Say she rail; why, I'll tell her plainShe sings as sweetly as a nightingale.Say that she frown; I'll say she looks as clearAs morning roses newly wash'd with dew.Say she be mute and will not speak a word;Then I'll commend her volubility,and say she uttereth piercing eloquence.
In this excerpt from "The Taming of the Shrew," the speaker expresses a commitment to praise a woman, regardless of her behavior. If she complains or chides him, he will respond by highlighting her beauty and charm, comparing her voice to that of a nightingale. This illustrates his ability to find positive attributes in her, even if she appears displeased.
The speaker also emphasizes how he will interpret her silence as...
