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"I would fain be doing"
Wordplay
Act 2,
Scene 1
Lines 67-74

An explanation of wordplay and innuendo in Act 2, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Petruchio

Petruchio is my name, Antonio's son,
A man well known throughout all Italy.

Baptista

I know him well. You are welcome for his sake.

Gremio

Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, let us that are     
poor petitioners speak too. Baccare, you are
marvellous forward.  

Petruchio

O, pardon me, Signor Gremio, I would fain be doing.   

Gremio

I doubt it not, sir, but you will curse your wooing.

This is a good example of the subtle sexual innuendos for which Shakespeare is famous. When Gremio tells Petruchio to save his tale, his story, for later, Petruchio intentionally misinterprets “saving your tale [tail]” to mean “sparing your penis,” and jokingly responds that he would happily be doing (it)—having sex. Gremio picks up on the joke and says that he has no doubt that Petruchio would rather be doing it, but thinks that Petruchio will curse the day he ever got involved with Katherina.