SCENE II.

hing for something. But say, sir, is it dinnerThe Street. time?

[have

S. Dro. No, sir, I think the meat wants that I
Enter Antipholis of Syracuse.

Ant. In good time, sir, what's that?
Ant. The gold, I gave to Dromio, is laid up 5 S. Dro. Basting.
Safe at the Centaur; and the heedful slave

Ant. Well, sir, then 'twill be dry.
Is wander'd forth, in care to seek me out.

S. Dro, If it be, sir, pray you eat none of it. By computation, and mine host's report,

Ant. Your reason? I could not speak with Dromio, since at first S. Dro. Lest it make you cholerick, and purI sent him from the mart: See, here he comes. 10 chase me another dry-basting. Enter Dromio of Syracuse.

Ant. Well, sir, learn to jest in good time: How now, sir? is your merry humour alter'd? There's a time for all things. As you love strokes, so jest with me again.

S. Dro. I durst have deny'd that, before you You know no Centaur you receiv'd no gold? were so cholerick. Your mistress sent to have me home to dinner? 15 Ant. By what rule, sir? My house was at the Phænix? Wast thou mad, S. Dro. Marry, sir, by a rule as plain as the That thus so madly thou didst answer ne? plain bald pate of father Time himself. S. Dromio. What answer, sir? when spake 1 Ant. Let's hear it. such a word?

(since. S. Dro. There's no time for a man to recover Ant. Even now, even here, not half an hour 20 his hair, that grows bald by nature.

S.Dro.I did not see you since you sent mehence, Ant. May lie not do it by tine and recovery? Home to the Centaur, with the gold you gave me. S. Dro. Yes, to pay a fine for a peruke, and re

Ant. Villain, thou didst deny the gold's receipt ; cover the lost hair of another man. And told'st me of a mistress, and a dinner ;

Ant. Why is time such a niggard of liair, beFor which, I hope, thou felt'st I was displeas'd. 25 ing, as it is, so plentiful an excrement?

S.Dro. I am glad to see you in this merry vein: S. Dro. Because it is a blessing that he he What means this jest? I pray you, master, tell me. stows on beasts: and what he hath scanted men

Ant. Yea,dostihou jeerandflout meinthe teeth? in hair, he hath given them in wit. * Think'st thou I jest? Hold, take thou that, and Ant. Why, but there's many a man hath more that.

[Beats Dro. 30|bair than wit. S. Dro. Hold, sir, for God's sake; now your jest S. Dro. Not a man of those but he hath the l'pon what bargain do you give it me? [is earnest : wit to lose his hair,

Ant. Because that I familiarly sometimes Ant. Why, thou didst conclude hairy men
Do use you for my fool, and chat with you, plain dealers without wit.
Your sauciness will jest upon my love,

35 S. Dro. The plainer dealer, the sooner lost:
And make a common of iny serious hours'. Yet he loseth it in a kind of jollity.
When the sun shines let foolish gnats make sport, Ant. For what reason ?
But creep in crannies, when he hides his beams, S. Dro. For two; and sound ones too.
Jf you will jest with me, know my aspect,

Ant. Nay, not sound, I pray you.
Ard fashion your demeanour to my hooks, 140 S. Dro. Sure ones thin.
Or I will beat this method in your sconce.

Ant. Nay, not sure, in a thing falsing. S.Dro.Sconce, call you it? so you would leave bat- S. Dro. Certain ones then. tering, I had rather have it a bead: an you use these Ant. Name them. blows long, I must get a sconce for iny head, and S. Dro. The one, to save the money that he insconce it too, or else I shall seek my wit in my 45 spends in tiring; the other, that at dinner they shoulders. But, I pray, sir, why am I beaten ? should not drop in bis porridge. Ant. Dost thou not know?

Ant. You would all this time have prov'd, S. Dro. Nothing, sir, but that I am beaten. there is no time for all things. Ant. Shall I tell you why?

S. Dro. Marry, and did, sir; namely, no time S. Dro. Ay, sir, and wherefore; for, they say, 50 to recover hair lost by nature. every why bath a wherefore. [wherefore, Ant. But your reason was not substantial, why,

Ant. Why, first, for flonting me; and then, there is no time to recover. For urging it the second time to me. [of season, S. Dro. Thus I mend it: Time himself is S. Dro. Was there ever any man thus beaten out bald, and therefore to the world's end, will have When, in the why, and the wherefore, is neither 55 bald followers. rbime nor reason

Ant. I know 'twould be a bald conclusion: Well, sir, I thank you.

But soft! who walts us yonder? Ant. Thank me, sir? for what?

Enter Adriana and Luciana. S. Dro. Marry, sir, for this something that you Adr. Ay, ay,Antipholis, look strange, and frown; gave me for nothing.

60 Some other mistress hath thy sweet aspects, Ant. I'll make you amends next, to give you no- I am not Adriana, nor thy wife.

? Meaning, And break in, or intrude upon them when you please. The allusion is to those tracts of ground called commons.' ? That is, fortify it. ?This alludes to the effects of the venereal disease, one of which, on its first appearance in Europe, was the loss of hair. Those who are entrapped by loose women, have more hair than wit, and suffer for their lewdness, by the loss of their hair.

The

The time was once, when thou, unurg'd, would'st Adr. How ill agrees it with your gravity, that never words were music to thine ear, (vow To counterfeit thus grossly with your slave, That never object pleasing in thine eve,

Abetting him to thwart me in my mood? That never touch well-welcorne to tliy hand, Be it my wrong, you are from me cxempt', That never meatsweet-savour'd in thyiste, [thee. 5 But wrong not that wrong with a more contempt. l'nless I spake, orlooh'u, or touch’d, or carv'd to Come, I will fasten on this sleeve of thine: How comes it now, my husband, oh, how comes it, Thou art an elm, my husband, I a vine; 'That thou art then estranged from toysell? Whose weakness, marry'l to thy stronger state, Thyself I call it, being sirange to me',

Manes me with thy strength to communicate: That, undivisiable, incorporate,

1011 aught possess thee from me it is dross, And better than thy dear sif's better part. Usurping ivy, briar, or idle moss; Ah, do not tear away thyself from me;

Who, all for want of pruning, with intrusion For know, my love, as easy may'st thou fall Infiet thy sap, and live on thy confusion, [theme: A drop of water in the breaking gulph,

sint. To me she speaks; she moves me for her And take comingled thence that drop again, 15 What, was I marry'd to her in my dream? Without addition, or diminishing,

Or sleep I non, and think I bear ail this? As take from me thyselt, and not me too. What error drives our eyes and ears amiss? How dearly would it touch thee to the quick,

Unul I know this sure uncertainty, shouldst thou but hear I were licentious?

I'll entertain the favour'd fallacy. [alinner. And that this body, consecrate to thee,

20 Luc. Dromio, go, bid the servants spread for By ruftian lust sboud be contaminate ?

S. Dro. Oh, for my beadis! I cross me for a sinner, Wouldst thou not spit at me, and puru at me,

This is the fairy land;-oli, spight of spights; And burl the name of husband in my face, Wetalk with goblins, owls, and elvislı sprights; And tear the stain'l skin oft my harlot-brow, If we obey them not, this will ensue,

[blue. And from my faisc hand cut the wedding-ring, 25 They'll suck our breath, and pinch us black and And break it with a deep-divorcing vow?

Luc. Why prat’st thou to thyself, and answer'st I know thou canst, and therefore sex, thou do it.

not?

(sot! I am possess'd with an adulterate blot ;

Dromio, thou drone, thou snail, thou slug, Thou My blood is mingled with the crime of lust : S. Dro. I am transformed, master, ain I not? For, if we two be one, and thou play false, 30 ánt. I think, thou art, in mind, and so am I. I do digest the poison of thy flesti,

S. Dro. Nay, master, both in mind, and in my Being strumpeted by thy contagion. [bed: Ant. Thou hast thine own shape. [shape. Keep then tair league and truce with thy true S. Dro. No, I am an ape. I live dis-stain’d, thou undislionoured. (not: Luc. If thou art chang'a to aught, 'tis to an ass.

Ant. Plead you to me, fair dame? I know you 35 S. Dio. 'Tis true, she rides me, and I long for In Ephesus I am but two hours old,

'Tis

su, I am an ass; else it could never be, (gruss, As strange unio your town, as to your

But I should know her as well as she knows me. Who, every word by all my wit being scann’d, Adr. Come, come, no longer will I be a fool, Want wit in all one word to understand.

To put the finger in the eye

and

weep, Luc. Fie, brother! how the world is chang'd with 40 Whilst man, and master, laugh my woes to scorn. When were you wont touse my sister thus? (you; Come, sir, to dinner; Dromio, keep the gate: She sent for you by Dromio home to dinner. Husband, I'll dine aboye with you to-day, sil. By Dremios

And shrives you of a thousand idle pranks: S. Dro. by me?

[him,- Sirrah, if

any

for your master, dr. By thee; and thus thou didst return from 45 Say, he dines forthi, and lei no creature enter.That he did buiset thee, and, in his blows Come, sister; Dromio, play the porter well. Deny'd my house íor his, me for his wife. [man? Ant. Am I in earth, in heaven, or in hell?

snt. Lid vou converse, sir, with this gentlewo. Sleeping or waking? mad, or well-advis'd? What is the course and drift of your compact? known unto these, and to myself disguis'd!

5. Dro. I, sir? I never saw her all this time. 50 I'll say as they say, and persever so,

Ant. Villain, thou liest ; for even her very And in this vist at all adventures go. Didst thou deliver to me on the mart. [words S. Dro. Master, shall I be porter at the gate!

S. Dro. I never spake with her in all my life. Adr. Ay, let pone enter, lest I break your pate.

Ant. How can she thus then call us by ou Luc. Come, come, Antipholis, we dine too late. C'nless it be by inspiration ? [wames, 55

[Excunt. " That is, separated. ? That is, unfertile, and therefore useless or idle; an happy allusion to the moss which grows on fruit-trees, hastening their decay, and neither surfers the tree to bear fruit, por does it bear any itself. The exact character of the kind of woman whom Adriana supposes to have attracted the aifections of Antipholis. S. A. : Dr. Warburton says, it was an old popular supersti tion, that the scrietch-owl sucked out the breath and blood of infants in the cradle. On this account, the balans called witches, who were supposed to be in like manner mischievously bent against children, strega, from strir, the scrictch-oul. *That is, I'll call you to confession, and make you tell all jour trichs.

ACT

talk;

ask you

4

10

SCENE I.

When one is one too many? go, get thee from

the door. The street before Antipholis's house.

E. Dro. What patch is made our porter? my Enter Antipholis of Ephesus, Dromin of Ephe

master stars in the street. sus, ingele, und Balthazar.

S. Dro. Let him walk from whence he came, E. Ant. GooD signior, Angelo

, you must ex

Jest he catch cold on's feet. [door. cuse us all,

E. Ant. Who talks within there? ho, open the My wife is shirewish, when I keep no: hours; S. Dro. Right, sir, i'll tell you when, an you'll Say, that I linger'd with you at your shop,

tell me wherefore. [not din'd to-day. To see the making of her carkanet',

E. Ant. Wherefore? for ny dinner; I have And that to-morrow you will bring it home. S. Dro. Nor to-day here you must not; come But bere's a villain that would face me down

again when you may He met me on the mart; and that I beat him, E. Ant. What art ihou, that keep'st me out And charg'd him with a thousand marks in gold;

from the house I owe*? And that I did deny my wife and house:

15 S. Dro. The porter for this tiine, sir, and iny Thou drunkard, thou, what dost thou mean by

name is Dromio. this?

[I know:

E. Dro. () villain, thou hast stolen both inine E. Dro. Say what thou will, sir, but I know what

office and iny name:

[blaine. That you beat me at the mart, i have your hand The one ne'er got me credit, the other mickle to show:

[gave were ink,20 thou hadst been Diomio to-day in my place, If the skin were parchment, and the blows you Thou would'st have chang'd thy face for a name, Your own hand-writing would tell you what I

or thy name for an ass. think

Luce. [llithin.] Ilhat a coil is there! Droinio, E. sint. I think, thou art an ass.

who are those at the gate? E. Dro. Marry, so it doth appear.

125 E. Dro. Let thy master in, Luce. By the wrongs I suiter, and the blows I bear. Luce, Faith no; he comes too late; I should kick, being kick'd; and, being at that And so tell your master. pass,

(an ass. E. Dro. O Lord, I must laugh :- [staff: You would keep from my heels, and beware of Have at you with a proverb.--Shall I set in my E. Ant. You are sad, signior Balthazar : Pray 30 Luce. Have at you with another: that's God, our cheer

[here.

When? can you tell ? Mayanswermy good-will, and your good-welcome. S. Dro. If thy name be called Luce, Luce, Bal. I hold your dainties cheap, sir, and your

thou hast answer'd bin well. welcome dcar.

['tish,

E. Ant. Do you hear, you minion? you'll let E. Ant. Ah, signior Balthazar, either at flesh or 35 us in, I trow" } A table-tull of welcome makes scarce one dainty Luce. I thought to have ask'd you. dish.

[churlatfords.

S. Dro. And you said, no. Bal. Good meat, sir, is common, that every E. Dr. So, come, help; well. struck; there E. Ant. And welcome more common; for

was blow for blow. that's nothing but words. [merry feast. 40 E. Ant. Thou baggage, let me in. Bal. Small cheer, and great welcome, makes a Lucr. Can you tell for whose sake? E. Ant. Ay, to a niggardly host, and more E. Dro. Máster, knock the door hard. sparing guest:

(part: Luce. Let bim knock till it ake. But though my cates be mean, take them in good E. -14t. You'll cry for this, minion, if I beat Better cheer may you have, but not with better 45 the door down.

[in the town? heart.

Luce. What needs all that, and a pair of stocks But sost: my dour is lock'); Go bid them let war. [Within.] Who is that at the door, that E. Dro. Mand, Bridget, Marian, Ciceiy, Gii

GH

keeps all this noise ? [unruly bovs. lian, Ginn!

S. Dro. By my troih, your town is troubled with S. Dro. [1ł i hin.] Wome?, malt-horse, capon, 50 E. int. Are you there, wile? you might have Cos-comb, ideoi, patch! [liatch:

come before.

[the door. Either get thee from the door, or sit down at the Adr. Your wife, sir kinave! go, get you from Dust thus conjure for wenches, that thou callst E. Dro. If you went in pain, masies, uiis inive for suchi store,

would

go sore. 'Acarkanet is said to have been a necklace set with stones, or strung with parls. That is, blockhead, stock, post. Sir T. Hanmer says, dome owes its original to lie French Momon, which signifies the gaming at dice in masquerade, the custom and rule of whics is, that a strict silence is to be observed: whatever :um one stakes, another covers, but not a word is to be apoken: Trom t.ence also comes our word mum! for silence. 3 Thutis, fuol. • That is, I 0:01. sto 110 signities to think, to imagine, to conceive.

Ang.

us in.

callson

crow.

crow.

Ang. Here is neither cheer, sir, nor welcome; Hath oftentimes upbraided me withal ; we would fain have either.

To her will we to dinner.-Get you home, Bal. In debating which was best, we shall part And fetch the chain; by this, I know, 'tis made: with neither'.

Bring it, I pray you, to the Porcupine; E. Dro. They stand at the door, master; bid 5 For there's the house; that chain will I bestow bid them welcome hither.

(Be it for nothing but to spight my wife) E. Ant. There is something in the wind, that U pon mine hostess there: good sir, make haste:

we cannot get in. [garments were thin. Since my own doors refuse to entertain me, E. Dro. You would say so, master, if your I'll knock elsewhere, to see if they'll disdain me. Your cake here is warm within ; you stand here 10 Ang. I'll meet you at that place, some hour, in the cold: [bought and sold?

sir, hence. It would make a man mad as a buck, to be so E. Ant. Do so; this jest shall cost me some exE. Ant. Go fetch me something, I'll break ope

pence.

[Exeunt.
the gate.
[your knave's pate.

SCENE II.
S. Dro. Break any thing here, and I'll break 15
E. Dro. A man may break a word with you,

The house of Antipholis of Ephesus. sir: and words are but wind ; [behind. Enter Luciana with Antipholis of Syracuse. Ay, and break it in your face, so he break it not Luc. And may it be that you have quite forgot S. Dro. It seems, thou wantest breaking : Out A husband's office? shall, Antipholis, hate, upon thee, hind!

20 Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot? E. Dro. Here's too much, out upon thee! 1 Shall love, in building, grow so ruinate?

pray thee let me in. [tish have nofin. If you did wed my sister for her wealth, S. Dro. Ay, when fowls have no feathers, and Then, for her wealth's sake, use her with more E. Ant. Well, I'll break in ; Go, borrow me a

kindness;

[mean you so:25 Or, if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth; [ness: E. Dro. A crow without feather; master, Muille

your false love with some shew of blindFor a fish without a fin, there's a fowl without a Let not my sister read it in your eye; feather;

(together. Be not thy tongue thy own shianie's orator; If a crow help us in, sirrah, we'll pluck a crow Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty ; E. Ant. Go, get thee gone, fetch me an iron 30 Apparel vice like virtue's harbinger: [ed;

Bear a fair presence, though your heart be taintBal. Have patience, sir; oli, let it not be so ; Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint; Herein you war against your reputation, Be secret false; What veed she be acquainted? And draw within the compass of suspect

What simple thiet brags of his own attaint ? The unviolated honour of your wife. [dom 35 "Tis double wrong, to truant with your bed, Once this,-Your long experience of her wis- And let her read it in thy looks at board: Her suber virtue, years, and inodesty,

Shame hath a bastard fame, well managed ; Plead on her part some cause to you unknown; Ill deeds are doubled with an evil word. And doubt not, sir, but she will well excuse, Alas, poor women! make us but believe, Why at this time the doors are made against 40 Being compact' of credit, that you love nt; Be rul'd by me; depart in patience, [you. Though others have the arm, shew'us the sleeve; And let us to the Tyger all to dinner.

Wein your motion turn, and you may move us. And, about evening, come youself alone, Then, gentle brother, get you in again; To know the reason of this strange restraint. Confort iny sister, chear her, call her wife: If by strong hand you offer to break in, 45'Tis holy sport, to be a little vain ; strife. Now in the stirring passage of the day,

When the sweet breath of flattery conquers A vulgar comment will be made of it;

S. Ant. Sweet mistress, (what your name is And that supposed by the common rout

else, I know not, Against your yet ungalled estimation,

Ner by what wonder you do bit of mine) That may with foul intrusion enter in, 50 Less, in your knowledge, and your grace, you And dwell upon your grave when you are dead:

show not,

[divine. For slander lives upon succession;

Than our earth's wonder; more than earth For ever hous'd, where 't gets possession. Teach me, dear creature, liow to think and speak; E. Ant. You have prevaild; I will depart in Lay open to my earthy gross conceit, quiet,

155 Smotherd in errors, feeble, shallow, weak, And, in despight of mirth", mean to be merry. The folded mcaning of your words' deceit. I know a winch of excellent discourse, - Against my soul's pure truih why labour you, Pretty and witty; will, and yet, too, gentle,- To make it wander in an unknown field? There will we dine: this woman that I mean, Are you a god? would you create me new? (yield. My wife (but, protest, without desert) I

1601 Transform me then, and to your power til · Meaning, we shall share with neither. ? A proverbial phrase. ' To make the door, is a provincial expression, signitying to bar or fasten the door. * Tlie meaning is, I will be mer. y, even out of spight io mirth, which is, now, of all things, the m»st u..pleaslig to me. "Compuci bere means mude up. “ l'air deresignaties not rule.

Bu

3

6

a

But if that I am I, then well I know,

and yet is she a wondrous fat marri-.ze. Your weeping sister is no wife of mine,

S. Ant. How dost thou mean, a tat marriage! Nor to her bed no homage do I owe;

S. Dro. Marry, sir, she's the kitchen-wench, Far more, far more, to you do I decline. [note, jand all grease; and I know not what use to put Oh, train ine not, sweet merinaid', with thy her to, but to make a lamp of her, and run from

To drown me in thy sister's thood of tears; her by her own light. I warrant, her rags, and Sing, syren, for thyself, and I will dote:

the tallow in them, will burn a Poland winter: Spread o'er the silver waves thy golden hairs, if she lives till doomsday, she'll burn a week And as a bed I'll take thee, and there lie; longer than the whole world.

And, in that glorious supposition, think (die:10 S. Ant. What complexion is she of?
He gains by death, that hath such means to S. Dro. Swart, like my shoe, but her face no

Let love, being light, be drowned if he sink! thing like so clean kept; For why, she sweats, a
Luc. What, are you mad, that you do reason so? man inay go over shoes in the griine of it.
S. Ant. Not mad, but mated'; how, I do not S. Ant. That's a fault that water will mend.
know.

S. Dro. No, sir, 'tis in grain; Noaii's flood

15 Luc. It is a fault that springeth from your eye.

could not do it. S. Ant. For gazing on your beains, fair sun, S. Ant. What's her name? being by.

S. Dro. Nell, sir;—but her name and three Luc. Gaze where you should, and that will quarters (that is, an ell and three quarters,) will clear your sight.

not measure her from hip to hip. S. Ant. As good to wink, sweet love, as look|20 S. Ant. Then she bears some breadth? on night.

[so. S. Dro. No longer from head to foot, than Luc. Why call you me, love? call my sister from hip to hip; she is spherical, like a globe; I S. Ant. Thy sister's sister.

could find out countries in her.

[land? Luc. That's my sister.

S. Ant. In what part of ber body stands free S. Ant. No;

25 S. Dro. Marry, sir, in her buttocks; I found It is thyself, mine own self's better part; it out by the bogs. Bline eye'sclear eye, my dear heart's dearer heart: S. Ant. Where Scotland ? My food, my fortune, and my sweet hope's aim, S. Dro. I found it by the barrenness; hard, in My sole earth's heaven, and my heaven's claim. the palın of the hand.

Luc. All this my sister is, or else should be. 30 S. Ant. Where France? S. Ant. Callthyself sister, sweet, for I mean thee: S. Dro. In ber forehead; arm’d and reverted, Thee will I love, and with thee lead my life: making war against her hair'. Thou hast no husband yet, nor I no wite :

S. Ant. Where England ? Give me thy hand.

S. Dro. I look'd for the chalky cliffs, but I Luc. Oh, soft, sir, hold you still;

35 could find no whiteness in them : but I guess, it I'll fetch my sister, together good-will. [Exit Luc. stood in her chin, by the salt rheum that ran be Enter Dromio of Syracuse.

tween France and it. S. Ant. Why, how now, Dromio? where S. Ant. Where Spain ? run'st thou so fast ?

S. Dro. Faith, I saw it not; but I felt it, hot • S. Dro. Do you know me, sir? am I Dromio? 40 in her breath. am I your man? am I myself?

S. Ant. Where America, the Indies? S. Ant. Thou art Dromio, thou art my man, S. Dro. Oh, sir, upon her nose, all o'er émthou art thyself.

bellish'd with rubies, carbuncles, sapphires, deS. Dro. I am an ass, I am a woman's man, and clining their rich aspect to the hot breath of besides myself.

45 Spain; who sent whole armadoes of carracks to S. Ant. What woman's man? and how besides

be ballasted at her nose. thyself?

S. Ant. Where stood Belgia, the Netherlands? S. Dro. Marry, sir, besides myself, I am due S. Dro. Oh, sir, I did not look so low. To conto a woman; one that claims me, one that haunts clude, this drudge, or diviner, laid claim to me; me, one that will have me.

50 call'd me Dromio; swore, I was assurdi to her; S. Ant. What claim lays she to thee?

told me what privy marks I had about me, as the S. Dro. Marry, sir, such a claim as you would mark of iny shoulder, the mole in my neck, the lay to your horse, and she would have me as a great wart on my left arm, that I, amaz’d, ran beast : 'not that, I being a beast, she would have 55 irom her as a witch: And, I think, if my beast me; but that she, being a very beastly creature, had not been made of faith, and my heart of lays claim to me.

steel, she had transform'd me to a curtail dog, S. Ant. What is she?

land made me turn i' the wheel.

[road; S. Dro. A very reverend body; ay, such a one S. Ant. Go, hie thee presently, post to the as a man may not speak of, without he say, sir-60 And if the wind blow any way from shore, reverence: I have but lean luck in the match, ll will not harbour in this town to-night.

That is, another name for syren. 2 Tiiat is, confounded. ? This alludes to her having the French disease. • That is, atliaiced to her. 10

If

a

3