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“be-mete thee”
Double Meanings
Act 4,
Scene 3
Lines 106-114

An explanation of Petruchio’s double meanings in his talk with the Tailor in Act 4, Scene 3 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Petruchio

O monstrous arrogance!
Thou liest, thou thread, thou thimble,
Thou yard, three-quarters, half-yard, quarter, nail;    
Thou flea, thou nit, thou winter-cricket thou!
Braved in mine own house with a skein of thread?    
Away, thou rag, thou quantity, thou remnant,
Or I shall so be-mete thee with thy yard
As thou shalt think on prating whilst thou livest!
I tell thee, I, that thou hast marred her gown.

“I shall so be-mete thee with thy yard”

  1. I will mete out punishment to you with your yardstick.
  2. I measure (mete) you only a yard — in height and in value.

“thou shalt think on prating whilst thou livest!”

  1. You’ll think twice before prating (blathering) on in the future.
  2. You’ll remember (think on) this prating (beating) I'll give you as long as you live.