Balthazar, a merchant

ANGELO, a goldsmith

twin brothers and sons to Egeon and Emilia

twin brothers, and attendants on the two Antipholuses

First Merchant, friend to Antipholus of Syracuse
Second Merchant, to whom Angelo is a debtor
PINCH, a schoolmaster

EMILIA, wife to Egeon, an Abbess at Ephesus
ADRIANA, wife to Antipholus of Ephesus

LUCIANA, her sister

LUCE, servant to Adriana

A Courtezan

Jailer, Officers, and other Attendants

SYNOPSIS

By J. ELLIS BURDICK

ACT I

Solinus, Duke of Ephesus, condemns Ægeon, a merchant of Syracuse, to death in accordance with the laws of Ephesus and in default of ransom. Being pressed by the Duke Ægeon tells the story of his life. He was born at Syracuse and brought up as a merchant. Several years before he had been obliged to go to Epidamnum. In that place there was born to him and his wife Æmilia twin sons, "the one so like the other as could not be distinguished." At the same inn and at the same hour a poor woman gave birth to two sons both alike. These boys he had bought to attend his sons. Shortly after, he and his family started for home. They were shipwrecked and the father and mother were separated, each having one son and one slave. Ægeon and the two children with him reached Syracuse, where they lived eighteen years, hearing nothing in that time of the others. Then the son begged permission from his father to take his slave and go in search of his mother and brother. Two years went by and the father heard nothing from this last son; then he, too, started to search for his missing family. Five years had he now "spent in farthest Greece, roaming clean through the bounds of Asia, and coasting homeward, came to Ephesus; hopeless to find, yet loath to leave unsought or that, or any place that harbors men." The Duke, wishing that he might release Ægeon after hearing his sad story, grants him a day's reprieve in order that he might if possible borrow the money for his ransom.

Unknown to Ægeon and unknown to each other, both

the sons and their slaves are in the city of Ephesus. Antipholus of Syracuse has just arrived, and being told by a friend that a merchant of Syracuse has been apprehended and condemned to death, announces that he is from Epidamnum. The other son has his home in Ephesus and is in great favor with the Duke, who had married him to Adriana, a lady of rank. Dromio of Ephesus is sent by his mistress to summon his master to dinner and meeting Antipholus of Syracuse delivers the message to him. Antipholus, thinking it is his own slave joking with him, beats him.

ACT II

Adriana, after listening to the slave's story of his master's actions, herself goes to seek him. She meets Antipholus of Syracuse and makes the same error as to his identity, but she succeeds in persuading him to accompany her home to dinner. Dromio of Syracuse is set to guard the gate and to deny entrance to all visitors.

ACT III

Antipholus of Ephesus returns home accompanied by Balthazer and is angry to find that he cannot enter his own house, but he is persuaded by his friend to go to an inn for dinner and to return later in the evening. Within the house Antipholus of Syracuse protests that some mistake has been made and addresses pretty speeches to Luciana, sister of Adriana, instead of to Adriana. Dromio of Syracuse is also claimed as a husband by the kitchenmaid. A tradesman, Angelo by name, confuses the two Antipholuses and delivers a gold chain to the Syracusan which had been ordered by the Ephesian.

ACT IV

Antipholus of Ephesus is arrested for refusing to pay for the chain, and meeting Dromio of Syracuse as he is being led to jail, he sends him to his home for money.

Dromio of Syracuse gets the money but in returning with it falls in with his own master and gives it to him. The two Syracusans, believing themselves bewitched, prepare for a hasty departure. Adriana believes her husband and his slave to be mad and has them placed under restraint.

ACT V

Two merchants and Adriana, seeing Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse on the street, believe them to be the Ephesians, and they are obliged to seek sanctuary in a priory. The abbess protects them. Adriana resolves to complain to the Duke and ask him to force the abbess to yield her husband to her. The Duke is passing just at this time on his way with Egeon to the place of execution, where the latter is to pay the death penalty. While Adriana is speaking to the Duke, Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus, having escaped from their captors, rush up and call upon the Duke to do them justice. Ægeon thinks these are the son and slave whom he had brought up and is surprised when he is not recognized. At this moment the abbess and the Syracusans come from the priory and the errors are straightened out. The abbess proves to be Ægeon's long-lost wife, Emilia. Antipholus of Ephesus is reconciled to his wife, and Antipholus of Syracuse renews his suit with Adriana's sister. The Dromios rejoice over their reunion.