The Comedy of Errors: ACT IV
Introduction ACT I ACT II ACT III ACT IV SCENE I. A public place. SCENE II. The house of ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus. SCENE III. A public place. SCENE IV. A street. ACT V About the Play Feedback			Search: All the plays Hamlet Coriolanus Julius Caesar King Lear Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet Richard II Richard III Titus Andronicus Antony and Cleopatra Timon of Athens Henry IV Part 1 Henry IV Part 2 Henry the Fifth Henry VI Part 1 Henry VI Part 2 Henry VI Part 3 Henry VIII King John Pericles Troilus and Cressida All's Well... As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Cymbeline A Midsummer... Love's Labour's Lost Measure for Measure The Merry Wives... Much Ado about Nothing The Merchant of Venice Twelfth Night The Taming of... The Tempest The Two Gentlemen... The Winter's Tale    for: SCENE III. A public place. Enter ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE       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; 5     Some other give me thanks for kindnesses;       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. 10    Sure, these are but imaginary wiles       And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here. Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE DROMIO OF SYRACUSE       Master, here's the gold you sent me for. What, have       you got the picture of old Adam new-apparelled? ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE       What gold is this? what Adam dost thou mean? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 15    Not that Adam that kept the Paradise but that 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. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 20    I understand thee not. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE       No? why, 'tis a plain case: he that went, like a       bass-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 25    men and gives them suits of durance; he that sets up       his rest to do more exploits with his mace than a       morris-pike. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE       What, thou meanest an officer? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE       Ay, sir, the sergeant of the band, he that brings 30    any man to answer it that breaks his band; one that       thinks a man always going to bed, and says, 'God       give you good rest!' ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE       Well, sir, there rest in your foolery. Is there any DROMIO OF SYRACUSE       Why, sir, I brought you word an hour since that the 35    bark Expedition put forth to-night; and then were       you hindered by the sergeant, to tarry for the hoy       Delay. Here are the angels that you sent for to       deliver you. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE       The fellow is distract, and so am I; 40    And here we wander in illusions:       Some blessed power deliver us from hence! Enter a Courtezan Courtezan       Well met, well met, Master Antipholus.       I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now:       Is that the chain you promised me to-day? ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 45    Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE       Master, is this Mistress Satan? ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE       It is the devil. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE       Nay, she is worse, she is the devil's dam; and here       she comes in the habit of a light wench: and thereof 50    comes that the wenches say 'God damn me;' that's as       much to say 'God make me a light wench.' It is       written, they appear to men like angels of light:       light is an effect of fire, and fire will burn;       ergo, light wenches will burn. Come not near her. Courtezan 55    Your man and you are marvellous merry, sir.       Will you go with me? We'll mend our dinner here? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE       Master, if you do, expect spoon-meat; or bespeak a       long spoon. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE       Why, Dromio? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 60    Marry, he must have a long spoon that must eat with       the devil. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE       Avoid then, fiend! what tell'st thou me of supping?       Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress:       I conjure thee to leave me and be gone. Courtezan 65    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. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE       Some devils ask but the parings of one's nail,       A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, 70    A nut, a cherry-stone;       But she, more covetous, would have a chain.       Master, be wise: an if you give it her,       The devil will shake her chain and fright us with it. Courtezan       I pray you, sir, my ring, or else the chain: 75    I hope you do not mean to cheat me so. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE       Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio, let us go. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE       'Fly pride,' says the peacock: mistress, that you know. Exeunt Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse Courtezan       Now, out of doubt Antipholus is mad,       Else would he never so demean himself. 80    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.       The reason that I gather he is mad,       Besides this present instance of his rage, 85    Is a mad tale he told to-day at dinner,       Of his own doors being shut against his entrance.       Belike his wife, acquainted with his fits,       On purpose shut the doors against his way.       My way is now to hie home to his house, 90    And tell his wife that, being lunatic,       He rush'd into my house and took perforce       My ring away. This course I fittest choose;       For forty ducats is too much to lose. Exit Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene