ARKCODEX
Act IV, Scene 1
1A public place.
2Enter Second Merchant, Angelo, and an Officer.
3Second MerchantYou know since Pentecost the sum is due,
And since I have not much importuned 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.
4AngeloEven 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.
5Enter Antipholus of Ephesus and Dromio of Ephesus from the courtesan’s.
6OfficerThat labour may you save: see where he comes.
7Antipholus of EphesusWhile 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.
8Dromio of EphesusI buy a thousand pound a year: I buy a rope. Exit.
9Antipholus of EphesusA 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.
10AngeloSaving 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 discharged,
For he is bound to sea and stays but for it.
11Antipholus of EphesusI am not furnish’d 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.
12AngeloThen you will bring the chain to her yourself?
13Antipholus of EphesusNo; bear it with you, lest I come not time enough.
14AngeloWell, sir, I will. Have you the chain about you?
15Antipholus of EphesusAn if I have not, sir, I hope you have;
Or else you may return without your money.
16AngeloNay, 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.
17Antipholus of EphesusGood Lord! you use this dalliance to excuse
Your breach of promise to the Porpentine.
I should have chid you for not bringing it,
But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.
18Second MerchantThe hour steals on; I pray you, sir, dispatch.
19AngeloYou hear how he importunes me;—the chain!
20Antipholus of EphesusWhy, give it to my wife and fetch your money.
21AngeloCome, come, you know I gave it you even now.
Either send the chain or send by me some token.
22Antipholus of EphesusFie, now you run this humour out of breath,
Come, where’s the chain? I pray you, let me see it.
23Second MerchantMy business cannot brook this dalliance.
Good sir, say whether you’ll answer me or no:
If not, I’ll leave him to the officer.
24Antipholus of EphesusI answer you! what should I answer you?
25AngeloThe money that you owe me for the chain.
26Antipholus of EphesusI owe you none till I receive the chain.
27AngeloYou know I gave it you half an hour since.
28Antipholus of EphesusYou gave me none: you wrong me much to say so.
29AngeloYou wrong me more, sir, in denying it:
Consider how it stands upon my credit.
30Second MerchantWell, officer, arrest him at my suit.
31OfficerI do; and charge you in the duke’s name to obey me.
32AngeloThis touches me in reputation.
Either consent to pay this sum for me
Or I attach you by this officer.
33Antipholus of EphesusConsent to pay thee that I never had!
Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou darest.
34AngeloHere is thy fee; arrest him, officer.
I would not spare my brother in this case,
If he should scorn me so apparently.
35OfficerI do arrest you, sir: you hear the suit.
36Antipholus of EphesusI 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.
37AngeloSir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus,
To your notorious shame; I doubt it not.
38Enter Dromio of Syracuse, from the bay.
39Dromio of SyracuseMaster, there’s a bark of Epidamnum
That stays but till her owner comes aboard
And then, sir, she 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.
40Antipholus of EphesusHow now! a madman! Why, thou peevish sheep,
What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?
41Dromio of SyracuseA ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.
42Antipholus of EphesusThou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope
And told thee to what purpose and what end.
43Dromio of SyracuseYou sent me for a rope’s end as soon:
You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.
44Antipholus of EphesusI 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 Second Merchant, Angelo, Officer, and Antipholus of Ephesus.
45Dromio of SyracuseTo Adriana! that is where we dined,
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.