Ant. S. Where stood Belgia, the Netherlands?

Dro. S. Oh, sir, I did not look so low. To conclude, this drudge, or diviner, laid claim to me; called me Dromio; swore I was assur'd to her; told me what privy marks I had [146 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' the wheel.

150

Ant. S. Go, hie thee presently post to the road;

155

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.

Dro. S. As from a bear a man would run for life,

159

So fly I from her that would be my wife. [Exit. Ant. S. There's none but witches do inhabit here:

And therefore 't is 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, 165
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.

Ang. Master Antipholus,-
Ant. S.
Ay, that's my name.
Ang. I know it well, sir; lo, here is the
chain.

171

I thought to have ta'en you at the Porpentine; The chain unfinish'd made me stay thus long. Ant. S. What is your will that I shall do with this?

Ang. What please yourself, sir; I have made it for you.

175

Ant. S. Made it for me, sir! I bespoke it not.

Ang. 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.

180

Ant. S. I pray you, sir, receive the 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.
Ang. Then you will bring the chain to her
yourself?

40

Ant. E. No; bear it with you, lest I come not time enough.

Ang. Well, sir, I will. Have you the chain

about you?

Ant. E. An if I have not, sir, I hope you

have,

Or else you may return without your money.

din'd,

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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 II. The house of Antipholus of Ephesus.]

Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA.

Adr. Ah, Luciana, did he tempt thee so? Mightst thou perceive austerely in his eye That he did plead in earnest ? Yea or no? Look'd he or red or pale, or sad or merrily? What observation mad'st thou in this case Of his heart's meteors tilting in his face? Luc. First he deni'd you had in him no right. Adr. He meant he did me none; the more my spite.

6

Luc. Then swore he that he was a stranger

here.

Adr. And true he swore, though yet for

sworn he were.

Luc. Then pleaded I for you. Adr.

10

And what said he? Luc. That love I begg'd for you he begg'd of

Dro. S. 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. [20 Ant. S. I understand thee not.

Dro. S. No? Why, 't is 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 bob and 'rests them; he, sir, that takes pity on decayed men and gives them [25 suits of durance; he that sets up his rest to do more exploits with his mace than a morris-pike. Ant. S. What, thou mean'st an officer?

Dro. S. Ay, sir, the sergeant of the band; he that brings any man to answer it that breaks [31 his band; one that thinks a man always going to bed and says, God give you good rest!

Ant. S. Well, sir, there rest in your foolery. Is there any ship puts forth to-night? May we be gone?

35

Dro. S. 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 hoy Delay. Here [40 are the angels that you sent for to deliver you. Ant. S. The fellow is distract, and so am I; And here we wander in illusions. Some blessed power deliver us from hence!

Enter a COURTEZAN.

Cour. Well met, well met, Master Antipholus. I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now. 46 Is that the chain you promis'd me to-day? Ant. S. Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt

me not.

Dro. S. Master, is this Mistress Satan? Ant. S. It is the devil.

50

Dro. S. 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 God damn me; "that's as much to say, say, God make me a light wench. It is written, they appear to men like angels of light; light [55 is an effect of fire, and fire will burn; ergo, light wenches will burn. Come not near her.

Cour. Your man and you are marvellous merry, sir.

Will you go with me? We'll mend our dinner here?

60

Dro. S. Master, if you do, expect spoon-meat; or bespeak a long spoon.

Ant. S. Why, Dromio?

Dro. S. Marry, he must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil.

Ant. S. 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.

Cour. Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner,

Or, for my diamond, the chain you promis'd, 70 And I'll be gone, sir, and not trouble you.

Dro. S. 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. 75
Master, be wise; an if you give it her,

The devil will shake her chain and fright us with it.

Cour. I pray you, sir, my ring, or else the chain.

I hope you do not mean to cheat me so?

Ant. S. Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio,

80

let us go. Dro. S. Fly pride, says the peacock: mistress, that you know.

[Exeunt [Ant. S. and Dro. S.].
Cour. 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,

85

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.

90

95

[Exit.]

Dro. E. To a rope's end, sir; and to that end am I return'd.

Ant. E. And to that end, sir, I will welcome [Beating him.]

you. Off. Good sir, be patient. Dro. E. Nay, 't is for me to be patient; I am in adversity.

Off. Good, now, hold thy tongue.

21

Dro. E. Nay, rather persuade him to hold his hands.

Ant. E. Thou whoreson, senseless villain! 25 Dro. E. I would I were senseless, sir, that I might not feel your blows.

Ant. E. Thou art sensible in nothing but blows, and so is an ass.

Dro. E. I am an ass, indeed; you may prove it by my long 'ears. I have served him [30 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; [35 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 a beggar wont her brat; and, I think, when he hath lam'd me, I shall beg (40 with it from door to door.

Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, the COURTEZAN, and a Schoolmaster call'd PINCH.

Ant. E. Come, go along; my wife is coming yonder.

Dro. E. Mistress, respice finem, respect your end; or rather, to prophesy like the parrot, [45 "beware the rope's-end."

Ant. E. Wilt thou still talk? [Beating him.] Cour. How say you now? Is not your hus

band mad?

Adr. His incivility confirms no less.

Ant. E. What, will you murder me? Thou gaoler, thou,

I am thy prisoner. Wilt thou suffer them
To make a rescue?

114

Off 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 offer to bind Dro. E.] Adr. What wilt thou do, thou peevish officer?

Hast thou delight to see a wretched man
Do outrage and displeasure to himself?
Off. He is my prisoner; if I let him go, 120
The debt he owes will be requir'd of me.

Adr. I will discharge thee e'er 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 125
Home to my house. O most unhappy day!
Ant. E. O most unhappy strumpet!

Dro. E. Master, I am here ent'red in bond for you.

Ant. E. Out on thee, villain! wherefore dost thou mad me?

Dro. E. Will you be bound for nothing? Be mad, good master; cry "The devil!"

131

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

Adr. Go bear him hence. Sister, go you with

me.

Say now, whose suit is he arrested at ?

[Exeunt all but Adriana, Luciana, Officer, and Courtezan.