Procure me music ready when he wakes, Full of rosewater, and bestrewed with flowers; Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper, 'T was where you wooed the gentlewoman so well: 1st Play. I think 't was Soto that your honor means. Lord. 'T is very true; - thou didst it excellent. And say, "Wilt please your lordship cool your Wherein your cunning can assist me much. hands?" Some one be ready with a costly suit, And ask him what apparel he will wear; And that his lady mourns at his disease: This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs If it be husbanded with modesty. There is a lord will hear you play to-night: 1st Play. Fear not, my lord: we can contain Were he the veriest antic in the world. Lord. Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery, 1st Hun. My lord, I warrant you we 'll play our And give them friendly welcome every one : part, And 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. Belike some noble gentleman, that means, How now? who is it? Serv. An it please your honor, Players that offer service to your lordship. Lord. Bid them come near: Enter Players. Now fellows, you are welcome. 1st Play. We thank your honor. Let them want nothing that my house affords. [To a Servant. And call him "Madam," do him obeisance. And with declining head into his bosom, Lord. With all my heart. This fellow I re- And if the boy have not a woman's gift member. Since once he played a farmer's eldest son; To rain a shower of commanded tears, Which in a napkin being close conveyed, heath; by birth a pedlar, by education a card maker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by See this despatched with all the haste thou present profession a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, canst; Anon I'll give thee more instructions. the fat alewife of Wincot, if she know me not: if she say I am not fourteen-pence on the score for sheer [Exit Servant. ale, score me up for the lyingest knave in Christendom. What, I am not bestraught! Here's1st Serv. O, this it is that makes your lady I know the boy will well usurp the grace, I long to hear him call the drunkard "husband;" When they do homage to this simple peasant. mourn. 2nd Serv. O, this it is that makes your servants droop. Lord. Hence comes it that your kindred shun your house, As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. O, noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth; SCENE II.-A Bedchamber in the Lord's SLY is discovered in a rich nightgown, with At- dressed like a Servant. Sly. For God's sake, a pot of small ale. [Music. And twenty cagéd nightingales do sing: 1st Serv. Will 't please your lordship drink a Or wilt thou ride? thy horses shall be trapped, 2nd Serv. Will 't please your honor taste of Dost thou love hawking? thou hast hawks will these conserves? to-day? soar 3rd Serv. What raiment will your honor wear Above the morning lark: or wilt thou hunt? Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them, And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth. 1st Serv. Say thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are as swift Sly. I am Christopher Sly: call not me "honor," nor "lordship." I never drank sack in my life; and if you give me any conserves, give me conserves of beef. Ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear; for I have no more doublets than backs, no more stockings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, sometimes more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the overleather. Lord. Heaven cease this idle humor in your O, that a mighty man of such descent, Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burton As breathéd stags, ay, fleeter than the roe. Adonis, painted by a running brook; Even as the waving sedges play with wind. Lord. We'll shew thee Io, as she was a maid; And how she was beguiled and surprised, As lively painted as the deed was done. 3rd Serv. Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny wood! Scratching her legs that one shall swear she bleeds: And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep, 1st Serv. And, till the tears that she hath shed Like envious floods, o'erran her lovely face, Sly. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady? wash your hands? [Servants present an ewer, bason, and napkin. O, how we joy to see your wits restored! O, that once more you knew but what you are! nap. But did I never speak of all that time? 1st Serv. O yes, my lord; but very idle words: For though you lay here in this goodly chamber, Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket. Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor no so long. But I would be loath to fall into my commonty a Christmas gambol, or a tumbling For so your doctors hold it very meet: And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy, Therefore they thought it good you hear a play, Page. No, my good lord; it is more pleasing Sly. What, household stuff? Sly. Well, we'll see it. Come, madam wife, sit by my side, and let the world slip; we shall [They sit down. Sly. Marry, I will; let them play it. Is not a ne'er be younger. Taming of the Shrew SCENE I. - Padua. A public Place. Enter LUCENTIO and TRANIO. ACT I. This virtue and this moral discipline, Let's be no stoics, nor no stocks, I pray; Or so devote to Aristotle's checks, Luc. Tranio, since for the great desire I had As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured. To see fair Padua, nursery of arts - And, by my father's love and leave, am armed Talk logic with acquaintance that you have, Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you: No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en: In brief, sir, study what you most affect. Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou ad vise. If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore, Tra. Master, some show to welcome us to town. Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, Gremio, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand aside. Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no further, For how I firmly am resolved you know; That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter Before I have a husband for the elder: If either of you both love Katherine, Because I know you well and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleas ure |