Ant. E. Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a One, whose hard heart is button'd up with steel; rope; And told thee to what purpose and what end. Dro. S. You sent me, sir, for a rope's end as A back-friend, a shoulder-clapper, one that coun soon: You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark. Ant. E. I will debate this matter at more leisure, [Exeunt Mer. Ang. Off. and Ant. E. For servants must their masters' minds fulfil. [Ex.| Luciana. Adr. Ah, Luciana, did he tempt thee so? Might'st thou perceive austerely in his eye Luc. First, he denied you had in him no right. Luc. Then swore he, that he was a stranger here. Adr. And true he swore, though yet forsworn he were. First he did praise my beauty; then, my speech. Luc. Who would be jealous then of such a one? Adr. Ah! but I think him better than I say, curse. Enter Dromio of Syracuse. termands The passages of alleys, creeks, and narrow lands; A hound that runs counter, and yet draws dry-foot well One that, before the judgment, carries poor souls to hell. Adr. Why, man, what is the matter? Dro. S. I do not know the matter: he is 'rested on the case. Adr. What, is he arrested? tell me, at whose suit. Dro. S. I know not at whose suit he is arrested, well; But he's in a suit of buff, which 'rested him, that can I tell : Will you send him, mistress, redemption, the mo- Adr. Go fetch it, sister.—This I wonder at, Dro. S. No, no, the bell: 'tis time, that I were 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 Nay, he's a thief too: Have you not heard men say, Enter Luciana. Adr. Go, Dromio; there's the money, bear it straight; And bring thy master home immediately.Come, sister; I am press'd down with conceit; Conceit, my comfort, and my injury. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. Enter Antipholus of Syracuse. Ant. S. There's not a man I meet, but doth As if I were their well-acquainted friend; Dro. S. Here, go; the desk, the purse; sweet And, therewithal, took measure of my body. Luc. How hast thou lost thy breath? (1) An allusion to the redness of the northern (3) Marked by nature with deformity. Sure, these are but imaginary wiles, 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? (5) The officers in those days were clad in buff, which is also a cant expression for a man's skin. (6) Hell was the cant term for prison. (7) i. e. Bond. (8) Fanciful conception. Ant. S. What gold is this? what Adam dost thou mean? 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 kill'd for the prodigal; he that came behind you, sir, like an evil angel, and bid you forsake your liberty. Ant. Š. 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 suits of durance; he that sets up his rest to do more exploits with his mace, than a morris-pike. Ant. S. 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. Dro. S. Fly pride, says the peacock: Mistress, Exit. Ant. S. Well, sir, there rest in your foolery. Is there any ship puts forth to-night? may we be gone? Ant. E. Fear me not, man, I will not break away; Dro. S. Why, sir, I brought you word an hour I'll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money since, that the bark Expedition put forth to-night; To warrant thee, as I am 'rested for. and then were you hindered by the sergeant, to My wife is in a wayward mood to-day; tarry for the hoy, Delay: Here are the angels that And will not lightly trust the messenger, That I should be attach'd in Ephesus: you sent for, to deliver you. Ant. S. The fellow is distract, and so am I; And here we wander in illusions; Some blessed power deliver us from hence! Enter a Courtezan. Cour. Well met, well met, master Antipholus. Ant. S. Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not! Dro. S. Master, is this mistress Satan? I tell you, 'twill sound harshly in her ears. Enter Dromio of Ephesus, with a rope's end. Ant. E. But where's the money? Dro. E. Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope. Dro. E. To a rope's end, sir; and to that end 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 am I return'd. damn me, that's as much as to say, God make me a light wench. It is written, they appear to men you. 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, 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 : Or, for my diamond, the chain you promis'd; Ant. E. And to that end, sir, I will welcome [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 serv'd him from the hour of nativity to this instant, and have nothing at his hands for my service, but blows: when I am cold, at 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, I 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. Dro. S. 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, Master, be wise; and if you give it her, The devil will shake her chain, and fright us with it. Enter Adriana, Luciana, and the Courtezan, with Ant. E. Come, go along; my wife is coming (1) Correct them all. Dro. E. Mistress, respice finem, end; or rather the prophecy, like the ware the rope's end. respect your I know it by their pale and deadly looks: parrot, Be- They must be bound, and laid in some dark room. Ant. E. Say, wherefore didst thou lock me forth [Beats him. Cour. How say you now? is not your husband mad? Ant. E. Wilt thou still talk? Did this companion' with a saffron face 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 ? Dro. E. Sir, sooth to say, you did not dine at home. Ant. E. Were not my doors lock'd up, and shut out? I Dro. E. Perdy, your doors were lock'd, and you shut out. 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? Dro. E. Certes, she did; the kitchen-vestal scorn'd you. 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 sooth 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 might, But, surely, master, not a rag of money. 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 in me this shameful sport. [Pinch and his assistants bind Ant. and Dro. Adr. O, bind him, bind him, let him not come near me. Pinch. More company;-the fiend is strong within him. Luc. Ah me, poor man, how pale and wan he looks! Ant. E. What, will you murder me? Thou gaoler, thou, I am thy prisoner; wilt thou suffer them off. Masters, let him go; He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him. Off. He is my prisoner; if I let him go, Adr. I will discharge thee, ere I go from thee: Bear me forthwith unto his creditor, And, knowing how the debt grows, I will pay it. Good master doctor, see him safe convey'd Home to my house.- O most unhappy day! Ant. E. O most unhappy strumpet! Dro. E. Master, I am here enter'd in bond for you. Ant. E. Out on thee, villain! wherefore dost thou mad me? 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. [Exe. Pinch and assistants, with Ant. and Dro. Say now, whose suit is he arrested at? Off. One Angelo, a goldsmith; Do you know him? not. Cour. When as your husband, all in rage, to-day Came to my house, and took away my ring, (The ring I saw upon his finger now,) Ant. E. Went'st not thou to her for a purse of Straight after, did I meet him with a chain. ducats? (5) Foolish. (6) Unhappy for unlucky, i. e. mischievous. To have them bound again. Ant. S. Come to the Centaur; fetch our stuff I long, that we were safe and sound aboard. Dro. S. Faith, stay here this night, they will surely do us no harm; you saw, they speak us fair, give us 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. Ant. S. I will not stay to-night for all the town: Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard. ACT V. SCENE I.-The same. Adr. To fetch my poor distracted husband hence; Ang. I knew, he was not in his perfect wits. Adr. This week he hath been heavy, sour, sad, Abb. Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck at [Exe. Bury'd some dear friend? Hath not else his eye Adr. To none of these, except it be the last: Angelo. Mer. How is the man esteem'd here in the city? Enter Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse. That you would put me to this shame and trouble; hear thee: Fie on thee, wretch! 'tis pity, that thou liv'st Ant. S. Thou art a villain, to impeach me thus: Some get within him,2 take his sword away: This is some priory ;-In, or we are spoil'd. gage. And in assemblies too. Abb. Ay, but not enough. Still did I tell him it was vile and bad. Abb. And thereof came it, that the man was mad: Unquiet meals make ill digestions, Luc. She never reprehended him but mildly, When he demeaned himself rough, rude, and wildly. Why bear you these rebukes, and answer not? Abb. No, not a creature enters in my house. Abb. Neither; he took this place for sanctuary, Adr. I will attend my husband, be his nurse, (4) Theme. And therefore let me have him home with me. Therefore depart, and leave him here with me. Adr. I will not hence and leave my husband here; And ill doth it beseem your holiness, To separate the husband and the wife. him. Abb. Be quiet and depart, thou shalt not have [Exit Abbess. Luc. Complain unto the duke of this indignity. Adr. Come, go; I will fall prostrate at his feet, And never rise until my tears and prayers Have won his grace to come in person hither, And take perforce my husband from the abbess. Mer. By this, I think, the dial points at five: Anon, I am sure, the duke himself in person Comes this way to the melancholy vale, The place of death and sorry3 execution, Behind the ditches of the abbey here. Ang. Upon what cause? Mer. To see a reverend Syracusan merchant, Against the laws and statutes of this town, Ang. See, where they come; we will behold his death. Luc. Kneel to the duke, before he pass the abbey. Enter Duke attended; Egeon bare-headed; with the Headsman and other officers. Duke. Yet once again proclaim it publicly, If any friend will pay the sum for him, He shall not die, so much we tender him. Adr. Justice, most sacred duke, against the abbess! Duke. She is a virtuous and a reverend lady; Whom I made lord of me and all I had, my By rushing in their houses, bearing thence Nor send him forth, that we may bear him hence. (1) i. e. To bring him back to his senses. (6) Know. Serv. O mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself! My master and his man are both broken loose, 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 scissars nicks him like a fool: And, sure, unless you send some present help, Between them they will kill the conjurer. Adr. Peace, fool, thy master and his man are here; And that is false thou dost report to us. Serv. Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true; I have not breath'd almost, since I did see it. He cries for you, and vows, if he can take you, To scorch your face, and to disfigure you: [Cry within. Hark, hark, I hear him, mistress; fly, be gone. Duke. Come, stand by me, fear nothing: Guard with halberds. That he is borne about invisible: Even now we hous'd him in the abbey here; 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 there. She whom thou gav'st to me to be my wife; That she this day hath shameless thrown on me. |