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The Taming of the Shrew

Page 22

by William Shakespeare


  4 satisfy convince

  7 resolve answer

  8 I profess which I practice/claim knowledge of Art to Love Ovid's erotic poem Ars Amatoria

  11 Quick proceeders apt/rapid students (plays on the scholarly sense of to "proceed" from a bachelor's to a master's degree) 15 wonderful extraordinary

  19 such a one i.e. Bianca

  20 cullion wretch

  23 entire wholehearted

  24 lightness inconstancy/ promiscuity

  26 Forswear reject

  31 fondly foolishly/dotingly

  32 unfeigned genuine

  34 beastly abominably/lecherously

  35 Would ... foresworn! If only the whole world, other than he, would forsake her!

  36 that so that

  43 In resolution determinedly

  45 'longeth belongs

  46 ta'en you napping caught you off guard

  51 lusty lively/eager/merry/lustful

  59 eleven ... long i.e. exactly right (alludes to the card game "thirty-one") 60 charm silence with a spell

  62 dog-weary exhausted

  63 ancient angel old guardian angel

  66 mercatante merchant (Italian) pedant schoolmaster

  71 seem pretend to be

  74 let me alone i.e. rely on me

  81 What countryman where are you from

  85 goes hard is significant

  88 stayed detained

  89 For on account of a

  90 published publicly announced

  91 marvel remarkable newly come have only just arrived

  93 than so even than this

  94 bills ... exchange money orders, promissory notes

  106 and all one but never mind

  111 credit reputation undertake assume

  113 Look ... should make sure that you play your part properly

  117 repute consider, esteem

  119 make ... good put the plan into action

  121 looked for expected

  125 becomes befits

  2 my wrong injustice I undergo

  5 present immediate

  9 meat food

  11 spites mortifies, vexes

  13 who one who

  16 so so long as

  17 neat's ox's

  19 choleric likely to induce choler (anger)

  20 broiled grilled

  22 cannot tell am not sure

  32 very mere

  36 sweeting sweetheart amort dispirited

  37 what cheer how are you (in the next line Kate plays on the sense of "food/hospitality" and Petruchio continues the wordplay with cheerfully) 38 cold poor, inadequate

  44 pains ... proof efforts are wasted

  46 stand remain

  50 to blame at fault

  54 apace quickly

  56 bravely splendidly

  58 ruffs elaborate starched neck-wear cuffs decorative bands sewn onto the sleeves farthingales boned petticoats worn underneath the back of the dress 60 knavery showy adornment

  62 ruffling treasure frilled, lacy clothing

  65 bespeak order

  66 porringer porridge bowl

  67 lewd vile, cheap filthy contemptible

  68 cockle cockleshell

  69 A ... trick i.e. trinkets, trifles

  71 fit the time is fashionable

  73 gentle mild

  78 endured me permitted me to

  85 custard-coffin pastry crust for custard

  90 masquing stuff clothes fit for a masque (i.e. elaborate, theatrical)

  91 demi-cannon large cannon

  92 up and down in every respect carved ... tart i.e. slashed to reveal a different fabric beneath (like the slits on tart crusts) 94 censer perfuming vessel with a perforated lid

  99 did I did

  100 mar ruin

  101 hop ... home hop home over every street gutter (kennel) 103 make ... it do what you can with it

  105 quaint elegant, skillfully made

  106 Belike perhaps puppet i.e. fool

  110 yard yardstick, measuring rod nail measure of length for cloth (two and a quarter inches) 112 Braved defied

  113 quantity scrap

  114 be-mete measure (quibbles on "mete out punishment")

  115 on prating of prattling like this again

  120 stuff material

  124 faced adorned (Grumio's next usage puns on the sense of "confront") 126 braved provided clothes for/defied

  129 Ergo "therefore" (Latin)

  132 The ... throat the note lies outrageously (punning on the sense of a musical note that emanates from the throat) 133 loose-bodied gown loose-fitting/designed for sexually "loose" women 135 bottom ball

  138 compassed cut with a curved edge

  140 trunk full, puffed

  142 curiously elaborately/ skillfully

  144 bill the note detailing the nature of the dress

  146 prove upon thee i.e. by fighting you

  148 an if place where suitable place

  150 for thee straight ready for you now

  151 mete-yard yardstick

  152 odds advantage

  155 take ... use take it away and let your master use it how he will (in his response, Grumio interprets take up as "pull up" and use as "sexual usage") 158 conceit idea (puns on "con"--i.e. "vagina")

  159 think for think

  165 of from

  168 mean habiliments poor, humble clothes

  169 proud bulging

  172 peereth appears/peeps through

  176 painted colored, patterned

  178 furniture clothing

  179 lay blame

  180 frolic be joyous

  181 sport us make merry

  186 dinnertime noon

  188 suppertime i.e. about six

  190 what whatever

  191 crossing contradicting let't alone leave it

  2 but unless

  5 Pegasus i.e. at an inn with the sign of Pegasus, the winged horse of classical mythology 6 hold your own play your part

  7 'longeth belongs

  9 schooled instructed/practiced (in his part)

  11 throughly thoroughly

  12 right real

  16 looked for expected

  17 tall fine hold ... drink take this to buy a drink

  18 set your countenance assume the appearance (of a father)

  21 stand show yourself a

  22 patrimony inheritance

  23 Soft wait a moment

  28 for because of

  30 stay delay

  32 please ... I are as satisfied as I am

  35 one consent absolute agreement bestowed given in marriage 36 curious particular, awkward

  45 pass confirm

  48 know deem, think

  49 affied betrothed formally assurance ... stand pledges made as will be agreeable to both parties 52 Pitchers have ears i.e. there may be eavesdroppers (proverbial) Pitchers jugs with large handles ("ears") on either side 53 heark'ning still continues to wait for his opportunity

  54 haply perhaps

  56 lie lodge

  57 pass settle

  59 scriv'ner scribe authorized to draw up legal contracts

  61 pittance sustenance, food

  62 hie hurry

  66 like soon, likely

  70 mess dish, basic meal

  77 has he has

  78 tokens signals

  79 moralize explain

  86 command service

  89 counterfeit assurance invalid legal settlement assurance pledge cum ... solum "with the sole right to print" (Latin), a copyright phrase found in the title pages of books but here applied to the idea of marriage and reproduction 91 sufficient right amount/ competent

  92 that ... for what you want

  99 against you come in anticipation of your arrival appendix appendage (i.e. Bianca; also continues the printing metaphor) 102 Hap happen roundly ... her approach her plainly, without further ado (may also have sexual connotations) 103 go hard be unfortunate (plays on the sense of "get erect")

 
2 goodly splendidly

  7 list please

  8 Or ere before

  14 rush-candle candle dipped in tallow wax, which gave a dim light

  24 go thy ways well-done/carry on field battle

  25 bowl should run refers to the game of bowls in which balls are rolled toward a central ball 26 against the bias against its natural course (the bias is the weight in the ball that enables it to be bowled in a curve) 28 Where away? Where are you going?

  30 fresher more blooming

  32 spangle shine, adorn

  36 A he

  40 whom to whom

  47 green young, fresh (also alludes to the optical effect of looking at and then away from the sun) 54 encounter greeting

  62 father father-in-law

  64 this this time

  65 esteem reputation

  67 beseem befit

  70 honest virtuous, noble (ironically plays on the sense of "truthful")

  73 pleasant jovial break a jest play a joke

  77 jealous suspicious

  78 put ... heart encouraged me

  79 Have to now for/here's to

  80 untoward stubborn, perverse

  4 o'your back behind you (i.e. I'll see you safely into the church)

  8 father's i.e. Baptista's house bears lies

  10 You ... but i.e. I insist that

  11 command authorize, ascertain

  12 cheer is toward entertainment is in place

  23 frivolous circumstances trivial matters

  26 from Padua i.e. where we are right now (some editors emend to "from Mantua," or "to Padua") 32 cozen cheat

  33 under my countenance by pretending to be me

  35 good shipping happy fortune, a good journey (perhaps also "good sex") 36 undone ruined

  37 crack-hemp rogue who deserves to be hanged (literally, who causes the hempen rope to strain) 38 choose do as I choose/have a choice when it comes to being hanged

  51 offer attempt

  53 fine richly dressed

  54 copatain high-crowned

  61 'cerns it you does it concern you

  62 maintain afford

  63 Bergamo town near Milan

  76 forthcoming available to stand trial

  80 cony-catched tricked

  86 dotard old fool

  87 hailed dragged about/greeted

  89 spoiled ruined

  98 counterfeit supposes false appearances eyne eyes

  99 packing plotting, conspiracy with a witness that's for certain 103 changed plays on the meaning of cambio ("change")

  105 state situation/status

  115 go to exclamation of mild impatience and dismissal

  117 sound probe

  119 cake is dough i.e. I've failed

  120 Out ... all with no hope of anything

  129 once at some time

  banquet fruit, sweetmeats and wine, served after the main meal

  1 long after a long time

  3 scapes escapes overblown now past

  5 kindness kinship/good will

  8 with on

  9 close fill

  10 great good cheer presumably the main wedding feast at Baptista's

  16 fears is frightened of/frightens

  17 Then ... afeard i.e. I can assure you I am not frightened

  18 sensible perceptive

  20 He ... round i.e. you attribute your own feelings to others--you, Petruchio, are afraid of your wife 21 Roundly boldly, soundly

  23 Thus ... him that's how I understand him (Petruchio picks up on roundly and conceive to make a joke about pregnancy) 25 conceives her tale interprets her remark/is impregnated (tale puns on "tail"--i.e. vagina) 26 mended retorted/rectified

  32 mean average/poor

  34 mean ... you moderate compared to you

  35 To her attack her (a cry used to urge on animals in hunting or fighting) 37 marks coins, each worth two thirds of a pound put her down outdo her (Hortensio plays on the sense of "have sex with her") 38 office role/sexual duty

  41 butt lock horns/thrust sexually

  42 butt bottom hasty-witted body quick-witted person

  43 head and horn a horned head (i.e. that of a cuckold; horn plays on the sense of "penis/hunting horn") 47 Have at you be prepared for bitter shrewd, keen

  48 bird prey shift my bush fly to another bush to hide in (plays on the idea of pubic hair) 49 bow refers to fowling--hunting sitting birds with bow and arrow (with phallic connotations) 51 prevented thwarted

  52 hit shot with an arrow/ penetrated sexually

  53 health toast

  54 slipped unleashed

  56 currish ignoble/dog-like

  58 deer puns on "dear" does ... bay turns on you and holds you off with its horns/denies you sex 60 gird taunt

  62 galled scratched, irritated

  63 glance away from bounce off

  65 good sadness all seriousness

  66 veriest truest

  67 assurance proof

  75 of on

  84 be your half put up half your bet

  89 How? What?

  97 needs necessarily

  110 The ... mine then I have the worst luck

  111 by my holidame by Our Lady/by all that I hold holy

  114 conferring chatting

  116 Swinge thrash

  121 awful worthy of respect right rightful

  122 what not everything

  123 fair befall thee good luck to you

  127 as ... been as if the former Kate had never existed

  136 pass state of affairs

  137 foolish stupid (Lucentio shifts the sense to "fond, doting")

  141 laying betting

  148 Unknit relax unkind harsh/unnatural

  151 meads meadows

  152 Confounds thy fame destroys your reputation

  153 meet appropriate

  154 moved angered

  155 ill-seeming ugly

  161 painful grueling

  162 watch be awake during

  169 peevish stubborn, perverse

  170 honest virtuous, upright

  172 graceless sinful

  173 simple foolish

  175 sway authority, influence

  176 bound i.e. by duty/in marriage

  178 Unapt not designed

  179 soft gentle, fragile conditions constitutions/qualities 181 unable incapable

  182 big strong/contentious/determined/proud

  183 haply perhaps

  184 bandy exchange

  187 That ... be seeming to be that

  188 vail your stomachs lower your pride/surrender your inclinations boot use 191 do him ease give him pleasure/ease his burden

  193 go thy ways well-done ha't have it (win the wager) 194 'Tis ... toward it is a good thing to hear when children are compliant 197 three three men you ... sped you two (Lucentio and Hortensio) are done for 198 white center of the target (puns on Bianca's name, "white" in Italian) 200 shrew pronounced "shrow," the word provides the rhyme for this final couplet

 

 

 


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