That he did plead in earnest, yea or no? Look'd he or red or pale, or sad or merry ?(67) Luc. First he denied you had in him no right. Adr. And what said he? Adr. Didst speak him fair? Luc. Have patience, I beseech. Adr. I cannot, nor I will not, hold me still; My tongue, though not my heart, shall have his will. Ill-fac'd, worse-bodied, shapeless everywhere; Vicious, ungentle, foolish, blunt, unkind; Stigmatical in making, worse in mind. Luc. Who would be jealous, then, of such a one? No evil lost is wail'd when it is gone. Adr. Ah, but I think him better than I say, And yet would herein others' eyes were worse. Far from her nest the lapwing cries away: My heart prays for him, though my tongue do curse. Enter DROMIO of Syracuse. Dro. S. Here, go; the desk, the purse! sweet, now, make haste, (69) Luc. How hast thou lost thy breath? Dro. S. A devil in an everlasting(70) garment hath him; A wolf, nay, worse,-a fellow all in buff'; A back-friend, a shoulder-clapper, one that countermands A hound that runs counter, and yet draws dry-foot well; Dro. S. I do not know the matter: he is 'rested on the case. Adr. What, is he arrested? tell me at whose suit. Dro. S. I know not at whose suit he is arrested well; But 'is in a suit of buff which 'rested him, that can I tell. Will you send him, mistress, redemption, the money in his desk? Adr. Go fetch it, sister.-This I wonder at, [Exit Luciana. That(72) he, unknown to me, should be in debt.- Dro. S. Not on a band, but on a stronger thing,— Adr. What, the chain? Dro. S. No, no, the bell:-'tis time that I were gone: It was two ere I left him, and now the clock strikes one. Adr. The hours come back! that did I never hear. Dro. S. O, yes; if any hour meet a sergeant, 'a turns back for very fear. Adr. As if Time were in debt! how fondly dost thou reason! Dro. S. Time is a very bankrupt, and owes more than he's worth to season. Nay, he's a thief too: have you not heard men say, That Time comes stealing on by night and day? If Time be(73) in debt and theft, and a sergeant in the way, Re-enter LUCIANA with the purse. Adr. Go, Dromio; there's the money, bear it straight; [Exeunt. SCENE III. A public place. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse. Ant. S. There's not a man I meet but doth salute me As if I were their well-acquainted friend; And every one doth call me by my name. Some tender money to me; some invite me; And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here. Enter DROMIO of Syracuse. Dro. S. Master, here's the gold you sent me for.-What, have you got the picture of old Adam new-apparelled ?(75) Ant. S. What gold is this? what Adam dost thou mean ? Dro. S. Not that Adam that kept the Paradise, but that Adam that keeps the prison: he that goes in the calf's skin that was killed for the Prodigal; he that came behind you, sir, like an evil angel, and bid you forsake your liberty. Ant. S. I understand thee not. Dro. S. No? why, 'tis a plain case: he that went, like a base-viol, in a case of leather; the man, sir, that, when gentlemen are tired, gives them a bob,(76) and 'rests them; he, sir, that takes pity on decayed men, and gives them suits of durance; he that sets up his rest to do more exploits with his mace than a morris-pike. Ant. S. What, thou meanest an officer? Dro. S. Ay, sir, the sergeant of the band; he that brings any man to answer it that breaks his band; one that thinks a man always going to bed, and says, "God give you good rest!" Ant. S. Well, sir, there rest in your foolery. Is there any ship puts forth to-night? may we be gone? Dro. S. Why, sir, I brought you word an hour since, that the bark Expedition put forth to-night; and then were you 4 hindered by the sergeant, to tarry for the hoy Delay. Here are the angels that you sent for to deliver you. Ant. S. The fellow is distract, and so am I; And here we wander in illusions: Some blessed power deliver us from hence! Enter a Courtezan. Cour. Well met, well met, Master Antipholus. I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now: Is that the chain you promis'd me to-day? Ant. S. Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not. Ant. S. It is the devil. Dro. S. Nay, she is worse, she is the devil's dam; and here she comes in the habit of a light wench and thereof comes that the wenches say, "God damn me;" that's as much as to say,(77) "God make me a light wench." It is written, they appear to men like angels of light: light is an effect of fire, and fire will burn; ergo, light wenches will burn. Come not near her. Cour. Your man and you are marvellous merry, sir. Will you go with me? We'll mend our dinner here. Dro. S. Master, if you do, expect spoon-meat; so bespeak a long spoon. (78) Ant. S. Why, Dromio? Dro. S. Marry, he must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil. Ant. S. Avoid thee, fiend!(79) what tell'st thou me of supping? Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress : I conjure thee to leave me and be gone. Cour. Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner, Or, for my diamond, the chain you promis'd; And I'll be gone, sir, and not trouble you. Dro. S. Some devils ask but the parings of one's nail, A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, A nut, a cherry-stone; But she, more covetous, would have a chain. Master, be wise: an if you give it her, The devil will shake her chain, and fright us with it. Cour. I pray you, sir, my ring, or else the chain: I hope you do not mean to cheat me so. Ant. S. Avaunt, thou witch!-Come, Dromio, let us go. you know. Else would he never so demean himself. Of his own doors being shut against his entrance. [Exit. SCENE IV. A street. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus and the Officer.(80) Ant. E. Fear me not, man; I will not break away: I'll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money, To warrant thee, as I am 'rested for. My wife is in a wayward mood to-day, money. Enter DROMIO of Ephesus with a rope's-end. How now, sir! have you that I sent you for? Dro. E. Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them all. |