Have won his grace to come in perfon hither, Mer. By this, I think, the dial points at five: Mer. To fee a reverend Syracufan merchant, Against the laws and statutes of this town, Beheaded publickly for his offence. Ang. See, where they come, we will behold his death. Enter the Duke, and Egeon bare-headed, with the Headfman, and other Officers. If Duke. Yet once again proclaim it publickly, any friend will pay the fum for him He fhall not die, fo much we tender him. Adr. Juftice, moft facred duke, against the abbefs! Duke. She is a virtuous and a reverend lady; It cannot be that fhe hath done thee wrong. Adr. May it please your grace, Antipholis my husband, Whom I made lord of me and all I had At your important letters, this ill day A most outrageous fit of madness took him, Hhh2 Once Once did I get him bound, and sent him home, Nor fend him forth that we may bear him hence. Duke. Long fince thy husband ferv'd me in my wars, When thou didst make him master of thy bed, I will determine this before I ftir. SCENE IV. Enter a Messenger. Meff. O miftrefs, mistress, shift and fave yourself! Great pails of puddled mire to quench the hair; Between Between them they will kill the conjurer. Adr. Peace, fool, thy mafter and his man are here; And that is falfe thou doft report to us. Me. Miftrefs, upon my life, I tell you true, I have not breath'd almost fince I did fee it. [Cry within. Duke. Come, ftand by me, fear nothing: guard with halberds. Adr. Ay me, it is my husband! witness you, That he is born about invifible. Ev'n now we hous'd him in the abbey here; And now he's there, past thought of human reason. SCENE V. Enter Antipholis, and Dromio of Ephefus. E. Ant. Juftice, moft gracious duke, o, grant me juftice ! Even for the fervice that long fince I did thee, When I beftrid thee in the wars, and took Deep scars to fave thy life, even for the blood That then I loft for thee, now grant me juftice! Egeon. Unless the fear of death doth make me dote, I fee my fon Antipholis, and Dromio. E. Ant. Juftice, sweet prince, against that woman there ; She whom thou gav'ft to me to be my wife; That hath abused and difhonour'd me, Ev'n in the strength and height of injury ! Beyond imagination is the wrong That she this day hath fhameless thrown on me. Duke. Discover how, and thou shalt find me just. E. Ant. This day, great duke, fhe fhut the doors upon me; Whilft fhe with harlots feafted in my house. Duke. A grievous fault: fay, woman, didft thou fo? Adr. No, my good lord: myself, he, and my sister,, Did dine together: fo befall my foul, Asi As this is false he burthens me withal! Luc. Ne'er may I look on day, nor fleep on night, But she tells to your highness fimple truth! Ang. O perjur'd woman! they are both forfworn. In this the mad-man juftly chargeth them. E. Ant. My liege, I am advised what I fay, There did this perjur'd goldfmith swear me down, I did obey, and fent my peasant home For certain ducats; he with none return'd. Then fairly I bespoke the officer To go in perfon with me to my house. By th' way we met my wife, her fifter, and A rabble more of vile confederates; They brought one Pinch, a hungry lean-fac'd villain, A mere anatomy, a mountebank, A thread-bare juggler, and a fortune-teller, A needy, hollow-ey'd, fharp-looking wretch, Cries out, I was poffefs'd. Then all together There left me and my man, both bound together; Ran hither to your grace; whom I beseech For thefe deep thames and great indignities. Ang. My lord, in truth thus far I witnefs with him; Mer. Befides, I will be fworn these ears of mine Heard you confefs you had the chain of him, Duke. Why, what an intricate impeach is this! E. Dro. Sir, he din'd with her there, at the porcupine. Duke. |