And if the wind blow any way from shore, Ang. Master Antipholus? Ant. S. Ay, that's my name. Ang. I know it well, sir. Lo, here is the chain. Ant. S. What is your will that I shall do with this? you. Ant. S. Made it for me, sir? I bespoke it not. Ang. Not once, nor twice, but twenty times you have. Go home with it, and please your wife withal; And then receive my money for the chain. Ant. S. I pray you, sir, receive the money now, For fear you ne'er see chain, nor money, more. Ang. You are a merry man, sir. Fare [Exit. Ant. S. What I should think of this, I cannot tell; But this I think, there's no man is so vain, That would refuse so fair an offer'd chain. I see, a man here needs not live by shifts, When in the streets he meets such golden gifts. I'll to the mart, and there for Dromio stay: If any ship put out, then straight away. [Exit. ACT IV. SCENE I. The Same. Enter a Merchant, ANGELO, and an Officer. Mer. You know, since Pentecost the sum is due, Nor now I had not, but that I am bound Or I'll attach you by this officer. Ang. Even just the sum, that I do owe to you, Is growing to me by Antipholus ; And, in the instant that I met with you, He had of me a chain: at five o'clock, I shall receive the money for the same. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, and DROMIO of Ephesus, from the Courtezan's3. 3 Off. That labour may you save: see where he comes. 2 IS GROWING to me] i. e. accruing to me. - from the Courtezan's.] Thus the old copies; but from what Antipholus of Ephesus says of her at the end of A. iii. sc. 1, she hardly seems to deserve this character. Ant. E. While I go to the goldsmith's house, go thou For locking me out of my doors by day.— Dro. E. I buy a thousand pound a-year? I buy a rope? [Exit. Ant. E. A man is well holp up that trusts to you: I promised your presence, and the chain, But neither chain, nor goldsmith, came to me. I pray you, see him presently discharg'd, Ant. E. I am not furnish'd with the present money; Besides, I have some business in the town. Good signior, take the stranger to my house, Perchance, I will be there as soon as you. Ang. Then, you will bring the chain to her yourself? Ant. E. No; bear it with you, lest I come not time enough. Ang. Well, sir, I will. Have you the chain about you? Ant. E. An if I have not, sir, I hope you have, Or else you may return without your money. Ang. Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the chain: Both wind and tide stay for this gentleman, 4 and HER Confederates,] The old copies have-their confederates. And I, to blame, have held him here too long. Ant. E. Good lord! you use this dalliance, to excuse Your breach of promise to the Porcupine. I should have chid you for not bringing it, But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl. Mer. The hour steals on: I pray you, sir, dispatch. Ang. You hear, how he importunes me: the chain— Ant. E. Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money. Ang. Come, come; you know, I gave it you even now. Either send the chain, or send me by some token. Ant. E. Fie! now you run this humour out of breath3. Ant. E. I answer you! what should I answer you? Ang. You wrong me more, sir, in denying it: Consider how it stands upon my credit. Mer. Well, officer, arrest him at my suit. Off. I do, and charge you in the duke's name to obey me. Ang. This touches me in reputation.— Either consent to pay this sum for me, Or I attach you by this officer. $ — you run this humour out of breath.] This expression was proverbial, and John Day wrote a comedy under the title of " Humour out of Breath," printed in 1608. Good sir, say, WHE'R you'll answer me, or no?] So printed in the old copy, to show that whether was to be pronounced as one syllable: "either," printed at length in the preceding speech of Angelo, "Either send the chain, or send me by some token," must also be taken as one syllable. Perhaps we ought to read by me, instead of "me by," but the old copies are uniform and intelligible. Ant. E. Consent to pay thee that I never had? Ang. Here is thy fee: arrest him, officer.— Off. I do arrest you, sir. You hear the suit. Ang. Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus, Enter DROMIO of Syracuse'. Dro. S. Master, there is a bark of Epidamnum, Blows fair from land; they stay for nought at all, But for their owner, master, and yourself. Ant. E. How now? a madman! Why, thou peevish sheep 8, What ship of Epidamnum stays for me? Dro. S. A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage. And told thee to what purpose, and what end. Dro. S. You sent me for a rope's end as soon. You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark. Ant. E. I will debate this matter at more leisure, 7 Enter Dromio of Syracuse.] "From the Bay," the old copies add, whither his master had not long before sent him, to ascertain whether any vessel was about to sail. 8 PEEVISH sheep,] i. e. Silly sheep. Many instances might be collected to show that the ancient meaning of "peevish" was silly or foolish, but one will be sufficient. "We have infinit poets, and pipers, and such peerishe cattel among us in Englande, that live by merry begging," &c. Gosson's "School of Abuse," 1579, as printed by the Shakespeare Society, p. 17. |