And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me, Which I would fain shut out: If it should prove [so;That thou art so inhuman,-'twill not prove And yet I know not:-thou didst hate her deadly,

-

And she is dead; which nothing, but to close
Her eyes myself, could win me to believe,
More than to see this ring.--Take him away.
[Guards seize BERTRAM.
My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,
Shall tax my fears of little vanity, [him;
Having vainly fear'd too little.-Away with
We'll sift this matter further.

Ber. If you shall prove

This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, Where yet she never was.

[Exit BERTRAM, guarded.

Enter a GENTLEMAN.

[not;

King. I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings. Gent. Gracious sovereign, Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know Here's a petition from a Florentine, Who hath, for four or five removes,t come short To tender it herself. I undertook it, Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech Of the poor suppliant, who by this, I know, Is here attending: her business looks in her With an importing visage; and she told me, In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern Your highness with herself.

King. [Reads.] Upon his many protestations to marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the count Rousillon a widower; his vows are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to his country for justice: Grant it me, O king; in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poor DIANA CAPULET. Laf. I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll him: for this, I'll none of him.

maid is undone.

And that you fly them as you swear them lord, ship, [that; Yet you desire to marry.-What woman's Re-enter GENTLEMAN, with WIDOW, and Diana.

Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, Derived from the ancient Capulet; My suit, as I do understand, you know, And therefore know how far I may be pitied. Wid. I am her mother, Sir, whose age and honour

Both suffer under this complaint we bring, And both shall cease without your remedy. King. Come hither, count; Do you know these women?

Ber. My lord, I neither can nor will deny But that I know them: Do they charge me further?

Dia. Why do you look so strange upon your wife?

Ber. She's none of mine, my lord.

Dia. If you shall marry,

You give away this hand, and that is mine; You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine;

You give away myself, which is known mine;
For I by vow am so embodied yours,
That she, which marries you, must marry me,
Either both, or none.

Laf. Your reputation [To BERTRAM.] comes too short for my daughter, you are no husband for her.

Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature, [highness Whom sometimes I have laugh'd with: let your Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour, Than for to think that I would sink it here. King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend, [honour, Till your deeds gain them: Fairer prove your Than in my thought it lies!

Dia. Good my lord,
Ask him upon his oath, if he does think
He had not my virginity.

King. What say'st thou to her?
Ber. She's impudent, my lord;
And was a common gamester to the camp.t
Dia. He does me wrong, my lord; if I were

So,

He might have bought me at a common price
Do not believe him: O, behold this ring,
Whose high respect, and rich validity,‡
Did lack a parallel; yet, for all that,
He gave it to a commoner o'the camp,
If I be one.

Count. He blushes, and 'tis it:

Of six preceeding ancestors, that gem Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue, Hath it been ow'd and worn. This is his wife; That ring's a thousand proofs.

King. Methought, you said,

You saw one here in court could witness it. Dia. I did, my lord, but loath am to produce

So bad an instrument; his name's Parolles. Laf. I saw the man to-day, if man he be. King. Find him, and bring him hither. Ber. What of him?

He's quoted for a most perfidious slave, With all the spots o'the world tax'd and debosh'd; ||

Whose nature sickens, but to speak a truth:

this clearly,

I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.

Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove un

Thou kep'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.---
Of that and all the progress, more and less,
Resolvedly more leasure shall express :
All yet seems well; and, if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.
[Flourish,

Advancing.

The king's a begger, now the play is done : All is well ended, if this suit be won, That you express content; which we will pay, With strife to please you, day exceeding day; Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts;* Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts. [Exeunt.

*I. e. Hear us without interruption, and take our parts support and defend us,

Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants attending

on Baptista and Petruchio.

PHYLEMA,

Daughters to Alphonsus.

Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants to Ferando and Alphonsus,

Country House.

INDUCTION.

SCENE I-Before an Alehouse on a Heath. Enter HOSTESS and SLY.

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 ;t let the world slide: Sessa!

Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst ?

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.¶

[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.

[Lies down on the ground, and falls asleep. Wind horns. Enter a LORD, from hunting, with Huntsmen, and Servants. Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds:

*Beat or knock.

† Few words Broke.

Be quiet.
This line and the scrap of Spanish is used in bur-

que from an old play called Hieronymo, or the Spanish

Dagedy.

An officer whose authority equals a constable.

brach.

Brach* Merriman,—the poor cur is emboss'd,
And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd
Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault?
I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.

He cried upon it at the merest loss,
1 Hun. Why, Belman is as good as he, my
And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent:
[lord;
Trust me, I take him for the better dog.

Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet,
But sup them well, and look unto them all;
I would esteem him worth a dozen such.
To-morrow I intend to hunt again.
1 Hun. I will, my lord.

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. warm'd with ale, Lord. O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies! Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine [image Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man.-What think you, if he were convey'd to bed, Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his A most delicious banquet by his bed, fingers,

*Bitch.

† Strained.

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 honour will command?
Let one attend him with a silver bason,
Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers;
Another bear the ewer,* the third a diaper,t
And say,-Wil't please your lordship cool
your hands?

Some one be ready with a costly suit,
And ask him what appearel he will wear;
Another tell him of his hounds and horse,
And that his lady mourns at his disease:
Persuade him, that he hath been lunantic ;
And, when he says he is-say, that he dreams,
For he is nothing but a mighty lord.
This do, and do it kindly, gentle Sirs;
It will be pastime passing excellent,
If it be husbanded with modesty.

1 Hun. My lord, I warrant you we'll play our part,

As he shall think, by our true diligence,
He is no less than what we say he is.

Lord. Take him up gently, and to bed with him;

And each one to his office, when he wakes.[Some bear out SLY. A trumpt sounds. Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds :[Exit. SERVANT.

:

Belike, some noble gentleman; that means, Travelling some journey, to repose him here.--Re-enter a SERVANT.

| Well, you are come to me in happy time; The rather for I have some sport in hand, Wherein your cunning 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 ourselves.

Were he the veriest antick 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: That done, conduct him to the drunkards's chamber,

And call him-madam, do him obeisance,-
Tell him from me, (as he will win my love,)
He bear himself with honourable action,
Such as he hath observ'd in noble ladies
Unto their lords, by them accomplished:
Such duty to the drunkard let him do,
With soft low tongue, and lowly courtesy ;
And say,-What is't your honour will com-
mand,

Wherein your lady, and your humble wife,
May show her duty, and make known her love?
And then-with kind embracements, tempting

kisses,

And with declining head into his bosom,
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd
To see her noble lord restor'd to health,
Who, for twice seven years, hath esteemed him
No better than a poor and loathsome beggar:
And if the boy have not a woman's gift,
To rain a shower of commanded tears,
An onion will do well for such a shift;
Which in a napkin being close convey'd,
Shall in dispite enforce a watery eye. [canst;
See this despach'd with all the haste thou
Anon I'll give thee more instructions.-

[Exit SERVANT. 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: happily* 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 night gown, with Attendants; 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. Wil't please your losdship drink a cup of sack?

2 Serv. Wil't please your honour taste of these conserves?

3 Serv. What raiment will your honour wear to-day?

Sly. I am Christopher Sly; call not me

* Perhaps,