clude, this drudge, or diviner, laid claim to me; call'd me Dromio; swore, I 12 was assur'd to her; told me what privy marks I had about me, as the mark of my shoulder, the mole in my neck, the great wart on my left arm, that I, amaz'd, ran from her as a witch:

And I think, if my breast had not been made of 13 and my heart of steel,

faith,

She had transform'd me to a curtail-dog, and made me turn i'the wheel.'

14

Ant. S. Go, hie thee presently, post to the road; And if the wind blow any way from shore, I will not harbour in this town to-night. If any bark put forth, come to the mart, Where I will walk till thou return to me. If every one knows us, and we know none, 'Tis time, I think, to trudge, pack, and be gone. Dro. S. As from a bear a man would run for

life,

So fly I from her that would be my wife. [Exit.
Ant. S. There's none but witches do inhabit here,
And therefore 'tis high time that I were hence.
She that doth call me husband, even my soul
Doth for a wife abhor; but her fair sister,
Possess'd with such a gentle sovereign grace,
Of such enchanting presence and discourse,
Hath almost made me traitor to myself:
But, lest myself be guilty to
15 self-wrong,
I'll stop my ears against the mermaid's song

12 That is, affianced.

13 Alluding to the popular belief that a great share of faith was a protection from witchcraft.

14 A turnspit; dogs being used for that purpose.

15 Such was the construction of the age. So in The Winter's Tale" But as the unthought-of accident is guilty to what we wildly do."

Enter ANGELO.

Ang. Master Antipholus ?
Ant. S. Ay, that's my name.

Ang. I know it well, sir. Lo, here is the chain I thought to have ta'en you at the Porpentine; The chain unfinish'd made me stay thus long.

Ant. S. What is your will that I shall do with this?

Ang. What please yourself, sir: I have made it for you.

Ant. S. Made it for me, sir? I bespoke it not.

Ang. Not once, nor twice, but twenty times you have:

Go home with it, and please your wife withal;
And soon at supper-time I'll visit you,
And then receive my money for the chain.

Ant. S. I pray you, sir, receive the money now, For fear you ne'er see chain, nor money, more. Ang. You are a merry man, sir: fare you well. [Exit

Ant. S. What I should think of this, I cannot

But this I think, there's no man is so vain,
That would refuse so fair an offer'd chain.
I see, a man here needs not live by shifts,
When in the streets he meets such golden gifts.
I'll to the mart, and there for Dromio stay;
If any s'ip put out, then straight away

[Exit

ACT IV.

SCENE I. The same.

Enter a Merchant, ANGELO, and an Officer. Mer. You know, since pentecost the sum is due, And since I have not much importun'd you; Nor now I had not, but that I am bound To Persia, and want gilders for my voyage: Therefore make present satisfaction, Or I'll attach you by this officer.

Ang. Even just the sum that I do owe to you Is growing' to me by Antipholus ;

And, in the instant that I met with you,
He had of me a chain: at five o'clock

I shall receive the money for the same:
Pleaseth you walk with me down to his house,
I will discharge my bond, and thank you too.

Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, and DROMIO of
Ephesus, from the Courtezan's.

Offi. That labour may you save: see where he

comes.

Ant. E While I go to the goldsmith's house, go

thou

-

And buy a rope's end; that will I bestow
Among my wife and her confederates,
For locking me out of my doors by day. —
But soft! I see the goldsmith:
Buy thou a rope, and bring it hoine to me.
Dro. E. I buy a thousand pound a year' I buy

rope!

That is, accruing.

Get thee gone;

[Exit

Ant. E. A man is well holp up, that trusts to you I promised your presence, and the chain, But neither chain, nor goldsmith, came to me: Belike, you thought our love would last too long, If it were chain'd together, and therefore came not. Ang. Saving your merry humour, here's the note How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat, The fineness of the gold, and chargeful fashion; Which doth amount to three odd ducats more Than I stand debted to this gentleman : I pray you, see him presently discharg'd, For he is bound to sea, and stays but for it.

Ant. E. I am not furnish'd with the present money; Besides, I have some business in the town: Good signior, take the stranger to my house, And with you take the chain, and bid my wife Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof : Perchance I will be there as soon as you.

Ang. Then you will bring the chain to her your self?

Ant. E. No; bear it with you, lest I come not time enough.

Ang. Well, sir, I will: Have you the chain about you?

Ant. E. An if I have not, sir, I hope you have,
Or else you may return without your money.
Ang. Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the
chain :

Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman,
And I, to blame, have held him here too long.
Ant. E. Good Lord! you use this dalliance, to

excuse

Your breach of promise to the Porpentine.
I should have chid you for not bringing it,
But like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.

Mer. The hour steals on: I pray you, sir, despatch

Ang. You hear, how he importunes me: the

chain

Ant. E. Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your

money.

Ang. Come, come; you know I gave it you even

now:

Either send the chain, or send me by some token. Ant. E. Fie! now you run this humour out of

breath:

Come, where's the chain? I pray you let me see it
Mer. My business cannot brook this dalliance:
Good sir, say whe'r you'll answer me, or no;
If not, I'll leave him to the officer.
Ant. E. I answer you?

you?

What should I answer

Ang. The money, that you owe me for the chain. Ant. E. I owe you none, till I receive the chain. Ang. You know I gave it you half an hour since. Ant. E. You gave me none: you wrong me much to say so.

Ang. You wrong me more, sir, in denying it: Consider how it stands upon my credit.

Mer. Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.
Offi. I do, and charge you in the duke's name to
obey me.

Ang. This touches me in reputation:

Either consent to pay this sum for me,
Or I attach you by this officer.

Ant. E. Consent to pay thee that I never had? Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar'st.

Ang. Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer:
I would not spare my brother in this case,
If he should scorn me so apparently.

Offi. I do arrest you, sir: you hear the suit.
Ant. E. I do obey thee, till I give thee bail :