Notes and Queries, Number 22, March 30, 1850 by Various
page 10 of 70 (14%)
page 10 of 70 (14%)
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natural: but observe the change: in Ferando's first interview with
Kate, he says,-- "My mind, sweet Kate, doth say I am the man Must wed and bed _and marrie_ bonnie Kate."--p. 172. In the last scene, Petruchio says,-- "Come, Kate, we'll to bed: We three are married, but you two are sped." Ferando has it thus:-- "'Tis Kate and I am wed, and you are sped: And so, farewell, for we will to our bed."--p. 214. Is it not evident that Shakespeare chose the word "sped" as a rhyme to "bed," and that the imitator, in endeavouring to recollect the jingle, has not only spoiled the rhyme, but missed the fact that all "three" were "married," notwithstanding that "two" were "sped"? It is not in the nature of such things that instances should be either numerous or very glaring; but it will be perceived that in all of the foregoing, the purpose, and sometimes even the meaning, is intelligible only in the form in which we find it in Shakespeare. I have not urged all that I might, even in this branch of the question; but respect for your space makes me pause. In conclusion, I will merely state, that I have no doubt myself of the author of the _Taming of a Shrew_ having been Marlowe; and that, if in some scenes it appear to fall short of what we might have expected from such a writer, |
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