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This sweaty haste
Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day.

      — Hamlet, Act I Scene 1

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The Comedy of Errors

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Act I

1. A hall in DUKE SOLINUS’S palace.

2. The Mart.

Act II

1. The house of ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus.

2. A public place.

Act III

1. Before the house of ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus.

2. The same.

Act IV

1. A public place.

2. The house of ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus.

3. A public place.

4. A street.

Act V

1. A street before a Priory.

---
       

Act I, Scene 1

A hall in DUKE SOLINUS’S palace.

      next scene .
---

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

[Exeunt]

---
. previous scene      

Act I, Scene 2

The Mart.

      next scene .
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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.

[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
  • 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
  • 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]

---
. previous scene      

Act II, Scene 1

The house of ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus.

      next scene .
---

[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.
  • 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!'
  • 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]

---
. previous scene      

Act II, Scene 2

A public place.

      next scene .
---

[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. 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. 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. I'll make you amends next, to give you nothing for
    something. But say, sir, is it dinner-time?
  • Dromio of Syracuse. Marry, sir, by a rule as plain as the plain bald
    pate of father Time himself.
  • Dromio of Syracuse. There's no time for a man to recover his hair that
    grows bald by nature. 465
  • Dromio of Syracuse. Yes, to pay a fine for a periwig and recover the
    lost hair of another man.
  • 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.
  • Dromio of Syracuse. The plainer dealer, the sooner lost: yet he loseth
    it in a kind of jollity.
  • 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.
  • Dromio of Syracuse. Marry, and did, sir; namely, no time to recover hair 490
    lost by nature.
  • Dromio of Syracuse. Thus I mend it: Time himself is bald and therefore
    to the world's end will have bald followers. 495

[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.
  • 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
  • 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!
  • 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.
  • Adriana. Ay; and let none enter, lest I break your pate.
  • Luciana. Come, come, Antipholus, we dine too late.

[Exeunt]

---
. previous scene      

Act III, Scene 1

Before the house of ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus.

      next scene .
---

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
  • 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.
  • 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 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 Syracuse. [Within] Let him walk from whence he came, lest he
    catch cold on's feet.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Luce. [Within] I thought to have asked you.
  • Luce. [Within] Can you tell for whose sake? 685
  • Luce. [Within] Let him knock till it ache.
  • 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?
  • Adriana. [Within] Your wife, sir knave! go get you from the door. 695
  • 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. 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.
  • 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 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.
  • 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.

[Exeunt]

---
. previous scene      

Act III, Scene 2

The same.

      next scene .
---

[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
  • Luciana. It is a fault that springeth from your eye.
  • Luciana. Gaze where you should, and that will clear your sight.
  • Luciana. Why call you me love? call my sister so.
  • 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]

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

---
. previous scene      

Act IV, Scene 1

A public place.

      next scene .
---

[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.

[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?
  • 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.
  • Angelo. You hear how he importunes me;—the chain!
  • 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.
  • Angelo. The money that you owe me for the chain.
  • Angelo. You know I gave it you half an hour since.
  • Angelo. You wrong me more, sir, in denying it: 1020
    Consider how it stands upon my credit.
  • 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.
  • 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. 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]

---
. previous scene      

Act IV, Scene 2

The house of ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus.

      next scene .
---

[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. 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.
  • 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]

  • Luciana. How hast thou lost thy breath?
  • 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?
  • 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?
  • 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]

---
. previous scene      

Act IV, Scene 3

A public place.

      next scene .
---

[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?
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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!'
  • 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?
  • 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?
  • 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.

[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]

---
. previous scene      

Act IV, Scene 4

A street.

      next scene .
---

[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?

[Beating him]

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

[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.'

[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.

[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!
  • 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!
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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!
  • 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. 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. 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]

---
. previous scene      

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.
  • 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.

[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?
  • 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

[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.
  • 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.
  • Aemilia. Ay, but not rough enough.
  • Adriana. As roughly as my modesty would let me.
  • 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.
  • 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?
  • Courtezan. He did, and from my finger snatch'd that ring.
  • 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.
  • 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?
  • 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.
  • 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?
  • 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?
  • Solinus. Stay, stand apart; I know not which is which.
  • 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?
  • Adriana. And are not you my husband?
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Solinus. It shall not need; thy father hath his life. 1835
  • Courtezan. Sir, I must have that diamond from you.
  • 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]
  • 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 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]