us go.

you know.

Or, for my diamond, the chain you promis’d;
And I'll be gone, sir, and not trouble you.

Dro. S. Some devils ask but the parings of one's nail, a rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, a nut, a cherry-stone; but she, more covetous, would have a chain. Master, be wise; and if you give it her, the devil will shake her chain, and fright us with it.

Cour. I pray you, sir, my ring, or else the chain; I hope, you do not mean to cheat me so.

Ant. S. Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio, let
Dro. S. Fly pride, says the peacock. Mistress, that

(Exeunt Ant, and Dro.
Cour. Now, out of doubt, Antipholus is mad,
Else would he never so demean himself.
A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats,
And for the same he promis'd me a chain ;
Both one, and other, he denies me now.
The reason that I gather he is mad
-Besides this present instance of his rage-
Is a mad tale, he told to-day at dinner,
Of his own doors being shut against his entrance.
Belike, his wife, acquainted with his fits,
On purpose shut the doors against his way.
My way is now, to hie home to his house,
And tell his wife, that, being lunatic,
He rush'd into my house, and took perforce
My ring away. This course I fittest choose;
For forty ducats is too much to lose. [Exit.

a

SCENE IV. The same.
Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, and an Officer.

Antipholus of Ephesus.
me not, man, I will not break away;
I'll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money
To warrant thee, as I am 'rested for.
My wife is in a wayward mood to-day;

FEAR

How now,

And will not lightly trust the messenger.
That I should be attach'd in Ephesus,
I tell you, 'twill sound harshly in her ears.-

Enter Dromio of Ephesus with a rope's end. Here comes my man; I think, he brings the money.

sir! have you that I sent you for ? Dro. E. Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them

all, Ant. E. But where's the money? Dro. E. Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope. Ant. E. Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope ? Dro. E. I'll serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate. Ant. E. To what end did I bid thee hie thee home?

Dro. E. To a rope's end, sir; and to that end am I return'd. Ant. E. And to that end, sir, I will welcome you.

[Beating him. Off. Good sir, be patient. 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 whoreson, senseless villain !

Dro. E. I would I were senseless, sir, that I might not feel your blows.

Ant. &. 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 served 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 á beggar wont her brat; and, I think, when he hath lamed me, I shall beg with it from door to door.

Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, the Courtezan, 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,
And I will please you what you will demand.

Luc. Alas, how fiery and how sharp he looks !
Cour. Mark, how he trembles in his ecstasy!

Pinch. Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse.

Ant. E. There is my hand, and let it feel your ear.
Pinch. I charge thee, Satan, hous’d within this

man,
To yield possession to my holy prayers,
And to thy state of darkness hie thee straight;
I conjure thee by all the saints in heaven.

Ant. E. Peace, doting wizard, peace; I am not mad.
Adr. Oh, that thou wert not, poor distressed soul!

Ant. E. You minion, you, are these your customers ? Did this companion with the saffron face Revel and feast it at my house to-day, Whilst upon me the guilty doors were shut, And I denied to enter in my house?

Adr. O husband, God doth know you dind at home, Where 'would you had remain'd until this time, Free from these slanders and this

open

shame! Ant. E. Dined at home! Thou villain, what say'st

thou? Dro. E. Sir, sooth to say, you did not dine at

home. Ant. E. Were not my doors locked up, and I shut

me.

Dro. E. Perdy, your doors were lock'd, and you

shut out. Ant. E. And did not she herself revile me there? Dro. E. Sans fable, she herself revil'd you there. Ant. E. Did not her kitchen-maid rail, taunt, and

scorn me? Dro. E. Certes, she did; the kitchen-vestal scorn'd

you. Ant. E. And did I not in rage depart from thence? Dro. E. In verity you did; my bones bear witness, That since have felt the vigour of his12 rage.

Adr. Is’t good to soothe 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 arrest

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 thou not 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. God 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. They must be bound, and laid in some dark room. Ant. E. Say, wherefore didst thou lock me forth

to-day,
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;

me.

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 in me this shameful sport.
Enter three or four, and go to bind Ant. and Dro.
Adr. O bind him, bind him, let him not come near
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 frantic too.
Adr. What wilt thou do, thou peevish officer?
Hast thou delight to see a wretched man
Do outrage and displeasure to himself?

Of. 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 it.
Good Master Doctor, see him safe convey
Home to my house. -Oh, most unhappy day!

Ant. E. Oh, most unhappy strumpet !
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. and DRO. Say now, whose suit is he arrested at ?

Off. One Angelo, a goldsmith; do you know him?