Summary, Analysis, and Original Text by Scene

Act I: Scene 2

trow (4) to believe, think, suppose, etc.

"Con tutto il cuore ben trovato" (24) "With all my heart, well met."

"Alla nostra casa ben venuto, / Molto oronato signor mio Petruchio" (25–26) "Welcome to our house, my much honored Petruchio."

compound (27) to settle by mutual agreement.

pip (33) any of the suit-indicating figures on playing cards, or any of the dots on dice or dominoes.

"come roundly" (58) "speak plainly."

burden (67) a repeated, central idea; theme.

Florentius (68) a knight in John Gower's Confessio Amantis who promises to marry an ugly old woman if she solves the riddle he must answer. After fulfilling the promise, she becomes young and beautiful.

Sibyl (69) prophetess to whom Apollo gave as many years of life as she held grains of sand in her hand.

Xanthippe (70) fifth century B.C.; wife of Socrates: the prototype of the quarrelsome, nagging wife.

grace (130) goodwill; favor.

"mend it with a largess" (149) "improve with a gift or gifts given in a generous, or sometimes showy, way."

ordnance (202) cannon or artillery.

@'larums (205) alarums; calls to arms.

Leda's daughter (242) Helen of Troy.

Paris (245) a son of Priam, king of Troy: his kidnapping of Helen, wife of Menelaus, causes the Trojan War.

jade (247) a horse, especially a worn-out, worthless one.

Alcides' twelve (256) reference to the twelve labors of Hercules (reputed grandson of Alcaeus).

quaff carouses (275) drink toasts.


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