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FOR __ COMPLETE SHAKESPEARE **** +["Small Print" V.12.08.93] + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + + + +1593 + +THE COMEDY OF ERRORS + +by William Shakespeare + + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + + + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + +SOLINUS, Duke of Ephesus +AEGEON, a merchant of Syracuse + +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS twin brothers and sons to +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Aegion and Aemelia + +DROMIO OF EPHESUS twin brothers, and attendants on +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE the two Antipholuses + +BALTHAZAR, a merchant +ANGELO, a goldsmith +FIRST MERCHANT, friend to Antipholus of Syracuse +SECOND MERCHANT, to whom Angelo is a debtor +PINCH, a schoolmaster + +AEMILIA, wife to AEgeon; an abbess at Ephesus +ADRIANA, wife to Antipholus of Ephesus +LUCIANA, her sister +LUCE, servant to Adriana + +A COURTEZAN + +Gaoler, Officers, Attendants + + + + + +SCENE: +Ephesus + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + + +THE COMEDY OF ERRORS + +ACT I. SCENE 1 + +A hall in the DUKE'S palace + +Enter the DUKE OF EPHESUS, AEGEON, the Merchant +of Syracuse, GAOLER, OFFICERS, and other ATTENDANTS + +AEGEON. Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall, + And by the doom of death end woes and all. +DUKE. Merchant of Syracuse, plead no more; + 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, + Have seal'd his rigorous statutes with their bloods, + Excludes all pity from our threat'ning looks. + For, since the mortal and intestine jars + 'Twixt thy seditious countrymen and us, + It hath in solemn synods been decreed, + 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 + 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, + Cannot amount unto a hundred marks; + Therefore by law thou art condemn'd to die. +AEGEON. Yet this my comfort: when your words are done, + My woes end likewise with the evening sun. +DUKE. Well, Syracusian, say in brief the cause + Why thou departed'st from thy native home, + And for what cause thou cam'st to Ephesus. +AEGEON. A heavier task could not have been impos'd + Than I to speak my griefs unspeakable; + Yet, that the world may witness that my end + Was wrought by nature, not by vile offence, + I'll utter what my sorrow gives me leave. + In Syracuse was I born, and wed + Unto a woman, happy but for me, + And by me, had not our hap been bad. + With her I liv'd in joy; our wealth increas'd + 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: + 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. + 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 disdnguish'd but by names. + That very hour, and in the self-same inn, + A mean 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, + 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 + 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; + Which though myself would gladly have embrac'd, + 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, + Forc'd 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, + Had fast'ned him unto a small spare mast, + Such as sea-faring 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 dispos'd, my wife and I, + Fixing our eyes on whom our care was fix'd, + Fast'ned 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, + Dispers'd 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. + But ere they came-O, let me say no more! + Gather the sequel by that went before. +DUKE. 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 + Worthily term'd them merciless to us! + For, ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues, + We were encount'red by a mighty rock, + Which being violently borne upon, + Our helpful ship was splitted in the midst; + 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, + 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 seiz'd on us; + And, knowing whom it was their hap to save, + Gave healthful welcome to their ship-wreck'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, + That by misfortunes was my life prolong'd, + To tell sad stories of my own mishaps. +DUKE. And, for the sake of them thou sorrowest for, + Do me the favour to dilate at full + What have befall'n of them and thee till now. +AEGEON. My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care, + At eighteen years became inquisitive + After his brother, and importun'd me + That his attendant-so his case was like, + Reft of his brother, but retain'd his name- + Might bear him company in the quest of him; + Whom whilst I laboured of a love to see, + I hazarded the loss of whom I lov'd. + Five summers have I spent in farthest Greece, + Roaming clean through the bounds of Asia, + 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, + Could all my travels warrant me they live. +DUKE. 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, + Which princes, would they, may not disannul, + My soul should 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, + Yet will I favour thee in what I can. + Therefore, merchant, I'll limit thee this day + To seek thy help by beneficial hap. + Try all the friends thou hast in Ephesus; + Beg thou, or borrow, to make up the sum, + And live; if no, then thou art doom'd to die. + Gaoler, take him to thy custody. +GAOLER. I will, my lord. +AEGEON. Hopeless and helpless doth Aegeon wend, + But to procrastinate his lifeless end. +<Exeunt + + +SCENE 2 + +The mart + +Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE, DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, and FIRST +MERCHANT + +FIRST MERCHANT. Therefore, give out you are of Epidamnum, + Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate. + This very day a Syracusian merchant + 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. +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, + 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. +<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, + 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, + And afterward consort you till bed time. + My present business calls me from you now. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Farewell till then. I will go lose +myself, + And wander up and down to view the city. +FIRST MERCHANT. Sir, I commend you to your own content. +<Exit FIRST MERCHANT +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, + 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 + + 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- + 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; + 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 a Wednesday last + 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 dar'st thou trust + So great a charge from thine own custody? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. I pray you jest, sir, 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. + 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? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. To me, sir? Why, you gave no gold to me. + ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Come on, sir knave, have done your +foolishness, + And tell me how thou hast dispos'd thy charge. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. My charge was but to fetch you from the mart + Home to your house, the Phoenix, sir, to dinner. + My mistress and her sister stays for you. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Now, as I am a Christian, answer me + 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 undispos'd. + Where is the thousand marks thou hadst of me? +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. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Thy mistress' marks! What mistress, +slave, hast thou? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Your worship's wife, my mistress at the +Phoenix; + She that doth fast till you come home to dinner, + And prays that you will hie you home to dinner. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my +face, + Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave. +[Beats him] +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. What mean you, sir? For God's sake hold your +hands! + Nay, an you will not, sir, I'll take my heels. +<Exit +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Upon my life, by some device or other + The villain is o'erraught 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, + 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. +<Exit + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + + + +ACT Il. SCENE 1 + +The house of ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS + +Enter ADRIANA, wife to ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, with LUCIANA, her +sister + +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. +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, + 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. +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, + Are their males' subjects, and at their controls. + Man, more divine, the master of all these, + Lord of the wide world and wild wat'ry seas, + Indu'd with intellectual sense and souls, + Of more pre-eminence than fish and fowls, + 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. +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 unmov'd! no marvel though she pause: + They can be meek that have no other cause. + A wretched soul, bruis'd with adversity, + We bid be quiet when we hear it cry; + But were we burd'ned with like weight of pain, + As much, or more, we should ourselves complain. + So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee, + With urging helpless patience would 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. + +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? +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 could'st not feel his +meaning? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Nay, he struck so plainly I could to + well feel his blows; and withal so doubtfully that I could + scarce understand them. +ADRIANA. But say, I prithee, is he coming home? + It seems he hath great care to please his wife. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Why, mistress, sure my master is horn-mad. +ADRIANA. Horn-mad, thou villain! +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. I mean not cuckold-mad; + But, sure, he is stark mad. + When I desir'd 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. + '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; + I know not thy mistress; out on thy mistress.' +LUCIANA. Quoth who? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Quoth my master. + 'I know' quoth he 'no house, no wife, no mistress.' + So that my errand, due unto my tongue, + 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. +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, + 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! +ADRIANA. His company must do his minions grace, + Whilst I at home starve for a merry look. + Hath homely age th' alluring beauty took + From my poor cheek? Then he hath wasted it. + Are my discourses dull? Barren my wit? + 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 + 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. +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 promis'd me a chain; + Would that alone a love 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 + Where 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! +<Exeunt + + +SCENE 2 + +The mart + +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 wand'red forth in care to seek me out. + 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? + As you love strokes, so jest with me again. + You know no Centaur! You receiv'd 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? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. What answer, sir? When spake I such a word? +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Even now, even here, not half an hour +since. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. I did not see you since you sent me hence, + Home to the Centaur, with the gold you gave me. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Villain, thou didst deny the gold's +receipt, + And told'st me of a mistress and a dinner; + For which, I hope, thou felt'st I was displeas'd. +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? + 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 + 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. + If you will jest with me, know my aspect, + And fashion your demeanour 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 long, I must get a sconce for my head, and + insconce it too; or else I shall seek my wit in my shoulders. + But I pray, sir, why am I beaten? +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Dost thou not know? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Nothing, sir, but that I am beaten. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Shall I tell you why? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Ay, sir, and wherefore; for they say + every why hath a wherefore. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Why, first for flouting me; and then +wherefore, + For urging it the second time to me. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Was there ever any man thus beaten out of +season, + When in the why and the wherefore is neither rhyme nor reason? + Well, sir, I thank you. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Thank me, sir! for what? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Marry, sir, for this something that you gave + me for nothing. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. I'll make you amends next, to + give you nothing for something. But say, sir, is it dinnertime? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. No, sir; I think the meat wants that I have. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. In good time, sir, what's that? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Basting. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Well, sir, then 'twill be dry. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. If it be, sir, I pray you eat none of it. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Your reason? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Lest it make you choleric, and purchase me + another dry basting. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Well, sir, learn to jest in good time; + there's a time for all things. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. I durst have denied that, before you + were so choleric. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. By what rule, sir? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Marry, sir, by a rule as plain as the + plain bald pate of Father Time himself. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Let's hear it. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. There's no time for a man to recover + his hair that grows bald by nature. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. May he not do it by fine and recovery? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Yes, to pay a fine for a periwig, and + recover the lost hair of another man. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Why is Time such a niggard of + hair, being, as it is, so plentiful an excrement? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Because it is a blessing that he bestows + on beasts, and what he hath scanted men in hair he hath + given them in wit. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Why, but there's many a man + hath more hair than wit. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Not a man of those but he hath the + wit to lose his hair. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Why, thou didst conclude hairy + men plain dealers without wit. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. The plainer dealer, the sooner lost; + yet he loseth it in a kind of jollity. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. For what reason? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. For two; and sound ones too. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Nay, not sound I pray you. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Sure ones, then. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Nay, not sure, in a thing falsing. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Certain ones, then. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Name them. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. The one, to save the money that he spends in + tiring; the other, that at dinner they should not drop in his + porridge. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. You would all this time have prov'd there + is no time for all things. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Marry, and did, sir; namely, no time to +recover + hair lost by nature. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. But your reason was not substantial, why + there is no time to recover. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Thus I mend it: Time himself is bald, + and therefore to the world's end will have bald followers. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. I knew 't'would be a bald conclusion. +But, + soft, who wafts us yonder? + +Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA + +ADRIANA. Ay, ay, Antipholus, look strange and frown. + Some other mistress hath thy sweet aspects; + I am not Adriana, nor thy wife. + The time was once when thou unurg'd 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, + That never meat sweet-savour'd in thy taste, + Unless I spake, or look'd, or touch'd, or carv'd to thee. + How comes it now, my husband, O, how comes it, + That thou art then estranged from thyself? + Thyself I call it, being strange to me, + 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 mayst thou fall + A drop of water in the breaking gulf, + And take unmingled thence that drop again + Without addition or diminishing, + As take from me thyself, and not me too. + How dearly would it touch thee to the quick, + Should'st thou but hear I were licentious, + 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, + 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; + For if we two be one, and thou play false, + I do digest the poison of thy flesh, + Being strumpeted by thy contagion. + Keep then fair league and truce with thy true bed; + I live dis-stain'd, thou undishonoured. +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, + Wants wit in all one word to understand. +LUCIANA. Fie, brother, how the world is chang'd with you! + When were you wont to use my sister thus? + She sent for you by Dromio home to dinner. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. By Dromio? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. By me? +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? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. I, Sir? I never saw her till this time. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Villain, thou liest; for even her very +words + Didst thou deliver to me on the mart. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. I never spake with her in all my life. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. How can she thus, then, call us by our +names, + Unless it be by inspiration? +ADRIANA. How ill agrees it with your gravity + To counterfeit thus grossly with your slave, + Abetting him to thwart me in my mood! + Be it my wrong you are from me exempt, + 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. + 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. + 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. +LUCIANA. Dromio, go bid the servants spread for dinner. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. O, for my beads! I cross me for 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: + They'll suck our breath, or pinch us black and blue. +LUCIANA. Why prat'st thou to thyself, and answer'st not? + Dromio, thou drone, thou snail, thou slug, thou sot! +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. I am transformed, master, am not I? +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. I think thou art in mind, and so am I. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Nay, master, both in mind and in my shape. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Thou hast thine own form. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. No, I am an ape. +LUCIANA. If thou art chang'd to aught, 'tis to an ass. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. 'Tis true; she rides me, and I long for +grass. + '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 laughs my woes to scorn. + 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. + 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-advis'd? + Known unto these, and to myself disguis'd! + I'll say as they say, and persever so, + And in this mist at all adventures go. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Master, shall I be porter at the gate? +ADRIANA. Ay; and let none enter, lest I break your pate. +LUCIANA. Come, come, Antipholus, we dine too late. +<Exeunt + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + + + +ACT III. SCENE 1 + +Before the house of ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS + +Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, DROMIO OF EPHESUS, ANGELO, and +BALTHAZAR + +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Good Signior Angelo, you must excuse us +all; + My wife is shrewish when I keep not hours. + Say that I linger'd with you at your shop + To see the making of her carcanet, + 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 charg'd him with a thousand marks in gold, + And that I did deny my wife and house. + 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. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. I think thou art an ass. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Marry, so it doth appear + By the wrongs I suffer and the blows I bear. + I should kick, being kick'd; and being at that pass, + You would keep from my heels, and beware of an ass. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Y'are 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, + A table full of welcome makes scarce one dainty dish. +BALTHAZAR. Good meat, sir, is common; that every churl affords. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. And welcome more common; for that's +nothing + but words. +BALTHAZAR. Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Ay, to a niggardly host and more sparing +guest. + But though my cates be mean, take them in good part; + Better cheer may you have, but not with better heart. + But, soft, my door is lock'd; go bid them let us in. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Maud, Bridget, Marian, Cicely, Gillian, Ginn! +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. [Within] Mome, malt-horse, capon, coxcomb, +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. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. What patch is made our porter? + My master stays in the street. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. [Within] Let him walk from whence he came, + lest he catch cold on's feet. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Who talks within there? Ho, open the door! +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. [Within] Right, sir; I'll tell you when, + an you'll tell me wherefore. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Wherefore? For my dinner; + I have not din'd to-day. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. [Within] Nor to-day here you must not; + come again when you may. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. What art thou that keep'st me out + from the house I owe? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. [Within] The porter for this time, + sir, and my name is Dromio. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. O Villain, thou hast stol'n both mine + office and my name! + The one ne'er got me credit, the other mickle blame. + If thou hadst been Dromio to-day in my place, + Thou wouldst have chang'd thy face for a name, or thy name for +an ass. + +Enter LUCE, within + +LUCE. [Within] What a coil is there, Dromio? Who are those at +the gate? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Let my master in, Luce. +LUCE. [Within] Faith, no, he comes too late; + And so tell your master. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. O Lord, I must laugh! + Have at you with a proverb: Shall I set in my staff? +LUCE. [Within] Have at you with another: that's-when? can you +tell? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. [Within] If thy name be called Luce + -Luce, thou hast answer'd him well. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Do you hear, you minion? You'll let us in, +I hope? +LUCE. [Within] I thought to have ask'd you. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. [Within] And you said no. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. SO, Come, help: well struck! there was blow +for blow. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Thou baggage, let me in. +LUCE. [Within] Can you tell for whose sake? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Master, knock the door hard. +LUCE. [Within] Let him knock till it ache. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. You'll cry for this, minion, if I beat the +door down. +LUCE. [Within] What needs all that, and a pair of stocks in the +town? + +Enter ADRIANA, within + +ADRIANA. [Within] Who is that at the door, that keeps all this +noise? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. [Within] By my troth, your town is + troubled with unruly boys. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Are you there, wife? You might + have come before. +ADRIANA. [Within] Your wife, sir knave! Go get you from the +door. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. If YOU went in pain, master, this 'knave' +would go sore. +ANGELO. Here is neither cheer, sir, nor welcome; we would fain +have either. +BALTHAZAR. In debating which was best, we shall part with +neither. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. They stand at the door, master; bid them +welcome hither. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. There is something in the wind, that we +cannot get in. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. You would say so, master, if your garments +were thin. + Your cake here is warm within; you stand here in the cold; + It would make a man mad as a buck to be so bought and sold. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Go fetch me something; I'll break ope the +gate. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. [Within] Break any breaking here, + and I'll break your knave's pate. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. A man may break a word with you, + sir; and words are but wind; + Ay, and break it in your face, so he break it not behind. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. [Within] It seems thou want'st breaking; + out upon thee, hind! +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Here's too much 'out upon thee!' pray thee let +me in. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. [Within] Ay, when fowls have no + feathers and fish have no fin. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Well, I'll break in; go borrow me a crow. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. A crow without feather? Master, mean you so? + For a fish without a fin, there's a fowl without a feather; + If a crow help us in, sirrah, we'll pluck a crow together. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Go get thee gone; fetch me an iron crow. +BALTHAZAR. Have patience, sir; O, let it not be so! + Herein you war against your reputation, + And draw within the compass of suspect + Th' unviolated honour of your wife. + Once this-your long experience of her wisdom, + Her sober virtue, years, and modesty, + 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 rul'd by me: depart in patience, + And let us to the Tiger all to dinner; + 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, + 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, + For ever hous'd where it gets possession. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. You have prevail'd. 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; + 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] 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- + Upon mine hostess there; good sir, make haste. + Since mine own doors refuse to entertain me, + I'll knock elsewhere, to see if they'll disdain me. +ANGELO. I'll meet you at that place some hour hence. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Do so; this jest shall cost me some +expense. +<Exeunt + + +SCENE 2 + +Before the house of ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS + +Enter LUCIANA with 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? + 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; + Let not my sister read it in your eye; + Be not thy tongue thy own shame's orator; + Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty; + Apparel vice like virtue's harbinger; + Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted; + 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; + Shame hath a bastard fame, well managed; + Ill deeds is 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; + 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. +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; + Lay open to my earthy-gross conceit, + Smoth'red 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? + Are you a god? Would you create me new? + Transform me, then, and to your pow'r 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; + 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, + 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? +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Not mad, but mated; how, I do not know. +LUCIANA. It is a fault that springeth from your eye. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. For gazing on your beams, fair sun, being +by. +LUCIANA. Gaze where you should, and that will clear your sight. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. As good to wink, sweet love, as look on +night. +LUCIANA. Why call you me love? Call my sister so. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Thy sister's sister. +LUCIANA. That's my sister. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. No; + It is thyself, mine own self's better part; + 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; + 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, sir, hold you still; + I'll fetch my sister to get her good will. +<Exit LUCIANA + +Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. + +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Why, how now, Dromio! Where run'st thou + so fast? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Do you know me, sir? Am I Dromio? + Am I your man? Am I myself? +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Thou art Dromio, thou art my + man, thou art thyself. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. I am an ass, I am a woman's man, and besides + myself. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. What woman's man, and how besides +thyself? +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. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. What claim lays she to thee? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Marry, sir, such claim as you would + lay to your horse; and she would have me as a beast: not + that, I being a beast, she would have me; but that she, + being a very beastly creature, lays claim to me. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. What is she? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. A very reverent body; ay, such a one + as a man may not speak of without he say 'Sir-reverence.' + I have but lean luck in the match, and yet is she a + wondrous fat marriage. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. How dost thou mean a fat marriage? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Marry, sir, she's the kitchen-wench, + and all grease; and I know not what use to put her to but + to make a lamp of her and run from her by her own light. + I warrant, her rags and the tallow in them will burn + Poland winter. If she lives till doomsday, she'll burn + week longer than the whole world. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. What complexion is she of? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Swart, like my shoe; but her face + nothing like so clean kept; for why, she sweats, a man may + go over shoes in the grime of it. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. That's a fault that water will mend. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. No, sir, 'tis in grain; Noah's flood + could not do it. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. What's her name? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Nell, sir; but her name and three + quarters, that's an ell and three quarters, will not measure + her from hip to hip. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Then she bears some breadth? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. No longer from head to foot than + from hip to hip: she is spherical, like a globe; I could find + out countries in her. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. In what part of her body stands Ireland? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Marry, sir, in her buttocks; I found it out +by + the bogs. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Where Scotland? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. I found it by the barrenness, hard in + the palm of the hand. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Where France? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. In her forehead, arm'd and reverted, + making war against her heir. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Where England? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. I look'd for the chalky cliffs, but I + could find no whiteness in them; but I guess it stood in her + chin, by the salt rheum that ran between France and it. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Where Spain? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Faith, I saw it not, but I felt it hot in + her breath. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Where America, the Indies? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. O, sir, upon her nose, an o'er embellished +with + rubies, carbuncles, sapphires, declining their rich aspect to +the + hot breath of Spain; who sent whole armadoes of caracks to be + ballast at her nose. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Where stood Belgia, the Netherlands? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. O, Sir, I did not look so low. To + conclude: this drudge or diviner laid claim to me; call'd me + Dromio; swore I was assur'd 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 left arm, that I, + amaz'd, 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' th' +wheel. +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. + 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, + Of such enchanting presence and discourse, + Hath almost made me traitor to myself; + But, lest myself be guilty to self-wrong, + I'll stop mine ears against the mermaid's song. + +Enter ANGELO with the chain + +ANGELO. Master Antipholus! +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Ay, that's my name. +ANGELO. I know it well, sir. Lo, here is the chain. + I thought to have ta'en you at the Porpentine; + The chain unfinish'd made me stay thus long. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. What is your will that I shall do with +this? +ANGELO. What please yourself, sir; I have made it for you. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Made it for me, sir! I bespoke it not. +ANGELO. Not once nor twice, but twenty times you have. + Go home with it, and please your wife withal; + And soon at supper-time I'll visit you, + And then receive my money for the chain. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. I pray you, sir, receive the money now, + For fear you ne'er see chain nor money more. +ANGELO. You are a merry man, sir; fare you well. +<Exit +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. What I should think of this 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, + 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 + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + + + +ACT IV. SCENE 1 + +A public place + +Enter SECOND MERCHANT, ANGELO, and an OFFICER + +SECOND MERCHANT. You know since Pentecost the sum is due, + And since I have not much importun'd you; + Nor now I had not, but that I am bound + To Persia, and want guilders for my voyage. + Therefore make present satisfaction, + 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 + 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 + +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. + But, soft, I see the goldsmith. Get thee gone; + Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. I buy a thousand pound a year; I buy a rope. +<Exit DROMIO +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. A man is well holp up that trusts to you! + 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 + 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 discharg'd, + 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 + Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof. + Perchance I will be there as soon as you. +ANGELO. Then you will bring the chain to her yourself? +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. No; bear it with you, lest I come not time +enough. +ANGELO. Well, sir, I will. Have you the chain about you? +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. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Good Lord! you use this dalliance to +excuse + Your breach of promise to the Porpentine; + I should have chid you for not bringing it, + But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl. +SECOND MERCHANT. The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, dispatch. +ANGELO. You hear how he importunes me-the chain! +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your +money. +ANGELO. Come, come, you know I gave it you even now. + Either send the chain or send by me some token. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Fie, now you run this humour out of +breath! + Come, where's the chain? I pray you let me see it. +SECOND MERCHANT. My business cannot brook this dalliance. + Good sir, say whe'r you'll answer me or no; + If not, I'll leave him to the officer. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. I answer you! What should I answer you? +ANGELO. The money that you owe me for the chain. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. I owe you none till I receive the chain. +ANGELO. You know I gave it you half an hour since. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. You gave me none; you wrong me much to say +so. +ANGELO. You wrong me more, sir, in denying it. + Consider how it stands upon my credit. +SECOND MERCHANT. Well, officer, arrest him at my suit. +OFFICER. I do; and charge you in the Duke's name to obey me. +ANGELO. This touches me in reputation. + Either consent to pay this sum for me, + Or I attach you by this officer. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Consent to pay thee that I never had! + Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar'st. +ANGELO. Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer. + I would not spare my brother in this case, + 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. +ANGELO. Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus, + To your notorious shame, I doubt it not. + +Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, from the bay + +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Master, there's a bark of Epidamnum + That stays but till her owner comes aboard, + 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 + But for their owner, master, and yourself. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. How now! a madman? Why, thou peevish +sheep, + What ship of Epidamnum stays for me? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. THOU drunken slave! I sent the for a rope; + 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. + To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight; + Give her this key, and tell her in the desk + That's cover'd o'er with Turkish tapestry + There is a purse of ducats; let her send it. + Tell her I am arrested in the street, + And that shall bail me; hie thee, slave, be gone. + On, officer, to prison till it come. +Exeunt all but DROMIO +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. To Adriana! that is where we din'd, + Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband. + She is too big, I hope, for me to compass. + Thither I must, although against my will, + For servants must their masters' minds fulfil. +Exit + + +SCENE 2 + +The house of ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS + +Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA + +ADRIANA. Ah, Luciana, did he tempt thee so? + Might'st 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? + What observation mad'st 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. +ADRIANA. And true he swore, though yet forsworn he were. +LUCIANA. Then pleaded I for you. +ADRIANA. And what said he? +LUCIANA. That love I begg'd for you he begg'd of me. +ADRIANA. With what persuasion did he tempt thy love? +LUCIANA. With words that in an honest suit might move. + First he did praise my beauty, then my speech. +ADRIANA. Didst speak him fair? +LUCIANA. Have patience, I beseech. +ADRIANA. I cannot, nor I will not hold me still; + My tongue, though not my heart, shall have his will. + He is deformed, crooked, old, and sere, + Ill-fac'd, worse bodied, shapeless everywhere; + Vicious, ungentle, foolish, blunt, unkind; + Stigmatical in making, worse in mind. +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; + My heart prays for him, though my tongue do curse. + +Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. + +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Here go-the desk, the purse. Sweet + now, make haste. +LUCIANA. How hast thou lost thy breath? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. By running fast. +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 fairy, pitiless and rough; + 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 dry-foot well; + One that, before the Judgment, carries poor souls to hell. +ADRIANA. Why, man, what is the matter? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. I do not know the matter; he is rested on the +case. +ADRIANA. What, is he arrested? Tell me, at whose suit? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. I know not at whose suit he is arrested well; + 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: + Thus he unknown to me should be in debt. + Tell me, was he arrested on a band? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Not on a band, but on a stronger thing, + A chain, a chain. Do you not hear it ring? +ADRIANA. What, the chain? +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 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 + That Time comes stealing on by night and day? + If 'a 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, + And bring thy master home immediately. + Come, sister; I am press'd down with conceit- + Conceit, my comfort and my injury. +<Exeunt + + +SCENE 3 + +The mart + +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, + 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, + 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-apparell'd? +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. What gold is this? What Adam dost thou +mean? +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 kill'd for the Prodigal; he that came +behind + you, sir, like an evil angel, and bid you forsake your liberty. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. I understand thee not. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. No? Why, 'tis a plain case: he that + went, like a bass-viol, in a case of leather; the man, sir, + that, when gentlemen are tired, gives them a sob, and rest + them; he, sir, that takes pity on decayed men, and give + them suits of durance; he that sets up his rest to do more + exploits with his mace than a morris-pike. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. What, thou mean'st an officer? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Ay, sir, the sergeant of the band; + that brings any man to answer it that breaks his band; on + that thinks a man always going to bed, and says 'God give + you good rest!' +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Well, sir, there rest in your foolery. Is + there any ship puts forth to-night? May we be gone? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Why, sir, I brought you word an + hour since that the bark Expedition put forth to-night; and + then were you hind'red by the sergeant, to tarry for the + boy Delay. Here are the angels that you sent for to deliver +you. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. The fellow is distract, and so am I; + 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. + Is that the chain you promis'd me to-day? +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me +not. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Master, is this Mistress Satan? +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. It is the devil. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Nay, she is worse, she is the devil's + dam, and here 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; ergo, light wenches will burn. + Come not near her. +COURTEZAN. Your man and you are marvellous merry, sir. + Will you go with me? We'll mend our dinner here. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Master, if you do, expect spoon-meat, + or bespeak a long spoon. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Why, Dromio? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Marry, he must have a long spoon + that must eat with the devil. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Avoid then, fiend! What tell'st thou me +of supping? + Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress; + 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 promis'd, + And I'll be gone, sir, and not trouble you. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Some devils ask but the parings of one's +nail, + A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, + A nut, a cherry-stone; + But she, more covetous, would have a chain. + Master, be wise; an if you give it her, + The devil will shake her chain, and fright us with it. +COURTEZAN. I pray you, sir, my ring, or else the chain; + I hope you do not mean to cheat me so. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio, let us +go. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. 'Fly pride' says the peacock. Mistress, that +you know. +<Exeunt ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE and DROMIO OF SYRACUSE +COURTEZAN. Now, out of doubt, Antipholus is mad, + Else would he never so demean himself. + A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats, + And for the same he promis'd me a chain; + Both one and other he denies me now. + The reason that I gather he is mad, + Besides this present instance of his rage, + Is a mad tale he told to-day at dinner + Of his own doors being shut against his entrance. + Belike his wife, acquainted with his fits, + 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, + For forty ducats is too much to lose. +<Exit + + +SCENE 4 + +A street + +Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS with 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, + 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? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them all. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. But where's the money? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Five hundred ducats, villain, for rope? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. I'll serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. To what end did I bid thee hie thee home? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. To a rope's-end, sir; and to that end am I + return'd. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. And to that end, sir, I will welcome you. +[Beating him] +OFFICER. Good sir, be patient. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Nay, 'tis for me to be patient; I am in + adversity. +OFFICER. Good now, hold thy tongue. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Nay, rather persuade him to hold his hands. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Thou whoreson, senseless villain! +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. I would I were senseless, sir, that I + might not feel your blows. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Thou art sensible in nothing but + blows, and so is an ass. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. I am an ass indeed; you may prove it + by my long 'ears. I have served him from the hour of my + nativity to this instant, and have nothing at his hands for + my service but blows. When I am cold he heats me with + beating; when I am warm he cools me with beating. I am + wak'd with it when I sleep; rais'd with it when I sit; driven + out of doors with it when I go from home; welcom'd home + with it when I return; nay, I bear it on my shoulders as + beggar wont her brat; and I think, when he hath lam'd me, + I shall beg with it from door to door. + +Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, the COURTEZAN, and a SCHOOLMASTER +call'd PINCH + +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Come, go along; my wife is coming yonder. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Mistress, 'respice finem,' respect your end; +or + rather, to prophesy like the parrot, 'Beware the rope's-end.' +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Wilt thou still talk? +[Beating him] +COURTEZAN. How say you now? Is not your husband mad? +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! +COURTEZAN. Mark how he trembles in his ecstasy. +PINCH. Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. There is my hand, and let it feel your +ear. +[Striking him] +PINCH. I charge thee, Satan, hous'd within this man, + To yield possession to my holy prayers, + And to thy state of darkness hie thee straight. + I conjure thee by all the saints in heaven. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Peace, doting wizard, peace! I am not mad. +ADRIANA. O, that thou wert not, poor distressed soul! +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? +ADRIANA. O husband, God doth know you din'd at home, + Where would you had remain'd until this time, + Free from these slanders and this open shame! +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Din'd at home! Thou villain, what sayest +thou? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Sir, Sooth to say, you did not dine at home. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Were not my doors lock'd up and I shut +out? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Perdie, your doors were lock'd and you shut +out. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. And did not she herself revile me there? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Sans fable, she herself revil'd you there. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Did not her kitchen-maid rail, taunt, and +scorn me? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Certes, she did; the kitchen-vestal scorn'd +you. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. And did not I in rage depart from thence? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. In verity, you did. My bones bear witness, + That since have felt the vigour of his rage. +ADRIANA. Is't good to soothe him in these contraries? +PINCH. It is no shame; the fellow finds his vein, + And, yielding to him, humours well his frenzy. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Thou hast suborn'd the goldsmith to arrest +me. +ADRIANA. Alas, I sent you money to redeem you, + By Dromio here, who came in haste for it. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Money by me! Heart and goodwill you might, + But surely, master, not a rag of money. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Went'st not thou to her for purse of +ducats? +ADRIANA. He came to me, and I deliver'd it. +LUCIANA. And I am witness with her that she did. +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. +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 receiv'd no gold; + But I confess, sir, that we were lock'd out. +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 + That would behold in me this shameful sport. +ADRIANA. O, bind him, bind him; let him not come near me. +PINCH. More company! The fiend is strong within him. + +Enter three or four, and offer to bind him. He strives + +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; + He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him. +PINCH. Go bind this man, for he is frantic too. +[They bind DROMIO] +ADRIANA. What wilt thou do, thou peevish officer? + Hast thou delight to see a wretched man + Do outrage and displeasure to himself? +OFFICER. He is my prisoner; if I let him go, + The debt he owes will be requir'd of me. +ADRIANA. I will discharge thee ere I go from thee; + Bear me forthwith unto his creditor, + And, knowing how the debt grows, I will pay it. + Good Master Doctor, see him safe convey'd + Home to my house. O most unhappy day! +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. O most unhappy strumpet! +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Master, I am here ent'red in bond for you. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Out on thee, villian! Wherefore + dost thou mad me? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Will you be bound for nothing? + Be mad, good master; cry 'The devil!' +LUCIANA. God help, poor souls, how idly do they talk! +ADRIANA. Go bear him hence. Sister, go you with me. +<Exeunt all but ADRIANA, LUCIANA, OFFICERS, 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? +OFFICER. Two hundred ducats. +ADRIANA. Say, how grows it due? +OFFICER. Due for a chain your husband had of him. +ADRIANA. He did bespeak a chain for me, but had it not. +COURTEZAN. When as your husband, all in rage, to-day + 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; + 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. + 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 as fast as may be, frighted +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. I see these witches are afraid of swords. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. She that would be your wife now ran from you. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Come to the Centaur; fetch our stuff from +thence. + I long that we were safe and sound aboard. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Faith, stay here this night; they will + surely do us no harm; you saw they speak us fair, give us + gold; methinks they are such a gentle nation that, but for + the mountain of mad flesh that claims marriage of me, + 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; + Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard. +<Exeunt + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + + + +ACT V. SCENE 1 + +A street before a priory + +Enter SECOND MERCHANT and ANGELO + +ANGELO. I am sorry, sir, that I have hind'red you; + But I protest he had the chain of me, + Though most dishonestly he doth deny it. +SECOND MERCHANT. How is the man esteem'd here in the city? +ANGELO. Of very reverend reputation, sir, + Of credit infinite, highly belov'd, + Second to none that lives here in the city; + His word might bear my wealth at any time. +SECOND MERCHANT. Speak softly; yonder, as I think, he walks. + +Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE and DROMIO OF SYRACUSE + +ANGELO. 'Tis so; and that self chain about his neck + Which he forswore most monstrously to have. + Good sir, draw near to me, I'll speak to him. + Signior Andpholus, I wonder much + That you would put me to this shame and trouble; + And, not without some scandal to yourself, + With circumstance and oaths so to deny + This chain, which now you wear so openly. + 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. + This chain you had of me; can you deny it? +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. I think I had; I never did deny it. +SECOND MERCHANT. Yes, that you did, sir, and forswore it too. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Who heard me to deny it or forswear it? +SECOND MERCHANT. These ears of mine, thou know'st, did hear thee. + Fie on thee, wretch! 'tis pity that thou liv'st + To walk where any honest men 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 dar'st stand. +SECOND MERCHANT. I dare, and do defy thee for a villain. +[They draw] + +Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, the COURTEZAN, and OTHERS + +ADRIANA. Hold, hurt him not, for God's sake! He is mad. + Some get within him, take his sword away; + 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 + +Enter the LADY ABBESS + +ABBESS. 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. +ANGELO. I knew he was not in his perfect wits. +SECOND MERCHANT. I am sorry now that I did draw on him. +ABBESS. 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; + But till this afternoon his passion + Ne'er brake into extremity of rage. +ABBESS. 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? + 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. +ABBESS. You should for that have reprehended him. +ADRIANA. Why, so I did. +ABBESS. Ay, but not rough enough. +ADRIANA. As roughly as my modesty would let me. +ABBESS. Haply in private. +ADRIANA. And in assemblies too. +ABBESS. Ay, but not enough. +ADRIANA. It was the copy of our conference. + In bed, he slept not for my urging it; + At board, he fed not for my urging it; + Alone, it was the subject of my theme; + In company, I often glanced it; + Still did I tell him it was vile and bad. +ABBESS. And thereof came it that the man was mad. + The venom clamours of a jealous woman + Poisons more deadly than a mad dog's tooth. + It seems his sleeps were hind'red by thy railing, + And thereof comes it that his head is light. + Thou say'st his meat was sauc'd with thy upbraidings: + Unquiet meals make ill digestions; + Thereof the raging fire of fever bred; + And what's a fever but a fit of madness? + Thou say'st his sports were hind'red by thy brawls. + Sweet recreation barr'd, what doth ensue + But moody and dull melancholy, + Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair, + And at her heels a huge infectious troop + Of pale distemperatures and foes to life? + In food, in sport, and life-preserving rest, + To be disturb'd would mad or man or beast. + The consequence is, then, thy jealous fits + Hath scar'd 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? +ADRIANA. She did betray me to my own reproof. + Good people, enter, and lay hold on him. +ABBESS. No, not a creature enters in my house. +ADRIANA. Then let your servants bring my husband forth. +ABBESS. Neither; he took this place for sanctuary, + 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, + And will have no attorney but myself; + And therefore let me have him home with me. +ABBESS. Be patient; for I will not let him stir + Till I have us'd the approved means I have, + With wholesome syrups, drugs, and holy prayers, + To make of him a formal man again. + It is a branch and 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; + And ill it doth beseem your holiness + To separate the husband and the wife. +ABBESS. Be quiet, and depart; thou shalt not have him. +<Exit +LUCIANA. Complain unto the Duke of this indignity. +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; + Anon, I'm sure, the Duke himself in person + Comes this way to the melancholy vale, + The place of death and sorry execution, + Behind the ditches of the abbey here. +ANGELO. Upon what cause? +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. +LUCIANA. Kneel to the Duke before he pass the abbey. + +Enter the DUKE, attended; AEGEON, bareheaded; +with the HEADSMAN and other OFFICERS + +DUKE. Yet once again proclaim it publicly, + If any friend will pay the sum for him, + He shall not die; so much we tender him. +ADRIANA. 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. +ADRIANA. May it please your Grace, Antipholus, my husband, + Who 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 desp'rately he hurried through the street, + With him his bondman all as mad as he, + Doing displeasure to the citizens + By rushing in their houses, bearing thence + Rings, jewels, anything his rage did like. + Once did I get him bound and sent him home, + Whilst to take order for the wrongs I went, + 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, + Met us again and, madly bent on us, + Chas'd us away; till, raising of more aid, + We came again to bind them. Then they fled + Into this abbey, whither we pursu'd them; + And here the Abbess shuts the gates on us, + 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. +DUKE. Long since thy husband serv'd me in my wars, + And I to thee engag'd 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, + I will determine this before I stir. + +Enter a MESSENGER + +MESSENGER. 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, + Whose beard they have sing'd off with brands of fire; + And ever, as it blaz'd, 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; + 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. +MESSENGER. Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true; + I have not breath'd 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! +DUKE. 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 hous'd him in the abbey here, + And now he's there, past thought of human reason. + +Enter ANTIPHOLUS OFEPHESUS and DROMIO OFEPHESUS + +ANTIPHOLUS OFEPHESUS. 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 + 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 OFEPHESUS. Justice, sweet Prince, against that woman +there! + She whom thou gav'st to me to be my wife, + That hath abused and dishonoured me + Even in the strength and height of injury. + Beyond imagination is the wrong + That she this day hath shameless thrown on me. +DUKE. Discover how, and thou shalt find me just. +ANTIPHOLUS OFEPHESUS. This day, great Duke, she shut the doors +upon me, + While she with harlots feasted in my house. +DUKE. 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 + 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 pejur'd woman! They are both forsworn. + In this the madman justly chargeth them. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. My liege, I am advised what I say; + Neither disturbed with the effect of wine, + Nor heady-rash, provok'd with raging ire, + Albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad. + 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 Porpentine, + Where Balthazar and I did dine together. + 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 perjur'd goldsmith swear me down + That I this day of him receiv'd the chain, + 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 + To go in person with me to my house. + By th' way we met my wife, her sister, and a rabble more + Of vile confederates. Along with them + They brought one Pinch, a hungry lean-fac'd villain, + A mere anatomy, a mountebank, + A threadbare juggler, and a fortune-teller, + A needy, hollow-ey'd, sharp-looking wretch, + A living dead man. This pernicious slave, + Forsooth, took on him as a conjurer, + 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 + 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 + For these deep shames and great indignities. +ANGELO. My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him, + That he din'd not at home, but was lock'd out. +DUKE. But had he such a chain of thee, or no? +ANGELO. He had, my lord, and when he ran in here, + 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, + 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! + And this is false you burden me withal. +DUKE. Why, what an intricate impeach is this! + I think you all have drunk of Circe's cup. + If here you hous'd him, here he would have been; + If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly. + You say he din'd at home: the goldsmith here + Denies that saying. Sirrah, what say you? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Sir, he din'd with her there, at the +Porpentine. +COURTEZAN. He did; and from my finger snatch'd that ring. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. 'Tis true, my liege; this ring I had of +her. +DUKE. Saw'st thou him enter at the abbey here? +COURTEZAN. As sure, my liege, as I do see your Grace. +DUKE. Why, this is strange. Go call the Abbess hither. + I think you are all mated or stark mad. +<Exit one to the 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. +DUKE. Speak freely, Syracusian, what thou wilt. +AEGEON. Is not your name, sir, call'd Antipholus? + 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. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Ourselves we do remember, sir, by you; + For lately we were bound as you are now. + You are not Pinch's patient, are you, sir? +AEGEON. Why look you strange on me? You know me well. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. I never saw you in my life till now. +AEGEON. O! grief hath chang'd me since you saw me last; + And careful hours with time's deformed hand + Have written strange defeatures in my face. + But tell me yet, dost thou not know my voice? +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Neither. +AEGEON. Dromio, nor thou? +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. No, trust me, sir, nor I. +AEGEON. I am sure thou dost. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Ay, sir, but I am sure I do not; and + whatsoever a man denies, you are now bound to believe him. +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 untun'd cares? + Though now this grained face of mine be hid + 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; + All these old witnesses-I cannot err- + Tell me thou art my son Antipholus. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. I never saw my father in my life. +AEGEON. But seven years since, in Syracuse, boy, + Thou know'st we parted; but perhaps, my son, + Thou sham'st 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 Syracuse in my life. +DUKE. I tell thee, Syracusian, twenty years + Have I been patron to Antipholus, + During which time he ne'er saw Syracuse. + I see thy age and dangers make thee dote. + +Re-enter the ABBESS, with ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE and DROMIO OF +SYRACUSE + +ABBESS. Most mighty Duke, behold a man much wrong'd. +[All gather to see them] +ADRIANA. I see two husbands, or mine eyes deceive me. +DUKE. One of these men is genius to the other; + And so of these. Which is the natural man, + And which the spirit? Who deciphers them? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. I, sir, am Dromio; command him away. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. I, Sir, am Dromio; pray let me stay. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. Aegeon, art thou not? or else his ghost. +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. O, my old master! who hath bound him here? +ABBESS. 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. + 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? +ABBESS. 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. + What then became of them I cannot tell; + I to this fortune that you see me in. +DUKE. Why, here begins his morning story right. + These two Antipholus', these two so like, + And these two Dromios, one in semblance- + Besides her urging of her wreck at sea- + These are the parents to these children, + Which accidentally are met together. + Antipholus, thou cam'st from Corinth first? +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. No, sir, not I; I came from Syracuse. +DUKE. Stay, stand apart; I know not which is which. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. I came from Corinth, my most gracious +lord. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. And I with him. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Brought to this town by that most famous +warrior, + Duke Menaphon, your most renowned uncle. +ADRIANA. Which of you two did dine with me to-day? +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. I, gentle mistress. +ADRIANA. And are not you my husband? +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. No; I say nay to that. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. And so do I, yet did she call me so; + 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; + If this be not a dream I see and hear. +ANGELO. That is the chain, sir, which you had of me. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. I think it be, sir; I deny it not. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. And you, sir, for this chain arrested me. +ANGELO. I think I did, sir; I deny it not. +ADRIANA. I sent you money, sir, to be your bail, + By Dromio; but I think he brought it not. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. No, none by me. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. This purse of ducats I receiv'd from you, + And Dromio my man did bring them me. + I see we still did meet each other's man, + And I was ta'en for him, and he for me, + And thereupon these ERRORS are arose. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. These ducats pawn I for my father here. +DUKE. It shall not need; thy father hath his life. +COURTEZAN. Sir, I must have that diamond from you. +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. There, take it; and much thanks for my + good cheer. +ABBESS. Renowned Duke, vouchsafe to take the pains + To go with us into the abbey here, + And hear at large discoursed all our fortunes; + 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 + 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; + After so long grief, such nativity! +DUKE. With all my heart, I'll gossip at this feast. +<Exeunt all but ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE, ANTIPHOLUS OF +EPHESUS, DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, and DROMIO OF EPHESUS +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Master, shall I fetch your stuff from +shipboard? +ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS. Dromio, what stuff of mine hast thou +embark'd? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Your goods that lay at host, sir, in the +Centaur. +ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE. He speaks to me. I am your master, +Dromio. + Come, go with us; we'll look to that anon. + Embrace thy brother there; rejoice with him. +<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; + I see by you I am a sweet-fac'd youth. + Will you walk in to see their gossiping? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. Not I, sir; you are my elder. +DROMIO OF EPHESUS. That's a question; how shall we try it? +DROMIO OF SYRACUSE. We'll draw cuts for the senior; till then, + lead thou first. +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 + + +THE END + + + + + +<<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM +SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS +PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY +WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE +DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS +PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED +COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY +SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> + + + + + +End of this Etext of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare THE COMEDY OF +ERRORS |