If any bark put forth, come to the mart,
Where I will walk, till thou return to me.
If every one know us, and we know none,
Tis time, I think, to trudge, pack, and be gone.
S. Dro. As from a bear a man would run for life,
So fly I from her that would be my wife. [Exit.
S. Ant. 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 foul
Doth for a wife abhor: but her fair filter,
Poffefs'd with fuch a gentle fovereign grace,
Of fuch inchanting prefence and difcourfe,
Hath almoft made me traitor to myfelf:
But, left myself be guilty of felf-wrong,
I'll ftop mine ears against the mermaid's fong.
Enter Angelo with a chain.

Ang. Mafter Antipholis ?
S. Ant. Ay, that's my name.

Arg. I know it well, fir: Lo, here is the chain;
I thought to have ta'en you at the Porcupine:
The chain unfinish'd made me stay thus long.

S. Ant. What is your will, that I fhall do with this? Ang. What pleafe yourself, fir; I have made it for you.

S. Ant. Made it for me, fir! I bespoke it not.
Ang. Not once, nor twice, but twenty times
you have:

Go home with it, and please your wife withal;
And foon at fupper-time I'll vifit you,
And then receive my money for the chain.

S. Ant. I pray you, fir, receive the money now,
For fear you ne'er fee chain, nor money more.
ing. You are a merry man, fir; fare you
[Exit.
S. Ant. What I fhould think of this, I cannot
tell :

well.

But this I think, there's no man is fo vain,
That would refuse so fair an offer'd chain.
I fee, a man here needs not live by shifts,
When in the streets he meets fuch golden gifts.
I'll to the mart, and there for Dromio stay ;
If any fhip put out, then ftrait away.

[Exit.

Mer.

ACT

SCENE I.

The Street.

Enter a Merchant, Angelo, and an Officer.

IV.

Ang. Saving your merry humour, here's the note, How much your chain weighs to the utmost carrat; The finenets of the gold, and chargeful fashion; Which do amount to three odd ducats more

YOU know, fince pentecoft the fum is Than I stand debted to this gentleman:

γου

due,

And fince I have not much importun'd you;

Nor now I had not, but that I am bound
To Perfia, and want gilders for my voyage:
Therefore make present fatisfaction,

Or I'll attach you by this officer.

I pray you fee him presently discharg'd,
For he is bound to fea, and stays but for it.

E. Ant. I am not furnish'd with the prefent money;
Befides, I have fome bufinefs in the town:
Good fignior, take the ftranger to my house,
And with you take the chain, and bid my wife

Ang. Even juft the fum, that I do owe to you, Difburfe the fum on the receipt thereof;

Is growing to me by Antipholis :

And, in the inftant that I met with you,
He had of me a chain; at five o'clock,

1 fhall receive the money for the fame :

Please you but walk with me down to his house, 1 will discharge my bond, and thank you too. Enter Antipholis of Ephefus, and Dromio of Ephefus, as from the Courtezan's.

Off. That labour you may fave; fee where he

comes.

[thou
E. Ant. While I go to the goldfmith's houfe, go
And buy a rope's end; that will I beftow
Among my wife and her confederates,
For locking me out of my doors by day.→
But foft, I fee the goldfmith :-get thee gone;
Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me.

E. Dro. I buy a thousand pound a year! I buy
a rope!
[Exit Dromio.

E. Ant. A man is well holp up, that trufts to you:
1 promifed your prefence, and the chain;
But neither chain, nor goldfmith, came to me:
Belike, you thought our love would laft too long,
If it were chain'd together; and therefore came not.

Perchance, I will be there as foon as you. [self?

g. Then you will bring the chain to her yourE. Ant. No; bear it with you, left I come not time enough.

ng. Well, fir, I will: Have you the chain about you?

E. Ant. An if I have not, fir, I hope you have; Or elfe you may return without your money.

Ang. Nay, come, I pray you, fir, give me the
Both wind and tide itays for this gentleman, [chain;
And I, to blame, have held him here too long.

E. Ant. Good lord, you use this dalliance, to excuse
Your breach of promife to the Porcupine:
I fhould have chid you for not bringing it,
But, like a fhrew, you first begin to brawl.

Mer. The hour iteals on; I pray you, fir, dispatch.
Ang. You hear, how he importunes me; the

chain

E. Ant. Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money.

Ang. Come, come, you know, I gave it you even

now;

Either fend the chain, or fend me by fome token.

I A coin worth from eighteen-pence to two fhillings. 2 That is, accruing to me.

E. Ant.

1 That is, filly. 2 Alluding to thofe meteors in the fky, which have the appearance of lines of armies meeting in the fhock. 3 That is, dry, withered. 4 That is, branded or marked with fome token of infamy. 5 A quibble on everlasting, which is the name of a kind of durable ftuff. That is, a dungeon, for which hell was the cant term.

Adr. What, is he arrefted? tell me, at whofe fuit.]

S. Dro. I know not at whofe fuit he is arrefted, well;

S. Ant. I understand thee not.

S. Dro. No? why, it is a plain cafe: he that went like a bafs-viol, in a cafe of leather; the man, fir, But he's in a fuit of buff, which 'refted him, that I that, when gentlemen are tired, gives them a foð,

can tell :

and 'refts them; he, fir, that takes pity on decayed

Will you fend him, mistress, redemption, the money men, and gives 'em fuits of durance; he that fets

Adr. The hours come back! that I did never hear. S. Dro. O yes, if any hour meet a ferjeant, a'turns back for very fear.

Adr. As if time were in debt! how fondly doft thou reafon?

S. Dro. Time is a very bankrout, and owes more!
than he's worth, to season.

Nay, he's a thief too: Have you not heard men say,
That Time comes ftealing on by night and day?
If Time be in debt, and theft, and a ferjeant in
the way,

Hath he not reafon to turn back an hour in a day?
Enter Luciana.

Adr. Go, Dromio; there's the money, bear it

ftrait;

And bring thy mafter home immediately.Come, fifter: I am prefs'd down with conceit; Conceit, my comfort, and my injury. [Exeunt.]

Enter Antipholis of Syracufe.

up his rett to do more exploits with his mace, than a morris-pike 2.

S. int. What! thou mean'ft an officer?

S. Dro. Ay, fir, the ferjeant of the band: he, that brings any man to answer it, that breaks his band; one that thinks a man always going to bed, and faith, God give you good reft!

S. Ant. Well, fir, there rest in your foolery. Is there

Any fhips puts forth to-night? may we be gone?

S. Dro. Why, fir, I brought you word an hour fince, that the bark Expedition put forth to-night ; and then were you hindered by the ferjeant, to tarry for the hoy, Delay: Here are the angels that you fent for, to deliver you.

S. Ant. The fellow is distract, and fo am I;
And here we wander in illufions:
Some bleifed power deliver us from hence!
Enter a Courtezan.

Gour. Well met, well met, mafter Antipholis.
I fec, fir, you have found the goldsmith now:
Is that the chain, you promis'd me to-day? [not!
S. Ant. Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me
S. Dro. Mafter, is this mittress Satan?
S. Ant. It is the devil.

S. Dro. Nay, the is worfe, fhe's the devil's dam: and here the comes in the habit of a light wench: and therefore comes, that the wenches fay, God damn me, that's as much as to fay, 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.

S. Ant. There's not a man I meet, but doth falute. Cour. Your man and you are marvellous merry, fir.

As if I were their well-acquainted friend;

And every one doth call me by my name.
Some tender money to me, fome invite me;
Some other give me thanks for kindnelles;
Some offer me commodities to buy:
Even now a taylor call'd me in his fhop,
And fhow'd me filks that he had bought
And, therewithal, took measure of my body.
Sure, thefe are but imaginary wiles,
And Lapland forcerers inhabit here.

Enter Dromio of Syracufe.

for

[me Will you go with me? we'll mend our dinner here. S. Dro. Mafter, if you do expect spoon-meat,

me,

S. Dro. Mafter, here's the gold you fent rae for: What, have you got the picture of old Adam new apparel'd?

or 3 befpeak a long spoon,

S. Ant. Why, Dromio?

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

[fupping?

S. Ant. Avoid then, fiend! what tell'ft thou me of Thou art, as you are all, a forceress :

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;
And I'll be gone, fir, and not trouble you.
S. Dro. Some devils

Afk but the paring of one's nail, a rush,

S. Ant. What gold is this? What Adam doft thou A hair, a drop of blood, a pin, a nut,

mean?

S. Dro. Not that Adam, that kept the paradife, but that Adam, that keeps the prifon; he that goes in the calves-fkin that was kill'd for the prodigal; he that came behind you, fir, like an evil angel, and bid you forfake your liberty.

A cherry-ftone; but the, more covetous,
Would have a chain.

Mafter, be wife; an' if you give it her,
The devil will shake her chain, and fright us with it.
Cour. I pray you, fir, my ring, or elfe the chain;
I hope, you do not mean to cheat me fo?

2 A morris

A bond, i. e. an obligatory writing to pay a fum of money, was anciently fpelt band. A band is likewife a nechcloth. On this circumftance, we believe, the humour of the paffage turns. pike was a pike ufed in a morris or military dance, and is mentioned by our old writers midable weapon.

3 Or here means before.

as a for

S. Ant.

let us go.

3. Ant. Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio, com'd home with it, when return: nay, I bear it on my fhoulders, as a beggar wont her brat ; and, I think, when he hath lam'd me, I shall beg with it from door to door.

S. Dro. Fly pride, fays the peacock: Mistress,
that you know. [Exe. Ant. and Dro.
Gaur. Now, out of doubt, Antipholis is mad,
Elfe would he never fo demean himself:
A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats,
And for the fame he promis'd me a chain ;
Both one, and other, he denies me now.
The reason that I gather he is mad,
(Befides this prefent inftance of his rage)
Is a mad tale, he told to-day at dinner,
Of his own doors being fhut against his entrance.
Belike, his wife, acquainted with his fits,
On purpose fhut the doors against his way.
My way is now, to hie home to his houfe,
And tell his wife, that, being lunatic,
He rush'd into my houfe, and took perforce
My ring away: This course I fittest chufe;
For forty ducats is too much to lofe.

[Exit.

Enter Antipholis of Ephefus, with a Failor.
E. Ant. Fear me not, man, I will not break away;
I'll give thee, ere I leave thee, fo much money
To warrant thee, as I am 'rested for.
My wife is in a wayward mood to-day;
And will not lightly truft the meilenger,
That I fhould be attach'd in Ephefus:

I tell you, 'twill found harthly in her ears.--
Enter Dromio of Ephefus, with a rope's-end.
Here comes my man; I think, he brings the money.
How now, fir? have you that I sent you for ?

Enter Adriana, Luciana, and the Courtezan, with a
Schoolmafter called Pinch, and others.

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

E. Dro. Miftrefs, refpice finem, respect your end; or rather the prophecy, like the parrot, Beware the rope's-end.

E. Ant. Wilt thou still talk?
[Beats Dro.
Cour. How fay you now is not your husband
Adr. His incivility confirms no less.- [mad?
Good doctor Pinch, you are a conjurer;
Establish him in his true fenfe again,

And I will please you what you will demand.

Luc. Alas, how fiery and how fharp he looks!
Cour. Mark, how he trembles in his ecftacy!
Pinch. Give me your hand, and let me feel your
pulfe.

[man,

[mad.

E. Ant. There is my hand, and let it feel your ear.
Pinch. I charge thee, Sathan, hous'd within this
To yield poffeffion to my holy prayers,
And to thy state of darkness hie thee strait;
I conjure thee by all the faints in heaven.
E. Ant. Peace, doting wizard, peace; I am not
Adr. Oh, that thou wert not, poor distressed foul !
E. Ant. You minion, you, are these your cuf-
Did this companion with the faffron face [tomers?
Revel and feaft it at my houfe to-day,
Whilft upon me the guilty doors were shut,
And I deny'd to enter in my house ?

Adr. Oh, husband, God doth know, you din'd
at home,

E. D. Here's that, I warrant you,will pay them E. t. But where's the money? [ali. Where 'would you had remain'd until this time, E. Dro. Why, fir, I gave the money for the rope. Free from these flanders, and this open fhame! E. Ant. Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope? E. Ant. Din'd I at home? Thou villain, what E. Dro. I'll ferve you, fir, five hundred at the rate. E. Ant. To what end did I bid thee hie thee home? E. Dro. To a rope's-end, fir; and to that end am I return'd.

E. int. And to that end, fir, I will welcome you. [Beats Dromio.

OF. Good fir, be patient.

E. Dro. Nay, 'tis for me to be patient; I am in adverfity.

Off. Good now, hold thy tongue.

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

E. Ant. Thou whorefon, fenfeless villain !

fay'ft thou?

[home. E. Dra. Sir, footh to fay, you did not dine at E. Ant. Were not my doors lock'd up, and I [fhut out.

fhut out?

E. Dro. Perdy, your doors were lock'd, and you
E. Ant. And did not she herself revile me there?
E. Dro. Sans fable, the herself revil'd you there.
E. Ant. Did not her kitchen-maid rail, taunt,
and fcorn me ?

E. Dro. Certes, fhe did; the kitchen-vestal
fcorn'd you.

E. Ant. And did not I in rage depart from thence?
E. Dro. In verity you did; my bones bear witness,

E. Dro. I would I were fenfelefs, fir, that I That fince have felt the vigour of his rage. might not feel your blows.

E. Ant. Thou art fenfible in nothing but blows, and fo is an afs.

E. Dro. I am an afs, indeed: you may prove it, by my long ears. I have ferv'd him from the hour of my nativity to this inftant, and have nothing at his hands for my fervice, 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 fleep; rais'd with it, when I fit; driven out of doors with it, when I go from home; wel

Adr. Is't good to footh him in these contraries?
Pinch. It is no fhame; the fellow finds his vein,
And, yielding to him, humours well his frenzy.
E. Ant. Thou haft fuborn'd the goldsmith to arreft
Adr. Alas, I fent you money to redeem you, [me.
By Dromio here, who came in hafte for it. [might,
E. Dro. Money by me? Heart and good-will you
But, furely, mafter, not a rag of money. [ducats?
E. Ant. Went'ft not thou to her for a purse of
Adr. He came to me, and I deliver'd it.
Luc. And I am witness with her, that the did.

E. Dre. God, and the rope-maker, bear me wit-
That I was fent for nothing but a rope! [nefs,
Pinch. Miftrefs, both man and master is poffefs'd;
I know it by their pale and deadly looks:
They must be bound, and laid in fome dark room.

E. . Say, wherefore didft thou lock me forth
And why doft thou deny the bag of gold? [to-day,
Adr. I did not, gentle husband, lock thee forth.
E. Dro. And, gentle.mafter, I receiv'd no gold;
But I confefs, fir, that we were lock'd out. [both.]
Adr. Diffembling villain, thou speak'ft falfe in
E. Ant. Diffembling harlot, thou art falfe in all;
And art confederate with a damned pack,
To make a loathfome abject fcorn of me :
But with thefe nails I'll pluck out thefe falfe eyes,
That would behold me in this fhameful fport.
Enter three or four, and offer to bind him: be frives.
Adr. Oh, bind him, bind him, let him not come
[in him.
Pinch. More company;—the fiend is ftrong with-
Luc. Ay me, poor man, how pale and wan he
looks!
[thou,

near me.

E. Ant. What, will you murder me? Thou jailor,
I am thy prifoner; wilt thou fuffer them
To make a refcue?

Offi. Mafters, let him go:

He is my prifoner, and you shall not have him.
Pinch. Go, bind this man, for he is frantick too.
Adr. What wilt thou do, thou peevith officer?
Haft thou delight to fee a wretched man
Doou rage and difpleasure to himself ?

Off. He is my prifoner; if I let him go,
The debt he owes will be requir'd of me.

E. Dro. Will you be bound for nothing? be mad, Good mafter; cry, the devil.——

[talk! Luc. God help, poor fouls, how idly do they Adr. Go bear him hence. Sifter, go you with me.

[Exeunt Pinch, Antipholis, Dromio, &c. Say now, whofe fuit is he arrested at? [him? Off. One Angelo, a goldfmith; do you know Adr. I know the man: What is the fum he owest Off. Two hundred ducats.

Adr. Say, how grows it due?

Offi. Due for a chain, your husband had of him.
Adr. He did befpeak a chain for me, but had it

not.

Cour. When as your husband, all in rage to-day
Came to my house, and took away my ring,
(The ring I faw upon his finger now)
Strait after, did I meet him with a chain.

Adr. It may be fo, but I did never fee it.-
Come, jailor, bring me where the goldsmith is,
I long to know the truth hereof at large.
Enter Antipholis of Syracuft, with bis rapier drawn,
and Dromio of Syracuft.

Luc. God, for thy mercy! they are loose again..
Adr. And come with naked fwords; let's call
more help,

To have them bound again.
Off. Away, they'll kill us.
Manent Antipholis and Dromio.

[They run out.

S. Ant. I fee thefe witches are afraid of fwords. S. Dro. She, that would be your wife, now ran from you.

S. Ant. Come to the Centaur; fetch our stuff from thence:

Adr. I will difcharge thee, ere I go from thee:I long, that we were fafe and found aboard.
Bear me forthwith unto his creditor.

[They bind Antipholis and Dromis.
And, knowing how the debt grows, I will pay it.
Good mafter doctor, fee him fafe convey'd
Home to my houfe.-Oh, moft unhappy day!

E. Ant. Oh, most unhappy 2 ftrumpet! [you.
E. Dro. Mafter, I am here enter'd in bond for
E. Ant. Out on thee, villain! wherefore doit thou
mad me?

S. Dro. Faith, stay here this night, they will furely do us no harm; you faw, they speak us fair, give us gold: methinks, they are fuch a gentle nation, that but for the mountain of mad flesh that claims marriage of me, I could find in my heart to ftay here ftill, and turn witch.

S. Art. I will not stay to-night for all the town Therefore away to get our ftuff aboard

[Exeunt.

Ang. I

A C T V.

SCENE I

A Street, before a Priory.

Enter the Merchant and Angelo.
AM forry, fir, that I have hinder'd you;
But, I proteft, he had the chain of me,
Though most dishonestly he doth deny it.
Mr. How is the man efteem'd here in the city?
Ang. Of very reverent reputation, fir,
Of credit infinite, highly belov'd,
Second to none that lives here in the city;
His word might bear my wealth at any time.

Mer. Speak foftly: yonder, as I think, he walks..
Enter Antipholis and Dromio of Syracufe.
Ang. 'Tis fo; and that felf chain about his neck,
Which he forfwore, most monftroufly, to have.
Good fir, draw near to me, I'll speak to him.—
Signior Antipholis, I wonder much
That you would put me to this fhame and trouble
And not without fome fcandal to yourfelf,
With circumstance, and oaths, so to deny
This chain, which now you wear fo openly:
Befides the charge, the fhame, imprisonment,
You have done wrong to this my honelt friend;

1 Foolish. 2 Unhappy here fignifies mifchievous.

Who,