Dro. S. Because it is a blessing that he bestows on beasts: and what he hath scanted men in hair he hath given them in wit. Ant. S. Why, but there's many a man hath more hair than wit. Dro. S. Not a man of those, but he hath the wit to lose his hair. Ant. S. Why, thou didst conclude hairy men plain dealers without wit. Dro. S. The plainer dealer, the sooner lost: Yet he loseth it in a kind of jollity. Ant. S. For what reason? Dro. S. For two; and sound ones too. Dro. S. Sure ones then. Ant. S. Nay, not sure, in a thing falsing. Dro. S. Certain ones then. Ant. S. Name them. Dro. S. The one, to save the money that he spends in tiring; the other, that at dinner they should not drop in his porridge. Ant. S. You would all this time have proved there is no time for all things. Dro. S. Marry, and did, sir; namely, no time to recover hair lost by nature. Ant. S. But your reason was not substantial, why there is no time to recover. Dro. S. Thus I mend it: Time himself is bald, and therefore, to the world's end, will have bald followers. Ant. S. I knew, 'twould be a bald conclusion: But soft! who wafts! us yonder? Enter Adriana and Luciana. Adr. Ay, ay, Antipholus, look strange, and frown; Some other mistress hath thy sweet aspects, The time was once, when thou unurg'd would'st vow, That never words were music to thine ear, Am better than thy dear self's better part. As take from me thyself, and not me too. I know thou canst; and therefore, see, thou do it. Being strumpeted by thy contagion. Keep then fair league and truce with thy true bed; I live dis-stain'd, thou undishonoured. Ant. S. Plead you to me, fair dame? I know you not: Ephesus I am but two hours old, range unto your town, as to your talk; Want wit in all one word to understand. Luc. Fie, brother! how the world is chang'd with you! When were you wont to use my sister thus? She sent for you by Dromio home to dinner. Dro. S. By me? Adr. By thee: and this thou didst return from That he did buffet thee, and, in his blows, Ant. S. Did you converse, sir, with this gentle- What is the course and drift of your compact? Dro. S. I, sir? I never saw her till this time. Ant. S. Villain, thou liest; for even her very words Didst thou deliver to me on the mart. Dro. S. I never spake with her in all my life. names, Unless it be by inspiration? Adr. How ill agrees it with your gravity, To counterfeit thus grossly with your slave, Abetting him to thwart me in my mood! Who, all for want of pruning, with intrusion Ant. S. To me she speaks; she moves me for her theme: What, was I married to her in my dream? (1) Unfertile. Or sleep I now, and think I hear all this? I'll entertain the offer'd fallacy. Luc. Dromio, go bid the servants spread for dinner. Dro. S. O, for my beads! I cross me for a sinner. This is the fairy land ;-O, spite of spites!— We talk with goblins, owls, and elvish sprites; If we obey them not, this will ensue, They'll suck our breath, or pinch us black and blue. Luc. Why prat'st thou to thyself, and answer'st not? Dromio, thou drone, thou snail, thou slug, thou sot! Dro. S. I am transform'd, master, am not I? Ant. S. I think, thou art, in mind, and so am I. Dro. S. Nay, master, both in mind, and in my shape. Ant. S. Thou hast thine own form. Dro. S. No, I am an ape. Luc. If thou art chang'd to aught, 'tis to an ass. 'Tis so, grass. me, and I long for I am an ass; else it could never be, Whilst man, and master, laugh my woes to scorn.- Say, he dines forth, and let no creature enter.- Ant. S. Am I in earth, in heaven, or in hell? Sleeping, or waking? mad, or well-advis'd? Known unto these, and to myself disguis'd! I'll say as they say, and perséver so, And in this mist at all adventures go. (1) Absolve, Dro. S. Master, shall I be porter at the gate? pate. Luc. Come, come, Antipholus, we dine too late. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE 1.-The same. Enter Antipholus of Ephesus, Dromio of Ephesus, Angelo, and Balthazar. Ant. E. Good signior Angelo, you must excuse My wife is shrewish, when I keep not hours: And that to-morrow you will bring it home. Thou drunkard, thou, what didst thou mean by this? Dro. E. Say what you will, sir, but I know what I know : That you beat me at the mart, I have your hand to show: If the skin were parchment, and the blows you gave were ink, Your own hand-writing would tell you what I think. Ant. E. I think, thou art an ass. Dro. E. Marry, so it doth appear By the wrongs I suffer, and the blows I bear." I should kick, being kick'd; and, being at that pass, You would keep from my heels, and beware of an ass. (1) A necklace strung with pearls. |