Then fairly I bespoke the officer, My wife, her sister, and a rabble more They brought one Pinch; a hungry lean-fac'd villain, A thread-bare juggler, and a fortune-teller; Ran hither to your grace; whom I beseech 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, fter you first forswore it on the mart, nd, thereupon, I drew my sword on you; nd then, you fled into this abbey here, rom whence, I think, you are come by miracle. Duke. Why, what an intricate impeach is this! If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly:- I think, you are all mated, or stark-mad. [Exit an Attendant. Ege. Most mighty duke, vouchsafe me speak a word; Haply, I see a friend, will save my life, And pay the sum that will deliver me. Duke. Speak freely, Syracusan, what thou wilt. Ege. Is not your name, sir, call'd Antipholus? And is not that your bondman Dromio? Dro. E. Within this hour I was his bondman, sir, But he, I thank him, gnaw'd in two my cords; Now am I Dromio, and his man, unbound. Ege. 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? Ege. Why look you strange on me? you know me well. Ant. E. I never saw you in my life, till now. Ege. 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: Ege. Dromio, nor thou? I am sure, thou dost. Dro. E. No, trust me, sir, nor I. Ege. Dro. E. Ay, sir? but I am sure, I do not; and whatsoever a man denies, you are now bound to believe him. Ege. Not know my voice! O, time's extremity! Ant. E. The duke, and all that know me in the city, Can witness with me that it was not so; I ne'er saw Syracusa in my life. Duke. I tell thee, Syracusan, twenty years During which time he ne'er saw Syracusa : Re-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. Ageon, art thou not? or else his ghost? 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 call'd Æmilia, That bore thee at a burden two fair sons: Ege. 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? Ant. S. I, gentle mistress. Adr. And are not you my husband? Ant. E. No, I say nay to that. Ant. S. And so do I, yet did she call me so; Ang. That is the chain, sir, which you had of me. Ant. E. And you, sir, for this chain arrested me. 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, And Dromio, my man, did bring them me: I see, we still did meet each other's man, And I was ta'en for him, and he for me, And thereupon these Errors are arose. Ant. E. These ducats pawn I for my father here. Abb. Renowned duke, vouchsafe to take the pains To go with us into the abbey here, And hear at large discoursed all our fortunes:- The duke, my husband, and my children both, After so long grief, such nativity! Duke. With all my heart, I'll gossip at this feast. [Exeunt Duke, Abbess, Egeon, 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. |