The Comedy of Errors Part 14

Belike his wife, acquainted with his fits, 85 On purpose shut the doors against his way.

My way is now to his home to his house, And tell his wife that, being lunatic, He rush'd into my house, and took perforce My ring away. This course I fittest choose; 90 For forty ducats is too much to lose. [_Exit._

NOTES: IV, 3.

SCENE III.] SCENE V. Pope.

13: _What, have_] Pope. _What have_ Ff.

_got_] _got rid of_ Theobald. _not_ Anon. conj.

16: _calf's skin_] _calves-skin_ Ff.

22: _sob_] _fob_ Rowe. _bob_ Hanmer. _sop_ Dyce conj.

_stop_ Grant White.

_'rests_] Warburton. _rests_ Ff.

25: _morris_] _Moris_ Ff. _Maurice_ Hanmer (Warburton).

28: _band_] _bond_ Rowe.

29: _says_] Capell. _saies_ F1. _saieth_ F2. _saith_ F3 F4.

32: _s.h.i.+p_] F2 F3 F4. _s.h.i.+ps_ F1.

34: _put_] _puts_ Pope.

40: SCENE VI. Pope.

44-62: Put in the margin as spurious by Pope.

47-49: _and ... wench.'_] Marked as spurious by Capell, MS.

48, 49: _as much_] _as much as_ Pope.

54: _me? ... here?_] _me, ... here?_ Ff. _me? ... here._ Steevens.

55: _if you do, expect_] F2 F3 F4. _if do expect_ F1.

_or_] om. Rowe. _so_ Capell. _either stay away, or_ Malone conj.

_and_ Ritson conj. _Oh!_ Anon. conj.

60: _then_] F1 F2 F3. _thou_ F4. _thee_ Dyce.

61: _are all_] _all are_ Boswell.

66-71: Printed as prose by Ff, as verse by Capell, ending the third line at _covetous_.

75: Put in the margin as spurious by Pope.

76: SCENE VII. Pope.

84: _doors_] _door_ Johnson.

_SCENE IV. A street._

_Enter _ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus_ and the _Officer_._

_Ant. E._ Fear me not, man; I will not break away: I'll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money, To warrant thee, as I am 'rested for.

My wife is in a wayward mood to-day, And will not lightly trust the messenger. 5 That I should be attach'd in Ephesus, I tell you, 'twill sound harshly in her ears.

_Enter _DROMIO of Ephesus_ with a ropes-end._

Here comes my man; I think he brings the money.

How now, sir! have you that I sent you for?

_Dro. E._ Here's that, I warrant you, will pay them all. 10

_Ant. E._ But where's the money?

_Dro. E._ Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope.

_Ant. E._ Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope?

_Dro. E._ I'll serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate.

_Ant. E._ To what end did I bid thee hie thee home? 15

_Dro. E._ To a rope's-end, sir; and to that end am I returned.

_Ant. E._ And to that end, sir, I will welcome you.

[_Beating him._

_Off._ Good sir, be patient.

_Dro. E._ Nay, 'tis for me to be patient; I am in adversity. 20

_Off._ Good, now, hold thy tongue.

_Dro. E._ Nay, rather persuade him to hold his hands.

_Ant. E._ Thou wh.o.r.eson, senseless villain!

_Dro. E._ I would I were senseless, sir, that I might not feel your blows. 25

_Ant. E._ Thou art sensible in nothing but blows, and so is an a.s.s.

_Dro. E._ I am an a.s.s, indeed; you may prove it by my long ears. I have served him from the hour of my nativity to this instant, and have nothing at his hands for my service 30 but blows. When I am cold, he heats me with beating; when I am warm, he cools me with beating: I am waked with it when I sleep; raised with it when I sit; driven out of doors with it when I go from home; welcomed home with it when I return: nay, I bear it on my shoulders, as 35 a beggar wont her brat; and, I think, when he hath lamed me, I shall beg with it from door to door.

_Ant. E._ Come, go along; my wife is coming yonder.

_Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, the _Courtezan_, and PINCH._

_Dro. E._ Mistress, 'respice finem,' respect your end; or rather, the prophecy like the parrot, 'beware the rope's-end.' 40

_Ant. E._ Wilt thou still talk? [_Beating him._

_Cour._ How say you now? is not your husband mad?

_Adr._ His incivility confirms no less.

Good Doctor Pinch, you are a conjurer; Establish him in his true sense again, 45 And I will please you what you will demand.

_Luc._ Alas, how fiery and how sharp he looks!

_Cour._ Mark how he trembles in his ecstasy!

_Pinch._ Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse.

_Ant. E._ There is my hand, and let it feel your ear. 50 [_Striking him._