The Taming of the Shrew : Large Print

SLY is discovered in a rich nightgown, with ATTENDANTS: some with apparel, basin, ewer,and other appurtenances; and LORD, dressed like a servant.SLY.For God's sake! a pot of small ale.FIRST SERVANT.Will't please your lordship drink a cup of sack?SECOND SERVANT.Will't please your honour taste of these conserves?THIRD SERVANT.What raiment will your honour wear today?SLY.I am Christophero Sly; call not me honour nor lordship.

I ne'er drank sack in my life; and ifyou 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 shoesthan feet: nay, sometime more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through theover-leather.LORD.Heaven cease this idle humour in your honour!O, that a mighty man of such descent,Of such possessions, and so high esteem,Should be infused with so foul a spirit!SLY.What! would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burton-heath;by birth a pedlar, by education a cardmaker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now bypresent profession a tinker?

Ask Marian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of Wincot, if she know menot: if she say I am not fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, score me up for thelyingest knave in Christendom.

What! I am not bestraught. Here's-THIRD SERVANT.O! this it is that makes your lady mourn.SECOND SERVANT.O! this is it that makes your servants droop.LORD.Hence comes it that your kindred shuns your house,As beaten hence by your strange lunacy.O noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth,Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment,And banish hence these abject lowly dreams.