Act 4 Scene 3

Once again the scene changes, and we are back in Petruccio’s house where Katherine, very hungry and tired, is taunted by Grumio, who refuses to let her eat. Petruccio brings food, but again it is refused her. The new cap, made for Katherine by the Haberdasher, offends Petruccio’s taste# so does the Tailor’s new gown. The married couple are preparing to return to Padua, but when Katherine contradicts her husband once more, Petruccio abandons the expedition.
2	“The more I have to suffer, the worse his cruelty grows.”
5	Upon entreaty: as soon as they ask.
present: immediate.
9	meat: food.
11	spites: hurts.
wants: things I lack.
12	under: in the name of.
13	As who: like one who.
14	present: instant.
15	repast: nourishment.
17	neat’s foot: ox-foot or calf’s foot.
19	choleric: causing choler# Grumio obviously knows Petruccio’s plan.
20	tripe: the stomach lining of a cow or sheep# served with onions, this is still a popular dish in the north of England.
22	I cannot tell: I’m not sure.
26	let . . . rest: forget the mustard.
32	the very name: the name and nothing else.
36	sweeting: sweetheart.
amort: depressed.
37	what cheer?: how are you?
cold: i.e. poor# Katherine refers to the hospitality — “cheer” — of Petruccio’s house.
38	Pluck up: lift up.
40	dress: prepare.
43	pains: trouble (treated as a singular noun).
is . . . proof: has been in vain.
44	let it stand: leave it where it is# Katherine’s completion of Petruccio’s half-line shows the sharpness of her hunger.
46	mine: i.e. my service.
48	blame: blameworthy, at fault.
49	bear you company: join you (in the meal)# Hortensio, like Grumio, seems to be a party to Petruccio’s scheme.
52	apace: without hesitation (she is probably grabbing every morsel before Hortensio can eat it all up).
54	revel it: enjoy ourselves. bravely: finely dressed.
56	ruffs and cuffs: starched material — or perhaps lace — at neck and wrists# Petruccio begins to sound frivolous (especially in his rhymes), and this ought to be a warning to Katherine.
farthingales: hooped skirts, worn by women of the upper classes.
57	bravery: fine clothes.
58	knavery: nonsense.
59	stays: awaits.
60	deck: adorn.
ruffling: decorated with ruffles.
63	cap: worn indoors by married women.
64	porringer: basin, especially for a child’s food.
65	A velvet dish: nothing but a dish made of velvet.
lewd and filthy: cheap and nasty.
66	cockle: cockle-shell.
67	knack: The word survives as part of “knick-knack”# “toy” and “trick” have much the same meaning.
69	doth fit the time: is fashionable.
72	in haste: in a hurry, very soon.
73	leave: permission.
75	endured me say: let me speak.
78	it: i.e. her anger.
82	custard-coffin: pastry case for a baked custard.
83	in that: because.
86	Thy gown: Perhaps Petruccio (wilfully) mishears Katherine’s “none” in the preceding line.
87	masquing stuff: fancy-dress costume.
88	demi-cannon: small cannon.
92	o devil’s name: in the devil’s name.
93	like: likely.
94	bid: bade, ordered.
95	the time: in the modern way.
96	and did: and so I did.
be remembered: can remember.
97	mar: spoil.
98	hop me . . . home: hop off home.
kennel: street gutter.
100	make . . . it: do what you can with it.
101	better-fashioned: more fashionable.
102	quaint: elegant.
103	Belike: it seems.
puppet: doll (easily manipulated in puppet-shows)# but Petruccio pretends that Katherine was speaking to the Tailor.
108	yard: yardstick — a measuring rod for lengths of fabric# it was a common term of abuse for tailors (who were, by reputation, thin and effeminate). Petruccio’s abusive eloquence extends far beyond the commonplace. The length of a yard is 92 centimetres.
nail: one-sixteenth of a yard (6 centimetres).
109	nit: the egg of a louse.
winter-cricket: insect that appears in the winter.
110	Braved: defied# there is a pun — which is developed in the next few lines — with the sense of “smartly dressed”.
111	quantity: fragment.
112	be-mete . . . yard: measure you out with your own yardstick.
113	think on: remember.
while thou liv’st: for as long as you live.
118	stuff: material.
122	faced: trimmed with velvet or other fabric# also defied, dared.
127	Ergo: therefore# a term in logical debate.
128	note of the fashion: i.e. the pattern# Grumio takes up the sense of a muscial note.
131	lies in’s throat: sticks in his throat — is an unspeakable lie.
132	Imprimis: first of all.
133	loose-bodied gown: loosely fitting gown# but Grumio pretends to interpret this as a dress for a loose-living woman.
134	bottom: bobbin.
137	compassed: flared, cut on the bias.
138	confess: admit.
139	trunk sleeve: large, wide sleeve.
141	curiously: carefully, elaborately.
143	Error i’th’bill: mistaken charge# the phrase is legal jargon — a criminal charge would fail if there were any error in the formal indictment.
145	prove upon: prove against# Grumio is preparing for a fight.
147	An: if only.
in place where: in the right place.
149	for thee: ready to fight you.
straight: right now.
bill: the order-note# and a weapon used by watchmen.
150	mete-yard: measuring-stick.
152	odds: chance (if he is armed only with the piece of paper).
155	take . . . use: take it away and let your master do the best he can with it# but Grumio misunderstands.
158	conceit: meaning.
159	think for: imagine.
160	use: (sexual) purposes.
162	Petruccio ensures that the bewildered Tailor shall not suffer.
165	no unkindness of: no offence at.
168	honest mean habiliments: respectable everyday clothes.
167	proud: rich (because they have not wasted money).
170	This sounds like a topic for the lecture that follows.
172	peereth: can be seen through.
173	jay: a loud-voiced, chattering bird.
lark: a plain brown bird, valued for its singing.
176	painted: patterned.
178	furniture: equipment.
mean array: poor clothes.
179	account’st: consider.
lay it on me: blame me.
180	frolic: be merry.
186	by dinner-time: in time for the main meal, usually served before noon.
188	supper-time: time for the evening meal, served before 6 p.m.
190	Look what: whatever.
191	still: always.
crossing: contradicting.
let’t: leave it.
192	ere I do: before I go at all.
193	what o’clock: whatever time.