Ant. E. And to that end, sir, I will welcome you. Off. Good sir, be patient. [Beating him. Dro. E. Nay, 'tis for me to be patient; I am in adversity. Off. Good now, hold thy tongue. Dro. E. Nay, rather persuade him to hold his hands. Ant. E. Thou senseless villain! Dro. E. I would I were senseless, sir, that I might not feel your blows. Ant. E. Thou art sensible in nothing but blows, and so is an ass. Dro. E. I am an ass indeed; you may prove it by my long ears. I have serv'd him from the hour of my nativity to this instant, and have nothing at his hands for my service, but blows: when I am cold, he heats me with beating: when I am warm, he cools me with beating: I am waked with it, when I sleep; raised with it, when I sit; driven out of doors with it, when I go from home; welcomed home with it, when I return: nay, I bear it on my shoulders, as a beggar wont her brat; and, I think, when he hath lamed me, I shall beg with it from door to door. Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, and the Courtezan, with PINCH, and others. Ant. E. Come, go along; my wife is coming yonder. Dro. E. Mistress, respice finem, respect your end; or rather the prophecy, like the parrot, Beware the rope's end. Ant. E. Wilt thou still talk? [Beats him. Cour. How say you now? is not your husband mad? Adr. His incivility confirms no less. Good doctor Pinch, you are a conjurer ; Establish him in his true sense again, Ant. E. There is my hand and let it feel man, To yield possession to my holy prayers, And to thy state of darkness hie thee straight; Ant. E. Peace, doting wizard, peace; I am not Adr. O, that thou wert not, poor distressed soul ! Ant. E. You minion you, are these your cus- Did this companion with a saffron face Adr. O, husband, God doth know, you din'd at Where 'would you had remain'd until this time, Dro. E, Sir, sooth to say, you did not dine at Ant. E. Were not my doors lock'd up, and I shut out? Dro. E. Perdy, your doors were lock'd, and you shut out. Ant. E. And did not she herself revile me there? A corruption of the French oath —pardieu. 6 Without a fable. 1 Ant. E. Did not her kitchen maid rail, taunt, and scorn me? Dro. E. Certes7, 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; witness, my bones bear That since have felt the vigour of his rage. Adr. Is't good to sooth 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 ar rest me. Adr. 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 a rag of money. Ant. E. Went'st not thou to her for a purse of ducats? Adr. He came to me, and I deliver❜d it. Luc. And I am witness with her, that she did. Dro. E. Heaven and the rope-maker, bear me witness, That I was sent for nothing but a rope! Pinch. Mistress, both man and master is possess'd; I know it by their pale and deadly looks: And why dost thou deny the bag of gold? Adr. I did not, gentle husband, lock thee forth. Dro. E. And, gentle master, I receiv'd no gold; But I confess, sir, that we were lock'd out. 7 Certainly. Adr. Dissembling villain, thou speak'st false in both. Ant. E. Dissembling harlot thou art false in all; And art confederate with a wicked pack, To make a loathsome abject scorn of me: But with these nails I'll pluck out these false eyes, That would behold in me this shameful sport. [PINCH and his Assistants bind ANT. and DROMIO. Adr. O, bind him, bind him, let him not come near me. Pinch. More company; the fiend is strong within him. Luc. Ah me, poor man, how pale and wan he looks! Ant. E. What, will you murder me? Thou gaoler, thou, I am thy prisoner; wilt thou suffer them To make a rescue? Off go; Masters, let him He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him. Pinch. Go, bind this man, for he is frantick too Adr. What wilt thou do, thou peevish 8 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, The debt he owes, will be requir'd 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 Dro. E. Master, I am here enter'd in bond for you. Ant. E. Out on thee, villain! wherefore dost thou mad me? 8 Foolish. Dro. E. Will you be bound for nothing? be Luc. God help, poor souls, how idly do they [Exeunt PINCH and Assistants with ANT. and DRO. Say now, whose suit is he arrested at? Off. One Angelo, a goldsmith; Do you know him? Adr. 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 chain for me, but had it not. Cour. When as your husband, all in rage, to-day Came 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. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse, with his rapier drawn, and DROMIO of Syracuse. Luc. Heaven, 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 Officer, ADR. and Luc. Ant. S. I see, these witches are afraid of swords. |