The Drover'sCattle dealer Gamble

(The Taming of the Shrew vocabulary practice)

Copyright Michael Curtis 2026

Kaelen stood in a melancholy dumpMelancholy tune or mood, forced to eatSwallow or endure his pride as he entered the neon district. He sought an egalEqual partner to ekeAlso / To increase out a profit from the dying elementThe sky or heavens of the old world. His horse, embossedFoaming at the mouth from the trek, was a sorry sight, drawing enviousMalicious or spiteful glares from the estateLand and buildings guards.

"I expectTo wait for the master," Kaelen said, clutching a rare eyebrightA flower/herb thought to heal eyes flower. He felt like an eyasA nestling hawk among vultures, but he remained faceteWitty or clever. He was fainObliged or glad to trade his fairBeautiful prize for a single falconSpecifically a female hawk of the high grade. It was a foolish fancyLove or infatuation, perhaps, but he did not fearTo frighten (transitive) the merchant.

The master’s featureGeneral appearance or shape was grim. "FieExclamation of disgust!" the man cried. "I cannot findTo provide for or support you a hawk for this weed!" He was fineWell-dressed or ornate, his eyes burning with firePassion. Suddenly, a fitA periodic attack or mood of coughing seized him. He began to floutTo mock or jeer Kaelen’s fondFoolish hope, calling him a foolA term of endearment or pity.

Kaelen adjusted his foot-clothDecorative horse-saddle cloth. "I pray you forbearTo leave alone or stop," he said, keeping a formalNormal or sane tone. He stepped forthOut. His spirit was not fractedBroken, despite the frenzyMadness of the city. He noticed the merchant’s lute, the frettenRubbed or worn away strings and cracked fretA ridge on a lute’s neck.

"This fripperyA second-hand clothes shop you call a palace is cold," Kaelen noted. The merchant, a frowardStubborn and disobedient man, gave a fulsomeLustful or offensive laugh. He was well furnishedEquipped or dressed with expensive furnitureEquipment or trappings, yet he lacked a galliardA lively dance in his step. He summoned a gallowglassA heavy-armed soldier guard to watch the whole gamutThe musical scale / range of their deal.

Kaelen tightened his gaskinsWide breeches and stood under the merchant’s gazeAn object of wonder. "This gearBusiness or stuff is beneath a gentleNoble-born man of your gentryRank or noble status," Kaelen lied. He felt like a germanA near relative to a snake. Though he felt giddyFickle or dizzy, he ignored the merchant’s girdA sarcasm or taunt. He tried to giveTo suggest or represent the best impression, checking his reflection in a glassA mirror.

The merchant continued to gleekTo mock or scoff. There was no glossExternal show or luster to the trade. "God-dig-you-denGod give you a good evening," the merchant sneered, mocking Kaelen as a mere goodmanTitle below a gentleman. Kaelen realized the man was a gossipA neighbor or godparent of the worst sort. "GramercyThank you very much," Kaelen replied sarcastically, showing the patience of GrisselGriselda (symbol of patience) despite the grumblingComplaining in his gut.

"Where is my guerdonA reward?" the merchant asked. Kaelen saw through his guilesDeceits. The man’s face turned gulesRed with anger, attempting to gullTo trick the poor drover. A gustTo taste of bitter wind blew through the open hatchA half-door. The merchant looked haggardUntrained hawk / exhausted.

"By my halidomA holy thing (oath)," Kaelen swore, seeing the man haltTo limp toward his desk. "I shall trade handsomelySuitably or neatly." By good hapLuck or fortune, and happilyBy chance, the merchant noticed a hardClose or near piece of silver in Kaelen's palm. The master was no harlotA lewd person, but he valued his harnessArmor.

"Do you haveTo understand me?" the merchant asked. Kaelen nodded. He knew the master led a great headAn armed force. But Kaelen’s heart was heavySad or sorrowful. He took heedCaution of the master's hestA command to leave the high-crossThe market cross before dawn. He didn't want to end up like a hildingA base, menial person.

The master gave him a hintAn occasion or opportunity of a better deal. "I have you on the hipAt a disadvantage," the master laughed. The price did not hitTo agree or suit Kaelen's wallet, but he had to holdTo take or accept the deal. "By our holidameBy the Virgin Mary," Kaelen whispered, hoping the deal was honestChaste or virtuous. He saw no hornCuckoldry of betrayal yet.

He agreed to hostTo lodge with the merchant’s men. The hotLustful or angry air of the room stifled him. The householderMaster of a house watched him closely. In the humorsBodily fluids / temperament of the night, amidst the hurlyCommotion or tumult of the market, Kaelen had to husbandTo manage or conserve his remaining strength. He missed his wife's huswiferyHousekeeping.

He felt idleFoolish or trivial, watching the shadows impleachTo entwine upon the wall. His impotenceWeakness against the city's power was clear, but he would leave incontinentImmediately once the trade was done.