Speeches (Lines) for Curtis
in "Taming of the Shrew"
Total: 20

1

IV,1,1631

(stage directions). Enter CURTIS

Curtis. Who is that calls so coldly?

2

IV,1,1635

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.

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

3

IV,1,1638

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

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

4

IV,1,1642

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.

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

5

IV,1,1648

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?

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

6

IV,1,1652

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.

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

7

IV,1,1654

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

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

8

IV,1,1661

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?

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

9

IV,1,1664

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

Curtis. How?

10

IV,1,1667

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

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

11

IV,1,1669

Grumio. Lend thine ear.

Curtis. Here.

12

IV,1,1671

Grumio. There. [Striking him]

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

13

IV,1,1676

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-

Curtis. Both of one horse?

14

IV,1,1678

Grumio. What's that to thee?

Curtis. Why, a horse.

15

IV,1,1689

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.

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

16

IV,1,1697

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?

Curtis. They are.

17

IV,1,1699

Grumio. Call them forth.

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

18

IV,1,1702

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

Curtis. Who knows not that?

19

IV,1,1704

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

Curtis. I call them forth to credit her.

20

IV,1,1793

Grumio. Where is he?

Curtis. In her chamber. Making a sermon of continency to her,
And rails, and swears, and rates, that she, poor soul,
Knows not which way to stand, to look, to speak.
And sits as one new risen from a dream.
Away, away! for he is coming hither. Exeunt