SCENE III. Enter the Duke, and geon bare-beaded; with the Headfman, and other Officers. Duke. Yet once again proclaim it publickly, If any friend will pay the fum for him, He fhall not die, fo much we tender him. Adr. Juftice moft facred Duke, against the Abbefs. Duke. She is a virtuous and a reverend Lady; It cannot be, that the hath done thee wrong. Adr. May it please your Grace, Antipholis my husband, (Whom I made lord of me and all I had, A moft outrageous fit of madness took him; By rushing in their houfes; bearing thence Rings, jewels, any thing his rage did like. Once did I get him bound, and fent him home, He broke from thofe that had the guard of him: Nor fend him forth, that we may hear him hence. (9) And, with bis mad attendant AND bimfelf] We should MAD bimself. read, Duke. Long fince thy husband ferv'd me in my wars ; And I to thee engag'd a Prince's word, (When thou didst make him mafter of thy bed,) SCENE IV. Enter a Meffenger. Meff. O miftrefs, mistress, fhift and fave yourself; Great pails of puddled mire to quench the hair; Adr. Peace, fool, thy mafter and his man are here, And that is false, thou doft report to us. Meff Miftrefs, upon my life, I tell you true;' I have not breath'd almoft, fince I did fee it. He cries for you, and vows if he can take you, (1) To fcorch your face, and to disfigure you. (Cry within. Hark, hark, I hear him, miftrefs; fly, be gone. Duke. Come, ftand by me, fear nothing: guard with halberds. Adr. Ay me, it is my husband; witness you, That he is borne about invisible ! Ev'n now we hous'd him in the abbey here, And now he's there, past thought of human reafon. (1) To SCORCH your face,] We should read scoтCH, i. e. hack, cut. WARBURTON. SCENE SCENE V. Enter Antipholis, and Dromio of Ephefus. E. Ant. Juftice, moft gracious, Duke, oh, grant me juftice. Even for the fervice that long fince I did thee, When I beftrid thee in the wars, and took Deep fears to fave thy life; even for the blood. Egeon. Unless the fear of death doth make me dote, I fee my fon Antipbolis, and Dromio. E. Ant. Juftice, fweet Prince, againft that woman there : She whom thou gav'ft to me to be my wife ; That hath abufed and difhonour'd me, Ev'n in the strength and height of injury. Beyond imagination is the wrong, That the this day hath fhameless thrown on me. juft. E. Ant. This day, great Duke, the fhut the doors upon me; Whilft the with harlots feafted in my house. Duke. A grievous fault; fay, woman, didft thou fo? Adr. No, my good Lord-myfelf, he, and my fifter, To-day did dine together: fo befal my foul, As this is falfe, he burdens me withal! Luc. Ne'er may I look on day, nor fleep on night, But he tells to your highnefs fimple truth I Ang. O perjur'd woman! they are both forfworn. In this the madman juftly chargeth them. E. Ant. My Liege, I am advifed, what I fay. I went to feek him; in the ftreet I met him, There did this perjur'd goldfmith fwear me down, I did obey, and sent my peasant home For certain ducats; he with none return'd. To go in perfon with me to my house. By th' way we met my wife, her fifter, and They brought one Pinch, a hungry lane-fac'd villain, A thread-bear juggler, and a fortune-teller, They left me and my man, both bound together; Ran hither to your Grace; whom I beseech For thefe deep thames and great indignities. Ang. My Lord, in truth, thus far I witnefs with him ;, That he din'd not at home, but was lock'd out. Duke. But had he fuch a chain of thee, or no? Ang. He had, my Lord; and when he ran in here, Thefe people faw the chain about his neck. Mer. Befides, I will be fworn, thefe ears of mine Heard you confefs, you had the chain of him After firft forfwore it on the mart; you And thereupon I drew my fword on you; you From whence, I think, you're come by miracle. I never I never faw the chain, fo help me heav'n! Duke. Why, what an intricate impeach is this? Scup: E. Dro. Sir, he din'd with her there, at the Porcupine. Cour. He did, and from my finger fnatch'd that ring. ther; I think, you are all mated, or ftark mad. plan[Exit one to the Abbess. SCENE VI. Egeon, Moft mighty Duke, vouchfafe to fpeak a word: Haply, I fee a friend, will fave my life; And the fum that pay may deliver me. Duke. Speak freely, Syracufan, what thou wilt. Egeon. Is not your name, Sir, call'd Antipholis ? And is not that your bond-man Dromio? E. Dro. Within this hour I was his bond-man, Sir, But he, I thank him, gnaw'd in two my cords Now am I Dromio, and his man unbound. Egeon. I am fure, you both of you remember me. E. Dro. Ourfelves we do remember, Sir, by you; For lately we were Jound, as you are now. You are not Pinch's patient; are you, Sir? Egeon. Why look you ftrange on me? you know me well. E. Ant. I never faw you in my life, 'till now. Egeon. Oh! grief hath chang'd me, fince you faw me laft; And careful hours with time's deformed hand |