Messenger Your honor'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. Read more about Act Introduction, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: “Your honor’s players”
Page How fares my noble lord? Sly Marry, I fare well for here is cheer enough. Read more about Act Introduction, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: “Marry, I fare well for here is cheer enough”
Sly Now Lord be thanked for my good amends. All Amen Read more about Act Introduction, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: “for my good amends … Amen.”
Sly These fifteen years! By my fay, a goodly nap. But did I never speak of all that time? First Servant O, yes, my lord, but very idle words. For though you lay here in this goodly chamber, Yet would you say ye were beaten out of door, And rail upon the hostess of the house, And say you would present her at the leet, Because she brought stone jugs and no sealed quarts. Read more about Act Introduction, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: “she brought stone jugs and no sealed quarts”
Sly Am I a lord, and have I such a lady? Or do I dream? Or have I dreamed till now? I do not sleep — I see, I hear, I speak; I smell sweet savours and I feel soft things. Upon my life, I am a lord indeed, And not a tinker nor Christopher Sly. Well, bring our lady hither to our sight, And once again, a pot o’ th’ smallest ale. Read more about Act Introduction, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: “bring our lady hither to our sight”
Lord Thou art a lord, and nothing but a lord. Thou hast a lady far more beautiful Than any woman in this waning age. Read more about Act Introduction, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: “this waning age”
Lord Or wilt thou ride? Thy horses shall be trapped, Their harness studded all with gold and pearl. Read more about Act Introduction, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: “trapped”
Lord Or wilt thou sleep? We'll have thee to a couch Softer and sweeter than the lustful bed On purpose trimmed up for Semiramis. Read more about Act Introduction, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: “the lustful bed, on purpose trimmed up for Semiramis”
Lord Heaven cease this idle humor in your honor! O, that a mighty man of such descent, Of such possessions and so high esteem, Should be infused with so foul a spirit! Sly What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burtonheath, by birth a peddler, by education a cardmaker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? Ask Marian Read more about Act Introduction, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: “by education a cardmaker, by transmutation a bear-herd”
Lord Tell him from me — as he will win my love — He bear himself with honorable action Such as he hath observed in noble ladies Unto their lords by them accomplishèd. Such duty to the drunkard let him do, With soft low tongue and lowly courtesy, And say 'What is't your honor will command Wherein your lady and your humble wife May show her duty and make known her love?' Read more about Act Introduction, Scene 1: Popup Note Index Item: “with… lowly courtesy”
