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The Comedy of Errors - Act 4, scene 3
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The Comedy of Errors - Act 4, scene 3Act 4, scene 3
⌜Scene 3⌝
Synopsis:
Dromio (of Syracuse) gives Antipholus (of Syracuse) the money sent by Adriana. The Courtesan enters and demands the chain that Antipholus is wearing. When he flees, calling her a devil, she decides to tell Adriana that Antipholus is insane.
Enter Antipholus ⌜of⌝ Syracuse, ⌜wearing the chain.⌝ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
1191 There’s not a man I meet but doth salute me
1192 As if I were their well-acquainted friend,
1193 And everyone doth call me by my name.
1194 Some tender money to me; some invite me;
1195 5 Some other give me thanks for kindnesses;
1196 Some offer me commodities to buy.
1197 Even now a tailor called me in his shop
1198 And showed me silks that he had bought for me,
1199 And therewithal took measure of my body.
1200 10 Sure these are but imaginary wiles,
1201 And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here.
Enter Dromio ⌜of⌝ Syracuse ⌜with the purse.⌝
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 1202 Master, here’s the gold you sent
1203 me for. What, have you got the picture of old Adam
1204 new-appareled?
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
1205 15 What gold is this? What Adam dost thou mean?
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105
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
1206
Not that Adam that kept the1207 Paradise, but that Adam that keeps the prison; he
1208 that goes in the calf’s skin that was killed for the
1209 Prodigal; he that came behind you, sir, like an evil
1210 20 angel, and bid you forsake your liberty.
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 1211 I understand thee not.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 1212 No? Why, ’tis a plain case: he
1213 that went like a bass viol in a case of leather; the
1214 man, sir, that, when gentlemen are tired, gives
1215 25 them a sob and ’rests them; he, sir, that takes pity
1216 on decayed men and gives them suits of durance; he
1217 that sets up his rest to do more exploits with his
1218 mace than a morris-pike.
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 1219 What, thou mean’st an
1220 30 officer?
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 1221 Ay, sir, the sergeant of the band;
1222 he that brings any man to answer it that breaks his
1223 band; one that thinks a man always going to bed
1224 and says “God give you good rest.”
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 1225 35Well, sir, there rest in your
1226 foolery. Is there any ships puts forth tonight? May
1227 we be gone?
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 1228 Why, sir, I brought you word an
1229 hour since that the bark Expedition put forth tonight,
1230 40 and then were you hindered by the sergeant
1231 to tarry for the hoy Delay. Here are the angels that
1232 you sent for to deliver you.⌜He gives the purse.⌝
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
1233 The fellow is distract, and so am I,
1234 And here we wander in illusions.
1235 45 Some blessèd power deliver us from hence!
Enter a Courtesan.
COURTESAN
1236 Well met, well met, Master Antipholus.
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107
1237
I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now.1238 Is that the chain you promised me today?
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
1239 Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
1240 50 Master, is this Mistress Satan?
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 1241 It is the devil.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 1242 Nay, she is worse; she is the
1243 devil’s dam, and here she comes in the habit of a
1244 light wench. And thereof comes that the wenches
1245 55 say “God damn me”; that’s as much to say “God
1246 make me a light wench.” It is written they appear
1247 to men like angels of light. Light is an effect of fire,
1248 and fire will burn: ergo, light wenches will burn.
1249 Come not near her.
COURTESAN
1250 60 Your man and you are marvelous merry, sir.
1251 Will you go with me? We’ll mend our dinner here.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 1252 Master, if ⌜you⌝ do, expect spoon
1253 meat, or bespeak a long spoon.
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 1254 Why, Dromio?
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 1255 65Marry, he must have a long
1256 spoon that must eat with the devil.
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE, ⌜to the Courtesan⌝
1257 Avoid then, fiend! What tell’st thou me of supping?
1258 Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress.
1259 I conjure thee to leave me and be gone.
COURTESAN
1260 70 Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner
1261 Or, for my diamond, the chain you promised,
1262 And I’ll be gone, sir, and not trouble you.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 1263 Some devils ask but the parings
1264 of one’s nail, a rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, a
1265 75 nut, a cherrystone; but she, more covetous, would
1266 have a chain. Master, be wise. An if you give it her,
1267 the devil will shake her chain and fright us with it.
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109
COURTESAN 1268 I pray you, sir, my ring or else the chain.
1269 I hope you do not mean to cheat me so.
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
1270 80 Avaunt, thou witch!—Come, Dromio, let us go.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 1271 “Fly pride,” says the peacock.
1272 Mistress, that you know.
⌜Antipholus and Dromio⌝ exit.
COURTESAN
1273 Now, out of doubt Antipholus is mad;
1274 Else would he never so demean himself.
1275 85 A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats,
1276 And for the same he promised me a chain.
1277 Both one and other he denies me now.
1278 The reason that I gather he is mad,
1279 Besides this present instance of his rage,
1280 90 Is a mad tale he told today at dinner
1281 Of his own doors being shut against his entrance.
1282 Belike his wife, acquainted with his fits,
1283 On purpose shut the doors against his way.
1284 My way is now to hie home to his house
1285 95 And tell his wife that, being lunatic,
1286 He rushed into my house and took perforce
1287 My ring away. This course I fittest choose,
1288 For forty ducats is too much to lose.
⌜She exits.⌝