Enter a Merchant, Angelo, and an Officer. To Persia, and want gilders for my voyage: Ang. Even just the sum, that I do owe to you, Is growing to me by Antipholus: And in the instant that I met with you, I shall receive the money for the same: [thou Off. That labour may you save; see where he comes. Ant. E. While I go to the goldsmith's house, go And buy a rope's end; that will I bestow Among my wife and her confederates, For locking me out of my doors by day.But soft, I see the goldsmith-get thee gone; Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me. Dro. E. I buy a thousand pound a-year! I buy a rope! [Exit. Ant. K. A man is well holp up, that trusts to you: I pray you, see him presently discharg'd, [you? Ang. Well, sir, I will: Have you the chain about Ant. E. An if I have not, sir, I hope you have; Or else you may return without your money. Ang. Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the chain: Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman, And I, to blame, have held him here too long. Ant. E. Good lord, you use this dalliance to excuse Your breach of promise to the Porcupine: I should have chid you for not bringing it, But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl. Ant. E. You gave me none; you wrong me much to say so. Ang. You wrong me more, sir, in denying it; Consider, how it stands upon my credit. Mer. Well, officer, arrest him at my suit. Off. I do; and charge you, in the duke's name, to obey me. Ang. This touches me in reputation :- Ant. E. Consent to pay thee that I never had! Ang. Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer;I would not spare my brother in this case, If he should scorn me so apparently. Of. I do arrest you, sir; you hear the suit. Ant. E. I do obey thee, till I give thee bail:But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dear As all the metal in your shop will answer. Ang. Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus, To your notorious shame, I doubt it not. Enter Dromio of Syracuse. Dro. S. Master, there is a bark of Epidamnum, That stays but till her owner comes aboard, And then, sir, bears away; our fraughtage, sir, I have convey'd aboard; and I have bought The oil, the balsamum, and aqua-vitæ. The ship is in her trim; the merry wind Blows fair from land: they stay for nought at all, But for their owner, master, and yourself. [sheep, Ant. E. How now? a mad man! Why, thou peevish What ship of Epidamnum stays for me? Dro. S. A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage. Ant. E. Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope; And told thee to what purpose, and what end. Dro. S. You sent me, sir, for a rope's end as soon: You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark. Ant. E. I will debate this matter at more leisure, And teach your ears to listen with more heed. To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight: Give her this key, and tell her, in the desk That's cover'd o'er with Turkish tapestry, There is a purse of ducats; let her send it; Tell her, I am arrested in the street, On, officer, to prison till it come. And that shall bail me: hie thee, slave; be gone. [Exeunt Mer. Ang. Off. and Ant. E. Dro. S. To Adriana! that is where we din'd, Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband: She is too big, I hope, for me to compass, For servants must their masters' minds fulfil. [Exit. Thither I must, although against my will, First, he did praise my beauty; then, my speech. Adr. Didst speak him fair? Luc. Have patience, I beseech. Mer. The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, despatch. My tongue, though not my heart, shall have his will. Adr. I cannot, nor I will not, hold me still; Ang. You hear, how he importunes me; the chain-He is deformed, crooked, old, and sere, Ant. E. Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money. [now; Ang. Come, come, you know, I gave it you even Either send the chain, or send me by some token. Ant. E. Fie! now you ran this humour out of breath; Come, where's the chain, I pray you, let me see it." Mer. My business cannot brook this dalliance; Good sir, say, whe'r you'll answer me, or no ; If not, I'll leave him to the officer. Ant. E. I answer you! What should I answer you? Ang. The money, that you owe me for the chain. Ant. E. I owe you none, till I receive the chain. Ang. You know, I gave it you half an hour since. Il-faced, worse-bodied, shapeless, every where; No evil lost is 'wail'd when it is gone. Adr. Ah! but I think him better than I say, Dro. S. Here, go; the desk, the purse; sweet now, make haste. Luc. How hast thou lost thy breath? By running fast. [mands A back-friend, a shoulder-clapper, one that counterThe passages of alleys, creeks, and narrow lands; A hound that runs counter, and yet draws dry-foot well; [hell. One that, before the judgment, carries poor souls to Adr. Why, man, what is the matter? [the case. Dro. S. I do not know the matter: he is 'rested on Adr. What, is he arrested? tell me, at whose suit. Dro. S. I know not at whose suit he is arrested, well; [I tell But he's in a suit of buff, which 'rested him, that can Will you send him, mistress, redemption, the money in the desk? Adr. Go fetch it, sister.-This I wonder at, [Exit Luciana. That he, unknown to me, should be in debt: Tell me, was he arrested on a band? Dro. S. Not on a band, but on a stronger thing; A chain, a chain; do you not hear it ring? Adr. What, the chain? Dro. S. No, no, the bell: 'tis time that I were gone. [one. It was two ere I left him, and now the clock strikes Adr. The hours come back! that did I never hear. Dro. S. O yes, if any hour meet a sergeant, a'turns back for very fear. Adr. As if time were in debt! how fondly dost thou reason! Dro. S. Time is a very bankrupt, and owes more than he's worth, to season. Nay, he's a thief too: Have you not heard men say, Adr. Go, Dromio; there's the money, bear it straight; SCENE III. The same. [Exeunt. [me Ant. S. There's not a man I meet, but doth salute And show'd me silks that he had bought for me, Enter Dromio of Syracuse. Dro. S. Master, here's the gold you sent me for: What, have you got the picture of old Adam new apparell'd? [mean ? Ant. S. What gold is this? what Adam dost thou Dro. S. Not that Adam, that kept the paradise, but that Adam, that keeps the prison: he that goes in the calf's-skin that was killed for the prodigal; he that came behind you, sir, like an evil angel, and bid you forsake your liberty. Ant. S. I understand thee not. Dro. S. No! why, 'tis a plain case: he that went like a base-viol, in a case of leather; the man, sir, that, when gentlemen are tired, gives them a fob, and 'rests them: he, sir, that takes pity on decayed men, and gives them saits of durance; he that sets ap his rest to do more exploits with his mace, than a morris-pike. Ant. 8. What! thou mean'st an officer? Dro. S. Ay sir, the sergeant of the band; he, that brings any man to answer it, that breaks his band: one that thinks a man always going to bed, and says, God give you good rest! Ant. S. Well, sir, there rest in your foolery. Is there any ship puts forth to-night? may we be gone? Dro. S. Why, sir, I brought you word an hour since, that the bark, Expedition, put forth to-night; 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. S. The fellow is distract, and so am I; Cour. Well met, well met, master Antipholus. Dro. S. Nay, she is worse, she is the devil's dam; and here she comes in the habit of a light wench; and thereof comes, that the wenches say, God damn me, that's as much as to say, God make me a light wench. It is written, they appear to men like angels of light: light is an effect of fire, and fire will burn; ergo, light wenches will burn; Come not near her. Cour. Your man and you are marvellous merry, sir. Will you go with me? We'll mend our dinner here. Dro. S. Master, if you do, expect spoon-meat, or bespeak a long spoon. Ant. S. Why, Dromio? Dro. S. Marry, he must have a long spoon, that must eat with the devil. Ant. S. Avoid then, fiend! what tell'st thou me Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress: [of supping? I conjure thee to leave me, and be gone. Cour. Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner, Or, for my diamond, the chain you promis'd; And I'll be gone, sir, and not trouble you. Dro. S. Some devils ask but the paring of one's nai!, Master, be wise; an' if you give it her, SCENE IV. The same. [Exit. Enter Antipholus of Ephesus, and an Officer. Ant. E. Fear me not, man, I will not break away; I'll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money To warrant thee, as I am 'rested for. My wife is in a wayward mood to-day; And will not lightly trust the messenger, That I should be attach'd in Ephesus: I tell you, 'twill sound harshly in her ears.— Enter Dromio of Ephesus, with a Rope's End. Here comes my man; I think, he brings the money. How now, sir? have you that I sent you for? Dro. E. Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them all. Ant. E. But where's the money? Dro. E. Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope. Ant. E. Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope? Dro. E. I'll serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate. Ant. E. To what end did I bid thee hie thee home? Dro. E. To a rope's end, sir! and to that end am I return'd. Ant. E. And to that end, sir, I will welcome you. [Beating him. Off. Good sir, be patient. Dro. E. Nay, 'tis for me to be patient; I am in adversity. Off. Good now, hold thy tongue. Dro. E. Nay, rather persuade him to hold his hands. Ant. E. Thou whoreson, senseless villain! Dro. E. I would I were senseless, sir, that I might not feel your blows. Ant. E. Thou art sensible in nothing but blows, and so is an ass. Dro. E. I am an ass, indeed; you may prove it by my long ears. I have served him from the hour of nativity to this instant, and have 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 from home; welcomed home with it, when I return: nay, 1 bear it on my shoulders, as a beggar wont her brat; and, I think, when he hath lamed me, I shall beg with it from door to door. Enter Adriana, Luciana, and the Courtesan, with Pinch, and others. Ant. E. Come, go along; my wife is coming yonder. Dro. E. Mistress, respice finem, respect your end; or rather the prophecy, like the parrot, Beware the rope's end. Ant. E. Wilt thou still talk? [Beats him. Cour. How say you now? is not your husband mad? Adr. His incivility confirms no less.-Good doctor Pinch, you are a conjurer; Establish him in his true sense again, And I will please you what you will demand. Luc. Alas, how fiery and how sharp he looks! Cour. Mark, how he trembles in his ecstasy! Pinch. Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse. Ant. E. There is my hand, and let it feel your 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; I conjure thee by all the saints in heaven. Ant. E. Peace,doting wizard, peace; I am not mad. Adr. O, that thou wert not, poor distressed soul ! Ant. E. You minion, you, are these your customers? Did this companion with the saffron face Revel and feast it at my house to-day, Whilst upon me the guilty doors were shut, And I denied to enter in my house? Adr. O,husband, God doth know, you din'd at home, Where 'would you had remain'd until this time, Free from these slanders, and this open shame! Ant. E. I din'd at home! Thou villain, what say'st thou? [home. Dro. E. Sir, sooth to say, you did not dine at Ant. E. Were not my doors lock'd up, and I shut out? [out. Dro. E. Perdy, your doors were lock'd, and you shut Ant. E. And did not she herself revile me there? Dro. E. Sans fable, she herself revil'd you there. Ant. E. Did not her kitchen-maid rail, taunt, and scorn me? [you Dro. E. Certes she did; the kitchen-vestal scorn'd Ant. E. And did not I in rage depart from thence? Dro. E. In verity you did ;-my bones bear witness, That since have felt the vigour of his rage. Adr. Is't good to soothe him in these contraries ? Pinch. It is no shame; the fellow finds his vein, And, yielding to him, humours well his frenzy. Ant. E. Thou hast suborn'd the goldsmith to arrest me. Adr. Alas, I sent you money to redeem you, By Dromio here, who came in haste for it. Dro. E. Money by me? heart and good-will you But, surely, master, not a rag of money. [might, Ant. E. Went'st not thou to her for a purse of Adr. He came to me, and I deliver'd it. [ducats? Luc. And I am witness with her, that she did. Dro. E. God and the rope-maker, bear me witness, That I was sent for nothing but a rope! Pinch. Mistress, both man and master is possess'd; I know it by their pale and deadly looks: They must be bound, and laid in some dark room. Ant. E. Say, wherefore didst thou lock me forth to-day, And why dost thou deny the bag of gold! Adr. I did not, gentle husband, lock thee forth. Dro. E. And, gentle master, I receiv'd no gold; But I confess, sir, that we were lock'd out. Adr. Dissembling villain, thou speak'st false in both. Ant. E. Dissembling harlot, thou art false in all. And art confederate with a damned pack, To make a loathsome abject scorn of me: But with these nails I'll pluck out these false eyes, That would behold me in this shameful sport. [Pinch and his Assistants bind Ant, and Dro. me. Adr. O, bind him, bind him, let him not come near [him. Pinch. More company;-the fiend is strong within Luc. Ah, me, poor man, how pale and wan he looks! [thou, Ant. E. What, wilt thou murder me? Thon gaoler, I am thy prisoner; wilt thou suffer them To make a rescue? Off. Masters, let him go; Off. He is my prisoner; if I let him go, Dro. E. Will you be bound for nothing? be mad, Good master; cry, the devil.- Luc. God help, poor souls, how idly do they talk! Adr.Go,bear him hence.-Sister,go you with me.[Exeunt Pinch and Assist, with Ant. E. and Dro. E. Say now, whose suit is he arrested at? Adr. It may be so, but I did never see it :- Enter Antipholus of Syracuse, with his Rapier drawn; and Dromio of Syracuse. Luc. God, for thy mercy! they are loose again. To have them bound again. Adr. And come with naked swords; let's call more [help, of. Away, they'll kill us." [Exeunt Officer, Adriana, and Luciana. Ant. S. I see, these witches are afraid of swords. Dro. S. She, that would be your wife, now ran from you. [thence: Ant. S. Come to the Centaur; fetch our stuff from I long, that we were safe and sound aboard. do us no harm; you saw, they speak us fair, give us Dro. S. Faith, stay here this night, they will surely gold: methinks, they are such a gentle nation, that, But for the mountain of mad flesh that claims marriage of me, I could find in my heart to stay here still, and turn witch, Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard. Ant. S. I will not stay to-night for all the town: [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. The same. Enter Merchant and Angelo. Ang. I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder'd you; But, I protest, he had the chain of me, Though most dishonestly he doth deny it. Mer. How is the man esteem'd here in the city? Ang. Of very reverend reputation, sir, Of credit infinite, highly belov'd, Second to none that lives here in the city; His word might bear my wealth at any time. Mer. Speak softly: yonder, as I think, he walks. Enter Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse. Ang. Tis so; and that self chain about his neck. Which he forswore, most monstrously, to have. Good sir, draw near to me, I'll speak to him.Signior Antipholus, I wonder much That you would put me to this shame and trouble; And not without some scandal to yourself, With circumstance, and oaths, so to deny This chain, which now you wear so openly: Besides the charge, the shame, imprisonment, You have done wrong to this my honest friend; Fie on thee, wretch! 'tis pity, that thou liv'st Ant. S. Thou art a villain, to impeach me thus: [They draw. Enter Adriana, Luciana, Courtesan, and others. Adr. Hold, hurt him not, for God's sake; he is mad : Some get within him, take his sword away: Dro. S. Run, master, run; for God's sake, take a Abb. Be quiet, people; Wherefore throng yon hither? long Ang. I knew, he was not in his perfect wits. Ne'er brake into extremity of rage. Abb. Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck at sea? A sin, prevailing much in youthful men, Adr. To none of these, except it be the last : Abb. Ay, but not rough enough. And in assemblies too. Abb. Ay, but not enough. And will have no attorney but myself: Mer. By this, I think, the dial points at tive: Ang. Upon what cause? Mer. To see a reverend Syracusan merchant, Ang. See, where they come; we will behold his death. He shall not die, so much we tender him. Adr. Justice, most sacred duke, against the abbess! Whom I made lord of me and all I had, By rushing in their houses, bearing thence He broke from those that had the guard of him; Each one with ireful passion, with drawn swords, Chas'd us away; till, raising of more aid, Abb. And thereof came it, that the man was mad: We came again to bind them: then they fled The venom clamours of a jealous woman Thou sayst, his sports were hinder'd by thy brawls : Adr. She did betray me to my own reproof.- Abb. No, not a creature enters in my house. forth. Abb. Neither; he took this place for sanctuary, Adr. I will attend my husband, be his nurse, Into this abbey, whither we pursued them; I will determine this, before I stir. [wars; Serv. O mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself! Serv. Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true; I have not breath'd almost, since I did see it. [Cry within. Hark, hark, I hear him, mistress; fly, be gone. Duke. Come, stand by me, fear nothing: Guard with halberds. Adr. Ah me, it is my husband! Witness you, Even now we hous'd him in the abbey here; Enter Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus. Ant. E. Justice, most gracious duke, oh, grant me justice ! Even for the service that long since I did thee, Ant. E. Justice, sweet prince, against that woman That she this day hath shameless thrown on me. Duke. Discover how, and thou shalt find ine just. Ant. E. This day, great duke, she shut the doors upon me, While she with harlots feasted in my house. Duke. A grievous fault: Say, woman, didst thou só? Adr. No, my good lord ;-myself, he, and my sister, To-day did dine together: So befall my soul, As this is false, he burdens me withal! Luc. Ne'er may I look on day, nor sleep on night, But she tells to your highness simple truth! Ang. O perjur'd woman! They are both fors worn, In this the madman justly chargeth them. Ant. E. My liege, I am advised what I say; There did this perjur'd goldsmith swear me down, I did obey; and sent my peasant home For certain ducats: he with none return'd. Then fairly I bespoke the officer, To go in person with me to my house. By the way we met My wife, her sister, and a rabble more Of vile confederates; along with them. They brought one Pinch; a hungry lean-fac'd villain, A thread-bare juggler, and a fortune-teller; There left me and my man, both bound together; For these deep shames, and great indignities. Duke. But had he such a chain of thee, or no? Ang. He had, my lord; and when he ran in here, These people saw the chain about his neck. Mer. Besides, I will be sworn, these ears of mine From whence, I think, you are come by miracle. Duke. Why, what an intricate impeach is this! I think, you all have drank of Circe's cup. If here you hous'd him, here he would have been ; If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly:-You say, he din'd at home; the goldsmith here Denies that saying:-Sirrah, what say you? Dro. E. Sir, he dined with her there, at the Por- I think, you are all mated, or stark-mad. Dro. E. Within this hour I was his bondman, sir, Ege. I am sure, you both of you remember me. Dro. E. Ourselves we do remember, sir, by you; For lately we were bound as you are now. You are not Pinch's patient, are you sir? Age. Why look you strange on me! you know me well. Ant. E. I never saw you in my life, till now. Ege. Oh! grief hath chang'd me, since you saw me last; And careful hours, with Time's deformed hand, Æge. Dromio, nor thou? Dro. E. No, trust me, sir, nor I. Ege. I am sure, thou dost. Dro. E. Ay, sir? but I am sure, I do not; and whatsoever a man denies, you are now bound to believe him. Age. Not know my voice! O, time's extremity! Ant. E. I never saw my father in my life. Ant. E. The duke, and all that know me in the Can witness with me that it was not so; I ne'er saw Syracusa in my life. Duke. I tell thee, Syracusan, twenty years I see, thy age and dangers make thee dote. [city, Re-enter the Abbess, with Antipholus Syracusan ; and Dromio Syracusan. Abb. Most mighty duke, behold a man much wrong'd." [All gather to see him. Adr. I see two husbands, or mine eyes deceive me. Duke. One of these men is genius to the other; And so of these: Which is the natural man, And which the spirit? Who deciphers them? Dro. S. I, sir, am Dromio; command him away. Drq. E. I, sir, am Dromio; pray let me stay. Ant. S. Ægeon, art thou not? or else his ghost? Dro.S. O, my old master! who hath bound him here? Abb. Whoever bound him, I will loose his bonds; And gain a husband by his liberty:Speak, old Ægeon, if thou be'st the man That hadst a wife once call'd Æmilia, That bore thee at a burden two fair sons. O, if thou be'st the same geon, speak, And speak unto the same Amilia! Ege. If I dream not, thou art Emilia ; If thou art she, tell me, where is that son That floated with thee on the fatal raft? Abb. By men of Epidamnum, he, and I, |