Original: Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own
Modern: Forgive me, sir, for being so bold

Original: That, being a stranger in this city here,
Modern: I’m a stranger in this city,

Original: Do make myself a suitor to your daughter,
Modern: Yet I’m asking to court your daughter,

Original: Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous.
Modern: Beautiful and virtuous Bianca.

Original: Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me
Modern: I know about your firm decision

Original: In the preferment of the eldest sister.
Modern: To marry off your older daughter first.

Original: This liberty is all that I request-
Modern: All I’m asking for is this freedom—

Original: That, upon knowledge of my parentage,
Modern: Once you learn about my family background,

Original: I may have welcome ‘mongst the rest that woo,
Modern: I hope you’ll welcome me among the other suitors,

Original: And free access and favour as the rest.
Modern: And give me the same access and treatment as the others.

Original: And toward the education of your daughters
Modern: To help with your daughters’ education,

Original: I here bestow a simple instrument,
Modern: I’m giving you this musical instrument,

Original: And this small packet of Greek and Latin books.
Modern: And this small collection of Greek and Latin books.

Original: If you accept them, then their worth is great.
Modern: If you accept these gifts, they’ll be very valuable.

In Act II, Scene 1 of “The Taming of the Shrew,” the scene opens in Baptista Minola’s house in Padua, where multiple suitors have gathered to win the hands of his daughters. Gremio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) present tutors for Baptista’s daughters—Tranio introduces Cambio (actually Lucentio in disguise) as a music teacher, while Gremio presents Litio (actually Hortensio in disguise) as a language tutor. Petruchio arrives with Grumio and introduces himself as a suitor for Katherina, Baptista’s elder daughter known for her sharp tongue and difficult temperament. He presents a lute player and books as gifts. Baptista sends the disguised tutors to instruct his daughters, though Hortensio soon returns with a broken lute over his head, reporting that Katherina struck him with the instrument when he attempted to correct her playing.

Petruchio remains undeterred by reports of Katherina’s behavior and negotiates marriage terms with Baptista, agreeing that he will receive twenty thousand crowns as a dowry, with Petruchio settling all his lands on Katherina. Baptista insists that Petruchio must gain Katherina’s love before the marriage can proceed. When Katherina enters, Petruchio engages her in a battle of wits, calling her “Kate” despite her objections, praising her gentleness contrary to all reports, and insisting they will be married on Sunday. Despite Katherina’s protests and sharp retorts, Petruchio announces to Baptista and the others that she has agreed to marry him. After Petruchio departs, Baptista turns his attention to Bianca’s suitors, and Tranio (as Lucentio) and Gremio compete to prove who can offer the greater wealth and security for Bianca, with Tranio ultimately winning Baptista’s conditional approval pending confirmation of his claims.

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.