ACT IV - Scene IV 小说：Comedy of Errors     作者：William Shakespeare A streetEnter ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS with the OFFICERANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSFear 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-endHere comes my man; I think he brings the money. How now, sir! Have you that I sent you for?DROMIO OF EPHESUSHere's that, I warrant you, will pay them all.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSBut where's the money?DROMIO OF EPHESUSWhy, sir, I gave the money for the rope.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSFive hundred ducats, villain, for rope?DROMIO OF EPHESUSI'll serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSTo what end did I bid thee hie thee home?DROMIO OF EPHESUSTo a rope's-end, sir; and to that end am I return'd.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSAnd to that end, sir, I will welcome you.[Beating him]OFFICERGood sir, be patient.DROMIO OF EPHESUSNay, 'tis for me to be patient; I am in adversity.OFFICERGood now, hold thy tongue.DROMIO OF EPHESUSNay, rather persuade him to hold his hands.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSThou whoreson, senseless villain!DROMIO OF EPHESUSI would I were senseless, sir, that I might not feel your blows.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSThou art sensible in nothing but blows, and so is an ass.DROMIO OF EPHESUSI am an ass indeed; you may prove it by my long 'ears. I have served him from the hour of my nativity to this instant, and have nothing at his hands for my service but blows. When I am cold he heats me with beating; when I am warm he cools me with beating. I am wak'd with it when I sleep; rais'd with it when I sit; driven out of doors with it when I go from home; welcom'd home with it when I return; nay, I bear it on my shoulders as beggar wont her brat; and I think, when he hath lam'd me, I shall beg with it from door to door.Enter ADRIANA, LUCIANA, the COURTEZAN, and a SCHOOLMASTER call'd PINCHANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSCome, go along; my wife is coming yonder.DROMIO OF EPHESUSMistress, 'respice finem,' respect your end; or rather, to prophesy like the parrot, 'Beware the rope's-end.'ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSWilt thou still talk?[Beating him]COURTEZANHow say you now? Is not your husband mad?ADRIANAHis incivility confirms no less. Good Doctor Pinch, you are a conjurer: Establish him in his true sense again, And I will please you what you will demand.LUCIANAAlas, how fiery and how sharp he looks!COURTEZANMark how he trembles in his ecstasy.PINCHGive me your hand, and let me feel your pulse.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSThere is my hand, and let it feel your ear.[Striking him]PINCHI charge thee, Satan, hous'd within this man, To yield possession to my holy prayers, And to thy state of darkness hie thee straight. I conjure thee by all the saints in heaven.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSPeace, doting wizard, peace! I am not mad.ADRIANAO, that thou wert not, poor distressed soul!ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSYou minion, you, are these your customers? Did this companion with the saffron face Revel and feast it at my house to-day, Whilst upon me the guilty doors were shut, And I denied to enter in my house?ADRIANAO husband, God doth know you din'd at home, Where would you had remain'd until this time, Free from these slanders and this open shame!ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.Din'd at home! Thou villain, what sayest thou?DROMIO OF EPHESUS.Sir, Sooth to say, you did not dine at home.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.Were not my doors lock'd up and I shut out?DROMIO OF EPHESUS.Perdie, your doors were lock'd and you shut out.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.And did not she herself revile me there?DROMIO OF EPHESUS.Sans fable, she herself revil'd you there.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.Did not her kitchen-maid rail, taunt, and scorn me?DROMIO OF EPHESUS.Certes, she did; the kitchen-vestal scorn'd you.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.And did not I in rage depart from thence?DROMIO OF EPHESUS.In verity, you did. My bones bear witness, That since have felt the vigour of his rage.ADRIANAIs't good to soothe him in these contraries?PINCHIt is no shame; the fellow finds his vein, And, yielding to him, humours well his frenzy.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSThou hast suborn'd the goldsmith to arrest me.ADRIANAAlas, I sent you money to redeem you, By Dromio here, who came in haste for it.DROMIO OF EPHESUSMoney by me! Heart and goodwill you might, But surely, master, not a rag of money.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSWent'st not thou to her for purse of ducats?ADRIANAHe came to me, and I deliver'd it.LUCIANAAnd I am witness with her that she did.DROMIO OF EPHESUSGod and the rope-maker bear me witness That I was sent for nothing but a rope!PINCHMistress, both man and master is possess'd; I know it by their pale and deadly looks. They must be bound, and laid in some dark room.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSSay, wherefore didst thou lock me forth to-day? And why dost thou deny the bag of gold?ADRIANAI did not, gentle husband, lock thee forth.DROMIO OF EPHESUSAnd, gentle master, I receiv'd no gold; But I confess, sir, that we were lock'd out.ADRIANADissembling villain, thou speak'st false in both.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSDissembling harlot, thou art false in all, And art confederate with a damned pack To make a loathsome abject scorn of me; But with these nails I'll pluck out these false eyes That would behold in me this shameful sport.ADRIANAO, bind him, bind him; let him not come near me.PINCHMore company! The fiend is strong within him.Enter three or four, and offer to bind him. He strivesLUCIANAAy me, poor man, how pale and wan he looks!ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSWhat, will you murder me? Thou gaoler, thou, I am thy prisoner. Wilt thou suffer them To make a rescue?OFFICERMasters, let him go; He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him.PINCHGo bind this man, for he is frantic too.[They bind DROMIO]ADRIANAWhat wilt thou do, thou peevish officer? Hast thou delight to see a wretched man Do outrage and displeasure to himself?OFFICERHe is my prisoner; if I let him go, The debt he owes will be requir'd of me.ADRIANAI will discharge thee ere I go from thee; Bear me forthwith unto his creditor, And, knowing how the debt grows, I will pay it. Good Master Doctor, see him safe convey'd Home to my house. O most unhappy day!ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSO most unhappy strumpet!DROMIO OF EPHESUSMaster, I am here ent'red in bond for you.ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUSOut on thee, villian! Wherefore dost thou mad me?DROMIO OF EPHESUSWill you be bound for nothing? Be mad, good master; cry 'The devil!'LUCIANAGod help, poor souls, how idly do they talk!ADRIANAGo bear him hence. Sister, go you with me.Exeunt all but ADRIANA, LUCIANA, OFFICERS, and COURTEZANSay now, whose suit is he arrested at?OFFICEROne Angelo, a goldsmith; do you know him?ADRIANAI know the man. What is the sum he owes?OFFICERTwo hundred ducats.ADRIANASay, how grows it due?OFFICERDue for a chain your husband had of him.ADRIANAHe did bespeak a chain for me, but had it not.COURTEZANWhen as your husband, all in rage, to-day Came to my house, and took away my ring- The ring I saw upon his finger now- Straight after did I meet him with a chain.ADRIANAIt may be so, but I did never see it. Come, gaoler, bring me where the goldsmith is; I long to know the truth hereof at large.Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE, with his rapier drawn, and DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.LUCIANAGod, for thy mercy! they are loose again.ADRIANAAnd come with naked swords. Let's call more help to have them bound again.OFFICERAway, they'll kill us!Exeunt all but ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE and DROMIO OF SYRACUSE as fast as may be, frightedANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSEI see these witches are afraid of swords.DROMIO OF SYRACUSEShe that would be your wife now ran from you.ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSECome to the Centaur; fetch our stuff from thence. I long that we were safe and sound aboard.DROMIO OF SYRACUSEFaith, stay here this night; they will surely do us no harm; you saw they speak us fair, give us gold; methinks they are such a gentle nation that, but for the mountain of mad flesh that claims marriage of me, could find in my heart to stay here still and turn witch.ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSEI will not stay to-night for all the town; Therefore away, to get our stuff aboard.Exeunt Previous Chapter Next Chapter