READ STUDY GUIDE: Act III, scene ii; Act IV, scenes i-ii |
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Act IV, Scene i:
The same.
The same.
| [Enter a MERCHANT, ANGELO, and an OFFICER.] |
| MERCHANT: |
| You know, since Pentecost the sum is due, |
| And since I have not much importun'd you; |
| Nor now I had not, but that I am bound |
| To Persia, and want guilders for my voyage; |
| Therefore make present satisfaction, |
| Or I'll attach you by this officer. |
| ANGELO: |
| Even just the sum that I do owe to you |
| Is growing to me by Antipholus; |
| And in the instant that I met with you |
| He had of me a chain; at five o'clock |
| I shall receive the money for the same: |
| Pleaseth you walk with me down to his house, |
| I will discharge my bond, and thank you too. |
| [Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, and DROMIO OF EPHESUS.] |
| OFFICER: |
| That labour may you save: see where he comes. |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| While I go to the goldsmith's house, go thou |
| And buy a rope's end; that will I bestow |
| Among my wife and her confederates, |
| For locking me out of my doors by day.— |
| But, soft; I see the goldsmith: get thee gone; |
| Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me. |
| DROMIO OF EPHESUS: |
| I buy a thousand pound a year! I buy a rope! |
| [Exit DROMIO.] |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| A man is well holp up that trusts to you: |
| I promised your presence, and the chain; |
| But neither chain nor goldsmith came to me: |
| Belike you thought our love would last too long, |
| If it were chain'd together; and therefore came not. |
| ANGELO: |
| Saving your merry humour, here's the note, |
| How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat; |
| The fineness of the gold, and chargeful fashion; |
| Which doth amount to three odd ducats more |
| Than I stand debted to this gentleman: |
| I pray you, see him presently discharg'd, |
| For he is bound to sea, and stays but for it. |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| I am not furnished with the present money; |
| Besides I have some business in the town: |
| Good Signior, take the stranger to my house, |
| And with you take the chain, and bid my wife |
| Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof; |
| Perchance I will be there as soon as you. |
| ANGELO: |
| Then you will bring the chain to her yourself? |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| No; bear it with you, lest I come not time enough. |
| ANGELO: |
| Well, sir, I will: have you the chain about you? |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| An if I have not, sir, I hope you have, |
| Or else you may return without your money. |
| ANGELO: |
| Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the chain; |
| Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman, |
| And I, to blame, have held him here too long. |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| Good Lord, you use this dalliance to excuse |
| Your breach of promise to the Porcupine: |
| I should have chid you for not bringing it, |
| But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl. |
| MERCHANT: |
| The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, despatch. |
| ANGELO: |
| You hear how he importunes me: the chain,— |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money. |
| ANGELO: |
| Come, come, you know I gave it you even now; |
| Either send the chain or send by me some token. |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| Fie! now you run this humour out of breath: |
| Come, where's the chain? I pray you, let me see it. |
| MERCHANT: |
| My business cannot brook this dalliance: |
| Good sir, say whe'r you'll answer me or no; |
| If not, I'll leave him to the officer. |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| I answer you! What should I answer you? |
| ANGELO: |
| The money that you owe me for the chain. |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| I owe you none till I receive the chain. |
| ANGELO: |
| You know I gave it you half-an-hour since. |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| You gave me none: you wrong me much to say so. |
| ANGELO: |
| You wrong me more, sir, in denying it: |
| Consider how it stands upon my credit. |
| MERCHANT: |
| Well, officer, arrest him at my suit. |
| OFFICER: |
| I do; and charge you in the duke's name to obey me. |
| ANGELO: |
| This touches me in reputation: |
| Either consent to pay this sum for me, |
| Or I attach you by this officer. |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| Consent to pay thee that I never had! |
| Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar'st. |
| ANGELO: |
| Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer:— |
| I would not spare my brother in this case, |
| If he should scorn me so apparently. |
| OFFICER: |
| I do arrest you, sir: you hear the suit. |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| I do obey thee till I give thee bail:— |
| But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dear |
| As all the metal in your shop will answer. |
| ANGELO: |
| Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus, |
| To your notorious shame, I doubt it not. |
| [Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.] |
| DROMIO OF SYRACUSE: |
| Master, there's a bark of Epidamnum |
| That stays but till her owner comes aboard, |
| And then, sir, bears away: our fraughtage, sir, |
| I have convey'd aboard; and I have bought |
| The oil, the balsamum, and aqua-vitae. |
| The ship is in her trim; the merry wind |
| Blows fair from land; they stay for nought at all |
| But for their owner, master, and yourself. |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| How now! a madman? Why, thou peevish sheep, |
| What ship of Epidamnum stays for me? |
| DROMIO OF SYRACUSE: |
| A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage. |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| Thou drunken slave! I sent the for a rope; |
| And told thee to what purpose and what end. |
| DROMIO OF SYRACUSE: |
| You sent me, sir, for a rope's end as soon: |
| You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark. |
| ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS: |
| I will debate this matter at more leisure, |
| And teach your ears to list me with more heed. |
| To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight: |
| Give her this key, and tell her, in the desk |
| That's cover'd o'er with Turkish tapestry |
| There is a purse of ducats; let her send it: |
| Tell her I am arrested in the street, |
| And that shall bail me: hie thee, slave; be gone. |
| On, officer, to prison till it come. |
| [Exeunt MERCHANT, ANGELO, OFFICER, and ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.] |
| DROMIO OF SYRACUSE: |
| To Adriana! that is where we din'd, |
| Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband: |
| She is too big, I hope, for me to compass. |
| Thither I must, although against my will, |
| For servants must their masters' minds fulfil. |
| [Exit.] |
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