A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, A nut, a cherry-stone: but she, more covetous, Master, be wise; and 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, let us go. Dro. S. Fly pride, says the peacock: Mistress, that you know. [Exeunt Ant. and Dro. 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,) Of his own doors being shut against his entrance. SCENE IV. The same. [Exit. Enter Antipholus of Ephesus, and an Officer. Ant. E. Fear me not, man, I will not break away; My wife is in a wayward mood to-day : 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. sir? have you that I sent you for? Dro. E. Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them all*. How now, Ant. E. But where's the money? Dro. E. Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope. Ant. E. Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope? Dro. E. I'll serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate. Ant, E. To what end did I bid thee hie thee home? Dro. E. To a rope's end, sir; and to that end am I return'd. Ant. E. And to that end, sir, I will welcome [Beating him. you. Off. Good sir, be patient. Dro E. Nay, 'tis for me to be patient; I am in adversity. Off. Good now, hold thy tongue. Dro. E. Nay, rather persuade him to hold his hands. Ant. E. Thou whoreson, senseless villain! Dro. E. I would I were senseless, sir, that I might not feel your blows. Ant. E. Thou art sensible in nothing but blows, and so is an ass. Dro. E. I am an ass, indeed; you may prove it by my long ears. I have 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 waked with it, when I sleep; raised with it, when I sit; driven out of doors with it, when I go from home; welcomed home with it, when I return: nay, I bear it on my * Correct them all. shoulders, as a beggar wont her brat; and, I think, when he hath lamed me, I shall beg with it from door to door. Enter Adriana, Luciana, and the Courtezan, with Pinch, and others. Ant. E. Come, go along; my wife is coming yonder. Dro. E. Mistress, respice finem, respect your end; or rather the prophecy, like the parrot, Beware the rope's end. Ant. E. Wilt thou still talk? [Beats him. Cour. How say you now? is not your husband mad?' Adr. His incivility confirms no less.- And I will please you what you will demand. Ant. E. There is my hand, and let it feel your ear. 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; Ant. E. Peace, doting wizard, peace; I am not mad. Adr. O, that thou wert not, poor distressed soul! Ant. E. You minion you, are these your customers? Did this companion* with a saffron face * Fellow. Adr. 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! Ant. E. I din'd at home! Thou villain, what say'st thou ? Dro. E. Sir, sooth to say, you did not dine at home. Ant. E. Were not my doors lock'd up, and I shut out? Dro. E. Perdy*, your doors were lock'd, and you shut out. Ant. E. And did not she herself revile me there? Dro. E. Sans fable +, she herself revil'd you there. Ant. E. Did not her kitchen-maid rail, taunt, and scorn me? Dro. E. Certes, she did; the kitchen-vestal scorn'd you. Ant. E. And did not I in rage depart from thence? Dro. E. In verity you did;-my bones bear wit ness, That since have felt the vigour of his rage. Adr. Is't good to sooth him in these contraries? Pinch. It is no shame; the fellow finds his vein, And, yielding to him, humours well his phrensy. Ant. E. Thou hast suborn'd the goldsmith to ar rest me. Adr. Alas, I sent you money to redeem you, By Dromio here, who came in haste for it. Dro. E. Money by me? heart and good-will you might, But, surely, master, not a rag of money. Ant. E. Went'st not thou to her for a purse of ducats? Adr. He came to me, and I deliver'd it. Luc. And I am witness with her, that she did. Dro. E. God and the rope-maker bear me witness, * A corruption of the French oath-par dieu. + Without a fable. Certainly. |