ACT II Sc. II DRO. S. For two; and sound ones too. DRO. S. Sure ones then. ANT. S. Nay, not sure, in a thing falsing.1 DRO. S. Certain ones then. ANT. S. Name them. 90 DRO. S. The one, to save the money that he spends in tiring; the other, that at dinner they should not drop in his pottage. ANT. S. You would all this time have prov'd there is no time for all things. DRO. S. Marry, and did, Sir: namely, no time to recover hair lost by nature. IOI ANT. S. But your reason was not substantial, why there is no time to recover. DRO. S. Thus I mend it: Time himself is bald, and therefore to the World's end will have bald followers. ANT. S. I knew 'twould be a bald conclusion: But soft! who wafts2 us yonder ! Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA. ADR. Ay, ay, Antipholus, look strange and frown! I am not Adriana nor thy wife. The time was once when thou unurg'd would'st vow That never object pleasing in thine eye, That never meat sweet-savour'd in thy taste, IIO Unless I spake, or look'd, or touch'd, or carv'd to thee. That, undividable, incorporate, Am better than thy dear self's better part. 120 As take from me thyself, and not me too. I know thou canst; and therefore, see thou do it. My blood is mingled with the grime of lust: For if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh, Being strumpeted by thy contagion. Keep then fair league and truce with thy true bed, I live unstain'd, thou undishonoured. 130 140 ANT. S. Plead you to me, fair dame? I know you not: In Ephesus I am but two hours old, As strange unto your Town as to your talk; Want wit in all one word to understand. Luc. Fie, Brother! how the world is chang'd with you! She sent for you by Dromio home to dinner. DRO. S. By me? ADR. By thee: and this thou didst return from him: That he did buffet thee, and in his blows Denied my house for his, me for his wife. ANT. S. Did you converse, Sir, with this gentlewoman? DRO. S. I, Sir? I never saw her till this time. ANT. S. Villain, thou liest; for even her very words Didst thou deliver to me on the Mart. DRO. S. I never spake with her in all my life. ANT. S. How can she thus then call us by our names, ADR. How ill agrees it with your gravity 151 160 ACT II Sc. II ACT II To counterfeit thus grossly with your slave, Usurping ivy, briar, or idle2 moss, Who, all for want of pruning, with intrusion Infect thy sap, and live on thy confusion. 170 ANT. S. To me she speaks; she means me for her theme: What, was I married to her in my dream? Or sleep I now, and think I hear all this? What error draws our eyes and ears amiss? I'll entertain the offer'd fallacy. Luc. Dromio, go bid the servants spread for dinner. We talk with only Goblins, Owls, and Sprites! If we obey them not, this will ensue : 180 They'll suck our breath, or pinch us black and blue. 190 DRO. S. No, I am an ape. Luc. If thou art chang'd to aught, 'tis to an ass. But I should know her as well as she knows me. 200 And shrive1 you of a thousand idle pranks. Say he dines forth, and let no creature enter. DRO. S. Master, shall I be porter at the gate! ADR. Ay; and let none enter, lest I break your pate. 210 [exeunt. ACT III SCENE I. Before the House of ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus. the Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, DROMIO of Ephesus, ANT. E. Good Signior Angelo, you must excuse us! My wife is shrewish, when I keep not hours: And that to-morrow you will bring it home. If the skin were parchment, and the blows you gave Your own handwriting would tell you what I think. ANT. E. I think thou art an ass. DRO. E. Marry, so it doth appear 1 absolve. ACT II Sc. II ACT III By the wrongs I suffer, and the blows I bear. I should kick, being kick'd; and, being at that pass, You would keep from my heels, and beware of an ass. ANT. E. Y'are sad, Signior Balthazar? 'Pray God, our cheer May answer my good will and your good welcome here. BAL. I hold your dainties cheap, Sir, and your welcome dear. ANT. E. O Signior Balthazar, either at flesh or fish 21 A table full of welcome makes scarce one dainty dish. BAL. Good meat, Sir, is common: that every churl affords. ANT. E. And welcome more common; for that's nothing BAL. Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast. 30 But though my cates be mean, take them in good part; Better cheer may you have, but not with better heart. But, soft; my door is lock'd! Go bid them let us in. DRO. E. Maud, Bridget, Marian, Cisly, Gillian, Jinn! DRO. S. [within.] Mome,' malt-horse, capon, coxcomb, idiot, patch !2 Either get thee from the door, or sit down at the hatch: Dost thou conjure for wenches that thou call'st for such store, When one is one too many? Go, get thee from the door. DRO. E. What patch is made our porter! My master stays in the street. DRO. S. [within.] Let him walk from whence he came, lest he catch cold in 's feet. ANT. E. Who talks within there? Ho, open the door! DRO. S. [within.] Right, Sir, I'll tell you when, an you '11 tell me wherefore. ANT. E. Wherefore? For my dinner! I have not din'd to-day. 40 DRO. S. [within.] Nor to-day here you must not come again when you may. ANT. E. What art thou that keep'st me out from the house I owe ?3 |