Stray'd his affection in unlawful love? Adr. To none of them, except it be the last, Abb. Ay, but not rough enough. Adr. As roughly as my modesty would let me. Adr. And in assemblies too. Abb. Ay, but not enough. Adr. It was the copy of our conference- Abb. And therefore came it that the man was mad. Poison more deadly than a mad dog's tooth! Thou say'st, his sports were hinder'd with thy brawls; [Servants are about to enter D. F. Abb. No, not a creature enters in my house. Adr. Then let your servants bring my husband forth. Abb. Neither he took this place for sanctuary; And it shall privilege him from your hands, Till I have brought him to his wits again, Or lose my labour in essaying it. Adr. I will attend my husband; be his nurse; Diet his sickness; for it is my office; And therefore let me have him home with me Abb. Be patient, for I will not let him stir It is a branch and parcel of my oath, A charitable duty of my order; Therefore depart, and leave him here with me. To separate the husband and the wife Abb. Be quiet, and depart-thou shalt not have him. [Exeunt Abbess and Sisters to the Priory, C. D. F. Luc. Complain unto the Duke of this indignity. Adr. Come, then, I will fall prostrate at his feet, And never rise until my prayers and tears [Crosses to Lesbia. Have won his grace to come in person hither, And take, perforce, my husband from this Abbess. Cha. By this I think the dial points at five. Anon, I'm sure the Duke himself, in person, Comes this way to the melancholy vale; The place of death, and sorry exccution, Behind the ditches of the abbey here. Ang. Upon what cause? Cha. To see a reverend Syracusan merchant, Who put unluckily into this bay, Against the laws and statutes of this town, Beheaded publicly for his offence. Ang. See where they come! we will behold his death. [Lesbia crosses behind to Chares. Luc. Kneel to the Duke, before he pass the abbey. Enter DUKE, ÆGEON, EXECUTIONER, OFFICERS, and GUARDS, L. Duke. Yet once again proclaim it publicly, If any friend will pay the sum for him, He shall not die; so much we tender him. Adr. Justice, most sacred Duke, against the Abbess! It cannot be that she has done thee wrong, Adr. May it please your grace, Antipholis, my husband, Whom I made lord of me, and all I had, At your important letters, this ill day, A most outrageous fit of madness seized him ; With him his bondman, all as mad as he, By rushing in their houses, bearing thence Chased us away; till, raising of more aid, Nor send him forth, that we may bear him hence. When thou didst make him master of thy bed, And bid the lady abbess come to me. I will determine this before I stir. [Exit a Gentleman, C.D.F. Enter BRIDGEt, l. Brid. Oh, mistress, mistress! haste and save yourself! My master and his man are both broke loose! Adr. Peace, fool! thy master and his man are here, And that is false thou dost report to us. Brid. Mistress, upon my life I tell you true, I. have not breathed almost since I did see them. [Noise, L. Hark! hark! I hear them, mistress-fly! begone! [Crossses, R., exit Bridget, R. Witness all Duke. Fear nothing! I'll protect you. Adr. Ah, me! it my husband! That he is borne about invisible ! Even now we housed him in the abbey there, And now he's here, past thought of human reason. Enter ANTIPHOLIS OF EPHESUS and DROMIO OF EPHE SUS, L. Ant. of Eph. Justice, most gracious duke! Oh, grant me justice! Even for the service, that, long since, I did thee, Egeon. Unless the fear of death doth make me dote, I see my son Antipholis and Dromio. Ant. of Eph. Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there, She, whom thou gavest to me to be my wife, She hath abused and dishonoured me, Even in the strength and height of injury. Duke. Discover how, and thou shalt find me just. Ant. of Eph. This day, great Duke, she shut the doors upon me, While she within was feasting with her minions. Duke. (c.) A grievous fault! Say, woman, did'st thou so? Adr. (R. c.) No, my good lord; myself, he, and my sister, To-day did dine together-so befall my soul, As that is false, he burdens me withal. Luc. (R. C.) Ne'er may I look on day, nor sleep on night, But she doth tell your highness simple truth! Ang. (R.) O perjured woman! they are both forsworn: In this the madman justly chargeth them. My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him, I think you all have drank of Circe's cup. If here you housed him, here he would have been. Dro. of Eph. Sir, he dined with her there, at the Porcupine. Les. He did, and from my finger snatch'd that ring. Duke. This is most strange! Go, call the abbess hither. Haply I see a friend will save my life, Duke. Speak freely, Syracusan, what thou wilt. Egeon. Is not your name, sir, called Antipholis ? And is not that, your bondman, Dromic ? Ant. of Eph. True, reverend hapless man, we are so call'd. Egeon. I am sure that both of ye remember me. Egeon. Why look you strange on me? you know me well. Ant. of Eph. I never saw you in my life till now. Egeon. Oh, grief hath changed me since you saw me last! And careful hours, with Time's deforming hand, Have written strange defeatures in my face. Egeon. Not know my voice? Oh, time's extremity ! Ant. of Eph. I never saw my father in my life. Thou sham'st t' acknowledge me in misery? Ant. of Eph. The Duke, and all that know me in the city, Can witness with me that it is not so. I ne'er saw Syracusa in my life. Duke. I tell thee, Syracusan, twenty years Have I been patron to Antipholis, During which time, he ne'er saw Syracusa. I see thy age and dangers make thee dote. Enter GENTLEMEN, and ABBESS, with ANTIPHOLIS OF SYRACUSE, and DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, from the Priory, C. D. F. Abb. (c.) Most mighty Duke, behold a man much wrong'd! dr. I see two husbands, or my eyes deceive me. B |