Die böse Katharina, 1705; Schink's Die bezähmte Wiederbellerin, 1781; and Holbein's Liebe kann Alles, 1822; finally the now current version by Deinhardstein (Kilian, Jahrbuch, xxxii. 129). In this last, gross as it is, the play has won a stage popularity which no other comedy of Shakespeare approaches, and Othello alone among his dramas surpasses. In 1894, out of 706 performances of 25 Shakespearean plays, The Taming of the Shrew was performed 83 times by 51 companies, exclusive of some 25 times in the earlier version of Holbein above mentioned (Kilian, Jahrbuch, xxxii. 353). UNIVI CA THE TAMING OF THE SHREW INDUCTION. SCENE I. Before an alehouse on a heath. Enter HOSTESS and SLY. Sly. I'll pheeze you, in faith. Host. A pair of stocks, you rogue ! Sly. Ye 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. 1. pheeze, chastise, pay off (a low word, only used elsewhere in Shakespeare by Ajax in Tr. and Cr.). 5. paucas pallabris, Sly's corruption of Spanish pocas palabras, 'few words,' 'silence!' a learned tag much affected by the pretentious vulgar. 'Palabras' is Dogberry's reproof to Verges (Much Ado, iii. 5.). 6. sessa, probably a cry encouraging to swift running. 9. denier, a coin of very small value. ΙΟ 9. Go by, Jeronimy, a hackneyed scrap from Kyd's Spanish Tragedy, where the hero, Jeronymo, finding himself in a perilous situation, addresses himself nearly in these words. F, has S. Jeronymy, probably through a misprint of S. for? (i.e. !). Delius thought Sly was meant to confuse Jeronymo with Saint Jerome, but this is unlikely. Go to thy cold bed, and warm thee, was a similar scrap. 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. [Falls asleep. Horns winded. Enter a Lord from hunting, with his train. Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds: Brach Merriman, the poor cur is emboss'd; And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd brach. He cried upon it at the merest loss And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent: Lord. Thou art a fool: if Echo were as fleet, I would esteem him worth a dozen such. 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. 12. third-borough, constable. 16. tender, care for. 17. Brach is probably wrong; leech, breathe, trash (i.e. hold in) have been variously proposed. 20 30 17. emboss'd, worn out. 18. brach, female hound. 23. cried upon it at the merest loss, found the scent when it seemed totally lost. Lord. O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies! Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image! What think you, if he were convey'd to bed, A most delicious banquet by his bed, And brave attendants near him when he wakes, 40 Would not the beggar then forget himself? First Hun. Believe me, lord, I think he can not choose. Sec. Hun. It would seem strange unto him when he waked. Lord. Even as a flattering dream or worthless Then take him up, and manage well the jest: And hang it round with all my wanton pictures: Say 'What is it your honour will command?' Full of rose-water and bestrew'd with flowers; 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; 36. practise, play a trick. 50 60 57. diaper, a towel of fine linen. 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. [Falls asleep. Horns winded. Enter a Lord from hunting, with his train. Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well Brach Merriman, the poor cur is emboss'd ; He cried upon it at the merest loss And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent: Lord. Thou art a fool: if Echo were as fleet, But 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. 12. third-borough, constable. 16. tender, care for. 17. Brach is probably wrong; leech, breathe, trash (i.e. hold in) have been variously proposed. 20 30 17. emboss'd, worn out. 18. brach, female hound. 23. cried upon it at the merest loss, found the scent when it seemed totally lost. |