How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Scene.Line). Line numbers correspond to the Norton edition.
Quote #7
FIRST SERVANT
My lord, you nod. You do not mind the play.
SLY
Yes, by Saint Anne, do I. A good matter, surely.
Comes there any more of it?
PAGE, as Lady
My lord, 'tis but begun.
SLY
'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady.
Would 'twere done. (1.1.259-264)
The last time we see or hear from Christopher Sly, our attention is drawn away from the action on the main platform stage to focus on Sly. Sly's boredom and rude behavior seems to be a parody of bad behavior at the theater and a friendly warning for audience members who can't seem to pay attention.
Quote #8
BIONDELLO
Why, Petruchio is coming in a new hat and
an old jerkin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned,
a pair of boots that have been candle-cases, one
buckled, another laced; an old rusty sword ta'en
out of the town-armory, with a broken hilt, and
chapeless; with two broken points; his horse
hipped, with an old mothy saddle and stirrups of no
kindred. (2.2.42-49)
The play is full of narrations of off-stage events. What interests us here is Biondello's description of Petruchio's crazy get-up. Before Petruchio arrives for his wedding, we know that he's coming in costume and we're prepared for some kind of dramatic performance.
Quote #9
GRUMIO
Tell thou the tale! But hadst thou not crossed
me thou shouldst have heard how her horse fell,
and she under her horse; thou shouldst have heard
in how miry a place, how she was bemoiled, how he
left her with the horse upon her, how he beat me
because her horse stumbled, how she waded
through the dirt to pluck him off me, how he swore,
how she prayed, that never prayed before, how I
cried, how the horses ran away, how her bridle was
burst, how I lost my crupper, with many things of
worthy memory, which now shall die in oblivion,
and thou return unexperienced to thy grave. (4.1.67-78)
Here's yet another narration of an off-stage event, this time by Grumio. The curious thing about this moment is that Grumio gives Curtis an elaborate description of a scene after he tells him he's not going to say anything. Grumio's dramatic description of what must have been a terrible experience for Kate manages to turn the awful scene into a highly comedic moment.