The Taming of the Shrew

by William Shakespeare

  90 reckoned up listed

  91 Greece possibly a corruption of "Greet," a small village not far from Stratford 95 amends recovery

  99 Marry by the Virgin Mary fare am getting along (plays on the sense of "food and drink") cheer hospitality (plays on the sense of "food and drink") 102 goodman husband

  107 Al'ce Alice

  112 abandoned banished

  119 In ... malady due to the risk of bringing on your old illness

  121 stands for is valid as

  122 it stands my penis is erect hardly plays on the idea of erectile hardness 124 despite spite

  126 pleasant merry

  127 meet fitting

  131 frame adjust

  132 bars prevents

  133 comonty ... gambold Sly's mispronunciation of "comedy" and "gambol" (entertainment) 134 tumbling trick acrobatic trick

  135 stuff matter (Sly responds to the literal sense of "furnishings")

  137 history story

  139 slip slide by

  Lucentio name suggests "light," making him a fitting partner for "Bianca" (the white/fair) 2 Padua city in northern Italy nursery training ground (the university of Padua was one of the oldest in Europe) 3 for in Lombardy Padua is not in Lombardy, which is probably, however, intended here to denote all of northern Italy 5 leave permission

  7 approved tested, proved

  8 breathe rest haply perhaps/fortunately institute begin 9 ingenious intellectual

  10 grave learned

  11 Gave ... first i.e. both I and my father were born there

  12 great traffic extensive trade

  13 come of descended from Bentivolii a powerful Italian family who were, in fact, from Bologna rather than Pisa 14 Vincentio's ... deeds it is appropriate that Vincentio's son, who was brought up in Florence, should fulfill the expectations of him by adding to his fortune with acts of virtue 19 treats of concerns

  23 plash pool

  24 satiety excess

  25 Mi perdonato "pardon me" (Italian)

  26 affected disposed

  31 stoics rigorous individuals practicing abstinence and endurance stocks stupid, senseless people 32 Aristotle Greek philosopher checks recommendations of moral restraint 33 As that Ovid Roman poet, author of The Art of Love abjured rejected 34 Balk argue, quibble over

  35 common everyday

  36 quicken enliven

  38 Fall to apply yourself/begin eating stomach serves you inclination/appetite requires 39 No ... ta'en a version of Horace's famous statement that "he who has mixed usefulness with pleasure has gained every point"

  40 affect like

  41 Gramercies many thanks

  42 wert were to

  45 beget create Bianca Italian for "white" pantaloon in Italian comedy, the foolish old man 48 importune urge

  50 bestow give in marriage

  55 cart her drive her around in a cart (usual punishment for a prostitute) rough violent/uncontrollable 56 will you do you want

  58 stale bait/laughing-stock/prostitute (puns on the chess term "stalemate") mates fellows (plays on the sense of "husbands") 62 Iwis indeed not ... heart i.e. marriage is not something I even consider 63 her care my chief desire

  64 noddle head

  65 paint i.e. redden with scratching use treat

  68 toward about to begin

  69 wonderful froward remarkably obstinate

  73 Mum hush

  78 peat pet

  79 Put ... why make herself cry if she could think of an excuse

  80 content you be satisfied

  81 pleasure will subscribe submit

  84 Minerva goddess of wisdom

  85 strange distant, unfriendly

  86 effects causes

  88 mew her up confine her

  89 for on account of

  90 her i.e. Bianca her i.e. Kate's (sharp) 93 for because

  98 Prefer recommend cunning skillful

  102 commune discuss

  104 appointed hours given a timetable belike perhaps

  106 dam mother gifts qualities (ironic)

  107 here's ... you no one here will detain you Their love i.e. women's love 108 blow our nails wait patiently/waste time fast ... out manage to survive/endure it as cordially as we can 109 Our ... sides i.e. we have both failed

  110 light on come across

  112 wish recommend

  114 brooked parle tolerated conversation/negotiation

  115 advice consideration toucheth concerns

  117 labour and effect work for and bring about

  125 pass surpass

  126 alarums noise (literally, a military call to arms)

  127 an if

  129 had as lief would as willingly

  130 high cross cross set on a pedestal in the town center

  133 bar in law legal impediment (i.e. Baptista's refusal to let Bianca marry until Kate is married) it ... maintained it shall progress in a friendly manner 136 have to't afresh renew our combat once again

  137 Happy ... dole! Happiness to the winner! (proverbial) ring alludes to the jousting game in which competitors tried to lift a ring with their lances (puns on senses of "wedding ring" and "vagina") 148 love in idleness puns on "love-in-idleness," a pansy thought to have power to stimulate love 150 secret trusted

  151 Anna ... Carthage Dido, Queen of Carthage, confided in her sister Anna that she was in love with Aeneas 157 rated driven out through rebuke

  159 Redime ... minimo "free yourself from bondage for as little ransom as you can" (Latin, inaccurately quoted, as in the standard Elizabethan grammar textbook, from Terence's play Eunuchus) 160 Go forward carry on This i.e. what you have said so far 162 so longly for such a long time/so longingly

  163 marked not did not notice pith essence

  165 daughter of Agenor Europa, daughter of the King of Tyre; she was loved by Jove, who turned himself into a bull in order to abduct her 166 him himself

  167 kissed i.e. knelt on Cretan strand shore of Crete (in fact, Europa was taken to, rather than from, Crete) 176 Bend apply, direct

  177 curst bad-tempered shrewd shrewish, disagreeable

  179 maid unmarried virgin

  180 closely securely

  181 annoyed vexed/distracted

  183 advised aware

  187 for my hand by my hand/for my part

  188 inventions meet plans agree jump coincide

  192 device plot

  194 bear play

  196 Keep house entertain ply his book study

  198 Basta "enough" (Italian) full in full

  203 port position, dignity

  205 meaner lower-ranking

  207 Uncase undress coloured as opposed to the plainer, often blue, livery worn by Elizabethan servants 209 charm persuade

  211 sith since

  212 tied obliged

  213 charged instructed

  220 Whose sudden sight the sudden sight of whom thralled enslaved wounded i.e. pierced by Cupid's arrow 226 frame fit

  228 count'nance manner/appearance

  231 descried witnessed/denounced

  232 becomes is suitable

  242 discreetly prudently

  245 rests remains that thyself execute which is for you to carry out 246 make become

  247 sufficeth let it suffice Presenters above i.e. the remaining characters from the Induction 248 mind attend to

  249 matter subject

  253 Would I wish mark attend, observe

  Grumio connotations of "groom"--i.e. servingman

  1 Verona city in northern Italy

  2 of all especially

  4 trow know/believe

  6 knock Grumio plays on the sense of "strike (a person)"

  7 rebused malapropism for "abused"

  11 Villain wicked one/servant me for me gate door 12 pate head

  13 I ... worst if I hit you first I know that I shall come off the worst for it 16 ring i.e. with a circular knocker or bell; puns on "wring"

  17 I'll ... it i.e. I'll see how you can shriek sol-fa sing a sca
le 18 mistress some editors emend to "masters"

  21 How ... all what are you both doing

  23 Con ... trovato "with all my heart well met" (Italian)

  24 Alla ... Petruchio "Welcome to our house, most worshipful Petruchio" (Italian) 25 compound settle

  27 'leges alleges in Latin despite his Italian name, Grumio does not know the difference between Latin and Italian 30 use treat aught anything

  31 two ... out i.e. overshooting the mark/not in his right mind/drunk (thirty-one was a card game, the object of which was to collect cards with a total value of thirty-one; it was also a term for being drunk) pip one of the spots on a card 36 heart i.e. life

  42 pledge guarantor

  43 this' this is heavy chance sad situation

  44 ancient long-standing

  45 happy fortunate

  49 in a few briefly

  53 wive marry

  54 Crowns gold coins

  56 come roundly speak plainly

  57 wish commend ill-favoured foul-tempered

  58 Thou'ldst you would

  65 burden refrain/bass accompaniment (in a song)

  66 Florentius' love in Gower's Confessio Amantis Florentius is a knight who agrees to marry an ugly hag if she helps him solve the riddle on which his life depends 67 Sibyl ancient prophetess; in classical mythology, Apollo gave the Sibyl of Cumae as many years of life as she held grains of sand in her hand, but he did not grant her accompanying youth 68 Xanthippe wife of Socrates, notorious for her bad temper

  69 moves me not does not affect me not ... me cannot blunt the edge of my desire 74 mind opinion/intention

  76 aglet-baby small figure ornamenting the tag of a lace or cord trot hag 78 so ... withal so long as money comes with it

  79 are ... in have gone this far

  80 that I broached what I began

  85 intolerable intolerably

  87 state financial situation

  91 board accost (naval metaphor referring to attacking a ship; plays on the sense of "have sex with") 92 crack roar, explode

  101 give you over leave you

  103 humour whim O' on

  104 an if

  106 half a score ten

  107 rail rant rope-tricks possibly Grumio's version of "rhetoric" or "rope rhetoric," or implying tricks deserving of punishment by hanging 108 stand resist, withstand figure figure of speech/rhetorical trick 110 withal with

  112 keep safe-keeping (literally, fortified tower) treasure plays on the sense of "(Bianca's) vagina"

  113 hold custody

  115 other more others besides

  118 defects faults rehearsed related

  120 order measure

  125 grace favor

  128 seen skilled

  130 make love to woo/seduce

  132 Here's no knavery! i.e. this does not look like a trick (sarcastic) beguile deceive 137 proper stripling fine, handsome youth

  138 note presumably, a list of required books

  139 fairly handsomely

  140 at any hand in any case

  141 read ... lectures give no other lessons

  143 liberality generosity

  144 mend ... largesse add to it with a donation

  145 them i.e. the books

  150 yourself ... place if you yourself were present

  154 woodcock proverbially stupid bird

  157 you ... met I am glad to meet you

  158 Trow you do you know

  163 Fit ... turn suited to her needs (plays on the sense of "suitable for sex") 166 help me to assist me in obtaining

  171 bags money-bags

  172 vent proclaim

  173 me fair courteously to me

  174 indifferent ... either that is equally good for both of us

  176 agreement ... liking our agreeing to his conditions (Hortensio later explains that he and Gremio are to pay for the cost of wooing Kate) 179 So ... well if what you say were to be achieved, it would be all very well 183 What countryman? Where are you from?

  188 stomach appetite to't begin eating, go ahead

  191 Will I live? i.e. of course

  197 chafed irritated

  198 ordnance artillery

  200 pitched planned

  201 'larums calls to arms

  204 chestnut ... fire chestnuts crackle when they burn

  205 Fear frighten bugs imaginary terrors

  211 charge expense brave finely dressed

  215 readiest quickest

  219 to-- the implied missing word is "woo," though some editors emend to "too?"

  220 What ... do? What is it to do with you?

  222 chiders quarrelers, rebukers

  223 begun said

  224 ere before

  233 choice chosen/ special

  238 all altogether

  241 Leda's daughter Helen of Troy, supposedly the most beautiful woman in the world 244 Though even if Paris the Trojan prince who snatched Helen from her husband speed alone be the only one to succeed 246 head free reign jade worn-out horse

  253 let ... by leave her alone

  254 Hercules ... twelve in Greek mythology, Hercules (also called Alcides) carried out twelve seemingly impossible tasks 255 let it be grant that it is

  256 sooth truth

  257 hearken for seek to win/inquire after

  263 stead help

  266 whose hap he whose good fortune it

  267 Will ... ingrate will not be so ill-mannered as to be ungrateful

  268 conceive understand

  270 gratify show gratitude to/reward

  271 rest remain beholding indebted

  273 contrive spend, use

  274 quaff carouses drink toasts

  275 adversaries opposing lawyers

  276 Strive compete

  277 motion proposal

  279 ben venuto "welcome" (Italian); sense here is "host"

  2 bondmaid slave-girl

  3 goods ornaments, jewels, love tokens

  4 Unbind if you will unbind

  5 raiment clothing

  9 dissemble lie

  11 special particular

  13 Minion hussy

  14 affect love

  17 fair well dressed

  18 envy despise

  23 dame madam (accusatory)

  25 ply thy needle sew/embroider meddle not have nothing to do 26 hilding good-for-nothing

  28 cross provoke, thwart

  29 flouts mocks

  31 suffer listen to/permit/endure

  33 dance ... day traditionally the fate of an unmarried elder sister

  34 lead ... hell proverbially old maids did so because they had no children to lead in heaven 36 occasion of opportunity for habit clothing mean humble 45 Go ... orderly apply yourself to the business with decorum

  46 give me leave excuse me/let me explain myself

  48 wit intelligence

  51 forward eager/presumptuous

  54 for ... entertainment as an entrance-fee for my reception

  57 sciences fields of learning

  59 Accept of accept

  60 Litio Second Folio and many later editions emend to "Licio" throughout Mantua city in northern Italy 63 turn purpose/needs

  71 Saving with respect for

  72 poor petitioners humble suitors

  73 Baccare! "Stand back!" (mock-Latin)

  74 I ... doing I am eager for action (perhaps plays on the sense of "having sex") 76 grateful agreeable

  77 like same

  78 kindly fittingly/affectionately

  80 Rheims northern French town with a well-known university

  82 Cambio Italian for "exchange"

  85 walk ... stranger seem like a newcomer/seem as if you are not one of the group/stand aside 92 preferment precedence (i.e. offering Kate before Bianca)

  94 upon knowledge when you know

  101 Lucentio ... name? perhaps Baptista learns this by opening one of the books in which Lucentio's name is written 103 mighty renowned, noble

  106 presently at once
<
br />   107 Holla a shout to attract attention

  111 orchard garden

  112 dinner the main meal of the day, served between eleven and noon passing extremely 114 asketh haste is urgent

  122 in possession i.e. on marriage

  123 assure ... widowhood provide for her after my death/guarantee her rights as a widow 125 leases property that is let

  126 specialities a special contract

  127 covenants formal agreements

  128 special unique/particular

  130 father i.e. father-in-law

  136 So I so I shall behave (like an extreme gust)

  138 happy ... speed may the outcome be happy/fortunate

  140 to the proof so as to be invulnerable broke grazed, bleeding 145 prove become/test the skill of

  146 hold with resist, withstand

  147 break her to teach her to play

  148 broke ... me i.e. broken the lute over my head 149 frets ridges for guiding the fingers (Kate shifts the sense to "vexations") 152 fume show anger

  154 pate head

  155 amazed perplexed, dumbstruck

  156 As ... pillory as if in the stocks (in which the head was confined by wooden boards) 157 fiddler lute-player/meddler

  158 Jack base fellow

  159 studied practiced, planned

  160 lusty lively

  163 discomfited disheartened

  164 in practice with your lessons

  168 attend wait for

  172 clear serene, faultless

  176 piercing moving

  177 pack leave

  179 crave demand

  180 banns public proclamations of intended marriages

  183 hard puns on heard (which was pronounced similarly) 189 dainties ... Kates puns on "cates" (i.e. dainties, delicacies) 190 of from

  192 sounded proclaimed/fathomed

  193 deeply ... belongs loudly/in such depth as you deserve

  194 moved compelled (Kate shifts to the literal sense)

  195 In good time! Indeed!

  196 you ... first from the start

  197 movable piece of furniture/changeable person

  199 joint stool low stool made by a joiner ("I took you for a joint stool" was a way of mockingly apologizing for ignoring someone) 200 sit on me i.e. as I am a stool (with sexual innuendo)

  201 Asses puns on "arses" bear carry loads (Petruchio plays on the sense of "bear the weight of a man's body/of a baby") 204 burden lie on top of/accuse

  205 light not heavy/promiscuous

  206 light quick swain rustic (contemptuous)

  207 as ... be the right weight/of sound social standing

  208 be puns on "bee" buzz rumor--i.e. you should hear what actually is said about you; also a noise of impatience; wasp then shifts sense to insect noise 209 ta'en seized upon, used buzzard fool (literally useless bird of prey)/ rumor-monger 210 turtle turtle-dove (symbol of faithful love)

  211 turtle ... buzzard i.e. only a fool will take me for a faithful wife, just as the turtle-dove mistakenly swallows an insect 213 waspish spiteful/wasp-like