Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

to obey me.

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, be begg'd

Ang. This touches me in reputation :Either consent to pay this sum for me, Or I attach you by this officer.

Ant. E. Consent to pay thee that I never had! Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar'st.

Ang. Here is thy fee; arrest him officer; I would not spare my brother in this case, If he should scorn me so apparently.

Offi. I do arrest you, Sir; you hear the suit. Ant. E. I do obey thee, till I give thee bail:

But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dear As all the metal in your shop will answer.

Ang. Sir, Sir, I shall have law in Ephesus, To your notorious shame, I doubt it not.

Enter DROMIO of Syracuse.

num,

Dro. S. Master, there is a bark of EpidamThat stays but till her owner comes aboard, And then, Sir, bears away: our fraughtage,* Sir,

I have convey'd aboard; and I have bought
The oil, the balsamum, and aqua-vitæ.
The ship is in her trim; the merry wind [all,
Blows fair from land: they stay for nought at
But for their owner, master, and yourself.
Ant. E. How now! a madman! Why thou
peevisht sheep,

What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?
Dro. S. A ship you sent me to, to hire waf-
tage.‡

Ant. E. Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope;

And told thee to what purpose and what end. Dro. S. You sent me, Sir, for a rope's end

as soon:

You sent me to the bay, Sir, for a bark.

Ant. E. I will debate this matter at more leisure,

And teach your ears to listen with more heed.
To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight:
Give her this key, and tell her, in the desk
That's cover'd o'er with Turkish tapestry,
There is a purse of ducats: let her send it;
Tell her, I am arrested in the street,
And that shall bail me: hie thee, slave; be
On, officer, to prison till it come.

[gone.

[Exeunt MERCHANT, ANGELO, OFFICER, and ANT. E.

Dro. S. To Adriana! that is where he din'd, Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband:

She is too big, I hope, for me to compass.
Thither I must, although against my will,
For servants must their master's minds fulfil.
[Exit.

SCENE 11.-The same.

Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA.

Adr. Ah, Luciana, did he tempt thee so? Might'st thou perceive austerely in his eye That he did plead in earnest, yea or no? [ly? Look'd he or red, or pale; or sad, or merri

* Freight, cargo. + Silly. ‡ Carriage.

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, t
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 No evil lost is wail'd when it is gone. [one? 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.

Dro. S. Here, go; the desk, the purse; sweet now, make haste.

Luc. How hast thou lost thy breath?
Dro. S. By running fast.

Adr. Where is thy master, Dromio? is he well?

Dro. S. No, he's in tartar limbo, worse than hell:

A devil in an everlasting garment|| hath him
One, whose hard heart is button'd up with
A fiend, a fairy, pitiless and rough; (steel;
A wolf, nay, worse, a fellow all in buff;
A back-friend, a shoulder-clapper, one than
countermands
[lands;
The passages of alleys, creeks, and narrow
A hound that runs counter, and yet draws dry-

foot well;

One that, before the judgment, carries poor souls to hell.

[blocks in formation]

* An allusion to the redness of the northern lights, likened to the appearance of armies.

+ Dry, withered.

† Marked by nature with deformity.

Who crieth most where her nest is not.

| The officers in those days were clad in buff, whio

also a cant expression for a man's skin.

1 Hell was the cant term for prison.

[blocks in formation]

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, [me,
And show'd me silks that he had bought for
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 apparelled?

Ant. S. What gold is this? what Adam dost thou mean?

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 Anti-
pholus,

I see, Sir, you have found the goldsmith now;
Is that the chain you promis'd me to-day?
Ant. S. Satan, avoid! I charge thee tempt
me not!

Dro. S. Master, is this mistress Satan?
Ant. S. It is the devil.

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.

merry, Sir.

Cour. Your man and you are marvellous [here. Will you go with me? We'll mend our dinner 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! why 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,
Would have a chain.

Master, be wise; and if you give it her,
The devil will shake her chain, and fright us
with it.

Dro. S. Not that Adam, that kept the para- I hope, you do not mean to cheat me so.

dise, but that Adam, that keeps the prison: he that goes in the calf's skin that was killed 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 pitv on decayed men, and gives them suits of durance; he that sets up his rest to do more exploits with his mace, than a morrispike.

Ant. S. What! thou mean'st an officer? Dro. S. Ay, Sir, the sergeant of the band; te, that brings any man to answer it, that

* L. c. Bond.

+ Fanciful conception.

Cour. I pray you, Sir, the ring, or else the chain;

Ant. S. Avaunt, thou witch! Come Dromio, let us go.

Dro. S. Fly pride, says the peacock: Mistress, that you know.

[Exeunt ANT. and DRO.

Cour. Now, out of doubt, Antipholus is mad,
Else would he never so demean himself:
A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats,
And for the same he promised me a chain!
Both one, and other, he denies me now.
The reason that I gather he is mad,
(Besides this present instance of his rage,)
Is a mad tale, he told to-day at dinner,
Of his own doors being shut against his en

trance.

Belike, Belil his wife, acquainted with his fits,
On purpose shut the doors against his way.
My way is now, to hie home to his house,

[blocks in formation]

Cour. Mark, how he trembles in his extacy Pinch. Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse.

Ant. E. There is my hand, and let it feel your

ear.

Pinch. 1 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 cónjure 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 cus-
tomers?

Did this companion* with a saffron face
Revel and feast it at my house to day,
Whilst upon me the guilty doors were shut,
And I denied to enter in my house?'

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. 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.

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?

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.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

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 serv'd him from the hour of 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, oulders, 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. Cour. How say you now? is not your husband mad?

Adr. His incivility confirms no less.Good doctor Pinch, you are a conjurer; 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! Correct them all.

[blocks in formation]

Dro. E. In verity you did;-my bones bear witness,

That since have felt the vigour of his rage. Adr. Is't good to sooth 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

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Adr. And come with naked swords; let's

call more help, To have them bound again. Offi. 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;

Luc. Ah me, poor man, how pale and wan he looks!

Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard.

Ant. E. What, will you murder me? Thou jailer, thou,

[Exeunt.

I am thy prisoner; wilt thou suffer them
To make a rescue?

Offi. Masters, let him go;

He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him. Pinch. Go, bind this man, forhe is frantic too.

Adr. What wilt thou do, thou peevish offi

ACT V.

SCENE I.--The same.

Enter MERCHANT and ANGELO.

Ang. I am sorry, Sir, that I have hinder'd But, I protest, he had the chain of me, [you;

Hast thou delight to see a wretched man [cer? Though most dishonestly he doth deny it.

Do outrage displeasure to himself?

Offi. 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: Bear me forthwith unto his creditor, [it. And, knowing how the debt grows, I will pay Good master doctor, see him safe convey'd Home to my house. - most unhappy day! Ant. E. O most unhappyt strumpet! 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 Good master; cry, the devil.[mad, Luc. God help, poor souls, how idly do they

talk!

[blocks in formation]

Mer. How is the man esteem'd here in the

city?

Ang. Of very reverend 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. Signior Antipholus, I wonder much [ble; That you would put me to this shame and trouAnd not without some scandal to yourself, With circumstance, and oaths, so to deny This chain, which now you wear so openly: Besides the charge, the shame, imprisonment, You have done wrong to this my honest friend; Who, but for staying on our controversy, Had hoisted sail, and put to sea to-day: This chain you had of me, can you deny it? Ant. S. I think, I had; I never did deny it. Mer. Yes, that you did, Sir; and forswore it too.

Adr. I know the man: What is the sum he owes?

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Adr. He did bespeak a chain for me, but had it not.

Mer. These ears of mine, thou knowest, did hear thee:

Fie on thee, wretch! 'tis pity, that thou liv'st To walk where any honest men resort.

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. Adr. It may be so, but I did never see it:Come, jailer, 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.

c. God, for thy mercy! they are loose again.

Foolish. + Unhappy for unlucky, i, e. mischievous.

Ant. S. Thou art a villain, to impeach me thus:

I'll prove mine honour, and mine honesty Against thee presently, if thou dar'st stand. Mer. I dare, and do defy thee for a villain. [They draw.

Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, COURTEZAN, and others.

Adr. Hold, hurt him not, for God's sake; he is mad:

* Baggage.

[blocks in formation]

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. Then, let your servants bring my hus-
band forth.

Abb. Neither; he took this place for sanc-
tuary,
And it shall privilege him from your hands,
Till I have brought him to his wits again,
Or lose my labour in assaying it.

Adr. I will attend my husband, be his nurse, Diet his sickness, for it is my office, And will have no attorney but myself; And therefore let me have him home with me. Abb. Be patient; for I will not let him stir, Till I have us'd the approved means I have, With wholesome syrups, drugs, and holy

prayers,

To make of him a formal man again:*
It is a branch and parcelt of mine oath,
A charitable duty of my order;
Therefore depart, and leave him here with me.
Adr. I will not hence, and leave my husband
And ill it doth beseem your holiness, [here;
To separate the husband and the wife.

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,

Adr. Why, so I did.

Mer. By this, I think, the dial points at five: Anon, I am sure, the duke himself in person

Abb. Ay, but not rough enough.

Adr. As roughly, as my modesty would let Comes this way to the melancholy vale;

[blocks in formation]

Sweet recreation barr'd, what doth ensue,
But moody and dull melancholy,
(Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair;)
And, at her heels, a huge infectious troop
Of pale distemperatures, and foes to life?
In food, in sport, and life-preserving rest
To be disturb'd, would mad or man, or beast;
The consequence is then, thy jealous fits
Have scared thy husband from the use of wits.
Luc. She never reprehended him but mildly,
When he demean'd himself rough, rude, and
wildly,-

[blocks in formation]

The place of death and sorry execution,
Behind the ditches of the abbey here.
Ang. Upon what cause?

Mer. To see a reverend Syracusan merchant,

Who put unluckily into this bay
Against the laws and statutes of this town,
Beheaded publicly for his offence.

Ang. See, where they come; we will behold

his death.

[blocks in formation]

my husband,

Whom I made lord of me and all I had,
At your importants letters, this ill day
A most outrageous fit of madness took him;
That desperately he hurried through the street
(With him his s bondman, all as mad as he,)
Doing displeasure to the citizens
By rushing in their houses, bearing thence
Rings, jewels, any thing his rage did like.
Once did I get him bound, and sent him home,
Whilst to take orderff for the wrongs I went,
That here and there his fury had committed.
Anon, I wot not by what strong escape,

* I. e. To bring him back to his senses. † Part. ‡ Sad. Importunate, || I. e. To take measures. 1 Know

« PreviousContinue »