DROMIO of Syracuse, ANGELO, a goldsmith. twin-brothers, and sons to Egeon and Emilia, but unknown to each other. twin-brothers, and attendants on the two Antipholus's. A merchant, friend to Antipholus of Syracuse. EMILIA, wife to Egeon, an abbess at Ephesus. LUCE, her servant. A Courtezan. Gaoler, Officers, and other Attendants. SCENE-Ephesus. COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT I. SCENE I.-A Hall in the Duke's Palace. Enter Duke, EGEON, Gaoler, Officers, and other Attendants. Egeon. PROCEED, Solinus, to procure my fall, I am not partial, to infringe our laws : The enmity and discord, which of late Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your duke Have seal'd his rigorous statutes with their bloods,- If any, born at Ephesus, be seen Again, If any Syracusan born, Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies, His goods confiscate to the duke's dispose; To quit the penalty, and to ransome him. Therefore, by law thou art condemn'd to die. Egeon. Yet this my comfort; when your words are done, My woes end likewise with the evening sun. Duke. Well, Syracusan, say, in brief, the cause Why thou departedst from thy native home; Ageon. A heavier task could not have been impos'd, Than I to speak my griefs unspeakable : Yet, that the world may witness that my end And by me too, had not our hap been bad. And, which was strange, the one so like the other, A poor mean woman was delivered Of such a burden, male-twins, both alike: A league from Epidamnum had we sail'd, For what obscured light the heavens did grant Did but convey unto our fearful minds A doubtful warrant of immediate death; Which, though myself would gladly have embrac'd, Weeping before, for what she saw must come, And piteous plainings of the pretty babes, |