For better times to come: Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, And take her hence in horror. Mari. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all. -Friar, advise him; [jects; 20 His act did not o'ertake his bad intent; Mari. Merely, my lord. [say. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I 25 I have bethought me of another fault :- Prov. It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Duke. For which I do discharge you of your of Prov. Pardon me, noble lord: I thought it was a fault, but knew it not; Duke. What's he? Prov. His name is Barnardine. [dio.Duke. I would, thou had'st done so by ClauGo, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provost. Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd, Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood, And lack of temper'd judgment afterward. Ang. I am sorry that such sorrow I procure: And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart, That I crave death more willingly than mercy: 'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it. [lietta. Re-enter Provost, Barnardine, Claudio, and JuDuke. Which is that Barnardine? Prov. This, my lord. Duke. There was a friar told me of this man:Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, That apprehends no further than this world, Andsquar'stthylifeaccordingly: thou'rtcondemn'd; But, for those earthly faul, I quit them all; I pray thee, take this mercy to provide 35 yours. I find an apt remission in myself; And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ;— One all of luxury, an ass, a madman; [To Lucio. Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: if you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.— Proclaim it, provost, round about the city; If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow, (As I have heard him swear himself, there's one Whom he begot with child) let her appear, And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, Let him be whipp'd and hang'd. Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said, even now, I made you a duke; good, my lord, do not recompense me, in making me a cuckold. Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. 40 Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal 45 Remit thy other forfeits :-Take him to prison: And see our pleasure herein executed. Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging. Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.— She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore. Joy to you, Mariana! love her, Angelo; I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.— Thanks,good friend Escalus, for thymuch goodness; 50 There's more behind, that is more gratulate ". Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy; We shall employ thee in a worthier place:Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home The head of Ragozine for Claudio's: 55 The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel, I have a motion much imports your good; Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline, What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine: So bring us to our palace; where we'll shew 60 What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know. [Exeunt. That is, according to my custom. That is, consid 'ration. 2 That is, requites. ing carnal offence. 5 hat is, more to be rejoiced in. * Mean COMEDY COMEDY OF ERRORS. PERSONS SOLINUS, Duke of Ephesus. ÆGEON, a Merchant of Syracuse. ANTIPHOLIS of Ephesus, REPRESENTED. Twin Brothers and Sons to Ageon and known to each other. ANTIPHOLIS of Syracuse,) Amilu, but unDROMIO of Ephesus, Twin Brothers and Slaves DROMIO of Syracuse, to the two Antipholis's. BALTHAZAR, a Merchant. ANGELO, a Goldsmith. A Merchant, Friend to Antipholis of Syracuse. EMILIA, Wife to Ægeon, an Abbess at Ephesus. LUCE, Servant to Adriana. Jailor, Officers, and other Attendants. SCENE I. The Duke's Palace. A C T I. And, by the doom of death, end woes and all. Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies, 5 My woes end likewise with the evening sun. Duke. Well, Syracusan, say, in brief, the cause Why thou departedst from thy native home; And for what cause thou cam'st to Ephesus. Egeon. A heavier task could not have been imThan I to speak my griefs unspeakable: [pos'd, Yet, that the world may witness, that my end Was wrought by nature,not by vile offence, I'll utter what my sorrow gives me leave. 10In Syracusa was I born; and wed Unto a woman, happy but for me, And by me too, had not our hap been bad. With her I liv'd in joy; our wealth increas'd, By prosperous voyages I often made 15 To Epidamnum, till my factor's death; And he, great care of goods at random left, Drew me from kind embracements of my spouse; From whom my absence was not six months old, Before herself (almost at fainting, under 20 The pleasing punishment that women bear) 25 And, which was strange, the one so like the other Of such a burden, male twins, both alike: 30 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, [Made daily motions for our home return: Unwilling Unwilling I agreed; alas, too soon. A league from Epidamnum had we sail'd, A doubtful warrant of immediate death; [brac'd, Do me the favour to dilate at full 5 After his brother; and importun'd me, Which though myself would gladly have em-101 hazarded the loss of whom I lov'd. Yet the incessant weepings of my wife, [so; Duke. Nay, forward, old man, do not break off Egon. Oh, had the gods done so, I had not now Our helpful ship was splitted in the midst, [for, Five summers have I spent in farthest Greece, 35 40 [wend', [Exeunt Ageon and Jailor, SCENE II. Changes to the Street. Enter Antipholis of Syracuse, a Merchant, and Dromio. 50 Dies ere the weary sun set in the west, 55 Till that, I'll view the manners of the town, 60 2 Clean is still used in the North of England instead of quite, fully, completely. That is, go. Ant, Ant. A trusty villain, sir; that very oft, Mer. I am invited, sir, to certain merchants, Methinks your maw, like mine, should be your 5 Reserve them till a merrier hour than this. 10And tell me, how thou hast dispos'd thy charge. E. Dro. My charge was but to fetch you from 20 Ant. Farewell till then: I will go lose myself, Ant. Stop in your wind, sir: tell me this, I pray; Ant. I am not in a sportive humour now; E. Dro. I pray you, jest sir, as you sit at dinner: For she will score your fault upon my pate. the mart Home to your house, the Phoenix, sir, to dinner; Ant. Now, as I am a christian, answer me, pate, 30 35 40 hast thou? E. Dro. Your worship's wife, my mistress at the She that doth fast, till you come home to dinner, And prays, that you will hie you home to dinner. Ant. What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face, Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave. Nay, an you will not, sir, I'll take my heels. If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner. [Exit. Adr. Why should their liberty than ours be more Luc. Because their business still lies out o' door. Adr. Look, when I serve him so, he takes it ill. Luc. Oh, know he is the bridle of your will. [so. Adr. There's none, but asses, wil be bridled Luc. Why head-strong liberty is lash'd with woe. There's nothing, situate under heaven's eye, But hath his bound, in earth, in sea, in sky: The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowls, Are their males' subject, and at their controuls: Men, more divine, the masters of all these, Lords of the wide world, and wild watry seas, Indu'd with intellectual sense and souls, Of more pre-eminence than fish and fowls, Are masters to their females, and their lords: Then let your will attend on their accords. Adr. This servitude makes you to keep unwed. Luc. Not this, but troubles of the marriage-bed. dr. But, were you wedded, you would bear some sway. Luc. Ere I learn love, I'll practise to obey. Adr. How if your husband start some other where'? 5 'Tis dinner-time, quoth I: My gold, quoth he:Your meat doth burn, quoth I; My gold, quoth he: Will you come? quoth I; My gold, quoth be: 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? E. Dro. Quoth my master: 101 know, quoth he, no house,no wife, no mistress;~ So that my errand due unto my tongue, I thank him, I bare home upon my shoulders; For, in conclusion, he did beat me there. [home, Adr. Go back again, thou slave, and fetch him 15 E.Dro. Goback again, and be new beaten home? For God's sake, send some other messenger. Adr. Back, slave, or I will break thy pate across, E. Dro. And he will bless that cross with other beating: 20 Luc. Till he come home again, I would forbear. she pause; They can be meek, that have no other cause. Luc. Well, I will marry one day, but to try; Here comes your man, now is your husband nigh. Enter Dromio of Ephesus. Adr. Say, is your tardy master now at hand? E. Dro. Nay, he is at two hands with me, and that my two ears can witness. Adr. Say, didst thou speak with him? know'st thou his mind? E. Dro. Ay, ay, he told his mind upon mine ear: Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it. Luc. Spake he so doubtfully, thou couldst not feel his meaning? E. Dro. Nay, he struck so plainly, I could too well feel his blows; and withal so doubtfully, that I could scarce understand them'. Adr. But say, I pry'thee, is he coming home? It seems he hath great care to please his wife. E.Dro.Why, mistress, sure my master is hornAdr. Horn-mad, thou villain? [mad. Between you I shall have a holy head. [home. [Exit. Luc. Fye, how impatience loureth in your face! Adr. His company must do his minions grace, Whilst I at home starve for a merry look. 3011ath homely age the alluring beauty took From my poor cheek? then he hath wasted it: Are my discourses dull? barren my wit? If voluble and sharp discourse be marr'd, Unkindness blunts it, more than marble hard. 35 Do their gay vestments his affections bait? That'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 40A sunny look of his would soon repair: But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale, And feeds from home; poor I am but his stale3. Luc. Self-harming jealousy!-fye, beat it hence. Adr. Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dis45 I know his eye doth homage other-where; [pense. Or else, what lets it but he would be here? Sister, you know, he promis'd me a chain:— Would that alone, alone he would detain, So he would keep fair quarter with his bed! 50I see, the jewel, best enamelled, E. Dro. I mean not cuckold-mad; but, sure, 55 When I desir'd him to come home to dinner, 6 Will lose his beauty; and the gold 'bides still, Meaning, some other place. Meaning, stand under them. 3 That is, plain, free in speech. *Meaning, my change, or alteration of features. That is, his pretence, his cover. See a preceding note in the Tempest. The sense is, " Gold, indeed, will long bear the handling; however, often touching will wear even gold; just so the greatest character, though as pure as gold itself, may, in time, be injured by the repeated attacks of falshood and corruption. SCENE |