Dro. S. Run, master, run; for God's sake, take a house.1 This is some priory ;-in, or we are spoiled. [Exeunt ANTIPH. and DRO. to the priory. Enter the 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, And bear him home for his recovery. Ang. I knew he was not in his perfect wits. Mer. I am sorry now, that I did draw on him. Abb. How long hath this possession held the man? Adr. 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. Abb. Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck of sea? Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye Strayed his affection in unlawful love? A sin prevailing much in youthful men, Adr. To none of these, except it be the last; Abb. Ay, but not rough enough. Adr. As roughly as my modesty would let me. Abb. Haply, in private. Adr. Abb. Ay, but not enough. And in assemblies too. Adr. It was the copy 2 of our conference. In bed, he slept not for my urging it; At board, he fed not for my urging it; 1 i. e. go into a house: we still say that a dog takes the water. 2 Copy in the present instance is probably copie, plenty, copious source, an old Latinism, many times used by Ben Jonson. The word is spelled copie in the folio; and in King Henry V., where it means pattern, example, it is spelled copy. Alone, it was the subject of my theme; Still did I tell him it was vile and bad. Abb. And thereof came it, that the man was mad. The venom clamors of a jealous woman Poison more deadly than a mad dog's tooth. It seems his sleeps were hindered by thy railing; Thou say'st his meat was sauced with thy upbraidings; Thereof the raging fire of fever bred; And what's a fever but a fit of madness? Thou say'st his sports were hindered by thy brawls; Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair,) Abb. No, not a creature enters in my house. Adr. Then, let your servants bring my husband forth Abb. 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 labor in assaying it. Adr. I will attend my husband, be his nurse, And will have no attorney1 but myself; 1 i. e. substitute. With wholesome sirups, drugs, and holy prayers, It is a branch and parcel of mine oath, A charitable duty of my order; Therefore depart, and leave him here with me. Adr. I will not hence, and leave my husband here ; And ill it doth beseem your holiness, To separate the husband and the wife. Abb. Be quiet, and depart; thou shalt not have him. [Exit Abbess. Luc. Complain unto the duke of this indignity. Adr. Come, go; I will fall prostrate at his feet, And never rise until my tears and prayers Have won his grace to come in person hither, And take perforce my husband from the abbess." Mer. By this, I think, the dial points at five. Anon, I am sure, the duke himself in person Comes this way to the melancholy vale; The place of death and sorry 2 execution, Behind the ditches of the abbey here. Ang. Upon what cause? Mer. To see a reverend Syracusan merchant, Who put unluckily into this bay Against the laws and statutes of this town, Beheaded publicly for his offence. Ang. See, where they come; we will behold his death. Luc. Kneel to the duke, before he pass the abbey. Enter Duke, attended; ÆGEON, bareheaded; with the Duke. Yet once again proclaim it publicly, Adr. Justice, most sacred duke, against the abbess! 1 i. e. to bring him back to his senses, and the accustomed forms of sober behavior. In Measure for Measure, "informal women" is used for just the contrary. 2 i. e. dismal :-"dismolde and sorrie, atra funestus." Duke. She is a virtuous and a reverend lady; It cannot be, that she hath done thee wrong. Adr. May it please your grace, Antipholus, my husband, Whom I made lord of me and all I had, By rushing in their houses, bearing thence He broke from those that had the guard of him; Nor send him forth, that we may bear him hence. wars; And I to thee engaged a prince's word, When thou didst make him master of thy bed, Enter a Servant. Serv. O mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself! Great pails of puddled mire to quench the hair. Adr. Peace, fool; thy master and his man are here; And that is false, thou dost report to us. Serv. Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true; 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, begone. Duke. Come, stand by me; fear nothing. Guard with halberds! Adr. Ah me, it is my husband! Witness you, That he is borne about invisible. Even now we housed him in the abbey here; Enter ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO of Ephesus. Ant. E. Justice, most gracious duke, O, grant me justice! Even for the service that long since I did thee, Deep scars to save thy life; even for the blood 1 i. e. successively, one after another. |