University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

Enter OLD MAN, with Servants.
Old Man.
[to the Servants.]
By gods and men, I here conjure you all
To take good care to execute the orders
Given you already; and I now repeat them.
See that man carried to the doctor's house;
On pain of both your sides and legs, obey me.
Be sure, each of you, not to heed his threats there.
Why stand you thus? why hesitate? e'en now
He ought to've been borne off. I'll go myself
Strait to the doctor: when you are got thither,
You'll find me there before you—
[Exit Old Man.

Men. Epi.
I'm undone.
What is the matter? What do these men want,
That they run here so fast? What is't you want?
Why do you thus surround me? Why thus hale me?
Where would you carry me? Undone! help! help!
Aid me, ye Epidamnians! Let me go.

[to the Servants.
Mess.
Ye gods, what do I see! What men are these
Who thus unworthily are bearing off
My master?

Men. Epi.
What, will no one dare to help me?

Mess.
Master, I will, and boldly too.—What villainy!
Ye Epidamnians, thus to seize my master,
In the open street, by day light, undisturb'd
By tumults in your city—A free man
He enter'd it—Then let him go, I say—

Men. Epi.
Whoe'er you are, assist me, I beseech you,
Nor let them do such signal outrage on me.

Mess.
Yes, I'll assist, defend, and succour you.
'Tis far more just, that I myself should perish,
Than suffer you to be thus treated, master:
Pluck out that fellow's eye, I beg of you,
Who holds you by the shoulder. I'll myself
Plant in these rascals chaps a crop of blows.
If you persist in bearing him away,
You'll find you'll have the worst of it. Let him go.

Men. Epi.
I've got hold of the rascal's eye.

Mess.
Why then,
Let in his head the socket strait appear.
Rogues! Rascals!

Servants.
You'll murder us. Have mercy!

Mess.
Let him go then.

Men. Epi.
What is't ye mean, you rascals!
By laying hands on me thus violently?
Curry the scoundrels with your blows.

Mess.
Away,
Begone, go and be hang'd, ye rascals!
You there, that are the last to quit your hold,
Take this along with you as a reward—
[strikes him.
So, so: I think I've on this scoundrel's chaps
Written in red letters.—'Troth, I came in time
To your assistance, master.

Men. Epi.
May the gods!
Whoe'er you are, be ever kind to you,
Young man. For without you, I ne'er had seen
The setting sun this day.

Mess.
By Pollux! therefore,
If you do right, you'll give me, Sir, my freedom.

Men. Epi.
Give you your freedom!

Mess.
Out of doubt, my master,
Since I have sav'd your life.

Men. Epi.
How's this! young man,
You are mistaken.

Mess.
I mistaken! how?

Men. Epi.
I swear by father Jupiter, I'm not
Your master.

Mess.
Can you say so?

Men. Epi.
I don't lie.
I never had a servant yet; I say,
Who ever did for me, what you have done?

Mess.
If then you will not own me for your servant,
E'en let me go, and have my liberty.

Men. Epi.
As far as in my power, take your liberty,
And go where'er you please.

Mess.
Then you command me?

Men. Epi.
Yes sure, as far as I've a right to do so.

Mess.
My patron, thanks!

A Servant.
I joy to see you free,
Messenio.

Mess.
In troth I well believe you.
By Hercules! I do. And, now, my patron,
I beg, you'd lay on me the same commands
As when I was your servant. I'll live with you:
And, when you home return, go with you, Sir.

Men. Epi.
No, by no means.

Mess.
I'll go now to the inn,
And bring your goods and money to you strait:
The purse which has your money, is fast seal'd
Within the cloak-bag. I'll go bring it strait.

Men. Epi.
Do so, and quickly.

Mess.
Sir, I'll bring them back
In the same state as when you gave them me.
Wait for me here.
[Exit Mess.

Men. Epi.
What I've to-day experienc'd
In many instances is most extraordinary.
Some of them say, that I am not the man
I am, and shut me out of doors. And here
A man insists upon't, he is my servant—
And I just now have given him his freedom.
He talks of bringing money to me strait;
Which if he does, I'll tell him he has liberty
To go from me whene'er it suits him best.
My father-in-law and the physician say
That I am mad. 'Tis strange what this should be:
It seems to me no other than a dream.
I'll now go to this courtezan, and see,
Tho' she is angry with me, if I can't
Prevail on her, to let me have the robe
To carry home, and give it to my wife.
[Exit Men. Epi.