Shakespeare’s
Comedy or Errors
All original lines by William Shakespeare
Compressed
for reading by students of the New Salem Educational Initiative
before
attendance at Great River Shakespeare Festival production, July 2017
Gary Marvin
Davison, Ph. D.
Director,
New Salem Educational Initiative
From Comedy
of Errors, Act I, Scene One [A hall in the palace of Duke Solinus of
Ephesus]
Duke: Merchant
of Syracusa, plead no more;
I am not
impartial to infringe our laws.
It hath in
solemn synods been decreed,
Both by the
Syracusans and ourselves,
To admit no
traffic to our adverse towns:
If any born at
Ephesus be seen
At any Syracusan
marts and fairs;
Again: if any Syracusan born
Come to the bay
of Ephesus, he dies,
Unless a
thousand pounds be levied,
To
quit the penalty and to ransom him.
Therefore thou
art condem’d to die.
Aegeon: Yet
this my comfort: when your
Words are done,
My woes end
likewise with the evening sun.
Duke: Well,
Syracusan, say in brief the cause
Why thou
departed’st from thy native home
And for what
cause thou camest to Ephesus.
Aegeon: In
Syracusa was I born, and wed
With her I lived
in joy; our wealth increased
By prosperous voyages
I often made
To Epidamnum.
Following me, she had
not been long
But she became a
joyful mother
Of two goodly sons,
the one so like the other
As
could not be distinguished by their name.
That very hour a
meaner woman was delivered
Of such a
burden, male twins, both alike.
Those, for their
parents were exceeding poor,
I bought and
brought up to attend my sons
A league from
Epidamnum had we sail’d,
Before the
always wind-obeying deep
Gave
any tragic instance of our harm.
But
longer did we not retain much hope:
The heavens did
convey unto our minds
A doubtful
warrant of immediate death;
My wife the
latter born fastened unto a
Small spare
mast; to him one of the twins
Was bound, whilst I
like heedful of the
Other; my wife and I fastened ourselves
At
either end the mast. We discovered
Two ships from far
making amain to us,
Of Corinth that,
Epidaurus this.
Duke: Nay,
forward old man; do not break
off
so.
Aegeon: We
encountered by a mighty rock;
Violently our ship
splitted in the midst.
Her part was carried
and taken up by
Fishermen of
Corinth. Another ship
Seized on us and
homeward [to Epidaurus]
Did they bend their
course.
Duke: Do
me the favour to dilate in full what
Hath befall’n of
them and thee till now.
Aegeon: My
youngest boy at eighteen years
Became
inquisitive after his brother
And importuned
me that his attendant,
Reft of his
brother, might bear him
Company in the
quest of him.
Laboured of a
love to see whom I loved,
Five
summers have I spent roaming the
Bounds of Asia, and,
coasting homeward
came to Ephesus.
Duke: Hapless
Aegeon, I’ll limit thee this day
To seek thy life by beneficial help.
Try to make up the sum and live; if no,
Then thou art doom’d to die.
From Comedy
of Errors, Act I, Scene Two [The Mart]
Enter Antipholus of Syracuse, Dromio of
Syracuse, and First Merchant.
Antipholus: Go,
bear [this money] to the Centaur, where we
(of Syracuse) host, and stay there till I come to thee.
Dromio of Syracuse nods and exits.
Antipholus of Syracuse and First Merchant
face each
other in conversation. After a while, First
Merchant bids
Antipholus of Syracuse goodbye:
First Merchant: Sir, I commend you to your own content. [Exits.]
Antipholus: I
to the world am like a drop of water
(of Syracuse) that in the ocean seeks another drop,
So
I, to find a mother and brother.
Enter Dromio of Ephesus.
Antipholus: What
now? How chance thou art return’d so
soon?
(of Syracuse)
Dromio: Return’d
so soon? Rather approached too late:
(of Ephesus) The meat is cold because you are not home.
Antipholus:
Where have you left the money that I gave you?
(of Syracuse)
Dromio: To
pay the saddler for my mistress’ crupper?
(of Ephesus) The saddler had it, sir, I kept it not.
Antipholus:
I am not in a sportive humour now:
(of Syracuse) Tell
me now, and dally not, where is the money?
Dromio: I
pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner.
(of Ephesus) I from my mistress come to you in post.
Antipholus: Come,
Dromio, come, these jests are out of season.
(of Syracuse) Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee?
Dromio: To
me, sir? Why you gave no gold to me.
(of Ephesus) My mistress and sister stays for you.
Antipholus: Now,
as I am a Christian, answer me.
(of Syracuse) Where is the thousand marks you hadst of me?
Dromio: I
have some marks of yours upon my pate,
(of Ephesus) Some of my mistress’ upon my shoulders,
But
not a thousand marks between you both.
Antipholus: Thy
mistress’ marks? What mistress, slave,
hast thou?
(of Syracuse)
Dromio: Your
worship’s wife, my mistress at the Phoenix.
(of Ephesus)
Antipholus: What,
will you flout me thus unto my face,
(of Syracuse) being forbid? There, take that, sir knave.
[Dromio exits, holding his head in pain.]
From Comedy
of Errors, Act II, Scene One [The house of Antipholus of Ephesus]
Enter Adrianna and Luciana.
Adriana: Neither
my husband nor the slave return’d.
Luciana: A
man is master of his liberty.
Adriana: Why
should their liberty than ours be more?
Luciana: As
much or more should ourselves complain.
If
thou live to see like right bereft,
This
fool-begg’d patience in thee will be left.
Enter Dromio of Ephesus.
Adriana: Is
thy tardy master now at hand?
Dromio: Nay,
he’s at two hands with me,
(of Ephesus) And that my two hands can witness.
Adriana: Go
back, slave, or I will break thy pate across.
Dromio: And
he will bless that cross with other beating:
Between the two of
you, I shall have a holy head.
Exit Dromio.
From Comedy
of Errors, Act II, Scene Two [A public place]
Enter
Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse.
Antipholus: How
now, sir! Is your merry humour altered?
(of Syracuse) You know no Centaur? You received no gold?
Dromio: What
answer, sir? When spoke I such a word?
(of Syracuse)
Antipholus: Even
now, even here, not half an hour since.
(of Syracuse)
Dromio: I
did not see you since you sent me hence,
(of Syracuse) Home to the Centaur, with the gold you gave
me.
Antipholus: Think’st
thou I jest? Hold, take thou that, and
that.
(of Syracuse)
[Antipholus beats Dromio]
Enter Adriana and Luciana.
Adriana: Ay,
ay, Antipholus, look strange and frown.
How
comes it now, my husband, o how comes it,
That
thou are thus estranged from thyself?
Ah,
do not tear away thyself from me!
Antipholus: Plead
you to me, fair dame? I know you not.
(of Syracuse) In Ephesus I am but two hours old.
Luciana: Fie,
brother! How the world is changed with
you.
She
sent for you by Dromio home to dinner.
Antipholus: By
Dromio?
(of Syracuse)
Dromio: By
me? I never saw her till this time.
(of Syracuse)
Antipholus: Villain,
thou liest; for even her very words
(of Syracuse) Did’st thou deliver to me on the mart.
Adriana: Come,
my husband, I will fasten on this sleeve of thine.
Antipholus: What,
was I married to her in my dream?
(of Syracuse)
Adriana; Dromio,
go bid the servants spread for dinner.
Dromio: This
is a fairy land: O spite of spites!
(of Syracuse) I am transformed, master, am I not?
Antipholus: I
think thou art in mind, and so am I.
(of Syracuse)
Adriana: Come,
sir, to dinner. Dromio, keep the gate.
And
let none enter, lest I break your pate.
[Exeunt]
From Comedy
of Errors, Act III, Scene One [Before the House of Antipolus of Ephesus]
Enter
Antipholus of Ephesus, Dromio of Ephesus, Angelo, and Balthazar.
Antipholus: But,
soft, my door is locked.
(of Ephesus) Go bid them let us in.
Dromio: [Within] Let him walk from whence he came.
(of Syracuse)
Antipholus: What
art thou that keepest me out from the house I owe?
(of Ephesus)
Dromio: [Within] The porter for this time, sir, and my
name is Dromio.
(of Syracuse)
Dromio: O,
villain! Thou hast stolen both my office and my name.
(of Ephesus)
Luciana: [Within] Let him knock till it ache!
(of Syracuse)
Adriana: [Within] Who is that at the door that keeps all
this noise?
Antipholus: Are
you there, wife? You might have come
before.
(of Ephesus)
Adriana: [Within] Your wife, sir knave? Go get you from the door.
Angelo: Here
is neither cheer, sir, nor welcome.
We would fain have
either.
Balthazar: In
debating which was best, we shall part with neither.
Antipholus: [To
Dromio of Ephesus]
(of Ephesus) Go fetch me something: I’ll break ope the gate.
Balthazar: Sir,
be ruled by me: Depart in patience,
And let us to the
Tiger for dinner,
And about evening
come yourself alone
To know the reason of
this strange restraint.
Antipholus: You
have prevail’d: I will depart in quiet.
(of Ephesus) I know a wench of excellent discourse.
To
her will we to dinner.
[To Angelo]
Get
you home and fetch the chain.
Bring it, I pray you,
to the Porpentine.
For if nothing but to
spite my wife,
That chain I will
bestow upon mine hostess there.
From Comedy
of Errors, Act III, Scene Two [Before the House of Antipolus of Ephesus]
Enter Luciana and Antipholus of Syracuse.
Luciana: And
may it be that you have quite forgot
A husband’s
office?
Antipholus: Sweet
mistress--- Are you a god?
(of Syracuse) Would you create me anew?
Transform me then,
and to your powers I’ll yield.
But if I am I, then
well I know
Your weeping sister
is no wife of mine.
Far more, far more to
you do I decline.
Luciana: What,
are you mad that you do reasons so?
Gaze where you
should, and that will clear your sight.
Antipholus: As
good to wink, sweet love, as look on night.
(of Syracuse)
Luciana: Why
call me love? Call my sister so.
Antipholus: Call
thyself sister, for thee will I love and with thee
(of Syracuse) lead my life.
Luciana: O,
soft, sir, hold you still:
I’ll
fetch my sister, to get her good will.
[Luciana exits; enter Dromio of Syracuse.]
Antipholus: Why,
how now, Dromio? --- Are you a god?
(of Syracuse) Where runnest thou so fast?
Dromio: Marry,
sir, I am due to a woman; one that
claims me,
(of Syracuse) one that haunts me, one that will have me.
Antipholus: What’s
her name?
(of Syracuse)
Dromio: Nell,
sir. This diviner laid claim to me; called me Dromio;
(of Syracuse) swore I was assured to her; told me what privy marks
I had about me, as,
the mark of my shoulder, the mole
In
my neck, the great wart on my left arm, that I amazed
ran
from her as a witch.
Antipholus: Go
hie thee presently, post to the road.
(of Syracuse) I will not harbour in this town tonight.
If any bark put
forth, come to the mart,
Where I will walk
till thou return to me.
If everyone knows us
and we know none,
“Tis time, I think,
to trudge, pack, and be gone.
[Enter Angelo with the chain.]
Angelo: Master Antipholus,---
Antipholus: Aye,
that’s my name.
(of Syracuse)
Angelo: I know it well, sir: lo, here is the chain.
Antipholus: What
is your will that I should do with this?
(of Syracuse)
Angelo: What please yourself, sir: I have made it for you.
Antipholus: Made
it for me, sir! I bespoke it not.
(of Syracuse)
Angelo: Not once, nor twice, but twenty
times you have.
Go
home with it and please your wife withal;
And
soon at suppertime I’ll visit you
And
then receive my money for the chain.
[Angelo exits as Antipholus of Syracuse
exhibits a confused look on his face.]
From Comedy
of Errors, Act IV, Scene One [A public place]
Enter Second Merchant, Angelo, and an
Officer.
Second Merchant: You know since Pentecost the sum is due;
Therefore make
present satisfaction,
Or I’ll attach you by this officer.
Angelo: Even just the sum that I owe to
you
Is growing to me by
Antipholus.
Enter Antipholus of Ephesus and Dromio of
Ephesus.
Antipholus: Buy
a rope’s end: that I will bestow and
bring it home to me
(of Ephesus) among my wife and her confederates.
Dromio of Ephesus exits.
Second Merchant: The hour steals on;
I pray you sir, dispatch.
Angelo: You hear how he importunes
me;--- the chain!
Antipholus: Why,
give it to my wife and fetch your money.
(of Ephesus)
Angelo: Come, come, you know I gave it
to you even now.
Antipholus: Fie,
now you run this humour out of breath.
(of Ephesus) Come, where’s the chain? I pray you, let me see it.
.
Second Merchant: My business cannot brook this dalliance.
Good
sir, say whether you will answer me or no:
If
not, I’ll leave him to this officer.
Antipholus: Answer
you, what shall I answer you?
(of Ephesus)
Angelo: The money that you owe me for
the chain.
Antipholus: I
owe you none till I receive the chain.
(of Ephesus)
.
Angelo: You know that I gave it to you
half an hour since.
Antipholus: You
gave me none: You wrong me much to say
so.
(of Ephesus)
Second Merchant: Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.
Angelo: Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer.
Officer: I do arrest you, sir: You hear the suit.
Antipholus: I
do obey thee till I give thee bail.
(of Ephesus) But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as
dear
As
all the metal in your shop shall answer.
Enter Dromio of Syracuse, from the bay.
Dromio: Master,
there is a bark of Epidamnum
(of Syracuse) That stays but till her owner comes aboard
And then, sir, she bears away.
Antipholus: What
ship of Epidamnum stays for me?
(of Ephesus)
Dromio: A
ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.
(of Syracuse)
Antipholus: Thou
drunken slave, I sent you to buy rope.
(of Ephesus)
Dromio: You
sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.
(of Syracuse)
Antipholus: I
will debate this matter at more leisure
(of Ephesus) And teach your ears to list me with more
heed.
To Adriana, villain,
and hie thee straight.
Tell her, in the desk
that’s covered o’er with
Turkish tapestry
there is a purse of ducats
And that shall bail
me: Hie thee, slave, and be gone!
On officer, to prison
till it come.
From Comedy
of Errors, Act IV, Scene Two [The house of Antipholus of Ephesus]
Enter Adriana and Luciana.
Adriana: Ah,
Luciana, did he tempt you so?
Luciana: First
he denied you had in him no right.
Adriana: My
heart prays for him, though my tongue do curse.
Enter Dromio of Syracuse.
Adriana: Why,
man, what is the matter?
Dromio: I
do not know the matter: He is arrested
on the case.
(of Syracuse) Will you send him, mistress, redemption, the
money in his desk?
Adriana: Go
fetch it, sister.
Exit Luciana.
This
I wonder at,
That
he, unknown to me, should be in debt.
Luciana returns with the purse.
Go,
Dromio; there’s the money, bear it
straight,
And
bring my master home immediately.
From Comedy
of Errors, Act IV, Scene Three [A public place]
Enter Antipholus of Syracuse.
Antipholus: There’s
not a man but do salute me as if
(of Syracuse) As if I were their well-acquainted friend.
Enter Dromio of Syracuse.
Dromio: Master,
here is the gold that you sent me for.
(of Syracuse) What, have you got the picture of an old
Adam new apparelled?
Antipholus: What
Adam dost thou mean?
(of Syracuse)
Dromio: Not
that Adam that kept the
(of Syracuse) Paradise, but that Adam that keeps the
prison.
Antipholus: What,
thou meanest an officer?
(of Syracuse) Well, sir, there rest in your foolery.
Is
there any ship that puts forth tonight?
Dromio: Why, sir, I brought you word an
(of Syracuse) hour since that the bark Expedition put
forth
tonight; and then you were hindered by the
sergeant. Here are the angels that you sent
for to deliver you.
Antipholus: The
fellow is distract, and so am I.
(of Syracuse) Some blessed power deliver us from hence!
Enter a Courtesan.
Courtesan: Well
met, master Antipholus.
Is
that the chain you promised me today?
Antipholus: Satan,
avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not.
(of Syracuse)
Dromio: Master, is this Mistress Satan?
(of Syracuse)
Antipholus: It
is the Devil.
(of Syracuse)
Courtesan: You
and your man are marvelous merry, sir.
Give
me the ring you had at dinner,
Or,
for my diamond, the chain you promised.
And
I’ll be gone, sir, and not trouble you.
Antipholus: Avaunt,
witch! Come, Dromio, let us go.
(of Syracuse)
Exeunt Antipholus of Syracuse with his rapier
drawn, and Dromio of Syracuse.
Courtesan: Now,
out of doubt, Antipholus is mad.
Besides
this present instance of his rage,
Is a mad tale he told at dinner,
Of
his own doors being shut against his entrance.
Belike
his wife, acquainted with his fits,
On
purpose shut the doors against his way.
My
way is now to hie me home unto his house,
And
tell his wife that, being lunatic,
He
rush’d unto my house and took perforce
My
ring away.
From Comedy
of Errors, Act IV, Scene Four [A street]
Enter Antipholus of Ephesus and the
Officer.
Antipholus: Here
comes my man; I think he brings the
money.
(of Ephesus)
Enter Dromio of Ephesus with a rope’s end.
Antipholus: How
now, sir, have you what I sent for?
(of Ephesus)
Dromio: Here’s
that, I warrant you, will pay them all.
(of Ephesus)
Antipholus: But
where’s the money?
(of Ephesus)
Dromio: Why,
sir, I gave the money for the rope.
(of Ephesus)
Antipholus: Five
hundred ducats, villain, for a rope?
(of Ephesus) To what end did I bid thee hie thee home?
Dromio: To
a rope’s end, sir; and to that I am
returned.
(of Ephesus)
Antipholus: And
to that end, sir, I will welcome you.
(of Ephesus)
[Antipholus of Ephesus beats Dromio of
Ephesus]
Antipholus: Come
along, my wife is coming yonder.
(of Ephesus)
Enter Andriana, Luciana, the Courtesan, and
Pinch.
Luciana: Alas,
how fiery and sharp he looks!
Courtesan: Mark how he trembles in his ecstasy.
Pinch: Give
me your hand, and let me feel your pulse.
Antipholus: There
is my hand, and let it feel your ear.
(of Ephesus)
[Antipholus of Ephesus strikes Pinch.]
Pinch: I
charge thee, Satan, housed within this man,
To yield possession
to my holy prayers.
Antipholus: You,
minion, you, are these your customers?
(of Ephesus) Did this companion with the saffron face
revel
and feast at my house today,
Whilst
upon me the guilty doors were shut
And
I denied to enter in my house?
Adriana: O
husband, God knows you dined at home.
Antipholus: Dined
at home! Thou villain, what sayest thou?
(of Ephesus)
Dromio: Sir,
sooth to say, you did not dine at home.
(of Ephesus)
Antipholus: Were
not my doors lock’d up and I shut out?
(of Ephesus)
Dromio: Perdie,
your doors were lock’d and you shut out.
(of Ephesus)
Antipholus: Thou
hast suborn’d the goldsmith to arrest me.
(of Ephesus)
Adriana: Alas,
I sent money to redeem you,
By Dromio here, who
came in haste for it.
Dromio: Money
by me? Master, not a rag of money.
(of Ephesus)
Adriana: He
came to me and I delivered it.
Luciana: And
I am witness with her that she did.
Adriana: I
did not, gentle husband, lock thee forth.
Dromio: And,
gentle master, I received no gold.
(of Ephesus) But
I confess, sir, that we were lock’d out.
Antipholus: Thou
art false in all
(of Ephesus) And art confederate with a damned pack
To
make an loathsome abject scorn of me.
Exeunt all but Andriana, Luciana, Officer,
and Courtesan.
Adriana: Say,
now, whose suit is he arrested at?
Officer: One Angelo, a goldsmith: Do you know him?
Adriana: I
know the man. What is the sum he owes?
Officer: Two hundred ducats.
Courtesan: When
your husband all in rage today
Came
to my house and took away my ring---
Straight
after did I meet him with a chain.
Adriana: It
may be so, but I did never see it.
Come,
gaoler, bring me where the goldsmith is:
I
long to know the truth hereof at large.
Enter Antipholus of Syracuse with his
rapier drawn, and Dromio of Syracuse.
Luciana: God,
for mercy, they are loose again.
Adriana: And
come with naked swords,
Let’s call for more
help to have them bound again.
Officer: Away,
they’ll kill us.
Exeunt all but Antipholus of Syracuse and
Dromio of Syracuse.
Antipholus: I see witches are afraid of swords.
(of Syracuse) Come to the Centaur; fetch our stuff from hence;
I
would not stay tonight for all the town.
From Comedy
of Errors, Act V, Scene One [A street before a priory.]
Enter Second Merchant and Angelo.
Angelo: I
am sorry, sir, that I have hindered you,
But
I protest he had the chain of me.
Second Merchant: Speak softly:
yonder, as I think, he walks.
Enter Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of
Syracuse.
Angelo: This
chain which now you wear so openly
You had of me; can you deny it?
Antipholus: I
think I had; I never did deny it.
(of Syracuse)
Second Merchant: Yes, you did, sir, and foreswore it too.
I
defy thee for a villain.
Antipholus of Syracuse and Second Merchant
draw.
Enter Adriana, Courtesan, and others.
Adriana: Hold,
hurt him not, for God’s sake! He is mad.
Some
get within him, take his sword away:
Bind
Dromio too, and bear them to my house.
Dromio: Run,
master, run. This is some priory.
(of Syracuse) In, or we are spoil’d!
Exeunt Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of
Syracuse to Priory.
Enter the Lady Abbess.
Abbess: Be
quiet, people. Wherefore are you going
hither?
Adriana: To
fetch my poor distracted husband hence.
Let us come in,that
we may bind him fast
And bear him home for
his recovery.
Abbess: Be
quiet and depart: Thou shalt not have
him.
Exit the Lady Abbess.
Luciana: Go
complain unto the duke of this indignity.
Second Merchant: Anon, I’m sure, the duke himself in person
Comes
this way to the melancholy vale,
The
place of death and sorry execution,
Behind
the ditches of the abbey here.
Abbess: Upon
what cause?
Second Merchant: To see a reverend Syracusian merchant
Who put unlickily
into this bay
Against the law and statues of this
town,
Beheaded publicly for his offense.
Enter Duke, attended; Aegeon, bareheaded; with the Headsman and
other officers.
Adriana: Justice,
most sacred duke, against the abbess.
Antipholus
my husband this ill day
A
most outrageous fit of madness took him;
With
his bondsman, all mad as he,---
fled
into this abbey, and here the abbess
shuts
the gates on us.
Duke: Long
since thy husband served me
In my wars, and to
thee I engaged a prince’s word,
to do him all the
grade and good I could.
Go, some of you,
knock at the abbey gate
And bid the abbess come to me.
Enter Antipholus of Ephesus and Dromio of
Ephesus.
Antipholus: Justice,
most gracious duke, O
(of Ephesus) grant me justice!
Aegeon: Unless
the fear of death doth make me dote,
I
see my son Antipholus and Dromio.
Antipholus: Justice,
sweet prince, against that woman there,
(of Ephesus) She to whom you gave to be my wife,
That
hath abused and dishonoured me.
This
day, great duke, she shut the doors upon me,
While
harlots did feed in my house.
Adriana: No,
my good lord: Myself, he, and my sister
Today
did dine together.
Luciana: She
tells your highness simple truth.
Angelo: O
perjured woman! They are both forsworn;
In this the madman
justly chargeth them.
Antipholus: That
goldsmith there could witness it,
(of Ephesus) for he was with me then;
Who
parted with a chain.
Duke: Had
he chain of you or no?
Angelo: He
had, my lord, and when he ran in here,
These people saw the
chain around his neck.
Antipholus: I
never came within these abbey-walls:
(of Ephesus) I never saw the chain, so help me Heaven!
Duke: Why,
what an intricate speech is this!
I think you have all
drunk of Circe’s cup.
Dromio: Sir,
he dined with her there, at the Porpentine.
(of Ephesus)
Courtesan: He
did, and from my finger snatch’d that ring.
Antipholus: ‘Tis
true, my liege; this ring I had of her.
(of Ephesus)
Duke: Saw’st
thou him enter at the abbey here?
Courtesan: As
sure, my liege, as I do see your grace.
Duke: Why,
this is strange. Go call the abbess
hither.
I think you are all
mated, or stark mad.
Exit
one to the abbess.
Aegeon: Most
mighty duke, vouchsafe me speak a word:
Haply
I see a friend who will save my life.
Is
not your name, sir, call’d Antipholus,
And
is not that your bondman, Dromio?
Antipholus: I
never saw you in my life till now.
(of Ephesus)
Aegeon: Dromio,
nor thou?
Dromio: No,
trust me sir, nor I.
(of Ephesus)
Reenter
Abbess, with Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse.
Antipholus: Aegeon
art thou not? Or else a ghost?
(of Syracuse)
Dromio: O,
my old master, who hath bound him here?
(of Syracuse)
Abbess: Whoever
bound him, I will loose his bonds
And gain a husband by his liberty.
Aegeon: If
I dream not, thou art Aemilia.
Abbess: By
men of Epidamnum he and I were taken up;
But by and by rude
fishermen of Corinth
By force took Dromio
and my son from them
And me they left with those of
Epidamnum.
Duke: Why,
here begins his morning story right:
These two
Anthipholuses, these two so alike,
And these two
Dromios, one in semblance,---
These are the parents
of these children,
Which accidentally
are met together.
Antipholus: These
ducats pawn I for my father here.
(of Ephesus)
Duke:
Thou shalt not
need; thy father has his life.
Courtesan: Sir,
I must have that diamond from you.
Antipholus: Thou
take it; and much thanks for my good
cheer.
(of Ephesus)
Abbess: Renowned
duke, vouchsafe to take the pains
To
go with us into the abbey here
And
hear at large discoursed our fortunes.
Thirty-three years
have I gone in travail
Of
you, my sons; and until this present
hour
My heavy burthen never
delivered.
The duke, my husband
and my children both,
And you the calendars
of their nativity,
Go to a gossips’
feast, and go with me,
After so long grief,
such festivity!
Duke: With
all my heart; I’ll gossip at this feast.
Exeunt all but Antipholus of Syracuse,
Antipholus of Ephsesus,
Dromio
of Syracuse, and Dromio of Ephesus.
Dromio: Master,
shall I fetch your stuff from shipboard?
(of Syracuse)
Antipholus: Dromio,
what stuff of mine hast thou embark’d?
(of Ephesus)
Antipholus: He
speaks to me. I am your master, Dromio.
(of Syracuse) Come, go with us; we’ll look to that anon:
Embrace
your brother there; rejoice with him.
Exeunt Antipholus of Syracuse and
Antipholus of Ephsesus.
Dromio: Methinks
you are my glass, and not my brother.
(of Ephesus) I see by you I am a sweet-faced youth.
Will
you walk in to see their gossiping?
Dromio: Not
I , sir; you are my elder.
(of Syracuse)
Dromio: That’s
a question: How shall we try it?
(of Ephesus)
Dromio: We’ll
draw cuts for the senior: Till then,
head thou first.
(of Syracuse)
Dromio: Nay,
then, thus:
(of Ephesus) We came into this world brother and
brother;
And
now let’s go hand in hand, not one before
the
other.
Exeunt.
Finis.
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