Albeit, my wrongs might make one wiser mad. There did this perjur'd goldsmith swear me down, I did obey; and sent my peasant home For certain ducats: he with none return'd. Then fairly I bespoke the officer, To go in person with me to my house. By the way we met My wife, her sister, and a rabble more Of vile confederates; along with them They brought one Pinch; a hungry lean-faced villain, A thread-bare juggler, and a fortune-teller; For these deep shames and great indignities. Ang. My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him ; After first forswore it on the mart, you And, thereupon, I drew my sword on you; From whence, I think, you are come by miracle. Duket What an intricate impeach is this! I think, you all have drank of Circe's cup. Dro. E. Sir, he dined with her there, at the Porcupine, I think, you are all mated, or stark mad. Egeon. Most mighty duke, vouchsafe me speak a word; Haply, I see a friend will save my life, And pay the sum that may deliver me. Duke. Speak freely, Syracusan, what thou wilt. And is not that your bondman Dromio? Dro. E. Within this hour I was his bondman, sir, geon. I am sure, you both of you remember me. Dro. E. Ourselves we do remember, sir, by you; For lately we were bound, as you are now. You are not Pinch's patient, are you, sir? Eg. Why look you strange on me? you know me well. Ant. E. I never saw you in my life, till now. Eg. Oh! grief hath chang'd me, since you saw me last; And careful hours, with time's deformed hand Have written strange defeatures in my face:3 [2] Mated, i. e. confounded. STEEVENS. [3] Defeatures are certainly neither more nor less than features; as demerits are Beither more nor less than merits. Time, says Egeon, hath placed new and strange features in my face; i. e given it quite a different appearance: no wonder there. fore thou dost not know me. RITSON. But tell me yet, dost thou not know my voice? Ant. E. Neither. Egeon. Dromio, nor thou? Dro. E. No, trust me, sir, nor I. Egeon. I am sure, thou dost. 1 Dro. E. Ay, sir? but I am sure, I do not; and what- Ant. E. I never saw my father in my life. Ant. E. The duke, and all that know me in the city, Can witness with me that it is not so; I ne'er saw Syracusa in my life. Duke. I tell thee, Syracusan, twenty years Have I been patron to Antipholus, During which time he ne'er saw Syracusa : I see, thy age and dangers make thee dote. Enter the Abbess, with ANTIPHOLUS Syracusan, and DROMIO Syracusan. Abb. Most mighty duke, behold a man much wrong'd. [All gather to see him. Adr. I see two husbands, or mine eyes deceive me. Dro. S. I, sir, am Dromio; command him away. [4] i. e. the weak and discordant tone of my voice, that is changed by grief. DOUCE. [5] i. e. furrowed like the grain of wood. STEEVENS. Dro. S. O, my old master! who hath bound him here? Abb. Whoever bound him, I will loose his bonds, And gain a husband by his liberty :Speak, old Ægeon, if thou be'st the man That hadst a wife once called Æmilia, That bore thee at a burden two fair sons: O, if thou be'st the same Egeon, speak, And speak unto the same Æmilia! Ageon. If I dream not, thou art Æmilia; Abb. By men of Epidamnum, he, and I, Duke. Why, here begins his morning story right: Ant. S. No, sir, not I; I came from Syracuse. Ant. E. Brought to this town by that most famous warrior Duke Menaphon, your most renowned uncle. Adr. Which of you two did dine with me to-day? Adr. And are you not my husband? Ant. E. No, I say nay to that. Ant. S. And so do I, yet did she call me so; And this fair gentlewoman, her sister here, Did call me brother :-What I told you then, I hope, I shall have leisure to make good; If this be not a dream, I see, and hear, Ang. That is the chain, sir, which you had of me. Ant. E. And you, sir, for this chain arrested me, Ang. I think I did, Sir; I deny it not. Adr. I sent you money, sir, to be your bail, By Dromio; but I think he brought it not. Dro. E. No, none by me. Ant. S. This purse of ducats I receiv'd from you, I see, we still did meet each other's man, Ant. E. These ducats pawn I for my father here. Abb. Renowned duke, vouchsafe to take the pains And hear at large discoursed all our fortunes :- The duke, my husband, and my children both, Go to a gossip's feast, and go with me; After so long grief, such nativity! Duke. With all my heart, I'll gossip at this feast. [Exeunt Duke, Abbess, ÆGEON, Courtezan, Merchant, ANGELO, and Attendants. Dro. S. Master, shall I fetch your stuff from shipboard? Ant. E. Dromio, what stuff of mine hast thou embark'd? Dro. S. Your goods, that lay at host, sir, in the Centaur. Ant. S. He speaks to me; I am your master, Dromio: Come, go with us; we'll look to that anon: Embrace thy brother there, rejoice with him. [Exeunt ANTIPHOLUS S. and E. ADR. and Luc. Dro. S. There is a fat friend at your master's house, That kitchen'd me for you to-day at dinner; She now shall be my sister, not my wife. ther: VOL. II. my bro G |