Give her this key, and tell her, in the desk Adr. Why, man, what is the matter? And that shall bail me: hie thee, slave; be gone. [Exeunt Merchant, ANGELO, Officer, and Dro. S. To Adriana! that is where he din'd, SCENE II. - The same. Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA. Adr. Ah, Luciana, did he tempt thee so? Look'd he or red, or pale; or sad or merily? Luc. First, he denied you had in him no right. Luc. Then swore he, that he was a stranger here. were. Luc. Then pleaded I for you. move. First he did praise my beauty; then, my speech. Have patience, I beseech. Luc. Who would be jealous then of such a one? Adr. Ah! but I think him better than I say, curse. Enter DROMIO of Syracuse. Dro. S. I do not know the matter: he is 'rested Adr. The hours come back! that did I never hear. Dro. S. O yes, if any hour meet a sergeant, a'turns back for very fear. Adr. As if time were in debt! how fondly dost thou reason? Dro. S. Time is a very bankrupt, and owes more Nay, he's a thief too: Have you not heard men say, As if I were their well-acquainted friend; Even now a tailor call'd me in his shop, Dro. S. Here, go; the desk, the purse; sweet Sure, these are but imaginary wiles, now, make haste. Luc. How hast thou lost thy breath? By running fast. 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. 6 An allusion to the redness of the northern lights, likened to the appearance of armies. 7 Dry, withered. 8 Marked by nature with deformity. 9 Who crieth most where her nest is not, 1 The officers in those days were clad in buff, which is also a cant expression for a man's skin. And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here. Enter DROMIO of Syracuse. Dro. S. Master, here's the gold you sent me for: What, have you got the picture of old Adam new apparel'd? Ant. S. What gold is this? what Adam dost thou mean? Dro. S. He that came behind you, sir, like an evil angel, and bid you forsake your liberty. Ant. S. I understand thee not. Dro. S. No? why, 'tis a plain case: he that went like a base-viol, in a case of leather; the man, sir, that, when gentlemen are tired, gives them a fob, and 'rests them; he, sir, that takes pity on decayed men, and gives them suits of durance; he that sets up his rest to do more exploits with his mace, than a morris-pike. Ant. S. What! thou mean'st an officer? Dro. S. Ay, sir, the sergeant of the band; he, that brings any man to answer it, that breaks his band: one that thinks a man always going to bed, and says, God give you good rest! Ant. S. Well, sir, there rest in your foolery. Is there any ship puts forth to-night? may we be gone? Dro. S. Why, sir, I brought you word an hour since, that the bark Expedition put forth to-night, and then were you hindered by the sergeant, to tarry for the hoy, Delay: Here are the angels that you sent for, to deliver you. Ant. S. The fellow is distract, and so am I; And here we wander in illusions; Some blessed power deliver us from hence! Enter a Courtezan. Cour. Well met, well met, master Antipholus. I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now; Is that the chain, you promis'd me to-day? Ant. S. I conjure thee to leave me, and be gone. Cour. Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner, Or, for my diamond, the chain you promis'd; And I'll be gone, sir, and not trouble you. Dro. S. Some devils ask but the paring of one's nail, Master, be wise; and if you give it her, Ant. S. Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio, let us go. Dro. S. Fly pride, says the peacock: Mistress, that you know. [Exeunt ANT. S. and DRO. S. Of his own doors being shut against his entrance. [Exit. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, and an Officer. Ant. E. Fear me not, man, I will not break away; I'll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money To warrant thee, as I am 'rested for. My wife is in a wayward mood to-day: And will not lightly trust the messenger, That I should be attach'd in Ephesus: I tell you, 'twill sound harshly in her ears. — Enter DROMIO of Ephesus, with a rope's end. Here comes my man; I think, he brings the money. How now, sir? have you that I sent you for? Dro. E. Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them all. 4 Ant. E. But where's the money? Dro. E. Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope. Ant. E. Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope? Dro. E. I'll serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate. Ant. E. To what end did I bid thee hie thee home? Dro. E. To a rope's end, sir; and to that end am I return'd. Ant E. And to that end, sir, I will welcome you. [Beating him. Off. Good sir, be patient. Dro. E. Nay, 'tis for me to be patient; I am in adversity. Off. Good now, hold thy tongue. Dro. E. Nay, rather persuade him to hold his hands. Ant. E. Thou senseless villain ! Dro. E. I would I were senseless, sir, that I might not feel your blows. Ant. E. Thou art sensible in nothing but blows, and so is an ass. Dro. E. I am an ass indeed; you may prove it by my long ears. I have serv'd him from the hour of my nativity to this instant, and have nothing at his hands for my service, but blows: when I am cold, he heats me with beating: when I am warm, he cools me with beating: I am waked with it when I sleep; raised with it, when I sit; driven out of doors with it, when I go from home; welcomed home with it, when I return: nay, I bear it on my shoulders, as a beggar wont her brat; and, I think, when he hath lamed me, I shall beg with it from door to door. Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, and the Courtezan, Ant. E. Come, go along; my wife is coming Dro. E. Mistress, respice finem, respect your end; or rather the prophecy, like the parrot, Beware the rope's end. Ant. E. Wilt thou still talk? [Beats him. Cour. How say you now? is not your husband Adr. O, husband, God doth know, you din'd at home, Where 'would you had remain'd until this time, Ant. E. I din'd at home! Thou villain, what say'st thou ? I am thy prisoner; wilt thou suffer them To make a rescue? Off Masters, let him go; He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him. Dro. E. Sir, sooth to say, you did not dine at Hast thou delight to see a wretched man Ad. Alas, I sent you money to redeem you, By Dromio here, who came in haste for it Dro. E. Money by me? heart and good-will you might, But, surely, master, not a rag of money. Ant. E. Went'st not thou to her for a purse of ducats? Adr. He came to me, and I deliver'd it. witness, That I was sent for nothing but a rope! Do outrage and displeasure to himself? Adr. I will discharge thee, ere I go from thee: Cour. When as your husband, all in rage, to-day Came to my house, and took away my ring, (The ring I saw upon his finger now,) Pinch. Mistress, both man and master is pos- Straight after, did I meet him with a chain. sess'd; Adr. It may be so, but I did never see it :Come, gaoler, bring me where the goldsmith is, I long to know the truth hereof at large. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse, with his rapier drawn, and DROMIO of Syracuse. Luc. Heaven, for thy mercy! they are loose again. Adr. And come with naked swords; let's call more help, To have them bound again. off. Away, they'll kill us. [Exeunt Officer, ADR. and Luc. Ant. S. I see, these witches are afraid of swords. Dro. S. She, that would be your wife, now ran from you. Ant. S. Come to the Centaur; fetch our stuff9 from thence: I long, that we were safe and sound aboard. Dro. S. Faith, stay here this night, they will surely do us no harm; you saw, they speak us fair, give us gold: methinks, they are such a gentle nation, that but for the mountain of mad flesh that claims marriage of me, I could find in my heart to stay here still, and turn witch. Ant. S. I will not stay to-night for all the town; Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard. [Exeunt. • Baggage. 8 Foolish. Ang. I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder'd you; Mer. How is the man esteem'd here in the city? Of credit infinite, highly belov'd, Enter ANTIPHOLUS, and DROMIO of Syracuse. That you would put me to this shame and trouble; Fye on thee, wretch! 'tis pity, that thou liv'st [They draw. Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, Courtezan, and others. Adr. Hold, hurt him not, for heaven's sake; he is mad; Some get within him ', take his sword away: This is some priory ; — In, or we are spoil'd. [Exeunt ANT. S. and DRO. S. to the Priory. Enter the ABBESS. Abb. Be quiet, people; Wherefore throng you Adr. To fetch my poor distracted husband hence: Ang. I knew, he was not in his perfect wits. Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye Adr. To none of these, except it be the last; Abb. Ay, but not rough enough. Adr. As roughly, as my modesty would let me. Adr. And in assemblies too. Abb. Ay, but not enough. Still did I tell him it was vile and bad. ; Abb. And thereof came it, that the man was mad: Unquiet meals make ill digestions, Why bear you these rebukes, and answer not? Abb. No, not a creature enters in my house. Abb. Neither; he took this place for sanctuary, Adr. I will attend my husband, be his nurse, Abb. Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck at sea? Therefore depart, and leave him here with me. i. e. Close, grapple with him. 2 The theme ie To bring him back to his senses Adr. I will not hence, and leave my husband here; And ill it doth beseem your holiness, him Abb. Be quiet, and depart, thou shalt not have [Exit ABBESS. Luc. Complain unto the duke of this indignity. Adr. Come, go; I will fall prostrate at his feet, And never rise until my tears and prayers Have won his grace to come in person hither, And take perforce my husband from the abbess. Mer. By this, I think, the dial points at five: Anon, I am sure, the duke himself in person Comes this way to the melancholy vale; The place of death and sorry execution, Behind the ditches of the abbey here. Ang. Upon what cause? Mer. To see a reverend Syracusan merchant, Against the laws and statutes of this town, Ang. See, where they come; we will behold his death. Luc. Kneel to the duke, before he pass the abbey. Enter DUKE attended; GEON bare-headed; with the Headsman and other Officers. Duke. Yet once again proclaim it publickly, If any friend will pay the sum for him, He shall not die, so much we tender him. Adr. Justice, most sacred duke, against the abbess! Duke. She is a virtuous and a reverend lady ; It cannot be, that she hath done thee wrong. Adr. May it please your grace, Antipholus, my husband, - Whom I made lord of me and all I had, By rushing in their houses, bearing thence Enter a Servant. Serv. O mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself! My master and his man are both broke loose, Beaten the maids a-row 8, and bound the doctor, Whose beard they have singed off with brands of fire; And ever as it blazed, they threw on him Great pails of puddled mire to quench the hair: My master preaches patience to him, while His man with scissars nicks him like a fool: And, sure, unless you send some present help, Between them they will kill the conjurer. Adr. Peace, fool, thy master and his man are here; And that is false thou dost report to us. Serv. Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true; [Cry within. Hark, hark, I hear him mistress; fly, be gone. Duke. Come, stand by me, fear nothing: Guard with halberts. Adr. Ah me, it is my husband! Witness you, That he is borne about invisible: Even now we hous'd him in the abbey here; me justice! Even for the service that long since I did thee, Ege. Unless the fear of death doth make me dote, I see my son Antipholus, and Dromio. Ant. E. Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there. She whom thou gav'st to me to be my wife; upon me, While she with harlots9 feasted in my house. To-day did dine together: so befal my soul, Luc. Ne'er may I look on day, nor sleep on night, Ant. E. My liege, I am advised what I say; Neither disturb'd with the effect of wine, Albeit, my wrongs might make one wiser mad. Nor heady-rash, provok'd with raging ire, This woman lock'd me out this day from dinner : That goldsmith there, were he not pack'd with her, Could witness it, for he was with me then; Who parted with me to go fetch a chain, Promising to bring it to the Porcupine, Where Balthazar and I did dine together. Our dinner done, and he not coming thither, 8 i. c. Successively, one after another. 9 Harlot was a term of reproach applied to cheats among men as well as to wantons among women. X |