Hello, friends, it’s time for Today’s Shakespeare; The Taming Of The Shrew.
Let’s read through from Induction 1.
We have done the first interaction of Sly and the Madam of an inn. Because Sly didn’t pay, Madam push him out, and Sly just went to sleep. There comes the Duke who governs the area.
Lord: What’s here? One dead, or drunk?
See, doth he breathe?
2nd huntsman: He breathes, my lord.
Lord: Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
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A pandemic called Black Death was covering all Europe and London was no exception. I can imagine how Sly was sleeping on the roadside.
Lord: What think you: if he were conveyed to bed,
Wrapped in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers,
A most delicious banquet by his bed.
And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
Would not the beggar then forget himself?
1st Huntsman: Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose.
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The Duke offers a playful idea.
Lord: Even as a flattering dream of worthless fancy.
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“Even as” means “just like”.
Shakespeare is fascinated with dreams. He mentions dream in every play.
Servant: An’t please your Honour, players
That offer service to your Lordship.
Lord: Now, fellows, you are welcome.
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It reminds me of Hamlet welcomes travelling players.
A player: So please your Lordship to accept our duty.
Lord: With all my heart. This fellow I remember
Since once he played a farmer’s eldest son.
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.
Go, sirrah, take them to the buttery
And give them friendly welcome every one.
Let them want nothing that my house affords.
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Again it reminds me of Hamlet ordering Polonius to take care of the actors.
And we see one of the actors in this play is a farmer’s eldest son.
Lord: Sirrah, go you to Barthol’mew, my page;
And see him dressed in all suits like a lady.
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This phrase is the very evidence that boys play women’s part.
Lord: Such duty to the drunkard let him do
With soft tongue and lowly courtesy,
And say, “What is ‘t your Honour will command.
Wherein your lady and your humble wife
May show her duty and make known her love?”
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The lord gives lines and acting directions to his servants, just like Hamlet to the players.
Lord: 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 naplin being close conveyed
Shall in despite enforce a waterly eye.
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Revealing a secret of crying on stage!
Lord: I’ll to counsel them. Haply my presence
May well abate the over-merry spleen
Which otherwise would grow into extremes.
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I agree! Without the writer or the director, actors don’t know what to do, or do too much!
It is so interesting that this short scene (Induction 1) can tell so much about the theatre and culture of the time.
What we the theatrists should do is not to keep those information on the page, but to put it on stage.
