The Complete Works of Shakespeare. William Shakespeare
He came to me, and I deliver’d it.
Luc.
And I am witness with her that she did.
E. Dro.
God and the rope-maker bear me witness
That I was sent for nothing but a rope!
Pinch.
Mistress, both man and master is possess’d:
I know it by their pale and deadly looks.
They must be bound and laid in some dark room.
E. Ant.
Say wherefore didst thou lock me forth to-day?
And why dost thou deny the bag of gold?
Adr.
I did not, gentle husband, lock thee forth.
E. Dro.
And, gentle master, I receiv’d no gold;
But I confess, sir, that we were lock’d out.
Adr.
Dissembling villain, thou speak’st false in both.
E. Ant.
Dissembling harlot, thou art false in all,
And art confederate with a damned pack
To make a loathsome abject scorn of me;
But with these nails I’ll pluck out these false eyes
That would behold in me this shameful sport.
Enter three or four, and offer to bind him; he strives.
Adr.
O, bind him, bind him, let him not come near me.
Pinch.
More company! the fiend is strong within him.
Luc.
Ay me, poor man, how pale and wan he looks!
E. Ant.
What, will you murther me? Thou jailer, thou,
I am thy prisoner. Wilt thou suffer them
To make a rescue?
Off.
Masters, let him go:
He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him.
Pinch.
Go bind this man, for he is frantic too.
[They offer to bind Dromio of Ephesus.]
Adr.
What wilt thou do, thou peevish officer?
Hast thou delight to see a wretched man
Do outrage and displeasure to himself?
Off.
He is my prisoner; if I let him go,
The debt he owes will be requir’d of me.
Adr.
I will discharge thee ere I go from thee:
Bear me forthwith unto his creditor,
And knowing how the debt grows, I will pay it.
Good Master Doctor, see him safe convey’d
Home to my house. O most unhappy day!
E. Ant.
O most unhappy strumpet!
E. Dro.
Master, I am here ent’red in bond for you.
E. Ant.
Out on thee, villain, wherefore dost thou mad me?
E. Dro.
Will you be bound for nothing? Be mad, good master,
Cry “The devil!”
Luc.
God help, poor souls, how idlely do they talk!
Adr.
Go bear him hence. Sister, go you with me.
Exeunt. Manent Officer, Adriana, Luciana, Courtezan.
Say now, whose suit is he arrested at?
Off.
One Angelo, a goldsmith. Do you know him?
Adr.
I know the man; what is the sum he owes?
Off.
Two hundred ducats.
Adr.
Say, how grows it due?
Off.
Due for a chain your husband had of him.
Adr.
He did bespeak a chain for me, but had it not.
Cour.
When as your husband all in rage to-day
Came to my house, and took away my ring—
The ring I saw upon his finger now—
Straight after did I meet him with a chain.
Adr.
It may be so, but I did never see it.
Come, jailer, bring me where the goldsmith is,
I long to know the truth hereof at large.
Enter Antipholus [of] Syracusa, with his rapier drawn, and Dromio [of] Syracusa.
Luc.
God for thy mercy! they are loose again.
Adr.
And come with naked swords: let’s call more help
To have them bound again.
Off.
Away, they’ll kill us.
Exeunt omnes [but Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse] as fast as may be, frighted.
S. Ant.
I see these witches are afraid of swords.
S. Dro.
She that would be your wife now ran from you.
S. Ant.
Come to the Centaur, fetch our stuff from thence;
I long that we were safe and sound aboard.
S. Dro. Faith, stay here this night, they will surely do us no harm. You saw they speak us fair, give us gold: methinks they are such a gentle nation that, but for the mountain of mad flesh that claims marriage of me, I could find in my heart to stay here still, and turn witch.
S. Ant.
I