Laf. He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes? orator. Dia. Do you know, he promised me marriage? No, my good lord; Par. 'Faith, I know more than I'll speak. 'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, King. But wilt thou not speak all thou know'st? The name, and not the thing. Par. Yes, so please your majesty; I did go be- Ber. Both, both; 0, pardon! tween them, as I said; but more than that, he loved Hel. O, my good lord, when I was like this maid, her.-for, indeed, he was mad for her, and talked of I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring, Satan, and of limbo, and of furies, and I know not And, look you, here's your letter; This it says, what: yet I was in that credit with them at that When from my finger you can get this ring, time, that I knew of their going to bed: and of And are by me with child, &c-This is done: other motions, as promising her marriage, and Will you be mine, now you are doubly won? things that would derive me ill will to speak of, Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know this therefore I will not speak what I know. clearly, I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly. King. Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say they are married: But thou art too fine1 Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue, in thy evidence: therefore stand aside.Deadly divorce step between me and you!This ring, you say, was yours? O, my dear mother, do I see you living Dia. Ay, my good lord. Laf. Mine eyes smell onions, I shall weep anon: King. Where did you buy it? or who gave it you?-Good Tom Drum, [To Parolles.] lend me a Dia. It was not given me, nor I did not buy it. handkerchief: So, I thank thee; wait on me home, King. Who lent it you? I'll make sport with thee: Let thy courtesies alone, Dia. It was not lent me neither. [they are scurvy ones. King. Where did you find it then? Dia. King. Let us from point to point this story know, I found it not. To make the even truth in pleasure flow:King. If it were yours by none of all these ways, If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower, How could you give it him? [To Diana. Dia. I never gave it him. Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower; Laf. This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she For I can guess, that, by the honest aid, goes off and on at pleasure. Thou kept'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.Of that, and all the progress, more and less, Resolvedly more leisure shall express : All yet seems well; and if it end so meet, The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet. King. This ring was mine, I gave it his first wife. Dia. King. Take her away. I'll never tell you. I'll put in bail, my liege. Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty; her. Advancing. [Flourish. This play has many delightful scenes, thouga [Pointing to Lafeu. not sufficiently probable; and some happy charac King. She does abuse our ears; to prison with ters, though not new, nor produced by any deep knowledge of human nature. Parolles is a boaster Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail.-Stay, royal and a coward, such as has always been the sport sir; [Exit Widow. of the stage, but perhaps never raised more laughThe jeweller, that owes the ring, is sent for, ter or contempt than in the hands of Shakspeare. And he shall surety me. But for this lord, Who hath abus'd me, as he knows himself, Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him: He knows himself, my bed he hath defil'd; And at that time he got his wife with child: Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick; So there's my riddle, One, that's dead, is quick: And now behold the meaning. King. Re-enter Widow, with Helena. (1) Too artful. (3) Owns. Is there no exorcist (2) Common woman. Enchanter, I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble without generosity, and young without truth; who marries Helen as a coward, and leaves her as a profligate: when she is dead by his unkindness, sneaks home to a second marriage, is ac cused by a woman whom he has wronged, defends himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness. The story of Bertram and Diana had been told before of Mariana and Angelo, and, to confess the truth, scarcely merited to be heard a second time. JOHNSON. (5) i. e. Hear us without interruption, and tak our parts, that is, support and defend us, Scene, sometimes in Padua, and sometimes in Pe- Scene, Athens; and sometimes Ferando's Country truchio's House in the Country. House. INDUCTION. SCENE I-Before an Alchonse on a Heath. Sly. I'LL pheese' you, in faith. Host. A pair of stocks, you rogue! Sly. Y'are a baggage; the Slies 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 burst ?4 : have Wind horns. Enter a Lord from hunting, with Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my Brach' Merriman,-the poor cur is emboss'd,* I would not lose the dog for twenty pound. Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet, Sly. No, not a denier: Go by, says Jeronimy Go to thy cold bed, and warm thee." Host. I know my remedy, I must go fetch the thirdborough.6 [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. [Lics down on the ground, and falls asleep. Lord. What's here? one dead, or drunk? See, doth he breathe? 2 Hun. He breathes, my lord: Were he not This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly. lies! Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image! (6) An officer whose authority equals a constable. Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man.→→ 1 Hun. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose. 2 Hun. It would seem strange unto him when he wak'd. Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worthless fancy. Then take him up, and manage well the jest: And hang it round with all my wanton pictures: hands? Some one be ready with a costly suit, Wherein your coming can assist me much. There is a lord will hear you play to-night: But I am doubtful of your modesties; Lest, over-eying of his odd behaviour (For yet his honour never heard a play,) You break into some merry passion, And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs, If you should smile, he grows impatient. 1 Play. Fear not, my lord; we can contain our selves, Were he the veriest antic in the world. Lord. Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery, And give them friendly welcome every one: Let them want nothing that my house affords.[Exeunt Servant and Players. Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew my page, [To a Servant. And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady: And kisses, And with declining head into his bosom,- To see her noble lord restor❜d to health, Who, for twice seven years, hath esteemed him 1 Hun. My lord, I warrant you, we'll play our And if the boy have not a woman's gift, part, As he shall think, by our true diligence, Lord. Take him up gently, and to bed with him; How now? who is it? Enter Players. Now, fellows, you are welcome. 1 Play. We thank your honour. Lord. Do you intend to stay with me to-night? 2 Play. So please your lordship to accept our duty. Lord. With all my heart.-This fellow I remember, Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest son;- 1 Play. I think, 'twas Soto that your honour means. To rain a shower of commanded tears, I [Exit Servant. 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. [Exeunt. SCENE II-A Bedchamber in the Lord's house. Sly is discovered in a rich nightgown, with altendants; some with apparel, others with bason, ewer, and other appurtenances. Enter Lord, dressed like a Servant. Sly. For God's sake, a pot of small ale. 1 Serv. Will't please your lordship drink a cup of sack? 2 Serv. Will't please your honour taste of these conserves? 3 Serv. What raiment will your honour wear today? Sly. I am Christophero Sly; call not me-honour, Lord. 'Tis very true;-thou didst it excellent.-nor fordship: I never drank sack in my life; and I have no more doublets than backs, no more stock-And not a tinker, nor Christophero Sly.ings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, Well, bring our lady hither to our sight; sometimes, more feet than shoes, or such shoes as And once again, a pot o' the smallest ale. my toes look through the overleather. Lord. Heaven cease this idle humour 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-heath; by birth a pedler, by education a card-maker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat ale wife of Wincot, if she know me not: if she say I am not fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, score me up for the lyingest knave in Christendom. What, I am not bestraught: Here's 1 Serv. O, this it is that makes your lady mourn. 2 Serv. O, this it is that makes your servants droop. Lord. Hence comes it that your kindred shun As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment, [Music. And twenty caged nightingales do sing: 1 Serv. Say, thou wilt course; thy greyhounds As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe. 2 Serv. Dost thou love pictures? we will fetch Adonis, painted by a running brook : Which seem to move and wanton with her breath, Lord. We'll show thee lo, as she was a maid; 3 Serv. Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny Scratching her legs that one shall swear she bleeds: 1 Serv. And, till the tears that she hath shed for Like envious floods, o'er-ran her lovely face, Sly. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady? I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things:- 2 Serv. Will't please your mightiness to wash [Servants present an ewer, bason, and napkin. nap. 1 Serv. O, yes, my lord; but very idle words :-- 3 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor no Nor no such men, as you have reckon'd up,- Sly. Now, Lord be thanked for my good amends! Sly. I thank thee; thou shalt not lose by it. Sly. Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer enough. Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have dream'd, and slept Above some fifteen year and more. Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me: Madam, undress you, and come now to bed. Page. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you, Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so long. But I would be loath to fall into my dreams again; I will therefore tarry, in despite of the flesh and the blood. Enter a Servant. Serv. Your honour's players, hearing your amendment, Are come to play a pleasant comedy, For so your doctors hold it very meet; (3) Court-leet. Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your blood, Enter Baptista, Katharina, Bianca, Gremio, and And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy, trick? stuff. Sly. What, household stuff? Page. It is a kind of history. Sly. Well, we'll see't: Come, madam wife, sit by my side, and let the world slip; we shall ne'er be younger. (They sit down. Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. But, if it were, doubt not her care should be Luc. Tranio, since-for the great desire I had To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy, The pleasant garden of great Italy; And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd With his good will, and thy good company, Most trusty servant, well approv'd in ali; Here let us breathe, and happily institute A course of learning, and ingenious studies. Pisa, renowned for grave citizens, Gave me my being, and my father first, A merchant of great traffic through the world, Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii. Vincentio his son, brought up in Florence, It shall become, to serve all hopes conceiv'd, To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds: And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study, Virtue, and that part of philosophy Will I apply, that treats of happiness By virtue 'specially to be achiev'd. Tell me thy mind: for I have Pisa left, And am to Padua come; as he that leaves A shallow plash,' to plunge him in the deep, And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst. Tra Mi perdonate, gentle master mine, Glad that you thus continue your resolve, Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well doɛt thou advise. (1) For comedy. (2) Ingenuous. (4) Pardon me, (6) Animate, Hor. From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us! Gre. And me too, good Lord! Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime toward; That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why. Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: My books, and instruments, shall be my company, On them to look, and practise by myself. Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva speak. [Aside. Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I, that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew10 her up, Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd:Go in, Bianca. [Exit Bianca. And for I know, she taketh most delight In music, instruments, and poetry, Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, Fit to instruct her youth.-If you, Hortensio, Or signior Gremio, you,-know any such, Prefer them hither; for to cunning12 men I will be very kind, and liberal To mine own children in good bringing-up; And so farewell. Katharina, you may stay; For I have more to commune with Bianca. [Exit. Kath. Why, and I trust, I may go too; May I not? What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, belike, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? Ha! |