THE SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY.
GENERAL EDITOR PROFESSOR
I. GOLLANCZ, LITT.D.
lAU rights rt served,]
THE OLD-SPELLING SHAKESPEARE:
Being the Works of Shakespeare in the
Spelling of the best Quarto and Folio Texts
Edited by F. J. Furnivall and the late
W. G. Boswell-Stone.
THE
COMEDIE OF ERRORS
EDITED BY
W. G. BOSWELL-STONE
523793
/ 2 ^ • Sf
LONDON : CHATTO AND WINDUS
DUFFIELD AND COMPANY : NEW
YORK : PUBLISHERS : MCMVIII
RicnAKD Clay & Sons, Limited,
BREAD STREET HILL, E.C., AND
BL'NGAV, SUFFOLK.
PR
2755
F 81
V.3
Comedie of Errors.
FOREWORDS.
Having started his original dramatic work with a topical play,
Loves Labors Lost, in which he dealt with the woman-question
of his day and introduced the leading French Generals of his
time, Shakspere turned, for a complete change, to two old Latin
plays which he may have read when at school, and on their
foundation built his second play, wafting his hearers from the
green meadows of France to the sea and cities of the East, to
Ephesus and Syracuse ; from the educational problems of the
English Elizabethans, to some of the troubles of family life in
ancient Greece.
The metrical evidence proves that The Errors follows Loves
Labors Lost. As I said in the Facsimile Q. i of that play,
p. xi. : ^* L.L.L. has 1028 ryme-lines to 597 blank-verse ones,
nearly twice as many, i to '58 ; the Errors 380 rymes to 1 150
blank, or i in yo2. L.L.L. has only 4 per cent, of i i-syllable
lines, while the Errors has 1 2*3 per cent. L.L.L. has as
many as 236 alternate rymes or fours, that is, i in 4*78 ;
while the Errors has only 64, or I in 18 lines. L.L.L. hzs
194 lines of doggerel, or i in every 5*3 lines, while the Errors
has 109, or i in every 10*5 5. L.L.L. has only i run-on line in
i8'i4, while the Errors has i in every iO'7. Further, L.L.L,
has more Sonnets, and more 8- and 6-line stanzas in the dialogue,
than the Errors. It is more crowded with word-play, and has
far less plot."
The fact that parts oi Loves Labors Lost, specially the Berowne
and Rosalin portions of Acts IV and V, contain better work than
the Errors, is due to the large revision of L.L.L. by Shakspere,
either for the 1597 performance of the play " before her Highnes
vii
Comedie of Errors.
this last Christmas," as the 1598 Quarto says, — see my Fore-
words to the L.L.L. 4to, p. v-ix, — or for the earlier perform-
ance of it at Gray's Inn in Dec. 1 594,^ as the * Gesta Grayorum'
tells us: "After such sports a Comedies of Errors (like to
Plautus his Menaschmus) was played by the players, so that
night was begun, and continued to the end, in nothing but con-
fusion and errors ; whereupon it was ever afterwards called the
Night of Errors."
The story of Plautus's Menachmt is this : a Sicilian merchant
of Syracuse has twin boys. The first, Menaechmus, he loses at
the games at Tarentum, and dies of grief over it. The 2nd twin,
Sosicles, is renamed Menaschmus by his grandfather, and brought
up at Syracuse. The stealer of the ist twin takes him home to
Epidamnus, adopts him, marries him to a rich wife, and leaves
him money. The Syracusan twin (originally Sosicles) sets out
with his slave to search for his twin-brother. He comes to
Epidamnus, and is there confused with that brother, who has a
jealous wife, and goes to dine " with a courtesan, and who tries to
steal the courtesan's mantle and gold bracelet which her maid had
given him to get mended. The courtesan and his wife both
quarrel with him ; he shams mad ; a doctor is fetcht, and
carries him off as a madman. His money has to be got, and is
procured from his Syracusan brother. The Syracusan slave
explains the confusion, and is freed. A mutual recognition
follows. The Epidamnian wife, as a punishment for her im-
pertinent jealousy, is to be sold to the highest bidder ; and the
twin brothers sail off to Syracuse." — Introd. Leopold Shakspere,
p. xxii.
Improving this story, Shakspere keeps the father of the twins
alive, shipwrecks and separates him and his wife, doubles the slave,
invents the wife's sister and her beautiful young love for the
Syracusan twin, makes all the fun of the double Dromios, and
invests the whole play with the pathos of the father's anxious
search for his lost son, and his re-union with him and his long-
parted wife, all at last again one family.
1 See Mrs. Stopes's Letter in the Athenaeum, 30 April, 1904, p. 570-1,
and her article in the Year-book of the German Shakespeare Society,
1896. The Gesta Grayorum was publisht in 1688. 410. London.
viii
Forewords.
Plautus's comedy Amphitruo supplied Shakspere with hints
for his Act III. sc. i, for the twin slaves, and for * the doubts
which the Syracusan Dromio is led to entertain regarding his
own identity, II. ii.* — Anders, Shakespeare s Books, 33.
There was an earlier play ' The Historic of Error, showen at
Hampton Court on New yeres daie [1576-7J at night, enacted
by the children of Powles' — Variorum 1821, iii. 387; — and
* A Historic of Ferrar* which Dyce &c. proposed to turn into
Error, was acted by the Lord Chamberlain's Servants before
Q. Elizabeth on 6 Jan. 1583 ; but neither of these is now known.
W. W.'s Menachmt of 1595 is reprinted in Nichol's Six Old
Plays. The Comedie of Errors was first printed in the First
Folio of 1623, and is here edited from that by my late friend
and helper, Walter G. Boswell-Stone. The play preserves the
three classic unities of time, place, and action, of which the first
two are often neglected by Shakspere.
In the two places cited in Note i on p. viii, Mrs. Stopes
quotes the first official notice of Shakspere's name : —
" To William Kempe, William Shakespeare, and Richard
Burbage, servants to the Lord Chamberleyn, upon the Coun-
celles warrant dated at Whitehall xv die Marcij 1594, for twoe
severall comedies or enterludes, shewed by them before her
maiestie in Christmas tyme laste paste, viz. upon St. Stephens
daye [Dec. 26 J and Innocentes day [Dec. 28]], xiii**, vi% viii"*,
and by waie of her Maiesties rewarde, vi", xiii*, iv"* ; — in all,
xx"." — Pipe Office, 542.
As the Gray's Inn performance of the Comedie of Errors was
also on Innocents' day, Dec. 28, Mrs. Stopes suggests that this
play was acted by Shakspere and his fellows in the afternoon
at Greenwich before the Queen, that Southampton may have
been present at the performance, and may then have ridden with
the players to London, given them supper, and taken them to
Gray's Inn, of which he was a member, to re-act their play.
He "had been admitted to Gray's Inn on February 29, 1587—8,
by his guardian Lord Burghley."
As the Gray's Inn play was " like to Plautus his Menaechmus,"
it could not have been W. W^arnerJ's englishing of Plautus's
Latin comedy, which was enterd to Thomas Creede in the
Stationers' Registers on June 10, 1594: —
ix
Comedie of Errors.
lo die Junij
Thomas Enterd for his Copie, vnder th(e h)ande of Master
Creede Cawood, a booke entituled Mena(e)chmi, being A
pleasant and fine Conceyted Comedye taken oute of
the moste excellent wittie Poett Plautus, chosen pur-
posely from out the reste as leaste harmfull and yet
moste delightfull. vj"* C.
— Arber's Transcript^ ii. 309 (1875).
This book was printed by Creede, and <sold by William
Barley, at his shop in Gratious-streete. 1595-' 4to. 20 leaves.
— F. J. F.
twin brothers, and
■attendants on the
two Antipholuses.
THE PARTS AND NAMES OF THE PLAYERSA
[The References are to the first Speeches of the Characters In their Scenes.]
SOLIirUS, Duhe o/Ephesua, I.i.3> P- < '• V.t.130, p. 45.
EGEOV, a merchant of Siracuaa, I.i.i, p. 1 ; V.i.283, p. 49.
AlITIPHOnJS 0/ Siracuaa, I.ii.g, p. s ; H.ii.i, P. " ; IHM^ ^^.^ ^^ ^^^
,9. p. '3; lV.m.i. p. 33: 1V.I4S. p. 41; V.1.336. p. 51. I ,o„,t<,Egeon
ANTIPHOLTIS of Ephesus, Ill.i.i, p. 18; IV.i.15, p. a8 ; iv. j and JEnuiia^
^,P- 36; V.i.190, p. 47. J
SKOKIO of Siraousa, I.ii.17, p. 6; II.ii.13, p. 13; III.i.31,''
p. 19; ji.72, p. as; IV.i.8s, p. 30; ii.29, p. 32; iii.i2,
p. 34 ; iv.146, p. 41 ; V.i.334, p. 51.
OBOmO 0/ Sphesus, I.ii.43, p. 7; II.i.45. P- zo ; Ill.i.ii,
p. 18; IV.i.ai, p. a8 ; iv.io, p. 37 ; V.i.a76, p. 49.
BALTEAZAB, a merchant, Ill.i.ai, p. 19.
ANOEIO, a goldsmith, III.i.66, p. ai ; ii.159, p. 27 ; IV.i.7, p. a8 ; V.Li, p. 41.
First Kerohont, friend to Antipholus of Siraousa, I.ii.i, p. 5.
S«eond Merohant, to whom Angelo Is a debtor, IV.i.i, p. aS ; V.L4, p. 49.
Pinch, a schoolemaster, IV.iv.so, p. 38.
A laylor, I.i.iS7, p. 5.
An Officer (lailor), lV.i.14, p. a8 ; iv. 19, p. 37,
A Keuenger, aeruant to Antipholui of Ephesui, V.i.i68, p. 46.
jEKHIA, w//* to Bgeon, an a66es5« at £phesiu, V.i.38, p. 43.
fTWtTAVA, u///« to Antipholui of Ephesus, II.a.i, p. 8 ; ii.109, p. 15 ; IV.ii.t, p.
31 ; iv.44, p. 38 ; V.i.33, p. 4a.
LTXOIAKA, /)«r sister, beloued by Antipholus, of Siraousa, II.i.4, p. 9; ii.i5i, p.
i6 ; III.ii.i, p. aa ; IV.iL7, p. 31 ; iv.43, p. 38 ; V.L87, p. 44.
LTTCE, seruant to Adriana, III.i.48, p. 20.
A Oourteian, IV.iii.41, p. 35 ; iv.43, P- 38 ; V.La77, p. 49.
Mutes. Aeaistants 0/ Pinch, IV.iv. p. 137 : and a Headsman, V.i. p. 133.
SCENES : Ephesus. The Sukes Palace, I.i. pp. 1-5 : The Mart, I.iL pp. s-i ;
IV.L pp. 38-31 ; iii. pp. 33-36 : ' The Phoenix,' the house of Antipholus of
Ephesus, II. i. pp. 8-ia ; IV. ii. pp. 31-33: Before 'The Phoenix,' II. ii. pp.
ia-i8; Ill.i. pp. i8-aa ; ii. pp. 23-37; ^ Street, IV.iv, pp. 36-41: i4
Street before a Priorle, V.L pp. 41-54.
TIKE : One Day,endlng when ' the Diall points atfiue.' (See V.i.118, p. 45.)
1 The . . . Players.] Jaeoi and Eiau (a.d. 1568).— Hazlitt's Dodsley, ii. 187.
xi
NOTICE
in the Text, black type (Clarendon or Sans-serif) is used
for all emendations and insertions.
« F ' means the First Folio of 1623. F2, the Second Folio
of 1632 (whose emendations are not treated as Shakspere's).
U in the Text, means that the speaker turns and speaks to
a fresh person.
Words having now a different stress to the Elizabethan,
are generally accented, for the reader's convenience, as « exile,'
&c. When -ed final is pronounst as a separate syllable, the
e is printed c.
The Comedie of Errors
[From the First Folio of 1623.]
The Comedie of Errors.
A6ius Primus. Scena Prima.
A Hall in the Dukes Palace.
Enter SOLINUS, the Duke o/Ephefus, with EGEON, the Mer-
chant q/'Siracufa, a laylor, and other Attendants.
E^eon.
PROCEED, Solinus, to procure my fall,
And, by the doome of death, end woes and all !
Duke. Merchant of Siracufa, plead no more ;
I am not partiall, to infringe our Lawes : 4
The enmity and difcord, which of late
Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your Duke,
To Merchants, our well-dealing Countrimen,
(Who, wanting gilders to redeeme their Hues, 8
Haue feal'd his rigorous ftatutes with their blouds,)
Excludes all pitty from our threatning lookes :
For, iince the mortall and inteftine iarres
Twixt thy feditious Countrimen and vs, 12
It hath in folemne Synodes beene decreed.
Both by the Siracufians and our felues.
To admit no trafficke to our aduerfe townes :
Nay, more : 16
' If any, borne at Ephefus, be feene
At any Siracujian Marts and Fayres ', . . .
Againe : ' If any, Siracujian borne.
Come to the Bay of Ephefus, he dies, 30
His goods confjifcate to the Dukes difpofe,
VnlelTe a thoufand marks be leuied
To quit the penalty, and to ranfome him *.
A Hall . . . Palace."] Malone.
I. Egeon] Marchant F, afterwards
Mer. and Merch.
16-18. Nay, more: If . . . seene
At any] Malone. Nay more, if . . .
Ephesus Be seene at any F.
B [I. i. 1-23.
The Comedie of Errors.
Thy fubftance, valued at the higheft rate, 24
Cannot amount vnto a hundred Markes ;
Therefore, by Law, thou art condemn'd to die.
E^e. Yet this my comfort, when your words are done,
My woes end likewife with the euening Sonne ! 28
Duk. Well, Siracujian, fay, in briefe, the caufe.
Why thou departedft from thy natiue home ;
And for what caufe thou cam'ft to Ephejus.
E^e. A heauier tafke could not haue beene impos'd, 32
Then I to fpeake my griefes vnfpeakeable !
Yet, that the world may witnefle that my end
Was wrought by nature, not by vile offence.
He vtter what my forrow giues me leaue. 36
In Syracufa was I borne ; and wedde
Vnto a woman, happy but for me.
And by me, had not our hap beene bad.
With her I liu'd in ioy ; our wealth increaft 40
By profperous voyages I often made
To Epidamium ; till my fa6lors death.
And the great care of goods at randone left,
Drew me from kinde embracements of my fpoufe : 44
From whom my abfence was not fixe moneths olde,
Before her felfe (almoft at fainting vnder
The pleafing punilhment that women beare)
Had made prouifion for her following me, 48
And foone, and fafe, arriued where I was.
There had (he not beene long, but fhe became
A ioyfull mother of two goodly fonnes ;
And, which was ftrange, the one fo like the other, Ci
As could not be diftinguilli'd but by names.
That very howre, and in the felfe-fame Inne,
A meaner woman was deliuered
Of fuch a burthen Male, twins both alike : cf
Thofe, (for their parents were exceeding poore,)
I bought, and brought vp to attend my fonnes.
My wife, not meanely prowd of two fuch boyes.
Made daily motions for our home reiurne : 60
43. tk/\ Theobald, he F.
55. meaner] Deli us (S. Walker
[I. i. 24-60.]
conj.). meane F.
The Comedie of Errors.
Vnwilling I agreed ; alas ! too foone
Wee came aboord.
A league from Epidamium had we faild.
Before the alwaies winde-obeying deepe €4
Gaue any Tragicke Inftance of our harme :
But longer did we not retaine much hope ;
For what obfcured light the heauens did grant.
Did but conuay vnto our fearefiill mindes 68
A doubtful! warrant of immediate death.
Which, though my felfe would gladly haue imbrac'd.
Yet the inceffant weepings of my wife,
(Weeping before for what Ihe faw muft come,) 73
And pitteous playnings of the prettie babes,
(That moum'd for falhion, ignorant what to feare,)
Forft me to feeke delayes for them and me ;
And this it was : (for other meanes was none :) 76
The Sailors fought for fafety by our boate.
And left the fhip, then linking-ripe, to vs :
My wife, more carefull for the latter-borne,^
Had faftned him vnto a fmall fpare Mall, 80
Such as fea-faring men prouide for ftormes ;
To him, one of the other twins was bound,
Whil'ft I had beene like heedfuU of the other.
The children thus difpof'd, my wife and I 84
(Fixing our eyes on whom our care was fixt)
Faftned our felues at eyther end the maft ;
And floating ftraight, obedient to the ftreame.
Was carried towards Corinth, as we thought. 88
At length the fonne, gazing vpon the earth,
Difperft thofe vapours that offended vs ;
And, by the benefit of his wilhed light.
The feas waxt calme, and we difcouered g%
Two fhippes from farre, making amaine to vs ;
(Of Corinth that, of EpidaUrus this;)
Bat ere they came, . . . oh, let me fay no more !
Gather the fequell by that went before. 96
Duk. Nay, forward, old man ! doe not breake off fo j
61, 62. So Pope. One line in F. I 94. EpiJaurus] Epidarus F.
• elder-] Kowe. Seel. 125. |
3 [Li. 61.97.
The Comedie of Errors.
For we may pitty, though not pardon thee.
E^e. Oh ! had the gods done fo, I had not now
Worthily tearm'd them mercilelfe to vs ! loo
For, ere the (hips could meet by twice hue leagues,
We were encountred by a mighty rocke ;
Which, being violently borne vpon.
Our helpefull fhip was fplitted in the midft; 104
So that, in this vniuft diuorce of vs.
Fortune had left to both of vs alike.
What to delight in, what to forrow for.
Her part, poors foule ! (feeming as burdened 108
With leflTer waight, but not with lefler woe)
Was carried with more fpeed before the winde ;
And, in our fight, they three were taken vp
By Filhermen of Corinth, as we thought. lia
At length, another fhip had feiz'd on vs.
And, knowing whom it was their hap to faue,
Gaue healthfuU welcome to their Ihip-wrackt guefts;
And would haue reft the Fifhers of their prey, n6
Had not their barcke beene very How of iaile ;
And therefore, homeward did they bend their courfe.
Thus haue you heard me feuer'd from my blilTej
That, by misfortunes, was my life prolong'd, 120
To tell fad (lories of my owne mifhaps.
Duke. And, for the fake of them thou forroweft for,
Doe me the fauour to dilate at full.
What hath, befalne of them, and thee, till now. 124
E^e. My yongeft boy, and yet my eldeft care.
At eighteene yeeres became inquifitiue
After his brother; and importun'd me
That his attendant (fo his cafe was like, 128
Reft of his brother, but retain'd his name)
Might beare him company in the quell of him :
Whom, whil'ft I laboured of a loue to fee,
I hazarded the lolle of whom I lou'd. li%
Fiue Sommers haue I fpent in fart heft Greece,
Roming cleane through the bounds of AJia,
103. vpon\ Pope, vp F. I 124. hath. . . thei\ F2. haue . . .
1 1 7. barcke\ backe F. | ihey F.
I. i. 98-134.] 4
The Comedie of Errors.
And, coafting homeward, came to Ephefus ;
Hopelefle to finde, yet loth to leaue vnfought, 136
Or that, or any place that harbours men.
But heere mull end the ftory of my life ;
And happy were I, in my timelie death.
Could all my trauells warrant me they line ! 140
Duke. Haplefle Egeon, whom the Fates haue markt
To beare the extremitie of dire miftiap !
Now truft me, were it not again ft our Lawes,
Againft my Crowne, my oath, my dignity, 144
(Which Princes, would they, may not difanuU,)
My foule fhould fue as aduocate for thee.
But, though thou art adiudged to the death.
And paffed fentence may not be recal'd, 148
(But to our honours great difparagement,)
Yet will I fauour thee in what I can.
Therefore, Marchant, He limit thee this day.
To feeke thy helpe by beneficial) helpe : 152
Try all the friends thou haft in Ephefus ;
Beg thou, or borrow, to make vp the fumme.
And liue ! if no, then thou art doom'd to die.
H laylor, take him to thy cuftodie ! 156
laylor. I will, my Lord.
E^e. Hopelefte and helpelefle doth EgeOn wend.
But to procraftinate his liuelefle end ! \_Exeunt. 159
Actus Primus. Scena Secunda.
The Mart.
Enter AntipholUs Erotes of Siracnse, a Marchant,
and Dromio of Siracuse.
7 ATer. Therefore, giue out, you are of Epidamium,
Left that your goods too Ibone be confifcate.
This very day, a Syracujian Marchant
Is apprehended for alriuall here ; 4
And, not being able to buy out his life.
158. Egeoti] F2. Egean F.
The Mart. '\ Camb. Edd.
Antipholus\ Antipholis. F. Ero-
tes, 'a lover,' is bad Greek Latin-
ized.— E. D. S. Erraticus Steevens
conj.
I . I Mer.^ Mar. (24, 32 E. Mar.) F.
4. arriuar\ F2. a riuall F.
[I. 1. 135-159; ii- I-S-
The Comedie of Errors.
According to the ftatute of the towne,
Dies, ere the wearie funne fet in the Weft.
There is your monie that I had to keepe. 8
S. Ant. [to S. Dro.] Goe beare it to the Cenlaure, where we
holt,
And ftay there, Dromio, till I come to thee!
Within this houre it will be dinner time :
Till that. He view the manners of the towne, la
Perufe the traders, gaze vpon the buildings,
And then returne and fleepe within mine Inne;
For, with long trauaile, I am Itiffe and wearie.
Get thee away ! l6
S. Dro. Many a man would take you at your word.
And goe indeede, hauing fo good a meane. [Exit Dromio.
S. Ant. A trurtie villaine, lir ! that very oft,
When I am dull with care and melancholly, ao
Lightens my humour with his merry iefts.
What, will you walke with me about the towne,
And then goe to my Inne and dine with me ?
7 Mar. I am inuited, fir, to certaine Marchants, a4
Of whom I hope to make much benefit :
I craue your pardon. Soone at fine a clocke,
Pleafe you, He meete with you vpon the Mart,
And afterward confort you till bed time. 28
My prefent bufinelfe cals me from you now.
S. Ant. Farewell till then ! I will goe loofe my felfe,
And wander vp and downe to view the Citie. 3 1
1 Mar. Sir, I commend you to your owne content! [Exit.
S, Ant. He that commends me to mine owne content.
Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
I, to the world, am like a drop of water.
That in the Ocean feekes another drop, 36
Who, falling there to finde his fellow forth,
(Vnfeene, inquifitiue,) confounds himfelfe.
So I, to finde a Mother and a Brother,
In queft of them (vnhappie!) loofe my felfe. 40
9. Prefixes .S". and E. in sans serif I 32. £xiL] Exeunt. F.
type, when omitted in the original ' 40. vnhafpie\ vnhappie a F.
text. '
I. ii. 6-40.] 6
The Comedie of Errors.
Enter Dromio o/'Ephefus.
Here comes the almanacke of my true date !
What now ? How chance thou art return'd fo foone ?
E. Dro. 'Return'd fo foone'! rather, approacht too late •
The Capon burnes, the Pig fals from the fpit ; 44
The clocke hath ftrucken twelue vpon the bell j
My Miftris made it one vpon my cheeke :
She is fo hot, becaufe the meate is colde ;
The meate is colde, becaufe you come not home ; 48
You come not home, becaufe you haue no ftomacke ;
You haue no ftomacke, hauing broke your faft;
But we, that know what 'tis to faft and pray.
Are penitent for your default to day. 52
S. Ant. Stop in your winde, fir ! tell me this, I pray :
"Where haue you left the mony that I gaue you .
E. Dro. Oh, • fixe pence that I had a Wenfday last.
To pay the Sadler for my Miftris crupper ? 56
The Sadler had it. Sir ; I kept it not.
S, Ant. I am not in a fportiue humor now :
Tell me, and dally not, where is the monie ?
We being ftrangers here, how dar'ft thou truft 60
So great a charge from thine owne cuftodie ?
E. Dro. I pray you left, fir, as you fit at dinner :
I, from my Miftris, come to you in poft ;
If I returne, I fhall be ' poft ' indeede, 64
For fhe will fcoure your fault vpon my pate.
Me thinkes your maw, like mine, Ihould be your clocke.
And ftrike you home without a melfenger. 67
5, Ant. Come, Dromio, come ! thefe lefts are out of feafon !
Referue them till a merrier houre then this :
Where is the gold I gaue in charge to thee ?
E. Dro. To me, fir? why, you gaue no 'gold' to me! 71
S. Ant. Come on, fir knaue ! haue done your foolilhnes.
And tell me how thou haft difpos'd thy charge.
E. Dro. My ' charge ' was but to fetch you ivom the Mart
Home to your houfe, the Phoenix, fir, to dinner:
My Miftris and her fifter ftaies for you. 76
S. Ant. Now, as I am a Chriftian ! anfwer me,
66. clocke] Pope, cooke F.
7 [I. ii. 41-77-
The Comed'ie of Errors.
In what fafe place you haue beftow'd my monie;
Or I fhall breake that merrie fconce of yours.
That flands on tricks, when I am vndifpos'd : 80
Where is the thoufand Markes thou hadft of me '
E. Dro. I haue fome ' markes ' of yours vpon my pate ,•
Some of my Miftris ' markes ' vpon my Ihoulders ;
But not a 'thoufand markes' betweene you both. 84
If I fliould pay your worfliip thofe againe.
Perchance you wilJ not beare them patiently. [thou ^
S. Ant. Thy 'Miftris markes'? what 'Miftris,' slaue ! haft
E. Dro. Your worfliips wife, my ' Miftris ' at the Phoenix ;
She that doth faft till you come home to dinner, 89
And praies that you will hie you home to dinner.
5, ^nl. What ! wilt thou flout me thus vnto my face,
fitting forbid ? There ! take you that, fir knaue ! [Strikes him.
E. Dro. What meane you, fir? for God fake, hold your
Nay, and you will not, fir. He take my heeles. [hands !
[Exit Dromio of EpliesTis.
5. yint. Vpon my life, by fome deuife or other, 95
The villaine is ore-wrought of all my monie !
They fay, this towne is full of cofenage :
As, nimble luglers, that deceiue the eie;
Darke-working Sorcerers, that change the minde j
Soule-killing Witches, that deforme the bodie ; roo
Difguifed Cheaters ; prating Mountebankes ;
And manie fuch like liberties of finne :
If it proue fo, I will be gone the fooner.
He to the Centaur, to goe feeke this flaue, 104.
I greatly feare my monie is not fafe. [Exit.
A6lus Secundus. Seen EL Prima..
'The Phoenix,' the House of Antipholus of Ephesus.
Enter Adriana, wife to AntipholUs SUrReptus of Ephesus,
with LuciANA her Sijler.
Adr. Neither my hufband nor the flaue return'd.
That in fuch hafte I fent to feeke his Mafter !
94. Exit . . . Ephesus. ^ Exeunt
Dromio Ep. F.
The House . , . Ephesus.] Pope.
[I. ii. 78-105 ; II. i. I, 2]
Antipholusi Antipholis F.
Surreptus\ Steevens conj. Se-
reptus F.
The Comedie of Errors.
Sure, Luciana, it is two a clocke.
Luc. Perhaps fome Merchant hath inuited him ; 4
And, from the Mart, he's fomewhere gone to dinner.
Good Sifter, let vs dine, and neuer fret !
A man is Mafter of his libertie :
Time is their Mafter; and, when they fee time, 8
They'll goe or come: if lb, be patient. Sifter!
Adr. Why lliould their libertie, then ours, be more ?
Luc. Becaufe their bufineire ftill lies out adore. 1 1
Adr. Looke, when I ferue him fo, he takes it thus.
[Frowns d stamps.
Luc. Oh, know he is the bridle of your will. 15
Adr. There's none but afles will be bridled fo !
Luc. Why, headftrong liberty is lafht with woe. 15
There's nothing fituate vnder heauens eye.
But hath his bound, in earth, in fea, in fkie : 17
The beafts, the fillies, and the winged fowles
Are their males fubie6ts, and at their controules : 19
Men, more diuine, the MafterS of all thefe.
Lords of the wide world, and wilde watry feas, 21
Indued with intelleduall fence and foules.
Of more preheminence then fifli and fowles, 23
Are mailers to their females, and their Lords :
Then let your will attend on their accords. 25
Adri. This feruitude makes you to keepe vnwed.
Luci. Not this, but troubles of the marriage bed. 27
Adr. But were you wedded, you wold bear fome fway.
Luc. Ere I learne loue. He praftife to obey. 29
Adr. How if your hufband ftart fome other where ?
Luc. Till he come home againe, I would forbeare. 31
Adr. Patience vnmou'd, no maruel though (he paufej
They can be meeke, that haue no other caufe ! ^^
A wretched foule, bruis'd with aduerfitie.
We bid be quiet, when we heare it crie ; 35
But, were we burdned with like waight of paine.
As much, or more, we fhould our felues complaine : 37
So thou, that haft no vnkinde mate to greeue thee.
With vrging helpelefle patience, would releeue me; 39
20, 2 1. /I fen . . . Masters . . . Lordsl Hanmer. Man . . . Master . . . Lord F.
9 [II. i. 3-39-
The Comedie of Errors.
But, if thou Hue to fee like right bereft,
This foole-beg'd patience in thee will be left ! 41
Luci. Well, I will marry one day, but to trie. —
Heere comes your man ! now is your hufband nie ! 43
Enter Dromio of Ephesus.
Adr. Say, is your tardie mafter now at hand ? 44
E. Dro. Nay, hee's at two ' hands ' with mee, and that my
two eares can witnefle. [minde r
Adr. Say, didft thou fpeake with him ? knovvft thou his
E. Dro. I, I, he told ' his minde ' vpon mine eare : 48
Beflirew his hand ! I fcarce could vnderftand it.
Luc. Spake hee io doubtfully, thou couldft not feele his
meaning? 51
E. Dro. Nay, hee ftrooke fo plainly,! could too well 'feele '
his blowes ! and withall *fo doubtfully', that I could fcarce
vnderftand them.
Adri. But, fay, I prethee, is he comming homer
It feemes he hath great care to pleafe his wife ! 56
E. Dro. Why, Miftrefle, fure my Mafter is home mad.
Adri. ' Home mad,' thou villaine !
E. Dro. I meane not Cuckold mad ;
But, fure, he is ftarke mad.
When I delir'd him to come home to dinner, 60
He aflt'd me for a hundred markes ^ in gold :
* 'Tis dinner time,' quoth I ; * my gold ! ' quoth he :
' Your meat doth burne,' quoth I j ' my gold ! * quoth he :
'Will you come home,' quoth I ; ' my gold ! ' quoth he : 64
'Where is the thoufand markes 1 gaue thee, villaine? '
' The Pigge,' quoth I, ' is burn'd ; ' ' my gold ! ' quoth he :
'My millreire, fir,' quoth I ; ' hang vp thy Miftrelle !
I know not thy miftreffe ; out on thy miftrelle ! ' 68
Luci. Quoth who ?
E. Dr. Quoth my Mafter :
'I know,' quoth he, 'no houfe, no wife, no miftrefle!'
So that my arrant, due vnto my tongue, 72
(I thanke him,) I bare home vpon my ftioulders ;
45. two] too F.
' A thousatui marks] F4. See
[II. i. 40-73] 10
I. ii. 81, 84; II. i. 65; III. i. 8.
64. home] Hanmer.
Tlte Comedie of Errors.
For, in conclufion, he did beat me there.
Adri. Go back againe, thou flaue, & fetch him home !
Dm. ' Goe backe againe ' , and be new beaten ' homfe ' ? 76
For Gods fake, fend fome other meflenger !
jidri. Backe, llaue, or I will breake thy pate a-crofle !
Dro. And he will bleffe that ' crolFe ' with other beating :
Betweene you, I lliall haue a holy head. 80
Adri. Hence, prating pefant ! fetch thy Mafter home !
Dro. Am I fo round with you, as you with me.
That, like a foot-ball, you doe fpurne me thus ?
You fpurne me hence, and he will fpurne me hither : 84
if I laft in this feruice, you murt cafe me in leather. [Exit.
Luci, Fie ! how impatience lowreth in your face I
Adri. His company muft do his minions grace, 87
Whil'ft I at home ftarue for a merrie looke !
Hath homelie age, th' alluring beauty tooke 89
From my poore cheeke ? then he hath walled it.
Are my difcourfes dull? Barren my wit? 91
If voluble and fliarpe difcourfe be mar'd,
Vnkindnelle blunts it more then marble hard. 93
Doe their gay veftments, his affeftions baite r
That's not my fault, hee's mafter of my ftate. 95
What mines are in me, that can be found
By him not ruin'd? Then is he the ground 97
Of my defeatures : My decayed faire,
A funnie looke of his would foone repaire. 99
But, too vnruly Deere, he breakes the pale.
And feedes from home ! poore I, am but his ftale ! 10 1
Luci. Selfe-harming lealoufie ! fie, beat it hence !
Ad. Vnfeeling fools can with fuch wrongs difpence ! 103
I know his eye doth homage other-where ;
Or elfe, what lets it but he would be here? 105
Sifter, you know he promis'd me a chaine;
Would that alone, alone he would detaine, 107
So he would keepe faire quarter with his bed !
1 fee the lewell beft enamaled 109
Will loofe his beautie; (yet the gold bides ftill
85. Exii.'\ F2.
107. alone, alone] F2. alone, a loue F.
II [II. L 74-110.
The Comedie of Errors.
That others touch j) and often touching will 1 1 1
Weare gold : and no man that hath a name.
By falfliood and corruption doth it Ihame : 113
Since that my beautie cannot pleafe his eie,
lie weepe (what's left) away, and weeping, die ! 115
Luci. How manie fond fooles feme mad leloufie ! \^E.veunt.
Actus Secundus. Scena Secunda.
Before the House of Antipholus of Ephesns.
Enter AntipholUs EkotEs of Siracuse.
S. AnL The gold I gaue to Dromio, is laid vp
Safe at the Centaur ; and the heedfuU flaue
Is wandred forth, in care to feeke me out.
By computation, and mine hofts report, 4
I could not fpeake with Dromio, lince at firft
I lent him from the Mart. See, here he comes '
Enter Dromio of Siracufia.
How now, fir ! is your merrie humor alter'd ?
As you loue Ilroakes, fo ielt with me againe. 8
' You know no Centaur ' ? ' you receiu'd no gold ' ?
* Your Miftrefle fent to haue me home to dinner' ?
' My houfe was at the Phoenix ' ? Waft thou mad,
That thus fo madlie thou didft anfwere me? 12
S. Dro. What ' anfwer ', fir ? when fpake I fuch a word ?
S. Ant. Euen now! euen here! not halfe an howre fince!
S. Dro. I did not fee you fince you fent me hence.
Home to the Centaur, with the gold you gaue me. 16
S. Ant. Villaine ! thou didft denie ' the golds ' receit.
And toldft me of a ' Miftrefle ', and a ' dinner ' j
For which, I hope thou feltft I was difpleas'd.
S. Dro. I am glad to fee you in this merrie vaine : 20
What meanes this ieft ? I pray you, Mafter, tell me !
112. Weare] Theobald (Warbur-
ton). Where F.
116. Exeunt.'] Exit. F.
II. i. III-II6 ; ii. 1-21.]
Antipholus Erotes] Antipholis
EiTotis F.
12. didst] did didst F.
14. S. Ant.] E. Ant. F.
The Comedie of Errors.
S. Ant. Yea ! doft thou ieere &• flowt me in the teeth ?
Thinkft thon I ieft ? hold ! take thou that, & that ! [Beats Dro.
S. Dr. Hold, fir ! for Gods fake ! now your ieft is earneft :
Vpon what bargaine do you giue it me ? 25
Si Antiph. Becaufe that I familiarlie fometimes
Doe vfe you for my foole, and chat with you.
Your fawcinefle will ieft vpon my loue, a8
And make a Common of my ferious howres !
When the funne fhines, let foolifh gnats make fportj
But creepe in crannies, when he hides his beames.
If you will ieft with me, know my afpedt, 32
And fafhion your demeanor to my lookes.
Or I will beat this method in your fconce.
S. Dro. 'Sconce' call you it? fo you would leaue batter-
ing, I had rather haue it a head : and you vfe thefe blows
long, I muft get a 'fconce ' for my head, and ' Infconce ' it too;
or elfe I fhall feek my wit in my fhoulders. But, 1 pray, fir,
why am I beaten ? 39
S. Ant. Doft thou not know ?
S. Dro. Nothing, fir, but that I am beaten.
S. Ant. Shall I tell you why? 42
S. Dro. I, fir, and wherefore ; for they fay, * euery why
hath a wherefore.' [fore ' :
S, Ant. ' Why,' firft : for flowting me ; and then, ' where-
For vrging it the fecond time to me. 46
S. Dro. Was there euer anie man thus beaten out of
feafon, [reafon ?
When, in the * why ' and the * wherefore', is neither rime nor
Well, fir, I thanke you !
5. Ant. 'Thanke' me, fir! for what? 50
S. Dro. Marry, fir, for this fomething that you gaue me
for nothing.
S. Ant. He make you amends next, to giue you ' nothing '
for 'fomething'. But fay, fir, is it dinner time ? 54
S. Dro. No, fir! I thinke the meat wants that I haue.
S, Ant. In good time, firj what's that?
S. Dro. Bafting.
S. Ant. Well, fir. then 'twill be drie. 58
37. ioo] to F.
13 [II. ii. 22-58.
The Comedie of Errors.
S. Dro. If it be, lir, I pray you, eat none of it.
5. Ant. Your realbn !
S. Dro. Left it make you chollericke, and purchafe me
another drie bafting. 62
S. Ant. Well, fir, learne to ieft in good time! 'there's a
time for all things.'
S. Dro. I durft haue denied that, before you were fo
chollericke. 66
5, Anti. By what rule, fir?
S. Dro. Marry, fir, by a 'rule' as plaine as the plaine bald
pate of Father Time himfelfe.
5. Ant. Let's heare it ! 70
S. Dro. There's no time for a man to recouer his haire,
that growes bald by nature.
S. Ant. May he not doe it by fine and recouerie? 73
S. Dro. Yes, to pay a ' fine " for a perewig, and ' recouer '
the loft haire of another man.
S. Ant. Why is Time fuch a niggard of haire, being (as
it is) fo plentifull an excrement ? 77
vS". Dro. Becaufe it is a blelfing that hee beftowes on
beaftsj and what he hath fcanted men in haire, hee hath
giuen them in wit.
S. Ant. Why, but there's manie a man hath ' more haire
then wit.' 82
S. Dro. Not a man of thofe, but he hath the ' wit ' to lofi
his ' haire'.
S. Ant. Why, thou didft conclude hairy men plaine deal-
ers without wit. 86
S. Dro. The * plainer dealer ', the fooner loftj yet he loofetr
it in a kinde of iollitie.
S. An. For what reafon ?
.S". Dro. For two ; and found ones too. oc
0. An. Nay, not 'found', I pray you !
S. Dro. Sure ones, then.
S, An. Nay, not 'fure*, in a thing falfing.
5". Dro. Certaine ones, then. 94
5. An. Name them I
79. men] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald), them F.
90. too] to F.
II. ii. 59-95.] ,4
The Comedie of Errors.
S. Dro. The one, to faue the money that he fpends in
trimming ; the other, that at dinner they fhould not drop in
his porrage. 98
S. An. You would all this time haue prou'd, 'there is no
time for all things.'
S. Dro. Marry, and did, lir; namely, in 'no time* to re-
couer haire loft by Nature. 102
S. An. But your reafon was not fubftantiall, why ' there is
no time to recouer.'
S. Dro. Thus I mend it : Time himfelfe is bald, and there-
fore, to the worlds end, will haue bald followers. 106
5. An. I knew 'twould be a ' bald ' conclufion :
But foft! who wafts vs yonder?
Enter Adriana and Luciana.
Adri. I, I, Antipholus, looke ftrange, and frowne !
Some other Miftrelle hath thy fweet afpe6ts ! no
I am not Adricna, nor thy wife !
The time was once, when thou (\Ti-vrg'd) wouldft vow.
That neuer words were muficke to thine eare.
That neuer obie6t pleafing in thine eye, 1 14
That neuer touch well-welcome to thy hand.
That neuer meat fvveet-fauour'd in thy tafte,
Vnlefle I fpake, or look'd, or touch'd, or caru'd to thee.
How comes it now, my Hufband ? oh ! how comes it ? 118
That thou art then eftranged from thy felfe •
'Thy felfe ' I call it, being ftrange to me.
That, Vndiuidable, Incorporate,
Am better then thy deere felfes better pan. I2i
Ah ! doe not teare away thy felfe from me I
For know, my Loue, as eafie maift thou fall
A drop of water in the breaking gulfe.
And take vnmingled thence that drop againe, 12c'
Without addition, or diminifhing,
As take from me thy felfe, and not me too.
How deerely would it touch thee to the quickc,
Shouldft thou but heare, I were licencious, 130
And that this body, confecrate to thee,
97 trimming\ Rowe. trying F.
15 [II. ii. 96-131.
The Comedie of Errors.
By Ruffian Luft fhould be contaminate !
Wouldft thou not fpit at me, and fpurne at me ?
And hurle the name of hufband in ray face, 134
And teare the ftain'd fkin off my Harlot-brow,
And, from my falfe hand, cut the wedding-ring.
And breake it with a deepe-diuorcing vow?
I know thou canft; and therefore fee thou doe it! 138
I am polfeft with an adulterate blot ;
My bloud is mingled with the crime of luft:
For, if we two be one, and thou play falfe,
I doe digeft the poifon of thy fieih, 142
Being ftrumpeted by thy contagion.
Keepe, then, faire league and truce with thy true bed !
I line vnftain'd, thou vndilhonoured. 145
S. Antip. Plead you to me, faire dame ? I know you not :
In Ephefus, I am but two houres old,
As ftrange vnto your towne, as to your talke ;
"Who (euery word, by all my wit being fcan'd)
Wants wit in all, one word to vnderfland. 150
Luci. Fie, brother! how the world is chang'd with you!
When were you wont to vfe my fifter thus ?
She fent for you, by Dromio, home to dinner.
S. Ant. 'By Dromio'? 154
5. Drom. By me ?
Adr. By thee ! and this thou didfl returne from him :
That he did buffet thee, and, in his blowes.
Denied my houfe for his, me for his wife. 158
5. Ant. Did you conuerfe, fir, with this gentlewoman ?
What is the courfe and drift of your compaft?
S. Dro. I ! fir? I neuer faw her till this time ! 161
S. Ant. Villaine ! thou lieft! for euen her verie words,
Didft thou deliuer to me on the Mart.
S. Dro. I neuer fpake with her in all my life !
S. Ant. How can Ihe thus then call vs by our names,
Vnleffe it be by infpiration ? 166
Adri. How ill agrees it with your grauitie.
To counterfeit thus grofely with your flaue,
135. pjf] Hanmer. of F.
145. vnstain'dl Hanmer (Theobald conj.). distain d F.
II. U. 132-168.] 16
The Comedie of Errors.
Abetting him to thwart me in my moode ! 169
Be it my wrong, you arc from me exempt ;
But wrong not that wrong with a more contempt ! 171
Come, I will faften on this fleeue of thine :
Thou art an Elme, my hufband ; I a Vine, 173
Whofe weaknefle, married to thy ftrOnger ftate.
Makes me, with thy ftrength, to communicate: 175
If ought polTefle thee from me, it is droffe,
Vfurping luie, Brier, or idle Mofle; 177
Who, all for want of pruning, with intrufion
Infeft thy fap, and Hue on thy confufion. 179
S. Ant. [aside] To mee fliee fpeakes ! fliee moues mee for
her theame !
What! was I married to her in my dreame? i8i
Or fleepe I now, and thinke I heare all this ?
What error driues our eies and eares amiffe ? 183
Vntill I know this fure vncertaintie.
He entertaine the offred fallacie. iSj
Luc. Dromio, goe bid the feruants fpred for dinner !
S. Dro. [aside] Oh, for my beads ! I crofTe me for a finner.
This is the Fairie land : oh, fpight of fpights !
We talke with Goblins, Owles, and Sprights; 189
If we obay them not, this will infue :
They'll fucke our breath, or pinch vs blacke and blew. 191
Luc. Why prat'ft thou to thy felfe, and anfwer'ft not ?
Dromio ! thou Dromio ! thou Snaile ! thou Slug ! thou Sot !
6". Dro. 1 am transformed, Mafter, am I not ? 194
S. Ant. I thinke thou art, in minde, and fo am I.
S. Dro. Nay, Mafter, both ' in minde,' and in my fhape.
S. Ant. Thou haft thine owne forme.
S. Dro. No, I am an Ape. 197
Luc. If thou art chang'd to ought, 'tis to an Afle.
S. Dro. 'Tis true! fhe rides me, and I long for grafle. 199
'Tis fo, I am an Afle ; elfe it could neuer be.
But I fliould know her as well as Ihe knowes me. 201
Adr. Come, come ! no longer will I be a foole.
To put the finger in the eie and weepe,
174. stronger] Y 4.. stranger F. 180. aj-wV] Capell.
185. offred] Capell. free'd F.
17 c [11. ii. 169-203.
The Comedie of Errors.
Whil'fl: man and Mafter laughes my woes to fcorne. 204
Come, fir, to dinner ! H Dromio, keepe the gate !
II Hnlband, He dine aboue with you to day,
And Ihriue you of a thoufand idle prankes.
H Sirra, if any afke you for your Mailer, 208
Say, he dines forth, and let no creature enter.
H Come, filter ! H Dromio, play the Porter well !
S. Ant. [jELSide] Am I in earth, in heauen, or in hell? 211
Sleeping or waking ? mad or well aduifde >
Knowne vnto thefe, and to my felfe difguifde? 213
lie fay as they fay, and perfeuer fo.
And, in this mill, at ail aduentures go. 215
S. Dro. Mafter ! Ihall I be Porter at the gate ?
Adr. I ; and let none enter, leart I breake your pate !
Luc. Come, come, Aiitipholus, we dine too late ! 218
A6lus Tertius. Scena Prima.
Before the House of Antipholus of Ephesus.
Enter Antipholus of Ephefus, his man Dromio, Anoelo
the Goldfmith, and Balthaser the Merchant.
E. Anti. Good fignior Angela, you muft excufe vs all ;
My wife is Ihrewiih when I keepe not howres :
Say, that I lingerd with you at your fliop.
To fee the making of her Carkanet, 4
And that to morrow you will bring it home. [downe.
But here's a villaine, [points to E. Dro.] that would face me
He met me on the Mart, and that I beat him.
And charg'd him with a thoufand markes in gold, 8
And that I did denie my wife and houfe !
IF Thou drunkard, thou ! what didft thou meane by this ?
E. Dro. Say what you wil, fir, but I know what I know :
That you beat me at the Mart, I haue your hand to (how : 12
If y° fkin were parchment, & y° blows you gaue were ink.
Your owne hand-writing would tell you what I thinke. 14
E. Ant. I tliinke thou art an alfe !
E. Dro. Marry, fo it dotli appeare
211. aside] CapeU. 218. ioo] to F.
II. ii. 204-218 ; III. i. 1-15] 18
The Comedie of Errors.
By the wrongs I futfer, and the blowes I beare. i6
I Ihould kicke, being kickt ; and, being at that pafle.
You would keepe from my heeles, and beware of an afle. i8
E. An. Y'are lad, fignior Balthazar I pray God, our cheer
May anfwer my good will, and your good welcom here ! 20
Bal. I hold your dainties cheap, fir, & your welcom deer.
E. An. Oh, fignior Balthazar, either at flefh or filh,
A table full of welcome, makes fcarce one dainty dilh. 23
Bal. Good meat, fir, is common, that euery churle affords.
£. Anti. And welcome more common j for that's nothing
but words. 25
Bal. Small cheere, and great welcome, makes a merrie feaft.
£. yinti. I, to a niggardly Hofl:, and more fparing guell :
But though my cates be meane, take them in good part;
Better cheere may you haue, but not with better hart. 29
But, foft ! my doore is lockt. II Goe bid them let vs in!
E. Dro. Maud .' Briget ! Marian ! Cl/ley ! Gillian ! Ginn !
S. Dro. [withlh] Mome ! Malthorfe ! Capon ! Coxcombe !
Idiot! Patch!
Either get thee from the dore, or fit downe at the hatch : !^'^
Doft thou coniure for wenches, that tho\i calft for fuch ftore,
When one is one too nnany ? goe get thee from the dore ! ^^
E. Dro. What patch is made our Porter ? my Mafter Hayes
in the fl:reet.
S. Dro. [within] Let him walke from whence he came,
left hee catch cold on's feet. 37
E. Ant. Who talks within there ? hoa ! open the dore !
S. Dro. [wittlin'] Right, fir ! He tell you when, and you'll
tell me wherefore. ;i^ [to day.
f . Ant. ' Wherefore ? ' for my dinner ! I haue not din'd
S. Dro. [wittlin] Nor to day, here you muft not; come
againe when you may. 41
E. Jnti. What art thou, that keep'ft mee out from the
howfe I owe ?
S. Dro. [within] The Porter for this time. Sir, and my
name is Dromio. 43
E. Dro. O villaine ! thou haft ftolne both mine office and
my name !
32-79. -uiitAin] Rowe.
19 [III. i. 16-44.
The Comedie of Errors.
The one nere got me credit, the other mickle blame : 45
If thou hadft beene Dromio, to day in my place.
Thou wouldll haue chaug'd thy face for a name, or thy name
for an afle. 47
Luce, [within] What a coile is there ! Dromio ' who are
thofe at the gate ^
E. Dro. Let my Mailer in. Luce !
Luce, [witflin] Faith, no ! hee comes too latej 49
And fo tell your ' Mafter.'
E. Dro. O Lord, I muft laugh !
Haue at you with a Prouerbe, ' Shall 1 fet in my ftafFe.' 51
Luce, [witflin] Haue at you with another, that's, ' When ?
can you tell ? '
S. Dro. [witilin] If thy name be called Luce, Luce, thoa
haft anfwer'd him well. 53
E. ATiti. Doe you heare, you minion ? you'll let vs in, I hope !
Luce, [witilin] I thought to haue aflu you.
S. Dro. [witilin] And you faid ' no.'
E. Dro. So, come, helpe ! well ftrooke ! there was blow
for blow. 56
E. Anti. Thou baggage, let me in!
Luce, [within] Can you tell for whofe fake ?
E. Drom. Mafter, knocke the doore hard !
Luce, [within] Let him 'knocke' till it ake. 58.
£. Anti. You'll crie for this, minion, if I beat the doore
downe !
Luce, [within] What needs all that, and a paire of flocks
in the towne? 60
Adr. [within] Who is that at the doore, that keeps all this
noife ?
S. Dro. [within] By my troth, your towne is troubled with
vnruly boies. 62
E. Anti. Are you there. Wife ? you might haue come before.
Adri. [within] Your * wife,' lir knaue ! go get you from the
dore!
E. Dro. If you went in paine, Mafter, this 'knaue' wold
goe fore. 6^.
48. within] Enter Luce. F (after line 47).
61. 7vithitt\ Enter Adriana. F (after line 60).
III. i. 45-65.] 20
The Comedie of Errors.
Angela. Heere is neither cheere, fir, nor welcome : we would
faine haue either. [neither.
Baltz. In debating which was beft, wee fliall part with
E. Dro. They ftand at the doore, Mafter; bid them wel-
come hither ! 68 [get in.
£. Anti. There is ' fomething in the winde ', that we cannot
E. Dro. You would fay fo, Mafter, if your garments were
thin. 70 [Touches his clothes.
Your cake there is warme within : you ftand here in the cold.
It would make a man mad asaBucke,to befo 'bought and Ibid.'
£. Ant. Go fetch me fomething ! He break ope the gate !
S. Dro. [withiri] ' Breake ' any breaking here, and He
* breake ' your knaues pate ! 74
E. Dro. A man may ' breake ' a word with you, fir ; (and
words are but winde ;)
I, and ' breake ' it in your face, fo he * break ' it not behinde.
S. Dro. [within] It feemes thou want'ft breaking : out
vpon thee, hinde ! 77 [me in !
E. Dro. Here's too much 'out vpon thee! ' pray thee, let
S. Dro. [within] I, when fowles haue no feathers, and fifh
haue no fin. ■ 79
f . Ant. Well, He break in ! go borrow me a crow !
E. Dro. ' A crow ' without feather ? Mafter, meane you fo ?
For ' a fifli without a finne,' ther's a fowle without a fether :
U If a crow help vs in, firra, wee'll 'plucke a crow together.'
E. Ant. Go, get thee gon ! fetch me an iron Crow !
Balth. Haue patience, fir ! oh, let it not be fo ! 85
Heerein you warre againft your reputation.
And draw within the compaffe of fufpe6t
Th' vnuiolated honor of your wife.
This once, your long experience of her wifedome, 89
Her fober vertue, yeares, and modeftie.
Plead on her part fome caufe to you vnknowne ;
And doubt not, fir, but fhe will well excufe.
Why, at this time, the dores are made againft you. 93
Be rul'd by me ! depart in patience.
And let vs to the Tyger, all, to dinner ;
71. there] Anon. conj. here F.
75. you,] your F.
89. This once] Anon. conj. Once
21
isF.
89. her] Rowe.
your F.
91. her] Rowe.
your F.
[III. i. 66-95
The Cotnedie of Errors.
And, about euening, come your felfe alone,
To know the reafon of this ilrange reftraint. 97
If, by ftrong hand, you offer to breake in.
Now in the ftirring paflage of the day,
A vulgar comment will be made of it ;
And that fuppofed by the common rowt 1 01
Againft your yet vngalled eftimation.
That may with foule intrufion enter in,
And dwell vpon your graue when you are dead ;
For llander Hues vpon fucceffion, 105
For euer howTd, where't gets poflelTion.
£. Anti. You haue preuail'd : I will depart in quiet.
And, in defpight of mirth, meane to be merrie.
I know a wench of excellent difcourfe, 109
Prettie and wittie ; wilde, and yet, too, gentle :
There will we dine. This woman that I meane.
My wife (but I proteft, without defert)
Hath oftentimes vpbraided me withall : 113
To her will we to dinner. \To ANG.j Get you home.
And fetch the chaine ; by this I know 'tis made :
Bring it, I pray you, to the Parpen tine ;
For there's the houfe : That chaine will I beftow 117
(Be it for nothing but to fpight my wife)
Vpon mine hoftelfe there : good fir, make hafte !
Since mine owne doores refufe to entertaine me.
He knocke elfe-where, to fee if they'll difdaine me. 121
Ang. He meet you at that place fome houre hence.
f . Anti. Do fo ! This ieft Ihall coft me fome expence. 123
\^Exennt.
Actus Tertius. Scena. Secunda,
Before the House of Antipholus of Ephestis.
Enter LuCiana, with Antipholus o/' Siracufia.
LuCia. And may it be that you haue quite forgot i
A hulbands office? fliall, Antipholus,
Euen in the fpring of Loue, thy Loue-fprings rot ?
106. 'ivAer/i] where it F. Lua'ana] r2. luliana F.
I. Lucia] Luc. Rovve. lulia F.
III. i. 96-123; ii. 1-3.] 22
The Comedie of Errors.
Shall Loue, in building, grow fo ruinate ? 4
If you did wed my fitter for her wealth, ^
Then, for her wealths-fake, vfe her with more kindnelfe !
Or, if you like elfe-where, doe it by ftealth;
Muffle your falfe loue with fome fhew of blindnefle : S
Let not my fifter read it in your eye ; 9
Be not thy tongue thy owne Ihames Orator 5
Looke fweet, fpeake faire, become difloyaltie ;
Apparell vice like vertues harbengerj 12
Beare a faire prefence, though your heart be tainted ; 13
Teach (inne the carriage of a holy Saint !
Be fecret-falfe ! What need Ihe be acquainted ?
"What fimple thiefe brags of his owne attaint? 16
Tis double wrong, to truant with your bed, 1 7
And let her read it in thy lookes at boord :
Shame hath a baftard fame, well managed ;
111 deeds is doubled with an euill word. 20
Alas, poore women! make vs but beleeue 21
(Being compa6t of credit) that you loue vs;
Though others haue the arme, Ihew vs the lleeue ;
We in your motion turne, and you may moue vs. 24
Then, gentle brother, get you in againe ; 25
Comfort my filter, cheere her, call her wife !
"Tis holy fport, to be a little vaine, 27
When the fweet breath of flatterie conquers ftrife. [not,
S. Anti. Sweete Miilris ! (what your name is elfe, I know
Nor by what wonder you do hit of mine,)
Leife, in your knowledge, and your grace, you iTiow not.
Then our earths wonder ! more then earth, diuine ! 32
Teach me, deere creature, how to thinke and fpeake ! ^^
Lay open to my earthie grolfe conceit
(Smothred in errors, feeble, Ihallow, weake)
The foulded meaning of your words deceit ! 0,6
Againft my foules pure truth, why labour you, 2i7
To make it wander in an vnknowne field ?
Are you a god ? would you create me new ?
4. building\ Theobald. build-
ings F.
4. So F.] ruinous Capell (Theo-
bald conj.). The sole reason for
emending ruinate is that it breaks
the sequence of 13 consecutive fours.
16. attaint\ Rowe. attaine F.
21. bui\ Theobald, not F.
23 [III. ii. 4-39.
The Comedie of Errors.
Transforme me, then ! and to your powre He yeeld. 40
But if that I am I, then well I know, 41
Your weeping lifter is no wife of mine.
Nor to her bed, no homage doe I owe :
Farre more, farre more, to you doe I decline ! 44
Oh, traine me not, fvveet Mermaide, with thy note, 45
To drowne me in thy fifters floud of teares !
Sing, Siren, for thy felfe ! and I will dotej
Spread ore the liluer wanes thy golden haires ! 48
And as a bed He take them, and there lie ; 49
And, in that glorious fuppofition, thinke.
He gaines by death, that hath fuch meanes to die :
Let Loue, being light, be drowned if Ihe finke ! 52
Luc. What ! are you mad, that you doe reafon fo ?
5. Ant. Not 'mad,' but mated 5 how, I doe not know, 54
Luc. It is a fault that fpringeth from your eie.
S. Ant. For gazing on your beanies, faire fun, being by ! 56
Luc. Gaze where you Ihould, and that will cleere your light.
5. Jnt. As good to winke, fweet loue, as looke on night ! 58
Luc. Why call you me * loue ' ? Call my lifter fo !
5. Ant. Thy lifters ' fifter.'
Luc. That's my fifter.
S. Ant. Noj 60
It is thy felfe ! mine owne felfes better part !
Mine eies cleere eie, my deere hearts deerer heart ! 62
My foode, my fortune, and my fweet hopes aime !
My fole earths heauen, and my heauens claime ! 64
Luc. All this my lifter is, or elfe fhould be.
S. Ant. Call thy felfe ' fifter ', fweet ! for I am thee. 66
Thee will I loue, and with thee lead my life !
Thou haft no hulband yet, nor I no wife. 68
Giue me thy hand !
Luc. Oh, foft, fir ! hold you ftill !
He fetch my fifter, to get her good will. \_Exit. 70
Enter Dromio of Siracufia.
S. Ant. Why, how now, Dromio ! where run'ft thou fo faft ?
46. sisters'] F2. sister F.
49. bed] ¥2. bud F.
49. them] Capell(Ecl\vardsconj.).
III. ii. 40-71.]
thee F.
57. where] Pope, when F.
The Comedie of Errors.
S. Dro. Doe you know me, fir ? Am I 'Dromio ' 9 Am 1
your man ? Am I my felfe ? 73
S. Ant. Thou art 'Dromio," thou art my 'man,' thou art
' thy felfe.*
S. Dro. I am an affe ! I am a womans man ! and befides
my felfe ! 77
5. Ant. What 'womans man ' ? and how ' befides thy felfe ' ?
S. Dro. Marrie,fir, 'befides my felfe,' I am due to a woman :
One that claimes me, one that haunts me, one that will
haue me.
S. Anti. What ' claime ' laies Ihe to thee ? 82
5. Dro. Marry, fir, fuch ' claime ' as you would lay to your
horfe ; and Ihe would haue me as a bealt : not that, I beeing
a beaft, {he would haue me ; but that (he, being a verie beallly
creature, layes claime to me. 86
S. Anti. What is fhe ?
S. Dro. A very reuerent body : I, fuch a one as a man
may not fpeake of, without he fay ' fir-reuerence ! ' I haue
but leane lucke in the match, and yet is Ihe a wondrous fat
marriage. 91
S. Anti. How dofl: thou meane ' a fat marriage ' ?
S. Dro. Marry, fir, file's the Kitchin Wench, & al greafe ;
and I know not what vfe to put her to, but to make a Lampe
of her, and run from her by her owne light. I warrant, her
ragges and the Tallow in them, will burne a Poland Winter :
If Ihe lines till doomefday, fhe 'I burne a weeke longer then
the whole World. 98
S. Anti. What complexion is fhe of?
S. Dro. Swart, like my flioo ; but her face nothing like fo
cleane kept: for why fhe fweats: a man may goe ouer-fhooes
in the grime of it. 102
S. Anti. That's a fault that water will mend.
S. Dro. No, fir, 'tis in graine ! Noahs flood could not do it.
S. Anti. What's her name ? 105
S. Dro. Nell, Sir : but her name and three quarters, that's
an Ell and three quarters, will not meafure her firom hip to hip.
S. Anti. Then Ihe beares fome bredth ? 108
5. Dro. No longer from head to foot, then from hippe
94. /<?] too F.
106, and] Theobald (Thirlby conj.). is F.
-S [III. ii. 72-109.
The Comedie of Errors.
to hippe : fhe is fphericall, like a globe ; I could find out
Countries in her. ii i
5. Anti. In what part of her body ftands Ireland ?
S. Dro. Marry, fir, in her buttockes : I found it out by
the bogges.
S. Ant. Where Scotland? 115
S. Dro. I found it by the barrennefle ; hard, in the palme
of the hand.
S. Ant. Where France? 118
S. Dro. In her forhead j arm'd and reuerted, making warre
againft her heire.^
S. Ant. Where England? 121
5. Dro. I look'd for the chalkie ClifFes, but I could find
no whitenelle in them. But I gueffe, it fiood in her chin, by
the fait rhcume that ranne betweene France, and it.
S. Ant. Where Spaine? 135
S. Dro. Faith, I law it not 5 but I felt it hot in her breth.
S. Ant. Where America, the Indies? 127
S. Dro. Oh, fir, vpon her nofe, all ore embellifhed with
Rubies, Carbuncles, Saphires, declining their rich Afpe6t to the
hot breath of Spaine, who fent whole Armadoes of Carrefts ^
to be ballaft at her nofe. 131
S. Anti. Where fi:ood Belgia, the Netherlands ?
S. Dro. Oh, fir, I did not looke lb low. To conclude :
this drudge or Diuiner, layd claime to me ; call'd mee
Dromio ; fwore I was alTur'd to her ; told me what priuie
markes I had about mee, as, the marke of my fhoulder, the
Mole in my necke, the great Wart on my left arme, that I,
amaz'd, ranne from her as a witch. 138
And, I thinke, if my brefl. had not beene made of faith,
and my heart of fteele.
She had trausform'd me to a CurtuU dog, & made me
tume i'th wheele. 140
5. Anti. Go, hie thee prefently, poll to the rode !
And if the winde blow any way from Ihore,
I will not harbour in this Towne to night :
122. chalkie] chalkie F.
1 ' Carrdca, a great ship of
Spaine called a carract' — Perci-
vale's (Minsheu's) Span. Diet.,
[III. ii. 1 10-143.] -
1623.
^ Henry of Navarre (with a play
upon hair).
The Comedie of Errors.
If any Barke put forth, come to the Mart, [44
Where I will walke till thou returne to me.
If euerie one knowes vs, and we know none,
'Tis time, I thinke, to trudge, packe, and be gone. 147
S. Dro. As from a Beare, a man would run for life.
So flie I from her that would be my wife. [^Exit. 149
S. Anti. There's none but Witches do inhabite heere 5
And therefore 'tis hie time that I were hence.
She that doth call me ' hufband,' euen my foule 152
Doth, for a wife, abhorre ! But her faire filler
(Poffefi: with fuch a gentle foueraigne grace.
Of fuch inchanting prefence and difcourfe)
Hath almoft made rae Traitor to my felfe : 156
But, leaft my felfe be guilty to felfe-wrong.
He flop mine eares againft the Mermaids fong. 158
Enter Angelo with the Chaine.
Jng. MaJterAntipholus ! . . .
S. Anti. I, that's my name.
Ang. I know it well, fir ! loe, here's the chaine !
[S. Anti. takes it
I thought to haue tane you at the Porpentine :
The chaine vnfinifli'd, made me fl:ay thus long. 162
S. Anti. What is your will that I fhal do with this ?
Ang. What pleafe your felfe, fir ! I haue made it for you.
S. And. ' Made it for me,' fir ! I befpoke it not.
Ang. Not once, nor twice, but twentie times you haue ! 166
Go home with it, and pleafe your Wife withallj
And loone at fupper time He vifit you.
And then receiue my money for the chaine.
5. Anti. I pray you, fir, receiue the ' money * now, 170
For feare you ne're fee ' chaine,' nor • mony,' more.
Ang. You are a merry man, fir : fare you well ! [Exit.
S. Ant. What I fhould thinke of this, I cannot tell : 173
But this I thinke, there's no man is fo vaine.
That would refufe fo faire an otfer'd Chaine. 175
I fee a man heere needs not liue by fliifts.
When in the ftreets he meetes fuch Golden gifts. 177
He to the Mart, and there for Dromio ftay.
If any fhip put out, then ftraight away ! [Exit. lyg
27 [III. ii. 144-179.
The Comedie of Errors.
ASIus Quartus. Scoena Prima.
The Mart.
Enter a Second Merchant, AngelO the Goldfmith, and an
Officer.
2 Mar. You know, fince Pentecoft the fum is due,
And fince I haue not much importun'd you ;
Nor now I had not, but that I am bound
To Perjia, and want Gilders for my voyage : 4
Therefore make prefent fatisfaftion.
Or He attach you by this Officer.
Gold. Euen iuft the fum that I do owe to you.
Is growing to me by Antipholus ; 8
And, in the inftant that I met with you,
He had of me a Chaine : at fiue a clocke
I ffiall receiue the money for the fame.
Pleafeth you, walke with me downe to his houfej 12
I will difcharge my bond, and thanke you too.
Enter Antipholus of Ephefus, and Dromio of Ephesus,
from the Courtizans.
Ojffi. That labour, may you faue : See where he comes !
£. Ant. [to E. Dro.] While I go to the Goldfmiths houfe,
go thou.
And buy a ropes end ! that will I beftow 16
Among my wife, and her confederates.
For locking me out of my doores by day.
But, foft ! I fee the Goldfmith. Get thee gone ;
Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me ! 20
£. Dro. I buy a thoufand pound a yeare ! I buy a rope !
[Exit Dromio.
Eph. Ant. [to Ang.] a man is well holpe vp that trufts to
you :
I promifed your prefence, and the Chaine 5
But neither Chaine nor Goldfmith came to me ! 24
Belike you thought our loue would laft too long,
If it were 'chain'd' together, and therefore came not.
1-69. 2 il/ar.] Mar. F. 17. her.] Rowe. their F.
IV. i. 1-26.] 28
The Comedie of Errors.
Gold. (Sauing your merrie humor) here's the note,
How much your Chaine weighs, to the vtmoft chare6l, 28
The fineneffe of the Gold, and chargefuU falhion ;
Which doth amount to three odde Duckets more
Then I ftand debted to this Gentleman :
I pray you, fee him prefently difcharg'd, 32
For he is bound to Sea, and ftayes but for it.
£. Anti. I am not furnilh'd with the prefent monie;
Befides, I haue fome bufinefle in the towne.
Good Signior, take the ftranger to my houfe, ^6
And with you take the Chaine, and bid my wife
Difburfe the fumme on the receit thereof:
Perchance I will be there as foone as you. 39
Gold. Then you will bring the Chaine to her your felfe ?
E. Anti. No ; beare it with you, leaft I come not time enough.
Gold. Well, fir, I will ! Haue you the Chaine about you ?
£. Ant. And if I haue not, fir, I hope you haue 5
Or elfe you may returne without your money. 44
Gold. Nay, come, I pray you, fir, giue me the Chaine !
Both winde and tide ftayes for this Gentleman ;
And I, to blame, haue held him heere too long.
f . Anti. Good Lord, you vfe this dalliance to excufe 4S
Your breach of promife to the Porpentine '
I fliould haue chid you for not bringing it.
But, like a fhrew, you firft begin to brawle. [patch! 52
2 Mar. [to AnG.] The houre fteales on j I pray you, fir, dif-
Gold. You heare how he importunes me ! the Chaine !
£. Ant. Why, giue it to my wife, and fetch your mony !
Gold. Come, come, you know I gaue it you euen now !
Either fend the Chaine, or fend me by fome token. ^ 56
£. Ant. Fie, now you run this humor out of breath !
Come ! where's the Chaine ? I pray you, let me fee it.
2 Mar. My bufinelTe cannot brooke this dalliance !
\To E. Ant.] Good fir, fay, whe'r you'l anfwer me, or no : 60
If not. He leaue him to the Officer.
E. Ant. I ' anfwer ' you ! What Ihould I ' anfwer ' you ' 6z.
Gold. The monie that you owe me for the Chame.
47. to] too F.
^ So F. Understand : ' that I
may prove my commission by some
token.'
29 [IV. L 27-63*
The Comedie of Errors.
E. Ant. I owe you none, till I receiue the Chaine. 64
Gold. You know I gaue it you halfe an houre fince.
£. Ant. You gaue me none! you wrong mee much to
fay fo.
Gold. You wrong me more, fir, in denying it!
Confider how it flands vpon my credit. 68
2 Mar. Well, Officer, arreft him at my fuite!
Offi. I do ; [to AnG.] and charge you in the Dukes name to
obey me !
Gold. This touches me in reputation.
Either confent to pay this fum for me, 72
Or I attach you by this Officer !
£. Ant. ' Confent to pay ' thee that I neuer had !
Arreft me, fooliih fellow, if thou dar'ft !
Gold, [to Officer] Heere is thy fee ; arreft him. Officer ! 76
% I would not fpare my brother in this cafe.
If he Ihould fcorne me fo apparantly.
Offic. [to E. Ant.] I do arreft you, fir : you heare the fuite.
£. Ant. I do obey thee, till I giue thee baile. 80
H But, firrah, you ffiall buy this fport as deere
As all the mettall in your {hop will anfwer!
Gold. Sir, fir, I ffiall haue Law in Ephefus,
To your notorious ffiame, 1 doubt it not ! 84
Enter Dromio of SiraCUse,yrow the Bay.
S. Dro. Mafter, there's a Barke of Epidamium,
That ftaies but till her Owner comes aboord,
And then, fir, ffie beares away. Our fraughtage, fir,
I haue conuei'd aboord 3 and I haue bought 88
The Oyle, the Balfamum, and Aquce-vitce.
The ffiip is in her trim ; the merrie winde
Blowes faire from land : they ftay for nought at all.
But for their Owner, Mafter, and your felfe. 92
£. An. How now ! a Madman ! Why, thou peeuiffi ffieep.
What ffiip of Epidamium ftaies for me ?
S. Dro. A ffiip you fent me to, to hier waftage.
£. Ant. Thou drunken flaue ! I fent thee for a rope ; 96
And told thee to what purpofe, and what end !
95. to, to\ too, to F.
IV. i, 64-97.] 30
The Comedie of Errors.
S. Dro. You fent me for a ropes 'end* as foone'
You fent me to the Bay, fir, for a Barke !
£. Ant. I will debate this matter at more leifure, lOo
And teach your eares to lift me with more heede.
To Adriana, Villaine! hie thee ftraight!
Giue her this key, and tell her, * in the Defke
That's couer'd o're with Turkijh Tapiftrie, 104
There is a purfe of Duckets ; let her fend it : '
Tell her, ' I am arrefted in the ftreete.
And that fliall baile me : * hie thee, flaue ! be gone !
U On, Officer, to prifon, till it come ! 108
[Exeunt. Manet S. Deomio.
S. Dromio. *To Adriana '! that is where we din'd.
Where Dowfahell did claime me for her hufband :
She is too bigge, I hope, for me to compafle.
Thither I muft, although againft my will, 112
For feruants muft their Mafters mindes fulfill. \_Exit.
Actus Quartus. Scena Secunda.
The House of Antipholus of Ephesus.
Enter Adriana and Luciana,
Adr. Ah, Luciana! did he tempt thee fo ? i
Might'ft thou perceiue aufteerely in his eie,
That he did plead in eameft ? yea or no?
Look'd he or red or pale, or fad or merrily ^ 4
What obferuation mad'ft thou in this cafe.
Of his hearts Meteors tilting in his face ? 6
Luc. Firft, he deni'de you had in him no right.
Adr. He meant, he did me none : the more my fpight ! 8
Luc. Then fwore he that he was a ftranger heere.
Adr. And true he fwore, though yet forfworne hee were ! 10
Luc. Then pleaded I for you.
Adr. And what faid he ?
Luc. That loue I begg'd for you, he begg'd of me. 11
Adr. With what perfwafion did he tempt thy loue ?
Luc. With words that in an honeft fuit might moue. 14
6. Of] F2. Oh, F.
31 [IV. i. 98-113; ii. 1-14.
The Comedie of Errors,
Firft, he did praife my beautie ; then, my fpeech.
Adr. Did'ft fpeake him faire ?
Luc. Haue patience, I befeech ' i6
Adr. I cannot, nor I will not, hold me ftill !
My tongue, though not my heart, Ihall haue his will. i8
He is deformed, crooked, old, and fere,
Ill-fac'd, worfe bodied, Ihapelefle euery where j ao
Vicious, vngentle, foolifh, blunt, vnkindej
Stigmaticall in making, worfe in minde ! 22
Luc. Who would be iealous, then, of fuch a one ?
No euill loft is wail'd, when it is gone. 24
Adr. Ah, but I thinke him better then I fay, 25
And yet would (herein) others eies were worfe :
Farre from her neft, the Lapwing cries, ' away ! '
My heart praies for him, though my tongue doe curfe. 28
Enter S, Dromio.
S. Dro. Here, goe ! the defke, the purfe, fweet! now, make
hafte!
Luc. How haft thou loft thy breath ?
S. Dro. By running faft. 30
Adr. Where is thy Mafter, Dromio ? Is he well ?
S. Dro. No, he's in Tartar limbo, worfe then hell. 32
A Diuell in an euerlafting garment hath him ;
One whofe hard heart is button'd vp with tteele;
A Feind, a Fairie,^ pittilefle and ruffe ;
A Wolfe, nay, worfe, a fellow all in buffe ; ^6
A back friend, a flioulder-clapper, one that countermands
The paflages of allies, creekes, and narrow lands; 38
A hound that runs Counter, and yet draws drifoot well;
One that, before the Judgment, carries poore foules to hel. 40
Adr. Why, man ! what is the matter ?
S. Dro. I doe not know 'the matter': hee is 'refted on the
cafe.
Adr. What ! is he ' arrefted ' ? tell me at whofe fuite.
.S". Dro. I know not at whofe 'fuite ' he is arefted, well ;
34. One\ ¥2. On F.
1 So F. * King James in his De-
monologie adopts a fourfold clas-
sification of devils, one of which he
IV. u. 15-44] 32
names 'Phairie', and co-ordinates
with the incubus.' — Spalding's
Elizabethan Demonology, p. 126.
The Comedie of Errors.
But is ^ in a ' fuite ' of buffe which 'refted him : that can I tell.
Will you fend him, Miftris, redemption ? the monie in his
defke? 46 [at,
Adr. Go fetch it. Sifter! — \Exit Luc i ana.] This I wonder
That he, vnknowne to me, ihould be in debt.
IT Tell me, was he arefted on a band ? 49
S. Dro. Not ' on a band,' but on a ftronger thing :
A chaine, a chaine ! [Clock strikes,'] Doe you not here it ring?
Adria. What, the * chaine ' ?
S. Dro. No, no, the bell ! 'tis time that I were gone :
It was two ere I left him, and now the clocke ftrikes one. 54
Adr. The houres come back ! that did I neuer here.
S. Dro. Oh yes ; if any houre meete a Serieant, a turnes
backe for verie feare. 56
Adri. As if Time were in debt! how fondly do'ft thou
reafon !
vS". Dro. Time is a verie bankerout, and owes more then
he's worth to feafon. 58
Nay, he's a theefe too ! haue you not heard men fay.
That Time comes ftealing on by night and day? 60
If Time be in debt and theft, and a Serieant in the way.
Hath he not reafon to turne backe an houre in a day ? 62
Re-enter Luciana w'lth a Purse.
Jdr. Go, Dromio ! there's the monie ! beare it ftraight.
And bring thy Mafter home imediately !
U Come, lifter, I am preft downe with conceit j 6^
Conceit, my comfort, and my iniurie 1 \_Exeunt.
Actus Quart US. Scena Tertia.
The Mart.
Enter Antipholus of Siracufia.
There's not a man I meete, but doth falute me i
As if I were their well acquainted friend j
And euerie one doth call me by my name.
' But is = But he is. I 61. Time] Rowe. I F.
48. TAat] F2. Thus F. | 66. £xeuttf.] Exit. F.
33 [17. ii. 45-66 ; liL 1-3.
The Comedie of Errors.
Some tender monie to me ; fome inuite me j 4
Some other giue me thankes for kindnefles ;
Some offer me Commodities to buy :
Euen now a tailor cal'd me in his iliop.
And Ihow'd me Silkes that he had bought for me, 8
And therewithal! tooke meafure of my body.
Sure, thefe are but imaginarie wiles.
And Lapland Sorcerers inhabite here ! 11
Enter Dromio of Siracuse.
6". Dro. Mafter ! here's the gold you fent me for ! What !
haue you got the pifture of old Adam new apparel'd ? 13
S. Ant. What 'gold' is this? What 'Adam' do'ft thou
meane ?
S. Dro. Not that Adam that kept the Paradife, but that
Adam that keepes the prifon : hee that goes in the calues-ikin
that was kil'd for the Prodigall ; hee that came behinde you,
lir, like an euill angel, and bid you forfake your libertie. 19
S. Ant. I vnderftand thee not.
S. Dro. No ? why, 'tis a plaine cafe : he that went, like
a Bafe-Viole, in a cafe of leather; the man, fir, that, when
gentlemen are tired, giues them a bob, and 'refts them ; he,
fir, that takes pittie on decaied men, and giues them fuites of
durance ; he that ' fets vp his refl: ' to doe more exploits with
his Mace then a Moris Pike. 26
S. Ant. What, thou mean'ft an officer ?
S. Dro. I, fir, the Serieant of the Band ! he that brings
any man to anfwer it, that breakes his Band 5 one that thinkes
a man alwaies going to bed, and faies, ' God giue you good
reft!' 31
S. Ant. Well, fir, there * reft ' in your foolerie !
Is there any fliips puts forth to night ? may we be gone ?
S. Dro. Why, fir, I brought you word an houre fince, that
the Barke Expedition put forth to night ; and then were you
hindred by the Serieant to tarry for the Hoy Delay. Here are
the angels, that you fent for, to deliuer you. 37
5. Ant. The fellow is diftrad, and fo am I ;
23. bob] Hanmer. sob F.
LIV. iii. 4-38.] 34
The Comedie of Errors.
And here we wander in illufions :
Some bleffed power deliuer vs from hence !
Enter a Curtlzan.
Cur. Well met, well met, Mafter Antipholus '
I fee, fir, you haue found the Gold-fmith now : 42
Is that the chaine you promis'd me to day ?
S. Ant. Sathan, auoide ! I charge thee, tempt me not !
S. Dro. Mafter ! is this Miftris Sathan ?
S. Ant. It is the diuell ! 46
S. Dro. Nay, {he is worfe, ihe is the diuels dam j and here
Ihe comes in the habit of a light wench ! and thereof comes
that the wenches fay ' God dam me ! ' that's as much to fay,
' God make me a light wench!* It is written, 'they appeare
to men like angels of light : ' light is an effect of fire, and fire
will burne : ergo, light wenches will burne. Come not neere
her! _ _ 53
Cur. Your man and you are maruailous merrie, fir !
Will you goe with me ? wee'll mend our dinner here.
S. Dro. Mafter, if you do, expert fpoon-meatej SO befpeake
a long fpoone. 57
S. Ant. Why, Dromio ?
S. Dro. Marrie, 'he muft haue a long fpoone that muft eate
with the diuell.' 60
S. Ant. Auoid, then, fiend ! what tel'ft thou me of
fupping ?
Thou art (as you are all) a forcereife :
I coniure thee to leaue me, and be gon !
Cur. Giue me the ring of mine you had at dinner.
Or, for my Diamond, the Chaine you promis'd, 65
And He be gone, fir, and not trouble you.
S. Dro. Some diuels afke but the parings of ones naile,
A rufh, a haire, a drop of blood, a pin,
A nut, a cherrie-ftone j 69
But the, more couetous, wold haue a chaine.
Mafter, be wife ! and if you giue it her.
The diuell will fliake her Chaine, and fright vs with it.
56. if you dt, expect] F2. if do expect F.
56. so\ Capell. or F.
35 [IV. iu. 39-72.
The Comedie of Errors.
Cur, I pray you, fir, my Ring, or elfe the Cha'ine! 73
I hope you do not meane to cheate me fo !
S. Ant. Auant, thou witch ! Come, Dromio, let vs go !
S. Dro. * Fhe pride! faies the Pea-cocke': Miftris, that
you know ! \_Exeunt S. Ant. d S. Dro. 76
Cur. Now, out of doubt, Antipholus is mad,
Elfe would he neuer fo demeane himfelfe.
A Ring he hath of mine, worth fortie Duckets,
And, for the fame, he promis'd me a Chaine : 80
Both one and other, he denies me now.
The reafon that I gather he is mad,
(Befides this prefent inftance of his rage,)
Is a mad tale he told to day at dinner, 84
Of his owne doores being fliut againft his entrance.
Belike, his wife, acquainted with his fits,
On purpofe Ihut the doores againft his way.
My way is now, to hie home to his houfe, 88-
And tell his wife that, being Lunaticke,
He rulh'd into my houfe, and tooke perforce
My Ring away. This courfe I fitteft choofej
For fortie Duckets is too much to loofe. [Exit. 92,
Actus Quart US. Scena Quarta.
A Street.
Enter Antipholus 0/ Ephefus with the Officer (a lailor).
£. An. Feare me not, man ! I will not break away :
He giue thee, ere I leaue thee, fo much money.
To warrant thee, as I am 'refted for.
My wife is in a wayward moode to day ;
And will not lightly truft the Meffenger,
That I fhould be attach'd in Ephefus :
I tell you, 'twill found harfhly in her eares.
76. Exeunt . . . Dro.] Exit. F.
Enter . . . lailor.] Enter Antipholus Ephes. with a lailor. F.
IV. uL 73-92; iv. 1-7.] 36
The Comedie of Errors,
Enter Dromio of Ephesus with a ropes ena.
Heere comes my Man ! I thinke he brings the monie. 8
H How now, fir ? Haue you that I fent you for ?
E. Dro. Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them all !
£, Anti. But where's the Money ?
E. Dro. Why, fir, I gaue 'the Monie' for the Rope. 12
E. Ant. Fine hundred Duckets, villaine ! for a 'rope' ?
E. Dro. He ferue you, fir, ' fine hundred ' at the rate.
E. Ant. To what end did I bid thee hie thee home? 15
E. Dro. To a ropes 'end', firj and to that 'end' am I
return'd.
£, Ant. And to that ' end ', fir, I will welcome you.
[Beating him.
Offi. Good fir, be patient ! 19
E. Dro. Nay, 'tis for me to be 'patient'j I am 'in aduerfitie.'
Offi. Good, now, hold thy tongue !
E. Dro. Nay, rather perfwade him to hold his hands.
E, Anti. Thou whorefon, fenfelelfe Villaine ! 23
E. Dro. I would I were ' fenfelefle ', fir, that I might not
feele your blowes.
f , Anti. Thou art fenfible in nothing but blowes, and fo is
an Afle. 27
E. Dro. I am an ' Afl!e,' indeede ! you may prooue it by
my long eares. I haue ferued him from the houre of my
Natiuitie to this infliant, and haue nothing at his hands for mv
feruice but blowes. When I am cold, he heates me with
beating ; when I am warme, he cooles me with beating : I
am wak'd with it when I fleepej rais'd with it when I fit;
driuen out of doores with it when I goe from home ; wei-
com'd home with it when I returne : nay, I beare it on mv
fhoulders, as a begger woont' her brat ; and, I thinke, when
he hath lam'd me, I Ihall begge with it from doore to
doore. 38
E. Ant. Come, goe along ! my wife is comming yonder.
18. Beating kim.\ Capell. ' woont = is wont to bear.
37 [IV. iv. 8.39.
The Comedie of Errors.
Enter Adriana, Luciana, Courtizan, and a Schoolemafter,
calL'd Pinch.
E. Dro. Miftris, re/pice Jinem, refpeft your end; or, rather,
the prophefie, like the Parrat, * beware the ropes end !' 41
£. And. Wilt thou ftill talke? [Beats Dro.
Curt. How fay you now ? Is not your hufband mad ?
Adri. His inciuility confirms no leffe. 44
H Good Dodor Pinch, you are a Coniurer j
Eftablifh him in his true fence againe.
And I will pleafe you, what you will demand.
Luc. Alas, how fier}% and how fliarpe he lookes ! 48
Cur. Marke, how he trembles in his extafie !
Pinch. Giue me your hand, and let mee feele your pulfe !
£. Ant. There is my hand, and let it feele your eare !
[Strikes him.
Pinch. I charge thee, Sathan, hous'd within this man, 52
To yeeld polfeflion to my holie praiers.
And, to thy ftate of darkneffe, hie thee ftraight !
I coniure thee by all the Saints in heauen !
£. Anil. Peace, doting wizard! peace! I am not mad! ^6
Adr. Oh, that thou wer't not, poore diftreffed foule !
£. Anti. You Minion, you ! are thefe your Cuftomers ?
Did this Companion with the faffron face
Reuell and feaft it at my houfe to day, 60
Whil'ft vpon me the guiltie doores were fhut.
And I denied to enter in my houfe ?
Adr. O hufband! God doth know you din'd at homej
Where, would you had remain'd vntill this time, 64
Free from thefe flanders, and this open fliame !
E.Anti. 'Din'd at home!' IFThou Villaine, what fayeft thou?
£, Dro. Sir, footh to fay, you did not * dine at home.'
£. Ant. Were not my doores lockt vp, and I Ihut out ? 68
£. Dro. Perdie, your 'doores were lockt, and you fliut out.'
£. Anti. And did not fhe her felfe reuile me there ?
£, Dro. Sans Fable, ' Ihe her felfe reuil'd you there.'
£. Anti. Did not her Kitchen maide, raile, taunt, and
fcorne me ? 72
Enter . . . Finch.'] So Dyce. F (after 1. 38).
IV. iv. 40-72.] 38
The Comedie of Errors.
E. Dro. Certes, (lie did ! the kitchin veftall fcorn'd you.
E. Ant. And did not I in rage depart from thence? 74
E. Dto. In veritie you did ! ^ My bones beares witnefTe,
That fince haue felt the vigor of his rage.
Adr. Is't good to footh him in thefe contraries?
Pinch. It is no Ihame : the fellow finds his vaine, 78
And, yeelding to him, humors well his frenfie.
£. Ant. Thou haft fubborn'd the Goldfmith to arreft mee!
Adr. Alas, I fent you Monie to redeeme you,
By Dromio heere, who came in haft for it. 82
E. Dro. ' Monie', by me ! Heart and good will, you might ;
^ But, furely, Mafter, not a ragge of Monie !
£. Ant. Wentft not thou to her for a purfe of Duckets ?
Adri. He came to me, and I deliuer'd it. 86
Luci. And I am witnefle with her that Ihe did.
f . Dro. God and the Rope-maker beare me witnefle,
That I was fent for nothing but a rope ! [pofleft ;
Pinch, [aside to Adr.] Miftris, both Man and Mafter is
I know it by their pale and deadly lookes : 91
They muft be bound, and laide in fome darke roome.
£. Ant. Say, wherefore didft thou locke me forth to day ?
IT And why doft thou denie the bagge of gold ? 94
Adr. 1 did not, gentle hufband, ' locke thee forth.'
£. Dro. And, ' gentle ' Majier, I receiu'd no ' gold ' ;
But I confelTe, fir, that we were lock'd out.
Adr. Diflembling Villain, thou fpeak'ft falfe in both ! 98
£. Ant. Diflembling Harlot ! thou art * falfe ' in all ;
And art confederate with a damned packe,
To make a loathfome, abiect fcorne of me :
But, with thefe nailes. He plucke out thefe falfe eyes, 102
That would behold in me this fliamefuU fport !
[Makes at Adriaka.
Enter three orfoure, and offer to Unde him. Heejlriues.
Adr. Oh, binde him, binde him ! let him not come neere
me!
Pinch. More company ! the fiend is ftrong within him.
Luc. Aye me, poore man, how pale and wan he looks ! 106
3. Certesi Pope. Certis F. 77. contraries] crontraries F.
39 [IV. iv. 73-106,
The Comedie of Errors.
E, Ant. What ! will you murther me ? II Thou lailor,
thou !
I am thy prifoner ! "Wilt thou fuffer them
To make a refcue ?
Offi. Mafters, let him go ! icy
He is my prifoner, and you fliall not haue him.
Pinch, [pointing to E. Dro.] Go binde this man, for he is
franticke too. [They binde Dro.
Adr. What wilt thou do, thou peeuifla Officer'
Haft thou delight to fee a wretched man 113
Do outrage and difpleafure to himfelfe ?
Ojffi. He is my prifoner ! if I let him go.
The debt he owes, will be requir'd of me.
j4dr. I will difcharge thee ere I go from thee : 117
Beare me forthwith vnto his Creditor,
And, knowing how the debt growes, I will pay it.
U Good Mafter Do6tor, fee him fafe conuey'd
Home to my houfe ! — Oh moft vnhappy day ! 121
E. Ant. Oh moft ' vnhappie * ftrumpet !
E. Dro. Mafter, I am heere entred in bond for you.
E. Ant. Out on thee, Villaine ! wherefore doft thou mad
mee?
E. Dro. Will you be bound for nothing ! be mad, good
Mafter ! cry, ' the diuel ! ' 126
Luc. God helpe poore foules ! how idlely doe they talke !
Adr. Go beare him hence ! H Sifter, go you with me !
[Exeunt. Maneflt Offic, Adri., Luci., d Courtizan.
H Say now, whofe fuite is he arrefted at? 129
0/f. One Angela, a Goldfmith : do you know him ?
Adr. I know the man. What is the fumme he owes ?
Off'. Two hundred Duckets.
Adr. Say, how growes it due ?
Off\ Due for a Chaine your hufband had of him. 133
Adr. He did befpeake a Chain for me, but had it not.
Cur. When as your hulband, all in rage, to day
Came to my houfe, and tooke away my Ring,
(The Ring I faw vpon his linger now,) 137
III. TAfy. . . Dro.] Camb. Edd.
128. Exeunt . . . CoitrtUan.']
IV. iv. 107-137.] 40
Exeunt. Manet . . . Courtiian. F
(after line 129).
The Comedie of Errors.
Straight after did I meete him with a Chaine.
Adr. It may be fo, but I did neuer fee it.
U Come, lailor, bring me where the Goldfmith is!
I long to know the truth heereof at large. 141
Enter Antipholus of Siracufia with his Rapier drawne, and
Dromio of Siracuse.
Luc. God, for thy mercy ! they are loofe againe !
Adr. And come with naked fwords !
Let's call more helpe.
To haue them bound againe !
[AdrIANA and LuCIANA runne out.
Off. Away, they'l kill vs ! 144
\_Exeunt Officer and Courtizan, asfajl as may he, frightea.
S. Ant. I fee, thefe Witches are affraid of fwords.
iS. Dro. She that would be your wife, now ran from you.
S. Ant. Con\eio\hQ Centaur ; fetch our ftutfe from thence !
I long that we were fafe and found aboord. 148
S. Dro. Faith, ftay heere this night; they will lurely do
vs no harme : you faw they fpeake vs faire, giue vs gold :
me thinkes they are fuch a gentle Nation, that (but for the
Mountaine of mad fleih that claimes manage of me) I could
finde in my heart to ftay heere ftill, and turne Witch. 153
S. Ant. I will not ftay to night, for all the Towne !
Therefore away, to get our ftutfe aboord. lExeunt.
ASius Quintus. Scoena Prima.
A Street before a Priorie.
Enter the Second Merchant, and AnGELO the Goldfmith.
Gold. I am forry. Sir, that I haue hindred you j
But, I proteft, he had the Chaine of me.
Though moft difhoneftly he doth denie it !
144. Adriana . . . out.] Runne
all out. F.
14^. Exeunt . . . Courtizan, . . .]
Exeunt omnes, . . . F.
A . . . Priorie.] Pope.
4-260. 2 Mar.] Mar. F.
41 [IV. iv. 138-ISS ; V. i- I-3-
The Comedie of Errors.
2 Mar. How is the man efteem'd heere in the Citie ? 4
Gold. Of very reuerent reputation, fir.
Of credit infinite, highly belou'd.
Second to none that Hues heere in the Citie :
His word might beare my weakh at any time. 8
2 Mar. Speake foftly ! yonder, as I thinke, he walkes.
Enter S. Antipholus and S. Dromio againe.
Gold. 'Tis so ; and that felfe chaine about his necke,
Which he forfwore mofl: monfi:roufly to haue !
Good fir, draw neere to me, He fpeake to him ! 12
H Signior Antipholus, I wonder much
That you would put me to this Ihame and trouble ;
And, not without fome fcandall to your felfe,
(With circumftance and oaths,) fo to denie 16
This Chaine, which now you weare fo openly.
Befide the charge, the (hame, imprifonment.
You haue done wrong to this, my honefl: friend.
Who, but for flaying on our Controuerfie, 20
Had hoifted faile, and put to fea to day :
This Chaine you had of me : can you deny it ?
S. Ant. I thinke I had ; I neuer did deny it.
2 Mar. Yes, that you did, fir, and forfwore it too ! 24
S. Ant. Who heard me to denie it, or forfweare it ?
2 Mar. Thefe eares of mine (thou knowft) did hear thee :
Fie on thee, wretch ! 'tis pitty that thou liu'ft
To walke where any honefl men refort. 28
5. Ant. Thou art a Villaine to impeach me thus !
He proue mine honor, and mine honeftie,
Againfl thee prefently, if thou dar'ft ftand !
2 Mar. I dare, and do defie thee for a villaine! 32
They draw. Enter Adriana, Luciana, Courtezan, & others.
Adr. Hold ! hurt him not, for God fake ! he is mad !
^ Some get within him, take his fword away !
Binde Dromio too, and beare them to my houfe !
S. Dro. Runne, mafter, run ! for Gods fake, take a houfe !
This is fome Priorie. In, or we are fpoyl'd ! 37
[Exeunt S. Ant. and S. Deo. to the Priorie.
V. i. 4-37-] 42
The Comedte of Errors.
Enter JEmiLIA the Ladie Abbefle.
Al. Be quiet, people ! Wherefore throng you hither ?
Adr. To fetch my poore diflrafted hufband hence.
Let vs come in, that we may binde him fall, 40
And beare him home for his recouerie.
Gold. I knew he was not in his perfedl wits.
2 Mar. I am forry now that I did draw on him.
Al. How long hath this pofleffion held the man ? 44
Adr. This weeke, he hath beene heauie, fower, fad,
And, much different from the man he was ;
But, till this afternoone, his paflion
Ne're brake into extremity of rage. 48
Ah. Hath he not loft much wealth by wrack of fea ?
Buried fome deere friend ? Hath not elfe his eye
Stray'd his affe6lion in vnlawfuU loue ?
(A fmne preuailing much in youthfull men, ^2
Who giue their eies the liberty of gazing.)
Which of thefe forrowes is he fubieft to ?
Adr. To none of thefe, except it be the laft ;
Namely, fome loue that drew him oft from home. 56
Ah. You fhould, for that, haue reprehended him.
Adr. Why, fo I did.
Ah. I, but not rough enough.
Adr. As roughly as my modeftie would let me.
Ah. Haply, in priuate.
Adr. And in affemblies too. 60
Ah. I, but not enough.
Adr. It was the copie of our Conference.
In bed, he flept not for my vrging it ;
At boord, he fed not for my vrging it ; ^4
Alone, it was the fubieft of my Theame ;
In company, I often glanced it ;
Still did I tell him, it was vilde and bad.
Ah. And thereof came it, that the man was mad : 68
The venome clamors of a iealous woman,
Poifons more deadly then a mad dogges tootli.
It feemes, his fleepes were hindred by thy railing ;
54. to\ too F.
43 [V- i- 38-71.
The Comedie of Errors.
And thereof comes it that his head is light. 72
Thou faift, his meate was fawc'd with thy vpbraidings :
Vnquiet meales make ill digeftions :
Thereof the raging fire of feauer bred ;
And what's a Feauer but a fit of madnefle? 76
Thou fayeft, his fports were hindred by thy bralles :
Sweet recreation barr'd, what doth enfue,
But moodie and dull melanchoUy,
(Kinfman to grim and comfortlelle difpaire,) 80
And, at her heeles, a huge infe6tious troope
Of pale diftemperatures, and foes to life ?
In food, in fport, and life-preferuing reft.
To be difturb'd, would mad, or man, or beaft : 84
The confequence is, then, thy iealous fits
Hath fcar'd thy hulband from the vfe of wits. 86
Luc. She neuer reprehended him but mildely,
When he demean'd himfelfe, rough, rude, and wildly! 88
H Why beare you thefe rebukes, and anfwer not '
jidri. She did betray me to my owne reproofe.
U Good people, enter, and lay hold on him !
Ab. No, not a creature enters in my houfe ! 93
Ad. Then, let your feruants bring my hufband forth.
Ab. Neither! he tooke this place for fanftuary.
And it Ihall priuiledge him from your hands,
Till I haue brought him to his wits againe, 96
Or loofe my labour in affaying it.
Adr. I will attend my hufband, be his nurfe.
Diet his ficknefle, for it is my Otfice,
And will haue no atturney but my felfe; loc
And therefore let me haue him home with me.
Ab. Be patient ; for I will not let him ftirre.
Till I have vs'd the approoued meanes I haue.
With wholfome firrups, drugges, and holy prayers, 104
To make of him a formall man againe :
It is a branch and parcell of mine oath,
A charitable dutie of my order.
Therefore depart, and leaue him heere with me ! 108
Adr. I will not hence, and leaue my hufband heere :
And ill it doth befeeme your holinefle.
To feparate the hulband and the wife. iii
V. i. 72-111.] 44
The Comedie of Errors.
Ah. Be quiet, and depart ! thou {halt not haue him ! [Exit.
Luc. Complaine vnto the Duke of this indignity !
Adr. Come, go ! I will fall proftrate at his feete,
And neuer rile, vntill my teares and prayers
Haue won his Grace to come in perfon hither, Ii6
And take perforce my hufband from the Abbefle.
2 Mar. By this, I thinke, the Diall points at fiue:
Anon, (I'me fure,) the Duke himfelfe in perfon
Comes this way to the melancholly vale, 120
The place of death and forrie execution,
Behinde the ditches of the Abbey heere.
Gold. Vpon what caufe ?
2 Mar. To fee a reuerent Siracujian Merchant, 124
Who put vnluckily into this Bay,
(Againft the Lawes and Statutes of this Towne),
Beheaded publikely for his offence.
Gold. See where they come ! we wil behold his death. 128
Luc. Kneele to the Duke before he pafle the Abbey !
Enter SOLINUS, the Duke of Ephefus, attended, and the
Merchant of Siracufe barehead ; with the Headfman, ksf
other Officers.
Duke. Yet once againe proclaime it publikely.
If any friend will pay the lumme for him.
He (hall not die; fo much we tender him! 132
Adr. luftice, moft facred Duke, againft the Abbefle!
Duke. She is a vertuous and a reuerend Lady :
It cannot be that fhe hath done thee wrong. 13^
Adr. May it pleafe your Grace, Antipholus my hufbawd,
(Who I made Lord of me, and all I had.
At your important Letters,) this ill day,
A moft outragious fit of madnefle tooke him 5
That defp'rately he hurried through the ftreete, 140
(With him his bondman, all as mad as he,)
Doing difpleafure to the Citizens,
By ruftiing in their houfes, bearing thence
Rings, Jewels, any thing his rage did like. 144
Once did I get him bound, and fent him home,
112. £^;/.] Theobald. 121. deafA] Ro\re. depth F.
45 [V. i. 112-145.
The Comedie of Errors.
Whil'ft, to take order for the wrongs, I went.
That heere and there his furie had committed.
Anon, (I wot not by what ftrong efcape,) 148
He broke from thofe that had the guard of him j
And, with his mad attendant and hiinfelfe,
Each one with irefull paffion, with drawne fwords,
Met vs againe, and, madly bent on vs, 152
Chac'd vs away ; till, railing of more aide.
We came againe to binde them. Then they fled
Into this Abbey, whether we purfii'd them ;
And heere the Abbefle fhuts the gates on vs, 156
And will not fuffer vs to fetch him out.
Nor fend him forth, that we may beare him hence.
Therefore, moft gracious Duke, with thy command,
Let him be brought forth, and borne hence for helpe! 160
Duke. Long lince, thy hufband feru'd me in my wars.
And I to thee ingag'd a Princes word,
(When thou didft make him Mafter of thy bed,)
To do him all the grace and good I could. 164
H Go, fome of you, knocke at the Abbey gate.
And bid the Lady Abbelfe come to me !
^ I will determine this before I ftirre.
Enter a Meflenger to AdrIANA.
Mess. Oh, Miftris, Miftris ! Ihift and faue your felfe ! i68
My Mafter and his man are both broke loofe.
Beaten the Maids a-row, and bound the Do6tor,
Whofe beard they haue findg'd off with brands of fire,
And euer, as it blaz'd, they threw on him 172
Great pailes of puddled myre, to quench the haire :
My Mq/Zer preaches patience to him, and, the while,
His man with Cizers nickes him like a foole ;
And, fure, (vnleffe you fend fome prefent helpe,) 176
Betweene them they will kill the Coniurer.
Adr. Peace, foole ! thy Mafter and his man are here.
And that is falfe thou doft report to vs.
Me^lp. Miftris, vpon my life, I tel you true! 180
I haue not breath'd almoft fince I did fee it.
He cries for you, and vowes, if he can take you.
To fcorch your face, and to disfigure you. [^Cry within.
V. i. 146-183.] 46
The Comedie of Errors.
Harke, harke ! I heare him! Miftris, flie, be gone ! 184
Duke. Come, ftand by me j feare nothing ! H Guard with
Halberds !
Adr. Ay me, it is my hufband ! Witnefle you.
That he is borne about inuifible !
Euen now we hous'd him in the Abbey heerej 188
And now he's there, paft thought of humane reafon !
Enter Antipholus of Ephesus, and Dromio of Ephefus.
E. Ant. luftice, moft gracious Duke ! oh, grant me iuftice !
Euen for the feruice that long fince I did thee.
When I beftrid thee in the warres, and tooke 192
Deepe fcarres to faue thy life ; euen for the blood
That then I loft for thee, now grant me iuftice !
E^e, [aside] Vnlefle the feare of death doth make me
dote,
I fee my fonne Antipholus, and Dromio. 196
E. Ant. luftice (fweet Prince) againft thai "Woman there !
She whom thou gau'ft to me to be my wifej
That hath abufed and difhonored me,
Euen in the ftrength and height of iniurie ! 200
Beyond imagination, is the wrong
That {he this day hath ftiamelefle throwne on me.
Duke. Difcouer how j and thou ihalt finde me iuft. [me,
E. Ant. This day (great Duke) (he ftiut the doores vpon
While Ihe with Harlots feafted in my houfe. 205
Duke. A greeuous fault. IT Say, woman, didft thou fo ?
Adr. No, my good Lord ! My felfe, he, and my lifter.
To day did dine together. So befall my foule, 208
As this is falfe, he burthens me withall !
Luc. Nere may I looke on day, nor fleepe on night.
But flie tels to your Highnefle fimple truth !
Gold. O periur'd woman ! They are both forfworne ! 212
In this, the Madman iuftly chargeth them.
E. Ant. My Liege, I am aduifed what I fay ;
Neither difturbed with the effe6t of Wine,
189. Dromio] E, Dromio F. 306 Fath. ; 296 Father; 302 Fat.)
195-345- ^^-l Mar. Fat. (283, F.
298, 303, 319, 345 Fa. ; 287, 292,
47 [V. i. 184.215.
The Comedie of Errors.
Nor headie-rafti, prouoak'd with raging ire, 216
Albeit my wrongs might make one wiler, mad.
This woman lock'd me out this day from dinner :
That Goldfmith there, were he not pack'd with her,
Could witnefle it, for he was with me thenj 220
Who parted with me to go fetch a Chaine,
Promifing to bring it to the Porpentine,
"Where Balthafar and I did dine together.
Our dinner done, and he not comming thither, 224
I went to feeke him. In the tlreet I met him,
And, in his companie, that Gentleman. [Points to 2 Mar.
There did this periur'd Goldfmith fweare me downe.
That I this day of him receiu'd the Chaine, 228
Which, God he knowes, I faw not' For the which,
He did arreft me with an Officer.
I did obey j and fent my Pefant home
For certaine Duckets : he with none return* d. 232
Then fairely I befpoke the Officer
To go in perfon with me to my houfe.
By'th'way, we met
My wife, her fifter, and a rabble more 236
Of vilde Confederates. Along with them
They brought one Pinch, a hungry, leane-fac'd Villaine ;
A meere Anatomie ; a Mountebanke ;
A thred-bare lugler, and a Fortune-teller 5 240
A needy-hollow-ey'd-ffiarpe-looking-wretch j
A liuing-dead-man ! This pernicious llaue,
Forfooth, tooke on him as a Coniurer ;
And, gazing in mine eyes, feeling my pulfe, 244
And, with no-face, (as 'twere,) out-facing me.
Cries out, ' I was pofleft ! ' Then altogether
They fell vpon me, bound me, bore me thence,
And, in a darke and dankifli vault at home, 248
There left me and my man, both bound together ;
Till, gnawing with my teeth my bonds in funder,
I gain'd my freedome; and immediately
Ran hether to your Grace, whom I befeech 252
To giue me ample fatisfaftion
23s. 236. One line in F.
V. i. 216-253.] 48
The Comedie of Errors.
For thefe deepe ihames, and great indignities.
Gold. My Lord, in truth, thus far I witnes with him ;
That he din'd not at home, but was lock'd out. 256
Duke. But had he fuch a Chaine of thee, or no ?
Gold. He had, my Lord ; and when he ran in heere,
Thefe people faw the Chaine about his necke.
2 Mar. Befides, (I will be fworne,) thefe eares of mine, 260
Heard you confelfe you had the Chaine of him,
After you firft forfwore it on the Mart j
And, thereupon, I drew my fword on you ;
And then you fled into this Abbey heere, 264
From whence, I thinke, you are come by Miracle.
E. Ant. I neuer came within thefe Abbey wals,
Nor euer didft thou draw thy fword on me !
I neuer faw the Chaine, fo helpe me heauen ! 268
And this is falfe, you burthen me withall!
Duke. Why, what an intricate impeach is this!
I thinke you all haue drunke of Circes cup.
If heere you hous'd him, heere he would haue bin: 272
Jf he were mad, he would not pleade fo coldly :
[To Adr. d Luc] You fay he din'd at home j the Goldfmith
heere
Denies that faying. IT Sirra, what fay you ? 275
E. Dro. Sir, he din'de with her there, at the Porpent'me.
Cur. He did; and from my finger fnacht that Ring.
E. And. Tis true (my Liege) this Ring I had of her.
Duke. Saw'ft thou him enter at the Abbey heere ?
Curt. As fure (my Liege) as I do fee your Grace. 280
Duke. Why, this is ftraunge ! U Go call the Abbelfe hither !
IT I thinke you are all mated, or ftarke mad.
Exit one to the Abbefle.
E^e, Moft mighty Duke, vouchfafe me fpeak a word !
Haply I fee a friend will faue my life, 284
And pay the fum that may deliuer me.
Duke. Speake freely, Siracujian, what thou wilt.
E^e. Is not your name, fir, call'd Antipholus ?
And is not that your bondman, Dromio ? 288
E. Dro. Within this houre, I was his ' bondman,' fir.
But he (I thanke him) gnaw'd in two my cords:
49 E [V, i. 254-290.
The Comedie of Errors.
Now am I Droinio, and his man, vnbound.
E^e. I am lure, you both of you remember me. 292
f . Dro. Our felues we do remember, fir, by you ;
For lately we were bound, as you are now.
You are not Pinches patient, are you, fir ? 295
E^e. Why looke you fl:range on me ? you know me well.
E. j4nt. I neuer faw you in my life till now.
E^e. Oh ! griefe hath chang'd me fince you faw me laft.
And carefuU houres, with times deformed hand,
Haue written flirange defeatures in my face ! 300
But tell me yet, dcIl thou not know my voice?
£. Ant. Neither.
E^e. Dromio, nor thou ?
£. Dro. No, truft me, fir, nor I !
E^e. I am fure thou doft ! ;^o^
E. Dromio. I, fir, but I am fure I do not ! and whatfoeuer
a man denies, you are now bound to beleeue him.
E^e. Not know my voice ! Oh times extremity,
Haft thou fo crack'd and fplitted my poore tongue, 307
In feuen fliort yeares, that heere my onely fonne
Knowes not my feeble key of vntun'd cares ?
Though now this grained face of mine be hid
In fap-confuming Winters drizled fnow, 311
And all the Conduits of my blood froze vp.
Yet hath my night of life fome memorie ;
My wafting lampes fome fading glimmer left;
My dull deafe eares a little vfe to heare : 315
All thefe old witnefles (I cannot erre)
Tell me, thou art my fonne Antipliolus.
E. Ant. I neuer faw my Father in my life.
E^e. But feuen yeares fince, in Siracufa, boy, 3 19
Thou know'ft we parted : but, perhaps, my fonne.
Thou Iham'ft to acknowledge me in miferie.
£. Ant. The Duke, and all that know me in the City,
Can witneflfe with me that it is not fo : 323
I ne're faw Siracufa in my life.
Duke. I tell thee, Siracujian, twentie yeares
Haue I bin Patron to Antipholus,
306. extremity\ e tremity F.
V. i. 291-326,] 50
The Comedie of Errors.
During which time, he ne're faw Siracufa: 327
I lee thy age and dangers make thee dote.
Enter the Abbefle, JEmILIA, with Antipholus of Siracufa,
and Dromio of Siracuse.
AhleJJe. Moft mightie Duke, behold a man much wrong'd !
All gather to fee them.
Adr. I fee two hulbands, or mine eyes deceiue me !
Duke. One of thefe men is Genius to the other: 331
And fo, of thefe, which is the naturall man.
And which the fpirit ? Who deciphers them ?
S. Dromio. I, Sir, am Dromio! command him away!
E. Dro. I, Sir, am Dromio! pray, let me ftay! ^^^
S. Ant. Egeon, art thou not ? or elfe his gholl.
S. Drom. Oh, my olde Mafter ! who hath bound him heere ?
Abb. Who euer bound him, I will lofe his bonds.
And gaine a hulband by his libertie. 339
H Speake, old Egeon, if thou bee'ft the man
That hadft a wife once call'd Emilia,
That bore thee at a burthen two faire fonnes !
Oh, if thou bee'ft the fame Egeon, fpeake, 343
And fpeake vnto the fame yEmilia !
E^e. If I dreame not, thou art yEmilia !
If thou art flie, tell me, where is that fonne
That floated with thee on the fatall rafte ? 347
Abb. By men oi Epidamium, he, and I,
And the twin Dromio, all were taken vp ;
But, by and by, rude Fiihermen of Corinth,
By force tooke Dromio, and my fonne from them, 35 i
And me they left with thofe of Epidamium.
What then became of them, I cannot tell :
I, to this fortune that you fee mee in.
Duke. Why, heere begins his [Points tO Ege.] Morning
ftorie right : ^^^
Thefe [Points to E. Ant. d S. Ant.] two Antipholus, thefe
two fo like;
355-360. In F these lines follow 1. 344. Capell placed them after
»• 354-
51 [V. i. 327-356.
The Comedie of Errors.
And thefe [Points to E. Dro. d S. Dro.1 two Dromios} one
in femblance,
(Befides her vrging of her wracke at fea,)
Thefe are the parents to thefe childeren, 359
Which accidentally are met together.
U Antipholus, thou cam'ft from Corinth firft ?
S. Ant. No, fir, not I ! I came from Siracufe.
Duke. Stay, ftand apart; I know not which is which. ^6^
E. Ant. I came from Corinth, my moft gracious Lord . . .
E. Dro. And I with him !
E. Ant. Brought to this Town by that moft famous
Warriour,
Duke Menaphon, your moft renowned Vnckle. 367
Adr. Which of you two did dine with me to day ?
S. Ant. I, gentle Miftris.
Adr. And are not you my hulbaud ?
E. Ant. No ! I fay nay to that,
S. Ant. And fo do I ! yet did flie call me fo: 371
And this faire Gentlewoman, her fifter heerc,
Did call me brother. [To Luc] What I told you then,
I hope I fliall haue leifure to make good;
If this be not a dreame I fee and heare. 375
Goldfmith. That is the Chaine, fir, which you had of mee.
S. Ant. I thinke it be, fir; I denie it not.
E. Ant. And you, fir, for this Chaine arrefted me.
Gold. I thinke I did, fir; I deny it not. 379
Adr. I fent you monie, fir, to be your baile
By Dromio ; but I thinke he brought it not,
E. Dro, No, none by me !
S. Ant. This purfe of Duckets I receiu'd from you, 383
And Dromio my man did bring them me :
I fee we ftill did meete each others man.
And I was tane for him, and he for me.
And thereupon thefe ERRORS are arofe ! 387
jE. Ant. Thefe Duckets, pawne I for my father heere.
Duke. It (hall not neede; thy father hath his life.
* So F. The apostrophe marks
an elided e.
357. semblance is here a tri-
V. i. 357-389] 52
syllable.
359. childeren] children F.
361. Duke, prefixed in F.
The Comedie of Errors,
Cur. Sir, I mud haue that Diamond from you !
E. Ant. There, take itj and much thanks for my good
cheere ! 391
j4bb. Renowned Duke, vouchfafe to take the paines
To go with vs into the Abbey heere.
And heare at large difcourfed all our fortunes :
U And all that are affembled in this place, jpj
That, by this fimpathized one daies Error,
Haue fuffer'd wrong, goe, keepe vs companle.
And we Ihall make full fatisfadion.
IF Thirtie three ' yeares haue I but gone in trauaile 399
Of you, my fonnes ; and, till this prefent houre.
My heauie burthen nere deliuered.
IT The Duke, H my hufband, IT and my children both,
UAnd you the Kalenders of their Natiuity, 403
Go to a Goflips feaft, and go with mee !
After fo long greefe, fuch Natiuitie!
Duke. With all my heart. He Goflip at this feaft ! 406
[^Exeunt. Manent the two Dromio's and the two
Brothers AntipholUS.
S. Dro. Mafter, (hall I fetch your ftuffe from fliipbord ?
E. An. Dromio, what ftuffe of mine haft thou imbarkt ?
S. Dro. Your goods that lay at hoft, fir, in the Centaur.
S. Ant. He fpeakes to me. % I am your mafter, Dromio.
Come, go with vs ; wee'l looke to that anon : 411
Embrace thy brother there; reioyce with him.
^Exeunt. Manent S. Dro. and E. Dro.
S. Dro. There is a fat friend at your mafters houfe,
That kitchin'd me for you to day at dinner :
She now fliall be my fifter, not my wife. 415
E. D. Me thinks you are my glalfe, & not my brother:
I fee by you, I am a fweet-fac'd youth.
Will you walke in to fee their goliipping?
[Motions S. Dro. forward.
S. Dro. Not I, fir ! you are my elder. 419
^ Twenty-five years. Cp. I. i. | Exeunt omnes. Manet the two
125 and V. i. 3C9, 320.
401. burthen nere\ Dyce. bur-
then are F.
406. Exmnt . . . Antipkolus.']
Drcniio's (see note on 1. 358) and
two Brothers. F.
412. Exeunt . . . Dro.] Exit. F.
53 [V. i. 390-4 > 9.
The Comedie of Errors.
E. Dro. That's a queftion : how fhall we trie it ?
S. Dro. Wee'l draw Cuts for the Signior : till then, lead
thou tirfl !
E. Dro. Nay, then, thus : [Takes S. Lro.s hand.
We came into the world like brother and brother}
And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another. 425
[Exeunt.
V. i. 420-425.]
54
NOTES.
p. 9, II. i. 12. Fz ill preserves the sequence of couplets, but, as
sense can be made of F thus, we retain the latter reading, as we
do rw/wa/^ (ruinous Theobald conj.) at III. ii. 4, p. 23. andstamps.
This addition to our stage-direction may be justified whether we
regard it as a truthful mimicry of Antipholus, or as an exaggeration
into which Adriana's warmth of temper had betrayed her.
pp. II, 12, II. i. 109-113. Weave is a necessary emendation of the F
Where. I thus explain 11. 109- 113. The 'lewell best enamaled'
is Antipholus's honour, which, Adriana fears, he is in danger of
losing. This misgiving is checked for a moment by the reflection
that the sterling worth of Antipholus's character (in 1. no spoken
of as ' the gold') may be sullied by defiling contact, but cannot be
wasted. The main current of her thought is resumed in 11. in,
112. Yet, she remembers, gold is worn away by passing through
many hands ; so is a man's moral nature depraved by habitual
sin. She ends (11. 112, 113) by asserting that self-respect should
keep a man from sacrificing his good name. I have marked the
subordinate thought, ' yet the gold bides still That others touch,' as
a parenthesis, in order to avoid altering the F ^ and often touching'
to ''but often touching' ' ; which latter reading the disconnected
sense of 11. ill, 112 would otherwise require. — W. G. S.
p. 15, II. ii. loi. in no time, no time F2. Perhaps, as Mr. Crosby
supposes, Dro. S. 'quibbles on no time to do a thing and the
idiom " in no time " = in an instant.'
p. 16, II. ii. 145. / line vnstain'd, thou vndishononred. Theobald
printed dis-stain'd, giving the dis- 'a privative force.' Distain =
stain in the three other unquestioned examples of its use by Shak-
spere. Heath proposed : / line distained, thou dishonoured. But
11, 138-144 preceding show that Adriana threatens her husband
with reprisals which will dishonour him as well as her, if he should
continue to be faithless, and therefore we require the conditional
negative meaning for both verbs. Heath paraphrases his emend-
ation thus : ' As long as thou continuest to dishonour thyself, I also
live distained :' a climax too tame for Adriana, and at variance with
the context.
p. 17, II. ii. 185. The spelling ()^;y</— nearer the F/;-.r'r/ than Capell's
offet'd — occurs in The Taming of the Shrew, II. i. 373. Feed B.
Nicholson conj. ; a reading which is nearest the F, He under-
stands that S. Ant. was/^t'rfto entertain the magical fallacy by the
1 Dr. Fumivall would still alter this 'and' to 'yet' or 'but', but gives way in the
text to me.— W. G. S.
55
Notes.
prospect of a good dinner ; and, especially, of Luciana's presence
thereat. But the whole of S. Ant.'s speech refers to Adriana.
, 27, III. ii. 164. IVhai p/ease your sel/e is z.n eUipiical phvase, mea.n'
ing : ' What // s/ia/I please yourself to do with it.'
, 32, IV, ii. 40. before the Judgmmt. 'Capias, Is a Writ of two Sorts,
one before Judgment, called Capias ad respondendum, in an Action
Personal, where the Sheriff upon the first Writ of Distress in Personal
Actions returns Nihil habet in balliva nostra,' &c. — Cowel's Law
Dictionary, 1727, s. v. 'Capias.' hel. A dungeon in a prison.
'In Wood-street's hole, or Poultry's hell.''— The Counter-Rat, 1658.
. . . ' a little darke room . . . hard by Hell [where crown debtors
were confined], neare to the upper end of Westminster Hall.' — The
Merry Discourse of Meum and Tuum.
. 33, IV. ii. 48. Miss Teena Rochfort-Smith would retain F Zy^Mj;
punctuating accordingly.
, 34, IV. iii. 13. got F. not Anon. conj. got rid of Theobald. If
the text be right, we must suppose that Dro. S., missing the jailor,
asks if he has been disguised in new apparel, in place of the buff
leather suit which made Dromio call him — with reference to Gen.
iii. 21 — 'the picture of old Adam.' We find the epithet 'leathern
Adam ' in Edward III., 1599, II. ii. And so Stubbes : ' Did the
Lord cloth our first parents in leather, as not hauing any thing
more preciouse to attyre them withall,' &c. — Anatomie of Abuses,
Pt. I., 1583, New Sh. Soc. ed., p. 37.
35, IV. iii. 56. expect spoon meate ; so bespeake a long spoone.
and bespeake a long spoone B. Nicholson conj. except spoon-
meat ; or bespeake a long spoone P. A. Daniel conj.
37, IV. iv. 20. Dromio quotes /"Wot xciv. 13 (Prayer-Book version) ;
perhaps in combination with Rom. xii. 12.
47, V. i. 212, 213. Miss Teena Rochfort-Smith would make this an
aside. We believe that Antipholus was too much engrossed with
the recital of his wrongs to notice Angelo's evidence in his favour.
, 52, V. i. 359. For the contemporary form childeren cp. Chapman's
Iliad, ed. Hooper, bk. vi. 1. 216. 'Yet had he one surviv'd to
him, of those three childeren,' &c.
, 54, V. i. 421. Signior = %tmox. For parallel spellings see Loues
Labor's Lost, III. i. 161. And cp. signer ie=SQmoniy, in Rich,
III. IV. iv. 36, Qi. signeurie F.
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