Can witness with me that it is not so:

I ne'er saw Syracusa in my

life.

Duke. I tell thee, Syracusan, twenty years
Have I been patron to Antipholis ;

During which time he ne'er saw Syracusa.
I see, thy age and dangers make thee dote.

Enter Gentlemen, Abbess, Antipholis of Syracuse, and Dromio of Syracuse, from the Abbey.

Abbess. Most mighty duke, behold a man much wrong'd.

Adr. I see two husbands, or my eyes deceive me Duke. One of these men is genius to the other! But of the two, which is the natural man, And which the spirit? who decyphers them? Ant. of Syr. Ægeon art thou not?

O, my dear father! who hast bound him thus?

Abbess. Whoever bound him, I will loose his bonds, And gain a husband by his liberty.

Speak, old Ægeon, if thou be'st the man

That hadst a wife once call'd Æmilia,

Who bore thee, at a burden, two fair sons,-
O! if thou be'st the same Ægeon, speak,
And speak unto the same Emilia.

Egeon. Æmilia! O, support thyself, my soul, "Till I once more, have caught within my arms Their long-lost happiness!

Emilia. Thou art Ægeon, then: I do not dream. My husband, take, take my reviving heart,

Spotless and pure as when it first was thine;
Which from the cloister of religious solitude
No voice, but thine, could ever have recall'd,
Ant. of Syr. If I not interrupt such sacred feelings,
Thus let me bend, and mingle tears of rapture.
O, raise, my father, raise your reverend hands,
And bless your truant son.

Egeon, My dearest boy!

This is too much:-O, curb thy joys a moment,
And have compassion on thy father's weakness.
But, if
my feeble brain deceive me not,

One anxious question yet remains to ask:
Heart of my heart, resolve me; where's that son,
Who floated with thee on the fatal raft?

Emilia. By men of Epidamnum he and I,
And the twin Dromio, all were taken up:
But, by and by, rude fishermen of Corinth
By force took Dromio and my son from them,
And me they left with those of Epidamnum.
What then became of them I cannot tell ;
I, to this fortune which you see me in,

Ant. of Eph. And he reserv'd, to share the happier hours

Of his dear parents, whom, till now unknown,

He greets with nature's best and fondest feelings,
Another tie my fortune yet allots,

Ant. of Syr. Ne'er may we feel a separation more. Duke. Why here begins his morning story right: These plainly are the parents to these children, Who thus amazingly are met together. Emilia. Most gracious duke,

Duke. One moment's pause, and all your griefs

shall end.

Antipholis, thou cam'st from Corinth first?

Ant. of Syr. Not I, my lord; I came from Syracuse.

Dro. of Syr. And I with him.

Duke. Stay, stand apart: I know not which is which.

Ant. of Eph. I came from Corinth, my most gracious lord.

Dr. of Eph. And I with him.

Ang. And I-why that's the bracelet, sir, you had of me.

Ant. of Syr. I think it be, sir; I deny it not. Ant. of Eph. And you, sir, for the same arrested me.

Adr. I sent you money, sir, to be your bail, By Dromio: but, I think, he brought it not. No, none by me.

Dr. of Eph.

This purse of ducats I receiv'd for

Ant. of Syr.

you,

And Dromio, my man, did bring 'em me.

I see, we still did meet each other's servant,
And thereupon these errors all arose.

Dr. of Eph. You see, brother, these wise folks
can't blame us in these matters.

Dr. of Syr. Really, brother, I think not.
Ant. of Eph. These ducats pawn I for fa-

ther here.

my

Duke. It shall not need-thy father hath his life. Adr. Which of you two did dine with me to-day? Ant of Syr. I, gentle mistress.

Adr. Are you not my husband?

Ant. of Eph. No; I say, nay to that.

Ant. of Syr.

And so do I.

Emilia. Renowned duke, vouchsafe to take the

pains

To go with us into the abbey here,

And hear, at large discoursed, all our fortunes;
And all that are assembled in this place,
Who've suffered wrong, go, keep us company,
And you shall have full satisfaction.

The duke, my husband, and my children both,
And you, the kalendars of their nativity,

Go to a gossip's feast; go all with me:
After so long grief, such festivity!

Duke. With all my heart; I'll gossip at this feast,
And be a cheerful witness of the blessings,
Your pious faith and virtuous resignation
Have drawn upon you from relenting heaven.
Come.

[Flourish, and exeunt into the Abbey, all but the two Dromios.

Dr. of Eph. Methinks you are my glass and not

my brother.

I see by you I am a sweet-faced youth !~
Will you walk in and see their gossipping?

Dr. of Syr.

Dr. of Eph. try it?

Not I, sir,-you are my elder.
That's a question-how shall we

We will draw cuts for the senior

Dr. of Syr.

Till then, lead thou first.

Dr of Eph. Nay, then thus:

We came into the world like brother and brother,

And now let's go hand in hand, not one before the

other.

[Exeunt hand in hand into the Abbey.

SCENE THE LAST.

INTERIOR OF ABBEY.

All the Characters discovered.

Emilia. Such is our history-and now The joys that gild the evening of our days Let all partake.

Ant. of Syr. (Turning to Luciana.)
Ay, all-say you not so, fair gentlewoman!
And what I told you, when you call'd me brother?
The time, the place incites me to make good-
May I not hope that a more tender name ?-
Luciana. Should I find thee

Worthy and constant, as my mind suggests,
The general joy that smiles around, shall not
Be damp'd by any vain reserve of mine.