Read The Taming of the Shrew Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
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 scale
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
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
chafèd
irritated
198
ordnance
artillery
200
pitchèd
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