Act 4, Scene 1

The same.

[Enter a MERCHANT, ANGELO, and an OFFICER.]
Merchant
891 You know, since Pentecost the sum is due,
892 And since I have not much importun'd you;
893 Nor now I had not, but that I am bound
894 To Persia, and want guilders for my voyage;
895 Therefore make present satisfaction,
896 Or I'll attach you by this officer.
Angelo
897 Even just the sum that I do owe to you
898 Is growing to me by Antipholus;
899 And in the instant that I met with you
900 He had of me a chain; at five o'clock
901 I shall receive the money for the same:
902 Pleaseth you walk with me down to his house,
903 I will discharge my bond, and thank you too.
[Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, and DROMIO OF EPHESUS.]
Officer
904 That labour may you save: see where he comes.
Antipholus of Ephesus
905 While I go to the goldsmith's house, go thou
906 And buy a rope's end; that will I bestow
907 Among my wife and her confederates,
908 For locking me out of my doors by day.—
909 But, soft; I see the goldsmith: get thee gone;
910 Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me.
Dromio of Ephesus
911 I buy a thousand pound a year! I buy a rope!
[Exit DROMIO.]
Antipholus of Ephesus
912 A man is well holp up that trusts to you:
913 I promised your presence, and the chain;
914 But neither chain nor goldsmith came to me:
915 Belike you thought our love would last too long,
916 If it were chain'd together; and therefore came not.
Angelo
917 Saving your merry humour, here's the note,
918 How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat;
919 The fineness of the gold, and chargeful fashion;
920 Which doth amount to three odd ducats more
921 Than I stand debted to this gentleman:
922 I pray you, see him presently discharg'd,
923 For he is bound to sea, and stays but for it.
Antipholus of Ephesus
924 I am not furnished with the present money;
925 Besides I have some business in the town:
926 Good Signior, take the stranger to my house,
927 And with you take the chain, and bid my wife
928 Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof;
929 Perchance I will be there as soon as you.
Angelo
930 Then you will bring the chain to her yourself?
Antipholus of Ephesus
931 No; bear it with you, lest I come not time enough.
Angelo
932 Well, sir, I will: have you the chain about you?
Antipholus of Ephesus
933 An if I have not, sir, I hope you have,
934 Or else you may return without your money.
Angelo
935 Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the chain;
936 Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman,
937 And I, to blame, have held him here too long.
Antipholus of Ephesus
938 Good Lord, you use this dalliance to excuse
939 Your breach of promise to the Porcupine:
940 I should have chid you for not bringing it,
941 But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.
Merchant
942 The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, despatch.
Angelo
943 You hear how he importunes me: the chain,—
Antipholus of Ephesus
944 Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money.
Angelo
945 Come, come, you know I gave it you even now;
946 Either send the chain or send by me some token.
Antipholus of Ephesus
947 Fie! now you run this humour out of breath:
948 Come, where's the chain? I pray you, let me see it.
Merchant
949 My business cannot brook this dalliance:
950 Good sir, say whe'r you'll answer me or no;
951 If not, I'll leave him to the officer.
Antipholus of Ephesus
952 I answer you! What should I answer you?
Angelo
953 The money that you owe me for the chain.
Antipholus of Ephesus
954 I owe you none till I receive the chain.
Angelo
955 You know I gave it you half-an-hour since.
Antipholus of Ephesus
956 You gave me none: you wrong me much to say so.
Angelo
957 You wrong me more, sir, in denying it:
958 Consider how it stands upon my credit.
Merchant
959 Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.
Officer
960 I do; and charge you in the duke's name to obey me.
Angelo
961 This touches me in reputation:
962 Either consent to pay this sum for me,
963 Or I attach you by this officer.
Antipholus of Ephesus
964 Consent to pay thee that I never had!
965 Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar'st.
Angelo
966 Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer:—
967 I would not spare my brother in this case,
968 If he should scorn me so apparently.
Officer
969 I do arrest you, sir: you hear the suit.
Antipholus of Ephesus
970 I do obey thee till I give thee bail:—
971 But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dear
972 As all the metal in your shop will answer.
Angelo
973 Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus,
974 To your notorious shame, I doubt it not.
[Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.]
Dromio of Syracuse
975 Master, there's a bark of Epidamnum
976 That stays but till her owner comes aboard,
977 And then, sir, bears away: our fraughtage, sir,
978 I have convey'd aboard; and I have bought
979 The oil, the balsamum, and aqua-vitae.
980 The ship is in her trim; the merry wind
981 Blows fair from land; they stay for nought at all
982 But for their owner, master, and yourself.
Antipholus of Ephesus
983 How now! a madman? Why, thou peevish sheep,
984 What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?
Dromio of Syracuse
985 A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.
Antipholus of Ephesus
986 Thou drunken slave! I sent the for a rope;
987 And told thee to what purpose and what end.
Dromio of Syracuse
988 You sent me, sir, for a rope's end as soon:
989 You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.
Antipholus of Ephesus
990 I will debate this matter at more leisure,
991 And teach your ears to list me with more heed.
992 To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight:
993 Give her this key, and tell her, in the desk
994 That's cover'd o'er with Turkish tapestry
995 There is a purse of ducats; let her send it:
996 Tell her I am arrested in the street,
997 And that shall bail me: hie thee, slave; be gone.
998 On, officer, to prison till it come.
[Exeunt MERCHANT, ANGELO, OFFICER, and ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.]
Dromio of Syracuse
999 To Adriana! that is where we din'd,
1000 Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband:
1001 She is too big, I hope, for me to compass.
1002 Thither I must, although against my will,
1003 For servants must their masters' minds fulfil.
[Exit.]