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. Adr. Dissembling villain, thou speak'st false in both. Ant. E. Dissembling harlot, thou art false in all; And art confederate with a damned pack, To make a loathsome abject scorn of me: But with these nails I'll pluck out these false eyes, That would behold me in this shameful sport. [Pinch and his assistants bind Ant. E. and Dro. E. 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. Masters, let him go: 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 * 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: * Foolish, VOL. IV. Bear me forthwith unto his creditor, And, knowing how the debt grows, I will pay it. Dro. E. Master, I am here enter'd in bond for you. Ant. E. Out on thee, villain! wherefore dost thou mad me? Dro. E. Will you be bound for nothing? be mad, Good master; cry, the devil. Luc. God help, poor souls, how idly do they talk! Adr. Go, bear him hence.-Sister, go you with me.- [Exeunt Pinch and assistants, with Ant. E. and Dro. E. Say now, whose suit is he arrested at? Off. One Angelo, a goldsmith; Do you know him? Adr. 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. Adr. It may be so, but I did never see it :Come, gaoler, bring me where the goldsmith is, I long to know the truth hereof at large. Enter Antipholus of Syracuse, with his rapier drawn, and Dromio of 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. * Unhappy for unlucky, i. e. mischievous. off. Away, they'll kill us. [Exeunt Officer, Adr. and Luc. Ant. 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 do us no harm; you saw, they speak us fair, give us 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: Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. The same. Enter Merchant and Angelo. Ang. I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder'd you; Mer. How is the man esteem'd here in the city? Of credit infinite, highly belov'd, Second to none that lives here in the city; Enter Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse. Ang. "Tis so; and that self chain about his neck, Which he forswore, most monstrously, to have, Good sir, draw near to me, I'll speak to him. Signior Antipholus, I wonder much * Baggage. That you would put me to this shame and trouble; Fye on thee, wretch! 'tis pity, that thou liv'st Ant. S. Thou art a villain, to impeach me thus: [They draw. Enter Adriana, Luciana, Courtezan, and others. Adr. Hold, hurt him not, for God's sake; he is mad: Some get within him*, take his sword away: This is some priory ;-In, or we are spoil'd. [Exeunt Antipholus and Dromio to the priory. Enter the Abbess. Abb. Be quiet, people; Wherefore throng you hither? Adr. To fetch my poor distracted husband hence ; Let us come in, that we may bind him fast, And bear him home for his recovery. Ang. I knew he was not in his perfeet wits. Adr. This week he hath been heavy, sour, sad, And much, much different 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 wreck at Bury'd some dear friend? Hath not else his eye Adr. 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. Adr. Abb. Ay, but not enough. And in assemblies too. Adr. It was the copy* of our conference : Abb. And thereof came it, that the man was mad! ings: Unquiet meals make ill digestions, * Theme. |