Enter a COURTEZAN. Cour. Well met, well met, master Antipholus, Ant. S. Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not! Ant. S. It is the devil. Dro. S. Nay, she is worse, she is the devil's dam; and here she comes in the habit of a light wench; and thereof comes, that the_wenches say, God damn me, that's as much as to say, 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. Cour. Your man and you are marvellous merry, Sir. Will you go with me? We'll mend our dinner here. Dro. S. Master, if you do expect spoon-meat, or bespeak a long Dro. S. Marry, he must have a long spoon, that must eat with the devil. Ant. S. Avoid then, fiend, why tell'st thou me of supping? Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress : 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 promised; And I'll be gone, Sir, and not trouble you. Dro. S. Some devils ask but the paring of one's nail, A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, A nut, a cherrystone: but she, more covetous, Master, be wise; and if you give it her, The devil will shake her chain and fright us with it. 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: Of his own doors being shut against his entrance. My ring away: This course I fittest choose; SCENE IV-The same. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus and an OFFICER. I tell you, 'twill sound harshly in her ears.— Enter DROMIO of Ephesus with a rope's end. Dro. E. Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them all. [Exit. Dro. E. Why, Sir, I gave the money for the rope. Off. Good Sir, be patient. [Beating him. Dro. E. Nay, 'tis for me to be patient; I am in adversity. 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. ass. Ant. E. Thou art sensible in nothing but blows, and so is an Dro. E. I am an ass, indeed; you may prove it by my long* ears. I have served him from the hour of 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 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. *I. e. lengthened by pulling. Ant. E. Wilt thou still talk? [Beats him. Cour. How say you now? is not your husband mad? Pinch. Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse. And to thy state of darkness hie thee straight; I conjure thee by all the saints in heaven. Ant. E. Peace, doting wizard, peace, I am not mad. Ant. E. You minion you, are these your customers? Revel and feast it at my house to-day, Whilst upon me the guilty doors were shut, And I denied to enter in my house? Adr. O, husband, God doth know, you dined at home, Where 'would you had remained until this time, Free from these slanders, and this open shame! Ant. E. I dined at home! Thou villain, what say'st thou? Ant. E. Did not her kitchen-maid rail, taunt, and scorn me? That since have felt the vigour of his rage. Adr. Is't good to sooth him in these contraries ? And, yielding to him, humours well his frenzy. Ant. E. Thou hast suborn'd the goldsmith to arrest me. 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? Luc. And I am witness with her, that she did. Dro. E. God and the rope-maker, bear me witness, That I was sent for nothing but a rope! Pinch. Mistress, both man and master is possess'd: I know it by their pale and deadly looks: They must be bound, and laid in some dark room. *Fellow. Ant. E. Say, wherefore didst thou lock me forth to-day, And why dost thou deny the bag of gold? Adr. I did not, gentle husband, lock thee forth. Adr. Dissembling villain, thou speak'st false in both. But with these nails I'll pluck out these false eyes, [PINCH and his assistants bind ANT. and DROMIO. To make a rescue? Cffi. Masters, let him go; He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him. Offi. He is my prisoner; if I let him go, Adr. I will discharge thee, ere I go from thee: And, knowing how the debt grows, I will pay it. Ant. E. O most unhappy+ strumpet! Dro. E. Master, I am here enter'd in bond for you. Ant. E. Out on thee, villain! wherefore dost thou mad me? Dro. E. Will you be bound for nothing? be mad, Good master; cry, the devil. Luc. God help, poor souls, how idly do they talk! [Exeunt PINCH and assistants with ANT. and DRO. Say now, whose suit is he arrested at? Offi. One Angelo, a goldsmith; Do you know him? Adr. Say, how grows it due? Offi. Due for a chain, your husband had of him. Come, jailer, bring me where the goldsmith is, I long to know the truth hereof at large. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse, with his rapier drawn, and DROMIO of Syracuse. Luc. God, for thy mercy! they are loose again. Adr. And come with naked swords; let's call more help, To have them bound again. Offi. Away, they'll kill us. [Exeunt OFFICER, ADR. and LUC. Ant. S. I see these witches are afraid of swords. Dro. S. She, that would be your wife, now ran from you. Ant. S. Come to the Centaur; fetch our stuff from thence: I long, that we were safe and sound aboard. Dro. S. Faith, stay here this night, they will surely do us no harm; you saw, they speak us fair, give us gold: methinks, they are such a gentle nation, that but for the mountain of mad flesh that claims marriage of me, I could find in my heart to stay here still, and turn witch. Ant. S. I will not stay to-night for all the town; Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I-The same. Enter MERCHANT and ANGELO. Ang. I am sorry, Sir, that I have hinder'd you; But, I protest, he had the chain of me, Though most dishonestly he doth deny it. Mer. How is the man esteem'd here in the city? Of credit infinite, highly beloved, Enter ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO of Syracuse. Ang. 'Tis so; and that self chain about his neck, That you would put me to this shame and trouble; You have done wrong to this my honest friend; |