Ang. Of very reverend reputation, sir, Of credit infinite, highly beloved, Second to none that lives here in the city; His word might bear my wealth at any time. Enter ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO of Syracuse. Ang. 'Tis so; and that self chain about his neck, That you would put me to this shame and trouble; Mer. Yes, that you did, sir; and forswore it too. Ant. S. Who heard me to deny it, or forswear it? Mer. These ears of mine, thou know'st, did hear thee. Fie on thee, wretch! 'tis pity, that thou liv'st To walk where any honest men resort. Ant. S. Thou art a villain to impeach me thus. [They draw. Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, Courtesan, and others. Adr. Hold; hurt him not, for God's sake; he is mad ; Some get within him,' take his sword away; 1 i. e. close, grapple with him. Dro. S. Run, master, run; for God's sake, take a house.1 This is some priory ;-in, or we are spoiled. [Exeunt ANTIPH. and DRO. to the priory. Enter the Abbess. Abb. Be quiet, people; wherefore throng you hither? Adr. To fetch my poor distracted husband hence. Let us come in, that we may bind him fast, And bear him home for his recovery. Ang. I knew he was not in his perfect wits. Mer. I am sorry now, that I did draw on him. Abb. How long hath this possession held the man? Adr. This week he hath been heavy, sour, sad, And much different from the man he was; But, till this afternoon, his passion Ne'er brake into extremity of rage. Abb. Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck of sea? Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye Strayed his affection in unlawful love? A sin prevailing much in youthful men, Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing. Which of these sorrows is he subject to? Adr. To none of these, except it be the last; Namely, some love, that drew him oft from home. Abb. You should for that have reprehended him. Adr. Why, so I did. Abb. Ay, but not rough enough. Adr. As roughly as my modesty would let me. Abb. Haply, in private. Adr. Abb. Ay, but not enough. And in assemblies too. Adr. It was the copy 2 of our conference. In bed, he slept not for my urging it; At board, he fed not for my urging it; 1 i. e. go into a house: we still say that a dog takes the water. 2 Copy in the present instance is probably copie, plenty, copious source, an old Latinism, many times used by Ben Jonson. The word is spelled copie in the folio; and in King Henry V., where it means pattern, example, it is spelled copy. Alone, it was the subject of my theme Still did I tell him it was vile and bad. Abb. And thereof came it, that the man was mad. The venom clamors of a jealous woman Poison more deadly than a mad dog's tooth. It seems his sleeps were hindered by thy railing; And thereof comes it that his head is light. Thou say'st his meat was sauced with thy upbraidings; Unquiet meals make ill digestions, Thereof the raging fire of fever bred; And what's a fever but a fit of madness? Thou say'st his sports were hindered by thy brawls; Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair,) Luc. She never reprehended him but mildly, When he demeaned himself rough, rude, and wildly. Why bear you these rebukes, and answer not? Adr. She did betray me to my own reproof.- Abb. No, not a creature enters in my house. And it shall privilege him from your hands, Till I have brought him to his wits again, Or lose my labor in assaying it. Adr. I will attend my husband, be his nurse, Diet his sickness, for it is my office, 1 And will have no attorney but myself; And therefore let me have him home with me. 1 i. e. substitute. With wholesome sirups, drugs, and holy prayers, It is a branch and parcel of mine oath, A charitable duty of my order; Therefore depart, and leave him here with me. Adr. I will not hence, and leave my husband here; And ill it doth beseem your holiness, To separate the husband and the wife. Abb. Be quiet, and depart; thou shalt not have him. [Exit Abbess. Luc. Complain unto the duke of this indignity. Adr. Come, go; I will fall prostrate at his feet, And never rise until my tears and prayers Have won his grace to come in person hither, And take perforce my husband from the abbess. Mer. By this, I think, the dial points at five. Anon, I am sure, the duke himself in person Comes this way to the melancholy vale; The place of death and sorry 2 execution, Behind the ditches of the abbey here. Ang. Upon what cause? Mer. 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. Luc. Kneel to the duke, before he pass the abbey. Enter Duke, attended; ÆGEON, bareheaded; with the Headsman and other Officers. 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! 1 i. e. to bring him back to his senses, and the accustomed forms of sober behavior. In Measure for Measure, "informal women" is used for just the contrary. 2 i. e. dismal :—"dismolde and sorrie, atra funestus." Duke. She is a virtuous and a reverend lady; It cannot be, that she hath done thee wrong. Adr. May it please your grace, Antipholus, my husband, Whom I made lord of me and all I had, By rushing in their houses, bearing thence Nor send him forth, that we may bear him hence. wars; And I to thee engaged a prince's word, When thou didst make him master of thy bed, I will determine this, before I stir. |