Original: Tranio, since for the great desire I had
Modern: Tranio, because I had such a strong desire

Original: To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
Modern: To see beautiful Padua, the birthplace of learning,

Original: I am arriv’d for fruitful Lombardy,
Modern: I have arrived in fertile Lombardy,

Original: The pleasant garden of great Italy,
Modern: The delightful garden of great Italy,

Original: And by my father’s love and leave am arm’d
Modern: And with my father’s love and permission I’m equipped

Original: With his good will and thy good company,
Modern: With his blessing and your good companionship,

Original: My trusty servant well approv’d in all,
Modern: My faithful servant who has proven himself in everything,

Original: Here let us breathe, and haply institute
Modern: Here let us rest, and perhaps establish

Original: A course of learning and ingenious studies.
Modern: A program of education and clever studies.

Original: Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
Modern: Pisa, famous for its serious citizens,

Original: Gave me my being and my father first,
Modern: Gave birth to me and to my father before me,

Original: A merchant of great traffic through the world,
Modern: A merchant who does great business throughout the world,

Original: Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii;
Modern: Vincentio, descended from the Bentivolii family;

Original: Vincentio’s son, brought up in Florence,
Modern: Vincentio’s son, raised in Florence,

Original: It shall become to serve all hopes conceiv’d,
Modern: I should fulfill all the expectations placed on me,

Original: To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds.
Modern: To honor his wealth with my good actions.

Original: And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study,
Modern: And so, Tranio, during the time I’m studying,

Original: Virtue and that part of philosophy
Modern: I will focus on virtue and that branch of philosophy

Original: Will I apply that treats of happiness
Modern: That deals with happiness

Original: By virtue specially to be achiev’d.
Modern: That can especially be achieved through virtue.

Original: Tell me thy mind; for I have Pisa left
Modern: Tell me what you think; because I have left Pisa

Original: And am to Padua come as he that leaves
Modern: And come to Padua like someone who leaves

Original: A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep,
Modern: A shallow puddle to dive into the deep water,

Original: And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.
Modern: And who, already full, still seeks to satisfy his thirst.

In the opening scene of “The Taming of the Shrew,” Christopher Sly, a drunken tinker, is discovered passed out outside an alehouse by a Lord returning from hunting. The Lord decides to play an elaborate practical joke on Sly and instructs his huntsmen and servants to carry the unconscious man to his house, dress him in fine clothes, and convince him upon waking that he is actually a nobleman who has been mad for fifteen years and has just recovered his senses. The Lord orders his servants to attend to Sly with great ceremony, providing him with luxury and treating him as their master.

When a group of traveling players arrives seeking patronage, the Lord incorporates them into his scheme and arranges for them to perform a play for Sly’s entertainment. He also instructs his youngest page, Bartholomew, to disguise himself as Sly’s wife. Upon awakening, Sly initially resists the servants’ claims about his supposed noble identity, insisting he is simply a tinker. However, he gradually becomes convinced by their persistence and the appearance of “his wife,” though he expresses confusion about his lost memories. The scene concludes with preparations being made for Sly to watch the players’ performance, which will be the main play of “The Taming of the Shrew.”

The Taming of the Shrew opens with an induction featuring Christopher Sly, a drunken tinker who is tricked by a lord into believing he is nobility. A troupe of players performs the main play for Sly’s entertainment, though this framing device is largely forgotten after the first act.

The central plot follows Petruchio of Verona, who comes to Padua seeking a wealthy wife. He learns of Katherina Minola, the shrewish elder daughter of the rich Baptista, whom no man dares court due to her fierce temper and sharp tongue. Baptista has decreed that no suitor may court his younger, gentler daughter Bianca until Katherina is married. Petruchio, undaunted by Katherina’s reputation and attracted by her substantial dowry, courts and weds her despite her protests and violent resistance during their first meeting.

Meanwhile, multiple suitors pursue Bianca, including Lucentio (who disguises himself as a Latin tutor), Gremio (an old pantaloon), and Hortensio (who disguises himself as a music teacher). Lucentio and his servant Tranio orchestrate an elaborate deception, with Tranio assuming his master’s identity to court Bianca openly while Lucentio teaches her in disguise. Eventually, Bianca falls in love with Lucentio, and they secretly marry, while Hortensio abandons his pursuit and marries a wealthy widow.

After his wedding, Petruchio takes Katherina to his country house, where he employs various tactics to “tame” her, including depriving her of food and sleep under the pretense that nothing is good enough for her, and contradicting her at every turn. Gradually, Katherina appears to submit to his will. The play concludes with a feast where the three new husbands wager on whose wife is most obedient. Katherina proves most compliant, delivering a lengthy speech on wifely duty and obedience, winning Petruchio the wager and apparently demonstrating her complete transformation.