Act IV, Scene i:
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.]