M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-03-04
SflistrIIaneous 9rtitIes.
Tanning Of a Shrew.

The origin OF ShaKspeares ldea Ior
hsdrama Of the Tanning Ola Shrew," !"
is to be found in an old Spanish chron.
icle a translation Of which now pre-.
sent to your readers:
sin q certain town there was a
Moor of great responsibility, who had
a son, the best young man in the world,
full Of great projects, but 50 poor that
he Lad the will but not the power to
execute them. In the same place
there was another Moor, very rich,
and he had an only daughter, but she
was a devil, and nobody would marry
her. The young man came one day
to his father, and said: Father, | am
weary OF the poor and miserable life |
lead-I wish to marry The father
said he should be delighted if his son
should find a party that suited him. &.
Upon which the young man named his
neighbours daughter. On hearing this
the father was much surprised; but
the son persisted in desiring his father
to speak to the Moor, who was his in
timate friend, and ask him for his
daughter. The Moor said, when he
was applied to, that he had no objec-
ton, but that whosoever had his
daughter would be better dead than
alive. The wedding day, however,
was fixed, aud the bride was led away
to her husbands house, and, accord
ing to the Moorish custom, supper
was prepared, and the fathers and
mothers left the bride and bridegroom
together till the next day, not without
great fear and suspicion that they
should find the bridegroom in the
morning dead or not far from it. As
soon as they were gone the new mar
ried couple sat down at the table, and
before she could speak, he, looking
about him, saw one Of his house-dygs,
and calling to him with loud voice,
ordered him to bring water to wash
MS hands, which the dog not doing,
he got up in a rage, and drew his
sword, this the dog seeing, ran away,
and he after him, till he caught him,
and cut off his head and legs, and his
body in pieces, and dashed his blood
over the table, and all over the room:
then he came and seated himselfat the
table. He looked round again, and
saw Maltese beagle, and gave him
the came order; but on his not com.
plying, he first threatened to serve
him as he had done the mastiff; then
springing from the chair he caught
him by the legs, and cut him into 6
hundred pieces; then he returned 6
second time to the table, making hor
rid faces, and stared wildly arounC
him. The bride, who was an eye wit
ness of all this, was beside herself fol
fear and stupid, without being able tt
utter syllable. He then swore h,
would serve every living creature il
the same manner, not excepting hi
horse, which was tho only one remain
ing to him; then having killed hi
horse, he came back to the table will
his sword reeking in blood, and seeing
no, other animal to kill, turned hi
eyes on his wife. and cried with fa
irious voice, Get up and bring mu
water to wash my hands!' She i'm
mediately arose and brought him wat
.er. Then he said, 'Ifyou had no
done it, Iwoald have served You a
lserved the dogs and the horse. :
He then ordered her to help him
which she did, but with so hol
ridan accent that she expected to hav
her head cut off. In this manner the
passed the night together, and sh
never spoke; and when they had sler
bsome little while he said to his wife
Il have not been able to rest for rag
tonight. e See that nobody Disturb m
tomorrow morning, and take car
that have a good breakfast Earl