flesh-monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then Attorney'd at your service. reported him to be?
Duke. You must, fir, change perfons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke fo of him; and much more, much worse,
ljub. Oh, give me pardon,
That I, your vaffal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown sovereignty.
Duke. You are pardon'd, Ifabel:
Lavis. O thou damnable fellow! Did not And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
pluck thee by the nofe, for thy fpeeches? Duke. I proteft I love the duke, as I love
g. Hark! how the villain would clofe now, after his treasonable abuses.
Your brother's death, I know, fits at your heart: my-And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself, Labouring to fave his life; and would not rather Make rafh remonftrance of my hidden power, Than let him be so lost. Ob, most kind maid, Ffal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal: It was the fwift celerity of his death, Away with him to prifon :-Where is the provost ? Which I did think with flower foot came on, —Away with him to prifon; lay bolts enough upon That brain'd 5 my purpose. But peace be with him! hm: let him speak no more:-away with thofe That life is better life, past fearing death, [fort pgluts too, and with the other confederate compa-Than that which lives to fear: make it your com[The Provofi lays bands on the Duke. So, happy is your brother.
Duke. Stay, fir; stay a while.
g. What! refifts he? Help him, Lucio. Lacie. Come, fir; come, fir; come, fir; foh, fir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rafcal! you muft be hooded, muit you? Shew your knave's vifage, with a pox to you! fhew your sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off ? {Palis off the Friar's hood, and discovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave, that c'er mad'ft
Re-enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.
Ifab. I do, my lord.
[here, Duke. For this new-marry'd man, approaching Whofe falt imagination yet hath wrong'd Your well-defended honour, you must pardon him For Mariana's fake: But as he adjudg'd your brother, (Being criminal in double violation Of facred chastity; and of promise-breach, Thereon dependant, for your brother's life) The very mercy of the law cries out First, provoft, let me bail these gentle three :- Moft audible, even from his proper tongue, Steak not away, fir; [to Lucia.] for the friar and An Angelo for Claudio, death for death. Must have a word anon :--lay hold on him. [you] Hafte ftill pays hatte, and leiture answers leifure; Lar. This may prove worfe than hanging. Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure. Dake. What you have spoke, I pardon; fit you Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifefted; [tage 7: dow n. [To Ffealus. Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee vanWe'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your leave: We do condemn thee to the very block
[To Angelo. Where Claudio ftoop'd to death, and with like hafte;-
Hift thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office? If thou haft,
Ke's upon it till my tale he heard,
And hold no longer out.
Ang. O my dread lord,
1 fhould be guiltier than my guiltinefs,
To think I can be undiscernible,
When I perceive, your grace, like power divine,
Hith look'd upon my pate. 2: Then, good prince,
No longer feffion hold upon my thame,
But let my trial be mine own coufetlion.
Immediate fentence then, and fequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.
Dake. Come hither, Mariana :→→ Say, waft thou e'er contracted to this woman? . I was, my lord.
Mari. Oh, my moft gracious lord,
1 hope, you will not mock me with a husband!
Duke. It is your hufband mock'd you with a
hufband:
Confenting to the fafeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; elfe imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choak your good to come: for his poffeffions,
Although by confifcation they are ours,
We do enitate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.
Mari. Oh, my dear lord,
I crave no other, nor no better man.
Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mari. Gentle, my liege-
Duke. You do but lofe your labour ;—
Dat. Go take her hence, and marry her inDve the office, friar; which confummate, Bear him here again :-Go with him, provoft.Away with him to death.-Now, fir, to you.
[Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Proveft, Efal. My lord, I am more anıaz'd at his difThin at the ftrangeness of it.
Dake. Come hither, Ifabel:
Ifrar is now your prince: As I was then
Advert.fing and holy 3 to your business,
Not changing heart with habit, I am still
[To Lucio. Mari. Oh, my good lord !-Sweet label, take my part; Lend me your knces, and all my life to come Til lend you, all my life to do you fervice. Duke. Against all fenfes you do importune her; Should the kneel down, in mercy of this fact,
For better times to come :--Friar, advife him
I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's
that?
Prov. This is another prifoner, that I fav'd,
Who fhould have dy'd when Claudio loft his head;
As like almoft to Claudio, as himself.
Duke. If he be like your brother, for his fake
[To ljub
Is he pardon'd; And, for your lovely fake,
Give me your hand, and fay you will be mine,
He is my brother too: But fitter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks I fee a quick'ning in his eye.---
Well, Angelo, your evil quits 2 you well :
Look, that you love your wife; her worth, worth
yours.-
I find an apt remission in myself;
And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ;-
You, firrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward,
That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no fubjects; One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
Intents, but merely thoughts.
Mari. Merely, my lord.
Duke. Your fuit's unprofitable; ftand up, I fay.
I have bethought me of another fault :-
Provoft, how came it, Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?
Prov. It was commanded fo.
Duke. Had you a fpecial warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private meffage.
Duke. For which I do difcharge you of your office: Give up your keys.
Prov. Pardon me, noble lord:
I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me after more advice 1:
For teftimony whereof, one in the prifon,
That should by private order elíe have dy'd,
I have referv'd alive.
Duke. What's he?
Prov. His name is Barnardine.
Duke. I would, thou had'ft done fo by Claudio.
Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him.
[Exit Provoft.
Efcal. I am forry, one fo learned and fo wife
As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should flip fo grofly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.
Ang. I am forry that fuch forrow I procure :
And fo deep fticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy :
'Tis my deferving, and I do intreat it.
Wherein have I deferved fo of you,
That you extol me thus ?
Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I fpoke it but according to the trick 3: if you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you, Ι might be whipp'd.
Duke. Whipp'd first, fir, and hang'd after.---
Proclaim it, provoft, round about the city;
If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow,
(As I have heard him fwear himself, there's one
Whom he begot with child) let her appear,
And he fhall marry her: the nuptial finish'd,
Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.
Lucio. I befeech your highnefs, do not marry me to a whore! Your highnefs faid, even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompenfe me, in making me a cuckold.
Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her.
Thy flanders I forgive; and therewithal
Remit thy other forfeits 4:-Take him to prifon :
And fee our pleasure herein executed.
Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is preffing to death, whipping, and hanging.
Duke. Sland'ring a prince deferves it.—
She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.
Joy to you, Mariana! love her, Angelo;
I have confefs'd her, and I know her virtue.--
Thanks, good friend Efcalus, for thy much goodness
There's more behind, that is more gratulate 5.-
Thanks, provoft, for thy care and fecrecy ;
We fhall employ thee in a worthier place :-
Re-enter Provoft, Barnardine, Claudio, and Julietta. Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
Duke. Which is that Barnardine ?
Prov. This, my lord.
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's:
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Ifabel,
;-I have a motion much imports your good;
Duke. There was a friar told me of this man
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn foul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And fquar'ft thy life accordingly:Thou'rt condemn'd;
But, for thofe earthly faults, I quit them all;
I pray thee, take this mercy to provide
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine ;
So bring us to our palace; where we'll fhew
What's yet behind, that's meet you all fhould
know.
[Excunt
1 That is, confideration. 2 That is, requites. 3 That is, according to my cuftom. 4 Meaning, Carnal offences, 5 That is, more to be rejoiced in,
SOLINUS, Duke of Ephesus.
EGEON, a Merchant of Syracufe.
ANTIPHOLIS of Ephefas,
ANTIPHOLIS of Syracufe,
Twin Brothers and
Sons to Ageon and
Emilia, but un-
known to each other.
DROMIO of Epbfus, Twin Brothers & Slaves to
DROMIO of Syracuse, S the two Antipholis's.
BALTHAZAR, a Merchant.
ANGELO, a Goldfaith.
A Merchant, Friend to Antipholis of Syracife.
Dr. PINCH, a Schoolmafter and a Conjurer.
geom, an Abbef, at Ephefuse ADRIANA, Wife to Antipholis of Ephef. LUCIANA, Sifter to Adriana.
LUCE, Servant to Adriana.
A Courtezan.
Jailor, Officers, and other Attendants.
SCENE, Ephefus.
My woes end likewife with the evening fun.
Duke. Well, Syracufan, fay, in brief, the caufe
Why thou departedit from thy native home;
Enter the Duke of Epbelas, Egeon, Jailor, and And for what caufe thou cam'it to Ephefus.
Egeon. A heavier task .could not have been im
ROCEED, Solinus, to procure my Than I to speak my griefs unspeakable :
And, by the doom of death, end woes and all.
Duke. Merchant of Siracufa, plead no more ;
I am not partial, to infringe our laws :
The enmity and difcord, which of late
Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your duke
To merchants, our well-dealing countrymen,→→
Who, wanting gilders to redeem their lives,
Yet, that the world may witnefs, that my end
Was wrought by nature, not by vile offence,
I'll utter what my forrow gives me leave.
In Syracufa was I born; and wed
Unto a woman, happy but for me,
And by me too, had not our hap been bad.
With her, I liv'd in joy; our wealth increas'd,
By profperous voyages I often made
Hive feal'd his rigorous ftatutes with their bloods,To Epidamnnum, till my factor's death;
Excindes all pity from our threat ning looks.
For, fince the mortal and intestine jars
Twhat thy feditious countrymen and us,
It hath in folemn fynods been decreed,
Exh by the Syracufans and ourselves,
To admit no traffick to our adverse towns;
X, more; If any, born at Ephefus,
Be feen at Syracufan marts and fairs,
Again, if any, Syracufan born,
Come to the bay of Ephcfus, he dies,
H. goods contifcate to the duke's difpofe,
Cries a thoufand marks be levied,
Tut the penalty, and to ranfom him.
T'w fubitance, valu'd at the highest rate,
Lamot amount unto a hundred marks;
Therefore, by law thou art condemn'd to die.
gan. Yet this my comfort; when your words
are done,
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And he, great care of goods at random left,
Drew me from kind embracements of my spouse;
From whom my abfence was not fix months old,
Before herself (almost at fainting, under
The pleafing punishment that women bear)
Had made provifion for her following me,
And foon, and fafe, arrived where I was.
There the had not been long, but she became
A joyful mother of two goodly fons;
And, which was ftrange, the one fo like the other,
As could not be diftinguith'd but by names.
That very hour, and in the felf-fame inn,
A poor mean woman was delivered
Of fuch a burden, male twins, both alike:
Thofe (for their parents were exceeding poor)
I bought, and brought up to attend my fons.
My wife, not meanly proud of two fuch boys,
Made daily motions for our home return:
I 4
Unwilling I agreed; alas, too foon.
We came aboard;
A league from Epidamnum had we fail'd,
Before the always-wind-obeying deep
Gave any tragic inftance of our harm:
But longer did we not retain much hope;
For what obfcured light the heavens did grant,
Did but convey unto our fearful minds
A doubtful warrant of immediate death;
Which though myself would gladly have embrac'd,
Yet the inceffant weepings of my wife,
Weeping before, for what she saw must come,
And piteous plainings of the pretty babes,
That mourn'd for fashion, ignorant what to fear,
Forc'd me to feek delays for them and me.
And this it was, for other means were none.→
The failors fought for fafety by our boat,
And left the fhip, then finking-ripe, to us:
My wife, more careful for the latter-born,
Had fasten'd him unto a small spare mast,
Such as fea-faring men provide for storms;
To him one of the other twins was bound,
Whilft I had been like heedful of the other.
The children thus difpos'd, my wife and I,
Fixing our eyes on whom our care was fix'd,
Faften'd ourselves at either end the mast;
And floating ftraight, obedient to the stream,
Were carry'd towards Corinth, as we thought.
At length the fun, gazing upon the earth,
Difpers'd thofe vapours that offended us;
And, by the benefit of his wifh'd light,
The feas wax'd calm, and we discovered
Two ships from far making amain to us,
Of Corinth that, of Epidaurus this:
But, ere they came,-Oh, let me fay no more!
Gather the fequel by that went before.
Duke. Nay, forward, old man, do not break off fo; For we may pity, though not pardon thee.
Ageon. Oh, had the gods done fo, I had not now Worthily term'd them merciless to us!
Do me the favour to dilate at full
What hath-befall'n of them, and thee, till now.
Egeon. My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care,
At eighteen years became inquifitive
After his brother; and importun'd me,
That his attendant (for his cafe was like,
Reft of his brother, but retain'd his name,)
Might bear him company in the quest of him;
Whom whilst I labour'd of a love to fee,
I hazarded the lofs of whom I lov'd.
Five fummers have I spent in farthest Greece,
Roaming clean through the bounds of Afia,
And, coafting homeward, came to Ephesus;
Hopeless to find, yet loth to leave unfought,
Or that, or any place that harbours men,
But here muft end the ftory of my life;
And happy were I in my timely death,
Could all my travels warrant me they live. [mark'd
Duke. Haplefs Egeon, whom the fates have
To bear the extremity of dire mishap!
Now, truft me, were it not against our laws,
Against my crown, my oath, my dignity,
Which princes, would they, may not difannul,
My foul fhould fue as advocate for thee.
But, though thou art adjudged to the death,
And palled fentence may not be recall'd,
But to our honour's great difparagement,
Yet will I favour thee in what I can ;
Therefore, merchant, I'll limit thee this day,
To feek thy help by beneficial help:
Try all the friends thou haft in Ephefus;
Beg thou, or borrow, to makę up the fum,
And live; if not, then thou art doom'd to die :-
Jailor, take him to thy cuftody. [Ex, Duke and train,
Jail. I will, my lord.
[wend 2,
Egeon. Hopeless, and helplefs, doth Ægeon
But to procraftinate his liveleís end.
For, ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues,
We were encountred by a mighty rock;
Which being violently borne upon,
Our helpful fhip was fplitted in the midst,
So that, in this unjust divorce of us,
Fortune had left to both of us alike
What to delight in, what to forrow for.
Her part, poor foul! feeming as burdened
With leffer weight, but not with letter woe,
Was carry'd with more speed before the wind;
And in our fight they three were taken up
By fishermen of Corinth, as we thought.
At length, another ship had feiz'd on us;
And, knowing whom it was their hap to save,
Gave helpful welcome to their shipwreck'd guests;
And would have reft the fisher of their prey,
Had not their bark been very flow of fail, [courfe.
And therefore homeward did they bend their
Thus have you heard me fever'd from my blifs;
That by misfortunes was my life prolong'd,
To tall fad ftories of my own mishaps.
Puke. And, for the fakes of them thou forrowest for,
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Mer. Therefore give out, you are of Epidamnum,
Left that your goods too foon be confifcate.
This very day, a Syracufan merchant
Is apprehended for arrival here;
And, not being able to buy out his life,
According to the statute of the town,
Dies ere the weary fun fet in the west.
There is your money, that I had to keep,
Ant. Go bear it to the Centaur, where we host,
And stay there, Dromio, till I come to thee.
Within this hour it will be dinner-time:
'Till that, I'll view the manners of the town,
Perufe the traders, gaze upon the buildings,
And then return, and fleep within mine inn;
For with long travel I am stiff and weary,
Get thee away.
Dro. Many a man would take you at your word, And go indeed, having fo good a means. [Exit Dromio,
* Clean is fill ufed in the North of England instead of quite, fully, completely. That is, go.
Act. A trusty villain, fir; that very oft,
When I am dull with care and melancholy,
Lightens my humour with his merry jefts.
Whe, will you walk with me about the town,
And then go to my inn, and dine with me?
Mr. I am invited, fir, to certain merchants,
Of whom I hope to make mach benefit,
I crave your pardon. Soon, at five o'clock,
Pleate you, I'll meet with you upon the mart,
And afterwards confort you till bed-time;
M. prefent bufinefs calls me from you now.
. Farewell till then: I will go lose myself,
And wander up and down to view the city.
Mr. Sir, I commend you to your own content.
[Exit Merchant.
Aut. He that commends me to mine own content,
Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
Ito the world am like a drop of water,
That in the ocean feeks another drop;
Who, falling there, to find his fellow forth,
Uafeen, inquifitive, confounds himself:
5. I, to find a mother, and a brother,
In queft of them, unhappy, lofe myself.
Enter Dromio of Eph-fus.
Here comes the almanack of my true date.——
What now? How chance, thou art return'd fo foon?
E. Dra. Return'd to foon! rather approach'd too
The pur. burns, the pig falls from the fpit; [late;
The cock has ftrucken twelve upon the bell,
My mi trefs made it one upon my cheek:
She is fo hot, because the meat is cold;
The meat is cold, because you come not home;
You come not home, because you have no itomach;
You have no ftomach, having broke your fast;
But we, that know what 'tis to faft and pray,
Are penitent for your default to-day.
A. Stop in your wind, fir; tell me this, I pray; Where have you left the money that I gave you? E. Dre. Oh-fix-pence, that I had o' Wednesday Tepay the fadler for my mistrefs' crupper-lait, The der had it, fir, I kept it not.
4. I am not in a sportive humour now; Tell me, and dally not, where is the money ? We being strangers here, how dar'ft thou trust So great a charge from thine own custody?
E. Dra. I pray you, jeft, fir, as you fit at dinner: I from my mistrefs come to you in post; El return, I shall be poft indeed,
For the will foore your fault upon my pate.
Methinks, your maw, like mine, fhould be your
And ftrike you home without a meffenger. [clock,
Ant. Come, Dromio, come, thefe jefts are out
of feafon ;
Referve them till a merrier hour than this:
Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee?
E. Dro. To me, fir? why you gave no gold to me
Ant. Come on, fir knave, have done your
foolishness,
And tell me, how thou haft difpos'd thy charge.
E. Dro. My charge was but to fetch you from
the mart
Home to your house, the Phoenix, fir, to dinner My mistress, and her fifter, stay for you.
Ant. Now, as I am a chriftian, answer me, In what fafe place you have difpos'd my money; Or I fhall break that merry fconce' of yours, That ftands on tricks when I am undifpos'd: Where are the thoufand marks thou had'ft of me? E. Dro. I have fome marks of yours upon my
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Ant. Upon my life, by fome device or other, The villain is o'er-raught of all my money. They fay, this town is full of cozenage; As, nimble jugglers, that deceive the eye; Dark-working forcerers, that change the mind; Soul-killing witches, that deform the body; Difguifed cheaters, prating mountebanks, And many fuch like liberties of fin: If it prove fo, I will be gone the fooner. I'll to the Centaur, to go feek this flave; 1 greatly fear, my money is not fafe.
The House of Antipholis of Ephesus.
Enter Adriana and Lucjana.
Sure, Luciana, it is two o'clock.
Luc. Perhaps, fome merchant hath invited him, And from the mart he's fomewhere gone to dinner. Good fifter, let us dine, and never fret:
NEITHER my husband, nor the flave A man is matter of his liberty;
in fuch hafte I fent to feek his master !
Time is their mafter; and, when they fee time,
They'll go or come: If fo, be patient, sister.
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