Adr. He meant, he did me none: the more my spite. Luc. Then swore he, that he was a stranger here. Adr. And true he swore, though yet forsworn he were. Luc. Then pleaded I for you. Adr. And what said he? Luc. That love I begg'd for you, he begg'd of me. Adr. With what persuasion did he tempt thy love? Luc. With words, that in an honest suit might move. First, he did praise my beauty; then, my speech. Adr. Did'st speak him fair? Luc. Have patience, I beseech. Adr. I cannot, nor I will not hold me still: My tongue, though not my heart, shall have his will. He is deformed, crooked, old, and sere, Ill-fac'd, worse bodied, shapeless every where; Vicious, ungentle, foolish, blunt, unkind, Stigmatical in making, worse in mind. Luc. Who would be jealous, then, of such a one? No evil lost is wail'd when it is gone. Adr. Ah! but I think him better than I say, And yet would herein others' eyes were worse. Far from her nest the lapwing cries away: My heart prays for him, though my tongue do curse. Enter DROMIO of Syracuse, running. Dro. S. Here, go: the desk! the purse! swift, now make haste. Luc. How hast thou lost thy breath? By running fast. A wolf, nay, worse, a fellow all in buff; A back friend, a shoulder-clapper, one that countermands Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse, wearing the chain. Ant. S. There's not a man I meet but doth salute me, As if I were their well acquainted friend; And every one doth call me by my name. Some tender money to me, some invite me; Some other give me thanks for kindnesses; Some offer me commodities to buy: Even now a tailor call'd me in his shop, And show'd me silks that he had bought for me, And, therewithal, took measure of my body. Sure, these are but imaginary wiles, And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here. 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? 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. 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 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 serjeant 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!" The passages and alleys, creeks and narrow lands: 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 money in his desk? Adr. Go fetch it, sister.-This I wonder at; Dro. S. Not on a band, but on a stronger thing; Dro. S. No, no, the bell. "Tis time that I were gone : Adr. As if time were in debt! how fondly dost thou 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 serjeant 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, Ant. S. Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not! 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, 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, thou fiend! what tell'st thou me of my nativity to this instant, and have nothing at his supping? Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress : I conjure thee to leave me, and be gone. 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 wak'd with it, when I sleep; rais'd Cour. Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner, with it, when I sit; driven out of doors with it, when Or for my diamond the chain you promised, Dro. S. Some devils ask but the parings of one's A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, a nut, a cherry- But she, more covetous, would have a chain. The devil will shake her chain, and fright us with it. Else would he never so demean himself. I go from home; welcomed home with it, when I 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? Ant. E. There is my hand, and let it feel your ear. Of his own doors being shut against his entrance. SCENE IV.-The Same. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, and a Jailor. My wife is in a wayward mood to-day, That I should be attach'd in Ephesus, I tell you, 'twill sound harshly in her ears. Dro. E. Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them all. Dro. E. Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope. Ant. E. And to that end, sir, I will welcome you. Jail. Good sir, be patient. Dro. E. Nay, 'tis for me to be patient; I am in adversity. Jail. Good now, hold thy tongue. Dro. E. Nay, rather persuade him to hold his hands. 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 Adr. O, husband, God doth know, you din'd at home; Ant. E. Din'd at home! Thou, villain, what say'st Dro. E. Sir, sooth to say, you did not dine at home. out? 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 rigour of his rage. Adr. Is't good to soothe him in these contraries? Ant. E. Thou hast suborn'd the goldsmith to arrest me. But, surely, master, not a rag of money. Ant. E. Went'st not thou to her for a purse of ducats! That I was sent for nothing but a rope! Pinch. Mistress, both man and master is possessed: 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 those false eyes, That would behold in me this shameful sport. Enter three or four, and bind ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO. Adr. O bind him, bind him! let him not come near Say, how grows it due? Jail. Due for a chain your husband had of him. Adr. He did bespeak a chain for me, but had it 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) Straight after did I meet him with a chain. is: Adr. It may be so, but I did never see it.Come, jailor, bring me where the goldsmith I long to know the truth hereof at large. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse, with his rapier drawn, and DROMIO of Syracuse. Luc. God, for thy mercy! they are loose again. Adr. And come with naked swords. Let's call more help, To have them bound again. Jail. Away! they'll kill us. [Exeunt ADRIANA, LUCIANA, and Jailor. Ant. S. I see, these witches are afraid of swords. Dro. S. She, that would be your wife, now ran from you. Ant. S. Come to the Centaur; fetch our stuff from thence: 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 spake us fair, gave 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 out stuff aboard. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. The Same. Before an Abbey. Enter Merchant and ANGELO. you; Ang. I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder'd That you would put me to this shame and trouble; You have done wrong to this my honest friend; thee. Fie on thee, wretch! 'tis pity that thou liv'st Ant. S. Thou art a villain to impeach me thus. [Exeunt ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO to the Abbey. Enter the Lady Abbess. Abb. Be quiet, people. Wherefore throng you hither? Adr. To fetch my poor distracted husband hence. 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 of sea? Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye Stray'd his affection in unlawful love? A sin prevailing much in youthful men, Adr. To none of these, except it be the last; Abb. And in assemblies too. Abb. And thereof came it that the man was mad : The venom clamours of a jealous woman Thou say'st, his meat was sauc'd with thy upbraidings: Luc. She never reprehended him but mildly, When he demean'd himself rough, rude, and wildly. Why bear you these rebukes, and answer not? Adr. She did betray me to my own reproof.Good people, enter, and lay hold on him. Abb. No; not a creature enters in my house. Adr. I will attend my husband, be his nurse, With wholesome syrups, drugs, and holy prayers, Therefore depart, and leave him here with me. Adr. I will not hence, and leave my husband here; And ill it doth beseem your holiness To separate the husband and the wife. Abb. Be quiet, and depart: thou shalt not have him. Mer. By this, I think, the dial points at five: Ang. Upon what cause? Mer. To see a reverend Syracusian 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; ÆGEON 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: It cannot be, that she hath done thee wrong. Adr. May it please your grace, Antipholus, my Whom I made lord of me, and all I had, By rushing in their houses, bearing thence Duke. Long since thy husband serv'd me in my wars, I will determine this, before I stir. Enter a Servant. Serv. O mistress, mistress! shift and save yourself. ར My master and his man are both broke loose, 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. with halberds! Guard Adr. Ah me, it is my husband! Witness you, 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. While she with harlots feasted in my house. Duke. A grievous fault. Say, woman, did'st thou so? Adr. No, my good lord: myself, he, and my sister, To-day did dine together. So befal 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 forsworn: 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 To go in person with me to my house. By the way we met My wife, her sister, and a rabble more A thread-bare juggler, and a fortune-teller, 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 Duke. Why, what an intricate impeach is this! Dro. E. Sir, he dined with her, there, at the Porcupine. I think you are all mated, or stark mad. [Exit an Attendant. Ege. Most mighty duke, vouchsafe me speak a word. Haply, I see a friend will save my life, And pay the sum that may deliver me. Duke. Speak freely, Syracusian, what thou wilt. Ege. Is not your name, sir, call'd Antipholus, And is not that your bondman Dromio? Dro. E. Within this hour I was his bondman, sir; But he, I thank him, gnaw'd in two my cords: Now am I Dromio, and his man, unbound. 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? Ege. Why look you strange on me? you know me well. Ant. E. I never saw you in my life, till now. Ege. O! grief hath chang'd me, since you saw me last; And careful hours, with time's deformed hand, Have written strange defeatures in my face: |