No Fear Shakespeare
The Taming of the Shrew
Get this No Fear to go!
Induction, Scene 2
Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Enter aloft SLY, the drunkard, with
Attendants, some with apparel, others with basin and ewer and other
appurtenances, and LORD dressed as an attendant. |
SLY appears above the stage. He is
attended by several servants, some carrying clothing and others a basin,
pitcher, and other accessories. The LORD also enters
disguised as a servant. |
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SLY
For God’s sake, a pot of small ale.
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SLY
For God’s sake, would someone bring me a mug of
beer!
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FIRST SERVANT
Will ’t please your Lordship drink a cup of sack?
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FIRST SERVANT
Wouldn’t your Lordship prefer some imported wine?
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SECOND SERVANT
Will ’t please your Honor taste of these
conserves?
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SECOND SERVANT
Would your Honor like to try this dried fruit?
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THIRD SERVANT
What raiment will your Honor wear today?
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THIRD SERVANT
What garment would your Honor like to wear today?
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5 |
SLY
I am Christophero Sly. Call not me “Honor”
nor “Lordship.” I ne'er drank sack
in my life. An if you 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 shoes than feet, nay sometime more feet than shoes, or such
shoes as my toes look through the over-leather.
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SLY
I’m Christopher Sly. Don’t call me
“your Honor” and “your
Lordship.” I’ve never had imported wine in my
life, and if you want to bring me something
“dried,” try beef jerky. Why ask me what
“garment” I’ll wear? I have no more
jackets than I have backs, no more leggings than I have legs, and no
more shoes than I have feet—in fact, sometimes I have
fewer shoes than feet, as
I’m not sure the ones where my toes stick out can be called
“shoes.”
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LORD
Heaven cease this idle humor in your Honor!
Oh, that a mighty man of such descent,
Of such possessions and so high esteem,
Should be infusèd with so foul a spirit!
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LORD
May Heaven put an end to this foolish fantasy of your
Honor’s! How terrible that a man of your influence and
noble family, with so much wealth and an excellent reputation,
should be infected with such a horrible illness!
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