XII.

DROMIO of Syracuse brings the gold to ANTIPHOLUS

of Syracuse: they are met by the Courtezan, who claims the gold chain promised to her by ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus.

“ Cour. Well met, well met, master Antipholus. I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now: Is that the chain you promised me to-day?

ANT. Satan, avoid ! I charge thee tempt me not !

Cour. Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner,
Or, for my diamond, the chain you promised,
And I'll be gone, sir, and not trouble you.

Dro. Some devils ask but the paring of one's nail,
A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin,
A nut, a cherry-stone; but she, more covetous,
Would have a chain.
Master, be wise : an' if you give it her,
The devil will shake her chain, and fright us with it.

Cour. I pray you, sir, my ring, or else the chain.
I hope you do not mean to cheat me so.
Ant. Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio, let us go.”

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.

XIII.

The Courtezan having persuaded ADRIANA and LU

CIANA that ANTIPHOLUS is mad, they obtain the aid of PINCH, a conjurer, to set him in his wits again. They meet ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO of Ephesus; the former under the conduct of the officer by whom ANGELO had arrested him.

“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.

More company ;-the fiend is strong within him.

Ad. Good master doctor, see him safe convey'd
Home to my house.-O most unhappy day!

Ant. O most unhappy strumpet!
Dro. Master, I am enter'd in bond for you.
Ant. Out on thee, villain! wherefore dost thou mad

me?
Dro. Will you be bound for nothing? Be mad,
Good master; cry, the devil.-
Luc. God help, poor souls, how idly do they talk !"

Act IV. S. 4.

XIV.

ANGELO and the Merchant meet ANTIPHOLUS of

Syracuse roith the gold chain round his neck; DROMIO of Syracuse is with him.

“ Ang. Signor 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;
Who, but for staying on our controversy,
Had hoisted sail, and put to sea to-day.
This chain you had of me: can you deny it?

ANT. I think I had; I never did deny it.
Mer. Yes, that you did, sir; and forswore it too.
ANT. Who heard me to deny it or forswear it?
MER. These ears of mine, thou knowest, did hear thee.
Fie on thee, wretch ! 'tis pity that thou liv'st
To walk where any honest men resort.

Ant. Thou art a villain to impeach me thus :
I'll prove my honour and mine honesty
Against thee presently, if thou dar’st stand.

MER. I dare, and do defy thee for a villain.

Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, Courtezan, and others.

AD. Hold ! hurt him not, for God's sake! he is mad. Some get within him, take his sword away : Bind Dromio too, and bear them to my house.

Dro. Run, master, run; for God's sake take a house. This is some priory ;--In, or we are spoil'd.”

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.

17

17

XV.

ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, having gnawed his bonds

in sunder, released DROMIO.

55.. Beaten the maids a-row, and bound the doctor, Whose beard they have singed off with brands of fire; And ever as it blazed, they threw on him Great pails of puddled mire to quench the hair : My master preaches patience to him, while His man with scissors nicks him like a fool.”

Act V. S. 1.

XVI. The Duke, with ÆGEON going to execution, passes the

Priory; and while ADRIANA requests his authority to take her husband from the Priory, ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO of Ephesus, having escaped from PINCH, enter.

“AD. ... The abbess shuts the gates on us,
And will not suffer us to fetch him out,
Nor send him forth, that we may bear him hence:
Therefore, most gracious duke, with thy command,
Let him be brought forth, and borne hence for help.

Ant. Justice, most gracious duke! oh, grant me justice!

Æge. Unless the fear of death do make me dote, I see my son Antipholus and Dromio.

Ant. Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there. She whom thou gav'st to me to be my wife; That hath abused and dishonour'd me Even in the strength and height of injury ! Beyond imagination is the wrong That she this day hath shameless thrown on me.”