For fear you ne'er see chain, nor money, more.
Ang. You are a merry man, sir; fare you well.
[Exit.

Ant. S. What I should think of this, I cannot tell;
But this I think, there's no man is so vain,
That would refuse so fair an offer'd chain.
I see, a man here needs not live by shifts,
When in the streets he meets such golden gifts.
I'll to the mart, and there for Dromio stay;
If any ship put out, then straight away. [Exil.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-The same. Enter a Merchant, Angelo, and an Officer.

Mer. You know, since Pentecost the sum is due, And since I have not much importun'd you; Nor now I had not, but that I am bound To Persia, and want guilders1 for my voyage: Therefore make present satisfaction, Or I'll attach you by this officer.

Ang. Even just the sum, that I do owe to you,

Is growing2 to me by Antipholus: And, in the instant that I met with you, He had of me a chain; at five o'clock, I shall receive the money for the same: Pleaseth you walk with me down to his house, I will discharge my bond, and thank you too. Enter Antipholus of Ephesus, and Dromio of Ephesus.

Off. That labour may you save; see where he

comes.

Ant. E. While I go to the goldsmith's house, go

thou

And buy a rope's end; that will I bestow

(1) A coin.

(2) Accruing.

Among my wife and her confederates,
For locking me out of my doors by day.-
But soft, I see the goldsmith-get thee gone;
Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me.

Dro. E. I buy a thousand pound a year! I buy [Exit Dromio.

a rope! Ant, E. A man is well holp up, that trusts to

you:

I promised your presence, and the chain;
But neither chain, nor goidsmith, came to me:
Belike, you thought our love would last too long,
If it were chain'd together; and therefore came not.
Ang. Saving your merry humour, here's the note,
How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat;
The fineness of the gold, and chargeful fashion;
Which doth amount to three odd ducats more
Than I stand debted to this gentleman;
I pray you, see him presently discharg'd,"
For he is bound to sea, and stays but for it.
Ant. E. I am not furnish'd with the present

money;
Besides, I have some business in the town:
Good signior, take the stranger to my house,
And with you take the chain, and bid my wife
Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof;
Perchance, I will be there as soon as you.

Ang. Then you will bring the chain to her your

self?

い

Ant. E. No; bear it with you, lest I come not

time enough.

Ang. Well, sir, I will: Have you the chain about

you?

Ant. E. An if I have not, sir, I hope you have; Or else you may return without your money.

Ang. Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the

chain:

Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman,
And I, to blame, have held him here too long.

322

COMEDY

Ant. E. Good lord, you use this dalliance to

excuse

Your breach of promise to the Porcupine:
I should have chid you for not bringing it,
But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.
Mer. The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, des-

patch.

Ang. You hear, how he importunes me; the

chain

Ant. E. Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your

money.

Ang. Come, come, you know, I gave it you

even now;

Either send the chain, or send me by some token. Ant. E. Fie! now you run this humour out of

breath:

Come, where's the chain? I pray you let me see it.
Mer. My business cannot brook this dalliance;
Good sit, say, whe'r you'll answer me, or no;
If not, I'll leave him to the officer.

you?

Ant. E. I answer you! What should I answer Ang. The money, that you owe me for the chain. Ant. E. I owe you none, till I receive the chain. Ang. You know, I gave it you half an hour since. Ant. E. You gave me none; you wrong me much to say so. Ang. You wrong me more, sir, in denying it : Consider, how it stands upon my credit. Mer. Well, officer, arrest him at my suit. Off. I do; and charge you in the duke's name,

to obey me.

Ang. This touches me in reputation :-
Either consent to pay this sum for me,
Or 1 attach you by this officer.

Ant. E. Consent to pay thee that I never had!
Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar'st.
Ang. Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer;
I would not spare my brother in this case,
If he should scorn me so apparently

Off. I do arrest you, sir; you hear the suit. Ant. E. I do obey thee, till I give thee bail :But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dear As all the metal in your shop will answer. Ang. Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus,

To your notorious shame, I doubt it not.

Enter Dromio of Syracuse.

Dro. S. Master, there is a bark of Epidamnum, That stays but till her owner comes aboard, And then, sir, bears away: our fraughtage,1 sir, I have convey'd aboard; and I have bought The oil, the balsamum, and aqua-vitæ. The ship is in her trim; the merry wind Blows fair from land: they stay for nought at all, But for their owner, master, and yourself. Ant. E. How now? a madman! Why thou

peevish2 sheep,

What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?
Dro. S. A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.3
Ant. E. Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a

rope;

And told thee to what purpose and what end.

Dro. S. You sent me, sir, for a rope's end as

soon:

You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.

Ant. E. I will debate this matter at more leisure, And teach your ears to listen with more heed. To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight: Give her this key, and tell her, in the desk That's cover'd o'er with Turkish tapestry, There is a purse of ducats: let her send it; Tell her, I am arrested in the street, And that shall bail me: hie thee, slave; be gone. On, officer, to prison till it come.

[Exeunt Mer. Ang. Off. and Ant. E. Dro. S. To Adriana! that is where he din'd, Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband :

(1) Freight, cargo. (2) Silly. (3) Carriage.

324

COMEDY

She is too big, I hope, for me to compass.
Thither I must, although against my will,
For servants must their masters' minds fulfil. [Ex.

1

SCENE II. The same. Enter Adriana and
Luciana.

Adr. Ah, Luciana, did he tempt thee so?
Might'st thou perceive austerely in his eye
That he did plead in earnest, yea or no?
Look'd he or red, or pale; or sad, or merrily?
What observation mad'st thou in this case,
Of his heart's meteors tilting in his face?!
Luc. First, he denied you had in him no right.
Adr. He meant, he did me none; the more my

spite.

Luc. Then swore he, that he was a stranger here.
Adr. And true he swore, though yet forsworn

he were.

Luc. Then pleaded I for you.

Adr.

And what said he? Luc. That love I begg'd for you, be begg'd of me. Adr. With what persuasion did he tempt thy

love?

Luc. With words, that in an honest suit might

move.

First he did praise my beauty; then, my speech. Adr. Did'st speak him fair?

Luc.

Have patience, I beseech.

Adr. I cannot, nor I will not, hold me still; My tongue, though not my heart, shall have his will. He is deformed, crooked, old, and sere,2 Ill-fac'd, worse-bodied, shapeless every where; Vicious, ungentle, foolish, blunt, unkind; Stigmatical in making,3 worse in mind.

Luc. Who would be jealous then of such a one? (1) An allusion to the redness of the northern lights likened to the appearance of armies. (2) Dry, withered.

(3) Marked by nature with deformity.