The phantom of the moment, hath possest him; Adr. Pray, Heaven, it may ; For till he shake it off, no mate have I, But jealous doubt, or dark despondency. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The Mart. Enter ANTIPHOLIS OF SYRACUSE. Ant. of Syr. There's not a man I meet but doth salute me, As if I were his well acquainted friend; And every one doth call me by my name. Some tender money to me, some invite me, While others give me thanks for kindnesses. And show'd me silks that he had bought for me, And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here. Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Dro. of Syr. Master, here's the gold you sent me for.-What, have you got rid of the fiend? Ant. of Syr. What gold is this?-What fiend dost thou mean? Dro. of Syr. He that came behind you, sir, like an evil angel, and bid you forsake your liberty. Ant. of Syr. Mean'st thou an officer? Dro. of Syr. Ay, sir, the sergeant of the band-he that brings any man to answer it, that breaks his bond. One that thinks a man always going to bed, and says, Heaven send you good rest! Ant. of Syr. Well, sir, there rest your foolery!-Is there any ship puts forth to-night? May we begone? Dro. of Syr. Why, sir, I brought you word, an hour since, that the Bark, Expedition, puts forth tonight; and then were you hindered by the sergeant, to tarry for the hoy, Delay. Here are the angels, that you sent for, to deliver you. Ant. of Syr. The fellow is distract, and so am I; And here we wander in illusion Some blessed power deliver us from hence!— Enter LESBIA. Lesbia. Well met, well met, Master Antipholis! Lesbia. Not know me ?-how?-Am I not Lesbia? No touch of modesty? Why will you tear Lesbia. Ay, as we sat at dinner. Ant. of Syr. I ne'er beheld thy face until this in stant. Lesbia. And told'st me that thy wife Ant. of Syr. My wife?-thou sorceress! Dro. of Syr. Master, you certainly have been married, And have forgot it. Lesbia. Say, did you not, Antipholis ? Lesbia. Nor take my ring? Ant. of Syr. No, no-nor comprehend What thy false tongue hath utter'd.-Dromio, Follow me to our inn-I will not stay, Nor longer listen to thy sorceries. [Exit.-LESBIA, offering to follow. Dro. of Syr. No, you don't. [Draws.] Here's my charm against witches.-Mistress, it is written that evil spirits appear to men like angels of light. Light is an effect of fire, and fire will burn.-Ergo-light wenches will burn-therefore we will not trust ourselves near you. [Exit. Lesbia. Now out of doubt, Antipholis is mad, Else would he never so demean himself. A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats, Both one and other he denies me now. What then remains! what measures shall I take? He rush'd into my house, and took, perforce, My ring away-This course I fittest chuse, To right myself against this madman's wrong. [Exit. SCENE IV. The Mart. Enter ANTIPHOLIS OF EPHESUS and OFFICER. Ant. of Eph. Fear me not, man! I will not break away. I'll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money Enter DROMIO OF EPHESUS, with a Rope. Ant. of Eph. How now, sir, have you that I sent you for? Dro. of Eph. Here's that, I'll warrant you, will pay them all. Ant. of Eph. But where's the money? Dro. of Eph. Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope. Ant. of Eph. Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope? Dro. of Eph. I'll serve you, sir, five thousand at that rate. Ant. of Eph. To what end did I bid thee hie thee hence? Dro. of Eph. To a rope's end, sir, and to that end am I return'd. Ant. of Eph. And to that end, sir, will I welcome [Beats him. you. Offi. Good sir, be patient. Dro. of Eph. Nay, 'tis for me to be patient, I am in adversity. Offi. Good now, hold thy tongue. Dro. of Eph. Nay, rather persuade him to hold his hands. Ant. of Eph. Thou whoreson, senseless villain! Dro. of Eph. I would I were senseless, sir, that I might not feel your blows. Ant. of Eph. Thou art sensible in nothing but blows, and so is an ass. Dro. of Eph. I am an ass, indeed, you may prove it by my endurance. I have served him from the hour of my nativity to this instant, and have had nothing at his hands for my service but blows-When I am cold, he heats me with beating; when I am warm, he cools me with beating. I am waked with it when I sleep, raised with it when I sit, driven out of doors with it when I go abroad, welcomed home with it when I return; nay, I bear it on my shoulders, as a beggar does her brat-and, I think, when he hath lamed me, I shall beg with it from door to door. Ant. of Eph. Well, we'll along; my wife is coming yonder. Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, LESBIA, DR. PINCH, &c. Dro. of Eph. Mistress, respice finem, respect your end-or rather the prophecy, like the parrot, beware of the rope's end. Ant. of Eph. Wilt thou still prate ? art thou not quieted? Then take thou that, and that. Offi. Good sir, be patient. [Beats him. Lesbia. How say you now? Is not your husband mad? Adr. His incivility confirms no less; Good Dr. Pinch, you are a skilful man, Establish him in his true sense again, And I will pay you what you shall demand. Luc. Alas! how fiery and how fierce he looks! Lesbia. Mark how he trembles in his ecstacy! Pinch. Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse. Ant. of Eph. There is my hand, and let it feel your [Strikes. ear! Pinch. I charge thee, Satan, hous'd within this man, To yield possession to my holy prayers; And to thy state of darkness hie thee straight. |