Rings, jewels, any thing his rage did like. Once did I get him bound, and sent him home, He broke from those that had the guard of him; 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, I will determine this, before I stir. Enter a Servant. Serv. O mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself! My master and his man are both broke loose, Beaten the maids a-row2, and bound the doctor, Whose beard they have singed off with brands of fire; Great pails of puddled mire to quench the hair: I to take order -] i. e. to take measures. 2 Beaten the maids a-row,] i. e. successively, one after another. "My master preaches patience to him, and the while" MALONE. His man with scissars nicks him like a fool: 3 Adr. Peace, fool, thy master and his man are here; And that is false, thou dost, report to us. Serv. Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true; I have not breath'd almost, since I did see it. you, To scorch your face, and to disfigure you: [Cry within. Hark, hark, I hear him, mistress; fly, be gone. Duke. Come, stand by me, fear nothing: Guard with halberts. Adr. Ah me, it is my husband! Witness you That he is borne about invisible: Even now we hous'd him in the abbey here; Enter ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO of Ephesus. Ant. E. Justice, most gracious duke, oh, grant me justice! Even for the service that long since I did thee, When I bestrid thee in the wars †, and took 3 His man with scissars nicks him like a fool:] The force of this allusion I am unable to explain with certainty. Perhaps it was once the custom to cut the hair of idiots close to their heads. There is a proverbial simile "Like crop the conjurer;" which might have been ironically applied to these unfortunate beings. STEEVENS. There is a penalty of ten shillings in one of King Alfred's ecclesiastical laws, if one opprobriously shave a common man like a fool. TOLLET. Fools, undoubtedly, were shaved and nicked in a particular manner, in our author's time, as is ascertained by the following passage in The Choice of Change, containing the Triplicitie of Divinitie, Philosophie, and Poetrie, by S. R. Gent. 4to. 1598: “Three things used by monks, which provoke other men to laugh at their follies: 1. They are shaven and notched on the head like fooles."— MALONE. + To bestride one in battle is an act of friendship, or assistance, frequently mentioned in these plays. Deep scars to save thy life; even for the blood Ege. Unless the fear of death doth make me dote, I see my son Antipholus, and Dromio. Ant. E. Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there. She whom thou gav'st to me to be my wife; Even in the strength and height of injury! Beyond imagination is the wrong, That she this day hath shameless thrown on me. me, While she, with harlots feasted in my house: 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 befal my soul, As this is false, he burdens me withal! Luc. Ne'er may I look on day, nor sleep on night, But she tells to your highness simple truth! Ang. O perjur'd woman! they are both forsworn. In this the madman justly chargeth them. 5 Ant. E. My liege, I am advised what I say; 4 with harlots-] Harlot was a term of reproach applied to cheats among men, as well as to wantons among women. 5 I am advised—] i. e. I am not going to speak precipitately or rashly, but on reflection and consideration. Where Balthazar and I did dine together. There did this perjur'd goldsmith swear me down, I did obey; and sent my peasant home For certain ducats: He with none return'd. Το go in person with me to my house. By the way we met My wife, her sister, and a rabble more Of vile confederates; along with them They brought one Pinch; a hungry lean-faced villain, A thread-bare juggler, and a fortune-teller; To give me ample satisfaction For these deep shames, and great indignities. Ang. My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him; That he din'd not at home, but was lock'd out. Duke. But had he such a chain of thee, or no? Ang. He had, my lord; and when he ran in here, These people saw the chain about his neck. Mer. Besides, I will be sworn, these ears of mine Heard you confess, you had the chain of him, Duke. What an intricate impeach is this! Dro. E. Sir, he dined with her there, at the Porcu pine. Cour. He did; and from my finger snatch'd that ring. hither; I think, you are all mated, or stark mad. [Exit an Attendant. Ege. Most mighty duke, vouchsafe me speak a word, Haply, I see a friend will save my life, And pay the sum that may deliver me. Duke. Speak freely, Syracusan, what thou wilt. And is not that your bondman Dromio? Dro. E. Within this hour I was his bondman, sir, Ege. I am sure, you both of you remember me. |