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Notes on Act II, scene iv
Prithee: I pray thee (I ask you)
anchorite: religious hermit
inconstant: unfaithful
approv'd: given in to those feelings
Sooth: in truth, indeed
generally: I find this tendency of unfaithfulness in all women in general
malleable: bendable; that is, it would be easier to bend glass than to find a faithful woman
fixed: constant, faithful
glass: telescope (an anachronism at the time of the play's action, 1504: Galileo didn't develop the telescope until 1609); the Cardinal thinks that one would have to look to another world to find a faithful woman, as there are none on earth.
cuckold: a husband whose wife cheats on him; husbands who do not love their wives wisely will become cuckolds. Julia cannot make the Cardinal a cuckold since she is not married to him.
perch ... fly at it: he compares her to a tame falcon
tame elephant: elephants were tamed by being kept awake for so long that they would do anything to sleep.
only kisses: he implies that Castruchio is impotent, as his name suggests
lute: a stringed instrument
tune: play a tune on it
liver: the liver was thought to be the source of emotions; as we refer to the heart today.
in physic: under a physician's care, that is, he was love-sick
to't: compared to it
post: in haste
lie: keep lodging
prelates: churchmen
breech: backside
pity: you laugh at my pitiful situation, being married to such a pathetic man.
want: lack, need
cassia: spice
civet: perfume
physical: medicinal
fond: foolish
seeth't in cullises: boil it in a broth
Duke of Calabria: Ferdinand
honesty: chastity
They pass ... done: those who consider the consequences before they act avoid trouble
