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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 2Scene 1
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“thy beauty sounded”
Double Meaning
Act 2,
Scene 1
Lines 187-191

An explanation of Petruchio’s double meaning in his description of Katherina’s beauty in Act 2, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

 

Petruchio

Take this of me, Kate, of my consolation:    
Hearing thy mildness praised in every town,
Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded —   
Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs —    
Myself am moved to woo thee for my wife.
  1. Her beauty has been talked about (sounded), but not as loudly (deeply) as is her due.
  2. To sound also means to measure the depth of water. Kate’s beauty has not been explored to its full depth.