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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 4Scene 2
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“may you prove ... master of your art … you, sweet dear ... mistress of my heart”
Wordplay
Act 4,
Scene 2
Lines 6-10

An explanation of Lucentio’s wordplay in Act 4, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Lucentio-as-Cambio

Now, mistress, profit you in what you read?    

Bianca

What, master, read you? First resolve me that.    

Lucentio

I read that I profess, The Art to Love.    

Bianca

And may you prove, sir, master of your art.

Lucentio

While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart.    

Lucentio parallels Bianca’s phrase, “master of your art,” with his own, “mistress of my heart.” He’s also making a pun on dear/deer and heart/hart (a male deer): “I wish you, sweet dear (deer), may prove mistress of my heart (hart).”