Ang. Of very reverend reputation, sir, Of credit infinite, highly beloved, Second to none that lives here in the city: His word might bear my wealth at any time. Sec. Mer. Speak softly; yonder, as I think, he walks. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse and DROMIO of Syracuse. Ang. 'Tis so; and that self chain about his neck 10 Which he forswore most monstrously to have. Good sir, draw near to me, I'll speak to him. Siznior Antipholus, I wonder much That you would put me to this shame and trouble; And, not without some scandal to yourself, swore it too. 20 Ant. S. Who heard me to deny it or forswear it? Sec. Mer. These ears of mine, thou know'st, did hear thee. Fie on thee, wretch! 'tis pity that thou livest 30 I'll prove mine honor and mine honesty Against thee presently, if thou darest stand. Ste. Mer. I dare, and do defy thee fora villain. [They draw. Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, the Courtezan, and others. Adr. 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. Dro. S. Run, master, run; for God's sake, take a house! This is some priory. In, or we are spoil'd! [Exeunt Ant. S. and Dro. S. to the Priory. Enter the Lady Abbess. Abb. Be quiet, people. Wherefore throng you hither? Adr. To fetch my poor distracted husband hence. Let us come in, that we may bind him fast 40 And bear him home for his recovery. Ang. I knew he was not in his perfect wits. Sec. Mer. I am sorry now that I did draw on him. Abb. How long hath this possession held the man? Alr. This week he hath been heavy, sour, sad, And much different from the man he was; Abb. Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck of sea ? Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eve 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? 50 Adr. To none of these, except it be the last; Namely, some love that drew him oft from home. Abb. You should for that have reprehended him. Sweet recreation barr'd, what doth ensue Luc. She never reprehended him but mildly, wildly. Why bear you these rebukes and answer not? band forth. Abb. Neither he took this place for sanetuary, And it shall privilege him from your hands Or lose my labor in assaying it. Adr. I will attend my husband, be his nurse, Diet his sickness, for it is my office, And will have no attorney but myself; 100 And therefore let me have him home with me. Till I have used the approved means I have, prayers, Who put unluckily into this bay Ang. See where they come: we will behold his death. Whom I made lord of me and all I had, He broke from those that had the guard of him: Abb. Be patient; for I will not let him stir | Met us again and madly bent on us, With wholesome syrups, drugs and holy 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. Chased us away; till, raising of more aid, Nor send him forth that we may bear him hence. And I to thee engaged a prince's word, Enter a Servant. Sere. O mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself! 171 My master and his man are both broke loose, His man with scissors nicks him like a fool, Adr. Peace, fool! thy master and his man are here, And that is false thou dost report to us. Sare. Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true; I have not breathed almost since I did see it. He cries for you, and vows, if he can take you, To scorch your face and to disfigure you. [Cry within. Hark, hark! I hear him, mistress: fly, be gone! Duke. Come, stand by me; fear nothing. Guard with halberds! Adr. Ay me, it is my husband! Witness you, That he is borne about invisible: reason. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus and DROMIO of Ephesus. Ant. E. Justice, most gracious duke, О, grant me justice! 190 Even for the service that long since I did thee, I see my son Antipholus and Dromio. Ant. E. Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there! She whom thou gavest to me to be my wife, That hath abused and dishonor'd me Even in the strength and height of injury! 200 Bevond imagination is the wrong That she this day hath shameless thrown on A mere anatomy, a mountebank, A threadbare juggler and a fortune-teller, There left me and my man, both bound to gether; Till, gnawing with my teeth my bonds in sunder, I gain'd my freedom, and immediately 250 For these deep shames and great indignities. Ang. My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him, That he dined not at home, but was lock'd out. Duke. But had he such a chain of thee or no? Ang. He had, my lord: and when he ran in here, These people saw the chain about his neck. Sec. Mer. Besides, I will be sworn these ears of mine While she with harlots feasted in my house. Duke. A grievous fault! Say, woman, didst thou so ? Adr. No, my good lord: myself, he and my sister Heard you confess you had the chain of him been; If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly: You say he dined at home; the goldsmith here Denies that saying. Sirrah, what say you? Dro. E. Sir, he dined with her there, at the Porpentine, Cour. He did, and from my finger snatch'd that ring. Ant. E. 'Tis true, my liege; this ring I had of her. here ? Duke. Saw'st thou him enter at the abbey Cour. 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. 280, [Erit one to the Abbess, Age. Most mighty duke, vouchsafe me speak a word : Haply I see a friend will save my life Hast thou so crack'd and splitted my poor tongue In seven short years, that here my only son Ant. E. I never saw my father in my life. Æge. But seven years since, in Syracusa, boy, son, 320 Thou know'st we parted: but perhaps, my Can witness with me that it is not so: Duke. I tell thee, Syracusian, twenty years Abb. Most mighty duke, behold a man much wrong'd. [All gather to see them. 330 Adr. I see two husbands, or mine eyes de ceive 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 ? Dro. S. I, sir, am Dromio; command him And is not that your bondman, Dromio? away. Dro. E. Within this hour I was his bondman sir, Dro. E. I, sir, am Dromio; pray, let me stay. But he, I thank him, gnaw'd in two my cords : Now am I Dromio and his man unbound. Ant. S. Ægeon art thou not? or else his 290 ghost? Æge. I am sure you both of you remember Dro. S. O, my old master! who hath bound me. him here? And gain a husband by his liberty. Æge. If I dream not, thou art Æmilia: Abb. By men of Epidamnum he and I And the twin Dromio all were taken up: 350 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 Antipholuses, these two so like, |