Dro. E. If you went in pain, master, this knave would go sore. Ang. Here is neither cheer, sir, nor welcome; we would fain have either. Bal. In debating which was best, we shall part with neither.2 Dro. E. They stand at the door, master; bid them welcome hither. Ant. E. There is something in the wind, that we cannot get in. Dro. E. You would say so, master, if your garments were thin. Your cake here is warm within; you stand here in the cold: It would make a man mad as a buck, to be so bought and sold. Ant. E. Go, fetch me something, I'll break ope the gate. Dro. S. Break any breaking here, and I'll break your knave's pate. Dro. E. A man may break a word with you, sir; and words are but wind; Ay, and break it in your face, so he break it not behind. Dro. S. It seems, thou wantest breaking; Out upon thee, hind! 2 Dro. E. Here's too much, out upon thee! I pray thee, let me in. Dro. S. Ay, when fowls have no feathers, and fish have no fin. Ant. E. Well, I'll break in; Go borrow me a crow. Dro. E. A crow without a feather; master, mean you so? we shall part with neither.] Mr. Tyrwhitt says, that, in our old language, to part signified to have part. But part does not signify to share or divide, but to depart or go away; and Balthazar means to say, that whilst debating which is best, they should go away without either. For a fish without a fin, there's a fowl without a feather: If a crow help us in, sirrah, we'll pluck a crow to gether. Ant. E. Go, get thee gone, fetch me an iron crow. Bal. Have patience, sir; O, let it not be so; Herein you war against your reputation, Once this,3-Your long experience of her wisdom, Her sober virtue, years, and modesty, Plead on her part some cause to you un known; And doubt not, sir, but she will well excuse Why at this time the doors are made against you.* Be rul'd by me; depart in patience, And let us to the Tiger all to dinner: For ever hous'd, where it once gets posses 4 sion. Once this,] Once this, may mean, once for all, at once. the doors are made against you.] To make the door is the expression used to this day in some counties of England, instead of, to bar the door. Ant. E. You have prevail'd; I will depart in quiet, And, in despight of mirth," mean to be merry. For there's the house; that chain will I bestow Ant. E. Do so; This jest shall cost me some [Exeunt. expence. SCENE II. The same. Enter LUCIANA and ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse. Luc. And may it be that you have quite forgot A husband's office? shall, Antipholus, hate, Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot? Shall love, in building, grow so ruinate? 5 And, in despight of mirth,] Though mirth has withdrawn herself from me, and seems determined to avoid me, yet in despight of her, and whether she will or not, I am resolved to be merry. If you did wed my sister for her wealth, Or, if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth; ness: Let not my sister read it in your eye; Be not thy tongue thy own shame's orator; Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty; Apparel vice like virtue's harbinger: Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted; Be secret-false: What need she be acquainted? Comfort my sister, cheer her, call her wife: 'Tis holy sport, to be a little vain,” When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife. Ant. S. Sweet mistress, (what your name is else, I know not, Nor by what wonder you do hit on mine,) Less, in your knowledge, and your grace, you show not, Than our earth's wonder; more than earth divine. Teach me, dear creature, how to think and speak; Lay open to my earthy gross conceit, Being compact of credit,] Means, being made altogether of credulity. 7 vain,] Is light of tongue, not veracious. JOHNSON. Smother'd in errors, feeble, shallow, weak, Your weeping sister is no wife of mine, Far more, far more, to you do I decline. Spread o'er the silver waves thy golden hairs, know. Luc. It is a fault that springeth from your eye. Ant. S. For gazing on your beams, fair sun, being by. Luc. Gaze where you should, and that will clear your sight. Ant. S. As good to wink, sweet love, as look on Luc. Why call you me love? call my sister so. Luc. Ant. S. That's my sister. No; 8 sweet mermaid,] Mermaid is only another name for syren. 9 Not mad, but mated;] I suspect there is a play upon words intended here. Mated signifies not only confounded, but matched with a wife: and Antipholus, who had been challenged as a husband by Adriana, which he cannot account for, uses the word mated in both these senses. M. MASON. |