Mer.
You know, since pentecost the sum is due,
And since I have not much impórtun'd you;
Nor now I had not, but that I am bound
To Persia, and want gilders for my voyage:
Therefore make present satisfaction,
Or I'll attach you by this officer.

Gol.
Even just the sum, that I do owe to you,
Is growing to me by Antiphilus:
And, in the instant that I met with you,
He had of me a chain; at five o'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 Antiphilus Ephesian, and Dromio Ephesian.

Off.
That labour may you save; see, where he comes.

A. S.
While ^note 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 ^note,
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.

D. E.
I buy a thousand pound a year! I buy a rope! [Exit Dromio.

A. E.
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.

Gol.
Saving your merry humour, here's the &dagger2; note
How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat, ^note
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.

A. E.
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 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.

Gol.
Then you will bring the chain to her yourself?

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

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

A. E.
An if I have not, sir, I hope, you have;
Or else you may return without your money.

Gol.
Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the chain;
Both wind and tide stays for the gentleman ^note,

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

A. E.
Good lord, you use this dalliance, to excuse
Your breach of promise to the porcupine;
I should have chid you for not bringing it,
But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.

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

Gol.
You hear how he impórtunes me; the chain—

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

Gol.
Come, come; you know, I gave it you even now;
Either send the chain, or send me by some token.

A. E.
Fie, now you run this humour out of breath!
Come, where's the chain? I pray you, let me see it.

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.

A. E.
I answer you! what should ^note I answer you?

Gol.
The money that you owe me for the chain.

A. E.
I owe you none, 'till I receive the chain.

Gol.
You know, I gave it you half an hour since.

A. E.
You gave me none; you wrong me much to say so.

Gol.
You wrong me more ^note, sir, in denying it:
Consider how it stands upon my credit.

Mer.
Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.

Off.
I do;—
And charge you in the duke's name to obey me.

Gol.
This touches me in reputation:—
Either consent to pay the sum ^note for me,
Or I attach you by this officer.

A. E.
Consent to pay thee ^note that I never had!
Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar'st.

Gol.
Here is thy &dagger2; 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.

A. E.
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.

Gol.
Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus,
To your notorious shame, I doubt it not. Enter Dromio Syracusan.

D. S.
Master, there is a bark of Epidamnum,
That stays but 'till her owner comes aboard,
And ^note then she ^note bears away: Our fraughtage, sir,
I have convey'd aboard; and I have bought ^note
The oil, the balsamum, and aqua-vitæ.
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 your self.

A. E.
How now, a madman! why, thou peevish sheep,
What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?

D. S.
A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.

A. E.
Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope;
And told thee to what purpose, and what end.

D. S.
A rope! you sent me for a rope's end as soon;
You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.

A. E.
I will debate this matter at more leisure,
And teach your ears to list me with more heed.
To Adriana, villain, hye thee straight:
Give her this &dagger2; 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: hye thee, slave; be gone.—
On, officer, to prison 'till it come.

[Exeunt Mer. Gol. Officer, and Antiphilus.

D. S.
To Adriana? that is where we din'd;
Where Dowzabel did claim me for her husband:
She is too big, I hope, for me to compass.
Thither I must, although against my will;
For servants must their masters' minds fulfil. [Exit.

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