ACT V. SCENE I.—The same. Enter Merchant and ANGELO. Ang. I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder'd you ; Mer. How is the man esteem'd here in the city? Of credit infinite, highly belov'd, 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 That you would put me to this shame and trouble ; And 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. Ant. S. Who heard me to deny it, or forswear it? Mer. These ears of mine, thou knowest, did hear thee: : Fye on thee, wretch! 'tis pity, that thou liv'st 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; Some get within him3, take his sword away: Dro. S. Run, master, run; for God's sake, take a house. 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 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. Adr. This week he hath been heavy, sour, sad, Ne'er brake into extremity of rage. Abb. Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck at sea? Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye Stray'd his affection in unlawful love? 3 4 get within him,] i. e. close with him, grapple with him. take a house.] i. e. go into a house. So, we say a dog takes the water. STEEVENS. † "And much different," &C. MALONE. A sin, prevailing much in youthful men, Adr. To none of these, except it be the last ; Adr. Why, so I did. Abb. Ay, but not rough enough. Adr. As roughly, as my modesty would let me. Abb. Haply, in private. Adr. Abb. Ay, but not enough. And in assemblies too. Adr. It was the copy of our conference: In bed, he slept not for my urging it; Abb. And thereof came it, that the man was mad: 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: (Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair ;) And, at her heels †, a huge infectious troop 5 the copy-] i. e. the theme. We still talk of setting copies for boys. STEEVENS. 6 (Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair;)] Kinsman means near relation. Many words are used by Shakspeare with much greater latitude. Of pale distemperatures, and foes to life? Luc. She never reprehended him but mildly, 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 husband forth. Abb. Neither; he took this place for sanctuary, And it shall privilege him from your hands, Adr. I will attend my husband, be his nurse, Abb. Be patient; for I will not let him stir, It is a branch and parcel of mine oath, 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. [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 7 a formal man again:] i. e. to bring him back to his senses, and the forms of sober behaviour. Have won his grace to come in person hither, Ang. Upon what cause? Mer. To see a reverend Syracusan merchant, Who put unluckily into this bay Ang. See, where they come, we will behold his death. 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, Adr. Justice, most sacred duke, against the abbess! 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, By rushing in their houses, bearing thence "Of sorriest fancies your companions making." Sorry had anciently a stronger meaning than at present, and seems to have meant sorrowful: here perhaps it means dismal. 9 At your important letters,] For importunate. |