But ere they came-oh, let me say no more! Duke. Nay, forward, old man, do not break off fo; For we may pity, tho' not pardon thee. Egeon. Oh, had the Gods done fo, I had not now Worthily term'd them merciless to us; For ere the fhips could meet by twice five leagues, Our helpless ship was fplitted in the midft: Had not their bark been very flow of fail; And therefore homeward did they bend their course.- To tell fad ftories of my own mishaps. Duke. And, for the fakes of them thou forrow'ft for, Do me the favour to dilate at full What hath befall'n of them, and thee, 'till now. After his brother ; and importun'd me, And And coafting homeward, came to Ephefus: Duke. Haplefs Egeon, whom the fates have markt Now, truft me, were it not against our laws, (1) And live; if not, then thou art doom'd to die. Jailor, take him to thy cuftody. [Exeunt Duke, and Train. fail. I will, my Lord. Egeon. Hopeless and helpless doth Ægeon wend, But to procraftinate his livelefs end. [Exeunt Egeon, and Jailor. (1) Now trust me, were it not against our Laws, Against my Crown, my Oath, my Dignity," Which Princes would, they may not difannul,] Thus are thefe Lines placed in all the former Editions. But as the fingle Verb does not agree with all the Subftantives, which should be govern'd of it, I have ventur'd to make a Tranfpofition; and, by a Change in the Pointing, clear'd up the Perplexity of the Senfe. SCENE SCENE changes to the Street. Enter Antipholis of Syracufe, a Merchant, and Dromio. Mer. Herefore give out, you are of Epidamnum, T Left that your goods too foon be confiscate. This very day, a Syracufan merchant Is apprehended for arrival here; Ant. Go bear it to the Centaur, where we host, Dro. Many a man would take you at your word, [Exit Dromio. Ant. A trufty villain, Sir, that very oft, When I am dull with care and melancholy, Lightens my humour with his merry jefts. What, will you walk with me about the town, And then go to the inn and dine with me? Mer. I am invited, Sir, to certain merchants, Of whom I hope to make much benefit: I crave your pardon. Soon at five o'clock, Please you, I'll meet with you upon the mart, And afterward confort you 'till bed time: My present bufinefs calls me from you now. Ant. Farewel 'till then; I will go lofe myself, And wander up and down to view the city. Mer. Sir, I commend you to your own content. [Exit Merchant. Ant. Ant. He that commends me to my own content, Enter Dromio of Ephefus. Here comes the almanack of my true date. late: The capon burns, the pig falls from the fpit, The meat is cold, because you come not home; Ant. Stop in your wind, Sir; tell me this, I pray, Ant. I am not in a sportive humour now; E. Dro. I pray you, jeft, Sir, as you fit at dinner : For fhe will score your fault upon my pate: Ant. Come, Dromio, come, thefe jests are out of season ; Referve Referve them 'till a merrier hour than this: E. Dro. To me, Sir? why, you gave no gold to me. Ant. Come on, Sir knave, have done your foolishnefs ; And tell me how thou haft difpos'd thy charge? E. Dro. My charge was but to fetch you from the mart Home to your houfe, the Phanix, Sir, to dinner ; Ant. Now, as I am a christian, answer me, Ant. Thy miftrefs' marks? what mittress, flave, haft thou? E. Dro. Your worship's wife, my mistress at the Phoenix; She, that doth fast, 'till you come home to dinner; And prays, that you will hie you home to dinner. Ant. What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face, Being forbid there take you that, Sir knave. E. Dro. What mean you, Sir? for God's fake, hold your hands; Nay, an you will not, Sir, I'll take my heels. [Exit Dromio, Ant. Upon my life, by fome device or other, The villain is o'er wrought of all my mony. They fay, this town is full of couzenage; As, nimble jugglers, that deceive the eye; (2) Dark (2) As, nimble Jugglers, that deceive the Eye: Dark-working Sorcerers, that change the Mind: Soul-killing Witches, that deform the Body] Thofe, who attentively |