you.

Dro. E. Certes, she did; the kitchen-vestal scorn'd Ant. E. And did not I in rage depart from thence? Dro. E. In verity, you did ;-my bones bear witness, That since have felt the vigour of his rage.

Adr. Is 't good to soothe him in these contraries?
Pinch. It is no shame; the fellow finds his vein,
And, yielding to him, humours well his frenzy.

Ant. E. Thou hast suborn'd the goldsmith to arrest me.
Adr. Alas, I sent you money to redeem you,

By Dromio here, who came in haste for it.

Dro. E. Money by me? heart and good-will you might,
But, surely, master, not a rag of money.

Ant. E. Went'st not thou to her for a purse of ducats?
Adr. He came to me and I deliver'd it.

Luc. And I am witness with her that she did.

Dro. E. Heaven' 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.

Ant. E. 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.
Dro. E. 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.
Ant. E. Dissembling harlot, thou art false in all;
And art confederate with a 'perjur'd' pack,
To make a loathsome abject scorn of me :

But with these nails I'll pluck out these false eyes,
That would behold me in this shameful sport.

[PINCH and Assistants bind ANT. E. and DRO. E. Adr. O, bind him, bind him, let him not come near me. Pinch. More company ;—the fiend is strong within him. Luc. Ah me, poor man! how pale and wan he looks! Ant. E. What, will you murder me? Thou gaoler, 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.
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
Good master doctor, see him safe convey'd
Home to my house.-O most unhappy day!
Ant. E. O most unhappy' woman!'

pay

it.

Dro. E. Master, I am here enter'd in bond for you.
Ant. E. Out on thee, villain! wherefore dost thou mad

me?

Dro. E. Will you be bound for nothing? be mad,

Good master, cry.—

Luc. God help, poor souls, how idly do they talk!
Adr. Go bear him hence.-Sister, go you with me.-

[Exeunt PINCH and Assistants, with ANT. E. and DRO. E. Say now, whose suit is he arrested at?

What is the sum he owes ?

Off. One Angelo, a goldsmith. Do you know him?
Adr. I know the man.
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, gaoler, bring me where the goldsmith is ;

I long to know the truth hereof at large.

Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse, with his rapier drawn, and
DROMIO of Syracuse.

Luc. 'Heaven,' for thy mercy! they are loose again.
Adr. And come with naked swords; let's call more help,
To have them bound again.

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. 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.

Enter Merchant and ANGELO.

Ang. I 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 reverend reputation, sir,

Of credit infinite, highly belov'd,

Second to none that lives here in the city;

His word might bear my wealth at any time.
Mer. Speak softly: yonder, as I think, he walks.

Enter ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO of Syracuse. 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;
And not without some scandal to yourself,
With circumstance and oaths, so to deny
This chain, which now you wear so openly:
Besides the charge, the shame, imprisonment,
You have done wrong to this my honest friend ;
Who, but for staying on our controversy,
Had hoisted sail, and put to sea to-day :
This chain you had of me, can you deny it?
Ant. S. I think, I had; I never did deny it.

Mer. Yes, that you did, sir; and forswore it too.

Ant. S. Who heard me to deny it, or forswear it?

Mer. These ears of mine, thou knowest, did hear thee: Fie on thee, wretch! 'tis pity that thou liv'st

To walk where any honest men resort.

Ant. S. Thou art a villain to impeach me thus:
I'll prove mine honour and mine honesty
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 :

Bind Dromio too, and bear them to my house.

Dro. S. Run, master, run; for God's sake, take a house. This is some priory.-In, or we are spoil'd.

Abb. Be quiet, people.

[Exeunt ANT. S. and DRO. S. to the Priory.

Enter the Abbess.

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.