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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 1Scene 2
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“were his daughter fairer than she is, she may more suitors have”
Discussion
Act 1,
Scene 2
Lines 234-243

An explanation of Tranio’s confusing phrasing in Act 1, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Hortensio

That she's the chosen of Signor Hortensio.

Tranio-as-Lucentio

Softly, my masters! If you be gentlemen,    
Do me this right: hear me with patience.
Baptista is a noble gentleman,
To whom my father is not all unknown;    
And were his daughter fairer than she is,        
She may more suitors have, and me for one.
Fair Leda's daughter had a thousand wooers;    
Then well one more may fair Bianca have,
And so she shall. Lucentio shall make one,

It’s likely that while these lines seem to say the exact opposite, what they really mean is that even if Bianca were less fair than she is, there’s no reason why she shouldn’t have more suitors.