THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.ACT I.I. 1Scene I.A hall in theDuke’spalace.EnterDuke,Ægeon,Gaoler,Officers, and otherAttendants.Æge.Proceed,Solinus, to procure my fall,And by the doom of death end woes and all.Duke.Merchant of Syracusa, plead no more;I am not partial to infringe our laws:The enmity and discord which of late5Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your dukeTo merchants, our well-dealing countrymen,Who, wanting guilders to redeem their lives,Have seal’d his rigorous statutes with their bloods,10Excludes all pity from our threateninglooks.For, since the mortal and intestine jars’Twixt thy seditious countrymen and us,It hath in solemn synods been decreed,Both by theSyracusiansand ourselves,15To admit no traffic to our adverse towns:Nay, more,If any born at Ephesus be seenAtanySyracusian marts and fairs;Again: if any Syracusian born20Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies,His goods confiscate to the duke’s dispose;Unless a thousand marks be levied,To quit the penalty andto ransomhim.Thy substance, valued at the highest rate,25Cannot amount unto a hundred marks;Therefore by law thou art condemn’d to die.Æge.Yetthismy comfort: when your words are done,My woes end likewise with the evening sun.Duke.Well, Syracusian, say, in brief, the cause30Why thou departed’st from thy native home,And for what cause thou camest to Ephesus.Æge.A heavier task could not have been imposedThan I to speak mygriefsunspeakable:Yet, that the world may witness that my end35Was wrought bynature, not by vile offence,I’ll utter what my sorrow gives me leave.In Syracusa was I born; and wedUnto a woman, happy but for me,Andby me, had not our hap been bad.40With her I lived in joy; our wealth increasedBy prosperous voyages I often madeToEpidamnum; till my factor’s death,Andthe great care of goods at random left,Drew me from kind embracements of my spouse:45From whom my absence was not six months old,Before herself, almost at fainting underThe pleasing punishment that women bear,Had made provision for her following me,And soon and safe arrived where I was.50Therehad shenot been long but she becameA joyful mother of two goodly sons;And, which was strange, the one so like the otherAs could not be distinguish’d but by names.That very hour, and in the self-same inn,55Ameanerwoman was deliveredOf such aburden, male twins, both alike:Those, for their parents were exceeding poor,I bought, and brought up to attend my sons.My wife, not meanly proud of two such boys,60Made daily motions for our home return:Unwilling I agreed; alas! toosoonWe came aboard.A league from Epidamnum had we sail’d,Before the always-wind-obeying deep65Gave any tragic instance of our harm:But longer did we not retain much hope;For what obscured light the heavens did grantDid but convey unto our fearful mindsA doubtful warrant of immediate death;70Which though myself wouldgladlyhave embraced,Yet the incessantweepingsof my wife,Weeping before for what she saw must come,And piteous plainings of the pretty babes,That mourn’d for fashion, ignorant what to fear,75Forced me to seek delays for them and me.Andthisit was, for other means was none:The sailors sought for safety by our boat,And left the ship, then sinking-ripe, to us:My wife, more careful for thelatter-born,80Had fasten’d him unto a small spare mast,Such as seafaring men provide for storms;To him one of the other twins was bound,Whilst I had been like heedful of the other:The children thus disposed, my wife and I,85Fixing our eyes on whom our care was fix’d,Fasten’d ourselves ateither end the mast;Andfloating straight, obedient to the stream,Wascarried towards Corinth, as we thought.At length the sun, gazing upon the earth,90Dispersed those vapours that offended us;And, by the benefit of hiswishedlight,Theseas wax’dcalm, and we discoveredTwo ships from far making amain to us,Of Corinth that, ofEpidaurusthis:95But ere they came,—O, let me say no more!Gather the sequel by that went before.Duke.Nay, forward, old man; do not break off so;For we may pity, though not pardon thee.Æge.O, had the gods done so, I had not now100Worthily term’d them merciless to us!For, ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues,We were encounter’d by a mighty rock;Which being violently borneupon,Ourhelpfulship was splitted in the midst;105So that, in this unjust divorce of us,Fortune had left to both of us alikeWhat to delight in, what to sorrow for.Her part, poor soul! seeming as burdenedWith lesser weight, but not with lesser woe,110Was carried with more speed before the wind;And in our sight they three were taken upBy fishermen of Corinth, as we thought.At length,anothership had seized on us;And, knowing whom it was their hap to save,115Gavehealthfulwelcome to their shipwreck’d guests;And would have reft the fishers of their prey,Had not theirbarkbeen very slow of sail;And therefore homeward did they bend their course.Thus have you heard me sever’d from my bliss;120Thatby misfortunes was my life prolong’d,To tell sad stories of my own mishaps.Duke.And, for thesakeof them thou sorrowest for,Do me the favour to dilate at fullWhathath befall’n of them and theetill now.125Æge.My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care,At eighteen yearsbecame inquisitiveAfter his brother: and importuned meThat his attendant—sohis case was like,Reft of his brother, but retain’d his name—130Might bear him company inthequest of him:Whom whilstI labour’d of alove to see,I hazarded the loss of whom I loved.Five summershave I spent in furthest Greece,Roaming clean through the bounds of Asia,135And, coasting homeward, came to Ephesus;Hopeless to find, yet loath to leave unsoughtOr that, or any place that harbours men.But here must end the story of my life;And happy were I in my timely death,140Could all my travels warrant me they live.Duke.Hapless Ægeon, whom the fates have mark’dTo bear the extremity of dire mishap!Now, trust me, were it not against our laws,Against my crown, my oath, my dignity,145Whichprinces, would they, maynot disannul,My soul should sue as advocate for thee.But, though thou art adjudged to the death,And passed sentence may not be recall’dBut to our honour’s great disparagement,150Yet will I favour thee in what I can.Therefore, merchant, I’ll limit thee this dayTo seek thyhelp by beneficial help:Try all the friends thou hast in Ephesus;Beg thou, or borrow, to make up the sum,155And live; ifno, then thou art doom’d to die.Gaoler, take him to thy custody.Gaol.I will, my lord.Æge.Hopeless and helpless doth Ægeon wend,But to procrastinate hislifelessend.Exeunt.I. 2Scene II.The Mart.EnterAntipholusof Syracuse,Dromioof Syracuse, andFirst Merchant.First Mer.Therefore give out you are of Epidamnum,Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate.This very day a Syracusian merchantIs apprehended forarrivalhere;5And, not being able to buy out his life,According to the statute of the town,Dies ere the weary sun set in the west.There is your money that I had to keep.Ant. S.Go bear it to the Centaur, where we host,10And stay there, Dromio,tillI come to thee.Within this hour it will be dinner-time:Tillthat. I’ll view the manners of the town,Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings,And then return, and sleep within mine inn;15For with long travel I am stiff and weary.Get thee away.Dro. S.Many a man would take you at your word,And go indeed, having so good amean.Exit.Ant. S.A trusty villain, sir; that very oft,20When I am dull with care and melancholy,Lightens my humour with his merry jests.What, will you walk with me about the town,And then go tomyinn, and dine with me?First Mer.I am invited, sir, to certain merchants,25Of whom I hope to make much benefit;I crave your pardon. Soon at five o’clock,Please you, I’ll meet with you upon the mart,And afterwardconsortyou till bed-time:My present business calls me from you now.30Ant. S.Farewell till then: I will go losemyself,And wander up and down to view the city.First Mer.Sir, I commend you to your own content.Exit.Ant. S.He that commends me tomineown contentCommends me to the thing I cannot get.35I to the world am like a drop of water,That in the ocean seeks another drop;Who,fallingthere to find hisfellow forth,Unseen, inquisitive,confounds himself:So I, to find a mother and a brother,40In quest ofthem, unhappy, lose myself.EnterDromioof Ephesus.Here comes the almanac of my true date.What now? how chance thou art return’d so soon?Dro. E.Return’d so soon! rather approach’d too late:The capon burns, the pig falls from the spit;45The clock hath strucken twelve upon the bell;My mistress made it one upon my cheek:She is so hot, because the meat is cold;The meat is cold, because you come not home;You come not home, because you have no stomach;50You have no stomach, having broke your fast;But we, that know what ’tis to fast and pray,Are penitent for your default to-day.Ant. S.Stop in your wind, sir: tell me this, I pray:Where have you left the money that I gave you?55Dro. E.O,—sixpence, that I had o’ Wednesday lastTo pay the saddler for my mistress’ crupper?The saddler had it, sir; I kept it not.Ant. S.I am not in a sportive humour now:Tell me, and dally not, where is the money?60We being strangers here, how darest thou trustSo great a charge from thine own custody?Dro. E.I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner:I from my mistress come to you in post;If I return, I shall be post indeed,65For she willscoreyour fault upon my pate.Methinks your maw, like mine, should beyour clock,And strike you home without a messenger.Ant. S.Come, Dromio, come, these jests are out of season;Reserve them till a merrier hour than this.70Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee?Dro. E.To me, sir? why, you gave no gold to me.Ant. S.Come on, sir knave, have done your foolishness,And tell me how thou hast disposed thy charge.Dro. E.My charge was but to fetch you from the mart75Home to your house, the Phœnix, sir, to dinner:My mistress and her sisterstaysfor you.Ant. S.Now, as I am a Christian, answer me,In what safe place you have bestow’d my money;Or I shall break that merry sconce of yours,80That stands on tricks when I am undisposed:Where is the thousand marks thou hadst of me?Dro. E.I have some marks of yours upon my pate,Some of my mistress’ marks upon my shoulders;But not a thousand marks between you both.85If I should pay your worship those again,Perchance youwillnot bear them patiently.Ant. S.Thy mistress’ marks? what mistress, slave, hast thou?Dro. E.Your worship’s wife, my mistress at the Phœnix;She that doth fast till you come home to dinner,90And prays that you will hie you home to dinner.Ant. S.What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face,Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave.Dro. E.What mean you, sir? forGod’ssake, hold your hands!Nay, an you will not, sir, I’ll take my heels.Exit.95Ant. S.Upon my life, by some device or otherThe villain iso’er-raughtof all my money.They say this town is full of cozenage;As, nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,Dark-workingsorcerers that change the mind.100Soul-killingwitches that deform the body,Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks,And many such-likelibertiesof sin:If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner.I’ll to the Centaur, to go seek this slave:105I greatly fear my money is not safe.Exit.ACT II.II. 1Scene I.The house ofAntipholusof Ephesus.EnterAdrianaandLuciana.Adr.Neither my husband nor the slave return’d,That in such haste I sent to seek his master!Sure, Luciana, it is two o’clock.Luc.Perhaps some merchant hath invited him,5And from the mart he’s somewhere gone to dinner.Good sister, let us dine, and never fret:A man is master of his liberty:Time is their master; and when they see time,They’ll go or come: if so, be patient, sister.10Adr.Why should their liberty than ours be more?Luc.Because their business still lies outo’ door.Adr.Look, when I serve him so, he takes itill.Luc.O, know he is the bridle of your will.Adr.There’s none but asses will be bridled so.15Luc.Why, headstrong liberty islash’dwith woe.There’s nothing situate under heaven’s eyeBut hath hisbound, in earth, in sea, in sky:The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowls,Are their males’subjectsand at their controls:20Men, more divine, the mastersof all these,Lords of the wide world andwild wateryseas,Indued with intellectual sense andsouls,Of more pre-eminence than fish andfowls,Are masters to their females, and their lords:25Then let your will attend on their accords.Adr.This servitude makes you to keep unwed.Luc.Not this, but troubles of the marriage-bed.Adr.But, were you wedded, you would bear some sway.Luc.Ere I learn love, I’ll practise to obey.30Adr.How if yourhusband startsomeother where?Luc.Till he comehomeagain, I would forbear.Adr.Patience unmoved! no marvel though she pause;They can be meek that have no other cause.A wretched soul, bruised with adversity,35We bid be quiet when we hear it cry;But were we burden’d with like weight of pain,As much, or more, we should ourselves complain:So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee,With urging helpless patiencewouldstrelieve me;40But, if thou live toseelike right bereft,Thisfool-begg’dpatience in thee will be left.Luc.Well, I will marry one day, but to try.Here comes your man; now is your husband nigh.EnterDromioof Ephesus.Adr.Say, is your tardy masternowat hand?45Dro. E.Nay, he’s attwohands with me,andthat my two ears can witness.Adr.Say, didst thou speak with him? know’st thou his mind?Dro. E.Ay, ay, he told his mind upon mine ear:Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it.50Luc.Spake he sodoubtfully, thou couldst not feel his meaning?Dro. E.Nay, he struck so plainly, I could too well feel his blows; andwithalsodoubtfully,thatI could scarce understand them.55Adr.But say, I prithee, is he coming home?It seems he hath great care to please his wife.Dro. E.Why, mistress, sure my master is horn-mad.Adr.Horn-mad, thou villain!Dro. E.I mean not cuckold-mad;But, sure,he isstark mad.60When I desired him to come home to dinner,He ask’d me fora thousandmarks in gold:‘’Tis dinner-time,’ quoth I; ‘My gold!’ quoth he:‘Your meat doth burn,’ quoth I; ‘My gold!’ quoth he:‘Will you comehome?’ quoth I; ‘My gold!’ quoth he,65‘Where is the thousand marks I gave thee, villain?’‘The pig,’ quoth I, ‘is burn’d;’ ‘My gold!’ quoth he:‘My mistress, sir,’ quoth I; ‘Hang up thy mistress!I know not thy mistress; out on thy mistress!’Luc.Quoth who?70Dro. E.Quothmy master:‘I know,’ quoth he, ‘no house, no wife, no mistress.’So that my errand, due unto my tongue,I thank him, Ibarehome uponmyshoulders;For, in conclusion, he did beat methere.75Adr.Go back again, thou slave, and fetch him home.Dro. E.Go back again, and be new beaten home?For God’s sake, send some other messenger.Adr.Back, slave, or I will break thy pate across.Dro. E.And he will bless that cross with other beating:80Between you I shall have a holy head.Adr.Hence, prating peasant! fetch thy master home.Dro. E.Am I so round with you as you with me,That like a football you do spurn me thus?You spurn me hence, and he will spurn me hither:85IfI lastin this service, you must case me in leather.Exit.Luc.Fie, how impatience lowereth in your face!Adr.His companymust do his minions grace,Whilst I at home starve for a merry look.Hath homely age the alluring beauty took90From my poor cheek? then he hath wasted it:Are my discourses dull? barren my wit?If voluble and sharp discourse be marr’d,Unkindnessbluntsit more than marble hard:Do their gay vestments his affections bait?95That’s not my fault; he’s master of my state:What ruins are in me that can be found,By him not ruin’d? then is he the groundOf my defeatures. My decayed fairA sunny look of his would soon repair:100But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale,And feeds from home; poor I am but his stale.Luc.Self-harming jealousy! fie, beat it hence!Adr.Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense.I know his eye doth homage otherwhere;105Or else what lets it but he would be here?Sister, you know he promised me a chain;Would thatalone, alonehe would detain,So he would keep fair quarter with his bed!I see the jewel best enamelled110Will lose his beauty;yet thegold bides still,That others touch, andoften touchingwillWeargold:and no manthat hath a name,Byfalsehood and corruption doth it shame.Since that my beauty cannot please his eye,115I’ll weepwhat’s left away, and weeping die.Luc.How many fond fools serve mad jealousy!Exeunt.II. 2Scene II.A public place.EnterAntipholusof Syracuse.Ant. S.The gold I gave to Dromio is laid upSafe at the Centaur; and the heedful slaveIs wander’d forth, in care to seek meoutBy computation and mine host’s report.5Icould not speak with Dromio since at firstI sent him from the mart. See, here he comes.EnterDromioof Syracuse.How now, sir! is your merry humour alter’d?As you love strokes, so jest with me again.You know no Centaur? you receiv’d no gold?10Your mistress sent to have me home to dinner?My house was at the Phœnix? Wast thou mad,That thus so madly thoudidstanswer me?Dro. S.What answer, sir? when spake I such a word?Ant. S.Even now, even here, not half an hour since.15Dro. S.I did not see you since you sent me hence,Home to the Centaur, with the gold you gave me.Ant. S.Villain, thou didst deny the gold’s receipt,And told’st me of a mistress and a dinner;For which, I hope, thou felt’st I was displeased.20Dro. S.I am glad to see you in this merry vein:What means this jest? I pray you, master, tell me.Ant. S.Yea, dost thou jeer and flout me in the teeth?Think’st thou I jest? Hold, take thou that, and that.Beating him.Dro. S.Hold, sir, for God’s sake! now your jest is earnest:25Upon what bargain do you give it me?Ant. S.Because that I familiarly sometimesDo use you for my fool, and chat with you,Your sauciness willjestupon my love,And make acommonof my serious hours.30When the sun shines let foolish gnats make sport,But creep in crannies when he hides his beams.If you will jest with me, know my aspect,And fashion your demeanour to my looks,Or I will beat this method in your sconce.35Dro. S.Sconce call you it? so you would leave battering, I had rather have it a head: an you use these blows long, I must get a sconce for my head, and insconce it too; orelseI shall seek my wit in my shoulders. But, I pray, sir, why am I beaten?40Ant. S.Dost thou not know?Dro. S.Nothing, sir, but that I am beaten.Ant. S.Shall I tell you why?Dro. S.Ay, sir, and wherefore; for they say every why hath a wherefore.
Æge.Proceed,Solinus, to procure my fall,And by the doom of death end woes and all.
Æge.Proceed,Solinus, to procure my fall,
And by the doom of death end woes and all.
Duke.Merchant of Syracusa, plead no more;I am not partial to infringe our laws:The enmity and discord which of late5Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your dukeTo merchants, our well-dealing countrymen,Who, wanting guilders to redeem their lives,Have seal’d his rigorous statutes with their bloods,10Excludes all pity from our threateninglooks.For, since the mortal and intestine jars’Twixt thy seditious countrymen and us,It hath in solemn synods been decreed,Both by theSyracusiansand ourselves,15To admit no traffic to our adverse towns:Nay, more,If any born at Ephesus be seenAtanySyracusian marts and fairs;Again: if any Syracusian born20Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies,His goods confiscate to the duke’s dispose;Unless a thousand marks be levied,To quit the penalty andto ransomhim.Thy substance, valued at the highest rate,25Cannot amount unto a hundred marks;Therefore by law thou art condemn’d to die.
Duke.Merchant of Syracusa, plead no more;
I am not partial to infringe our laws:
The enmity and discord which of late
5Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your duke
To merchants, our well-dealing countrymen,
Who, wanting guilders to redeem their lives,
Have seal’d his rigorous statutes with their bloods,
10Excludes all pity from our threateninglooks.
For, since the mortal and intestine jars
’Twixt thy seditious countrymen and us,
It hath in solemn synods been decreed,
Both by theSyracusiansand ourselves,
15To admit no traffic to our adverse towns:
Nay, more,
If any born at Ephesus be seen
AtanySyracusian marts and fairs;
Again: if any Syracusian born
20Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies,
His goods confiscate to the duke’s dispose;
Unless a thousand marks be levied,
To quit the penalty andto ransomhim.
Thy substance, valued at the highest rate,
25Cannot amount unto a hundred marks;
Therefore by law thou art condemn’d to die.
Æge.Yetthismy comfort: when your words are done,My woes end likewise with the evening sun.
Æge.Yetthismy comfort: when your words are done,
My woes end likewise with the evening sun.
Duke.Well, Syracusian, say, in brief, the cause30Why thou departed’st from thy native home,And for what cause thou camest to Ephesus.
Duke.Well, Syracusian, say, in brief, the cause
30Why thou departed’st from thy native home,
And for what cause thou camest to Ephesus.
Æge.A heavier task could not have been imposedThan I to speak mygriefsunspeakable:Yet, that the world may witness that my end35Was wrought bynature, not by vile offence,I’ll utter what my sorrow gives me leave.In Syracusa was I born; and wedUnto a woman, happy but for me,Andby me, had not our hap been bad.40With her I lived in joy; our wealth increasedBy prosperous voyages I often madeToEpidamnum; till my factor’s death,Andthe great care of goods at random left,Drew me from kind embracements of my spouse:45From whom my absence was not six months old,Before herself, almost at fainting underThe pleasing punishment that women bear,Had made provision for her following me,And soon and safe arrived where I was.50Therehad shenot been long but she becameA joyful mother of two goodly sons;And, which was strange, the one so like the otherAs could not be distinguish’d but by names.That very hour, and in the self-same inn,55Ameanerwoman was deliveredOf such aburden, male twins, both alike:Those, for their parents were exceeding poor,I bought, and brought up to attend my sons.My wife, not meanly proud of two such boys,60Made daily motions for our home return:Unwilling I agreed; alas! toosoonWe came aboard.A league from Epidamnum had we sail’d,Before the always-wind-obeying deep65Gave any tragic instance of our harm:But longer did we not retain much hope;For what obscured light the heavens did grantDid but convey unto our fearful mindsA doubtful warrant of immediate death;70Which though myself wouldgladlyhave embraced,Yet the incessantweepingsof my wife,Weeping before for what she saw must come,And piteous plainings of the pretty babes,That mourn’d for fashion, ignorant what to fear,75Forced me to seek delays for them and me.Andthisit was, for other means was none:The sailors sought for safety by our boat,And left the ship, then sinking-ripe, to us:My wife, more careful for thelatter-born,80Had fasten’d him unto a small spare mast,Such as seafaring men provide for storms;To him one of the other twins was bound,Whilst I had been like heedful of the other:The children thus disposed, my wife and I,85Fixing our eyes on whom our care was fix’d,Fasten’d ourselves ateither end the mast;Andfloating straight, obedient to the stream,Wascarried towards Corinth, as we thought.At length the sun, gazing upon the earth,90Dispersed those vapours that offended us;And, by the benefit of hiswishedlight,Theseas wax’dcalm, and we discoveredTwo ships from far making amain to us,Of Corinth that, ofEpidaurusthis:95But ere they came,—O, let me say no more!Gather the sequel by that went before.
Æge.A heavier task could not have been imposed
Than I to speak mygriefsunspeakable:
Yet, that the world may witness that my end
35Was wrought bynature, not by vile offence,
I’ll utter what my sorrow gives me leave.
In Syracusa was I born; and wed
Unto a woman, happy but for me,
Andby me, had not our hap been bad.
40With her I lived in joy; our wealth increased
By prosperous voyages I often made
ToEpidamnum; till my factor’s death,
Andthe great care of goods at random left,
Drew me from kind embracements of my spouse:
45From whom my absence was not six months old,
Before herself, almost at fainting under
The pleasing punishment that women bear,
Had made provision for her following me,
And soon and safe arrived where I was.
50Therehad shenot been long but she became
A joyful mother of two goodly sons;
And, which was strange, the one so like the other
As could not be distinguish’d but by names.
That very hour, and in the self-same inn,
55Ameanerwoman was delivered
Of such aburden, male twins, both alike:
Those, for their parents were exceeding poor,
I bought, and brought up to attend my sons.
My wife, not meanly proud of two such boys,
60Made daily motions for our home return:
Unwilling I agreed; alas! toosoon
We came aboard.
A league from Epidamnum had we sail’d,
Before the always-wind-obeying deep
65Gave any tragic instance of our harm:
But longer did we not retain much hope;
For what obscured light the heavens did grant
Did but convey unto our fearful minds
A doubtful warrant of immediate death;
70Which though myself wouldgladlyhave embraced,
Yet the incessantweepingsof my wife,
Weeping before for what she saw must come,
And piteous plainings of the pretty babes,
That mourn’d for fashion, ignorant what to fear,
75Forced me to seek delays for them and me.
Andthisit was, for other means was none:
The sailors sought for safety by our boat,
And left the ship, then sinking-ripe, to us:
My wife, more careful for thelatter-born,
80Had fasten’d him unto a small spare mast,
Such as seafaring men provide for storms;
To him one of the other twins was bound,
Whilst I had been like heedful of the other:
The children thus disposed, my wife and I,
85Fixing our eyes on whom our care was fix’d,
Fasten’d ourselves ateither end the mast;
Andfloating straight, obedient to the stream,
Wascarried towards Corinth, as we thought.
At length the sun, gazing upon the earth,
90Dispersed those vapours that offended us;
And, by the benefit of hiswishedlight,
Theseas wax’dcalm, and we discovered
Two ships from far making amain to us,
Of Corinth that, ofEpidaurusthis:
95But ere they came,—O, let me say no more!
Gather the sequel by that went before.
Duke.Nay, forward, old man; do not break off so;For we may pity, though not pardon thee.
Duke.Nay, forward, old man; do not break off so;
For we may pity, though not pardon thee.
Æge.O, had the gods done so, I had not now100Worthily term’d them merciless to us!For, ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues,We were encounter’d by a mighty rock;Which being violently borneupon,Ourhelpfulship was splitted in the midst;105So that, in this unjust divorce of us,Fortune had left to both of us alikeWhat to delight in, what to sorrow for.Her part, poor soul! seeming as burdenedWith lesser weight, but not with lesser woe,110Was carried with more speed before the wind;And in our sight they three were taken upBy fishermen of Corinth, as we thought.At length,anothership had seized on us;And, knowing whom it was their hap to save,115Gavehealthfulwelcome to their shipwreck’d guests;And would have reft the fishers of their prey,Had not theirbarkbeen very slow of sail;And therefore homeward did they bend their course.Thus have you heard me sever’d from my bliss;120Thatby misfortunes was my life prolong’d,To tell sad stories of my own mishaps.
Æge.O, had the gods done so, I had not now
100Worthily term’d them merciless to us!
For, ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues,
We were encounter’d by a mighty rock;
Which being violently borneupon,
Ourhelpfulship was splitted in the midst;
105So that, in this unjust divorce of us,
Fortune had left to both of us alike
What to delight in, what to sorrow for.
Her part, poor soul! seeming as burdened
With lesser weight, but not with lesser woe,
110Was carried with more speed before the wind;
And in our sight they three were taken up
By fishermen of Corinth, as we thought.
At length,anothership had seized on us;
And, knowing whom it was their hap to save,
115Gavehealthfulwelcome to their shipwreck’d guests;
And would have reft the fishers of their prey,
Had not theirbarkbeen very slow of sail;
And therefore homeward did they bend their course.
Thus have you heard me sever’d from my bliss;
120Thatby misfortunes was my life prolong’d,
To tell sad stories of my own mishaps.
Duke.And, for thesakeof them thou sorrowest for,Do me the favour to dilate at fullWhathath befall’n of them and theetill now.
Duke.And, for thesakeof them thou sorrowest for,
Do me the favour to dilate at full
Whathath befall’n of them and theetill now.
125Æge.My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care,At eighteen yearsbecame inquisitiveAfter his brother: and importuned meThat his attendant—sohis case was like,Reft of his brother, but retain’d his name—130Might bear him company inthequest of him:Whom whilstI labour’d of alove to see,I hazarded the loss of whom I loved.Five summershave I spent in furthest Greece,Roaming clean through the bounds of Asia,135And, coasting homeward, came to Ephesus;Hopeless to find, yet loath to leave unsoughtOr that, or any place that harbours men.But here must end the story of my life;And happy were I in my timely death,140Could all my travels warrant me they live.
125Æge.My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care,
At eighteen yearsbecame inquisitive
After his brother: and importuned me
That his attendant—sohis case was like,
Reft of his brother, but retain’d his name—
130Might bear him company inthequest of him:
Whom whilstI labour’d of alove to see,
I hazarded the loss of whom I loved.
Five summershave I spent in furthest Greece,
Roaming clean through the bounds of Asia,
135And, coasting homeward, came to Ephesus;
Hopeless to find, yet loath to leave unsought
Or that, or any place that harbours men.
But here must end the story of my life;
And happy were I in my timely death,
140Could all my travels warrant me they live.
Duke.Hapless Ægeon, whom the fates have mark’dTo bear the extremity of dire mishap!Now, trust me, were it not against our laws,Against my crown, my oath, my dignity,145Whichprinces, would they, maynot disannul,My soul should sue as advocate for thee.But, though thou art adjudged to the death,And passed sentence may not be recall’dBut to our honour’s great disparagement,150Yet will I favour thee in what I can.Therefore, merchant, I’ll limit thee this dayTo seek thyhelp by beneficial help:Try all the friends thou hast in Ephesus;Beg thou, or borrow, to make up the sum,155And live; ifno, then thou art doom’d to die.Gaoler, take him to thy custody.
Duke.Hapless Ægeon, whom the fates have mark’d
To bear the extremity of dire mishap!
Now, trust me, were it not against our laws,
Against my crown, my oath, my dignity,
145Whichprinces, would they, maynot disannul,
My soul should sue as advocate for thee.
But, though thou art adjudged to the death,
And passed sentence may not be recall’d
But to our honour’s great disparagement,
150Yet will I favour thee in what I can.
Therefore, merchant, I’ll limit thee this day
To seek thyhelp by beneficial help:
Try all the friends thou hast in Ephesus;
Beg thou, or borrow, to make up the sum,
155And live; ifno, then thou art doom’d to die.
Gaoler, take him to thy custody.
Gaol.I will, my lord.
Æge.Hopeless and helpless doth Ægeon wend,But to procrastinate hislifelessend.
Æge.Hopeless and helpless doth Ægeon wend,
But to procrastinate hislifelessend.
Exeunt.
First Mer.Therefore give out you are of Epidamnum,Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate.This very day a Syracusian merchantIs apprehended forarrivalhere;5And, not being able to buy out his life,According to the statute of the town,Dies ere the weary sun set in the west.There is your money that I had to keep.
First Mer.Therefore give out you are of Epidamnum,
Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate.
This very day a Syracusian merchant
Is apprehended forarrivalhere;
5And, not being able to buy out his life,
According to the statute of the town,
Dies ere the weary sun set in the west.
There is your money that I had to keep.
Ant. S.Go bear it to the Centaur, where we host,10And stay there, Dromio,tillI come to thee.Within this hour it will be dinner-time:Tillthat. I’ll view the manners of the town,Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings,And then return, and sleep within mine inn;15For with long travel I am stiff and weary.Get thee away.
Ant. S.Go bear it to the Centaur, where we host,
10And stay there, Dromio,tillI come to thee.
Within this hour it will be dinner-time:
Tillthat. I’ll view the manners of the town,
Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings,
And then return, and sleep within mine inn;
15For with long travel I am stiff and weary.
Get thee away.
Dro. S.Many a man would take you at your word,And go indeed, having so good amean.Exit.
Dro. S.Many a man would take you at your word,
And go indeed, having so good amean.Exit.
Ant. S.A trusty villain, sir; that very oft,20When I am dull with care and melancholy,Lightens my humour with his merry jests.What, will you walk with me about the town,And then go tomyinn, and dine with me?
Ant. S.A trusty villain, sir; that very oft,
20When I am dull with care and melancholy,
Lightens my humour with his merry jests.
What, will you walk with me about the town,
And then go tomyinn, and dine with me?
First Mer.I am invited, sir, to certain merchants,25Of whom I hope to make much benefit;I crave your pardon. Soon at five o’clock,Please you, I’ll meet with you upon the mart,And afterwardconsortyou till bed-time:My present business calls me from you now.
First Mer.I am invited, sir, to certain merchants,
25Of whom I hope to make much benefit;
I crave your pardon. Soon at five o’clock,
Please you, I’ll meet with you upon the mart,
And afterwardconsortyou till bed-time:
My present business calls me from you now.
30Ant. S.Farewell till then: I will go losemyself,And wander up and down to view the city.
30Ant. S.Farewell till then: I will go losemyself,
And wander up and down to view the city.
First Mer.Sir, I commend you to your own content.Exit.
Ant. S.He that commends me tomineown contentCommends me to the thing I cannot get.35I to the world am like a drop of water,That in the ocean seeks another drop;Who,fallingthere to find hisfellow forth,Unseen, inquisitive,confounds himself:So I, to find a mother and a brother,40In quest ofthem, unhappy, lose myself.EnterDromioof Ephesus.Here comes the almanac of my true date.What now? how chance thou art return’d so soon?
Ant. S.He that commends me tomineown content
Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
35I to the world am like a drop of water,
That in the ocean seeks another drop;
Who,fallingthere to find hisfellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive,confounds himself:
So I, to find a mother and a brother,
40In quest ofthem, unhappy, lose myself.
Here comes the almanac of my true date.
What now? how chance thou art return’d so soon?
Dro. E.Return’d so soon! rather approach’d too late:The capon burns, the pig falls from the spit;45The clock hath strucken twelve upon the bell;My mistress made it one upon my cheek:She is so hot, because the meat is cold;The meat is cold, because you come not home;You come not home, because you have no stomach;50You have no stomach, having broke your fast;But we, that know what ’tis to fast and pray,Are penitent for your default to-day.
Dro. E.Return’d so soon! rather approach’d too late:
The capon burns, the pig falls from the spit;
45The clock hath strucken twelve upon the bell;
My mistress made it one upon my cheek:
She is so hot, because the meat is cold;
The meat is cold, because you come not home;
You come not home, because you have no stomach;
50You have no stomach, having broke your fast;
But we, that know what ’tis to fast and pray,
Are penitent for your default to-day.
Ant. S.Stop in your wind, sir: tell me this, I pray:Where have you left the money that I gave you?
Ant. S.Stop in your wind, sir: tell me this, I pray:
Where have you left the money that I gave you?
55Dro. E.O,—sixpence, that I had o’ Wednesday lastTo pay the saddler for my mistress’ crupper?The saddler had it, sir; I kept it not.
55Dro. E.O,—sixpence, that I had o’ Wednesday last
To pay the saddler for my mistress’ crupper?
The saddler had it, sir; I kept it not.
Ant. S.I am not in a sportive humour now:Tell me, and dally not, where is the money?60We being strangers here, how darest thou trustSo great a charge from thine own custody?
Ant. S.I am not in a sportive humour now:
Tell me, and dally not, where is the money?
60We being strangers here, how darest thou trust
So great a charge from thine own custody?
Dro. E.I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner:I from my mistress come to you in post;If I return, I shall be post indeed,65For she willscoreyour fault upon my pate.Methinks your maw, like mine, should beyour clock,And strike you home without a messenger.
Dro. E.I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner:
I from my mistress come to you in post;
If I return, I shall be post indeed,
65For she willscoreyour fault upon my pate.
Methinks your maw, like mine, should beyour clock,
And strike you home without a messenger.
Ant. S.Come, Dromio, come, these jests are out of season;Reserve them till a merrier hour than this.70Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee?
Ant. S.Come, Dromio, come, these jests are out of season;
Reserve them till a merrier hour than this.
70Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee?
Dro. E.To me, sir? why, you gave no gold to me.
Ant. S.Come on, sir knave, have done your foolishness,And tell me how thou hast disposed thy charge.
Ant. S.Come on, sir knave, have done your foolishness,
And tell me how thou hast disposed thy charge.
Dro. E.My charge was but to fetch you from the mart75Home to your house, the Phœnix, sir, to dinner:My mistress and her sisterstaysfor you.
Dro. E.My charge was but to fetch you from the mart
75Home to your house, the Phœnix, sir, to dinner:
My mistress and her sisterstaysfor you.
Ant. S.Now, as I am a Christian, answer me,In what safe place you have bestow’d my money;Or I shall break that merry sconce of yours,80That stands on tricks when I am undisposed:Where is the thousand marks thou hadst of me?
Ant. S.Now, as I am a Christian, answer me,
In what safe place you have bestow’d my money;
Or I shall break that merry sconce of yours,
80That stands on tricks when I am undisposed:
Where is the thousand marks thou hadst of me?
Dro. E.I have some marks of yours upon my pate,Some of my mistress’ marks upon my shoulders;But not a thousand marks between you both.85If I should pay your worship those again,Perchance youwillnot bear them patiently.
Dro. E.I have some marks of yours upon my pate,
Some of my mistress’ marks upon my shoulders;
But not a thousand marks between you both.
85If I should pay your worship those again,
Perchance youwillnot bear them patiently.
Ant. S.Thy mistress’ marks? what mistress, slave, hast thou?
Dro. E.Your worship’s wife, my mistress at the Phœnix;She that doth fast till you come home to dinner,90And prays that you will hie you home to dinner.
Dro. E.Your worship’s wife, my mistress at the Phœnix;
She that doth fast till you come home to dinner,
90And prays that you will hie you home to dinner.
Ant. S.What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face,Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave.
Ant. S.What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face,
Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave.
Dro. E.What mean you, sir? forGod’ssake, hold your hands!Nay, an you will not, sir, I’ll take my heels.Exit.
Dro. E.What mean you, sir? forGod’ssake, hold your hands!
Nay, an you will not, sir, I’ll take my heels.Exit.
95Ant. S.Upon my life, by some device or otherThe villain iso’er-raughtof all my money.They say this town is full of cozenage;As, nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,Dark-workingsorcerers that change the mind.100Soul-killingwitches that deform the body,Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks,And many such-likelibertiesof sin:If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner.I’ll to the Centaur, to go seek this slave:105I greatly fear my money is not safe.Exit.
95Ant. S.Upon my life, by some device or other
The villain iso’er-raughtof all my money.
They say this town is full of cozenage;
As, nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,
Dark-workingsorcerers that change the mind.
100Soul-killingwitches that deform the body,
Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks,
And many such-likelibertiesof sin:
If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner.
I’ll to the Centaur, to go seek this slave:
105I greatly fear my money is not safe.Exit.
Adr.Neither my husband nor the slave return’d,That in such haste I sent to seek his master!Sure, Luciana, it is two o’clock.
Adr.Neither my husband nor the slave return’d,
That in such haste I sent to seek his master!
Sure, Luciana, it is two o’clock.
Luc.Perhaps some merchant hath invited him,5And from the mart he’s somewhere gone to dinner.Good sister, let us dine, and never fret:A man is master of his liberty:Time is their master; and when they see time,They’ll go or come: if so, be patient, sister.
Luc.Perhaps some merchant hath invited him,
5And from the mart he’s somewhere gone to dinner.
Good sister, let us dine, and never fret:
A man is master of his liberty:
Time is their master; and when they see time,
They’ll go or come: if so, be patient, sister.
10Adr.Why should their liberty than ours be more?
Luc.Because their business still lies outo’ door.
Adr.Look, when I serve him so, he takes itill.
Luc.O, know he is the bridle of your will.
Adr.There’s none but asses will be bridled so.
15Luc.Why, headstrong liberty islash’dwith woe.There’s nothing situate under heaven’s eyeBut hath hisbound, in earth, in sea, in sky:The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowls,Are their males’subjectsand at their controls:20Men, more divine, the mastersof all these,Lords of the wide world andwild wateryseas,Indued with intellectual sense andsouls,Of more pre-eminence than fish andfowls,Are masters to their females, and their lords:25Then let your will attend on their accords.
15Luc.Why, headstrong liberty islash’dwith woe.
There’s nothing situate under heaven’s eye
But hath hisbound, in earth, in sea, in sky:
The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowls,
Are their males’subjectsand at their controls:
20Men, more divine, the mastersof all these,
Lords of the wide world andwild wateryseas,
Indued with intellectual sense andsouls,
Of more pre-eminence than fish andfowls,
Are masters to their females, and their lords:
25Then let your will attend on their accords.
Adr.This servitude makes you to keep unwed.
Luc.Not this, but troubles of the marriage-bed.
Adr.But, were you wedded, you would bear some sway.
Luc.Ere I learn love, I’ll practise to obey.
30Adr.How if yourhusband startsomeother where?
Luc.Till he comehomeagain, I would forbear.
Adr.Patience unmoved! no marvel though she pause;They can be meek that have no other cause.A wretched soul, bruised with adversity,35We bid be quiet when we hear it cry;But were we burden’d with like weight of pain,As much, or more, we should ourselves complain:So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee,With urging helpless patiencewouldstrelieve me;40But, if thou live toseelike right bereft,Thisfool-begg’dpatience in thee will be left.
Adr.Patience unmoved! no marvel though she pause;
They can be meek that have no other cause.
A wretched soul, bruised with adversity,
35We bid be quiet when we hear it cry;
But were we burden’d with like weight of pain,
As much, or more, we should ourselves complain:
So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee,
With urging helpless patiencewouldstrelieve me;
40But, if thou live toseelike right bereft,
Thisfool-begg’dpatience in thee will be left.
Luc.Well, I will marry one day, but to try.Here comes your man; now is your husband nigh.
Luc.Well, I will marry one day, but to try.
Here comes your man; now is your husband nigh.
Adr.Say, is your tardy masternowat hand?
45Dro. E.Nay, he’s attwohands with me,andthat my two ears can witness.
Adr.Say, didst thou speak with him? know’st thou his mind?
Dro. E.Ay, ay, he told his mind upon mine ear:Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it.
Dro. E.Ay, ay, he told his mind upon mine ear:
Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it.
50Luc.Spake he sodoubtfully, thou couldst not feel his meaning?
Dro. E.Nay, he struck so plainly, I could too well feel his blows; andwithalsodoubtfully,thatI could scarce understand them.
55Adr.But say, I prithee, is he coming home?It seems he hath great care to please his wife.
55Adr.But say, I prithee, is he coming home?
It seems he hath great care to please his wife.
Dro. E.Why, mistress, sure my master is horn-mad.
Adr.Horn-mad, thou villain!
Dro. E.I mean not cuckold-mad;But, sure,he isstark mad.60When I desired him to come home to dinner,He ask’d me fora thousandmarks in gold:‘’Tis dinner-time,’ quoth I; ‘My gold!’ quoth he:‘Your meat doth burn,’ quoth I; ‘My gold!’ quoth he:‘Will you comehome?’ quoth I; ‘My gold!’ quoth he,65‘Where is the thousand marks I gave thee, villain?’‘The pig,’ quoth I, ‘is burn’d;’ ‘My gold!’ quoth he:‘My mistress, sir,’ quoth I; ‘Hang up thy mistress!I know not thy mistress; out on thy mistress!’
Dro. E.
I mean not cuckold-mad;
But, sure,he isstark mad.
60When I desired him to come home to dinner,
He ask’d me fora thousandmarks in gold:
‘’Tis dinner-time,’ quoth I; ‘My gold!’ quoth he:
‘Your meat doth burn,’ quoth I; ‘My gold!’ quoth he:
‘Will you comehome?’ quoth I; ‘My gold!’ quoth he,
65‘Where is the thousand marks I gave thee, villain?’
‘The pig,’ quoth I, ‘is burn’d;’ ‘My gold!’ quoth he:
‘My mistress, sir,’ quoth I; ‘Hang up thy mistress!
I know not thy mistress; out on thy mistress!’
Luc.Quoth who?
70Dro. E.Quothmy master:‘I know,’ quoth he, ‘no house, no wife, no mistress.’So that my errand, due unto my tongue,I thank him, Ibarehome uponmyshoulders;For, in conclusion, he did beat methere.
70Dro. E.Quothmy master:
‘I know,’ quoth he, ‘no house, no wife, no mistress.’
So that my errand, due unto my tongue,
I thank him, Ibarehome uponmyshoulders;
For, in conclusion, he did beat methere.
75Adr.Go back again, thou slave, and fetch him home.
Dro. E.Go back again, and be new beaten home?For God’s sake, send some other messenger.
Dro. E.Go back again, and be new beaten home?
For God’s sake, send some other messenger.
Adr.Back, slave, or I will break thy pate across.
Dro. E.And he will bless that cross with other beating:80Between you I shall have a holy head.
Dro. E.And he will bless that cross with other beating:
80Between you I shall have a holy head.
Adr.Hence, prating peasant! fetch thy master home.
Dro. E.Am I so round with you as you with me,That like a football you do spurn me thus?You spurn me hence, and he will spurn me hither:85IfI lastin this service, you must case me in leather.Exit.
Dro. E.Am I so round with you as you with me,
That like a football you do spurn me thus?
You spurn me hence, and he will spurn me hither:
85IfI lastin this service, you must case me in leather.Exit.
Luc.Fie, how impatience lowereth in your face!
Adr.His companymust do his minions grace,Whilst I at home starve for a merry look.Hath homely age the alluring beauty took90From my poor cheek? then he hath wasted it:Are my discourses dull? barren my wit?If voluble and sharp discourse be marr’d,Unkindnessbluntsit more than marble hard:Do their gay vestments his affections bait?95That’s not my fault; he’s master of my state:What ruins are in me that can be found,By him not ruin’d? then is he the groundOf my defeatures. My decayed fairA sunny look of his would soon repair:100But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale,And feeds from home; poor I am but his stale.
Adr.His companymust do his minions grace,
Whilst I at home starve for a merry look.
Hath homely age the alluring beauty took
90From my poor cheek? then he hath wasted it:
Are my discourses dull? barren my wit?
If voluble and sharp discourse be marr’d,
Unkindnessbluntsit more than marble hard:
Do their gay vestments his affections bait?
95That’s not my fault; he’s master of my state:
What ruins are in me that can be found,
By him not ruin’d? then is he the ground
Of my defeatures. My decayed fair
A sunny look of his would soon repair:
100But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale,
And feeds from home; poor I am but his stale.
Luc.Self-harming jealousy! fie, beat it hence!
Adr.Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense.I know his eye doth homage otherwhere;105Or else what lets it but he would be here?Sister, you know he promised me a chain;Would thatalone, alonehe would detain,So he would keep fair quarter with his bed!I see the jewel best enamelled110Will lose his beauty;yet thegold bides still,That others touch, andoften touchingwillWeargold:and no manthat hath a name,Byfalsehood and corruption doth it shame.Since that my beauty cannot please his eye,115I’ll weepwhat’s left away, and weeping die.
Adr.Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense.
I know his eye doth homage otherwhere;
105Or else what lets it but he would be here?
Sister, you know he promised me a chain;
Would thatalone, alonehe would detain,
So he would keep fair quarter with his bed!
I see the jewel best enamelled
110Will lose his beauty;yet thegold bides still,
That others touch, andoften touchingwill
Weargold:and no manthat hath a name,
Byfalsehood and corruption doth it shame.
Since that my beauty cannot please his eye,
115I’ll weepwhat’s left away, and weeping die.
Luc.How many fond fools serve mad jealousy!
Exeunt.
Ant. S.The gold I gave to Dromio is laid upSafe at the Centaur; and the heedful slaveIs wander’d forth, in care to seek meoutBy computation and mine host’s report.5Icould not speak with Dromio since at firstI sent him from the mart. See, here he comes.
Ant. S.The gold I gave to Dromio is laid up
Safe at the Centaur; and the heedful slave
Is wander’d forth, in care to seek meout
By computation and mine host’s report.
5Icould not speak with Dromio since at first
I sent him from the mart. See, here he comes.
How now, sir! is your merry humour alter’d?As you love strokes, so jest with me again.You know no Centaur? you receiv’d no gold?10Your mistress sent to have me home to dinner?My house was at the Phœnix? Wast thou mad,That thus so madly thoudidstanswer me?
How now, sir! is your merry humour alter’d?
As you love strokes, so jest with me again.
You know no Centaur? you receiv’d no gold?
10Your mistress sent to have me home to dinner?
My house was at the Phœnix? Wast thou mad,
That thus so madly thoudidstanswer me?
Dro. S.What answer, sir? when spake I such a word?
Ant. S.Even now, even here, not half an hour since.
15Dro. S.I did not see you since you sent me hence,Home to the Centaur, with the gold you gave me.
15Dro. S.I did not see you since you sent me hence,
Home to the Centaur, with the gold you gave me.
Ant. S.Villain, thou didst deny the gold’s receipt,And told’st me of a mistress and a dinner;For which, I hope, thou felt’st I was displeased.
Ant. S.Villain, thou didst deny the gold’s receipt,
And told’st me of a mistress and a dinner;
For which, I hope, thou felt’st I was displeased.
20Dro. S.I am glad to see you in this merry vein:What means this jest? I pray you, master, tell me.
20Dro. S.I am glad to see you in this merry vein:
What means this jest? I pray you, master, tell me.
Ant. S.Yea, dost thou jeer and flout me in the teeth?Think’st thou I jest? Hold, take thou that, and that.Beating him.
Ant. S.Yea, dost thou jeer and flout me in the teeth?
Think’st thou I jest? Hold, take thou that, and that.Beating him.
Dro. S.Hold, sir, for God’s sake! now your jest is earnest:25Upon what bargain do you give it me?
Dro. S.Hold, sir, for God’s sake! now your jest is earnest:
25Upon what bargain do you give it me?
Ant. S.Because that I familiarly sometimesDo use you for my fool, and chat with you,Your sauciness willjestupon my love,And make acommonof my serious hours.30When the sun shines let foolish gnats make sport,But creep in crannies when he hides his beams.If you will jest with me, know my aspect,And fashion your demeanour to my looks,Or I will beat this method in your sconce.
Ant. S.Because that I familiarly sometimes
Do use you for my fool, and chat with you,
Your sauciness willjestupon my love,
And make acommonof my serious hours.
30When the sun shines let foolish gnats make sport,
But creep in crannies when he hides his beams.
If you will jest with me, know my aspect,
And fashion your demeanour to my looks,
Or I will beat this method in your sconce.
35Dro. S.Sconce call you it? so you would leave battering, I had rather have it a head: an you use these blows long, I must get a sconce for my head, and insconce it too; orelseI shall seek my wit in my shoulders. But, I pray, sir, why am I beaten?
40Ant. S.Dost thou not know?
Dro. S.Nothing, sir, but that I am beaten.
Ant. S.Shall I tell you why?
Dro. S.Ay, sir, and wherefore; for they say every why hath a wherefore.