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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 1Scene 1
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“there's small choice in rotten apples”
Proverb
Act 1,
Scene 1
Lines 125-136

An explanation of the Hortensio’s “rotten apples” proverb in Act 1, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Hortensio

Tush, Gremio; though it pass your patience and
mine to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be     
good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them,    
would take her with all faults, and money enough.    

Gremio

I cannot tell, but I had as lief take her dowry with    
this condition — to be whipped at the high-cross every     
morning.

Hortensio

Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten    
apples. But come, since this bar in law makes us friends,
it shall be so far forth friendly maintained till by helping     
Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband we set his youngest
free for a husband, and then have to't afresh. Sweet     

To say that there’s little choice between rotten apples was proverbial. Hortensio is saying that there’s little difference between two equally bad options — marrying Katherina or being whipped in the marketplace.