[To Isab,

Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, (For better times to come:- -Friar, advise him; And take her hence in horror.

I leave him to your hand.- Whiat mutiled fellow's Mari. Isabel,

that? Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me;

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all. 5 Whoshould have dy'd when Claudio lost his head; They say best men are moulded out ofiaults; As like almost to Claudio, as himself. And, for the most, become much more the better Dule. If he be like your brother, for his sake For being a little bad; so may my husband. Oh, Isabel! will you not lend a knee?

Is he pardon'd; And, for your lovely sake, Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.

10 Give me your hand, and say you will be mine, Isab. Most bounteous sir,

[Kneeling He is my brother too: But fitter time for that. Look, it it please you, on this man condemn’d By this, lord Angelo perceives he's sase; As if my brother iiv'd: partiy think,

Methinks I see a quick’ning in his eye.A due sincerity govern' his deeds,

Well, Angelo, your evil quits ? you

well: Till he did look on me; ji ce it is so,

15 Look, that you love your wife; her worth, worth Let him not die: my brother had but justice,

yours.In that he did the thing for wirich he dy'd: I find an apt remission in myself; For Angelo,

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ;His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;

You, sirrah, that knew me for a tool, a coward, And must be bury'd but as an inteni, [jects:20

[To Lucio. That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no sub- One all of luxury, an ass, a madman; Intents, but merely thoughts.

Wherein have I deserved so of you, Mari. Merely, my lord.

(say. That you extol me thus? Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according I have bethought me of another fault :- 23 to the trick ': if you will hang me for it, you Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded may, but I had rather it would please you, I At an unusual hour?

might be whipp'd. Prov. It was commanded so.

Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after. Duke. Hady

you a special warrant for the deed? Proclaim it, provost, round about the city; Prov. No, iny good lord; it was by private 30 If any woman's wrong’d by this lewd tellow, message:

[tice: |(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one Duke. For which I do discharge you of your of- Whom he begot with child) let her appear, Give up your keys.

And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, Prov. Pardon me, noble lord :

Let him be whipp'd and hang'd. I thought it was a fault, but knew it not; 135 Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry Yet did repent me after more advice':

me to a whore! Your highness said, even now, I For testimony whereof, one in the prison, made you a duke; good, my lord, do not recomThat should by private order else have dy'd, pense me, in making me a cuckold. I have reserv'd alive.

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. Duke. What's he?

40 Thy slanders I forgive ; and therewithal Prov. His name is Barnardine. [dio.- Reinit thy other forfeits :-Take him to prison:

Duke. I would, thou had'st done so by Clau- And see our pleasure herein executed. Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to

[Exit Protost. death, whipping, and hanging: Escal. I a!y sorry, one so learned and so wise 145 Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.As you, lord Angelo, have still appear’d,

She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore. Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood, Joy to you, Mariana! love her, Angelo; And lack of temper'd jurigment atterward. I have confess'd ber, and I know her virtue.

Ang. I am sorry that such sorrow I procure: Thanks good friend Escalus, forthymuch goodness: And so deep sticks it in my penitent hiart, 50 There's more behind, that is more gratulate -.That I crave death more willingly than mercy: Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy; 'Tis my deserving, and I do entiiat it. [liitu. We shall employ thee in a worthier place:Re-enter Provost, Barnardine, Claudio, and Ju- Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home Duke. Which is that Barnardine?

The head of Ragozine for Claudio's: Prov. This, my lord.

55 The otience pardons itself.—Dear Isabel, Duke. There was a friar told me of this man I have a motion much imports your good; Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline, That apprehends no further than this world, What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine: Andsquar’stthylifeaccordingly: thou’rtcondemn'd; so bring us to our palace; where we'll show But, for those earthly faul , I quit them all; 60 What's yet behind, that's meet you all should I pray thee, take this me.cy to provide

know,

[Exeunt. 'That is, consid "ration. 2 'I hat is, requites. ? That is, according to my custom. * Meaning carnal offene. 5 ha' is, nior: 10 be rejoiced in.

a

4

COMEDY

COMEDY OF ERROR S.

PERSONS

R E P R ES EN T E D,

SOLinus, Duke of Ephesus.

ANGELO, a Goldsmith. Łgeon, a Merchant of Syracuse.

& Merchant, Friend to Antipholis of Syracuse.

Twin Brothers and Dr. Pixch, a Schoolmaster and a Conjurer.
ANTIPHOLIS of Ephesus, Sons to Agcon and
ANTIPHOLiS of Syracuse, Amilii, butun- Emilia, Wife to Ægeon, an Abbess at Ephesus.

known to each other. ADRIANA, Wife to Antipholis of Ephesus.
DRONIO of Ephesus, Trin Brothers and Slaves LUCIANA, Sister to Adriana.
DROMIO of Syracuse, ) to the tro Antipholis's. LUCE, Servant to Adriana.
BALTHAZAR, a Merchant.

LA Courtezan.
Juilor, Officers, and other Attendunts.

SCENE, Ephesus.

5

SCENE I.

My woes end likewise with the evening sun.
The Duke's Palace.

Duke. Well, Syracusan, say, in brief, the cause

Why thou departedst from thy native home; Enter the Duke of Ephesus, Ægeon, Jailor, and And for what cause thou cam'st to Ephesus. other Attendants.

Ageon. A heavier task could not have been imÆgeon. PROCEEN), Solinus, to procure my Than I to speak my griefs unspeakable: [pos'd, fall,

Yet, that the world may witness, that my end And, by the doom of death, end woes and all. Was wrought by nature,not by vile offence,

Duke. Merchant of Siracusa, plead no more; I'll utter what my sorrow gives me leave. I am not parțial, to infringe our laws:

10 In Syracusa was I born; and wed The enmity and discord, which of late

Unto a woman, happy but for me, Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your duke And by me too, had not our hap been bad. To merchants, our well-dealing countrymen,- With her I liv'd in joy; our wealth increas'd, Who, wanting gilders to redeem their lives, By prosperous voyages I often made Have seald his rigorous statutes with their bloods, 15 T0 Epidamnum, till my factor's death; Excludes all pity from our threat'ning looks. And he, great care of goods at random left, For, since the mortal and intestine jars

Drew me from kind embracements of my spouse; 'Twixt thy seditious countrymen and us, From whom my absence was not six months old, It hath in solemn synods been decreed,

Before herself (alınost at fainting, under Both by the Syracusans and ourselves, 120 The pleasing punishment that women bear) To admit no traffic to our adverse towns: Had inade provision for her following me, Nay, more; If any, born at Ephesus,

And soon, and safe, arrived where I was. Be seen at Syracusan marts and fairs,

There she had not been long, but she became Again, if any, Syracusan born,

A joyful mother of two goodly sons; Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies,

25 And, which was strange, the one so like the other His goods contiscate to the duke's dispose, As could not be distinguish'd but by names. Unless a thousand marks be levied,

That very hour, and in the self-same inn, To quit the penalty, and to ransom him.

A

poor mean woman was delivered Thy substance, valu'd at the highest rate, Of such a burden, male twins, both alike: Cannot amount unto a hundred marks; 30 Those (for their parents were exceeding poor) Therefore, by law thou art condemn’d to die. I bought, and brought up to attend my sons. Ligeon. Yet this my comfort; when your words My wife, not meanly proud of two such boys, are done,

Made daily motions for our home return:

Unwilling

Unwilling I agreed; alas, too soon.

Do me the favour to dilate at full We came aboard:

What hath befall’n of them, and thee, till now. A league from Epidamnum bad we sail'd,

#geon. My youngest boy, and yet my eldest Before the alwayswind-obeying deep

At eighteen years became inquisitive [care, Gave any tragic instance of our harm:. 5 After bis brother; and importun'd me, But longer did we not retain much hope;

That his attendant (for his case was like, For what obscured light the heavers did

Reft of his brother, but retain'd his name,)
Did but convey unto our fearful ininds

Might bear him company in quest of bim :
A doubtful warrant of inmediate death; [hrac'd, Whom whilst | labourd of a love to see,
Which though myself would gladly have em- 10 hazarded the loss of whom I lov’d.
Yet the incessant weepings of my wife,

Five summers have I spent in fartkest Greece,
Weeping before, for what she saw must come, Roaming clean' through the bounds of Asia,
And piteous plainings of the pretty babes, And, coasting homeward, came to Ephesus ;
That mouru'd for fishion, igroiant what to fear, Hopeless to nnd, yet loth to leave unsought,
Forc'd me to seek delays for them and me. 15 Or that, or any place that harbours men.
And this it was,--for other means were none: - But here must end the story of my life;
The sailors sought for salely by our beat,

And happy were I in my timely death, and left the ship, then sinking-ripe, to us: Could all my travels warrant me they live. [mark'd My wife, more careful for the latter-born,

Duke. Tapless Ægeon, whom ihe fates have Hád fasten'd him ûuto a smail spare mast, 20 To bear the extremity of dire mishap ! Such as sea-faring men provide for storins ; Now, trust me, were it not against our laws, To hiin one of the other twins was bound, Against my crown, my oath, my dignity, Whilst I had been like heedful of the other. Which princes, would they, may not disannul, The children thus dispos’d, my wife and I, My soul should sue as advocate for thee. Fixing our eyes on whom our care was tix’d, 25 But, though thou art adjudged to the death, Fasten'd ourselves at either end the mast; And passed sentence may not be recalld, And floating straight, obedient to the stream, But to our honour's great disparagement, Were carry'd towards Corinth, as we thought. Yet will I favour thee in what I can; At length the sun, gazing upon the earth, Therefore, merchant, I'll limit thee this day, Dispers’d those vapours that offended us; 30 To seek thy help by beneficial help: And, by the benefit of his wish'd light,

Try all the friends thou hast in Ephesus; The seas wax'd calm, and we discovered

Beg thou, or borrow, to make up the sum, Two ships from far making amain to us,

And live; if not, then thou art doom'd to die :Of Corinth that, of Epidaurus this:

Jailor, take him tothy custody.[Ex. Duke & train, But, ere they came, -Oh, let me say no more! 35 Jail. I will, my lord,

[wend, Gather the sequel by that went before. [so; Ægeon. Hopeless, and helpless, doth Ægeon

Dike. Nay, forward, old man, do not break off| But to procrastinate his lifeless end. For we may pity, though not pardon thee.

[Ereunt Ageon and Jailor. Agron. Oh, had the gods done so, I had not now

SCENE II.
Worthily term'd them merciless to us!
Forerethe ships could meet by twice tive leagues,

Changes to the Street.
We were encountered by a mighty rock; Enter Antipholis of Syracuse, a Merchant, and
Which being violently borne upon,

Dromio.

[num, Our helpful ship was splitted in the midst,

Mer. Therefore give out, you are of EpidamSo that, in this unjust divorce of us,

45 Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate. Fortune had left to both of us alike

This very day, a Syracusan merchant What to delight in, what to sorrow for.

Is apprehended for arrival here; Her part, poor soul! seeming as burd, ned And, not being able to buy out his life, With leser weight, but not with lesser woe, According to the statute of the town, Was carry'd with more speed before the wind; 150 Dies ere the weary sun set in the west, And in our sight they three were taken up There is your money, that I had to keep. (host, By fishermen of Corinth, as we thought."

Ant. Go bear it to the Centaur, where we At length, another ship had seiz'd on is; And stay there, Dromio, till I come to thee. And, knowing whom it was their hap to save, Within ihis hour it will be dinner-time: Gave helpful welcome to their shipwrech'dguests; 55 Till that, I'll view the manners of the town, And would have reft the fisher of his prey, Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings, Had not their bo sk been very slow of sail, (course. And then return, and sleep within mine inn; And therefore homeward did they bend their For with long travel I am stiff and weary. Thus have you heard me severed from my bliss;

[word, That by misfortune was my life prolong’d, 601 Dro. Maný a man would take you at your To tell sad stories of my own mishaps. (for, And go indeed, having so good a means. Duke. And, for the sakes of them thou sorrowesil

[Erit Dromia. Clean is still used in the North of England instead of quite, fully, completely. That is, go.

Ant.

Get thee away.

Ant. A trusty villain, sir ; that very oft, Methinks your maw, like mine, should be your When I am duil with care and melancholy, And strike you home without a messenger. [clock, Lightens my humour with his merry jests.

Ant. Come, Dromio, come, these jests are What, will you walk with me about the town,

out of season ; And then go to my inn, and dine with me? 5 Reserve them till a merrier hour than this.

Mer. I am invited, sir, to certain merchants, Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee ?[me, Of whom I hope to snahe much benefit,

E. Dro. To me, sir? why, you gave no gold to I crave your pardon. Soon, at five o'clock, Ant. Come on, sir knave, have done your Please you, I'll meet with you iipon the mart,

foolishness, And aiterwards consort you till bed-time; 10 And tell me, how thou hast dispos'd thy charge. My present business calls me from you now. E. Dro. My charge was but to fetch you from Ant. Farewell till then: I will go lose myself,

the mart And wander up and down to view the city. Home to your house, the Phønix, sir, to dinner; Mer. Sir, I commend you to your own content. My mistress, and her sister, stay for you.

[Exit Merchant. 15 Ant. Now, as I am a christian, answer me, Ant. He that commends me to mine own con- In what safe place you have dispos'd my money; Commends me to the thing I cannot get, [tent,

Or I shall break that merry sconce' of yours, I to the world am like a drop of water,

That stands on tricks when I am undispos’d: That in the ocean seeks another drop ;

Where are the thousand marks thou had'st of me? Who, falling there, to find his fellow forth, 20 E. Dro. I have some marks of yours upon my Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself:

pate, So I, to find a mother, and a brother,

Some of my mistress

' marks upon my shoulders, In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself. But not a thousand marks between you both. Enter Dromio of Ephesus.

If I should pay your worship those again, Here comes the almanack of my true date.- 25 Perchance, you will not bear them patiently. What now? How chance, thou art return'd so soon: Ant. Thy mistress' marks! what mistress, slave, E.Dro. Return'd so soon! rather approach'd too

hast thou?

[Phænix; The capon burns, the pig falls from the spit;[late; E. Dro. Yourworship's wife, my mistress at the The clock has strucken twelve upon the bell, She that doth fast, till you come home to dinner, My mistress made it one upon my cheek: 30 And prays, that you will hie you home to dinner. She is so hot, because the meat is cold;

Ant. What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my The meat is cold, because you come not home;

face, You comenot honie, because youhave no stomach; Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave. You have no stomach, having broke your fast ; E. Dro. What mean you, sir? for God's sake, But we, that know what 'tis to fast and pray, 35

hold your hands. Are penitent for your default to-day.

Nay, an you will not, sir, I'll take my heels. Ant. Stop in your wind, sir: tell me this, I pray;

[Exit Dromio. Where have you left the money that I gave you? Ant. Upon my life, by some device or othrer, E.Dro. Oh, --six-pence, that I had o' Wednesday The villain is o'er-raught of all my money. To pay the sadler for my mistress' crupper-[last, 40 They say, this town is full of cozenage; The sadler had it, sir, 1 kept it not.

As, nimble jugglers, that deceive the eye;
Ant. I am not in a sportive humour now; Dark-working sorcerers, that change the mind;
Tell me, and dally not, where is the money? Soul-killing witches, that deform the body;
We being strangers here, how dar'st thou trust Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks,
So great a charge froin thine own custody ? 45 And many such like liberties of sin:

E. Dro. I pray you, jest sir, as you sit at dinner: If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner.
I from my mistress come to you in post ; I'll to the Centaur go to seek this slave;
If I return, I shall be post indeed,

I greatly fear, my money is not safe.
For she will score your fault upon my pate.

[Erit.

ACT II.

А
SCENE I.

Sure, Luciana, it is two o'clock.
The House of Antipholis of Ephesus.

Luc. Perhaps, some merchant hath invited him,

And from the mart be's somewhere gone to dinEnter Adriana and Luciana, 60 Good sister, let us dine, and never fret : (ner. Adr. NEITHER my husband, nor the slave A man is master of his liberty;

[time,

Time is their master; and, when they see That in such haste I sent to seek his master ! They'll go or come: If so, be patient, sister. That is, head. That is, over-reached.

Adr.

some swav.

a

Adr. Why should their liberty than ours be more: 'Tis dinner-time, quoth I: My gold, quoth he:Luc. Decause their business still lies out o' duor. Your meat doth burn, quoth I; My gold,quoth be: Adr. Look, when I serve him so, he takes it ill.

you

Come? quoth I ; My gold, quoth he: Luc. Oh, how he is the bridle of your will. [so. Where is the thousand murks I gave thee, villain? Adr. There's none, but asses, wi.l be bridled 5 The pig, quoth I, is burn'd; Aly gold, quoth he: Luc. Why head-strong liberty is lash'd with woe. diy mistress, sir, quoth I; Hung up thy mistress; There's nothing, situate under heaven's eye, I know not thy mistress; out on ihy mistress! But hath his bound, in earth, in sea, iu sky:

Luc. Quoth who? The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowls, E. Dro. Quoth my master : Are their males' subject, and at their controuls: 1107 knoze, quoth he, no house, no zeife, no mistress;Mien, more divine, the masters of all these, so that iny errand due unto my tongue, Lords of the wide world, and will watry seas, I thank him, I bare home upon my shoulders; Indu'd with intellectual sense and souls,

For, in conclusion, he did bea: me there. (home. Of more pre-eminence than fish and fowls,

Adr. Go back again, thou slave, and fetch bin Are masters to their females, and their lords: 15 E. Dro. Go back again, and beneu beaten home? Then let your will attend on their accords. For God's sake, send some other messenger.

Adr. This servitude makes you to keep unwed. Adr. Back, slave, or i will break thy pate across, Luc. Not this, but troubles of the marriage-ber. E. Dro. And he will bless that cross with other dr. But, were you wedded, you would bear

beating:

20 Between you I shall have a holy head. [home. Luc. Ere I learn love, I'll practise to obey. Adr. Hence, prating peasant; fetch thy master Adr. How if your husband start some other E. Dro. Ami so round with you,as you with me, where!

That like a foot-ball you do spurn me thus? Luc. Till he come home again, I would forbear. Y ou spurn melence, and he will spurn me hither : Adr. Patience, unmov'd, no marvel though 25 If I last in this service, you must case me in leather. she pause;

[Erit. They can be meek, that have no other cause. Lur. Fve, how impatience loureth in your tace! A wietched soul, bruis' with adversity,

Adr. His company must do his minions grace, We bid be quiet, when we hear it cry;

Whilst I at home starve for a merry look. But were we burden'l with like weighit of pain, 3011ath homely age the alluring beauty took As much, or more, we should ourselves complain: From my poor chcek? then he hath wasted it: So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee, Are my discourses cull? barren my wit? With urging helpless patience would'trelieve me If voluble and sharp discourse be marr'd, But, if thou live to see like right bereft,

Unkindness blunts it, more than warble hard. This fool-beggd patience in thee will be left. 35 Do their gay vestments his affections bait ?

Luc. Well, I will marry one day, but to try; That's not my fault, he's master of my state: Here comes your man, now is your husband nigh. What ruins are in me, that can be found Enter Dromio of Èplıcsus.

By him not ruin'd? then is he the ground Adr. Sły, is your tardy master now at hand? Of my defeatures : My decayed tair

E. Dro. Nay, he is at two hands with me, and 40 A sunny look of his would soon repair: that my two ears can witness.

But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale, Adr. Say, didst thou speak with him? know'st And feeds from home; poor I am but his stales. thou his mind?

Luc. Self-harming jealousy!--ye, beat it hence. E. Dro. Ay, ay, he told his mind upon mine ear: Adr. Unfeeling tools can with such wrongs disBeshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it. 451 know his eye doth homage other-where; (pense.

Luc. Spake he so doubtfully, thou couldst not Or else, what lets it but he would be here? feel his meaning?

Sister, you know, he promis'd me a chain: E. Dro. Nay, he struck so plainly, I could too Would that alone, alone he would detain, well feel bis blows; and withal so doubtfully, that So he would keep fair quarter with his bed ! I could scarce understand them?.

150 I see, the jewel, best enamelled,

I Adr. But say, I pry'thee, is he coming home? Will lose his beauty; and the gold ’bides still, It seems he bath great care to please his

wife. That others touch; yet often touching will E.Dro.Why, mistress, sure my master is horn- Wear gold: and so no man, that hath a vame, Adr. Horn-mad, thou villain: [mail. But talshood ar:d corruption doth it shame'. E. Dro. I mean not cuckold-mad; but, sure, 55 Since that my beauty cannot please his eve, he's stark mad:

I'll weep what's left away, and weeping die. When I desir'd him to come home to dinner, Luc. Ilow many fond foolss

s servemadjealousy! He ask'd me for a thousand marks in gold:

[Eseunt. Meaning, some other place. ? Meaning, stand under them. 3 That is, plain, free in speech. * Meaning, my change, or alteration of features. 5 That is, his pretence, his cwer. See a preceding note in the Tempest. • The sense is, “ Gold, indeed, will long bear the handling; however, often touching will wear even gold; just so the greatest character, though as pure as gold itself, may, in time, be injured by the repeated attacks of falshood and corruption.

SCENE

4