 | Comedy of Errors |  |
The mart.
Enter ANTIPHOLIS of Syracuse
An. of Syr.
There's not a man I meet but doth salute me,
As if I were his well acquainted friend;
And every one doth call me by my name.
Some tender money to me, some invite me,
Some offer me commodities to buy,
While others give me thanks for kindnesses.
Ev'n now a taylor call'd me in his shop,
And shew'd me silks that he had bought for me,
And there withal took measure of my body.
Sure these are but imaginary wiles;
And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here.
Enter DROMIO of Syracuse.
Dr. of Syr.
Master here's the gold you sent me for. -What,
have you got rid of the fiend?
AN of Sur.
What gold is this? -What fiend dost thou mean?
Dr. of Syr.
He that came behund you, sir, like an evil angel,
ad bid you forsake your liberty.
An. of Syt.
I understand thee not.
Dr. of Syr.
No! -why tis plain enough. -The man sir, that,
when gentlement are tired, gives them a fob and rests them. He,
sir, that takes pity on decay'd men, and gives them suits of durance.
An. of Syr.
Mean'st thou an officer?
Dr. of Syr.
Ay, sir, the serjeant of the band -he that brings
any man to answer it, that breaks his bond. One that thinks a
man always going to bed, and says, Heaven send you good rest!
An. of Syr.
Well, sir, there rest your foolery! -Is there any
ship puts forth to-night? May we be gone?
Dr. of Syr.
Why, sir, I brought you word an hour since, that
the Bark, Expedition, puts forth tonight; and then were you
hindered by the serjeant, to tarry for the hoy, Delay. Here are
the angels that you sent for, to deliver you.
An. of Syr.
The fellow is distract, and so am I,
And here we wander in illusion -
Some blessed power deliver us from hence! -
Enter Lesbia.
Les.
Well met, well met, master Antipholis!
I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now,
Is the bracelet you promis'd me to-day?
An. of Syr.
What more temptations?
Mistress, you do impeach your modesty,
Here in the street, thus to commit yourself
Into the hands of one who knows you not.
Les.
Not know me? -how? -Am I not Lesbia?
And are you not Antipholis? -Nay, jest not;
Return with me, and we will mend our cheer.
An. of Syr.
Have you no bashfulness; no sense of shame;
No touch of medesty? Why will you tear
Ungentle words from my reluctant tongue?
Les.
I would not do so, good Antipholis;
I do but ask for what you promis'd me.
An. of Syr.
I promis'd thee?
Les.
Ay! as we sat at dinner.
An of Syr.
I ne'er beheld your face until this instant
Les.
And toldst me that thy wife -
An. of Syr.
My wife? -thou forceress?
Dr. of Syr.
Master, you certainly have been married,
And have forgot it.
Les.
Say, did you not, Antipholis?
An. Of Syr.
I tell thee, no.
Les.
Nor take my ring?
An. of Syr.
No, no -nor comprehend
What thy false tongue hath utter'd. -Dromio,
Follow me to our inn -I will not stay,
Nor longer listen to thy sorceries.
Exit.
Les. offering to follow.
Dr. of Syr.
No, you don't. Draws.
Here's my charm
against witches. -Mistress, it is written that evil spirits appear
to men like angels of light. Light is an effect of fire, and fire
will burn. -Ergo -light wenches will burn -therefore we will
not trust ourselves near you.
Exit.
Les.
Now out of doubt, Antipholis is mad,
Else would he never so demean himself.
A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats,
Anf for the same, he promis'd me a bracelet;
Both one ad other he denies me now.
What then remains? what measures shall I take?
My way is now to hie home to his house,
And tell his wife, that, being lunatic,
He rush'd into my house, and took, per force,
My ring away -This course I fittest chuse,
To right myself against this madman's wrong.
Exit.
Enter ANTIPHOLIS of Syracuse
An. of Syr.
There's not a man I meet but doth salute me,
As if I were his well acquainted friend;
And every one doth call me by my name.
Some tender money to me, some invite me,
Some offer me commodities to buy,
While others give me thanks for kindnesses.
Ev'n now a taylor call'd me in his shop,
And shew'd me silks that he had bought for me,
And there withal took measure of my body.
Sure these are but imaginary wiles;
And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here.
Enter DROMIO of Syracuse.
Dr. of Syr.
Master here's the gold you sent me for. -What,
have you got rid of the fiend?
AN of Sur.
What gold is this? -What fiend dost thou mean?
Dr. of Syr.
He that came behund you, sir, like an evil angel,
ad bid you forsake your liberty.
An. of Syt.
I understand thee not.
Dr. of Syr.
No! -why tis plain enough. -The man sir, that,
when gentlement are tired, gives them a fob and rests them. He,
sir, that takes pity on decay'd men, and gives them suits of durance.
An. of Syr.
Mean'st thou an officer?
Dr. of Syr.
Ay, sir, the serjeant of the band -he that brings
any man to answer it, that breaks his bond. One that thinks a
man always going to bed, and says, Heaven send you good rest!
An. of Syr.
Well, sir, there rest your foolery! -Is there any
ship puts forth to-night? May we be gone?
Dr. of Syr.
Why, sir, I brought you word an hour since, that
36
hindered by the serjeant, to tarry for the hoy, Delay. Here are
the angels that you sent for, to deliver you.
An. of Syr.
The fellow is distract, and so am I,
And here we wander in illusion -
Some blessed power deliver us from hence! -
Enter Lesbia.
Les.
Well met, well met, master Antipholis!
I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now,
Is the bracelet you promis'd me to-day?
An. of Syr.
What more temptations?
Mistress, you do impeach your modesty,
Here in the street, thus to commit yourself
Into the hands of one who knows you not.
Les.
Not know me? -how? -Am I not Lesbia?
And are you not Antipholis? -Nay, jest not;
Return with me, and we will mend our cheer.
An. of Syr.
Have you no bashfulness; no sense of shame;
No touch of medesty? Why will you tear
Ungentle words from my reluctant tongue?
Les.
I would not do so, good Antipholis;
I do but ask for what you promis'd me.
An. of Syr.
I promis'd thee?
Les.
Ay! as we sat at dinner.
An of Syr.
I ne'er beheld your face until this instant
Les.
And toldst me that thy wife -
An. of Syr.
My wife? -thou forceress?
Dr. of Syr.
Master, you certainly have been married,
And have forgot it.
Les.
Say, did you not, Antipholis?
An. Of Syr.
I tell thee, no.
Les.
Nor take my ring?
An. of Syr.
No, no -nor comprehend
What thy false tongue hath utter'd. -Dromio,
Follow me to our inn -I will not stay,
Nor longer listen to thy sorceries.
Exit.
Les. offering to follow.
Dr. of Syr.
No, you don't. Draws.
Here's my charm
against witches. -Mistress, it is written that evil spirits appear
to men like angels of light. Light is an effect of fire, and fire
will burn. -Ergo -light wenches will burn -therefore we will
not trust ourselves near you.
Exit.
37
Les.
Now out of doubt, Antipholis is mad,
Else would he never so demean himself.
A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats,
Anf for the same, he promis'd me a bracelet;
Both one ad other he denies me now.
What then remains? what measures shall I take?
My way is now to hie home to his house,
And tell his wife, that, being lunatic,
He rush'd into my house, and took, per force,
My ring away -This course I fittest chuse,
To right myself against this madman's wrong.
Exit.
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