myself;
But lest myself be guilty to self-wrong,
I’ll stop mine ears against the mermaid’s song.
Enter Angelo with the chain.
Ang.
Master Antipholus—
S. Ant.
Ay, that’s my name.
Ang.
I know it well, sir. Lo here’s the chain.
I thought to have ta’en you at the Porpentine;
The chain unfinish’d made me stay thus long.
S. Ant.
What is your will that I shall do with this?
Ang.
What please yourself, sir; I have made it for you.
S. Ant.
Made it for me, sir! I bespoke it not.
Ang.
Not once, nor twice, but twenty times you have.
Go home with it, and please your wife withal,
And soon at supper-time I’ll visit you,
And then receive my money for the chain.
S. Ant.
I pray you, sir, receive the money now,
For fear you ne’er see chain nor money more.
Ang.
You are a merry man, sir, fare you well.
Exit.
S. Ant.
What I should think of this, I cannot tell:
But this I think, there’s no man is so vain
That would refuse so fair an offer’d chain.
I see a man here needs not live by shifts,
When in the streets he meets such golden gifts.
I’ll to the mart and there for Dromio stay:
If any ship put out, then straight away.
Exit.
¶
ACT IV
Scene I
Enter a [Second] Merchant [of Ephesus, Angelo the] goldsmith, and an Officer.
[2. E.] Mer.
You know since Pentecost the sum is due,
And since I have not much importun’d you,
Nor now I had not, but that I am bound
To Persia, and want guilders for my voyage:
Therefore make present satisfaction,
Or I’ll attach you by this officer.
Ang.
Even just the sum that I do owe to you
Is growing to me by Antipholus,
And in the instant that I met with you
He had of me a chain. At five a’clock
I shall receive the money for the same:
Pleaseth you walk with me down to his house,
I will discharge my bond, and thank you too.
Enter Antipholus [of] Ephesus, Dromio [of Ephesus] from the Courtezan’s.
Off.
That labor may you save; see where he comes.
E. Ant.
While I go to the goldsmith’s house, go thou
And buy a rope’s end; that will I bestow
Among my wife and [her] confederates,
For locking me out of my doors by day.
But soft, I see the goldsmith. Get thee gone,
Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me.
E. Dro.
I buy a thousand pound a year! I buy a rope!
Exit Dromio.
E. Ant.
A man is well holp up that trusts to you:
I promised your presence and the chain,
But neither chain nor goldsmith came to me:
Belike you thought our love would last too long
If it were chain’d together, and therefore came not.
Ang.
Saving your merry humor, here’s the note
How much your chain weighs to the utmost charect,
The fineness of the gold, and chargeful fashion,
Which doth amount to three odd ducats more
Than I stand debted to this gentleman.
I pray you see him presently discharg’d,
For he is bound to sea, and stays but for it.
E. Ant.
I am not furnish’d with the present money:
Besides, I have some business in the town.
Good signior, take the stranger to my house,
And
