"

gave us gold. Methinks they are such a gentle nation, that, but for the mountain of mad flesh, who claims marriage of me, I could find in my heart to stay here still, and turn witch myself.

Ant. of Syr. I will not stay, to-night, for all the

town,

So many, and such strange events, pursue me,
"Tis madness all! and I begin to doubt,
That even love and beauty are but snares,
To plunge my soul in yet severer cares.

ACT THE FIFTH.

SCENE I.

A Street before a Priory.

[Exeunt.

Enter ANGELO and Second MERCHANT.

Angelo. I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder'd
But I protest he had the jewel of me,
Though most dishonestly he did deny it.

2 Mer. How is the man esteem'd here in the city? Angelo. Of very reverend estimation, sir, Of credit infinite, highly belov'd, Second to none that lives within our walls. His word might bear my wealth at any time.

you;

2 Mer. Speak softly; yonder, as I think, he comes. Angelo. 'Tis so, and that same bracelet on his arm, Which he foreswore most monstrously to have. Good sir, draw near to me; I'll speak to him.

Enter ANTIPHOLIS OF SYRACUSE and DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.

Signor Antipholis, I wonder much

That you would put me to this shame and trouble,
And not without some scandal to yourself;
With circumstance and oaths so to deny
This bracelet, which you wear so openly.
Besides the charge, the shame, imprisonment,
You have done wrong to this my honest friend;
Who, but for staying on our controversy,
Had hoisted sail, and put to sea to-day.
This jewel you had of me- -Can you deny it?

Ant. of Syr. I know I had-I never did deny it.
2 Mer. Yes, that you did, sir—and forswore it too.
Ant. of Syr. Who heard me to deny, or to for-
swear it?

2 Mer. These ears of mine, thou knowest well, did
hear thee.

Fie on thee, wretch! 'tis pity that thou liv'st
To walk, where any
honest men resort.

Ant. of Syr. Thou art a villain, to impeach me

thus:

I'll

prove mine honour and mine honesty Against thee, with my life, if thou dar'st stand it. 2 Mer. I dare, and do defy thee for a villain!

Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, LESBIA, and
ATTEN DANTS.

Adr. Hold! hurt him not, for Heaven's sake!he's mad!

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
Stray'd his affection in unlawful love?
A sin, prevailing much in youthful men,
Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing!-
Which of these sorrows is he subject to?

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.
Abbess. Haply in private.

Adr. And in assemblies too.
Abbess. Ay, but not enough

Adr. It was the copy of our conference-
In bed, he slept not for my urging it;
At board, he fed not for my urging it;
Alone, it was the subject of my theme;
In company, I often glanc'd at it;
Still did I tell him, it was vile and base.

Abbess. And therefore came it that the man was

mad.

The venom'd clamours of a jealous woman,
Poison more deadly than a mad dog's tooth!
It seems, his sleeps were hinder'd by thy railing,
And therefore comes it, that his head is light.
The consequence is, then, thy jealousies
Have scar'd thy husband from his better sense.

Luc. She never reprehended him but gently,
When he demean'd himself rough, rude, and wild.
Why bear you these rebukes, and answer not?

Adr. She did betray me to my own reproof. Good people, enter, and lay hold on him.

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 nurse,
Diet his sickness, for it is my office,
And therefore let me have him home with me.

Abbess. Be patient, for I will not let him stir. Till I have used th' approved means I know, With wholesome syrups, drugs, and holy prayers, To bring him to his former state again. 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,
To separate the husband and the wife.
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 ab-
bess!

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,
At your important letters, this ill day,
A most outrageous fit of madness seiz'd him;

F