William Shakespeare - Ultimate Collection: Complete Plays & Poetry in One Volume. William Shakespeare

To Epidamnum, till my factor’s death,

       And he,—great care of goods at random left,—

       Drew me from kind embracements of my spouse:

       From whom my absence was not six months old,

       Before herself,—almost at fainting under

       The pleasing punishment that women bear,—

       Had made provision for her following me,

       And soon and safe arrived where I was.

       There had she not been long but she became

       A joyful mother of two goodly sons;

       And, which was strange, the one so like the other

       As could not be disdnguish’d but by names.

       That very hour, and in the selfsame inn,

       A mean woman was delivered

       Of such a burden, male twins, both alike:

       Those,—for their parents were exceeding poor,—

       I bought, and brought up to attend my sons.

       My wife, not meanly proud of two such boys,

       Made daily motions for our home return:

       Unwilling I agreed; alas! too soon!

       We came aboard:

       A league from Epidamnum had we sail’d

       Before the always-wind-obeying deep

       Gave any tragic instance of our harm;

       But longer did we not retain much hope:

       For what obscured light the heavens did grant

       Did but convey unto our fearful minds

       A doubtful warrant of immediate death;

       Which though myself would gladly have embrac’d,

       Yet the incessant weepings of my wife,

       Weeping before for what she saw must come,

       And piteous plainings of the pretty babes,

       That mourn’d for fashion, ignorant what to fear,

       Forc’d me to seek delays for them and me.

       And this it was,—for other means was none.—

       The sailors sought for safety by our boat,

       And left the ship, then sinking-ripe, to us;:

       My wife, more careful for the latter-born,

       Had fast’ned him unto a small spare mast,

       Such as seafaring men provide for storms:

       To him one of the other twins was bound,

       Whilst I had been like heedful of the other.

       The children thus dispos’d, my wife and I,

       Fixing our eyes on whom our care was fix’d,

       Fast’ned ourselves at either end the mast,

       And, floating straight, obedient to the stream,

       Were carried towards Corinth, as we thought.

       At length the sun, gazing upon the earth,

       Dispers’d those vapours that offended us;

       And, by the benefit of his wish’d light,

       The seas wax’d calm, and we discover’d

       Two ships from far making amain to us,—

       Of Corinth that, of Epidaurus this:

       But ere they came—O, let me say no more!—

       Gather the sequel by that went before.

       DUKE.

       Nay, forward, old man, do not break off so;

       For we may pity, though not pardon thee.

       AEGEON.

       O, had the gods done so, I had not now

       Worthily term’d them merciless to us!

       For, ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues,

       We were encount’red by a mighty rock,

       Which being violently borne upon,

       Our helpful ship was splitted in the midst;

       So that, in this unjust divorce of us,

       Fortune had left to both of us alike

       What to delight in, what to sorrow for.

       Her part, poor soul! seeming as burdened

       With lesser weight, but not with lesser woe,

       Was carried with more speed before the wind;

       And in our sight they three were taken up

       By fishermen of Corinth, as we thought.

       At length another ship had seiz’d on us;

       And, knowing whom it was their hap to save,

       Gave healthful welcome to their shipwreck’d guests;

       And would have reft the fishers of their prey,

       Had not their bark been very slow of sail,

       And therefore homeward did they bend their course.—

       Thus have you heard me sever’d from my bliss;

       That by misfortunes was my life prolong’d,

       To tell sad stories of my own mishaps.

       DUKE.

       And, for the sake of them thou sorrowest for,

       Do me the favour to dilate at full

       What have befall’n of them and thee till now.

       AEGEON.

       My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care,

       At eighteen years became inquisitive

       After his brother, and importun’d me

       That his attendant,—so his case was like,

       Reft of his brother, but retain’d his name,—

       Might bear him company in the quest of him:

       Whom whilst I laboured of a love to see,

       I hazarded the loss of whom I lov’d.

       Five summers have I spent in furthest Greece,

       Roaming clean through the bounds of Asia,

       And, coasting homeward, came to Ephesus;

       Hopeless to find, yet loath to leave unsought

       Or that or any place that harbours men.

       But here must end the story of my life;

       And happy were I in my timely death,

       Could all my travels warrant me they live.

       DUKE.

       Hapless Aegeon, whom the fates have mark’d

       To bear the extremity of dire mishap!

       Now, trust me, were it not against our laws,

       Against my crown, my oath, my dignity,

       Which princes, would they, may not disannul,

       My soul should sue as advocate for thee.

       But though thou art adjudged to the death,

       And passed sentence may not be recall’d

       But to our honour’s great disparagement,

       Yet will I favour thee in what I can:

       Therefore, merchant, I’ll limit thee this day

       To seek thy help by beneficial help:

       Try all the friends thou hast in Ephesus:

       Beg thou, or borrow, to make up the sum,