Thou hast a lady far more beautiful Than any woman in this waning age. 1 Serv. And, till the tears that she hath shed for thee, Like envious floods, o'er-ran her lovely face, She was the fairest creature in the world; And yet she is inferior to none. Sly. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady? I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things:- And not a tinker, nor Christophero Sly.- 2 Serv. Will 't please your mightiness to wash your hands? [Servants present an ewer, bason, and napkin. O, how we joy to see your wit restor❜d! O, that once more you knew but what you are! 1 Serv. O, yes, my lord; but very idle words :- And say, you would present her at the leet, 9 leet,] At the Court-leet, or courts of the manor. Johnson. And say, you would present her at the leet, Because she brought stone jugs, and no seal'd quarts:] The leet is the Court-leet, or View of frank pledge, held anciently once a-year, within a particular hundred, manor, or lordship, before the steward of the leet. See Kitchen, On Courts, 4th edit. 1663: "The residue of the matters of the charge which ensue," says that writer, on Court Leets, p. 21, "are enquirable and presentable, and also punishable in a leet." He then enumerates the various articles, of which the following is the twenty-seventh "Also if tiplers sell by cups and dishes, or measures sealed, or not sealed, is inquirable." See also, Characterismi, or Lenton's Leasures, 12mo. 1631: "He [an informer] transforms himselfe into several shapes, to avoid suspicion of inne-holders, and inwardly joyes at the sight of a blacke pot or jugge, knowing that their sale by sealed quarts, spoyles his market." Malone. Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd quarts: Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket. Sly. Ay, the woman 's maid of the house. 3 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor no such maid; 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. Enter the Page, as a lady, with Attendants.3 Page. How fares my noble lord? 1 John Naps of Greece,] A hart of Greece, was a fat hart. Graisse, Fr. So, in the old ballad of Adam Bell, &c. "Eche of them slew a hart of graece." Again, in Ives's Select Papers, at the coronation feast of Elizabeth of York, queen of King Henry VII, among other dishes were capons of high Greece." Perhaps this expression was used to imply that John Naps (who might have been a real character) was a fat man: or as Poins calls the associates of Falstaff, Trojans, John Naps might be called a Grecian for such another reason. Steevens. For old John Naps of Greece, read-old John Naps o' th' Green. Blackstone. The addition seems to have been a common one. So, in our author's King Henry IV, P. II: "Who is next?-Peter Bullcalf of the Green." Malone. 2 In this place, Mr. Pope, and after him other editors, had introduced the three following speeches, from the old play, 1607. I have already observed that it is by no means probable, that this former comedy of The Taming of the Shrew was written by Shakspeare, and have therefore removed them from, the text: 66 Sly. By the mass, I think I am a lord indeed: "What is thy name? "Man. Sim, an it please your honour. "Sly. Sim? that 's as much as to say, Simeon, or Simon. "Put forth thy hand, and fill the pot." Steevens. 3 Enter the Page, &c.] Thus in the original play: "Enter the Boy in woman's attire. "Slie. Sim, is this she? "Lord. I, my lord. "Slie. Masse 'tis a pretty wench; what's her name? Sly. Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer enough. Where is my wife? Page. Here, noble lord; What is thy will with her? Sly. Are you my wife, and will not call me-husband? My men should call me-lord; I am your good-man. Page. My husband and my lord, my lord and husband; I am your wife in all obedience. Sly. I know it well:-What must I call her? Sly. Al'ce madam, or Joan madam? Lord. Madam, and nothing else; so lords call ladies. Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have dream'd, and slept 4 Above some fifteen year and more. Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me; Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. Sly. "Tis much; alone. -Servants, leave me and her Madam, undress you, and come now to bed. "Boy. Oh that my lovelie lord would once vouchsafe "To looke on me, and leave these franticke fits! "Or were I now but halfe so eloquent "To paint in words what Ile performe in deedes, "I know your honour then would pitie me. "Slie. Harke you, mistresse; will you eat a peece of bread "Come, sit downe on my knee: Sim, drinke to her, Sim; "For she and I will go to bed anon. "Lord. May it please you, your honour's plaiers be come "To offer your honour a plaie. "Slie. A plaie, Sim, O brave! be they my plaiers? "Lord. I, my lord. "Slie. Is there not a foole in the plaie? "Lord. Yes, my lord. "Slie. When will they plaie, Sim? "Lord. Even when it please your honour; they be readie. "Boy. My lord, Ile go bid them begin their plaie. "Slie. Doo, but looke that you come againe. "Boy. I warrant you, my lord; I will not leave you thus. [Exit Boy. "Slie. Come, Sim, where be the plaiers? Sim, stand by me, "And we 'll flowt the plaiers out of their coates. "Lord. Ile cal them my lord. Ho, where are you there? "Sound trumpets. "Enter two young gentlemen, and a man, and a boy." Steevens. Page. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you, For your physicians have expressly charg'd, Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so long. But I would be loth 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, Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your blood, Therefore, they thought it good you hear a play, Sly. Marry, I will; let them play it: Is not a commonty a Christmas gambol, or a tumbling-trick?5 Page. No, my good lord; it is more pleasing stuff. Sly. What, houshold stuff? Page. It is a kind of history. Sly. Well, we 'll see 't: Come, my side, and let the world slip; younger. madam wife, sit by we shall ne'er be [They sit down. ▲ Madam wife,] Mr. Pope gives likewise the following prefix to this speech from the elder play: "Sly. Come, sit down on my knee. Sim, drink to her." Madam, &c. Steevens. 5 Is not a commonty a Christmas gambol, or a tumbling trick?] Thus the old copies; the modern ones read-It is not a commodity, &c. Commonty for comedy, &c. Steevens. In the old play the players themselves use the word commodity corruptly for a comedy. Blackstone. PERSONS REPRESENTED. A lord. Christopher Sly, a drunken tinker. Hostess, page, players, huntsmen, and other servants attending on the lord. Persons in the Baptista, a rich gentleman of Padua. Vincentio, an old gentleman of Pisa. Lucentio, son to Vincentio, in love with Bianca. Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona, a suitor to Katharina. Pedant, an old fellow set up to personate Vincentio. Sometimes in Padua; and sometimes in Petruchio's house in the country. |