~  ¥809.] 
{dexter quartering,” which, by the bye, 
is not a quartering, but an wnpaling, 
“‘contains the arms of Lyndsay of 
the Mount; while the sinister quarter- 
ing comprehends the armorial bearings 
of the family of his wife, which cannot be 
so easily developed.” 
Why not, good Mr. Chalmers, A.S.S.? 
Does not A. H. stand for Ann Hay? And 
did not James Lyndsay of the Mount 
marry Ann Hay, daughter of Sir Patrick 
lay, of Pitfour? And are not the arms 
of Hay, Argent, three escocheons gules? 
And did not Sir Patrick, Ann’s father, 
bear them with the distinction of a this- 
tie, in fess, as there engraved? And do 
not the family of Hay, of Pitfour, now 
bear, Argent, three escutcheons gules, 
with a bordure checqué of the second 
and first?) How did Mr. C. the imme- 
diate or collateral descendant of he- 
ralds, pass muster at Somerset-house, 
Dec. 14, 1808. NYY: 
P.S. You may, Mr. Editor, think me 
snappish ; that I am, belike, the Norwich 
dragon; in sober truth, fam not: but when 
Messrs. Chalmers, Pinkerton, &c. &c. growl 
and snarl, and snatl and growl, I cannot but 
think that there are joys in gowling, which 
none but growlers know, ‘nor resist this op- 
portunity of just crying ‘* bow bow!” 
. 
for the Monthly Magazine. 
ORIGIN OF TAMING THE SHREW, 
from an Italian Novelist. 
“Hi commentators on Shakespeare 
seem puzzled to find the origin, 
whence that poet has drawn the idea, of 
his “Taming the Shrew.” ‘That other 
plays had been written before, with nearly 
the same plot, their researches have pro- 
ved, Itisnow some yearssince I pointed 
out the following story from “ Le piacevole 
Notte di Giovino Francesco Strapparola, 
an [taliau- novelist, which probably fur- 
nished the hint of one part of “‘ Taming the 
Shrew.” 
The sage and experienced physician, 
when he discovers a disease in the human 
body, avails himself of what seem to him 
the most proper remedies for its immedi- 
ate cure; but if he wait till the disorder is 
grown old and inveterate, he will find it 
much more difficult, and indeed mmprac- 
ticable; for which reason, a wise and prue 
dent husband should, when he marries, 
check any inclination in his wife to alove 
of dominion; as such an evil propensity, 
if allowed once to take rvot,-he will never 
be able to eradicate, and it will make him 
miserable all the rest of his hfe, as was ex- 
Montury Mae, 184. 
“Origin of Shakespeare's Taming the Shrew. S61 
perienced by asoldier of whom wehaveto 
speak. Merah 5; 
In Corneto, acastleand fortress of Tus- 
cany, of the Patrimony of St. Peter, there 
were two brothers, who, from their youth 
had entertained the strongest regard for _ 
each other; one was named Pizardo, the 
other Silverio; but although their frater- 
nal affection was mutual, they neither 
lodged in one house, nor eat and slept 
together. 
It happened that Silverio, the youngest, 
without saying a word to any of his ¢om- 
rades, except his brather, married a tay- 
lor’s daughter: she was haiidsome and gen- 
teel, but full of levity, unsteady, and ne- 
ver af rest ; fond of holiday-making, and 
extravagant to the highest degree; care< 
less of economy, unwilling to miss eit ser 
feast or procession; in short she was al- 
ways at the door, the window, or in the 
street, 
When the wedding was over, Silverio 
carried his wife home, and became, anew, 
so enamoured of her beauty and spright~ 
liness, that he pronounced, thatthe world 
did not contain such another paragon of 
beauty ; and, from the excess of his love, 
he was induced to comply with all her 
wishes, and at length nothing was done 
in his house that Espinela (soshe was cale 
led) did not command. FElence she be« 
came soabsolutea mistress, andso shame- 
less, at length she began to shivlt her huse 
band, and all his affairs; and the poor 
man was reduced tosuch subjection, that 
when he desired his servants to do any 
thing, she commanded them to disobey 
him ; and Silverio, who only saw through 
Espinela’s eyes,instead of reproving,or en- 
. . 5 . 
deavouring to remedy so obstinate an evi! 
humbly resigned the bridle to her, and 
allowed her to act according to her own 
fancy. 
in less than a year after Silverto’s mar= 
riage, Pisardo was united to Espinela’s 
sister, a young girl, named Florella, who 
was neither less handsome, nor less gen- 
teel, than her sister. The nuptials over, 
he carried her home ; and on the same 
day, he took a pair of very rich velyet 
breeches, andtwo cudgels, and addressed 
his spouse in the following manner: Florel- 
la, my dear, these.as you see clearly, are 
men’s breeches, do you take hold of one 
side of them, and T willof the other; with 
the other hand, grasp this cudgel, and I 
will do the same: we wil! then fight till 
one isacknowledged conqueror: whoever 
conguers, shall be the master and shall 
wear these breeches; the vang uished shall, 
YY be 
