Speeches (Lines) for Grumio
in "Taming of the Shrew"
Total: 63

1

I,2,557

Petruchio. Verona, for a while I take my leave,
To see my friends in Padua; but of all
My best beloved and approved friend,
Hortensio; and I trow this is his house.
Here, sirrah Grumio, knock, I say.

Grumio. Knock, sir! Whom should I knock?
Is there any man has rebus'd your worship?

2

I,2,560

Petruchio. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly.

Grumio. Knock you here, sir? Why, sir, what am I, sir, that I
should knock you here, sir?

3

I,2,564

Petruchio. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate,
And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate.

Grumio. My master is grown quarrelsome. I should knock you first,
And then I know after who comes by the worst.

4

I,2,570

(stage directions). [He wrings him by the ears]

Grumio. Help, masters, help! My master is mad.

5

I,2,580

Hortensio. Alla nostra casa ben venuto,
Molto honorato signor mio Petruchio.
Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel.

Grumio. Nay, 'tis no matter, sir, what he 'leges in Latin. If this
be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service- look you, sir:
he bid me knock him and rap him soundly, sir. Well, was it fit
for a servant to use his master so; being, perhaps, for aught I
see, two and thirty, a pip out?
Whom would to God I had well knock'd at first,
Then had not Grumio come by the worst.

6

I,2,590

Petruchio. A senseless villain! Good Hortensio,
I bade the rascal knock upon your gate,
And could not get him for my heart to do it.

Grumio. Knock at the gate? O heavens! Spake you not these words
plain: 'Sirrah knock me here, rap me here, knock me well, and
knock me soundly'? And come you now with 'knocking at the gate'?

7

I,2,626

Petruchio. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we
Few words suffice; and therefore, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife,
As wealth is burden of my wooing dance,
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xanthippe or a worse-
She moves me not, or not removes, at least,
Affection's edge in me, were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatic seas.
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

Grumio. Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is.
Why, give him gold enough and marry him to a puppet or an
aglet-baby, or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, though
she has as many diseases as two and fifty horses. Why, nothing
comes amiss, so money comes withal.

8

I,2,655

Petruchio. I know her father, though I know not her;
And he knew my deceased father well.
I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her;
And therefore let me be thus bold with you
To give you over at this first encounter,
Unless you will accompany me thither.

Grumio. I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O' my
word, and she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding
would do little good upon him. She may perhaps call him half a
score knaves or so. Why, that's nothing; and he begin once, he'll
rail in his rope-tricks. I'll tell you what, sir: an she stand
him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and so
disfigure her with it that she shall have no more eyes to see
withal than a cat. You know him not, sir.

9

I,2,675

Hortensio. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee,
For in Baptista's keep my treasure is.
He hath the jewel of my life in hold,
His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca;
And her withholds from me, and other more,
Suitors to her and rivals in my love;
Supposing it a thing impossible-
For those defects I have before rehears'd-
That ever Katherina will be woo'd.
Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en,
That none shall have access unto Bianca
Till Katherine the curst have got a husband.

Grumio. Katherine the curst!
A title for a maid of all titles the worst.

10

I,2,685

Hortensio. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace,
And offer me disguis'd in sober robes
To old Baptista as a schoolmaster
Well seen in music, to instruct Bianca;
That so I may by this device at least
Have leave and leisure to make love to her,
And unsuspected court her by herself.
Enter GREMIO with LUCENTIO disguised as CAMBIO

Grumio. Here's no knavery! See, to beguile the old folks, how the
young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about
you. Who goes there, ha?

11

I,2,690

Hortensio. Peace, Grumio! It is the rival of my love. Petruchio,
stand by awhile.

Grumio. A proper stripling, and an amorous!

12

I,2,708

Gremio. O this learning, what a thing it is!

Grumio. O this woodcock, what an ass it is!

13

I,2,726

Gremio. Beloved of me- and that my deeds shall prove.

Grumio. And that his bags shall prove.

14

I,2,747

Petruchio. Will I live?

Grumio. Will he woo her? Ay, or I'll hang her.

15

I,2,761

Petruchio. Why came I hither but to that intent?
Think you a little din can daunt mine ears?
Have I not in my time heard lions roar?
Have I not heard the sea, puff'd up with winds,
Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat?
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?
Have I not in a pitched battle heard
Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang?
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue,
That gives not half so great a blow to hear
As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire?
Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs.

Grumio. For he fears none.

16

I,2,768

Gremio. And so we will- provided that he win her.

Grumio. I would I were as sure of a good dinner.
Enter TRANIO, bravely apparelled as LUCENTIO, and BIONDELLO

17

I,2,833

Tranio. Sir, I shall not be slack; in sign whereof,
Please ye we may contrive this afternoon,
And quaff carouses to our mistress' health;
And do as adversaries do in law-
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.

Grumio. [with BIONDELLO:] O excellent motion! Fellows, let's be gone.

18

III,2,1572

Petruchio. Grumio, my horse.

Grumio. Ay, sir, they be ready; the oats have eaten the horses.

19

IV,1,1621

(stage directions). Enter GRUMIO

Grumio. Fie, fie on all tired jades, on all mad masters, and all
foul ways! Was ever man so beaten? Was ever man so ray'd? Was
ever man so weary? I am sent before to make a fire, and they are
coming after to warm them. Now were not I a little pot and soon
hot, my very lips might freeze to my teeth, my tongue to the roof
of my mouth, my heart in my belly, ere I should come by a fire to
thaw me. But I with blowing the fire shall warm myself; for,
considering the weather, a taller man than I will take cold.
Holla, ho! Curtis!

20

IV,1,1632

Curtis. Who is that calls so coldly?

Grumio. A piece of ice. If thou doubt it, thou mayst slide from my
shoulder to my heel with no greater a run but my head and my
neck. A fire, good Curtis.

21

IV,1,1636

Curtis. Is my master and his wife coming, Grumio?

Grumio. O, ay, Curtis, ay; and therefore fire, fire; cast on no
water.

22

IV,1,1639

Curtis. Is she so hot a shrew as she's reported?

Grumio. She was, good Curtis, before this frost; but thou know'st
winter tames man, woman, and beast; for it hath tam'd my old
master, and my new mistress, and myself, fellow Curtis.

23

IV,1,1643

Curtis. Away, you three-inch fool! I am no beast.

Grumio. Am I but three inches? Why, thy horn is a foot, and so long
am I at the least. But wilt thou make a fire, or shall I complain
on thee to our mistress, whose hand- she being now at hand- thou
shalt soon feel, to thy cold comfort, for being slow in thy hot
office?

24

IV,1,1649

Curtis. I prithee, good Grumio, tell me how goes the world?

Grumio. A cold world, Curtis, in every office but thine; and
therefore fire. Do thy duty, and have thy duty, for my master and
mistress are almost frozen to death.

25

IV,1,1653

Curtis. There's fire ready; and therefore, good Grumio, the news?

Grumio. Why, 'Jack boy! ho, boy!' and as much news as thou wilt.

26

IV,1,1655

Curtis. Come, you are so full of cony-catching!

Grumio. Why, therefore, fire; for I have caught extreme cold.
Where's the cook? Is supper ready, the house trimm'd, rushes
strew'd, cobwebs swept, the serving-men in their new fustian,
their white stockings, and every officer his wedding-garment on?
Be the jacks fair within, the jills fair without, the carpets
laid, and everything in order?

27

IV,1,1662

Curtis. All ready; and therefore, I pray thee, news.

Grumio. First know my horse is tired; my master and mistress fall'n
out.

28

IV,1,1665

Curtis. How?

Grumio. Out of their saddles into the dirt; and thereby hangs a
tale.

29

IV,1,1668

Curtis. Let's ha't, good Grumio.

Grumio. Lend thine ear.

30

IV,1,1670

Curtis. Here.

Grumio. There. [Striking him]

31

IV,1,1672

Curtis. This 'tis to feel a tale, not to hear a tale.

Grumio. And therefore 'tis call'd a sensible tale; and this cuff
was but to knock at your car and beseech list'ning. Now I begin:
Imprimis, we came down a foul hill, my master riding behind my
mistress-

32

IV,1,1677

Curtis. Both of one horse?

Grumio. What's that to thee?

33

IV,1,1679

Curtis. Why, a horse.

Grumio. Tell thou the tale. But hadst thou not cross'd me, thou
shouldst have heard how her horse fell and she under her horse;
thou shouldst have heard in how miry a place, how she was
bemoil'd, how he left her with the horse upon her, how he beat me
because her horse stumbled, how she waded through the dirt to
pluck him off me, how he swore, how she pray'd that never pray'd
before, how I cried, how the horses ran away, how her bridle was
burst, how I lost my crupper- with many things of worthy memory,
which now shall die in oblivion, and thou return unexperienc'd to
thy grave.

34

IV,1,1690

Curtis. By this reck'ning he is more shrew than she.

Grumio. Ay, and that thou and the proudest of you all shall find
when he comes home. But what talk I of this? Call forth
Nathaniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Philip, Walter, Sugarsop, and the
rest; let their heads be sleekly comb'd, their blue coats brush'd
and their garters of an indifferent knit; let them curtsy with
their left legs, and not presume to touch a hair of my mastcr's
horse-tail till they kiss their hands. Are they all ready?

35

IV,1,1698

Curtis. They are.

Grumio. Call them forth.

36

IV,1,1701

Curtis. Do you hear, ho? You must meet my master, to countenance my
mistress.

Grumio. Why, she hath a face of her own.

37

IV,1,1703

Curtis. Who knows not that?

Grumio. Thou, it seems, that calls for company to countenance her.

38

IV,1,1705

Curtis. I call them forth to credit her.

Grumio. Why, she comes to borrow nothing of them.

39

IV,1,1712

Nathaniel. How now, old lad!

Grumio. Welcome, you!- how now, you!- what, you!- fellow, you!- and
thus much for greeting. Now, my spruce companions, is all ready,
and all things neat?

40

IV,1,1716

Nathaniel. All things is ready. How near is our master?

Grumio. E'en at hand, alighted by this; and therefore be not-
Cock's passion, silence! I hear my master.

41

IV,1,1727

Petruchio. Here, sir! here, sir! here, sir! here, sir!
You logger-headed and unpolish'd grooms!
What, no attendance? no regard? no duty?
Where is the foolish knave I sent before?

Grumio. Here, sir; as foolish as I was before.

42

IV,1,1731

Petruchio. YOU peasant swain! you whoreson malt-horse drudge!
Did I not bid thee meet me in the park
And bring along these rascal knaves with thee?

Grumio. Nathaniel's coat, sir, was not fully made,
And Gabriel's pumps were all unpink'd i' th' heel;
There was no link to colour Peter's hat,
And Walter's dagger was not come from sheathing;
There were none fine but Adam, Ralph, and Gregory;
The rest were ragged, old, and beggarly;
Yet, as they are, here are they come to meet you.

43

IV,1,1792

(stage directions). Re-enter CURTIS

Grumio. Where is he?

44

IV,3,1957

(stage directions). Enter KATHERINA and GRUMIO

Grumio. No, no, forsooth; I dare not for my life.

45

IV,3,1973

Katherina. The more my wrong, the more his spite appears.
What, did he marry me to famish me?
Beggars that come unto my father's door
Upon entreaty have a present alms;
If not, elsewhere they meet with charity;
But I, who never knew how to entreat,
Nor never needed that I should entreat,
Am starv'd for meat, giddy for lack of sleep;
With oaths kept waking, and with brawling fed;
And that which spites me more than all these wants-
He does it under name of perfect love;
As who should say, if I should sleep or eat,
'Twere deadly sickness or else present death.
I prithee go and get me some repast;
I care not what, so it be wholesome food.

Grumio. What say you to a neat's foot?

46

IV,3,1975

Katherina. 'Tis passing good; I prithee let me have it.

Grumio. I fear it is too choleric a meat.
How say you to a fat tripe finely broil'd?

47

IV,3,1978

Katherina. I like it well; good Grumio, fetch it me.

Grumio. I cannot tell; I fear 'tis choleric.
What say you to a piece of beef and mustard?

48

IV,3,1981

Katherina. A dish that I do love to feed upon.

Grumio. Ay, but the mustard is too hot a little.

49

IV,3,1983

Katherina. Why then the beef, and let the mustard rest.

Grumio. Nay, then I will not; you shall have the mustard,
Or else you get no beef of Grumio.

50

IV,3,1986

Katherina. Then both, or one, or anything thou wilt.

Grumio. Why then the mustard without the beef.

51

IV,3,2082

Tailor. Your worship is deceiv'd; the gown is made
Just as my master had direction.
Grumio gave order how it should be done.

Grumio. I gave him no order; I gave him the stuff.

52

IV,3,2084

Tailor. But how did you desire it should be made?

Grumio. Marry, sir, with needle and thread.

53

IV,3,2086

Tailor. But did you not request to have it cut?

Grumio. Thou hast fac'd many things.

54

IV,3,2088

Tailor. I have.

Grumio. Face not me. Thou hast brav'd many men; brave not me. I
will neither be fac'd nor brav'd. I say unto thee, I bid thy
master cut out the gown; but I did not bid him cut it to pieces.
Ergo, thou liest.

55

IV,3,2094

Petruchio. Read it.

Grumio. The note lies in's throat, if he say I said so.

56

IV,3,2096

Tailor. [Reads] 'Imprimis, a loose-bodied gown'-

Grumio. Master, if ever I said loose-bodied gown, sew me in the
skirts of it and beat me to death with a bottom of brown bread; I
said a gown.

57

IV,3,2101

Tailor. [Reads] 'With a small compass'd cape'-

Grumio. I confess the cape.

58

IV,3,2103

Tailor. [Reads] 'With a trunk sleeve'-

Grumio. I confess two sleeves.

59

IV,3,2106

Petruchio. Ay, there's the villainy.

Grumio. Error i' th' bill, sir; error i' th' bill! I commanded the
sleeves should be cut out, and sew'd up again; and that I'll
prove upon thee, though thy little finger be armed in a thimble.

60

IV,3,2111

Tailor. This is true that I say; an I had thee in place where, thou
shouldst know it.

Grumio. I am for thee straight; take thou the bill, give me thy
meteyard, and spare not me.

61

IV,3,2115

Petruchio. Well, sir, in brief, the gown is not for me.

Grumio. You are i' th' right, sir; 'tis for my mistress.

62

IV,3,2117

Petruchio. Go, take it up unto thy master's use.

Grumio. Villain, not for thy life! Take up my mistress' gown for
thy master's use!

63

IV,3,2120

Petruchio. Why, sir, what's your conceit in that?

Grumio. O, sir, the conceit is deeper than you think for.
Take up my mistress' gown to his master's use!
O fie, fie, fie!