The Taming of the Shrew

Will’t please your lordship drink a cup of sack?

2 Servant

Will’t please your honour taste of these conserves?

3 Servant

What raiment will your honour wear to-day?

Sly

Lord

Heaven cease this idle humour in your honour!

O, that a mighty man of such descent,

Of such possessions, and so high esteem,

Sly

[Taking a pot of ale]

Here’s –

3 Servant

2 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!

And banish hence these abject lowly dreams.

Look how thy servants do attend on thee,

Each in his office ready at thy beck.

Wilt thou have music? Hark! Apollo plays,

[Music.]

Or wilt thou sleep? We’ll have thee to a couch

Softer and sweeter than the lustful bed

On purpose trimm’d up for Semiramis.

Say thou wilt walk: we will bestrew the ground.

Their harness studded all with gold and pearl.

Dost thou love hawking? Thou hast hawks will soar

Above the morning lark. Or wilt thou hunt?

Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them

1 Servant

Say thou wilt course; thy grey-hounds are as swift

As breathed stags; ay, fleeter than the roe.

2 Servant

Dost thou love pictures? We will fetch thee straight

Adonis painted by a running brook,

Which seem to move and wanton with her breath

Even as the waving sedges play wi’ th’ wind.

Lord

We’ll show thee lo as she was a maid

And how she was beguiled and surpris’d,

3 Servant

Or Daphne roaming through a thorny wood,

Scratching her legs, that one shall swear she bleeds;

And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep,

So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn.

Lord