breach of promise to the Porcupine:I should have chid you for not bringing it,
But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.
MERCHANT.
The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, despatch.
ANGELO.
You hear how he importunes me: the chain,—
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.
Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money.
ANGELO.
Come, come, you know I gave it you even now;
Either send the chain or send by me some token.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.
Fie! now you run this humour out of breath:
Come, where’s the chain? I pray you, let me see it.
MERCHANT.
My business cannot brook this dalliance:
Good sir, say whe’r you’ll answer me or no;
If not, I’ll leave him to the officer.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.
I answer you! What should I answer you?
ANGELO.
The money that you owe me for the chain.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.
I owe you none till I receive the chain.
ANGELO.
You know I gave it you half-an-hour since.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.
You gave me none: you wrong me much to say so.
ANGELO.
You wrong me more, sir, in denying it:
Consider how it stands upon my credit.
MERCHANT.
Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.
OFFICER.
I do; and charge you in the duke’s name to obey me.
ANGELO.
This touches me in reputation:
Either consent to pay this sum for me,
Or I attach you by this officer.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.
Consent to pay thee that I never had!
Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar’st.
ANGELO.
Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer:—
I would not spare my brother in this case,
If he should scorn me so apparently.
OFFICER.
I do arrest you, sir: you hear the suit.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.
I do obey thee till I give thee bail:—
But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dear
As all the metal in your shop will answer.
ANGELO.
Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus,
To your notorious shame, I doubt it not.
[Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.]
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.
Master, there’s a bark of Epidamnum
That stays but till her owner comes aboard,
And then, sir, bears away: our fraughtage, sir,
I have convey’d aboard; and I have bought
The oil, the balsamum, and aqua-vitae.
The ship is in her trim; the merry wind
Blows fair from land; they stay for nought at all
But for their owner, master, and yourself.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.
How now! a madman? Why, thou peevish sheep,
What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.
A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.
Thou drunken slave! I sent the for a rope;
And told thee to what purpose and what end.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.
You sent me, sir, for a rope’s end as soon:
You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.
I will debate this matter at more leisure,
And teach your ears to list me with more heed.
To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight:
Give her this key, and tell her, in the desk
That’s cover’d o’er with Turkish tapestry
There is a purse of ducats; let her send it:
Tell her I am arrested in the street,
And that shall bail me: hie thee, slave; be gone.
On, officer, to prison till it come.
[Exeunt MERCHANT, ANGELO, OFFICER, and ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.]
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.
To Adriana! that is where we din’d,
Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband:
She is too big, I hope, for me to compass.
Thither I must, although against my will,
For servants must their masters’ minds fulfil.
[Exit.]
SCENE 2. The same.
[Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA.]
