Adr.His incivility confirms no less.Good Doctor Pinch, you are a conjurer;45Establish him in his true sense again,And I will please youwhatyou will demand.Luc.Alas, how fiery and how sharp he looks!Cour.Mark how he trembles in his ecstasy!Pinch.Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse.50Ant. E.There is my hand, and let it feel your ear.Striking him.Pinch.I charge thee, Satan, housed within this man,To yield possession to my holy prayers,And to thy state of darkness his thee straight:I conjure thee by all the saints in heaven!55Ant. 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 the saffron faceRevel and feast it at my house to-day,60Whilst 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 remain’d until this time,Free from these slanders and this open shame!65Ant. E.Dinedat home!—Thou villain, what sayest 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.Perdie, your doors were lock’d, and you shut out.Ant. E.And did not she herself revile me there?70Dro. E.Sans fable, she herself reviled 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 bonesbearwitness,75That since have felt thevigourofhisrage.Adr.Is’t good to soothe him in these contraries?Pinch.It is no shame: the fellow finds his vein,And, yielding to him, humours well his frenzy.Ant. E.Thou hast suborn’d the goldsmith to arrest me.80Adr.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 aragof money.Ant. E.Went’stnot thouto her for a purse of ducats?85Adr.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-makerbearme witnessThat I was sent for nothing but a rope!Pinch.Mistress, both man and masterispossess’d;90I know it by their pale and deadly looks:They must be bound, and laid in some dark room.Ant. E.Say, wherefore didst them lock me forth to-day?And why dost thou deny the bag of gold?Adr.I did not, gentle husband, lock thee forth.95Dro. E.And, gentle master, I received no gold;But I confess, sir, that we were lock’d out.Adr.Dissembling villain, them speak’st false in both.Ant. E.Dissembling harlot, them art false in all,And art confederate with a damned pack100To make a loathsome abject scorn of me:But with these nails I’ll pluck outthese falseeyes,That would behold in me this shameful sport.Enterthree or four, and offer to bind him. He strives.Adr.O, bind him, bind him! let him not come near me.Pinch.More company! The fiend is strong within him.105Luc.Ay me, poor man, how pale and wan he looks!Ant. E.What, will you murderme? Thou gaoler, thou,I am thy prisoner: wilt thou suffer themTo make a rescue?Off.Masters, let him go:He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him.110Pinch.Go bind this man, for he is frantic too.They offer to bind Dro. E.Adr.What wilt thou do, thou peevish officer?Hast thou delight to see a wretched manDo outrage and displeasure to himself?Off.He is my prisoner: if I let him go,115The debt he owes will be required of me.Adr.I will discharge thee ere I go from thee:Bear me forthwith unto his creditor,And, knowing how the debt grows, I will pay it.Good master doctor, see him safe convey’d120Home to my house. O most unhappy day!Ant. E.O most unhappy strumpet!Dro. E.Master, I am here entered in bond for you.Ant. E.Out on thee, villain! wherefore dost thou mad me?Dro. E.Will you be bound fornothing?be mad, good125master: cry, The devil!Luc.Godhelp, poorsouls, howidlydo they talk!Adr.Go bear him hence. Sister,goyou with me.Exeuntall but Adriana, Luciana, Officer and Courtezan.Say now; whose suit is he arrested at?Off.One Angelo, a goldsmith: do you know him?130Adr.I know the man. What is the sum he owes?Off.Two hundred ducats.Adr.Say, how grows it due?Off.Due for a chain your husband had of him.Adr.He did bespeak a chainfor me, but had it not.Cour.When as your husband, all in rage, to-day135Came to my house, and took away my ring,—The ring I saw upon his finger now,—Straight after did I meet him with a chain.Adr.It may be so, but I did never see it.Come, gaoler, bring me where the goldsmith is:140I long to know the truth hereof at large.EnterAntipholusof Syracusewith his rapier drawn, andDromioof 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.Off.Away! they’ll kill us.Exeunt all but Ant. S. and Dro. S.145Ant. 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 do150us no harm: yousaw they speak us fair, giveus 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;155Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard.Exeunt.ACT V.V. 1Scene I.A street before a Priory.EnterSecond MerchantandAngelo.Ang.I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder’d you;But, I protest, he had the chain of me,Though most dishonestly hedothdeny it.Sec. Mer.How is the man esteem’d here in the city?5Ang.Of very reverent reputation, sir,Of credit infinite, highly beloved,Second to none that lives here in the city:His word might bear my wealth at any time.Sec. Mer.Speak softly: yonder, as I think, he walks.EnterAntipholusof SyracuseandDromioof Syracuse.10Ang.’Tis so; and that self chain about his neck,Which he forswore most monstrously to have.Good sir, draw nearto me, I’ll speak to him;Signior Antipholus, I wonder muchThat you would put me to this shame and trouble;15And, not without some scandal to yourself,With circumstance and oaths so to denyThis chain which now you wear so openly:Besidethe charge, the shame, imprisonment,You have done wrong to this my honest friend;20Who, but for staying on our controversy,Had hoisted sail and put to sea to-day:This chain you had of me; can you deny it?Ant. S.I think I had; I never did deny it.Sec. Mer.Yes, that you did, sir, and forswore it too.25Ant. S.Who heard me to deny it or forswear it?Sec. Mer.These ears of mine, thouknow’st, did hear thee.Fie on thee, wretch! ’tis pity that thou livestTo walk where any honest men resort.Ant. S.Thou art a villain to impeach me thus:30I’ll prove mine honour andmine honestyAgainst thee presently, if thou darest stand.Sec. Mer.I dare, and do defy thee for a villain.They draw.EnterAdriana, Luciana, theCourtezan, and others.Adr.Hold, hurt him not, forGod’ssake! he is mad.Some get within him, take his sword away:35Bind Dromio too, and bear them to my house.Dro. S.Run, master, run; forGod’ssake, take a house!This is somepriory.—In, or we are spoil’d!Exeunt Ant. S. and Dro. S. to the Priory.Enter theLady Abbess.Abb.Bequiet, people. Wherefore throng you hither?Adr.To fetch my poor distracted husband hence.40Let us come in, that we may bind him fast,And bear him home for his recovery.Ang.I knew he was not in his perfect wits.Sec. Mer.I am sorry now that I did draw on him.Abb.How long hath this possession held the man?45Adr.This week he hath been heavy,sour, sad,Andmuchdifferent from the man he was;But till this afternoon his passionNe’er brake into extremity of rage.Abb.Hath he not lost much wealth by wreckof sea?50Buried some dear friend?Hath not else his eyeStray’dhis affection inunlawful love?A sin prevailing much in youthful men,Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing.Which of these sorrows is he subject to?55Adr.To none of these, except it be the last;Namely, some love that drew him oft from home.Abb.You should for that have reprehended him.Adr.Why, so I did.Abb.Ay, but not rough enough.Adr.As roughly as my modesty would let me.Abb.Haply, in private.60Adr.And in assemblies too.Abb.Ay, but not enough.Adr.It was the copy of our conference:In bed, he slept not for my urging it;At board, he fed not for my urging it;65Alone, it was the subject of my theme;In company I often glancedit;Still did I tell him it was vile and bad.Abb.And thereof came it that the man was mad:—Thevenomclamoursof a jealouswoman,70Poisonsmore deadly than a mad dog’s tooth.It seems his sleeps were hinder’d by thy railing:Andthereofcomes it that his head is light.Thou say’st his meat was sauced with thy upbraidings:Unquiet mealsmakeill digestions;75Thereofthe raging fire of fever bred;And what’s a fever but a fit of madness?Thou say’st his sports were hinder’dbythy brawls:Sweet recreation barr’d, what doth ensueButmoodyand dullmelancholy,80Kinsmanto grim and comfortless despair;And atherheels a huge infectious troopOf pale distemperatures and foes to life?In food, in sport, and life-preserving restTo be disturb’d, would mad or man or beast:85The consequence is, then, thy jealous fitsHavescared thy husband from the use of wits.Luc.She never reprehended him but mildly,When he demean’d himself rough, rude, andwildly.Why bear youtheserebukes, and answer not?90Adr.She did betray me to my own reproof.Good people, enter, and lay hold on him.Abb.No, not a creature enters in my house.Adr.Then let your servants bring my husband forth.Abb.Neither: he took this place for sanctuary,95And it shall privilege him from your handsTill I have brought him to his wits again,Or lose my labour in assaying it.Adr.I will attend my husband, be his nurse,Diet his sickness, for it is my office,100And will have no attorney but myself;And therefore let me have him home with me.Abb.Be patient; for I will not let him stirTill I have used the approved means I have,With wholesome syrups, drugs and holy prayers,105To make of him a formal man again:It is a branch and parcel of mine oath,A charitable duty of my order.Therefore depart, and leave him here with me.Adr.I will not hence, and leave my husband here:110And ill it doth beseem your holinessTo separate the husband and the wife.Abb.Be quiet, and depart: thou shalt not have him.Exit.Luc.Complain unto the Duke of this indignity.Adr.Come, go: I will fall prostrate at his feet,115And never rise until my tears and prayersHave won his Grace to come in person hither,And take perforce my husband from the abbess.Sec. Mer.By this, I think, the dial points at five:Anon, I’m sure, the Duke himself in person120Comes this way to the melancholy vale,The place ofdeathandsorryexecution,Behind the ditches of theabbeyhere.Ang.Upon what cause?Sec. Mer.To see areverendSyracusian merchant,125Who put unluckily into this bayAgainst the laws and statutes of this town,Beheaded publicly for his offence.Ang.See where they come: we will behold his death.Luc.Kneel to the Duke before he pass the abbey.EnterDuke,attended;Ægeonbareheaded; with theHeadsmanand otherOfficers.130Duke.Yet once again proclaim it publicly,If any friend will pay the sum for him,He shall not die; so much we tender him.Adr.Justice, most sacred Duke, against the abbess!Duke.She is a virtuous and areverendlady:135It cannot be that she hath done thee wrong.Adr.May it please your Grace, Antipholus my husband,—WhomI made lord of me and all I had,At yourimportant letters,—this ill dayA most outrageous fit of madness took him;140That desperately he hurried through the street,—With him his bondman, all as mad as he,—Doing displeasure to the citizensBy rushing in their houses, bearing thenceRings, jewels, any thing his rage did like.145Once did I get him bound, and sent him home,Whilst to take order for the wrongs I went,That here and there his fury had committed.Anon, I wot not by whatstrongescape,He broke from those that had the guard of him;150Andwithhis mad attendantand himself,Each one with ireful passion, with drawn swords,Met us again, and, madly bent on us,Chased us away; till, raising of more aid,We came again to bind them. Then they fled155Into this abbey, whither we pursued them;And here the abbess shuts the gates on us,And will not suffer us to fetch him out,Nor send him forth, that we may bear himhence.Therefore, most gracious Duke, with thy command160Let him be brought forth, and borne hence for help.Duke.Long sincethy husband served me in my wars;And I to thee engaged a prince’s word,When thou didst make him master of thy bed,To do him all the grace and good I could.165Go, some of you, knock at the abbey-gate,And bid the lady abbess come to me.I will determine this before I stir.Enter aServant.Serv.O mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself!My master and his man are both broke loose,170Beaten the maids a-row, and bound the doctor,Whose beard they have singed off with brands of fire;And ever, as it blazed, they threw on himGreat pails of puddled mire to quench the hair:My master preaches patienceto him, andthe while175His man with scissors nicks him like a fool;And sure, unless you sendsomepresent help,Between them they will kill the conjurer.Adr.Peace, fool! thy master and his man are here;And that is false thou dost reporttous.180Serv.Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true;I have not breathed almost since I did see it.He cries for you, and vows, if he can take you,Toscorchyour face and to disfigure you.Cry within.Hark, hark! I hear him, mistress: fly, be gone!185Duke.Come, stand by me; fear nothing. Guard with halberds!Adr.Ay me, it is my husband! Witness you,That he is borne about invisible:Even now we housed him in the abbey here;And now he’s there, past thought of human reason.EnterAntipholusof EphesusandDromioof Ephesus.190Ant. E.Justice, most gracious Duke, O, grant me justice!Even for the service thatlong sinceI did thee,When I bestrid thee in the wars, and tookDeep scars to save thy life; even for the bloodThat then I lost for thee, now grant me justice.195Æge.Unless the fear of death doth make me dote,I see my son Antipholus, and Dromio.Ant. E.Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there!She whom thou gavest to me to be my wife,That hath abused and dishonour’d me200Even in the strength and height of injury:Beyond imagination is the wrongThat she this day hath shameless thrown on me.Duke.Discover how, and thou shalt find me just.Ant. E.This day, great Duke, she shut the doors upon me,205Whileshe with harlots feasted in my house.Duke.A grievous fault! Say, woman, didst thou so?Adr.No, my good lord: myself, he and my sisterTo-daydid dine together.So befalmy soulAs this is false he burdens me withal!210Luc.Ne’er may I look on day, nor sleep on night,But she tells to your Highness simple truth!Ang.O perjured woman! They are both forsworn:In this the madman justly chargeth them.Ant. E.My liege, I am advised what I say;215Neither disturbed with the effect of wine,Nor heady-rash, provoked with raging ire,Albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad.This woman lock’d me out this day from dinner:That goldsmith there, were he not pack’d with her,220Could witness it, for he was with me then;Who parted with me to go fetch a chain,Promising to bring it to the Porpentine,Where Balthazar and I did dine together.Our dinner done, and he not coming thither,225I went to seek him: in the street I met him,And in his company that gentleman.There did this perjured goldsmith swear me downThat I this dayofhim received the chain,Which, God he knows, I saw not: for the which230He did arrest me with an officer.I did obey; and sent my peasant homeFor certain ducats: he with none return’d.Then fairly I bespoke the officerTo go in person with me to my house.235By the waywe met my wife, her sister, and a rabble moreOf vileconfederates.Along with themThey brought one Pinch, a hungry lean-faced villain,A mere anatomy, a mountebank,A threadbare juggler, and a fortune-teller,240A needy, hollow-eyed, sharp-looking wretch,A living-dead man: this pernicious slave,Forsooth, took on him as a conjurer;And, gazing in mine eyes, feeling my pulse,And with no face, as ’twere, outfacing me,245Cries out, I was possess’d. Then all togetherThey fell upon me, bound me, bore me thence,And ina dark and dankish vault at homeThereleft me and my man, both bound together;Till, gnawing with my teeth my bondsin sunder,250I gain’d my freedom, and immediatelyRan hither to your Grace; whom I beseechTo give me ample satisfactionFor these deep shames and great indignities.Ang.My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him,255That he dined not at home, but was lock’d out.Duke.But had he such a chain of thee or no?Ang.He had, my lord: and when he ran in here,These people saw the chain about his neck.Sec. Mer.Besides, I will be sworn these ears of mine260Heard you confess you had the chain of him,After you first forswore it on the mart:And thereupon I drew my sword on you;And then you fled into this abbey here,From whence, I think, you are come by miracle.265Ant. E.I never came within these abbey-walls;Nor ever didst thou draw thy sword on me:I never saw thechain, so help me Heaven:Andthis is false you burden me withal!Duke.Why, what an intricate impeach is this!270I think you all have drunk of Circe’s cup.If here you housed him, here he would have been;If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly:You say he dined at home; the goldsmith hereDenies that saying. Sirrah, what say you?275Dro. E.Sir, he dined with her there, at the Porpentine.Cour.He did; and from my finger snatch’d that ring.Ant. E.’Tis true, my liege; this ring I had of her.Duke.Saw’st thou him enter at the abbey here?Cour.As sure, my liege, as I do see your Grace.280Duke.Why, this is strange. Go call the abbess hither.I think you are all mated, or starkmad.Exitone to the Abbess.
Adr.His incivility confirms no less.Good Doctor Pinch, you are a conjurer;45Establish him in his true sense again,And I will please youwhatyou will demand.
Adr.His incivility confirms no less.
Good Doctor Pinch, you are a conjurer;
45Establish him in his true sense again,
And I will please youwhatyou will demand.
Luc.Alas, how fiery and how sharp he looks!
Cour.Mark how he trembles in his ecstasy!
Pinch.Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse.
50Ant. E.There is my hand, and let it feel your ear.Striking him.
Pinch.I charge thee, Satan, housed within this man,To yield possession to my holy prayers,And to thy state of darkness his thee straight:I conjure thee by all the saints in heaven!
Pinch.I charge thee, Satan, housed within this man,
To yield possession to my holy prayers,
And to thy state of darkness his thee straight:
I conjure thee by all the saints in heaven!
55Ant. 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 the saffron faceRevel and feast it at my house to-day,60Whilst upon me the guilty doors were shut,And I denied to enter in my house?
Ant. E.You minion, you, are these your customers?
Did this companion with the saffron face
Revel and feast it at my house to-day,
60Whilst 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 remain’d until this time,Free from these slanders and this open shame!
Adr.O husband, God doth know you dined at home;
Where would you had remain’d until this time,
Free from these slanders and this open shame!
65Ant. E.Dinedat home!—Thou villain, what sayest 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.Perdie, your doors were lock’d, and you shut out.
Ant. E.And did not she herself revile me there?
70Dro. E.Sans fable, she herself reviled 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 bonesbearwitness,75That since have felt thevigourofhisrage.
Dro. E.In verity you did; my bonesbearwitness,
75That since have felt thevigourofhisrage.
Adr.Is’t good to soothe him in these contraries?
Pinch.It is no shame: the fellow finds his vein,And, yielding to him, humours well his frenzy.
Pinch.It is no shame: the fellow finds his vein,
And, yielding to him, humours well his frenzy.
Ant. E.Thou hast suborn’d the goldsmith to arrest me.
80Adr.Alas, I sent you money to redeem you,By Dromio here, who came in haste for it.
80Adr.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 aragof money.
Dro. E.Money by me! heart and good-will you might;
But surely,master, not aragof money.
Ant. E.Went’stnot thouto her for a purse of ducats?
85Adr.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-makerbearme witnessThat I was sent for nothing but a rope!
Dro. E.God and the rope-makerbearme witness
That I was sent for nothing but a rope!
Pinch.Mistress, both man and masterispossess’d;90I know it by their pale and deadly looks:They must be bound, and laid in some dark room.
Pinch.Mistress, both man and masterispossess’d;
90I know it by their pale and deadly looks:
They must be bound, and laid in some dark room.
Ant. E.Say, wherefore didst them lock me forth to-day?And why dost thou deny the bag of gold?
Ant. E.Say, wherefore didst them lock me forth to-day?
And why dost thou deny the bag of gold?
Adr.I did not, gentle husband, lock thee forth.
95Dro. E.And, gentle master, I received no gold;But I confess, sir, that we were lock’d out.
95Dro. E.And, gentle master, I received no gold;
But I confess, sir, that we were lock’d out.
Adr.Dissembling villain, them speak’st false in both.
Ant. E.Dissembling harlot, them art false in all,And art confederate with a damned pack100To make a loathsome abject scorn of me:But with these nails I’ll pluck outthese falseeyes,That would behold in me this shameful sport.
Ant. E.Dissembling harlot, them art false in all,
And art confederate with a damned pack
100To make a loathsome abject scorn of me:
But with these nails I’ll pluck outthese falseeyes,
That would behold in me this shameful sport.
Adr.O, bind him, bind him! let him not come near me.
Pinch.More company! The fiend is strong within him.
105Luc.Ay me, poor man, how pale and wan he looks!
Ant. E.What, will you murderme? Thou gaoler, thou,I am thy prisoner: wilt thou suffer themTo make a rescue?
Ant. E.What, will you murderme? Thou gaoler, thou,
I am thy prisoner: wilt thou suffer them
To make a rescue?
Off.Masters, let him go:He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him.
Off.
Masters, let him go:
He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him.
110Pinch.Go bind this man, for he is frantic too.They offer to bind Dro. E.
Adr.What wilt thou do, thou peevish officer?Hast thou delight to see a wretched manDo outrage and displeasure to himself?
Adr.What wilt thou do, thou peevish officer?
Hast thou delight to see a wretched man
Do outrage and displeasure to himself?
Off.He is my prisoner: if I let him go,115The debt he owes will be required of me.
Off.He is my prisoner: if I let him go,
115The debt he owes will be required of me.
Adr.I will discharge thee ere I go from thee:Bear me forthwith unto his creditor,And, knowing how the debt grows, I will pay it.Good master doctor, see him safe convey’d120Home to my house. O most unhappy day!
Adr.I will discharge thee ere I go from thee:
Bear me forthwith unto his creditor,
And, knowing how the debt grows, I will pay it.
Good master doctor, see him safe convey’d
120Home to my house. O most unhappy day!
Ant. E.O most unhappy strumpet!
Dro. E.Master, I am here entered in bond for you.
Ant. E.Out on thee, villain! wherefore dost thou mad me?
Dro. E.Will you be bound fornothing?be mad, good125master: cry, The devil!
Luc.Godhelp, poorsouls, howidlydo they talk!
Adr.Go bear him hence. Sister,goyou with me.Exeuntall but Adriana, Luciana, Officer and Courtezan.Say now; whose suit is he arrested at?
Adr.Go bear him hence. Sister,goyou with me.
Exeuntall but Adriana, Luciana, Officer and Courtezan.
Say now; whose suit is he arrested at?
Off.One Angelo, a goldsmith: do you know him?
130Adr.I know the man. What is the sum he owes?
Off.Two hundred ducats.
Adr.
Say, how grows it due?
Off.Due for a chain your husband had of him.
Adr.He did bespeak a chainfor me, but had it not.
Cour.When as your husband, all in rage, to-day135Came to my house, and took away my ring,—The ring I saw upon his finger now,—Straight after did I meet him with a chain.
Cour.When as your husband, all in rage, to-day
135Came to my house, and took away my ring,—
The ring I saw upon his finger now,—
Straight after did I meet him with a chain.
Adr.It may be so, but I did never see it.Come, gaoler, bring me where the goldsmith is:140I long to know the truth hereof at large.
Adr.It may be so, but I did never see it.
Come, gaoler, bring me where the goldsmith is:
140I long to know the truth hereof at large.
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.
Adr.And come with naked swords.
Let’s call more help to have them bound again.
Off.Away! they’ll kill us.
Exeunt all but Ant. S. and Dro. S.
145Ant. 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.
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 do150us no harm: yousaw they speak us fair, giveus 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;155Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard.
Ant. S.I will not stay to-night for all the town;
155Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard.
Exeunt.
Ang.I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder’d you;But, I protest, he had the chain of me,Though most dishonestly hedothdeny it.
Ang.I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder’d you;
But, I protest, he had the chain of me,
Though most dishonestly hedothdeny it.
Sec. Mer.How is the man esteem’d here in the city?
5Ang.Of very reverent reputation, sir,Of credit infinite, highly beloved,Second to none that lives here in the city:His word might bear my wealth at any time.
5Ang.Of very reverent reputation, sir,
Of credit infinite, highly beloved,
Second to none that lives here in the city:
His word might bear my wealth at any time.
Sec. Mer.Speak softly: yonder, as I think, he walks.
10Ang.’Tis so; and that self chain about his neck,Which he forswore most monstrously to have.Good sir, draw nearto me, I’ll speak to him;Signior Antipholus, I wonder muchThat you would put me to this shame and trouble;15And, not without some scandal to yourself,With circumstance and oaths so to denyThis chain which now you wear so openly:Besidethe charge, the shame, imprisonment,You have done wrong to this my honest friend;20Who, but for staying on our controversy,Had hoisted sail and put to sea to-day:This chain you had of me; can you deny it?
10Ang.’Tis so; and that self chain about his neck,
Which he forswore most monstrously to have.
Good sir, draw nearto me, I’ll speak to him;
Signior Antipholus, I wonder much
That you would put me to this shame and trouble;
15And, not without some scandal to yourself,
With circumstance and oaths so to deny
This chain which now you wear so openly:
Besidethe charge, the shame, imprisonment,
You have done wrong to this my honest friend;
20Who, but for staying on our controversy,
Had hoisted sail and put to sea to-day:
This chain you had of me; can you deny it?
Ant. S.I think I had; I never did deny it.
Sec. Mer.Yes, that you did, sir, and forswore it too.
25Ant. S.Who heard me to deny it or forswear it?
Sec. Mer.These ears of mine, thouknow’st, did hear thee.Fie on thee, wretch! ’tis pity that thou livestTo walk where any honest men resort.
Sec. Mer.These ears of mine, thouknow’st, did hear thee.
Fie on thee, wretch! ’tis pity that thou livest
To walk where any honest men resort.
Ant. S.Thou art a villain to impeach me thus:30I’ll prove mine honour andmine honestyAgainst thee presently, if thou darest stand.
Ant. S.Thou art a villain to impeach me thus:
30I’ll prove mine honour andmine honesty
Against thee presently, if thou darest stand.
Sec. Mer.I dare, and do defy thee for a villain.They draw.
Adr.Hold, hurt him not, forGod’ssake! he is mad.Some get within him, take his sword away:35Bind Dromio too, and bear them to my house.
Adr.Hold, hurt him not, forGod’ssake! he is mad.
Some get within him, take his sword away:
35Bind Dromio too, and bear them to my house.
Dro. S.Run, master, run; forGod’ssake, take a house!This is somepriory.—In, or we are spoil’d!
Dro. S.Run, master, run; forGod’ssake, take a house!
This is somepriory.—In, or we are spoil’d!
Exeunt Ant. S. and Dro. S. to the Priory.
Abb.Bequiet, people. Wherefore throng you hither?
Adr.To fetch my poor distracted husband hence.40Let us come in, that we may bind him fast,And bear him home for his recovery.
Adr.To fetch my poor distracted husband hence.
40Let us come in, that we may bind him fast,
And bear him home for his recovery.
Ang.I knew he was not in his perfect wits.
Sec. Mer.I am sorry now that I did draw on him.
Abb.How long hath this possession held the man?
45Adr.This week he hath been heavy,sour, sad,Andmuchdifferent from the man he was;But till this afternoon his passionNe’er brake into extremity of rage.
45Adr.This week he hath been heavy,sour, sad,
Andmuchdifferent from the man he was;
But till this afternoon his passion
Ne’er brake into extremity of rage.
Abb.Hath he not lost much wealth by wreckof sea?50Buried some dear friend?Hath not else his eyeStray’dhis affection inunlawful love?A sin prevailing much in youthful men,Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing.Which of these sorrows is he subject to?
Abb.Hath he not lost much wealth by wreckof sea?
50Buried some dear friend?Hath not else his eye
Stray’dhis affection inunlawful love?
A sin prevailing much in youthful men,
Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing.
Which of these sorrows is he subject to?
55Adr.To none of these, except it be the last;Namely, some love that drew him oft from home.
55Adr.To none of these, except it be the last;
Namely, some love that drew him oft from home.
Abb.You should for that have reprehended him.
Adr.Why, so I did.
Abb.
Ay, but not rough enough.
Adr.As roughly as my modesty would let me.
Abb.Haply, in private.
60Adr.
And in assemblies too.
Abb.Ay, but not enough.
Adr.It was the copy of our conference:In bed, he slept not for my urging it;At board, he fed not for my urging it;65Alone, it was the subject of my theme;In company I often glancedit;Still did I tell him it was vile and bad.
Adr.It was the copy of our conference:
In bed, he slept not for my urging it;
At board, he fed not for my urging it;
65Alone, it was the subject of my theme;
In company I often glancedit;
Still did I tell him it was vile and bad.
Abb.And thereof came it that the man was mad:—Thevenomclamoursof a jealouswoman,70Poisonsmore deadly than a mad dog’s tooth.It seems his sleeps were hinder’d by thy railing:Andthereofcomes it that his head is light.Thou say’st his meat was sauced with thy upbraidings:Unquiet mealsmakeill digestions;75Thereofthe raging fire of fever bred;And what’s a fever but a fit of madness?Thou say’st his sports were hinder’dbythy brawls:Sweet recreation barr’d, what doth ensueButmoodyand dullmelancholy,80Kinsmanto grim and comfortless despair;And atherheels a huge infectious troopOf pale distemperatures and foes to life?In food, in sport, and life-preserving restTo be disturb’d, would mad or man or beast:85The consequence is, then, thy jealous fitsHavescared thy husband from the use of wits.
Abb.And thereof came it that the man was mad:—
Thevenomclamoursof a jealouswoman,
70Poisonsmore deadly than a mad dog’s tooth.
It seems his sleeps were hinder’d by thy railing:
Andthereofcomes it that his head is light.
Thou say’st his meat was sauced with thy upbraidings:
Unquiet mealsmakeill digestions;
75Thereofthe raging fire of fever bred;
And what’s a fever but a fit of madness?
Thou say’st his sports were hinder’dbythy brawls:
Sweet recreation barr’d, what doth ensue
Butmoodyand dullmelancholy,
80Kinsmanto grim and comfortless despair;
And atherheels a huge infectious troop
Of pale distemperatures and foes to life?
In food, in sport, and life-preserving rest
To be disturb’d, would mad or man or beast:
85The consequence is, then, thy jealous fits
Havescared thy husband from the use of wits.
Luc.She never reprehended him but mildly,When he demean’d himself rough, rude, andwildly.Why bear youtheserebukes, and answer not?
Luc.She never reprehended him but mildly,
When he demean’d himself rough, rude, andwildly.
Why bear youtheserebukes, and answer not?
90Adr.She did betray me to my own reproof.Good people, enter, and lay hold on him.
90Adr.She did betray me to my own reproof.
Good people, enter, and lay hold on him.
Abb.No, not a creature enters in my house.
Adr.Then let your servants bring my husband forth.
Abb.Neither: he took this place for sanctuary,95And it shall privilege him from your handsTill I have brought him to his wits again,Or lose my labour in assaying it.
Abb.Neither: he took this place for sanctuary,
95And it shall privilege him from your hands
Till I have brought him to his wits again,
Or lose my labour in assaying it.
Adr.I will attend my husband, be his nurse,Diet his sickness, for it is my office,100And will have no attorney but myself;And therefore let me have him home with me.
Adr.I will attend my husband, be his nurse,
Diet his sickness, for it is my office,
100And will have no attorney but myself;
And therefore let me have him home with me.
Abb.Be patient; for I will not let him stirTill I have used the approved means I have,With wholesome syrups, drugs and holy prayers,105To make of him a formal man again:It is a branch and parcel of mine oath,A charitable duty of my order.Therefore depart, and leave him here with me.
Abb.Be patient; for I will not let him stir
Till I have used the approved means I have,
With wholesome syrups, drugs and holy prayers,
105To make of him a formal man again:
It is a branch and parcel of mine oath,
A charitable duty of my order.
Therefore depart, and leave him here with me.
Adr.I will not hence, and leave my husband here:110And ill it doth beseem your holinessTo separate the husband and the wife.
Adr.I will not hence, and leave my husband here:
110And ill it doth beseem your holiness
To separate the husband and the wife.
Abb.Be quiet, and depart: thou shalt not have him.Exit.
Luc.Complain unto the Duke of this indignity.
Adr.Come, go: I will fall prostrate at his feet,115And never rise until my tears and prayersHave won his Grace to come in person hither,And take perforce my husband from the abbess.
Adr.Come, go: I will fall prostrate at his feet,
115And never rise until my tears and prayers
Have won his Grace to come in person hither,
And take perforce my husband from the abbess.
Sec. Mer.By this, I think, the dial points at five:Anon, I’m sure, the Duke himself in person120Comes this way to the melancholy vale,The place ofdeathandsorryexecution,Behind the ditches of theabbeyhere.
Sec. Mer.By this, I think, the dial points at five:
Anon, I’m sure, the Duke himself in person
120Comes this way to the melancholy vale,
The place ofdeathandsorryexecution,
Behind the ditches of theabbeyhere.
Ang.Upon what cause?
Sec. Mer.To see areverendSyracusian merchant,125Who put unluckily into this bayAgainst the laws and statutes of this town,Beheaded publicly for his offence.
Sec. Mer.To see areverendSyracusian merchant,
125Who put unluckily into this bay
Against the laws and statutes of this town,
Beheaded publicly for his offence.
Ang.See where they come: we will behold his death.
Luc.Kneel to the Duke before he pass the abbey.
130Duke.Yet once again proclaim it publicly,If any friend will pay the sum for him,He shall not die; so much we tender him.
130Duke.Yet once again proclaim it publicly,
If any friend will pay the sum for him,
He shall not die; so much we tender him.
Adr.Justice, most sacred Duke, against the abbess!
Duke.She is a virtuous and areverendlady:135It cannot be that she hath done thee wrong.
Duke.She is a virtuous and areverendlady:
135It cannot be that she hath done thee wrong.
Adr.May it please your Grace, Antipholus my husband,—WhomI made lord of me and all I had,At yourimportant letters,—this ill dayA most outrageous fit of madness took him;140That desperately he hurried through the street,—With him his bondman, all as mad as he,—Doing displeasure to the citizensBy rushing in their houses, bearing thenceRings, jewels, any thing his rage did like.145Once did I get him bound, and sent him home,Whilst to take order for the wrongs I went,That here and there his fury had committed.Anon, I wot not by whatstrongescape,He broke from those that had the guard of him;150Andwithhis mad attendantand himself,Each one with ireful passion, with drawn swords,Met us again, and, madly bent on us,Chased us away; till, raising of more aid,We came again to bind them. Then they fled155Into this abbey, whither we pursued them;And here the abbess shuts the gates on us,And will not suffer us to fetch him out,Nor send him forth, that we may bear himhence.Therefore, most gracious Duke, with thy command160Let him be brought forth, and borne hence for help.
Adr.May it please your Grace, Antipholus my husband,—
WhomI made lord of me and all I had,
At yourimportant letters,—this ill day
A most outrageous fit of madness took him;
140That desperately he hurried through the street,—
With him his bondman, all as mad as he,—
Doing displeasure to the citizens
By rushing in their houses, bearing thence
Rings, jewels, any thing his rage did like.
145Once did I get him bound, and sent him home,
Whilst to take order for the wrongs I went,
That here and there his fury had committed.
Anon, I wot not by whatstrongescape,
He broke from those that had the guard of him;
150Andwithhis mad attendantand himself,
Each one with ireful passion, with drawn swords,
Met us again, and, madly bent on us,
Chased us away; till, raising of more aid,
We came again to bind them. Then they fled
155Into this abbey, whither we pursued them;
And here the abbess shuts the gates on us,
And will not suffer us to fetch him out,
Nor send him forth, that we may bear himhence.
Therefore, most gracious Duke, with thy command
160Let him be brought forth, and borne hence for help.
Duke.Long sincethy husband served me in my wars;And I to thee engaged a prince’s word,When thou didst make him master of thy bed,To do him all the grace and good I could.165Go, some of you, knock at the abbey-gate,And bid the lady abbess come to me.I will determine this before I stir.
Duke.Long sincethy husband served me in my wars;
And I to thee engaged a prince’s word,
When thou didst make him master of thy bed,
To do him all the grace and good I could.
165Go, some of you, knock at the abbey-gate,
And bid the lady abbess come to me.
I will determine this before I stir.
Serv.O mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself!My master and his man are both broke loose,170Beaten the maids a-row, and bound the doctor,Whose beard they have singed off with brands of fire;And ever, as it blazed, they threw on himGreat pails of puddled mire to quench the hair:My master preaches patienceto him, andthe while175His man with scissors nicks him like a fool;And sure, unless you sendsomepresent help,Between them they will kill the conjurer.
Serv.O mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself!
My master and his man are both broke loose,
170Beaten the maids a-row, and bound the doctor,
Whose beard they have singed off with brands of fire;
And ever, as it blazed, they threw on him
Great pails of puddled mire to quench the hair:
My master preaches patienceto him, andthe while
175His man with scissors nicks him like a fool;
And sure, unless you sendsomepresent help,
Between them they will kill the conjurer.
Adr.Peace, fool! thy master and his man are here;And that is false thou dost reporttous.
Adr.Peace, fool! thy master and his man are here;
And that is false thou dost reporttous.
180Serv.Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true;I have not breathed almost since I did see it.He cries for you, and vows, if he can take you,Toscorchyour face and to disfigure you.Cry within.Hark, hark! I hear him, mistress: fly, be gone!
180Serv.Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true;
I have not breathed almost since I did see it.
He cries for you, and vows, if he can take you,
Toscorchyour face and to disfigure you.Cry within.
Hark, hark! I hear him, mistress: fly, be gone!
185Duke.Come, stand by me; fear nothing. Guard with halberds!
Adr.Ay me, it is my husband! Witness you,That he is borne about invisible:Even now we housed him in the abbey here;And now he’s there, past thought of human reason.
Adr.Ay me, it is my husband! Witness you,
That he is borne about invisible:
Even now we housed him in the abbey here;
And now he’s there, past thought of human reason.
190Ant. E.Justice, most gracious Duke, O, grant me justice!Even for the service thatlong sinceI did thee,When I bestrid thee in the wars, and tookDeep scars to save thy life; even for the bloodThat then I lost for thee, now grant me justice.
190Ant. E.Justice, most gracious Duke, O, grant me justice!
Even for the service thatlong sinceI did thee,
When I bestrid thee in the wars, and took
Deep scars to save thy life; even for the blood
That then I lost for thee, now grant me justice.
195Æge.Unless the fear of death doth make me dote,I see my son Antipholus, and Dromio.
195Æge.Unless the fear of death doth make me dote,
I see my son Antipholus, and Dromio.
Ant. E.Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there!She whom thou gavest to me to be my wife,That hath abused and dishonour’d me200Even in the strength and height of injury:Beyond imagination is the wrongThat she this day hath shameless thrown on me.
Ant. E.Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there!
She whom thou gavest to me to be my wife,
That hath abused and dishonour’d me
200Even in the strength and height of injury:
Beyond imagination is the wrong
That she this day hath shameless thrown on me.
Duke.Discover how, and thou shalt find me just.
Ant. E.This day, great Duke, she shut the doors upon me,205Whileshe with harlots feasted in my house.
Ant. E.This day, great Duke, she shut the doors upon me,
205Whileshe with harlots feasted in my house.
Duke.A grievous fault! Say, woman, didst thou so?
Adr.No, my good lord: myself, he and my sisterTo-daydid dine together.So befalmy soulAs this is false he burdens me withal!
Adr.No, my good lord: myself, he and my sister
To-daydid dine together.So befalmy soul
As this is false he burdens me withal!
210Luc.Ne’er may I look on day, nor sleep on night,But she tells to your Highness simple truth!
210Luc.Ne’er may I look on day, nor sleep on night,
But she tells to your Highness simple truth!
Ang.O perjured woman! They are both forsworn:In this the madman justly chargeth them.
Ang.O perjured woman! They are both forsworn:
In this the madman justly chargeth them.
Ant. E.My liege, I am advised what I say;215Neither disturbed with the effect of wine,Nor heady-rash, provoked with raging ire,Albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad.This woman lock’d me out this day from dinner:That goldsmith there, were he not pack’d with her,220Could witness it, for he was with me then;Who parted with me to go fetch a chain,Promising to bring it to the Porpentine,Where Balthazar and I did dine together.Our dinner done, and he not coming thither,225I went to seek him: in the street I met him,And in his company that gentleman.There did this perjured goldsmith swear me downThat I this dayofhim received the chain,Which, God he knows, I saw not: for the which230He did arrest me with an officer.I did obey; and sent my peasant homeFor certain ducats: he with none return’d.Then fairly I bespoke the officerTo go in person with me to my house.235By the waywe met my wife, her sister, and a rabble moreOf vileconfederates.Along with themThey brought one Pinch, a hungry lean-faced villain,A mere anatomy, a mountebank,A threadbare juggler, and a fortune-teller,240A needy, hollow-eyed, sharp-looking wretch,A living-dead man: this pernicious slave,Forsooth, took on him as a conjurer;And, gazing in mine eyes, feeling my pulse,And with no face, as ’twere, outfacing me,245Cries out, I was possess’d. Then all togetherThey fell upon me, bound me, bore me thence,And ina dark and dankish vault at homeThereleft me and my man, both bound together;Till, gnawing with my teeth my bondsin sunder,250I gain’d my freedom, and immediatelyRan hither to your Grace; whom I beseechTo give me ample satisfactionFor these deep shames and great indignities.
Ant. E.My liege, I am advised what I say;
215Neither disturbed with the effect of wine,
Nor heady-rash, provoked with raging ire,
Albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad.
This woman lock’d me out this day from dinner:
That goldsmith there, were he not pack’d with her,
220Could witness it, for he was with me then;
Who parted with me to go fetch a chain,
Promising to bring it to the Porpentine,
Where Balthazar and I did dine together.
Our dinner done, and he not coming thither,
225I went to seek him: in the street I met him,
And in his company that gentleman.
There did this perjured goldsmith swear me down
That I this dayofhim received the chain,
Which, God he knows, I saw not: for the which
230He did arrest me with an officer.
I did obey; and sent my peasant home
For certain ducats: he with none return’d.
Then fairly I bespoke the officer
To go in person with me to my house.
235By the waywe met my wife, her sister, and a rabble more
Of vileconfederates.Along with them
They brought one Pinch, a hungry lean-faced villain,
A mere anatomy, a mountebank,
A threadbare juggler, and a fortune-teller,
240A needy, hollow-eyed, sharp-looking wretch,
A living-dead man: this pernicious slave,
Forsooth, took on him as a conjurer;
And, gazing in mine eyes, feeling my pulse,
And with no face, as ’twere, outfacing me,
245Cries out, I was possess’d. Then all together
They fell upon me, bound me, bore me thence,
And ina dark and dankish vault at home
Thereleft me and my man, both bound together;
Till, gnawing with my teeth my bondsin sunder,
250I gain’d my freedom, and immediately
Ran hither to your Grace; whom I beseech
To give me ample satisfaction
For these deep shames and great indignities.
Ang.My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him,255That he dined not at home, but was lock’d out.
Ang.My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him,
255That he dined not at home, but was lock’d out.
Duke.But had he such a chain of thee or no?
Ang.He had, my lord: and when he ran in here,These people saw the chain about his neck.
Ang.He had, my lord: and when he ran in here,
These people saw the chain about his neck.
Sec. Mer.Besides, I will be sworn these ears of mine260Heard you confess you had the chain of him,After you first forswore it on the mart:And thereupon I drew my sword on you;And then you fled into this abbey here,From whence, I think, you are come by miracle.
Sec. Mer.Besides, I will be sworn these ears of mine
260Heard you confess you had the chain of him,
After you first forswore it on the mart:
And thereupon I drew my sword on you;
And then you fled into this abbey here,
From whence, I think, you are come by miracle.
265Ant. E.I never came within these abbey-walls;Nor ever didst thou draw thy sword on me:I never saw thechain, so help me Heaven:Andthis is false you burden me withal!
265Ant. E.I never came within these abbey-walls;
Nor ever didst thou draw thy sword on me:
I never saw thechain, so help me Heaven:
Andthis is false you burden me withal!
Duke.Why, what an intricate impeach is this!270I think you all have drunk of Circe’s cup.If here you housed him, here he would have been;If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly:You say he dined at home; the goldsmith hereDenies that saying. Sirrah, what say you?
Duke.Why, what an intricate impeach is this!
270I think you all have drunk of Circe’s cup.
If here you housed him, here he would have been;
If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly:
You say he dined at home; the goldsmith here
Denies that saying. Sirrah, what say you?
275Dro. E.Sir, he dined with her there, at the Porpentine.
Cour.He did; and from my finger snatch’d that ring.
Ant. E.’Tis true, my liege; this ring I had of her.
Duke.Saw’st thou him enter at the abbey here?
Cour.As sure, my liege, as I do see your Grace.
280Duke.Why, this is strange. Go call the abbess hither.I think you are all mated, or starkmad.
280Duke.Why, this is strange. Go call the abbess hither.
I think you are all mated, or starkmad.
Exitone to the Abbess.