hat and feather-cane.

HORTENSIO.-Dark velvet vest and trunks-cloak, belt, &c. trimmed-boots-sword.

MUSIC-MASTER.-Gray tunic-trunks and stockings-russet

shoes-belt.

TAILOR.-Dark brown jerkin-vest and breeches-blue stockings-russet shoes-small three-cornered hat.

BIONDELLO.-Drab livery.

PEDRO.-Do.

GRUMIO.-First dress: Dark jerkin-breeches-stockingsrusset boots. Second dress: Do. much patched.

COOK.-White jacket, apron, and cap.

SERVANTS.-Drab liveries, with dark binding-blue stockingsrusset shoes.

KATHARINE. Richly trimmed white dress, with robe, ornamented and jewelled-black Spanish velvet hat, and white feathers. BIANCA.-Handsome satin robe-white dress, embroidered

hat, &c.

CURTIS.-Dark brown gown-cap-apron, &c.

10

Cast of the Characters, as performed at the Theatre Royal,

The Conductors of this Work print no Plays but those which they have seen acted. The Stage Directions are given from their own personal observations, during the most recent performances.

EXITS and ENTRANCES.

R. means Right; L. Left; D. F. Door in Flat; R. D. Right Door; L. D. Left Door; S. E. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Middle Door.

RELATIVE POSITIONS.

R. means Right; L. Left; C. Centre; R. C. Right of Centre ; L. C. Left of Centre.

The Reader is supposed to be on the Stage, facing the Audience.

TAMING OF THE SHREW;

OR,

KATHARINE AND PETRUCHIO.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Baptista's House-A Hall-Table and two chairs.

Enter BAPTISTA, PETRUCHIO, L. and GRUMIO, who waits behind.

Bap. (R.) Thus have I, 'gainst my own self-interest, Repeated all the worst you're to expect

From my shrewd daughter, Katharine :-if you'll venture, Maugre my plain and honest declaration,

You have my free consent,-win her and wed her.

Pet. (c.) Signior Baptista, thus it stands with me.
Antonio, my father, is deceas'd:

You knew him well, and, knowing him, know me,
Left solely heir to all his lands and goods,

Which I have better'd, rather than decreas'd:
And I have thrust myself into the world,
Haply to wive and thrive, as best I may.
My business asketh haste, old signior,
And every day I cannot come to woo :
Let specialties be therefore drawn between us,
That covenants may be kept on either hand.

Bap. Yes, when the special thing is well obtain'd,

My daughter's love; for that is all in all.

Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father,
I am as peremptory as she proud-minded;
And, where two raging fires meet together,
They do consume the thing that feeds their fury
Though little fire grows great with little wind,
Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all;

So, I to her, and so she yields to me;

For I am rough, and woo not like a babe.

Gru. [Comes forward, L.] Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is: why, give him gold enough, and marry him to a puppet, or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head. Though she have as many diseases as two and fifty horses,-why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal. You know him not. Bap. [To Petruchio.] And will you woo her, sir? Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent? Think you, a little din can daunt my ears? Have I not, in my time, heard lions roar? Have I not heard great ordnance in the field, And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies? Have I not, in a pitched battle, heard

Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang?
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue;

That gives not half so great a blow to th' ear,
As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire ?-

Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.

Bap. Then thou'rt the man,

The man for Katharine and her father too:

That shall she know, and know my mind at once.
I'll portion her above her gentler sister,

New-married to Hortensio :

And, if, with scurril taunt and squeamish pride,
She make a mouth, and will not taste her fortune,
I'll turn her forth to seek it in the world;

Nor henceforth shall she know her father's doors.
Pet. Say'st thou me so? Then, as your daughter,
signior,

Is rich enough to be Petruchio's wife,
Be she as curs'd as Socrates' Xantippe,
She moves me not a whit :-

:-were she as rough

As are the swelling Adriatic seas,

I come to wive it wealthily in Padua ;

If wealthily, then happily, in Padua.

Bap. Well may'st thou woo, and happy be thy speed!

But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words.

Pet. Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds,

That shake not, though they blow perpetually.

[Katharine and the Music-master make a noise without, R. Mas. Help! help!

Kat. Out of the house, you scraping fool
Pet. What noise is that?