The Taming of the Shrew: Induction

You’re a baggage! The Slys are no rogues. Look in the chronicles. We came in with Richard Conqueror.

Breathe Merriman (the poor cur is embossed)
And couple Clowder with the deep-mouthed brach.

Thou art a fool. If Echo were as fleet,
I would esteem him worth a dozen such.

SECOND HUNTSMAN: It would seem strange unto him when he waked.
LORD: Even as a flatt’ring dream or worthless fancy.

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,
Say “What is it your Honor will command?”

Let one attend him with a silver basin
Full of rosewater and bestrewed with flowers,
Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper,
And say “Will ’t please your Lordship cool your hands?”

It will be pastime passing excellent
If it be husbanded with modesty.

Belike some noble gentleman that means
(Traveling some journey) to repose him here.

This fellow I remember
Since once he played a farmer’s eldest son.—
’Twas where you wooed the gentlewoman so well.
I have forgot your name, but sure that part
Was aptly fitted and naturally performed.

This fellow I remember
Since once he played a farmer’s eldest son.—
’Twas where you wooed the gentlewoman so well.
I have forgot your name, but sure that part
Was aptly fitted and naturally performed.

Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves,
Were he the veriest antic in the world.

Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew, my page,
And see him dressed in all suits like a lady.
That done, conduct him to the drunkard’s chamber,
And call him “Madam,” do him obeisance.

Anon I’ll give thee more instructions.

I know the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman.

I know the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman.

I long to hear him call the drunkard “husband”!
And how my men will stay themselves from laughter
When they do homage to this simple peasant,
I’ll in to counsel them.

Haply my presence
May well abate the over-merry spleen
Which otherwise would grow into extremes.

Enter aloft Christopher Sly, the drunkard, with Attendants, some with apparel, basin and ewer, and other appurtenances, and Lord dressed as an Attendant.

What raiment will your Honor wear today?

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 sometime more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the over-leather.

Heaven cease this idle humor in your Honor!

If she say I am not fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, score me up for the lying’st knave in Christendom.

O noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth,
Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment,
And banish hence these abject lowly dreams.

Wilt thou have music? Hark, Apollo plays,
And twenty cagèd nightingales do sing.

We’ll show thee Io as she was a maid
And how she was beguilèd and surprised,
As lively painted as the deed was done.

Thou art a lord, and nothing but a lord;
Thou hast a lady far more beautiful
Than any woman in this waning age.

For though you lay here in this goodly chamber,
Yet would you say you were beaten out of door,
And rail upon the hostess of the house,
And say you would present her at the leet
Because she brought stone jugs and no sealed quarts.

How fares my noble lord?

Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you
To pardon me yet for a night or two;
Or if not so, until the sun be set.

For your physicians have expressly charged,
In peril to incur your former malady,
That I should yet absent me from your bed.

For your physicians have expressly charged,
In peril to incur your former malady,
That I should yet absent me from your bed.

Ay, it stands so that I may hardly tarry so long; but I would be loath to fall into my dreams again.

Ay, it stands so that I may hardly tarry so long; but I would be loath to fall into my dreams again.

Therefore they thought it good you hear a play
And frame your mind to mirth and merriment,
Which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.