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The Comedy of Errors - Act 4, scene 1
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The Comedy of Errors - Act 4, scene 1Act 4, scene 1
Scene 1
Synopsis:
Antipholus (of Ephesus) sends Dromio (of Ephesus) to buy a rope’s end to beat Adriana. The goldsmith demands the money Antipholus owes him for the chain. Antipholus denies having received the chain and refuses to pay. The goldsmith has Antipholus arrested. Dromio (of Syracuse) enters with news of a ship on which he has booked passage. Antipholus (of Ephesus) sends Dromio (of Syracuse) to Adriana for money for bail.
Enter a ⌜Second⌝ Merchant, ⌜Angelo the⌝ Goldsmith,and an Officer.
⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT, ⌜to Angelo⌝
0995 You know since Pentecost the sum is due,
0996 And since I have not much importuned you,
0997 Nor now I had not, but that I am bound
0998 To Persia and want guilders for my voyage.
0999 5 Therefore make present satisfaction,
1000 Or I’ll attach you by this officer.
ANGELO
1001 Even just the sum that I do owe to you
1002 Is growing to me by Antipholus.
1003 And in the instant that I met with you,
1004 10 He had of me a chain. At five o’clock
1005 I shall receive the money for the same.
1006 Pleaseth you walk with me down to his house,
1007 I will discharge my bond and thank you too.
Enter Antipholus ⌜of⌝ Ephesus ⌜and⌝ Dromio ⌜of
Ephesus⌝ from the Courtesan’s.
OFFICER
1008 That labor may you save. See where he comes.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜to Dromio of Ephesus⌝
1009 15 While I go to the goldsmith’s house, go thou
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1010
And buy a rope’s end. That will I bestow1011 Among my wife and ⌜her⌝ confederates
1012 For locking me out of my doors by day.
1013 But soft. I see the goldsmith. Get thee gone.
1014 20 Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me.
DROMIO ⌜OF EPHESUS⌝
1015 I buy a thousand pound a year! I buy a rope!
Dromio exits.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜to Angelo⌝
1016 A man is well holp up that trusts to you!
1017 I promisèd your presence and the chain,
1018 But neither chain nor goldsmith came to me.
1019 25 Belike you thought our love would last too long
1020 If it were chained together, and therefore came not.
ANGELO, ⌜handing a paper to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝
1021 Saving your merry humor, here’s the note
1022 How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat,
1023 The fineness of the gold, and chargeful fashion,
1024 30 Which doth amount to three-odd ducats more
1025 Than I stand debted to this gentleman.
1026 I pray you, see him presently discharged,
1027 For he is bound to sea, and stays but for it.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
1028 I am not furnished with the present money.
1029 35 Besides, I have some business in the town.
1030 Good signior, take the stranger to my house,
1031 And with you take the chain, and bid my wife
1032 Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof.
1033 Perchance I will be there as soon as you.
ANGELO
1034 40 Then you will bring the chain to her yourself.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
1035 No, bear it with you lest I come not time enough.
ANGELO
1036 Well, sir, I will. Have you the chain about you?
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ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 1037 An if I have not, sir, I hope you have,
1038 Or else you may return without your money.
ANGELO
1039 45 Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the chain.
1040 Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman,
1041 And I, to blame, have held him here too long.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
1042 Good Lord! You use this dalliance to excuse
1043 Your breach of promise to the Porpentine.
1044 50 I should have chid you for not bringing it,
1045 But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.
⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT, ⌜to Angelo⌝
1046 The hour steals on. I pray you, sir, dispatch.
ANGELO, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝
1047 You hear how he importunes me. The chain!
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
1048 Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money.
ANGELO
1049 55 Come, come. You know I gave it you even now.
1050 Either send the chain, or send ⌜by me⌝ some token.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
1051 Fie, now you run this humor out of breath.
1052 Come, where’s the chain? I pray you, let me see it.
⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT
1053 My business cannot brook this dalliance.
1054 60 Good sir, say whe’er you’ll answer me or no.
1055 If not, I’ll leave him to the Officer.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
1056 I answer you? What should I answer you?
ANGELO
1057 The money that you owe me for the chain.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
1058 I owe you none till I receive the chain.
ANGELO
1059 65 You know I gave it you half an hour since.
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93
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 1060 You gave me none. You wrong me much to say so.
ANGELO
1061 You wrong me more, sir, in denying it.
1062 Consider how it stands upon my credit.
⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT
1063 Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.
OFFICER, ⌜to Angelo⌝
1064 70 I do, and charge you in the Duke’s name to obey
1065 me.
ANGELO, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝
1066 This touches me in reputation.
1067 Either consent to pay this sum for me,
1068 Or I attach you by this officer.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
1069 75 Consent to pay thee that I never had?—
1070 Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar’st.
ANGELO, ⌜to Officer⌝
1071 Here is thy fee. Arrest him, officer.⌜Giving money.⌝
1072 I would not spare my brother in this case
1073 If he should scorn me so apparently.
OFFICER, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝
1074 80 I do arrest you, sir. You hear the suit.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
1075 I do obey thee till I give thee bail.
1076 ⌜To Angelo.⌝ But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as
1077 dear
1078 As all the metal in your shop will answer.
ANGELO
1079 85 Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus,
1080 To your notorious shame, I doubt it not.
Enter Dromio ⌜of⌝ Syracuse from the bay.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
1081 Master, there’s a bark of Epidamium
1082 That stays but till her owner comes aboard,
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95
1083
And then, sir, she bears away. Our fraughtage, sir,1084 90 I have conveyed aboard, and I have bought
1085 The oil, the balsamum, and aqua vitae.
1086 The ship is in her trim; the merry wind
1087 Blows fair from land. They stay for naught at all
1088 But for their owner, master, and yourself.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
1089 95 How now? A madman? Why, thou peevish sheep,
1090 What ship of Epidamium stays for me?
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
1091 A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
1092 Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope
1093 And told thee to what purpose and what end.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
1094 100 You sent me for a rope’s end as soon.
1095 You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
1096 I will debate this matter at more leisure
1097 And teach your ears to list me with more heed.
1098 To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight.
⌜He gives a key.⌝
1099 105 Give her this key, and tell her in the desk
1100 That’s covered o’er with Turkish tapestry
1101 There is a purse of ducats. Let her send it.
1102 Tell her I am arrested in the street,
1103 And that shall bail me. Hie thee, slave. Begone.—
1104 110 On, officer, to prison till it come.
⌜All but Dromio of Syracuse⌝ exit.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
1105 To Adriana. That is where we dined,
1106 Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband.
1107 She is too big, I hope, for me to compass.
1108 Thither I must, although against my will,
1109 115 For servants must their masters’ minds fulfill.
He exits.