1 There's not a man I meet but doth salute me 2 As if I were their well-acquainted friend; 3 And every one doth call me by my name. 4 Some tender money to me; some invite me; 5 Some other give me thanks for kindnesses; 6 Some offer me commodities to buy: 7 Even now a tailor call'd me in his shop 8 And show'd me silks that he had bought for me, 9 And therewithal took measure of my body. 10 Sure, these are but imaginary wiles 11 And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here.
Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
12 Master, here's the gold you sent me for. What, have 13 you got the picture of old Adam new-apparelled?
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
14 What gold is this? what Adam dost thou mean?
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
15 Not that Adam that kept the Paradise but that Adam 16 that keeps the prison: he that goes in the calf's 17 skin that was killed for the Prodigal; he that came 18 behind you, sir, like an evil angel, and bid you 19 forsake your liberty.
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
20 I understand thee not.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
21 No? why, 'tis a plain case: he that went, like a 22 bass-viol, in a case of leather; the man, sir, 23 that, when gentlemen are tired, gives them a sob 24 and 'rests them; he, sir, that takes pity on decayed 25 men and gives them suits of durance; he that sets up 26 his rest to do more exploits with his mace than a 27 morris-pike.
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
28 What, thou meanest an officer?
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
29 Ay, sir, the sergeant of the band, he that brings 30 any man to answer it that breaks his band; one that 31 thinks a man always going to bed, and says, 'God 32 give you good rest!'
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
33 Well, sir, there rest in your foolery. Is there any
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
34 Why, sir, I brought you word an hour since that the 35 bark Expedition put forth to-night; and then were 36 you hindered by the sergeant, to tarry for the hoy 37 Delay. Here are the angels that you sent for to 38 deliver you.
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
39 The fellow is distract, and so am I; 40 And here we wander in illusions: 41 Some blessed power deliver us from hence!
Enter a Courtezan
Courtezan
42 Well met, well met, Master Antipholus. 43 I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now: 44 Is that the chain you promised me to-day?
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
45 Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
46 Master, is this Mistress Satan?
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
47 It is the devil.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
48 Nay, she is worse, she is the devil's dam; and here 49 she comes in the habit of a light wench: and thereof 50 comes that the wenches say 'God damn me;' that's as 51 much to say 'God make me a light wench.' It is 52 written, they appear to men like angels of light: 53 light is an effect of fire, and fire will burn; 54 ergo, light wenches will burn. Come not near her.
Courtezan
55 Your man and you are marvellous merry, sir. 56 Will you go with me? We'll mend our dinner here?
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
57 Master, if you do, expect spoon-meat; or bespeak a 58 long spoon.
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
59 Why, Dromio?
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
60 Marry, he must have a long spoon that must eat with 61 the devil.
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
62 Avoid then, fiend! what tell'st thou me of supping? 63 Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress: 64 I conjure thee to leave me and be gone.
Courtezan
65 Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner, 66 Or, for my diamond, the chain you promised, 67 And I'll be gone, sir, and not trouble you.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
68 Some devils ask but the parings of one's nail, 69 A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, 70 A nut, a cherry-stone; 71 But she, more covetous, would have a chain. 72 Master, be wise: an if you give it her, 73 The devil will shake her chain and fright us with it.
Courtezan
74 I pray you, sir, my ring, or else the chain: 75 I hope you do not mean to cheat me so.
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE
76 Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio, let us go.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
77 'Fly pride,' says the peacock: mistress, that you know.
Exeunt Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse
Courtezan
78 Now, out of doubt Antipholus is mad, 79 Else would he never so demean himself. 80 A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats, 81 And for the same he promised me a chain: 82 Both one and other he denies me now. 83 The reason that I gather he is mad, 84 Besides this present instance of his rage, 85 Is a mad tale he told to-day at dinner, 86 Of his own doors being shut against his entrance. 87 Belike his wife, acquainted with his fits, 88 On purpose shut the doors against his way. 89 My way is now to hie home to his house, 90 And tell his wife that, being lunatic, 91 He rush'd into my house and took perforce 92 My ring away. This course I fittest choose; 93 For forty ducats is too much to lose.