Mojo, The Bard, & Me

 

I tell thee, Kate, ‘twas burnt and dried away,

And I expressly am forbid to touch it,

For it engenders choler, planteth anger,

And better ‘twere that both of us did fast,

Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric,

Than feed it with such overroasted flesh.

 

-Petruchio

The Taming of the Shrew         Act IV Scene i, Line 167

Okay, what have we got here. Well, today’s Totally Random line is Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric, and I thought it might add a little clarity if I gave the whole sentence. In retrospect, I’m not so sure it helped.

I believe Petruchio is telling Kate that burnt and dried meat causes hot temperedness, and since both of them are already hot tempered, Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric, they’re better off not eating it. As we know, this is all a ruse to starve Kate into

submission.

This is me sitting on Dave's lap with Jean on the right. I remember that right before this pic was taken  I had been listening to Dave reading this very passage. Dave went through a very early Shakespeare stage, but regrettably moved out of it pretty early as well. Anyway, I remember that I was still musing intently on this line while the picture was being taken, and had just repeated Since, of ourselves, ourselves are choleric. Well, Jean hadn't been there when Dave had been reading the passage to me, so she had no idea what I was talking about. I think the confusion is pretty evident on her face. Don't you?