Sathan?
S. Ant. It is the devil.
S. Dro. Nay, she is worse, she is the devil’s dam, and here she comes in the habit of a light wench; and thereof 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.
Cour.
Your man and you are marvellous merry, sir.
Will you go with me? we’ll mend our dinner here.
S. Dro. Master, if [you] do, expect spoon-meat, or bespeak a long spoon.
S. Ant. Why, Dromio?
S. Dro. Marry, he must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil.
S. Ant.
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.
Cour.
Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner,
Or, for my diamond, the chain you promis’d,
And I’ll be gone, sir, and not trouble you.
S. Dro.
Some devils ask but the parings of one’s nail,
A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin,
A nut, a cherry-stone;
But she, more covetous, would have a chain.
Master, be wise, and if you give it her,
The devil will shake her chain, and fright us with it.
Cour.
I pray you, sir, my ring, or else the chain;
I hope you do not mean to cheat me so?
S. Ant.
Avaunt, thou witch! Come, Dromio, let us go.
S. Dro.
“Fly pride,” says the peacock: mistress, that you know.
Exit [with Antipholus of Syracuse].
Cour.
Now out of doubt Antipholus is mad,
Else would he never so demean himself.
A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats,
And for the same he promis’d 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,
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,
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.
¶
[Scene IV]
Enter Antipholus [of] Ephesus with [the Officer].
E. Ant.
Fear me not, man, I will not break away;
I’ll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money,
To warrant thee, as I am ’rested for.
My wife is in a wayward mood to-day,
And will not lightly trust the messenger,
That I should be attach’d in Ephesus;
I tell you, ’twill sound harshly in her ears.
Enter Dromio [of] Ephesus with a rope’s end.
Here comes my man: I think he brings the money.
How now, sir? have you that I sent you for?
E. Dro.
Here’s that, I warrant you, will pay them all.
E. Ant.
But where’s the money?
E. Dro.
Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope.
E. Ant.
Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope?
E. Dro.
I’ll serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate.
E. Ant.
To what end did I bid thee hie thee home?
E. Dro.
To a rope’s end, sir, and to that end am I return’d.
E. Ant.
And to that end, sir, I will welcome you.
[Beats Dromio]
Off. Good sir, be patient.
E. Dro. Nay, ’tis for me to be patient: I am in adversity.
Off. Good now, hold thy tongue.
E. Dro. Nay, rather
