The Comedy of Errors Part 13

26: _herein_] _he in_ Hanmer.

29: SCENE IV. Pope.

_sweet_] _swift_ Collier MS.

33: _hath him_] _hath him fell_ Collier MS. _hath him by the heel_ Spedding conj.

34: _One_] F2 F3 F4. _On_ F1.

After this line Collier MS. inserts: _Who knows no touch of mercy, cannot feel_.

35: _fury_] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). _Fairie_ Ff.

37: _countermands_] _commands_ Theobald.

38: _of_] _and_ Collier MS.

_alleys_] _allies_ Ff.

_lands_] _lanes_ Grey conj. See note (V).

37, 38: _countermands The ... lands_] _his court maintains I' the ... lanes_ Becket conj.

42, 45: _'rested_] Theobald. _rested_ Ff.

43: _Tell_] _Well, tell_ Edd. conj.

44: _arrested well;_] F1. _arrested, well;_ F2 F3.

_arrested: well:_ F4.

45: _But he's_] F3 F4. _But is_ F1 F2. _But 'a's_ Edd. conj.

_can I_] F1 F2. _I can_ F3 F4.

46: _mistress, redemption_] Hanmer. _Mistris redemption_ F1 F2 F3.

_Mistris Redemption_ F4. See note (VI).

48: _That_] _Thus_ F1.

49, 50: _band_] _bond_ Rowe.

50: _but on_] _but_ Pope.

54-62: Put in the margin as spurious by Pope.

55: _hear_] _here_ F1.

56: _'a turns_] _it turns_ Pope. _he turns_ Capell.

58: _bankrupt_] _bankrout_ Ff.

_to season_] om. Pope.

61: _Time_] Rowe. _I_ Ff. _he_ Malone. _'a_ Staunton.

62: _an hour_] _any hour_ Collier MS.

_SCENE III. A public place._

_Enter _ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse_._

_Ant. S._ There's not a man I meet but doth salute me As if I were their well-acquainted friend; And every one doth call me by my name.

Some tender money to me; some invite me; Some other give me thanks for kindnesses; 5 Some offer me commodities to buy;-- Even now a tailor call'd me in his shop, And show'd me silks that he had bought for me, And therewithal took measure of my body.

Sure, these are but imaginary wiles, 10 And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here.

_Enter _DROMIO of Syracuse_._

_Dro. S._ Master, here's the gold you sent me for.-- What, have you got the picture of old Adam new-apparelled?

_Ant. S._ What gold is this? what Adam dost thou mean?

_Dro. S._ Not that Adam that kept the Paradise, but that 15 Adam that keeps the prison: he that goes in the calf's skin that was killed for the Prodigal; he that came behind you, sir, like an evil angel, and bid you forsake your liberty.

_Ant. S._ I understand thee not.

_Dro. S._ No? why, 'tis a plain case: he that went, like a 20 base-viol, in a case of leather; the man, sir, that, when gentlemen are tired, gives them a sob, and 'rests them; he, sir, that takes pity on decayed men, and gives them suits of durance; he that sets up his rest to do more exploits with his mace than a morris-pike. 25

_Ant. S._ What, thou meanest an officer?

_Dro. S._ Ay, sir, the sergeant of the band; he that brings any man to answer it that breaks his band; one that thinks a man always going to bed, and says, 'G.o.d give you good rest!' 30

_Ant. S._ Well, sir, there rest in your foolery. Is there any s.h.i.+p puts forth to-night? may we be gone?

_Dro. S._ Why, sir, I brought you word an hour since, that the bark Expedition put forth to-night; and then were you hindered by the sergeant, to tarry for the hoy Delay. 35 Here are the angels that you sent for to deliver you.

_Ant. S._ The fellow is distract, and so am I; And here we wander in illusions: Some blessed power deliver us from hence!

_Enter a _Courtezan_._

_Cour._ Well met, well met, Master Antipholus. 40 I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now: Is that the chain you promised me to-day?

_Ant. S._ Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not.

_Dro. S._ Master, is this Mistress Satan?

_Ant. S._ It is the devil. 45

_Dro. S._ Nay, she is worse, she is the devil's dam; and here she comes in the habit of a light wench: and thereof comes that the wenches say, 'G.o.d d.a.m.n me;' that's as much to say, 'G.o.d make me a light wench.' It is written, they appear to men like angels of light: light is an effect of 50 fire, and fire will burn; ergo, light wenches will burn. Come not near her.

_Cour._ Your man and you are marvellous merry, sir.

Will you go with me? We'll mend our dinner here?

_Dro. S._ Master, if you do, expect spoon-meat; or bespeak 55 a long spoon.

_Ant. S._ Why, Dromio?

_Dro. S._ Marry, he must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil.

_Ant. S._ Avoid then, fiend! what tell'st thou me of supping? 60 Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress: I conjure thee to leave me and be gone.

_Cour._ Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner, Or, for my diamond, the chain you promised, And I'll be gone, sir, and not trouble you. 65

_Dro. S._ Some devils ask but the parings of one's nail, A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, A nut, a cherry-stone; But she, more covetous, would have a chain.

Master, be wise: an if you give it her, 70 The devil will shake her chain, and fright us with it.

_Cour._ I pray you, sir, my ring, or else the chain: I hope you do not mean to cheat me so.

_Ant. S._ Avaunt, thou witch! --Come, Dromio, let us go.

_Dro. S._ 'Fly pride,' says the peac.o.c.k: mistress, that you know.

[_Exeunt Ant. S. and Dro. S._ 75

_Cour._ Now, out of doubt Antipholus is mad, Else would he never so demean himself.

A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats, And for the same he promised me a chain: Both one and other he denies me now. 80 The reason that I gather he is mad,-- Besides this present instance of his rage,-- Is a mad tale he told to-day at dinner, Of his own doors being shut against his entrance.