Dro. S.

By running fast.

Adr. Where is thy master, Dromio? is he well?
Dro. S. No, he 's in 'Tartar limbo," 'worse than hell:
A Devil, in an everlasting garment, hath him,
A fiend, a fury, pitiless and rough;

d

A wolf, nay, worse, a fellow all in buff;

A 'back-friend, a shoulder-clapper,' one that countermandss

The passages of alleys, creeks, and narrow lands.

Adr. Why, man, what is the matter?

Dro. S. I do not know the 'matter: he is 'rested on the case.i

Adr. What, is he 'arrested? tell me, at whose suit?

Dro. S. I know not at whose suit he is arrested well; But he's in a suit of 'buff which 'rested him,-that 'can I tell.

When Adriana is fully informed of her husband's requirements, she at once sends the money; with which Dromio hastens to release his master.

On his way, he meets Antipholus of Syracuse musing on the strange adventures that have befallen him:

Ant. S. There's not a man I meet but doth 'salute me,
As if I were his well-acquainted 'friend;
And every one doth call me by my 'name:
Some tender 'money to me, some 'invite me;
Some other give me 'thanks for kindnesses;
Sure, these are but imaginary 'wiles,
And 'Lapland' 'sorcerers inhabit here.

Dromio of Syracuse runs in:

Dro. S. Master, here's the gold you sent me for.
-What! 'have you got quit of the fiend?

Ant. S. 'What gold is this? And what 'fiend dost thou mean?

Dro. S. He that came behind you, sir, 'like an evil angel, and bid you forsake your liberty; he, sir, that takes pity on 'decayed men, and gives them suits of 'du

rance.

Ant. S. What! thou mean'st an Officer?

a Tartarus was the lowest abode of the wicked in hell.

b a place of restraint, in prison.

e durable (lasting for a long time).

d petty officers of the law wore a buff leather jacket for protection from violence. eO. R. fairie. fa bailiff. gopposes, forbids. h roadways, rights of passing.

i a quibble, between case, an action at law, and case garments.

j the most northern country in Europe. Scandinavian legends abound in stories of

Dro. S. Ay, sir; one that thinks a man always going to 'bed, and says, "Heaven give you good 'rest!" Ant. S. Well, sir, there rest in your 'foolery! Is there any ship puts forth 'to-night? May we be gone?

Dro. S. Why, sir, I brought you word, an hour since, that the bark "Expedition" puts forth to-night; and then were you hindered, by the sergeant, to tarry for the hoy "Delay." Here are the angels that you sent for, to deliver you. Giving a

purse.

Ant. S... . The fellow is distract, and so am I,

And here we wander in 'illusions.

Some blesséd power 'deliver us from hence!

And now Madam Lesbia enters-the lady with whom Adriana's husband had dined,—and she addresses her supposed guest: Les. Well met, well met, Master Antipholus !

I see, sir, you have 'found the goldsmith now: . . .
Is that the chain you promised me to-day?

Ant. S. Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not!
Dro. S. Master, is this 'Mistress Satan?

...

Les. Your man and you are marvellous merry, sir. Will you go with me? we 'll mend our dinner here. Dro. S. Master, if you do, expect 'spoon-meat ;-or bespeak a 'long spoon: he 'must have a long spoon that must eat with the Devil.

Ant. S. Avoid, thou fiend!" what teil'st thou me of supping? Thou art, as you are 'all, a sorceress :

I conjure thee to leave me, and be gone.

Les. Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner,
Or, 'for my diamond, the 'chain you promised.

Dro. S. 'Some devils ask but the parings of one's nail,
A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin,

But 'she, more covetous, would have a 'chain.-
Master, be wise: an if you 'give it her,

The Devil will 'shake her chain, and 'fright us with it.

Les. 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 us go.

Les. Now, out of doubt, Antipholus is 'mad,

Else would he never so demean himself.
A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats,

Exeunt Ant. S. and Dro. S.

the sheriff's officer. ba small coasting ship. small gold coins worth about 10s. each.

d amend, make better.

e O. R, auoid then fiend

And, 'for the same, he promised me a 'chain.
My way is now, to hie home to his 'house,
And tell his 'wife-that, being lunatic,

He 'rushed into my house, and took 'perforce
My ring away. 'This course I fittest choose,—
For forty ducats is too much to lose.

[Exit.

Antipholus of Ephesus is still lingering on the street, (in custody of the Officer,) awaiting the return of his Servant with the purse of ducats.

Ant. E. Fear me not, man; I will not break away:

I'll give thee, ere I leave thee, all thy money:
My wife is in a 'wayward mood to-day,

And will not lightly trust the messenger.

Here 'comes my man: I think he brings the money.—
Dromio of Ephesus enters, carrying a rope.

How now, 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,

[Giving the rope.

for the rope.

Ant. E. Five hundred ducats, villain, for a 'rope?

To what 'enda did I bid thee hie thee home? Dro. E. To a 'rope's end, sir; and to 'that end am I returned.

Ant. E. And to 'that end, sir, I will welcome you!

He takes the rope and beats him soundly. The Officer interferes : Off Good sir, be patient.

Dro. E. Nay, 't is 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 stupid, senseless villain!

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

Ant. E. 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 endurance.—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 a beggar does her burden; and, I think, when he hath lamed me, I shall 'beg with it from door to door.

Poor Dromio is again beaten; and, in the confusion, Adriana, Luciana, and Lesbia enter, followed by Dr. Pinch-a starved schoolmaster, and petty practitioner in the occult arts. Dromio, fearing that either of the ladies might be attacked by his infuriated master, shouts to them:

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.

Madam Lesbia, seeing Dromio unmercifully beaten, says to Adriana:

Les. 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 pay you what you will demand.

Dr. Pinch advances with true professional gravity:
Pinch.... Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse.
Ant. E. There is my hand,-and let it feel your 'ear. [Strikes
Pinch.... I charge thee, Satan, housed within this man,
To yield possession to my holy prayers,

And to thy state of darkness hie thee straight!
Ant. E. Peace, doting wizard, peace! I am 'not mad.-
You, minion, wife! 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! heaven doth know you dined at 'home;
Where, 'would you had 'remained until this time,
Free from these slanders, and this open shame!
Ant. E. I dined at home!-Thou, Dromio, 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-out?
Dro. E. Fact, sir: your doors 'were locked, and you shut

out.

Ant. E. And did not she herself 'revile me there?
Dro. E. Sans fable,' she herself reviled you there.

bO. R. please.

CO. R. you.

look to the end.
O. R. perdy (a corruption of par Dieu).

d inserted word.

f without falsehood.

Ant. E. Did not her kitchen-maid rail, taunt, and scorn me?

Dro. E. Certes," she did; the kitchen-vestal' scorned you.
Ant. E. And did not I in rage 'depart from thence?
Dro. E. In 'verity you did.-My bones bear witness,
That since have felt the 'vigour of his rage.

Antipholus then turns to his wife :

Ant. E. Thou hast suborned the goldsmith to arrest me! 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. Heaven and the rope-maker bear me witness, That I was sent for nothing but a 'rope!

Dr. Pinch interposes:

Pinch.... Mistress, both man and master is 'possessed:" I know it by their pale and deadly looks.

They must be 'bound, and laid in some dark room. Here the Doctor's attendants bind both master and man, who are at once conveyed, as dangerous lunatics, to a neighbouring Convent.

In the midst of the perplexities that have occurred to Antipholus of Syracuse, we find him,-wearing the chain that had caused so many difficulties, walking about the streets with his servant Dromio. He has just reached the exterior of the Convent, when he is accosted by the goldsmith Angelo:

Ang. Signior Antipholus, I wonder much

That you would put me to this shame and trouble.
This chain you had of 'me: Can you 'deny it?

Ant. S. I think I 'had: I 'never did deny it.

The Merchant advances:

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! 't is pity that thou livest
To walk where any 'honest men resort.
Ant. S. Thou art a 'villain to impeach me thus!
I'll 'prove mine honour and mine honesty
Against thee presently, if thou dar'st stand.

Mer. I dare, and do 'defy thee for a 'villain !

a certainly.

b the chief employment of the kitchen wench was (like that of the Roman Vestal Virgins) to keep the fire lighted. cinfluenced by an evil spirit.