Albeit, my wrongs might make one wiser mad. There did this perjur'd goldsmith swear me down, Which, God he knows, I saw not: for the which, 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; Ran hither to your grace; whom I beseech To give me ample satisfaction For these deep shames and great indignities. Ang. My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him; That he dined not at home, but was lock'd out. Duke. But had he such a chain of thee, or no? Ang. He had, my lord: and when he ran in here, These people saw the chain about his neck. Mer. Besides, I will be sworn, these ears of mine Heard you confess you had the chain of him, After you first forswore it on the mart, From whence, I think, you are come by miracle. Duke. What an intricate impeach is this! Dro. E. Sir, he dined with her there, at the Porcupine. ther; I think, you are all mated, 2 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, Egeon. I am sure, you both of you remember me. Æg. Why look you strange on me? you know me well. Egeon. Oh! grief hath chang'd me, since you saw me last; And careful hours, with time's deformed hand [2] Mated, i.e. confounded. STEEVENS. Defeatures are certainly neither more nor less than features; as demerits are neither 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 therefore 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. Ay, sir? but I am sure, I do not; and what- Ant.E. I never saw my father in my life. Ægeon. But seven years since, in Syracusa, boy, Thou know'st, we parted: but, perhaps, my son, Thou sham'st to acknowledge me in misery. 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, Siracusan, 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. Duke. One of these men is Genius to the other; And so of these: Which is the natural man, And which the spirit? Who deciphers them? Dro. S. I, sir, am Dromio; command him away. Dro.E. I, sir, am Dromio; pray, let me stay. Ant. S. Ægeon, art thou not? or else his ghost? [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. STEEV. 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 beʼst 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 Ægeon, speak, And speak unto the same Æmilia! Egeon. 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, 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. Ant. S. This purse of ducats I receiv'd from you, Ant. E. These ducats pawn I for my father here. Duke. It shall not need, thy father hath his life. Cour. Sir, I must have that diamond from you. Ant.E. There, take it; and much thanks for my good cheer. 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 em bark'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. Dro.E. Methinks, you are my glass, and not my bro ther: |