William Shakespeare - The Complete Works

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THE COMEDY OF ERRORS Act 5 Scene 1 (Enter Second Merchant and Angelo the goldsmith) l1l Angelo I am sorry, sir, that I have hindered you, l2l But I protest he had the chain of me, l3l Though most dishonestly he doth deny it. l4l Second Merchant How is the man esteemed here in the city? l5l Angelo Of very reverend reputation, sir, l6l Of credit infinite, highly beloved, l7l Second to none that lives here in the city. l8l His word might bear my wealth at any time. l9l Second Merchant Speak softly. Yonder, as I think, he walks. (Enter Antipholue of Syracuse, wearing the chain, and Dromio of Syracuse again) l10l Angelo ÆTis so, and that self chain about his neck l11l Which he forswore most monstrously to have. l12l Good sir, draw near to me. IÆll speak to him.ù l13l Signor Antipholus, I wonder much l14l That you would put me to this shame and trouble, l15l And not without some scandal to yourself, l16l With circumstance and oaths so to deny l17l This chain, which now you wear so openly. l18l Beside the charge, the shame, imprisonment, l19l You have done wrong to this my honest friend, l20l Who, but for staying on our controversy, l21l Had hoisted sail and put to sea today. l22l This chain you had of me. Can you deny it? l23l Antipholus Of Syracuse I think I had. I never did deny it. l24l Second Merchant Yes, that you did, sir, and forswore it too. l25l Antipholus Of Syracuse Who heard me to deny it or forswear it? l26l Second Merchant These ears of mine, thou knowÆst, did hear thee. l27l Fie on thee, wretch! ÆTis pity that thou livÆst l28l To walk where any honest men resort. l29l Antipholus Of Syracuse Thou art a villain to impeach me thus. l30l IÆll prove mine honour and mine honesty l31l Against thee presently, if thou darÆst stand. l32l Second Merchant I dare, and do defy thee for a villain. (They draw. Enter Adriana, Luciana, Courtesan, and others from the Phoenix) l33l Adriana Hold, hurt him not, for GodÆs sake; he is mad. l34l Some get within him, take his sword away. l35l Bind Dromio too, and bear them to my house. l36l Dromio Of Syracuse Run, master, run! For GodÆs sake take a house. l37l This is some prioryùin, or we are spoiled. (Exeunt Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse to the priory) (Enter from the priory the Lady Abbess) l38l Abbess Be quiet, people. Wherefore throng you hither? l39l Adriana To fetch my poor distracted husband hence. l40l Let us come in, that we may bind him fast, l41l And bear him home for his recovery. l42l Angelo I knew he was not in his perfect wits. l43l Second Merchant I am sorry now that I did draw on him. l44l Abbess How long hath this possession held the man? l45l Adriana This week he hath been heavy, sour, sad, l46l And much, much different from the man he was; l47l But till this afternoon his passion l48l NeÆer brake into extremity of rage. l49l Abbess Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck at sea? l50l Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye l51l Strayed his affection in unlawful loveù l52l A sin prevailing much in youthful men, l53l Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing? l54l Which of these sorrows is he subject to? l55l Adriana To none of these, except it be the last, l56l Namely some love that drew him oft from home. l57l Abbess You should for that have reprehended him. l58l Adriana Why, so I did. Abbess Ay, but not rough enough. l59l Adriana As roughly as my modesty would let me. l60l Abbess Haply in private. l61l Adriana And in assemblies too. l62l Abbess Ay, but not enough. l63l Adriana It was the copy of our conference. l64l In bed he slept not for my urging it. l65l At board he fed not for my urging it. l66l Alone, it was the subject of my theme. l67l In company I often glancΦd it. l68l Still did I tell him it was vile and bad. l69l Abbess And thereof came it that the man was mad. l70l The venom clamours of a jealous woman l71l Poisons more deadly than a mad dogÆs tooth. l72l It seems his sleeps were hindered by thy railing, l73l And thereof comes it that his head is light. l74l Thou sayst his meat was sauced with thy upbraidings. l75l Unquiet meals make ill digestions. l76l Thereof the raging fire of fever bred, l77l And whatÆs a fever but a fit of madness? l78l Thou sayst his sports were hindered by thy brawls. l79l Sweet recreation barred, what doth ensue l80l But moody and dull melancholy, l81l Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair, l82l And at her heels a huge infectious troop l83l Of pale distemperatures and foes to life? l84l In food, in sport, and life-preserving rest l85l To be disturbed would mad or man or beast. l86l The consequence is, then, thy jealous fits l87l Hath scared thy husband from the use of wits. l88l Luciana She never reprehended him but mildly l89l When he demeaned himself rough, rude, and wildly. l90l (To Adriana) Why bear you these rebukes, and answer not? l91l Adriana She did betray me to my own reproof.ù l92l Good people, enter, and lay hold on him. l93l Abbess No, not a creature enters in my house. l94l Adriana Then let your servants bring my husband forth. l95l Abbess Neither. He took this place for sanctuary, l96l And it shall privilege him from your hands l97l Till I have brought him to his wits again, l98l Or lose my labour in essaying it. l99l Adriana I will attend my husband, be his nurse, l100l Diet his sickness, for it is my office, l101l And will have no attorney but myself. l102l And therefore let me have him home with me. l103l Abbess Be patient, for I will not let him stir l104l Till I have used the approvΦd means I have, l105l With wholesome syrups, drugs, and holy prayers l106l To make of him a formal man again. l107l It is a branch and parcel of mine oath, l108l A charitable duty of my order. l109l Therefore depart, and leave him here with me. l110l Adriana I will not hence, and leave my husband here; l111l And ill it doth beseem your holiness l112l To separate the husband and the wife. l113l Abbess Be quiet and depart. Thou shalt not have him. (Exit into the priory) l114l Luciana (to Adriana) Complain unto the Duke of this indignity. l115l Adriana Come, go, I will fall prostrate at his feet, l116l And never rise until my tears and prayers l117l Have won his grace to come in person hither l118l And take perforce my husband from the Abbess. l119l Second Merchant By this, I think, the dial pointÆs at five. l120l Anon, IÆm sure, the Duke himself in person l121l Comes this way to the melancholy vale, l122l The place of death and sorry execution, l123l Behind the ditches of the abbey here. l124l Angelo Upon what cause? l125l Second Merchant To see a reverend Syracusian merchant, l126l Who put unluckily into this bay l127l Against the laws and statutes of this town, l128l Beheaded publicly for his offence. l129l Angelo See where they come. We will behold his death. l130l Luciana Kneel to the Duke before he pass the abbey. (Enter Solinus Duke of Ephesus, and Egeon the merchant of Syracuse, bareheaded, with the headsman and other officers) l131l Duke Yet once again proclaim it publicly: l132l If any friend will pay the sum for him, l133l He shall not die, so much we tender him. l134l Adriana (kneeling) Justice, most sacred Duke, against the Abbess! l135l Duke She is a virtuous and a reverend lady. l136l It cannot be that she hath done thee wrong. l137l Adriana May it please your grace, Antipholus my husband, l138l Who I made lord of me and all I had l139l At your important lettersùthis ill day l140l A most outrageous fit of madness took him, l141l That despÆrately he hurried through the street, l142l With him his bondman, all as mad as he, l143l Doing displeasure to the citizens l144l By rushing in their houses, bearing thence l145l Rings, jewels, anything his rage did like. l146l Once did I get him bound, and sent him home, l147l Whilst to take order for the wrongs I went l148l That here and there his fury had committed. l149l Anon, I wot not by what strong escape, l150l He broke from those that had the guard of him, l151l And with his mad attendant and himself, l152l Each one with ireful passion, with drawn swords, l153l Met us again, and, madly bent on us, l154l Chased us away; till, raising of more aid, l155l We came again to bind them. Then they fled l156l Into this abbey, whither we pursued them, l157l And here the Abbess shuts the gates on us, l158l And will not suffer us to fetch him out, l159l Nor send him forth that we may bear him hence. l160l Therefore, most gracious Duke, with thy command l161l Let him be brought forth, and borne hence for help. Duke (raising Adriana) l162l Long since, thy husband served me in my wars, l163l And I to thee engaged a princeÆs word, l164l When thou didst make him master of thy bed, l165l To do him all the grace and good I could.ù l166l Go, some of you, knock at the abbey gate, l167l And bid the Lady Abbess come to me. l168l I will determine this before I stir. (Enter a Messenger from the Phoenix) l169l Messenger (to Adriana) O mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself! l170l My master and his man are both broke loose, l171l Beaten the maids a-row, and bound the Doctor, l172l Whose beard they have singed off with brands of fire, l173l And ever as it blazed they threw on him l174l Great pails of puddled mire to quench the hair. l175l My master preaches patience to him, and the while l176l His man with scissors nicks him like a fool; l177l And sureùunless you send some present helpù l178l Between them they will kill the conjurer. l179l Adriana Peace, fool. Thy master and his man are here, l180l And that is false thou dost report to us. l181l Messenger Mistress, upon my life I tell you true. l182l I have not breathed almost since I did see it. l183l He cries for you, and vows, if he can take you, l184l To scorch your face and to disfigure you. (Cry within) l185l Hark, hark, I hear him, mistress. Fly, be gone! Duke (to Adriana) l186l Come stand by me. Fear nothing. Guard with halberds! (Enter Antipholus of Ephesus and Dromio of Ephesus from the Phoenix) l187l Adriana Ay me, it is my husband! Witness you l188l That he is borne about invisible. l189l Even now we housed him in the abbey here, l190l And now heÆs there, past thought of human reason. l191l Antipholus Of Ephesus Justice, most gracious Duke, O grant me justice, l192l Even for the service that long since I did thee, l193l When I bestrid thee in the wars, and took l194l Deep scars to save thy life; even for the blood l195l That then I lost for thee, now grant me justice! l196l Egeon (aside) Unless the fear of death doth make me dote, l197l I see my son Antipholus, and Dromio. l198l Antipholus Of Ephesus Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there, l199l She whom thou gavÆst to me to be my wife, l200l That hath abusΦd and dishonoured me l201l Even in the strength and height of injury. l202l Beyond imagination is the wrong l203l That she this day hath shameless thrown on me. l204l Duke Discover how, and thou shalt find me just. l205l Antipholus Of Ephesus This day, great Duke, she shut the doors upon me l206l While she with harlots feasted in my house. l207l Duke A grievous fault!ùSay, woman, didst thou so? l208l Adriana No, my good lord. Myself, he, and my sister l209l Today did dine together. So befall my soul l210l As this is false he burdens me withal. l211l Luciana NeÆer may I look on day nor sleep on night l212l But she tells to your highness simple truth. l213l Angelo (aside) O perjured woman! They are both forsworn. l214l In this the madman justly chargeth them. l215l Antipholus Of Ephesus My liege, I am advisΦd what I say, l216l Neither disturbed with the effect of wine, l217l Nor heady-rash provoked with raging ire, l218l Albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad. l219l This woman locked me out this day from dinner. l220l That goldsmith there, were he not packed with her, l221l Could witness it, for he was with me then, l222l Who parted with me to go fetch a chain, l223l Promising to bring it to the Porcupine, l224l Where Balthasar and I did dine together. l225l Our dinner done, and he not coming thither, l226l I went to seek him. In the street I met him, l227l And in his company that gentleman. (He points to the Second Merchant) l228l There did this perjured goldsmith swear me down l229l That I this day of him received the chain, l230l Which, God he knows, I saw not. For the which l231l He did arrest me with an officer. l232l I did obey, and sent my peasant home l233l For certain ducats. He with none returned. l234l Then fairly I bespoke the officer l235l To go in person with me to my house. l236l By thÆ way, we met my wife, her sister, and a rabble more l237l Of vile confederates. Along with them l238l They brought one Pinch, a hungry lean-faced villain, l239l A mere anatomy, a mountebank, l240l A threadbare juggler, and a fortune-teller, l241l A needy, hollow-eyed, sharp-looking wretch, l242l A living dead man. This pernicious slave, l243l Forsooth, took on him as a conjurer, l244l And gazing in mine eyes, feeling my pulse, l245l And with no face, as Ætwere, outfacing me, l246l Cries out I was possessed. Then all together l247l They fell upon me, bound me, bore me thence, l248l And in a dark and dankish vault at home l249l There left me and my man, both bound together, l250l Till, gnawing with my teeth my bonds in sunder, l251l I gained my freedom, and immediately l252l Ran hither to your grace, whom I beseech l253l To give me ample satisfaction l254l For these deep shames and great indignities. l255l Angelo My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him: l256l That he dined not at home, but was locked out. l257l Duke But had he such a chain of thee, or no? l258l Angelo He had, my lord, and when he ran in here l259l These people saw the chain about his neck. Second Merchant (to Antipholus) l260l Besides, I will be sworn these ears of mine l261l Heard you confess you had the chain of him, l262l After you first forswore it on the mart, l263l And thereupon I drew my sword on you; l264l And then you fled into this abbey here, l265l From whence I think you are come by miracle. l266l Antipholus Of Ephesus I never came within these abbey walls, l267l Nor ever didst thou draw thy sword on me. l268l I never saw the chain, so help me heaven, l269l And this is false you burden me withal. l270l Duke Why, what an intricate impeach is this! l271l I think you all have drunk of CirceÆs cup. l272l If here you housed him, here he would have been. l273l If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly. l274l (To Adriana) You say he dined at home, the goldsmith here l275l Denies that saying. (To Dromio) Sirrah, what say you? Dromio Of Ephesus (pointing out the Courtesan) l276l Sir, he dined with her there, at the Porcupine. l277l Courtesan He did, and from my finger snatched that ring. l278l Antipholus Of Ephesus ÆTis true, my liege, this ring I had of her. l279l Duke (to Courtesan) SawÆst thou him enter at the abbey here? l280l Courtesan As sure, my liege, as I do see your grace. l281l Duke Why, this is strange. Go call the Abbess hither. l282l I think you are all mated, or stark mad. (Exit one to the priory) Egeon (coming forward) l283l Most mighty Duke, vouchsafe me speak a word. l284l Haply I see a friend will save my life, l285l And pay the sum that may deliver me. l286l Duke Speak freely, Syracusian, what thou wilt. l287l Egeon (to Antipholus) Is not your name, sir, called Antipholus? l288l And is not that your bondman Dromio? l289l Dromio Of Ephesus Within this hour I was his bondman, sir, l290l But he, I thank him, gnawed in two my cords. l291l Now am I Dromio, and his man, unbound. l292l Egeon I am sure you both of you remember me. l293l Dromio Of Ephesus Ourselves we do remember, sir, by you; l294l For lately we were bound as you are now. l295l You are not PinchÆs patient, are you, sir? l296l Egeon Why look you strange on me? You know me well. l297l Antipholus Of Ephesus I never saw you in my life till now. l298l Egeon O, grief hath changed me since you saw me last, l299l And careful hours with timeÆs deformΦd hand l300l Have written strange defeatures in my face. l301l But tell me yet, dost thou not know my voice? l302l Antipholus Of Ephesus Neither. l303l Egeon Dromio, nor thou? l304l Dromio Of Ephesus No, trust me sir, nor I. l305l Egeon I am sure thou dost. l306l Dromio Of Ephesus Ay, sir, but I am sure I do not, and l307l whatsoever a man denies, you are now bound to believe l308l him. l309l Egeon Not know my voice? O timeÆs extremity, l310l Hast thou so cracked and splitted my poor tongue l311l In seven short years that here my only son l312l Knows not my feeble key of untuned cares? l313l Though now this grainΦd face of mine be hid l314l In sap-consuming winterÆs drizzled snow, l315l And all the conduits of my blood froze up, l316l Yet hath my night of life some memory, l317l My wasting lamps some fading glimmer left, l318l My dull deaf ears a little use to hear. l319l All these old witnesses, I cannot err, l320l Tell me thou art my son Antipholus. l321l Antipholus Of Ephesus I never saw my father in my life. l322l Egeon But seven years since, in Syracusa bay, l323l Thou knowÆst we parted. But perhaps, my son, l324l Thou shamÆst to acknowledge me in misery. l325l Antipholus Of Ephesus The Duke, and all that know me in the city, l326l Can witness with me that it is not so. l327l I neÆer saw Syracusa in my life. l328l Duke (to Egeon) I tell thee, Syracusian, twenty years l329l Have I been patron to Antipholus, l330l During which time he neÆer saw Syracusa. l331l I see thy age and dangers make thee dote. (Enter from the priory the Abbess, with Antipholus) of Syracuse, wearing the chain, and Dromio of Syracuse l332l Abbess Most mighty Duke, behold a man much wronged. (All gather to see them) l333l Adriana I see two husbands, or mine eyes deceive me. l334l Duke One of these men is genius to the other: l335l And so of these, which is the natural man, l336l And which the spirit? Who deciphers them? l337l Dromio Of Syracuse I, sir, am Dromio. Command him away. l338l Dromio Of Ephesus I, sir, am Dromio. Pray let me stay. l339l Antipholus Of Syracuse Egeon, art thou not? Or else his ghost. l340l Dromio Of Syracuse O, my old master, who hath bound him here? l341l Abbess Whoever bound him, I will loose his bonds, l342l And gain a husband by his liberty. l343l Speak, old Egeon, if thou beest the man l344l That hadst a wife once called Emilia, l345l That bore thee at a burden two fair sons. l346l O, if thou beest the same Egeon, speak, l347l And speak unto the same Emilia. l348l Duke Why, here begins his morning story right: l349l These two AntipholusÆ, these two so like, l350l And these two Dromios, one in semblanceù l351l Besides his urging of her wreck at sea. l352l These are the parents to these children, l353l Which accidentally are met together. l354l Egeon If I dream not, thou art Emilia. l355l If thou art she, tell me, where is that son l356l That floated with thee on the fatal raft? l357l Abbess By men of Epidamnum he and I l358l And the twin Dromio all were taken up. l359l But, by and by, rude fishermen of Corinth l360l By force took Dromio and my son from them, l361l And me they left with those of Epidamnum. l362l What then became of them I cannot tell; l363l I, to this fortune that you see me in. Duke (to Antipholus of Syracuse) l364l Antipholus, thou camÆst from Corinth first. l365l Antipholus Of Syracuse No, sir, not I. I came from Syracuse. l366l Duke Stay, stand apart. I know not which is which. l367l Antipholus Of Ephesus I came from Corinth, my most gracious lord. l368l Dromio Of Ephesus And I with him. l369l Antipholus Of Ephesus Brought to this town by that most famous warrior, l370l Duke Menaphon, your most renownΦd uncle. l371l Adriana Which of you two did dine with me today? l372l Antipholus Of Syracuse I, gentle mistress. l373l Adriana And are not you my husband? l374l Antipholus Of Ephesus No, I say nay to that. l375l Antipholus Of Syracuse And so do I. Yet did she call me so; l376l And this fair gentlewoman, her sister here, l377l Did call me brother. (To Luciana) What I told you then l378l I hope I shall have leisure to make good, l379l If this be not a dream I see and hear. l380l Angelo That is the chain, sir, which you had of me. l381l Antipholus Of Syracuse I think it be, sir. I deny it not. Antipholus Of Ephesus (to Angelo) l382l And you, sir, for this chain arrested me. l383l Angelo I think I did, sir. I deny it not. Adriana (to Antipholus of Ephesus) l384l I sent you money, sir, to be your bail, l385l By Dromio, but I think he brought it not. l386l Dromio Of Ephesus No, none by me. Antipholus Of Syracuse (to Adriana) l387l This purse of ducats I received from you, l388l And Dromio my man did bring them me. l389l I see we still did meet each otherÆs man, l390l And I was taÆen for him, and he for me, l391l And thereupon these errors are arose. l392l Antipholus Of Ephesus These ducats pawn I for my father here. l393l Duke It shall not need. Thy father hath his life. l394l Courtesan Sir, I must have that diamond from you. l395l Antipholus Of Ephesus There, take it, and much thanks for my good cheer. l396l Abbess RenownΦd Duke, vouchsafe to take the pains l397l To go with us into the abbey here, l398l And hear at large discoursΦd all our fortunes, l399l And all that are assembled in this place, l400l That by this sympathizΦd one dayÆs error l401l Have suffered wrong. Go, keep us company, l402l And we shall make full satisfaction. l403l Thirty-three years have I but gone in travail l404l Of you, my sons, and till this present hour l405l My heavy burden neÆer deliverΦd. l406l The Duke, my husband, and my children both, l407l And you the calendars of their nativity, l408l Go to a gossipsÆ feast, and joy with me. l409l After so long grief, such festivity! l410l Duke With all my heart IÆll gossip at this feast. (Exeunt into the priory all but the two Dromios and two brothers Antipholus) Dromio Of Syracuse (to Antipholus of Ephesus) l411l Master, shall I fetch your stuff from shipboard? l412l Antipholus Of Ephesus Dromio, what stuff of mine hast thou embarked? l413l Dromio Of Syracuse Your goods that lay at host, sir, in the Centaur. l414l Antipholus Of Syracuse He speaks to me.ùI am your master, Dromio. l415l Come, go with us. WeÆll look to that anon. l416l Embrace thy brother there; rejoice with him. (Exeunt the brothers Antipholus) l417l Dromio Of Syracuse There is a fat friend at your masterÆs house, l418l That kitchened me for you today at dinner. l419l She now shall be my sister, not my wife. l420l Dromio Of Ephesus Methinks you are my glass and not my brother. l421l I see by you I am a sweet-faced youth. l422l Will you walk in to see their gossiping? l423l Dromio Of Syracuse Not I, sir, you are my elder. l424l Dromio Of Ephesus ThatÆs a question. How shall we try l425l it? l426l Dromio Of Syracuse WeÆll draw cuts for the senior. Till l427l then, lead thou first. l428l Dromio Of Ephesus Nay, then thus: l429l We came into the world like brother and brother, l430l And now letÆs go hand in hand, not one before another. (Exeunt to the priory)