Mary Baldwin College - Bluestocking Yearbook (Staunton, VA)

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1 6 The Annual of O Sestius, thou art happy now, But on thy brow, The icy hand of death is laid, And soon thou ' lt be in Pluto ' s shade. In that dark realm, no more thou ' lt sing, Nor, careless, fling The dice, no more thou ' lt be, The King of wine and revelry. ROSELLE MERCIER. April 1 6, 1897. Augusta, Ga. TAMING OF THE SHREW. Taming of the Shrew, one of Shakespeare ' s most popular comedies, is a very amusing account of the taming of a wild, self-willed girl. The scene is laid in Padua. Shakespeare seemed to be fond of laying the scenes of his plays in Italy. There was a rich old gentleman of Padua, called Baptista, who had two daughters. The elder of these, was Katharina, or Kate the Shrew, as she was more commonly called , and Bianca her sister was noted for her beauty and gentleness. How diiferent was Kate ! Her very name, the Shrew, shows for what she was noted. Bianca had very many admirers, but Baptista, father-like, would not consent to Bianca ' s marrying, until her sister was married. For, was she not the elder? Bianca ' s suitors, Gremio, Hortensio, and Lucentio, were in despair. They certainly could not recommend Kate to any one for a wife. She thought nothing of railing at one and pulling his ears for him, or striking him with anything that happened to be near. Now, although she did treat people in this style, she was quite jealous of the attention paid her sister. At last some one appeared on the scene, who was willing to marry Kate with all her reputation, in order that he might

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The Mary Baldwin Seminary. 15 Her lovely face all smiling shows, And soft and sweet the south wind blows. The sailor lad brings down his boat And once afloat With sails outspread, he spurns the land ; The herds no longer idle stand. The farmer too forsakes his hearth ; The fallow earth, From snow and chilling hoar-frost free, Brings forth her fruit abundantly Now in low hanging Luna ' s light, Doth Venus bright, With Nymphs and graces, hand in hand, Join in the dance a merry band. Now comes the sound of anvil ' s blow And in the glow. Of Cyclops ' forges Vulcan stands. A lifted hammer in his hands. And it is meet to deck the brow With flowers now Or wreath of myrtle from the fields : A wealth of green the glad earth yields. Now should we in some syloam nook, By babbling brook. A sacrifice to Faunus kill A lamb or kid, which e ' er he will. Alas ! pale Death knocks at the door Of rich and poor ; To all comes his impartial tread. To all he shows his visage dread. Go thou, and come another day, In vain we pray. In vain we murmur : life ' s brief scope Denies us long account with hope

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The Maty Bald ' d ' in Scminaiy. 17 share her fortune. This obliging personage was, Petrucio of Verona. Hortensio and Lucentio now saw a chance to win Bianca ' s love. Baptista had said that he wanted teachers for Bianca. Hortensio, under the assumed name of Licio, became a musi- cian, and Lucentio having changed names and clothes with his servant, Tranio, became tutor to Bianca. Petrucio now determined not to waste anytime and started out in search of Baptista. He had no sooner been introduced to Baptista, than he began to tell him of his errand. Baptista, having first learned that Petrucio was a very weathly gentle- man of Verona, willingly consented to give him Katharina for his wife. Now came the tug of war. How should he ever gain Kate ' s consent to marry him ? Petrucio, however, had quite as strong a will as Kate, and he went to her with the firm resolve to win her. After quite a struggle, he left her, declaring that she would see him hanged before she would marry him. Petrucio, however, informed Baptista that Kate had consented to marry him , and that the following Sunday he would return and claim her for his bride. At last the appointed day had arrived, the bride was waiting, but no bride-groom. Everyone had come to the conclusion that he was not coming, when a messenger came rushing in announcing the arrival of Petrucio. Why Petrucio is coming in a new hat and an old jerkin ; a pair of old breeches, thrice turned ; a pair of boots that have been candle cases, one buckled, the other laced and an old rnsty sword ta ' en out of the town armoury with a broken hilt and chapeless with broken points. His hor.se is hipped with an old raothy saddle and stirrups of no kindred. Everyone Was surprised to see Petrucio dressed thus, re- monstrated with him, offered to lend him clothes etc.. but all to no avail. Petrucio paid no attention to them, but asked for Kate, his, lovely bride.