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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 1Scene 1
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“while ‘idly’ I stood looking on, I found the effect of love in’ idleness’”
Wordplay
Act 1,
Scene 1
Lines 143-148

An explanation of Lucentio’s wordplay on “idly” and “idleness” in Act 1, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Tranio

I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible
That love should, of a sudden, take such hold?

Lucentio

O Tranio, till I found it to be true,
I never thought it possible or likely.
But see, while idly I stood looking on,
I found the effect of love in idleness.

Lucentio fell in love with Bianca while he was idly looking on. But idleness is another name for a pansy, the garden flower. According to folklore, placing idleness on the eyelids of someone who’s asleep caused him or her to fall in love with the first person they see upon awakening.