Act I, Scene 1

A hall in DUKE SOLINUS’S palace.

Enter DUKE SOLINUS, AEGEON, Gaoler, Officers, and other] [p]Attendants]

• Aegeon. Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall
  And by the doom of death end woes and all.

• Solinus. Merchant of Syracuse, plead no more; 5
  I am not partial to infringe our laws:
  The enmity and discord which of late
  Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your duke
  To merchants, our well-dealing countrymen,
  Who wanting guilders to redeem their lives 10
  Have seal'd his rigorous statutes with their bloods,
  Excludes all pity from our threatening looks.
  For, since the mortal and intestine jars
  'Twixt thy seditious countrymen and us,
  It hath in solemn synods been decreed 15
  Both by the Syracusians and ourselves,
  To admit no traffic to our adverse towns Nay, more,
  If any born at Ephesus be seen
  At any Syracusian marts and fairs;
  Again: if any Syracusian born 20
  Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies,
  His goods confiscate to the duke's dispose,
  Unless a thousand marks be levied,
  To quit the penalty and to ransom him.
  Thy substance, valued at the highest rate, 25
  Cannot amount unto a hundred marks;
  Therefore by law thou art condemned to die.

• Aegeon. Yet this my comfort: when your words are done,
  My woes end likewise with the evening sun.

• Solinus. Well, Syracusian, say in brief the cause 30
  Why thou departed'st from thy native home
  And for what cause thou camest to Ephesus.

• Aegeon. A heavier task could not have been imposed
  Than I to speak my griefs unspeakable:
  Yet, that the world may witness that my end 35
  Was wrought by nature, not by vile offence,
  I'll utter what my sorrows give me leave.
  In Syracusa was I born, and wed
  Unto a woman, happy but for me,
  And by me, had not our hap been bad. 40
  With her I lived in joy; our wealth increased
  By prosperous voyages I often made
  To Epidamnum; till my factor's death
  And the great care of goods at random left
  Drew me from kind embracements of my spouse: 45
  From whom my absence was not six months old
  Before herself, almost at fainting under
  The pleasing punishment that women bear,
  Had made provision for her following me
  And soon and safe arrived where I was. 50
  There had she not been long, but she became
  A joyful mother of two goodly sons;
  And, which was strange, the one so like the other,
  As could not be distinguish'd but by names.
  That very hour, and in the self-same inn, 55
  A meaner woman was delivered
  Of such a burden, male twins, both alike:
  Those,—for their parents were exceeding poor,—
  I bought and brought up to attend my sons.
  My wife, not meanly proud of two such boys, 60
  Made daily motions for our home return:
  Unwilling I agreed. Alas! too soon,
  We came aboard.
  A league from Epidamnum had we sail'd,
  Before the always wind-obeying deep 65
  Gave any tragic instance of our harm:
  But longer did we not retain much hope;
  For what obscured light the heavens did grant
  Did but convey unto our fearful minds
  A doubtful warrant of immediate death; 70
  Which though myself would gladly have embraced,
  Yet the incessant 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, 75
  Forced me to seek delays for them and me.
  And this it was, for other means was none:
  The sailors sought for safety by our boat,
  And left the ship, then sinking-ripe, to us:
  My wife, more careful for the latter-born, 80
  Had fasten'd him unto a small spare mast,
  Such as seafaring men provide for storms;
  To him one of the other twins was bound,
  Whilst I had been like heedful of the other:
  The children thus disposed, my wife and I, 85
  Fixing our eyes on whom our care was fix'd,
  Fasten'd ourselves at either end the mast;
  And floating straight, obedient to the stream,
  Was carried towards Corinth, as we thought.
  At length the sun, gazing upon the earth, 90
  Dispersed those vapours that offended us;
  And by the benefit of his wished light,
  The seas wax'd calm, and we discovered
  Two ships from far making amain to us,
  Of Corinth that, of Epidaurus this: 95
  But ere they came,—O, let me say no more!
  Gather the sequel by that went before.

• Solinus. Nay, forward, old man; do not break off so;
  For we may pity, though not pardon thee.

• Aegeon. O, had the gods done so, I had not now 100
  Worthily term'd them merciless to us!
  For, ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues,
  We were encounterd by a mighty rock;
  Which being violently borne upon,
  Our helpful ship was splitted in the midst; 105
  So that, in this unjust divorce of us,
  Fortune had left to both of us alike
  What to delight in, what to sorrow for.
  Her part, poor soul! seeming as burdened
  With lesser weight but not with lesser woe, 110
  Was carried with more speed before the wind;
  And in our sight they three were taken up
  By fishermen of Corinth, as we thought.
  At length, another ship had seized on us;
  And, knowing whom it was their hap to save, 115
  Gave healthful welcome to their shipwreck'd guests;
  And would have reft the fishers of their prey,
  Had not their bark been very slow of sail;
  And therefore homeward did they bend their course.
  Thus have you heard me sever'd from my bliss; 120
  That by misfortunes was my life prolong'd,
  To tell sad stories of my own mishaps.

• Solinus. And for the sake of them thou sorrowest for,
  Do me the favour to dilate at full
  What hath befall'n of them and thee till now. 125

• Aegeon. My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care,
  At eighteen years became inquisitive
  After his brother: and importuned me
  That his attendant—so his case was like,
  Reft of his brother, but retain'd his name— 130
  Might bear him company in the quest of him:
  Whom whilst I labour'd of a love to see,
  I hazarded the loss of whom I loved.
  Five summers have I spent in furthest Greece,
  Roaming clean through the bounds of Asia, 135
  And, coasting homeward, came to Ephesus;
  Hopeless to find, yet loath to leave unsought
  Or that or any place that harbours men.
  But here must end the story of my life;
  And happy were I in my timely death, 140
  Could all my travels warrant me they live.

• Solinus. Hapless AEgeon, whom the fates have mark'd
  To bear the extremity of dire mishap!
  Now, trust me, were it not against our laws,
  Against my crown, my oath, my dignity, 145
  Which princes, would they, may not disannul,
  My soul would sue as advocate for thee.
  But, though thou art adjudged to the death
  And passed sentence may not be recall'd
  But to our honour's great disparagement, 150
  Yet I will favour thee in what I can.
  Therefore, merchant, I'll limit thee this day
  To seek thy life by beneficial help:
  Try all the friends thou hast in Ephesus;
  Beg thou, or borrow, to make up the sum, 155
  And live; if no, then thou art doom'd to die.
  Gaoler, take him to thy custody.

• Gaoler. I will, my lord.

• Aegeon. Hopeless and helpless doth AEgeon wend,
  But to procrastinate his lifeless end. 160

[Exeunt]

Act I, Scene 2

The Mart.

Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse, DROMIO of Syracuse, and First Merchant]

• First Merchant. Therefore give out you are of Epidamnum,
  Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate.
  This very day a Syracusian merchant 165
  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 sun set in the west.
  There is your money that I had to keep. 170

• Antipholus of Syracuse. 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,
  Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings, 175
  And then return and sleep within mine inn,
  For with long travel I am stiff and weary.
  Get thee away.

• Dromio of Syracuse. Many a man would take you at your word,
  And go indeed, having so good a mean. 180

[Exit]

• Antipholus of Syracuse. A trusty villain, sir, that very oft,
  When I am dull with care and melancholy,
  Lightens my humour with his merry jests.
  What, will you walk with me about the town, 185
  And then go to my inn and dine with me?

• First Merchant. I am invited, sir, to certain merchants,
  Of whom I hope to make much benefit;
  I crave your pardon. Soon at five o'clock,
  Please you, I'll meet with you upon the mart 190
  And afterward consort you till bed-time:
  My present business calls me from you now.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Farewell till then: I will go lose myself
  And wander up and down to view the city.

• First Merchant. Sir, I commend you to your own content. 195

[Exit]

• Antipholus of Syracuse. He that commends me to mine own content
  Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
  I to the world am like a drop of water
  That in the ocean seeks another drop, 200
  Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
  Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself:
  So I, to find a mother and a brother,
  In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself.
  [Enter DROMIO of Ephesus] 205
  Here comes the almanac of my true date.
  What now? how chance thou art return'd so soon?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Return'd so soon! rather approach'd too late:
  The capon burns, the pig falls from the spit,
  The clock hath strucken twelve upon the bell; 210
  My mistress made it one upon my cheek:
  She is so hot because the meat is cold;
  The meat is cold because you come not home;
  You come not home because you have no stomach;
  You have no stomach having broke your fast; 215
  But we that know what 'tis to fast and pray
  Are penitent for your default to-day.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Stop in your wind, sir: tell me this, I pray:
  Where have you left the money that I gave you?

• Dromio of Ephesus. O,—sixpence, that I had o' Wednesday last 220
  To pay the saddler for my mistress' crupper?
  The saddler had it, sir; I kept it not.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. I am not in a sportive humour now:
  Tell me, and dally not, where is the money?
  We being strangers here, how darest thou trust 225
  So great a charge from thine own custody?

• Dromio of Ephesus. I pray you, air, as you sit at dinner:
  I from my mistress come to you in post;
  If I return, I shall be post indeed,
  For she will score your fault upon my pate. 230
  Methinks your maw, like mine, should be your clock,
  And strike you home without a messenger.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Come, Dromio, come, these jests are out of season;
  Reserve them till a merrier hour than this.
  Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee? 235

• Dromio of Ephesus. To me, sir? why, you gave no gold to me.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Come on, sir knave, have done your foolishness,
  And tell me how thou hast disposed thy charge.

• Dromio of Ephesus. My charge was but to fetch you from the mart
  Home to your house, the Phoenix, sir, to dinner: 240
  My mistress and her sister stays for you.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. In what safe place you have bestow'd my money,
  Or I shall break that merry sconce of yours
  That stands on tricks when I am undisposed:
  Where is the thousand marks thou hadst of me? 245

• Dromio of Ephesus. I have some marks of yours upon my pate,
  Some of my mistress' marks upon my shoulders,
  But not a thousand marks between you both.
  If I should pay your worship those again,
  Perchance you will not bear them patiently. 250

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Thy mistress' marks? what mistress, slave, hast thou?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Your worship's wife, my mistress at the Phoenix;
  She that doth fast till you come home to dinner,
  And prays that you will hie you home to dinner.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face, 255
  Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave.

• Dromio of Ephesus. What mean you, sir? for God's sake, hold your hands!
  Nay, and you will not, sir, I'll take my heels.

[Exit]

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Upon my life, by some device or other 260
  The villain is o'er-raught of all my money.
  They say this town is full of cozenage,
  As, nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,
  Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind,
  Soul-killing witches that deform the body, 265
  Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks,
  And many such-like liberties of sin:
  If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner.
  I'll to the Centaur, to go seek this slave:
  I greatly fear my money is not safe. 270

[Exit]

Act II, Scene 1

The house of ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus.

[Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA]

• Adriana. Neither my husband nor the slave return'd,
  That in such haste I sent to seek his master!
  Sure, Luciana, it is two o'clock. 275

• Luciana. Perhaps some merchant hath invited him,
  And from the mart he's somewhere gone to dinner.
  Good sister, let us dine and never fret:
  A man is master of his liberty:
  Time is their master, and, when they see time, 280
  They'll go or come: if so, be patient, sister.

• Adriana. Why should their liberty than ours be more?

• Luciana. Because their business still lies out o' door.

• Adriana. Look, when I serve him so, he takes it ill.

• Luciana. O, know he is the bridle of your will. 285

• Adriana. There's none but asses will be bridled so.

• Luciana. Why, headstrong liberty is lash'd with woe.
  There's nothing situate under heaven's eye
  But hath his bound, in earth, in sea, in sky:
  The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowls, 290
  Are their males' subjects and at their controls:
  Men, more divine, the masters of all these,
  Lords of the wide world and wild watery seas,
  Indued with intellectual sense and souls,
  Of more preeminence than fish and fowls, 295
  Are masters to their females, and their lords:
  Then let your will attend on their accords.

• Adriana. This servitude makes you to keep unwed.

• Luciana. Not this, but troubles of the marriage-bed.

• Adriana. But, were you wedded, you would bear some sway. 300

• Luciana. Ere I learn love, I'll practise to obey.

• Adriana. How if your husband start some other where?

• Luciana. Till he come home again, I would forbear.

• Adriana. Patience unmoved! no marvel though she pause;
  They can be meek that have no other cause. 305
  A wretched soul, bruised with adversity,
  We bid be quiet when we hear it cry;
  But were we burdened with like weight of pain,
  As much or more would we ourselves complain:
  So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee, 310
  With urging helpless patience wouldst relieve me,
  But, if thou live to see like right bereft,
  This fool-begg'd patience in thee will be left.

• Luciana. Well, I will marry one day, but to try.
  Here comes your man; now is your husband nigh. 315

[Enter DROMIO of Ephesus]

• Adriana. Say, is your tardy master now at hand?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Nay, he's at two hands with me, and that my two ears
  can witness.

• Adriana. Say, didst thou speak with him? know'st thou his mind? 320

• Dromio of Ephesus. Ay, ay, he told his mind upon mine ear:
  Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it.

• Luciana. Spake he so doubtfully, thou couldst not feel his meaning?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Nay, he struck so plainly, I could too well feel his
  blows; and withal so doubtfully that I could scarce 325
  understand them.

• Adriana. But say, I prithee, is he coming home? It seems he
  hath great care to please his wife.

• Dromio of Ephesus. Why, mistress, sure my master is horn-mad.

• Adriana. Horn-mad, thou villain! 330

• Dromio of Ephesus. I mean not cuckold-mad;
  But, sure, he is stark mad.
  When I desired him to come home to dinner,
  He ask'd me for a thousand marks in gold:
  'Tis dinner-time,' quoth I; 'My gold!' quoth he; 335
  'Your meat doth burn,' quoth I; 'My gold!' quoth he:
  'Will you come home?' quoth I; 'My gold!' quoth he.
  'Where is the thousand marks I gave thee, villain?'
  'The pig,' quoth I, 'is burn'd;' 'My gold!' quoth he:
  'My mistress, sir' quoth I; 'Hang up thy mistress! 340
  I know not thy mistress; out on thy mistress!'

• Luciana. Quoth who?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Quoth my master:
  'I know,' quoth he, 'no house, no wife, no mistress.'
  So that my errand, due unto my tongue, 345
  I thank him, I bare home upon my shoulders;
  For, in conclusion, he did beat me there.

• Adriana. Go back again, thou slave, and fetch him home.

• Dromio of Ephesus. Go back again, and be new beaten home?
  For God's sake, send some other messenger. 350

• Adriana. Back, slave, or I will break thy pate across.

• Dromio of Ephesus. And he will bless that cross with other beating:
  Between you I shall have a holy head.

• Adriana. Hence, prating peasant! fetch thy master home.

• Dromio of Ephesus. Am I so round with you as you with me, 355
  That like a football you do spurn me thus?
  You spurn me hence, and he will spurn me hither:
  If I last in this service, you must case me in leather.

[Exit]

• Luciana. Fie, how impatience loureth in your face! 360

• Adriana. His company must do his minions grace,
  Whilst I at home starve for a merry look.
  Hath homely age the alluring beauty took
  From my poor cheek? then he hath wasted it:
  Are my discourses dull? barren my wit? 365
  If voluble and sharp discourse be marr'd,
  Unkindness blunts it more than marble hard:
  Do their gay vestments his affections bait?
  That's not my fault: he's master of my state:
  What ruins are in me that can be found, 370
  By him not ruin'd? then is he the ground
  Of my defeatures. My decayed fair
  A sunny look of his would soon repair
  But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale
  And feeds from home; poor I am but his stale. 375

• Luciana. Self-harming jealousy! fie, beat it hence!

• Adriana. Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense.
  I know his eye doth homage otherwhere,
  Or else what lets it but he would be here?
  Sister, you know he promised me a chain; 380
  Would that alone, alone he would detain,
  So he would keep fair quarter with his bed!
  I see the jewel best enamelled
  Will lose his beauty; yet the gold bides still,
  That others touch, and often touching will 385
  Wear gold: and no man that hath a name,
  By falsehood and corruption doth it shame.
  Since that my beauty cannot please his eye,
  I'll weep what's left away, and weeping die.

• Luciana. How many fond fools serve mad jealousy! 390

[Exeunt]

Act II, Scene 2

A public place.

[Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse]

• Antipholus of Syracuse. The gold I gave to Dromio is laid up
  Safe at the Centaur; and the heedful slave
  Is wander'd forth, in care to seek me out 395
  By computation and mine host's report.
  I could not speak with Dromio since at first
  I sent him from the mart. See, here he comes.
  [Enter DROMIO of Syracuse]
  How now sir! is your merry humour alter'd? 400
  As you love strokes, so jest with me again.
  You know no Centaur? you received no gold?
  Your mistress sent to have me home to dinner?
  My house was at the Phoenix? Wast thou mad,
  That thus so madly thou didst answer me? 405

• Dromio of Syracuse. What answer, sir? when spake I such a word?

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Even now, even here, not half an hour since.

• Dromio of Syracuse. I did not see you since you sent me hence,
  Home to the Centaur, with the gold you gave me.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Villain, thou didst deny the gold's receipt, 410
  And told'st me of a mistress and a dinner;
  For which, I hope, thou felt'st I was displeased.

• Dromio of Syracuse. I am glad to see you in this merry vein:
  What means this jest? I pray you, master, tell me.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Yea, dost thou jeer and flout me in the teeth? 415
  Think'st thou I jest? Hold, take thou that, and that.

[Beating him]

• Dromio of Syracuse. Hold, sir, for God's sake! now your jest is earnest:
  Upon what bargain do you give it me?

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Because that I familiarly sometimes 420
  Do use you for my fool and chat with you,
  Your sauciness will jest upon my love
  And make a common of my serious hours.
  When the sun shines let foolish gnats make sport,
  But creep in crannies when he hides his beams. 425
  If you will jest with me, know my aspect,
  And fashion your demeanor to my looks,
  Or I will beat this method in your sconce.

• Dromio of Syracuse. Sconce call you it? so you would leave battering, I
  had rather have it a head: an you use these blows 430
  long, I must get a sconce for my head and ensconce
  it too; or else I shall seek my wit in my shoulders.
  But, I pray, sir why am I beaten?

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Dost thou not know?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Nothing, sir, but that I am beaten. 435

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Shall I tell you why?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Ay, sir, and wherefore; for they say every why hath
  a wherefore.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Why, first,—for flouting me; and then, wherefore—
  For urging it the second time to me. 440

• Dromio of Syracuse. Was there ever any man thus beaten out of season,
  When in the why and the wherefore is neither rhyme
  nor reason?
  Well, sir, I thank you.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Thank me, sir, for what? 445

• Dromio of Syracuse. Marry, sir, for this something that you gave me for nothing.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. I'll make you amends next, to give you nothing for
  something. But say, sir, is it dinner-time?

• Dromio of Syracuse. No, sir; I think the meat wants that I have.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. In good time, sir; what's that? 450

• Dromio of Syracuse. Basting.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Well, sir, then 'twill be dry.

• Dromio of Syracuse. If it be, sir, I pray you, eat none of it.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Your reason?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Lest it make you choleric and purchase me another 455
  dry basting.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Well, sir, learn to jest in good time: there's a
  time for all things.

• Dromio of Syracuse. I durst have denied that, before you were so choleric.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. By what rule, sir? 460

• Dromio of Syracuse. Marry, sir, by a rule as plain as the plain bald
  pate of father Time himself.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Let's hear it.

• Dromio of Syracuse. There's no time for a man to recover his hair that
  grows bald by nature. 465

• Antipholus of Syracuse. May he not do it by fine and recovery?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Yes, to pay a fine for a periwig and recover the
  lost hair of another man.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Why is Time such a niggard of hair, being, as it is,
  so plentiful an excrement? 470

• Dromio of Syracuse. Because it is a blessing that he bestows on beasts;
  and what he hath scanted men in hair he hath given them in wit.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Why, but there's many a man hath more hair than wit.

• Dromio of Syracuse. Not a man of those but he hath the wit to lose his hair.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Why, thou didst conclude hairy men plain dealers without wit. 475

• Dromio of Syracuse. The plainer dealer, the sooner lost: yet he loseth
  it in a kind of jollity.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. For what reason?

• Dromio of Syracuse. For two; and sound ones too.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Nay, not sound, I pray you. 480

• Dromio of Syracuse. Sure ones, then.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Nay, not sure, in a thing falsing.

• Dromio of Syracuse. Certain ones then.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Name them.

• Dromio of Syracuse. The one, to save the money that he spends in 485
  trimming; the other, that at dinner they should not
  drop in his porridge.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. You would all this time have proved there is no
  time for all things.

• Dromio of Syracuse. Marry, and did, sir; namely, no time to recover hair 490
  lost by nature.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. But your reason was not substantial, why there is no
  time to recover.

• Dromio of Syracuse. Thus I mend it: Time himself is bald and therefore
  to the world's end will have bald followers. 495

• Antipholus of Syracuse. I knew 'twould be a bald conclusion:
  But, soft! who wafts us yonder?

[Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA]

• Adriana. Ay, ay, Antipholus, look strange and frown:
  Some other mistress hath thy sweet aspects; 500
  I am not Adriana nor thy wife.
  The time was once when thou unurged wouldst vow
  That never words were music to thine ear,
  That never object pleasing in thine eye,
  That never touch well welcome to thy hand, 505
  That never meat sweet-savor'd in thy taste,
  Unless I spake, or look'd, or touch'd, or carved to thee.
  How comes it now, my husband, O, how comes it,
  That thou art thus estranged from thyself?
  Thyself I call it, being strange to me, 510
  That, undividable, incorporate,
  Am better than thy dear self's better part.
  Ah, do not tear away thyself from me!
  For know, my love, as easy mayest thou fall
  A drop of water in the breaking gulf, 515
  And take unmingled that same drop again,
  Without addition or diminishing,
  As take from me thyself and not me too.
  How dearly would it touch me to the quick,
  Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious 520
  And that this body, consecrate to thee,
  By ruffian lust should be contaminate!
  Wouldst thou not spit at me and spurn at me
  And hurl the name of husband in my face
  And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot-brow 525
  And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring
  And break it with a deep-divorcing vow?
  I know thou canst; and therefore see thou do it.
  I am possess'd with an adulterate blot;
  My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: 530
  For if we too be one and thou play false,
  I do digest the poison of thy flesh,
  Being strumpeted by thy contagion.
  Keep then far league and truce with thy true bed;
  I live unstain'd, thou undishonoured. 535

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Plead you to me, fair dame? I know you not:
  In Ephesus I am but two hours old,
  As strange unto your town as to your talk;
  Who, every word by all my wit being scann'd,
  Want wit in all one word to understand. 540

• Luciana. Fie, brother! how the world is changed with you!
  When were you wont to use my sister thus?
  She sent for you by Dromio home to dinner.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. By Dromio?

• Dromio of Syracuse. By me? 545

• Adriana. By thee; and this thou didst return from him,
  That he did buffet thee, and, in his blows,
  Denied my house for his, me for his wife.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Did you converse, sir, with this gentlewoman?
  What is the course and drift of your compact? 550

• Dromio of Syracuse. I, sir? I never saw her till this time.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Villain, thou liest; for even her very words
  Didst thou deliver to me on the mart.

• Dromio of Syracuse. I never spake with her in all my life.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. How can she thus then call us by our names, 555
  Unless it be by inspiration.

• Adriana. How ill agrees it with your gravity
  To counterfeit thus grossly with your slave,
  Abetting him to thwart me in my mood!
  Be it my wrong you are from me exempt, 560
  But wrong not that wrong with a more contempt.
  Come, I will fasten on this sleeve of thine:
  Thou art an elm, my husband, I a vine,
  Whose weakness, married to thy stronger state,
  Makes me with thy strength to communicate: 565
  If aught possess thee from me, it is dross,
  Usurping ivy, brier, or idle moss;
  Who, all for want of pruning, with intrusion
  Infect thy sap and live on thy confusion.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. To me she speaks; she moves me for her theme: 570
  What, was I married to her in my dream?
  Or sleep I now and think I hear all this?
  What error drives our eyes and ears amiss?
  Until I know this sure uncertainty,
  I'll entertain the offer'd fallacy. 575

• Luciana. Dromio, go bid the servants spread for dinner.

• Dromio of Syracuse. O, for my beads! I cross me for a sinner.
  This is the fairy land: O spite of spites!
  We talk with goblins, owls and sprites:
  If we obey them not, this will ensue, 580
  They'll suck our breath, or pinch us black and blue.

• Luciana. Why pratest thou to thyself and answer'st not?
  Dromio, thou drone, thou snail, thou slug, thou sot!

• Dromio of Syracuse. I am transformed, master, am I not?

• Antipholus of Syracuse. I think thou art in mind, and so am I. 585

• Dromio of Syracuse. Nay, master, both in mind and in my shape.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Thou hast thine own form.

• Dromio of Syracuse. No, I am an ape.

• Luciana. If thou art changed to aught, 'tis to an ass.

• Dromio of Syracuse. 'Tis true; she rides me and I long for grass. 590
  'Tis so, I am an ass; else it could never be
  But I should know her as well as she knows me.

• Adriana. Come, come, no longer will I be a fool,
  To put the finger in the eye and weep,
  Whilst man and master laugh my woes to scorn. 595
  Come, sir, to dinner. Dromio, keep the gate.
  Husband, I'll dine above with you to-day
  And shrive you of a thousand idle pranks.
  Sirrah, if any ask you for your master,
  Say he dines forth, and let no creature enter. 600
  Come, sister. Dromio, play the porter well.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Am I in earth, in heaven, or in hell?
  Sleeping or waking? mad or well-advised?
  Known unto these, and to myself disguised!
  I'll say as they say and persever so, 605
  And in this mist at all adventures go.

• Dromio of Syracuse. Master, shall I be porter at the gate?

• Adriana. Ay; and let none enter, lest I break your pate.

• Luciana. Come, come, Antipholus, we dine too late.

[Exeunt]

Act III, Scene 1

Before the house of ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus.

Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, DROMIO of Ephesus, ANGELO, and BALTHAZAR]

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Good Signior Angelo, you must excuse us all;
  My wife is shrewish when I keep not hours:
  Say that I linger'd with you at your shop
  To see the making of her carcanet, 615
  And that to-morrow you will bring it home.
  But here's a villain that would face me down
  He met me on the mart, and that I beat him,
  And charged him with a thousand marks in gold,
  And that I did deny my wife and house. 620
  Thou drunkard, thou, what didst thou mean by this?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Say what you will, sir, but I know what I know;
  That you beat me at the mart, I have your hand to show:
  If the skin were parchment, and the blows you gave were ink,
  Your own handwriting would tell you what I think. 625

• Antipholus of Ephesus. I think thou art an ass.

• Dromio of Ephesus. Marry, so it doth appear
  By the wrongs I suffer and the blows I bear.
  I should kick, being kick'd; and, being at that pass,
  You would keep from my heels and beware of an ass. 630

• Antipholus of Ephesus. You're sad, Signior Balthazar: pray God our cheer
  May answer my good will and your good welcome here.

• Balthazar. I hold your dainties cheap, sir, and your
  welcome dear.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. O, Signior Balthazar, either at flesh or fish, 635
  A table full of welcome make scarce one dainty dish.

• Balthazar. Good meat, sir, is common; that every churl affords.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. And welcome more common; for that's nothing but words.

• Balthazar. Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Ay, to a niggardly host, and more sparing guest: 640
  But though my cates be mean, take them in good part;
  Better cheer may you have, but not with better heart.
  But, soft! my door is lock'd. Go bid them let us in.

• Dromio of Ephesus. Maud, Bridget, Marian, Cicel, Gillian, Ginn!

• Dromio of Syracuse. [Within] Mome, malt-horse, capon, coxcomb, 645
  idiot, patch!
  Either get thee from the door, or sit down at the hatch.
  Dost thou conjure for wenches, that thou call'st
  for such store,
  When one is one too many? Go, get thee from the door. 650

• Dromio of Ephesus. What patch is made our porter? My master stays in
  the street.

• Dromio of Syracuse. [Within] Let him walk from whence he came, lest he
  catch cold on's feet.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Who talks within there? ho, open the door! 655

• Dromio of Syracuse. [Within] Right, sir; I'll tell you when, an you tell
  me wherefore.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Wherefore? for my dinner: I have not dined to-day.

• Dromio of Syracuse. [Within] Nor to-day here you must not; come again
  when you may. 660

• Antipholus of Ephesus. What art thou that keepest me out from the house I owe?

• Dromio of Syracuse. [Within] The porter for this time, sir, and my name
  is Dromio.

• Dromio of Ephesus. O villain! thou hast stolen both mine office and my name.
  The one ne'er got me credit, the other mickle blame. 665
  If thou hadst been Dromio to-day in my place,
  Thou wouldst have changed thy face for a name or thy
  name for an ass.

• Luce. [Within] What a coil is there, Dromio? who are those
  at the gate? 670

• Dromio of Ephesus. Let my master in, Luce.

• Luce. [Within] Faith, no; he comes too late;
  And so tell your master.

• Dromio of Ephesus. O Lord, I must laugh!
  Have at you with a proverb—Shall I set in my staff? 675

• Luce. [Within] Have at you with another; that's—When?
  can you tell?

• Dromio of Syracuse. [Within] If thy name be call'd Luce—Luce, thou hast
  answered him well.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Do you hear, you minion? you'll let us in, I hope? 680

• Luce. [Within] I thought to have asked you.

• Dromio of Syracuse. [Within] And you said no.

• Dromio of Ephesus. So, come, help: well struck! there was blow for blow.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Thou baggage, let me in.

• Luce. [Within] Can you tell for whose sake? 685

• Dromio of Ephesus. Master, knock the door hard.

• Luce. [Within] Let him knock till it ache.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. You'll cry for this, minion, if I beat the door down.

• Luce. [Within] What needs all that, and a pair of stocks in the town?

• Adriana. [Within] Who is that at the door that keeps all 690
  this noise?

• Dromio of Syracuse. [Within] By my troth, your town is troubled with
  unruly boys.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Are you there, wife? you might have come before.

• Adriana. [Within] Your wife, sir knave! go get you from the door. 695

• Dromio of Ephesus. If you went in pain, master, this 'knave' would go sore.

• Angelo. Here is neither cheer, sir, nor welcome: we would
  fain have either.

• Balthazar. In debating which was best, we shall part with neither.

• Dromio of Ephesus. They stand at the door, master; bid them welcome hither. 700

• Antipholus of Ephesus. There is something in the wind, that we cannot get in.

• Dromio of Ephesus. You would say so, master, if your garments were thin.
  Your cake there is warm within; you stand here in the cold:
  It would make a man mad as a buck, to be so bought and sold.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Go fetch me something: I'll break ope the gate. 705

• Dromio of Syracuse. [Within] Break any breaking here, and I'll break your
  knave's pate.

• Dromio of Ephesus. A man may break a word with you, sir, and words are but wind,
  Ay, and break it in your face, so he break it not behind.

• Dromio of Syracuse. [Within] It seems thou want'st breaking: out upon 710
  thee, hind!

• Dromio of Ephesus. Here's too much 'out upon thee!' I pray thee,
  let me in.

• Dromio of Syracuse. [Within] Ay, when fowls have no feathers and fish have no fin.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Well, I'll break in: go borrow me a crow. 715

• Dromio of Ephesus. A crow without feather? Master, mean you so?
  For a fish without a fin, there's a fowl without a feather;
  If a crow help us in, sirrah, we'll pluck a crow together.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Go get thee gone; fetch me an iron crow.

• Balthazar. Have patience, sir; O, let it not be so! 720
  Herein you war against your reputation
  And draw within the compass of suspect
  The unviolated honour of your wife.
  Once this,—your long experience of her wisdom,
  Her sober virtue, years and modesty, 725
  Plead on her part some cause to you unknown:
  And doubt not, sir, but she will well excuse
  Why at this time the doors are made against you.
  Be ruled by me: depart in patience,
  And let us to the Tiger all to dinner, 730
  And about evening come yourself alone
  To know the reason of this strange restraint.
  If by strong hand you offer to break in
  Now in the stirring passage of the day,
  A vulgar comment will be made of it, 735
  And that supposed by the common rout
  Against your yet ungalled estimation
  That may with foul intrusion enter in
  And dwell upon your grave when you are dead;
  For slander lives upon succession, 740
  For ever housed where it gets possession.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. You have prevailed: I will depart in quiet,
  And, in despite of mirth, mean to be merry.
  I know a wench of excellent discourse,
  Pretty and witty; wild, and yet, too, gentle: 745
  There will we dine. This woman that I mean,
  My wife—but, I protest, without desert—
  Hath oftentimes upbraided me withal:
  To her will we to dinner.
  [To Angelo] 750
  Get you home
  And fetch the chain; by this I know 'tis made:
  Bring it, I pray you, to the Porpentine;
  For there's the house: that chain will I bestow—
  Be it for nothing but to spite my wife— 755
  Upon mine hostess there: good sir, make haste.
  Since mine own doors refuse to entertain me,
  I'll knock elsewhere, to see if they'll disdain me.

• Angelo. I'll meet you at that place some hour hence.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Do so. This jest shall cost me some expense. 760

[Exeunt]

Act III, Scene 2

The same.

[Enter LUCIANA and ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse]

• Luciana. And may it be that you have quite forgot
  A husband's office? shall, Antipholus.
  Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot? 765
  Shall love, in building, grow so ruinous?
  If you did wed my sister for her wealth,
  Then for her wealth's sake use her with more kindness:
  Or if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth;
  Muffle your false love with some show of blindness: 770
  Let not my sister read it in your eye;
  Be not thy tongue thy own shame's orator;
  Look sweet, be fair, become disloyalty;
  Apparel vice like virtue's harbinger;
  Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted; 775
  Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint;
  Be secret-false: what need she be acquainted?
  What simple thief brags of his own attaint?
  'Tis double wrong, to truant with your bed
  And let her read it in thy looks at board: 780
  Shame hath a bastard fame, well managed;
  Ill deeds are doubled with an evil word.
  Alas, poor women! make us but believe,
  Being compact of credit, that you love us;
  Though others have the arm, show us the sleeve; 785
  We in your motion turn and you may move us.
  Then, gentle brother, get you in again;
  Comfort my sister, cheer her, call her wife:
  'Tis holy sport to be a little vain,
  When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife. 790

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Sweet mistress—what your name is else, I know not,
  Nor by what wonder you do hit of mine,—
  Less in your knowledge and your grace you show not
  Than our earth's wonder, more than earth divine.
  Teach me, dear creature, how to think and speak; 795
  Lay open to my earthy-gross conceit,
  Smother'd in errors, feeble, shallow, weak,
  The folded meaning of your words' deceit.
  Against my soul's pure truth why labour you
  To make it wander in an unknown field? 800
  Are you a god? would you create me new?
  Transform me then, and to your power I'll yield.
  But if that I am I, then well I know
  Your weeping sister is no wife of mine,
  Nor to her bed no homage do I owe 805
  Far more, far more to you do I decline.
  O, train me not, sweet mermaid, with thy note,
  To drown me in thy sister's flood of tears:
  Sing, siren, for thyself and I will dote:
  Spread o'er the silver waves thy golden hairs, 810
  And as a bed I'll take them and there lie,
  And in that glorious supposition think
  He gains by death that hath such means to die:
  Let Love, being light, be drowned if she sink!

• Luciana. What, are you mad, that you do reason so? 815

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Not mad, but mated; how, I do not know.

• Luciana. It is a fault that springeth from your eye.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. For gazing on your beams, fair sun, being by.

• Luciana. Gaze where you should, and that will clear your sight.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. As good to wink, sweet love, as look on night. 820

• Luciana. Why call you me love? call my sister so.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Thy sister's sister.

• Luciana. That's my sister.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. No;
  It is thyself, mine own self's better part, 825
  Mine eye's clear eye, my dear heart's dearer heart,
  My food, my fortune and my sweet hope's aim,
  My sole earth's heaven and my heaven's claim.

• Luciana. All this my sister is, or else should be.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Call thyself sister, sweet, for I am thee. 830
  Thee will I love and with thee lead my life:
  Thou hast no husband yet nor I no wife.
  Give me thy hand.

• Luciana. O, soft, air! hold you still:
  I'll fetch my sister, to get her good will. 835

[Exit]

[Enter DROMIO of Syracuse]

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Why, how now, Dromio! where runn'st thou so fast?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Do you know me, sir? am I Dromio? am I your man?
  am I myself? 840

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Thou art Dromio, thou art my man, thou art thyself.

• Dromio of Syracuse. I am an ass, I am a woman's man and besides myself.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. What woman's man? and how besides thyself? besides thyself?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Marry, sir, besides myself, I am due to a woman; one
  that claims me, one that haunts me, one that will have me. 845

• Antipholus of Syracuse. What claim lays she to thee?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Marry sir, such claim as you would lay to your
  horse; and she would have me as a beast: not that, I
  being a beast, she would have me; but that she,
  being a very beastly creature, lays claim to me. 850

• Antipholus of Syracuse. What is she?

• Dromio of Syracuse. A very reverent body; ay, such a one as a man may
  not speak of without he say 'Sir-reverence.' I have
  but lean luck in the match, and yet is she a
  wondrous fat marriage. 855

• Antipholus of Syracuse. How dost thou mean a fat marriage?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Marry, sir, she's the kitchen wench and all grease;
  and I know not what use to put her to but to make a
  lamp of her and run from her by her own light. I
  warrant, her rags and the tallow in them will burn a 860
  Poland winter: if she lives till doomsday,
  she'll burn a week longer than the whole world.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. What complexion is she of?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Swart, like my shoe, but her face nothing half so
  clean kept: for why, she sweats; a man may go over 865
  shoes in the grime of it.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. That's a fault that water will mend.

• Dromio of Syracuse. No, sir, 'tis in grain; Noah's flood could not do it.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. What's her name?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Nell, sir; but her name and three quarters, that's 870
  an ell and three quarters, will not measure her from
  hip to hip.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Then she bears some breadth?

• Dromio of Syracuse. No longer from head to foot than from hip to hip:
  she is spherical, like a globe; I could find out 875
  countries in her.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. In what part of her body stands Ireland?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Marry, in her buttocks: I found it out by the bogs.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Where Scotland?

• Dromio of Syracuse. I found it by the barrenness; hard in the palm of the hand. 880

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Where France?

• Dromio of Syracuse. In her forehead; armed and reverted, making war
  against her heir.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Where England?

• Dromio of Syracuse. I looked for the chalky cliffs, but I could find no 885
  whiteness in them; but I guess it stood in her chin,
  by the salt rheum that ran between France and it.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Where Spain?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Faith, I saw it not; but I felt it hot in her breath.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Where America, the Indies? 890

• Dromio of Syracuse. Oh, sir, upon her nose all o'er embellished with
  rubies, carbuncles, sapphires, declining their rich
  aspect to the hot breath of Spain; who sent whole
  armadoes of caracks to be ballast at her nose.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Where stood Belgia, the Netherlands? 895

• Dromio of Syracuse. Oh, sir, I did not look so low. To conclude, this
  drudge, or diviner, laid claim to me, call'd me
  Dromio; swore I was assured to her; told me what
  privy marks I had about me, as, the mark of my
  shoulder, the mole in my neck, the great wart on my 900
  left arm, that I amazed ran from her as a witch:
  And, I think, if my breast had not been made of
  faith and my heart of steel,
  She had transform'd me to a curtal dog and made
  me turn i' the wheel. 905

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Go hie thee presently, post to the road:
  An if the wind blow any way from shore,
  I will not harbour in this town to-night:
  If any bark put forth, come to the mart,
  Where I will walk till thou return to me. 910
  If every one knows us and we know none,
  'Tis time, I think, to trudge, pack and be gone.

• Dromio of Syracuse. As from a bear a man would run for life,
  So fly I from her that would be my wife.

[Exit]

• Antipholus of Syracuse. There's none but witches do inhabit here;
  And therefore 'tis high time that I were hence.
  She that doth call me husband, even my soul
  Doth for a wife abhor. But her fair sister,
  Possess'd with such a gentle sovereign grace, 920
  Of such enchanting presence and discourse,
  Hath almost made me traitor to myself:
  But, lest myself be guilty to self-wrong,
  I'll stop mine ears against the mermaid's song.

[Enter ANGELO with the chain]

• Angelo. Master Antipholus,—

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Ay, that's my name.

• Angelo. I know it well, sir, lo, here is the chain.
  I thought to have ta'en you at the Porpentine:
  The chain unfinish'd made me stay thus long. 930

• Antipholus of Syracuse. What is your will that I shall do with this?

• Angelo. What please yourself, sir: I have made it for you.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Made it for me, sir! I bespoke it not.

• Angelo. Not once, nor twice, but twenty times you have.
  Go home with it and please your wife withal; 935
  And soon at supper-time I'll visit you
  And then receive my money for the chain.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. I pray you, sir, receive the money now,
  For fear you ne'er see chain nor money more.

• Angelo. You are a merry man, sir: fare you well. 940

[Exit]

• Antipholus of Syracuse. What I should think of this, I cannot tell:
  But this I think, there's no man is so vain
  That would refuse so fair an offer'd chain.
  I see a man here needs not live by shifts, 945
  When in the streets he meets such golden gifts.
  I'll to the mart, and there for Dromio stay
  If any ship put out, then straight away.

[Exit]

Act IV, Scene 1

A public place.

[Enter Second Merchant, ANGELO, and an Officer]

• Second Merchant. You know since Pentecost the sum is due,
  And since I have not much importuned you;
  Nor now I had not, but that I am bound
  To Persia, and want guilders for my voyage:
  Therefore make present satisfaction, 955
  Or I'll attach you by this officer.

• Angelo. Even just the sum that I do owe to you
  Is growing to me by Antipholus,
  And in the instant that I met with you
  He had of me a chain: at five o'clock 960
  I shall receive the money for the same.
  Pleaseth you walk with me down to his house,
  I will discharge my bond and thank you too.
  [Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus and DROMIO of Ephesus]
  from the courtezan's] 965

• Officer. That labour may you save: see where he comes.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. While I go to the goldsmith's house, go thou
  And buy a rope's end: that will I bestow
  Among my wife and her confederates,
  For locking me out of my doors by day. 970
  But, soft! I see the goldsmith. Get thee gone;
  Buy thou a rope and bring it home to me.

• Dromio of Ephesus. I buy a thousand pound a year: I buy a rope.

[Exit]

• Antipholus of Ephesus. A man is well holp up that trusts to you: 975
  I promised your presence and the chain;
  But neither chain nor goldsmith came to me.
  Belike you thought our love would last too long,
  If it were chain'd together, and therefore came not.

• Angelo. Saving your merry humour, here's the note 980
  How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat,
  The fineness of the gold and chargeful fashion.
  Which doth amount to three odd ducats more
  Than I stand debted to this gentleman:
  I pray you, see him presently discharged, 985
  For he is bound to sea and stays but for it.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. I am not furnish'd with the present money;
  Besides, I have some business in the town.
  Good signior, take the stranger to my house
  And with you take the chain and bid my wife 990
  Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof:
  Perchance I will be there as soon as you.

• Angelo. Then you will bring the chain to her yourself?

• Antipholus of Ephesus. No; bear it with you, lest I come not time enough.

• Angelo. Well, sir, I will. Have you the chain about you? 995

• Antipholus of Ephesus. An if I have not, sir, I hope you have;
  Or else you may return without your money.

• Angelo. Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the chain:
  Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman,
  And I, to blame, have held him here too long. 1000

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Good Lord! you use this dalliance to excuse
  Your breach of promise to the Porpentine.
  I should have chid you for not bringing it,
  But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.

• Second Merchant. The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, dispatch. 1005

• Angelo. You hear how he importunes me;—the chain!

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Why, give it to my wife and fetch your money.

• Angelo. Come, come, you know I gave it you even now.
  Either send the chain or send me by some token.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Fie, now you run this humour out of breath, 1010
  where's the chain? I pray you, let me see it.

• Second Merchant. My business cannot brook this dalliance.
  Good sir, say whether you'll answer me or no:
  If not, I'll leave him to the officer.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. I answer you! what should I answer you? 1015

• Angelo. The money that you owe me for the chain.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. I owe you none till I receive the chain.

• Angelo. You know I gave it you half an hour since.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. You gave me none: you wrong me much to say so.

• Angelo. You wrong me more, sir, in denying it: 1020
  Consider how it stands upon my credit.

• Second Merchant. Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.

• Officer. I do; and charge you in the duke's name to obey me.

• Angelo. This touches me in reputation.
  Either consent to pay this sum for me 1025
  Or I attach you by this officer.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Consent to pay thee that I never had!
  Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou darest.

• Angelo. Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer,
  I would not spare my brother in this case, 1030
  If he should scorn me so apparently.

• Officer. I do arrest you, sir: you hear the suit.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. 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. 1035

• Angelo. Sir, sir, I will have law in Ephesus,
  To your notorious shame; I doubt it not.

[Enter DROMIO of Syracuse, from the bay]

• Dromio of Syracuse. Master, there is a bark of Epidamnum
  That stays but till her owner comes aboard, 1040
  And then, sir, she bears away. Our fraughtage, sir,
  I have convey'd aboard; and I have bought
  The oil, the balsamum and aqua-vitae.
  The ship is in her trim; the merry wind
  Blows fair from land: they stay for nought at all 1045
  But for their owner, master, and yourself.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. How now! a madman! Why, thou peevish sheep,
  What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?

• Dromio of Syracuse. A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope; 1050
  And told thee to what purpose and what end.

• Dromio of Syracuse. You sent me for a rope's end as soon:
  You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. I will debate this matter at more leisure
  And teach your ears to list me with more heed. 1055
  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 1060
  And that shall bail me; hie thee, slave, be gone!
  On, officer, to prison till it come.
  [Exeunt Second Merchant, Angelo, Officer, and]
  Antipholus of Ephesus]

• Dromio of Syracuse. To Adriana! that is where we dined, 1065
  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 masters' minds fulfil.

[Exit]

Act IV, Scene 2

The house of ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus.

[Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA]

• Adriana. Ah, Luciana, did he tempt thee so?
  Mightst thou perceive austerely in his eye
  That he did plead in earnest? yea or no?
  Look'd he or red or pale, or sad or merrily? 1075
  What observation madest thou in this case
  Of his heart's meteors tilting in his face?

• Luciana. First he denied you had in him no right.

• Adriana. He meant he did me none; the more my spite.

• Luciana. Then swore he that he was a stranger here. 1080

• Adriana. And true he swore, though yet forsworn he were.

• Luciana. Then pleaded I for you.

• Adriana. And what said he?

• Luciana. That love I begg'd for you he begg'd of me.

• Adriana. With what persuasion did he tempt thy love? 1085

• Luciana. With words that in an honest suit might move.
  First he did praise my beauty, then my speech.

• Adriana. Didst speak him fair?

• Luciana. Have patience, I beseech.

• Adriana. I cannot, nor I will not, hold me still; 1090
  My tongue, though not my heart, shall have his will.
  He is deformed, crooked, old and sere,
  Ill-faced, worse bodied, shapeless everywhere;
  Vicious, ungentle, foolish, blunt, unkind;
  Stigmatical in making, worse in mind. 1095

• Luciana. Who would be jealous then of such a one?
  No evil lost is wail'd when it is gone.

• Adriana. 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: 1100
  My heart prays for him, though my tongue do curse.

[Enter DROMIO of Syracuse]

• Dromio of Syracuse. Here! go; the desk, the purse! sweet, now, make haste.

• Luciana. How hast thou lost thy breath?

• Dromio of Syracuse. By running fast. 1105

• Adriana. Where is thy master, Dromio? is he well?

• Dromio of Syracuse. 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 steel;
  A fiend, a fury, pitiless and rough; 1110
  A wolf, nay, worse, a fellow all in buff;
  A back-friend, a shoulder-clapper, one that
  countermands
  The passages of alleys, creeks and narrow lands;
  A hound that runs counter and yet draws dryfoot well; 1115
  One that before the judgement carries poor souls to hell.

• Adriana. Why, man, what is the matter?

• Dromio of Syracuse. I do not know the matter: he is 'rested on the case.

• Adriana. What, is he arrested? Tell me at whose suit.

• Dromio of Syracuse. I know not at whose suit he is arrested well; 1120
  But he's in a suit of buff which 'rested him, that can I tell.
  Will you send him, mistress, redemption, the money in his desk?

• Adriana. Go fetch it, sister.
  [Exit Luciana]
  This I wonder at, 1125
  That he, unknown to me, should be in debt.
  Tell me, was he arrested on a band?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Not on a band, but on a stronger thing;
  A chain, a chain! Do you not hear it ring?

• Adriana. What, the chain? 1130

• Dromio of Syracuse. No, no, the bell: 'tis time that I were gone:
  It was two ere I left him, and now the clock
  strikes one.

• Adriana. The hours come back! that did I never hear.

• Dromio of Syracuse. O, yes; if any hour meet a sergeant, a' turns back for 1135
  very fear.

• Adriana. As if Time were in debt! how fondly dost thou reason!

• Dromio of Syracuse. Time is a very bankrupt, and owes more than he's
  worth, to season.
  Nay, he's a thief too: have you not heard men say 1140
  That Time comes stealing on by night and day?
  If Time be in debt and theft, and a sergeant in the way,
  Hath he not reason to turn back an hour in a day?

[Re-enter LUCIANA with a purse]

• Adriana. Go, Dromio; there's the money, bear it straight; 1145
  And bring thy master home immediately.
  Come, sister: I am press'd down with conceit—
  Conceit, my comfort and my injury.

[Exeunt]

Act IV, Scene 3

A public place.

[Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse]

• Antipholus of Syracuse. 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; 1155
  Some offer me commodities to buy:
  Even now a tailor call'd me in his shop
  And show'd me silks that he had bought for me,
  And therewithal took measure of my body.
  Sure, these are but imaginary wiles 1160
  And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here.

[Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE]

• Dromio of Syracuse. Master, here's the gold you sent me for. What, have
  you got the picture of old Adam new-apparelled?

• Antipholus of Syracuse. What gold is this? what Adam dost thou mean? 1165

• Dromio of Syracuse. Not that Adam that kept the Paradise 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. 1170

• Antipholus of Syracuse. I understand thee not.

• Dromio of Syracuse. No? why, 'tis a plain case: he that went, like a
  bass-viol, in a case of leather; the man, sir,
  that, when gentlemen are tired, gives them a sob
  and 'rests them; he, sir, that takes pity on decayed 1175
  men and gives them suits of durance; he that sets up
  his rest to do more exploits with his mace than a
  morris-pike.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. What, thou meanest an officer?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Ay, sir, the sergeant of the band, he that brings 1180
  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!'

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Well, sir, there rest in your foolery. Is there any

• Dromio of Syracuse. Why, sir, I brought you word an hour since that the 1185
  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.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. The fellow is distract, and so am I; 1190
  And here we wander in illusions:
  Some blessed power deliver us from hence!

[Enter a Courtezan]

• Courtezan. Well met, well met, Master Antipholus.
  I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now: 1195
  Is that the chain you promised me to-day?

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not.

• Dromio of Syracuse. Master, is this Mistress Satan?

• Antipholus of Syracuse. It is the devil.

• Dromio of Syracuse. Nay, she is worse, she is the devil's dam; and here 1200
  she comes in the habit of a light wench: and thereof
  comes that the wenches say 'God damn me;' that's as
  much 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; 1205
  ergo, light wenches will burn. Come not near her.

• Courtezan. Your man and you are marvellous merry, sir.
  Will you go with me? We'll mend our dinner here?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Master, if you do, expect spoon-meat; or bespeak a
  long spoon. 1210

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Why, Dromio?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Marry, he must have a long spoon that must eat with
  the devil.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Avoid then, fiend! what tell'st thou me of supping?
  Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress: 1215
  I conjure thee to leave me and be gone.

• Courtezan. Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner,
  Or, for my diamond, the chain you promised,
  And I'll be gone, sir, and not trouble you.

• Dromio of Syracuse. Some devils ask but the parings of one's nail, 1220
  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: an if you give it her,
  The devil will shake her chain and fright us with it. 1225

• Courtezan. I pray you, sir, my ring, or else the chain:
  I hope you do not mean to cheat me so.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio, let us go.

• Dromio of Syracuse. 'Fly pride,' says the peacock: mistress, that you know.

[Exeunt Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse]

• Courtezan. 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. 1235
  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 entrance.
  Belike his wife, acquainted with his fits, 1240
  On purpose shut the doors against his way.
  My way is now to hie home to his house,
  And tell his wife that, being lunatic,
  He rush'd into my house and took perforce
  My ring away. This course I fittest choose; 1245
  For forty ducats is too much to lose.

[Exit]

Act IV, Scene 4

A street.

[Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus and the Officer]

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Fear me not, man; I will not break away:
  I'll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money, 1250
  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. 1255
  [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?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them all.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. But where's the money? 1260

• Dromio of Ephesus. Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope?

• Dromio of Ephesus. I'll serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. To what end did I bid thee hie thee home?

• Dromio of Ephesus. To a rope's-end, sir; and to that end am I returned. 1265

• Antipholus of Ephesus. And to that end, sir, I will welcome you.

[Beating him]

• Officer. Good sir, be patient.

• Dromio of Ephesus. Nay, 'tis for me to be patient; I am in adversity.

• Officer. Good, now, hold thy tongue. 1270

• Dromio of Ephesus. Nay, rather persuade him to hold his hands.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Thou whoreson, senseless villain!

• Dromio of Ephesus. I would I were senseless, sir, that I might not feel
  your blows.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Thou art sensible in nothing but blows, and so is an 1275
  ass.

• Dromio of Ephesus. 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 1280
  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 1285
  beggar wont her brat; and, I think when he hath
  lamed me, I shall beg with it from door to door.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Come, go along; my wife is coming yonder.

[Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, the Courtezan, and PINCH]

• Dromio of Ephesus. Mistress, 'respice finem,' respect your end; or 1290
  rather, the prophecy like the parrot, 'beware the
  rope's-end.'

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Wilt thou still talk?

[Beating him]

• Courtezan. How say you now? is not your husband mad? 1295

• Adriana. 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.

• Luciana. Alas, how fiery and how sharp he looks! 1300

• Courtezan. Mark how he trembles in his ecstasy!

• Pinch. Give me your hand and let me feel your pulse.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. There is my hand, and let it feel your ear.

[Striking him]

• Pinch. I charge thee, Satan, housed within this man, 1305
  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!

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Peace, doting wizard, peace! I am not mad.

• Adriana. O, that thou wert not, poor distressed soul! 1310

• Antipholus of Ephesus. 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
  And I denied to enter in my house? 1315

• Adriana. O husband, God doth know you dined at home;
  Where would you had remain'd until this time,
  Free from these slanders and this open shame!

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Dined at home! Thou villain, what sayest thou?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Sir, sooth to say, you did not dine at home. 1320

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Were not my doors lock'd up and I shut out?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Perdie, your doors were lock'd and you shut out.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. And did not she herself revile me there?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Sans fable, she herself reviled you there.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Did not her kitchen-maid rail, taunt, and scorn me? 1325

• Dromio of Ephesus. Certes, she did; the kitchen-vestal scorn'd you.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. And did not I in rage depart from thence?

• Dromio of Ephesus. In verity you did; my bones bear witness,
  That since have felt the vigour of his rage.

• Adriana. Is't good to soothe him in these contraries? 1330

• Pinch. It is no shame: the fellow finds his vein,
  And yielding to him humours well his frenzy.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Thou hast suborn'd the goldsmith to arrest me.

• Adriana. Alas, I sent you money to redeem you,
  By Dromio here, who came in haste for it. 1335

• Dromio of Ephesus. Money by me! heart and goodwill you might;
  But surely master, not a rag of money.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Went'st not thou to her for a purse of ducats?

• Adriana. He came to me and I deliver'd it.

• Luciana. And I am witness with her that she did. 1340

• Dromio of Ephesus. 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. 1345

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Say, wherefore didst thou lock me forth to-day?
  And why dost thou deny the bag of gold?

• Adriana. I did not, gentle husband, lock thee forth.

• Dromio of Ephesus. And, gentle master, I received no gold;
  But I confess, sir, that we were lock'd out. 1350

• Adriana. Dissembling villain, thou speak'st false in both.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. 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 1355
  That would behold in me this shameful sport.
  [Enter three or four, and offer to bind him.]
  He strives]

• Adriana. O, bind him, bind him! let him not come near me.

• Pinch. More company! The fiend is strong within him. 1360

• Luciana. Ay me, poor man, how pale and wan he looks!

• Antipholus of Ephesus. What, will you murder me? Thou gaoler, thou,
  I am thy prisoner: wilt thou suffer them
  To make a rescue?

• Officer. Masters, let him go 1365
  He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him.

• Pinch. Go bind this man, for he is frantic too.

[They offer to bind Dromio of Ephesus]

• Adriana. What wilt thou do, thou peevish officer?
  Hast thou delight to see a wretched man 1370
  Do outrage and displeasure to himself?

• Officer. He is my prisoner: if I let him go,
  The debt he owes will be required of me.

• Adriana. I will discharge thee ere I go from thee:
  Bear me forthwith unto his creditor, 1375
  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!

• Antipholus of Ephesus. O most unhappy strumpet!

• Dromio of Ephesus. Master, I am here entered in bond for you. 1380

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Out on thee, villain! wherefore dost thou mad me?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Will you be bound for nothing? be mad, good master:
  cry 'The devil!'

• Luciana. God help, poor souls, how idly do they talk!

• Adriana. Go bear him hence. Sister, go you with me. 1385
  [Exeunt all but Adriana, Luciana, Officer and]
  Courtezan]
  Say now, whose suit is he arrested at?

• Officer. One Angelo, a goldsmith: do you know him?

• Adriana. I know the man. What is the sum he owes? 1390

• Officer. Two hundred ducats.

• Adriana. Say, how grows it due?

• Officer. Due for a chain your husband had of him.

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

• Courtezan. When as your husband all in rage to-day 1395
  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.

• Adriana. It may be so, but I did never see it.
  Come, gaoler, bring me where the goldsmith is: 1400
  I long to know the truth hereof at large.
  [Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse with his rapier drawn,]
  and DROMIO of Syracuse]

• Luciana. God, for thy mercy! they are loose again.

• Adriana. And come with naked swords. 1405
  Let's call more help to have them bound again.

• Officer. Away! they'll kill us.
  [Exeunt all but Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio]
  of Syracuse]

• Antipholus of Syracuse. I see these witches are afraid of swords. 1410

• Dromio of Syracuse. She that would be your wife now ran from you.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Come to the Centaur; fetch our stuff from thence:
  I long that we were safe and sound aboard.

• Dromio of Syracuse. Faith, stay here this night; they will surely do us
  no harm: you saw they speak us fair, give us gold: 1415
  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.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. I will not stay to-night for all the town; 1420
  Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard.

[Exeunt]

Act V, Scene 1

A street before a Priory.

[Enter Second Merchant and ANGELO]

• Angelo. I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder'd you;
  But, I protest, he had the chain of me, 1425
  Though most dishonestly he doth deny it.

• Second Merchant. How is the man esteemed here in the city?

• Angelo. Of very reverend reputation, sir,
  Of credit infinite, highly beloved,
  Second to none that lives here in the city: 1430
  His word might bear my wealth at any time.

• Second Merchant. Speak softly; yonder, as I think, he walks.

[Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse and DROMIO of Syracuse]

• Angelo. 'Tis so; and that self chain about his neck
  Which he forswore most monstrously to have. 1435
  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 1440
  This chain which now you wear so openly:
  Beside 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: 1445
  This chain you had of me; can you deny it?

• Antipholus of Syracuse. I think I had; I never did deny it.

• Second Merchant. Yes, that you did, sir, and forswore it too.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Who heard me to deny it or forswear it?

• Second Merchant. These ears of mine, thou know'st did hear thee. 1450
  Fie on thee, wretch! 'tis pity that thou livest
  To walk where any honest man resort.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. Thou art a villain to impeach me thus:
  I'll prove mine honour and mine honesty
  Against thee presently, if thou darest stand. 1455

• Second Merchant. I dare, and do defy thee for a villain.

[They draw]

[Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, the Courtezan, and others]

• Adriana. Hold, hurt him not, for God's sake! he is mad.
  Some get within him, take his sword away: 1460
  Bind Dromio too, and bear them to my house.

• Dromio of Syracuse. Run, master, run; for God's sake, take a house!
  This is some priory. In, or we are spoil'd!
  [Exeunt Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse]
  to the Priory] 1465

[Enter the Lady Abbess, AEMILIA]

• Aemilia. Be quiet, people. Wherefore throng you hither?

• Adriana. To fetch my poor distracted husband hence.
  Let us come in, that we may bind him fast
  And bear him home for his recovery. 1470

• Angelo. I knew he was not in his perfect wits.

• Second Merchant. I am sorry now that I did draw on him.

• Aemilia. How long hath this possession held the man?

• Adriana. This week he hath been heavy, sour, sad,
  And much different from the man he was; 1475
  But till this afternoon his passion
  Ne'er brake into extremity of rage.

• Aemilia. Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck of sea?
  Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye
  Stray'd his affection in unlawful love? 1480
  A sin prevailing much in youthful men,
  Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing.
  Which of these sorrows is he subject to?

• Adriana. To none of these, except it be the last;
  Namely, some love that drew him oft from home. 1485

• Aemilia. You should for that have reprehended him.

• Adriana. Why, so I did.

• Aemilia. Ay, but not rough enough.

• Adriana. As roughly as my modesty would let me.

• Aemilia. Haply, in private. 1490

• Adriana. And in assemblies too.

• Aemilia. Ay, but not enough.

• Adriana. It was the copy of our conference:
  In bed he slept not for my urging it;
  At board he fed not for my urging it; 1495
  Alone, it was the subject of my theme;
  In company I often glanced it;
  Still did I tell him it was vile and bad.

• Aemilia. And thereof came it that the man was mad.
  The venom clamours of a jealous woman 1500
  Poisons more deadly than a mad dog's tooth.
  It seems his sleeps were hinder'd by thy railing,
  And therefore comes it that his head is light.
  Thou say'st his meat was sauced with thy upbraidings:
  Unquiet meals make ill digestions; 1505
  Thereof the raging fire of fever bred;
  And what's a fever but a fit of madness?
  Thou say'st his sports were hinderd by thy brawls:
  Sweet recreation barr'd, what doth ensue
  But moody and dull melancholy, 1510
  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: 1515
  The consequence is then thy jealous fits
  Have scared thy husband from the use of wits.

• Luciana. She never reprehended him but mildly,
  When he demean'd himself rough, rude and wildly.
  Why bear you these rebukes and answer not? 1520

• Adriana. She did betray me to my own reproof.
  Good people enter and lay hold on him.

• Aemilia. No, not a creature enters in my house.

• Adriana. Then let your servants bring my husband forth.

• Aemilia. Neither: he took this place for sanctuary, 1525
  And it shall privilege him from your hands
  Till I have brought him to his wits again,
  Or lose my labour in assaying it.

• Adriana. I will attend my husband, be his nurse,
  Diet his sickness, for it is my office, 1530
  And will have no attorney but myself;
  And therefore let me have him home with me.

• Aemilia. Be patient; for I will not let him stir
  Till I have used the approved means I have,
  With wholesome syrups, drugs and holy prayers, 1535
  To make of him a formal man again:
  It is a branch and parcel of mine oath,
  A charitable duty of my order.
  Therefore depart and leave him here with me.

• Adriana. I will not hence and leave my husband here: 1540
  And ill it doth beseem your holiness
  To separate the husband and the wife.

• Aemilia. Be quiet and depart: thou shalt not have him.

[Exit]

• Luciana. Complain unto the duke of this indignity. 1545

• Adriana. 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.

• Second Merchant. By this, I think, the dial points at five: 1550
  Anon, I'm sure, the duke himself in person
  Comes this way to the melancholy vale,
  The place of death and sorry execution,
  Behind the ditches of the abbey here.

• Angelo. Upon what cause? 1555

• Second Merchant. To see a reverend Syracusian merchant,
  Who put unluckily into this bay
  Against the laws and statutes of this town,
  Beheaded publicly for his offence.

• Angelo. See where they come: we will behold his death. 1560

• Luciana. Kneel to the duke before he pass the abbey.
  [Enter DUKE SOLINUS, attended; AEGEON bareheaded; with the]
  Headsman and other Officers]

• Solinus. Yet once again proclaim it publicly,
  If any friend will pay the sum for him, 1565
  He shall not die; so much we tender him.

• Adriana. Justice, most sacred duke, against the abbess!

• Solinus. She is a virtuous and a reverend lady:
  It cannot be that she hath done thee wrong.

• Adriana. May it please your grace, Antipholus, my husband, 1570
  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;
  That desperately he hurried through the street,
  With him his bondman, all as mad as he— 1575
  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 order for the wrongs I went, 1580
  That here and there his fury had committed.
  Anon, I wot not by what strong escape,
  He broke from those that had the guard of him;
  And with his mad attendant and himself,
  Each one with ireful passion, with drawn swords, 1585
  Met us again and madly bent on us,
  Chased us away; till, raising of more aid,
  We came again to bind them. Then they fled
  Into this abbey, whither we pursued them:
  And here the abbess shuts the gates on us 1590
  And will not suffer us to fetch him out,
  Nor send him forth that we may bear him hence.
  Therefore, most gracious duke, with thy command
  Let him be brought forth and borne hence for help.

• Solinus. Long since thy husband served me in my wars, 1595
  And I to thee engaged a prince's word,
  When thou didst make him master of thy bed,
  To do him all the grace and good I could.
  Go, some of you, knock at the abbey-gate
  And bid the lady abbess come to me. 1600
  I will determine this before I stir.

[Enter a Servant]

• Servant. 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 1605
  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 and the while
  His man with scissors nicks him like a fool, 1610
  And sure, unless you send some present help,
  Between them they will kill the conjurer.

• Adriana. Peace, fool! thy master and his man are here,
  And that is false thou dost report to us.

• Servant. Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true; 1615
  I have not breathed 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! 1620

• Solinus. Come, stand by me; fear nothing. Guard with halberds!

• Adriana. Ay me, it is my husband! Witness you,
  That he is borne about invisible:
  Even now we housed him in the abbey here;
  And now he's there, past thought of human reason. 1625

[Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus and DROMIO of Ephesus]

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Justice, most gracious duke, O, grant me justice!
  Even for the service that long since I did thee,
  When I bestrid thee in the wars and took
  Deep scars to save thy life; even for the blood 1630
  That then I lost for thee, now grant me justice.

• Aegeon. Unless the fear of death doth make me dote,
  I see my son Antipholus and Dromio.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there!
  She whom thou gavest to me to be my wife, 1635
  That hath abused and dishonour'd me
  Even in the strength and height of injury!
  Beyond imagination is the wrong
  That she this day hath shameless thrown on me.

• Solinus. Discover how, and thou shalt find me just. 1640

• Antipholus of Ephesus. This day, great duke, she shut the doors upon me,
  While she with harlots feasted in my house.

• Solinus. A grievous fault! Say, woman, didst thou so?

• Adriana. No, my good lord: myself, he and my sister
  To-day did dine together. So befall my soul 1645
  As this is false he burdens me withal!

• Luciana. Ne'er may I look on day, nor sleep on night,
  But she tells to your highness simple truth!

• Angelo. O perjured woman! They are both forsworn:
  In this the madman justly chargeth them. 1650

• Antipholus of Ephesus. My liege, I am advised what I say,
  Neither disturbed with the effect of wine,
  Nor heady-rash, provoked with raging ire,
  Albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad.
  This woman lock'd me out this day from dinner: 1655
  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 Porpentine,
  Where Balthazar and I did dine together. 1660
  Our dinner done, and he not coming thither,
  I went to seek him: in the street I met him
  And in his company that gentleman.
  There did this perjured goldsmith swear me down
  That I this day of him received the chain, 1665
  Which, God he knows, I saw not: for the which
  He did arrest me with an officer.
  I did obey, and sent my peasant home
  For certain ducats: he with none return'd
  Then fairly I bespoke the officer 1670
  To 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-faced villain, 1675
  A mere anatomy, a mountebank,
  A threadbare juggler and a fortune-teller,
  A needy, hollow-eyed, sharp-looking wretch,
  A dead-looking man: this pernicious slave,
  Forsooth, took on him as a conjurer, 1680
  And, gazing in mine eyes, feeling my pulse,
  And with no face, as 'twere, outfacing me,
  Cries out, I was possess'd. Then all together
  They fell upon me, bound me, bore me thence
  And in a dark and dankish vault at home 1685
  There left me and my man, both bound together;
  Till, gnawing with my teeth my bonds in sunder,
  I gain'd my freedom, and immediately
  Ran hither to your grace; whom I beseech
  To give me ample satisfaction 1690
  For these deep shames and great indignities.

• Angelo. My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him,
  That he dined not at home, but was lock'd out.

• Solinus. But had he such a chain of thee or no?

• Angelo. He had, my lord: and when he ran in here, 1695
  These people saw the chain about his neck.

• Second Merchant. 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; 1700
  And then you fled into this abbey here,
  From whence, I think, you are come by miracle.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. 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! 1705
  And this is false you burden me withal.

• Solinus. Why, what an intricate impeach is this!
  I think you all have drunk of Circe's cup.
  If here you housed him, here he would have been;
  If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly: 1710
  You say he dined at home; the goldsmith here
  Denies that saying. Sirrah, what say you?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Sir, he dined with her there, at the Porpentine.

• Courtezan. He did, and from my finger snatch'd that ring.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. 'Tis true, my liege; this ring I had of her. 1715

• Solinus. Saw'st thou him enter at the abbey here?

• Courtezan. As sure, my liege, as I do see your grace.

• Solinus. Why, this is strange. Go call the abbess hither.
  I think you are all mated or stark mad.

[Exit one to Abbess]

• Aegeon. 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.

• Solinus. Speak freely, Syracusian, what thou wilt.

• Aegeon. Is not your name, sir, call'd Antipholus? 1725
  And is not that your bondman, Dromio?

• Dromio of Ephesus. Within this hour I was his bondman sir,
  But he, I thank him, gnaw'd in two my cords:
  Now am I Dromio and his man unbound.

• Aegeon. I am sure you both of you remember me. 1730

• Dromio of Ephesus. Ourselves we do remember, sir, by you;
  For lately we were bound, as you are now
  You are not Pinch's patient, are you, sir?

• Aegeon. Why look you strange on me? you know me well.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. I never saw you in my life till now. 1735

• Aegeon. O, grief hath changed me since you saw me last,
  And careful hours with time's deformed hand
  Have written strange defeatures in my face:
  But tell me yet, dost thou not know my voice?

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Neither. 1740

• Aegeon. Dromio, nor thou?

• Dromio of Ephesus. No, trust me, sir, nor I.

• Aegeon. I am sure thou dost.

• Dromio of Ephesus. Ay, sir, but I am sure I do not; and whatsoever a
  man denies, you are now bound to believe him. 1745

• Aegeon. 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 untuned cares?
  Though now this grained face of mine be hid 1750
  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: 1755
  All these old witnesses—I cannot err—
  Tell me thou art my son Antipholus.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. I never saw my father in my life.

• Aegeon. But seven years since, in Syracusa, boy,
  Thou know'st we parted: but perhaps, my son, 1760
  Thou shamest to acknowledge me in misery.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. 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.

• Solinus. I tell thee, Syracusian, twenty years 1765
  Have I been patron to Antipholus,
  During which time he ne'er saw Syracusa:
  I see thy age and dangers make thee dote.
  [Re-enter AEMILIA, with ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse and]
  DROMIO of Syracuse] 1770

• Aemilia. Most mighty duke, behold a man much wrong'd.

[All gather to see them]

• Adriana. I see two husbands, or mine eyes deceive me.

• Solinus. One of these men is Genius to the other;
  And so of these. Which is the natural man, 1775
  And which the spirit? who deciphers them?

• Dromio of Syracuse. I, sir, am Dromio; command him away.

• Dromio of Ephesus. I, sir, am Dromio; pray, let me stay.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. AEgeon art thou not? or else his ghost?

• Dromio of Syracuse. O, my old master! who hath bound him here? 1780

• Aemilia. Whoever bound him, I will loose his bonds
  And gain a husband by his liberty.
  Speak, old AEgeon, if thou be'st the man
  That hadst a wife once call'd AEmilia
  That bore thee at a burden two fair sons: 1785
  O, if thou be'st the same AEgeon, speak,
  And speak unto the same AEmilia!

• Aegeon. If I dream not, thou art AEmilia:
  If thou art she, tell me where is that son
  That floated with thee on the fatal raft? 1790

• Aemilia. By men of Epidamnum he and I
  And the twin Dromio all were taken up;
  But by and by rude fishermen of Corinth
  By force took Dromio and my son from them
  And me they left with those of Epidamnum. 1795
  What then became of them I cannot tell
  I to this fortune that you see me in.

• Solinus. Why, here begins his morning story right;
  These two Antipholuses, these two so like,
  And these two Dromios, one in semblance,— 1800
  Besides her urging of her wreck at sea,—
  These are the parents to these children,
  Which accidentally are met together.
  Antipholus, thou camest from Corinth first?

• Antipholus of Syracuse. No, sir, not I; I came from Syracuse. 1805

• Solinus. Stay, stand apart; I know not which is which.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. I came from Corinth, my most gracious lord,—

• Dromio of Ephesus. And I with him.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Brought to this town by that most famous warrior,
  Duke Menaphon, your most renowned uncle. 1810

• Adriana. Which of you two did dine with me to-day?

• Antipholus of Syracuse. I, gentle mistress.

• Adriana. And are not you my husband?

• Antipholus of Ephesus. No; I say nay to that.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. And so do I; yet did she call me so: 1815
  And this fair gentlewoman, her sister here,
  Did call me brother.
  [To Luciana]
  What I told you then,
  I hope I shall have leisure to make good; 1820
  If this be not a dream I see and hear.

• Angelo. That is the chain, sir, which you had of me.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. I think it be, sir; I deny it not.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. And you, sir, for this chain arrested me.

• Angelo. I think I did, sir; I deny it not. 1825

• Adriana. I sent you money, sir, to be your bail,
  By Dromio; but I think he brought it not.

• Dromio of Ephesus. No, none by me.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. This purse of ducats I received from you,
  And Dromio, my man, did bring them me. 1830
  I see we still did meet each other's man,
  And I was ta'en for him, and he for me,
  And thereupon these errors are arose.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. These ducats pawn I for my father here.

• Solinus. It shall not need; thy father hath his life. 1835

• Courtezan. Sir, I must have that diamond from you.

• Antipholus of Ephesus. There, take it; and much thanks for my good cheer.

• Aemilia. Renowned duke, vouchsafe to take the pains
  To go with us into the abbey here
  And hear at large discoursed all our fortunes: 1840
  And all that are assembled in this place,
  That by this sympathized one day's error
  Have suffer'd wrong, go keep us company,
  And we shall make full satisfaction.
  Thirty-three years have I but gone in travail 1845
  Of you, my sons; and till this present hour
  My heavy burden ne'er delivered.
  The duke, my husband and my children both,
  And you the calendars of their nativity,
  Go to a gossips' feast and go with me; 1850
  After so long grief, such festivity!

• Solinus. With all my heart, I'll gossip at this feast.
  [Exeunt all but Antipholus of Syracuse, Antipholus]
  of Ephesus, Dromio of Syracuse and Dromio of Ephesus]

• Dromio of Syracuse. Master, shall I fetch your stuff from shipboard? 1855

• Antipholus of Ephesus. Dromio, what stuff of mine hast thou embark'd?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Your goods that lay at host, sir, in the Centaur.

• Antipholus of Syracuse. He speaks to me. I am your master, Dromio:
  Come, go with us; we'll look to that anon:
  Embrace thy brother there; rejoice with him. 1860

[Exeunt Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus]

• Dromio of Syracuse. There is a fat friend at your master's house,
  That kitchen'd me for you to-day at dinner:
  She now shall be my sister, not my wife.

• Dromio of Ephesus. Methinks you are my glass, and not my brother: 1865
  I see by you I am a sweet-faced youth.
  Will you walk in to see their gossiping?

• Dromio of Syracuse. Not I, sir; you are my elder.

• Dromio of Ephesus. That's a question: how shall we try it?

• Dromio of Syracuse. We'll draw cuts for the senior: till then lead thou first. 1870

• Dromio of Ephesus. Nay, then, thus:
  We came into the world like brother and brother;
  And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another.

[Exeunt]