Dro. of Syr. Run, master, run for Heaven's sake! take house! This is some priory ;-in, or we are spoil'd! [Exeunt into the Priory—the rest following. Adr. Pursue them, I beseech ye-bring them back. Enter the ABBESS, from the Priory. Abbess. Be quiet, peoplé! wherefore throng ye 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. Angelo. I knew he was not in his perfect wits. 2 Mer. I'm sorry now, that I did draw upon him. Abbess. How long hath this possession held the man? Adr. This week he hath been heavy, sour, and sad, And much, much different from the man he was; But, till this afternoon, his fatal passion Ne'er broke into extremity of rage. Abbess. Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck at sea? Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye Adr. To none of them, except it be the last, Namely, some love, that drew him oft from home. Abbess. You should, for that, have reprehended him. Adr. Why, so I did. Abbess. Ay, but not rough enough. Adr. As roughly as my modesty would let me. Adr. And in assemblies too. Abbess. Ay, but not enough Adr. It was the copy of our conference- Still did I tell him, it was vile and base. Abbess. And therefore came it that the man was The venom'd clamours of a jealous woman, Adr. She did betray me to my own reproof. Abbess. No, not a creature enters in my house. Adr. Then let your servants bring my husband forth. Abbess. 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 Diet his sickness, for it is my office, nurse, And therefore let me have him home with me. It is a branch, and parcel of my 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, Abbess. Be quiet, and depart—thou shalt not have him. [Exit to the Priory. 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 Have won his grace to come in person hither, And take, perforce, my husband from this abbess. 2 Mer. 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 execution, Behind the ditches of the abbey here. Angelo. Upon what cause? 2 Mer. To see a reverend Syracusan merchant, Who put unluckily into this bay, Against the laws and statutes of this town, Beheaded publickly for his offence. Angelo. See where they come! we will behold his death. Luc. Kneel to the Duke, before he pass the abbey. Enter DUKE, ÆGEON, EXECUTIONER, OFFICERS, and GUARDS. Duke. Yet once again, proclaim it publickly, 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! Duke. She is a virtuous, and a reverend lady! 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, F That desperately he hurried through the street, By rushing in their houses, bearing thence He broke from those, who had the guard of him, Chas'd us away; till, raising of more aid, Nor send him forth, that we may bear him hence. wars, And I to thee engag'd a prince's word, When thou didst make him master of thy bed, I will determine this, before I stir. Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. 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. Mess. Mistress, upon my life I tell you true, I have not breath'd, almost, since I did see them. Hark! hark! I hear them, mistress-fly! begone! [Exit. Duke. Fear nothing; I'll protect you. Adr. Ah, me! it is my husband! Witness all, Ev'n now we housed him in the abbey there, Enter ANTIPHOLIS OF EPHESUS, and DROMIO OF EPHESUS. Ant. of Eph. Justice, most gracious duke! Oh, grant me justice! Ev'n for the service, that, long since, I did thee, I see my son Antipholis, and Dromio. Ant. of Eph. Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there, She, whom thou gav'st to me to be my wife, Ev'n 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. A grievous fault! Say, woman, didst thou so? Adr. 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. Ne'er may I look on day, nor sleep on night, But she doth tell your highness simple truth! |