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! 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 sergeant, 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 ; And here we wander in illusions; Some blessed power deliver us from hence! Enter a Courtezan. Cour. Well met, well met, master Antipholus. I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now; Is that the chain, you promis'd me to-day? Ant. S. 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, Master, be wise; and if you give it her, Ant. S. Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio, let us go. Dro. S. Fly pride, says the peacock: Mistress, that you know. [Exeunt ANT. S. and DRO. S. Of his own doors being shut against his entrance. SCENE IV. The same. [Exit. 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, 'twill sound harshly in her ears. 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. 4 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, '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 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 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 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. 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; or rather the prophecy, like the parrot, Beware the rope's end. Ant. E. Wilt thou still talk? [Beats him. 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 I shut 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 7, 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 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. Ad-. 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. witness, I am thy prisoner; wilt thou suffer them To make a rescue? 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 entered 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. [Exeunt PINCH and Assistants, with ANT. E. and DRO. E. Say now, whose suit is he arrested at ? Adr. I know the man: What is the sum he owes? not. Cour. When as your husband, all in rage, to-day That I was sent for nothing but a rope! sess'd; I know it by their pale and deadly looks: 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 wicked 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 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. Heaven, for thy mercy! they are loose again. Adr. And come with naked swords; let's call more help, To have them bound again. off. 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 9 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 stuff aboard. [Exeunt. 9 Baggage. 8 Foolish. Mer. How is the man esteem'd here in the city? Namely, some love, that drew him oft from home. Ang. Of very reverend reputation, sir, Of credit infinite, highly belov'd, Second to none that lives here in the city; Mer. Speak softly: yonder, as I think, he walks. Enter ANTIPHOLUS, and DROMIO of Syracuse. That you would put me to this shame and trouble; Fye on thee, wretch! 'tis pity, that thou liv'st [They draw. Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, Courtezan, and others. Adr. Hold, hurt him not, for heaven's sake; he is mad; Some get within him ', take his sword away : This is some priory; - In, or we are spoil'd. [Exeunt ANT. S. and DRO. S. to the Priory. Enter the ABBESS. Abb. Be quiet, people; Wherefore throng you Adr. To fetch my poor distracted husband hence: Ang. I knew, he was not in his perfect wits. Abb. You should for that have reprehended him. Adr. Why, so I did. Abb. o 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: It seems his sleeps were hinder'd by thy railing: Unquiet meals make ill digestions, 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, Abb. Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck at sea? Therefore depart, and leave him here with me. 1 i. e. Close, grapple with him. 2 The theme i. c. To bring him back to his senses Adr. I will not hence, and leave my husband here; And ill it doth beseem your holiness, Abb. Be quiet, and depart, thou shalt not have him [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 sorry 4 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; ÆGEON bare-headed; with the Headsman and other Officers. Duke. Yet once again proclaim it publickly, 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 please your grace, Antipholus, my husband, By rushing in their houses, bearing thence 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 8, 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; J 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 halberts. Adr. Ah me, it is my husband! Witness you, That he is borne about invisible: 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 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. upon me, While she with harlots 9 feasted in my house. To-day did dine together: so befal my soul, Luc. Ne'er may I look on day, nor sleep on night, Ant. E. My liege, I am advised what I say; Neither disturb'd with the effect of wine, Albeit, my wrongs might make one wiser mad. Nor heady-rash, provok'd with raging ire, This woman lock'd me out this day from dinner : That goldsmith there, were he not pack'd with her, Could witness it, for he was with me then ; Who parted with me to go fetch a chain, Promising to bring it to the Porcupine, Where Balthazar and I did dine together. Our dinner done, and he not coming thither, 8. e. Successively, one after another. 9 Harlot was a term of reproach applied to cheats among men as well as to wantons among women. X I went to seek him in the street I met him ; I did obey; and sent my peasant home Το go in person with me to my house. By the way we met My wife, her sister, and a rabble more Of vile confederates: along with them They brought one Pinch; a hungry, lean-fac'd villain, A mere anatomy, a mountebank, 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 Heard you confess you had the chain of him, After you first forswore it on the mart, And, thereupon, I drew my sword on you; And then you fled into this abbey here, From whence, I think, you are come by miracle. Ant. E. I never came within these abbey walls, Nor ever didst thou draw thy sword on me : I never saw the chain, so help me heaven! And this is false you burden me withal. Duke. Why, what an intricate impeach is this! I think, you all have drank of Circe's cup. If here you hous'd him, here he would have been; If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly: You say he dined at home; the goldsmith here Denies that saying: Sirrah, what say you? Dro. E. Sir, he dined with her there, at the Porcupine. Cour. He did; and from my finger snatch'd that ring. Ant. E. 'Tis true, my liege, this ring I had of her. Duke. Saw'st thou him enter at the abbey here? Cour. As sure, my liege, as I do see your grace. Duke. Why, this is strange : Go call the abbess hither; - I think you are all mated, or stark mad. Haply I see a friend will save my life, Duke. Speak freely, Syracusan, what thou wilt. Ege. Is not your name, sir, called Antipholus? And is not that your bondman Dromio? Dro. E. No, trust me, sir, nor I. Æge. 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 lamp 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 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 Ægeon, if thou be'st the man That hadst a wife once called Æmilia, That bore thee at a burden two fair sons: O, if thou be'st the same geon, speak, And speak unto the same Æmilia! |