The Complete Works of Shakespeare. William Shakespeare

with the present money:

      Besides, I have some business in the town.

      Good signior, take the stranger to my house,

      And with you take the chain, and bid my wife

      Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof.

      Perchance I will be there as soon as you.

       Ang.

      Then you will bring the chain to her yourself?

       E. Ant.

      No, bear it with you, lest I come not time enough.

       Ang.

      Well, sir, I will. Have you the chain about you?

       E. Ant.

      And if I have not, sir, I hope you have:

      Or else you may return without your money.

       Ang.

      Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the chain:

      Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman,

      And I, to blame, have held him here too long.

       E. Ant.

      Good Lord! you use this dalliance to excuse

      Your breach of promise to the Porpentine:

      I should have chid you for not bringing it,

      But like a shrew you first begin to brawl.

       [2. E.] Mer.

      The hour steals on, I pray you, sir, dispatch.

       Ang.

      You hear how he importunes me—the chain!

       E. Ant.

      Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money.

       Ang.

      Come, come, you know I gave it you even now.

      Either send the chain, or send me by some token.

       E. Ant.

      Fie, now you run this humor out of breath.

      Come, where’s the chain? I pray you let me see it.

       [2. E.] Mer.

      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.

       E. Ant.

      I answer you? What should I answer you?

       Ang.

      The money that you owe me for the chain.

       E. Ant.

      I owe you none, till I receive the chain.

       Ang.

      You know I gave it you half an hour since.

       E. Ant.

      You gave me none, you wrong me much to say so.

       Ang.

      You wrong me more, sir, in denying it.

      Consider how it stands upon my credit.

       [2. E.] Mer.

      Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.

       Off.

      I do, and charge you in the Duke’s name to obey me.

       Ang.

      This touches me in reputation.

      Either consent to pay this sum for me

      Or I attach you by this officer.

       E. Ant.

      Consent to pay thee that I never had!

      Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar’st.

       Ang.

      Here is thy fee, arrest him, officer.

      I would not spare my brother in this case,

      If he should scorn me so apparently.

       Off.

      I do arrest you, sir: you hear the suit.

       E. Ant.

      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.

       Ang.

      Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus,

      To your notorious shame, I doubt it not.

       Enter Dromio [of] Syracusa from the bay.

       S. Dro.

      Master, there’s a bark of Epidamium

      That stays but till her owner comes aboard,

      And then, sir, she 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.

       E. Ant.

      How now? a madman? Why, thou peevish sheep,

      What ship of Epidamium stays for me?

       S. Dro.

      A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.

       E. Ant.

      Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope,

      And told thee to what purpose and what end.

       S. Dro.

      You sent me for a rope’s end as soon:

      You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.

       E. Ant.

      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 [all but Dromio of Syracuse].

       S. Dro.

      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