Duke. Nay, forward, old man, do not break off so; For we may pity, though not pardon thee. Ege. O, had the gods done so, I had not now For, ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues, And therefore homeward did they bend their course. To tell sad stories of my own mishaps. Duke. And, for the sake of them thou sorrowest for, Do me the favour to dilate at full What hath befall'n of them, and thee, till now. Ege. My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care, Or that, or any place that harbours men. Duke. Hapless Ægeon, whom the fates have mark'd To bear the extremity of dire mishap! Now, trust me, were it not against our laws, Gaol. I will, my lord. Ege. Hopeless, and helpless, doth Ægeon wend, But to procrastinate his lifeless end. SCENE II. A public Place. [Exeunt Enter ANTIPHOLUS and DROMIO of Syracuse, and a Merchant. Mer. Therefore, give out, you are of Epidamnum, Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate. This very day, a Syracusan merchant Is apprehended for arrival here; And, not being able to buy out his life, Ant. S. Go hear it to the Centaur, where we host, Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings, Get thee away. Dro. S. Many a man would take you at your word, And go indeed, having so good a mean. [Exit Dro. S. Ant. S. A trusty villain, sir; that very oft, When I am dull with care and melancholy, Lightens my humour with his merry jests. What, will you walk with me about the town, And then go to my inn, and dine with me? Mer. I am invited, sir, to certain merchants, Of whom I hope to make much benefit; I crave your pardon. Soon, at five o'clock, Please you, I'll meet with you upon the mart, And afterwards consort you till bed-time; My present business calls me from you now. Ant. S. Farewell till then: I will go lose myself, And wander up and down, to view the city. Mer. Sir, I commend you to your own content. [Exit Merchant. Ant. S. He that commends me to mine own content, Commends me to the thing I cannot get. I to the world am like a drop of water, That in the ocean seeks another drop; Who, falling there to find his fellow forth, Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself: So I, to find a mother and a brother, In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself. Enter DROMIO of Ephesus. Here comes the almanack of my true date,— What now? How chance, thou art return'd so soon? Dro. E. Return'd so soon! rather approach'd too late : The capon burns, the pig falls from the spit; The clock hath strucken twelve upon the bell, The meat is cold, because you come not home; You come not home, because you have no stomach; You have no stomach, having broke your fast; Ant. S. Stop in your wind, sir; tell me this, I pray; Where have you left the money that I gave you? Dro. E. O,-sixpence, that I had o'Wednesday last, To pay the saddler for my mistress' crupper;The saddler had it, sir, I kept it not. Ant. S. I am not in a sportive humour now: For she will score your fault upon my pate. Ant. S. Come, Dromio, come, these jests are out of season; Reserve them till a merrier hour than this: Dro. E. To me, sir? why you gave no gold to me. ness, And tell me, how thou hast dispos'd thy charge. mart Home to your house, the Phoenix, sir, to dinner; Ant. S. Now, as I am a Christian, answer me, Ant. S. Thy mistress' marks! what mistress, slave, hast thou? Dro. E. Your worship's wife, my mistress at the Phoenix; She that doth fast, till you come home to dinner, And prays, that will hie you you home to dinner. Ant. S. What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face, Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave. Dro. E. What mean you, sir? for God's sake, hold your hands; Nay, an you will not, sir, I'll take my heels. [Exit Dromio E. Ant. S. Upon my life, by some device or other, The villain is o'er-raught of all my money. They say, this town is full of cozenage; As, nimble jugglers, that deceive the eye, Dark-working sorcerers, that change the mind, Soul-killing witches, that deform the body; Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks, And many such like liberties of sin: If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner. I'll to the Centaur, to go seek this slave; I greatly fear, my money is not safe. [Exit. |