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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 4Scene 1
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“cold comfort … hot office”
Wordplay
Act 4,
Scene 1
Lines 18-27

An explanation of Grumio's wordplay on "cold comfort" and "hot office" in Act 4. Scene 1 of myShakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.

Grumio

She was, good Curtis, before this frost. But thou
knowest winter tames man, woman and beast; for it hath
tamed my old master, and my new mistress, and myself,
fellow Curtis.

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?    

Grumio will receive cold comfort (little reward) for being slow in his hot office (fire-making duty).