Shakespeare and the Stage / With a Complete List of Theatrical Terms Used by Shakespeare in His Plays and Poems, Arranged in Alphabetical Order, & Explanatory Notes

by Maurice Jonas

TAMING OF THE SHREW

THE PRESENTERS ABOVE SPEAK.

The presenter in former times was one who took part in a play, an actor. The word is now obsolete. Even in Shakespeare’s day it is rarely met with. The Presenters in this scene were represented by Sly, the Page and the First Serving man, all being seated in the balcony above the stage.

ENTER A MESSENGER.

Your honour’s players hearing your amendment

Are come to play a pleasant comedy:

For so your doctors hold it very meet,

Seeing too much sadness hath congealed your blood,

And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy.

Therefore they thought it good you hear a play

And frame your mind to mirth and merriment,

Which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.

SLY.

Marry, I will let them play it. Is not a Christmas gambol or a tumbling trick?

PAGE.

No, my good lord; it is more pleasing stuff.

SLY.

What, household stuff?

PAGE.

It is a kind of history.

SLY.

Well, we’ll see it. Come, madam, wife, sit by my side. And let the world slip; we shall ne’er be younger.

COMEDY. PLAY. PLAYERS.

Your honour’s players hearing your amendment,

Are come to play a pleasant comedy.

Ind. Sc. 2, 1, 136.

Therefore, they thought it good you hear a play.

Ind. Sc. 2, line 136.

Marry, I will let them play it. Is not a Christmas gambol or a tumbling trick?

Ind. Sc. II, line 140.

Every actor in the time of Elizabeth was forced to serve in some company of actors, who were under the protection of a nobleman, otherwise the poor actor was classed as a rogue and a vagabond, and liable to be sent to prison. “Your honour’s players” does not necessarily infer that they owed entire allegiance to their patron, but most likely they were prepared at all times to offer their services to their Lord protector. During the last two decades of the sixteenth century this patronage became merely formality, but owing to the strictures of the law this regulation was almost compulsory, so that in all England every play actor was under the patronage of some nobleman. As every one knows, Shakespeare belonged for many years to the servants of the Lord Chamberlain, and Edward Alleyn, the Founder of Dulwich College, and the greatest actor of his time, was a member of the Lord Admiral’s company. Even to-day there is a well known case of a gentleman owning his own orchestra a band of musicians, so that it is not at all unlikely that some wealthy or powerful nobleman retained a company of actors who only performed at his pleasure.

PART. PLAY.

My Lord, I warrant you we will play our part.

Ind. Sc. I, line 69.

PLAY’D. PLAY. PLAYERS.

There is a lord will hear you play to-night.

Ind. Sc. I, line 93.

For yet his honour never heard a play.

Ind. Sc. I, line 86.

They thought it good you hear a play

And frame your mind to mirth.

Ind. Sc. II, line 139.

My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.

I, 1, 2.

Players that offer service to your lordship.

Ind. Sc. 1, line 77.

PART. ENTER PLAYERS. PERFORMED.

LORD.

Now, fellows you are welcome.

PLAYERS.

We thank your honour.

LORD.

Do you intend to stay with me to-night?

PLAYERS.

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,

’Twas where you woo’d the gentlewoman so well:

I have forgotten your name, but sure, that part

Was aptly fitted and naturally performed.

PLAYERS.

I think ’twas Soto that your honour means.

LORD.

’Tis very true: thou did’st it excellent.

After having copied out the above passage, which was quite a bonne bouche for my theory, that Shakespeare on all occasions that offered themselves, introduced theatrical affairs into his plays, it came as rather a disappointment to find, on consulting the old drama of “The Taming of a Shrew,” the same scene slightly differently treated.

This old play was the one on which Shakespeare founded his own comedy of “The Taming of the Shrew.” The scene in which the players are introduced is called The Induction, and is founded on an episode in the life of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, which is related in a Latin work by Heuterus, 1584, called De Rebus Burgundias. The story relates how the Duke, suddenly stumbling upon a drunken fellow lying in the road, has him conveyed to his palace, attires him like a lord, and when he wakes, the Duke and his followers keep the game up. The players present a comedy before him, and when he falls asleep he is again placed outside the ale house, and, on waking again, tells the host that he has had the grandest dream of his life, and if his wife vexes him he knows how to tame her. Strange to say, plays are mentioned in this Latin chronicle in which, to amuse the mock lord, the same incident is used in both English plays to entertain the so-called lord. I possess a late English book called Admirable Events. The fifth event relates the same adventures under the heading of “The Waking Man’s Dream.” It is believed that an early edition of this book was in circulation before Shakespeare’s time, but is now lost.

I have printed the players scene on account of its theatrical interest. It will be noted that the unusual word properties is used, also that the Duke is patron of a company of actors. The entire scene has an air of being taken straight from life. It was quite a common custom for actors to travel in the country or, as we should say, to go on tour. The company must have been a fairly large one, as several characters are introduced in the real play.

PLAYERS SCENE FROM THE OLD. PLAY.

MESSENGER.

And it please your honour your players be come,

And do attend your honour’s pleasure here.

LORD.

The fittest time they could have chosen out;

Bid one or two of them come hither straight,

Now will I fit myself accordingly,

For they shall play to him when he wakes.

(Enter two of the players with packs at their backs and a boy.)

Now, sirs, what store of plays have you?

SAN. (SANDER.)

Marry, my Lord, you may have a tragical or comodity or what you will.

THE OTHER.

A comedy, thou shouldst say:

Souns, thou’lt shame us all.

LORD.

And what’s the name of your comedy?

SAN.

Marry, my lord, ’tis called “The Taming of a Shrew.”

’Tis a good lesson for us my lord that are married men.

LORD.

“The Taming of a Shrew,” that’s excellent sure,

Go, see that you make ready straight,

For you must play before a lord to-night.

Say, you are his men and I your fellow,

He’s something foolish, but whatso’er he says,

See that you be not dashed out of countenance.

Now, sirs, go you and make you ready, too,

For you must play as soon as he doth wake.

SAN.

O brave, sirrah Tom, we must play before

A foolish lord; come, let’s go make us ready:

Go get a dishclout to make clean your shoes,

And I’ll speak for the properties. My lord, we must

Have a shoulder of mutton for a property,

And a little vinegar to make our devil roar.

LORD.

Very well, sirrah, see that they want nothing.

LORD.

May it please you, your honour’s players be come to offer your honour a play.

SLY.

A play, Sim. O brave be they my players?

LORD.

Ay, my lord.

SLY.

Is there not a fool in the play?

LORD.

Yes, my lord.

SLY.

When will they play him?

LORD.

Even when it please your honour, they be ready.

BOY.

I’ll go bid them begin the play.

SLY.

Do, but look that you come again.

BOY.

I warrant you, my lord, I will not leave you.

SLY.

Come, Sim, where be the players? Sim, stand by me and we’ll flout the players out of their coats.

LORD.

I’ll call them, my lord. Ho, where are you there?