Adr. I know the man: What is the sum he owes? Off. Two hundred ducats. Adr. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse, with his rapier 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 Officer, ADR. and Luc. Ant. S. I see, these witches are afraid of swords. Dro. S. She, that would be your wife, now ran from you. Ant. S. Come to the Centaur; fetch our stuff from thence. I long that we were safe and sound aboard. Dro. S. 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. Ant. S. I will not stay to-night for all the town; Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. A Street before an Abbey. Enter Merchant and ANGelo. Angelo. AM sorry, sir, that I have hinder'd you; But, I protest, he had the chain of me, Though most dishonestly he doth deny it. Mer. How is the man esteem'd here in the city? Ang. Of very reverent reputation, sir, Second to none that lives here in the city; Ang. 'Tis so; and that self chain about his neck, Which he forswore, most monstrously, to have. Good sir, draw near to me, I'll speak to him.Signior Antipholus, I wonder much That you would put me to this shame and trouble; Ant. S. Thou art a villain to impeach me thus. I'll mine honour and mine honesty prove Against thee presently, if thou dar'st stand. Mer. I dare, and do defy thee for a villain. [They draw. Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, Courtezan, and others. Adr. Hold, hurt him not, for God's sake; he is mad. Some get within him, take his sword away; This is some priory.-In, or we are spoil'd. Enter the Lady Abbess. Abb. Be quiet, people. Wherefore throng you hither? Adr. To fetch my poor distracted husband hence. Let us come in, that we may bind him fast, And bear him home for his recovery. Ang. I knew he was not in his perfect wits. Mer. I am sorry now that I did draw on him. Abb. How long hath this possession held the man? Adr. This week he hath been heavy, sour, sad, And much different from the man he was before; But, till this afternoon, his passion Ne'er brake into extremity of rage. Abb. Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck of sea? Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye Stray'd his affection in unlawful love? A sin, prevailing much in youthful men, Adr. To none of these, except it be the last; Namely, some love, that drew him oft from home. Abb. You should for that have reprehended him. Adr. Why, so I did. Abb. Ay, but not rough enough. Adr. As roughly, as my modesty would let me. Adr. Abb. Ay, but not enough. And in assemblies too. Adr. It was the copie of our conference. Still did I tell him it was vile and bad. Abb. And therefore came it, that the man was mad. The venom clamours of a jealous woman Poison more deadly than a mad dog's tooth. It seems his sleeps were hinder'd by thy railing; Thou say'st his meat was sauc'd with thy upbraidings; Thou say'st his sports were hinder'd by thy brawls Luc. She never reprehended him but mildly, When he demean'd himself rough, rude, and wildly. Why bear you these rebukes, and answer not? Adr. She did betray me to my own reproof.Good people, enter, and lay hold on him. Abb. No, not a creature enters in my house. Adr. Then, let your servants bring my husband forth. Abb. Neither; he took this place for sanctuary, ; And it shall privilege him from your hands, Adr. I will attend my husband, be his nurse, Diet his sickness, for it is my office, And will have no attorney but myself; And therefore let me have him home with me. Abb. Be patient; for I will not let him stir, Till I have us'd the approved means I have, With wholesome syrups, drugs, and holy prayers, To make of him a formal man again. It is a branch and parcel of mine oath, A charitable duty of my order; Therefore depart, and leave him here with me. To separate the husband and the wife. Abb. Be quiet, and depart, thou shalt not have him. [Exit Abbess. Mer. By this, I think, the dial points at five. Mer. To see a reverent Syracusian merchant, Who put unluckily into this bay Against the laws and statutes of this town, Beheaded publickly for his offence. Ang. See, where they come; we will behold his death. Luc. Kneel to the Duke, before he pass the abbey. |