Ant. S. It is the devil. Dro. S. Nay, she is worse, she is the devil's dam; and bere 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 Bench." 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, or 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 of supping? Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress : I conjure thee to leave me, and be gone. Cour. Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner, Or, for my diamond, the chain you promis'd; And I'll be gone, sir, and not trouble you. 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; an' if you give it her, Ant. S. Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio, let us go. Of his own doors being shut against his entrance. SCENE IV.-The same. Enter DROMIO of Ephesus, with a rope's end. Here comes my man; I think he brings the money. How now, sir? have you that I sent you for? Dro. E. Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them all. Ant. E. But where's the money? Dro. E. Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope. Ant. E. Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope? Dro. E. I'll serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate. Ant. E. To what end did I bid thee hie thee home? Dro. E. To a rope's end, sir, and to that end am I return'd. Ant. E. And to that end, sir, I will welcome you. [Beating him. Off. Good sir, be patient. Dro. E. Nay, 't is 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 served him from the hour of my nativity to this instant, and have nothing at his hands for my service but blows: when I am cold, he heats me with beating; when I am warm, he cools me with with it, when I sit; driven out of doors with it, when I beating; I am waked with it, when I sleep; raised 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. Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, and the Courtezan, with PINCH, and others. Ant. E. Come, go along; my wife is coming yonder. Dro. E. Mistress, respice finem, respect your end; cr rather the prophecy, like the parrot, "Beware the rope's end." [Beats him. Ant. E. Wilt thou still talk? Cour. How say you now? is not your husband mad? Good doctor Pinch, you are a conjurer; Adr. His incivility confirms no less. Establish him in his true sense again, And I will please you what you will demand. Luc. Alas, how fiery and how sharp he looks! Cour. Mark, how he trembles in his extasy! Pinch. Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse. Ant. E. There is my hand, and let it feel your car. Pinch. I charge thee, Satan, hous'd within this man To yield possession to my holy prayers, And to thy state of darkness hie thee straight; I conjure thee by all the saints in heaven. Ant. E. Peace, doting wizard, peace; I am not mad. Adr. O, that thou wert not, poor distressed soul! Ant. E. You minion, you, are these your customers? Did this companion with the saffron face Revel and feast it at my house to-day, Whilst upon me the guilty doors were shut, [Exit. And I denied to enter in my house? Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, and an Officer. Ant. E. Fear me not, man, I will not break away: I'll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money To warrant thee, as I am 'rested for. My wife is in a wayward mood to-day; And will not lightly trust the messenger: That I should be attach'd in Ephesus, I tell you, 't will sound harshly in her ears.— 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. Din'd at home! Thou villain, what say's: thou? Dro. E. Sir, sooth to say, you did not dine at home. Ant. E. Were not my doors lock'd up, and I shnt out? 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 I not 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 soothe 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. Ant. E. Went'st not thou to her for a purse of ducats? Adr. He came to me, and I deliver'd it. Luc. And I am witness with her, that she did. Dro. E. God and the rope-maker, bear me witness, That I was sent for nothing but a rope! 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. 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 these false eyes, That would behold in me this shameful sport. [PINCH and his Assistants bind ANT. E. and DRO. E. Adr. O, bind him, bind him, let him not come near me. Pinch. More company; the fiend is strong within him. I am thy prisoner: wilt thou suffer them Off SCENE I.-The same. Enter Merchant and Angelo. Ang. I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder'd you; But, I protest, he had the chain of me, Though most dishonestly he doth deny it. Off. He is my prisoner; if I let him go, The debt he owes will be requir'd of me. Adr. I will discharge thee, ere I go from thee: 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.[Excunt PINCH and Assistants, with ANT. E. and DRO. E. Say now, whose suit is he arrested at? Off. One Angelo, a goldsmith. Do you know him? Say, how grows it due? Adr. It may be so, but I did never see it :Come, gaoler, bring me where the goldsmith is; 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. help, To have them bound again. Away, they'll kill us. [Exeunt Officer, ADR., and LUC. 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 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 stuffa aboard. [Exeunt. ACT V. Mer. How is the man esteem'd here in the city? Ang. Of very reverent reputation, sir, Of credit infinite, highly belov'd, Second to none that lives here in the city; His word might bear my wealth at any time. Mer. Speak softly: yonder, as I think, he walks. Enter ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO of Syracuse. Ang. "Tis so; and that self chain about his neck, Which he forswore, most monstrously, to have. Good sir, draw near to me, I'll speak to him. Stuff-baggage. "The king's stuff" is often mentioned in the orders issued for royal progresses. 43. Be quiet, people. Wherefore throng you hither? Adr. To fetch my poor distracted husband hence: Let us come in, that we may bind him fast, And bear him home for his recovery. Ang. I knew he was not in his perfect wits. Mer. I am sorry now that I did draw on him. 46. How long hath this possession held the man? Adr. This week he hath been heavy, sour, sad, And much different from the man he was; But, till this afternoon, his passion Neer brake into extremity of rage. Abb. Hath he not lost much wealth by wrack 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, Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing. Which of these sorrows is he subject to? Adr. To none of these, except it be the last; Namely, some love, that drew him oft from home. 455. You should for that have reprehended him. Adr. Why, so I did. Ay, but not rough enough. Adr. As roughly as my modesty would let me. Abb. Haply, in private. Adr. And in assemblies too. Abb. Ay, but not enough. Adr. It was the copy of our conference: my theme; In company, I often glanced it; Abb. And therefore came it that the man was mad: The renom clamours of a jealous woman Poison more deadly than a mad dog's tooth. It seems his sleeps were hinder'd by thy railing: Thou say st his meat was sauc'd with thy upbraidings: Thereof the raging fire of fever bred; And what's a fever but a fit of madness? Thou say st his sports were hinder'd by thy brawls: * Take a house-take to a house; take the shelter of a house. 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, Abb. Be patient: for I will not let him stir, Adr. I will not hence, and leave my husband here; And ill it doth beseem your holiness, To separate the husband and the win. 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 Syracusan merchant, Against the laws and statutes of this town, Ang. See where they come; we will behold his death. 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 hus band, Whom I made lord of me and all I had, At your important letters,-this ill day A most outrageous fit of madness took him; By rushing in their houses, bearing thence a Strong escape-escape effected by strength. Nor send him forth, that we may bear him hence. Enter a Servant. Serv. O mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself! My master and his man are both broke loose, Beaten the maids a-row," and bound the doctor, Whose beard they have sing'd off with brands of fire; And ever as it blaz'd, they threw on him Great pails of puddled mire to quench the hair: My master preaches patience to him, and the while His man with scissars nicks him like a fool:b 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. halberds. Adr. Ah me, it is my husband! Witness you Even now we hous'd him in the abbey here; Enter ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO of Ephesus. Ant. E. Justice, most gracious duke, oh, grant me Even for the service that long since I did thee, Ant. E. Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there. That she this day hath shameless thrown on me. Duke. Discover how, and thou shalt find me just. Ant. E. This day, great duke, she shut the doors upon me, While she with harlots feasted in my house. Duke. A grievous fault: Say, woman, didst thou so? Adr. No, my good lord ;-myself, he, and my sister, To-day did dine together: So befall my soul As this is false he burthens 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. Ant. E. My liege, I am advised what I say; a A-row-on row; one after the other. It was the custom to shave, or crop, the heads of idiots. Where Balthazar and I did dine together. I did obey; and sent my peasant home To go in person with me to my house. By th' way we met my wife, her sister, and a rabble morc Of vile confederates; along with them They brought one Pinch, a hungry lean-fac'd villain, A thread-bare juggler, and a fortune-teller; For these deep shames, and great indignities. Ang. My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him, That he din'd not at home, but was lock'd out. Duke. But had he such a chain of thee, or no? Mer. Besides, I will be sworn, these ears of mine Duke. Why, what an intricate impeach is this! hither; I think you are all mated, or stark mad. [Exit Attend. 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, Syracusan, 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, Ege. I am sure you both of you remember me. Ege. W by look you strange on me? you know me well. Ant. E. I never saw you in my life, till now. And careful hours, with Time's deformed hand, Ege. Dromio, nor thou? Dro. E. No, trust me, sir, nor I. Ege. I am sure thou dost. Dro. E. Ay, sir? but I am sure I do not; and whatsoever a man denies you are now bound to believe him. Ege. Not know my voice! O, time's extremity! Hast thou so crack'd and splitted my poor tongue, In seven short years, that here my only son Knows not my feeble key of untun'd cares? Though now this grained face of mine be hid In sap-consuming winter's drizzled snow, And all the conduits of my blood froze up, Yet hath my night of life some memory, My wasting lamps some fading glimmer left, My dull deaf ears a little use to hear : All these old witnesses (I cannot err) Tell me, thou art my son Antipholus. Ant. E. I never saw my father in my life. Ege. But seven years since, in Syracusa, boy, Thou know'st we parted: but, perhaps, my son, Thou sham'st to acknowledge me in misery. Ant. E. The duke, and all that know me in the city, Can witness with me that it is not so I ne'er saw Syracusa in my life. Duke. I tell thee, Syracusan, twenty years Enter the ABBESS, with ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse, and Abb. Most mighty duke, behold a man much wrong'd. [All gather to see him. Adr. I see two husbands, or mine eyes deceive me. Duke. One of these men is genius to the other; And so of these: Which is the natural man, and which the spirit? Who deciphers them? Dro. S. I, sir, am Dromio; command him away. Dro. E. I, sir, am Dromio; pray, let me stay. Ant. S. Ægeon, art thou not? or else his ghost? Dro. S. O, my old master, who hath bound him here? Abb. Whoever bound him, I will loose his bonds, And gain a husband by his liberty: Speak, old Egeon, if thou be'st the man That hadst a wife once called Emilia, That bore thee at a burthen two fair sons: O, if thou be'st the same Ægeon, speak, And speak unto the same Æmilia! Ege. If I dream not, thou art Æmilia: Abb. By men of Epidamnum, he, and I, Duke. Why, here begins his morning story right. Ant. S. No, sir, not I; I came from Syracuse. Ant. E. I came from Corinth, my most gracious lord. Dro. E And I with him. Ant. E. Brought to this town by that most famous warrior Duke Menaphon, your most renowned uncle. Adr. And are not you my husband? Ant. E. No, I say nay to that. Ant. S. And so do I, yet did she call me so: Ang. That is the chain, sir, which you had of me Ant. S. This purse of ducats I receiv'd from you, And Dromio my man did bring them me: I see, we still did meet each other's man, Ant. E. These ducats pawn I for my father here. Abb. Renowned duke, vouchsafe to take the pains To go with us into the abbey here, And hear at large discoursed all our fortunes: The duke, my husband, and my children both, Duke. With all my heart, I'll gossip at this feast. Ant. E. Dromio, what stuff of mine hast thon Come, go with us; we 'll look to that anon: [Exeunt ANT. S. and E., ADR, and Luc. Dro. E. Methinks, you are my glass, and not my brother: I see, by you, I am a sweet-fac'd youth. Dro. S. Not I, sir; you are my elder. Dro. E. That's a question: how shall we try it? Dro. S. We'll draw cuts for the senior: till then, lead thou first. |