ACT THE FOURTH. 1 SCENE I. The same. Enter a Merchant, ANGELO, and an Officer. Mer. You know, since pentecost the sum is due, And since I have not much impórtun'd you; Nor now I had not, but that I am bound To Persia, and want gilders for my voyage: Therefore make present satisfaction, Or I'll attach you by this officer. Ang. Even just the sum, that I do owe to you, Is growing 2 to me by Antipholus : And, in the instant that I met with you, He had of me a chain; at five o'clock, I shall receive the money for the same: Pleaseth you walk with me down to his house, I will discharge my bond, and thank you too. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, and DROMIO of Ephesus. Off: That labour may you save; see where he comes. Ant. E. While I go to the goldsmith's house, go thou And buy a rope's end; that will I bestow get thee gone; Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me. Accruing. Dro. E. I buy a thousand pounds a year! I buy I pray you, see him presently discharg'd, self? Ant. E. No; bear it with you, lest I come not time enough. Ang. Well, sir, I will: have you the chain about you? Ant. E. An if I have not, sir, I hope you have; Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman, cuse Your breach of promise to the Porcupine Ang. You hear, how he impórtunes me; the chain Ant. E. Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money. Ang. Come, come, you know, I gave it you even now; Either send the chain, or send me by some token. Ant. E. Fye! how you run this humour out of breath: Come, where's the chain? I pray you let me see it. Ant. E. I answer you! What should I answer you? Ang. The money that you owe me for the chain. Ant. E. I owe you none, till I receive the chain. Ang. You know I gave it you half an hour since. Ant. E. You gave me none; you wrong me much to say so. Ang. You wrong me more, sir, in denying it: Consider how it stands upon my credit. Mer. Well officer, arrest him at my suit. Off. I do; and charge you in the duke's name to obey me. Ang. This touches me in reputation : Either consent to pay this sum for me, Or I attach you by this officer. Ant. E. Consent to pay thee that I never had! Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar'st. Ang. Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer; Off. I do arrest you, sir; you hear the suit. - Enter DROMIO of Syracuse. Dro. S. Master, there is a bark of Epidamnum, That stays but till her owner comes aboard, And then, sir, bears away; our fraughtage3, sir, I have convey'd aboard; and I have bought The oil, the balsamum, and aqua-vitæ. The ship is in her trim; the merry wind Blows fair from land: they stay for naught at all, But for their owner, master, and yourself. Ant. E. How now! a madman! Why, thou peevish 4 sheep, What ship of Epidamnum stays for me? Dro. S. A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage. 5 Ant. E. Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope; And told thee to what purpose and what end. Dro. S. You sent me, sir, for a rope's end as soon: You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark. Ant. E. I will debate this matter at more leisure, And teach your ears to listen with more heed. To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight: Give her this key, and tell her, in the desk That's cover'd o'er with Turkish tapestry, There is a purse of ducats: let her send it; Tell her, I am arrested in the street, And that shall bail me: hie thee, slave; be gone. On, officer, to prison till it come. [Exeunt Merchant, ANGELO, Officer, and ANT. E. Dro. S. To Adriana! that is where he din'd, Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband: Thither I must, although against my will, For servants must their masters' minds fulfil. [Exit. › Freight, cargo. 4 Silly. 5 Carriage. VOL. IV. SCENE II. The same. Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA. Adr. Ah, Luciana, did he tempt thee so? Might'st thou perceive austerely in his eye That he did plead in earnest, yea or no? Look'd he or red, or pale; or sad, or merrily? What observations mad'st thou in this case, Of his heart's meteors tilting in his face?6 Luc. First, he denied you had in him no right. Adr. He meant, he did me none; the more my spite. Luc. Then swore he, that he was a stranger here. Adr. And true he swore, though yet forsworn he were. Luc. Then pleaded I for you. Adr. And what said he? Luc. That love I begg'd for you, he begg'd of me. Adr. With what persuasion did he tempt thy love? Luc. With words, that in an honest suit might move. First he did praise my beauty; then, my speech. Adr. Did'st speak him fair? Luc. Have patience, I beseech. Adr. I cannot, nor I will not, hold me still; My tongue, though not my heart, shall have his will. He is deformed, crooked, old, and sere, 7 6 An allusion to the redness of the northern lights, likened to the appearance of armies. 7 Dry, withered. s Marked by nature with deformity. |