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The Comedy Of Errors
William Shakespeare
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The Comedy Of Errors
William Shakespeare
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About This Book
Identical twins separated at birth provides the foundation for humour in one of Shakespeare's earlier plays. The young twin sons of Egeon, alongside another set of young twin boys, purchased as slaves, are lost to one another during a tempest at sea. Egeon, who saves one son and his slave by tying them to the mast, is separated from his wife, who is rescued with their other boy and his slave. As each searches for the other, the stage is set for a romp that revolves around mistaken identity, physical mishaps, and the comedy of errors referenced in the title.
Known as "The Bard of Avon, " William Shakespeare is arguably the greatest English-language writer known. Enormously popular during his life, Shakespeare's works continue to resonate more than three centuries after his death, as has his influence on theatre and literature. Shakespeare's innovative use of character, language, and experimentation with romance as tragedy served as a foundation for later playwrights and dramatists, and some of his most famous lines of dialogue have become part of everyday speech.
HarperPerennialClassics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.
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Topic
LiteraturaSubtopic
Arte dramáticoACT FOUR
SCENE I. A public place.
Enter Second Merchant, ANGELO, and an Officer.
SECOND MERCHANT You know since Pentecost the sum is due,
And since I have not much importun’d you;
Nor now I had not, but that I am bound
To Persia, and want guilders for my voyage;
[5]
Therefore make present satisfaction,
Or I’ll attach you by this officer.
ANGELO Even just the sum that I do owe to you
Is growing to me by Antipholus;
And in the instant that I met with you
[10]
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 ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, and DROMIO of Ephesus, from the courtezan’s.
OFFICER That labour may you save; see where he comes.
E. ANTIPHOLUS While 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,
For locking me out of my doors by day.
But, soft, I see the goldsmith. Get thee gone;
[20]
Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me.
E. DROMIO I buy a thousand pound a year; I buy a rope. [Exit Dromio.
E. ANTIPHOLUS 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.
[25]
Belike you thought our love would last too long,
If it were chain’d together, and therefore came
ANGELO Saving your merry humour, here’s the note
How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat,
The fineness of the gold, and chargeful fashion,
[30]
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.
E. ANTIPHOLUS I am not furnish’d with the present money;
[35]
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.
[40]
ANGELO Then you will bring the chain to her yourself?
E. ANTIPHOLUS No; bear it with you, lest I come not time enough.
ANGELO Well, sir, I will. Have you the chain about you?
E. ANTIPHOLUS An if I have not, sir, I hope you have;
Or else you may return without your money.
[45]
ANGELO 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. ANTIPHOLUS Good Lord! you use this dalliance to excuse
Your breach of promise to the Porpentine;
[50]
I should have chid you for not bringing it,
But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.
SECOND MERCHANT The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, dispatch.
ANGELO You hear how he importunes me – the chain!
E. ANTIPHOLUS Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money.
ANGELO Come, come, you know I gave it you
[55]
even now.
Either send the chain or send by me some token.
E. ANTIPHOLUS Fie, now you run this humour out of breath!
Come, where’s the chain? I pray you let me see it.
SECOND MERCHANT My business cannot brook this dalliance.
[60]
Good sir, say whe’r you’ll answer me or no;
If not, I’ll leave him to the officer.
E. ANTIPHOLUS I answer you! What should I answer you?
ANGELO The money that you owe me for the chain.
E. ANTIPHOLUS I owe you none till I receive the chain.
ANGELO You know I gave it you half an hour
[65]
since.
E. ANTIPHOLUS You gave me none; you wrong me much to say so.
ANGELO You wrong me more, sir, in denying it.
Consider how it stands upon my credit.
SECOND MERCHANT Well, officer, arrest him at
[70]
my suit.
OFFICER I do; and charge you in the Duke’s name to obey me.
ANGELO This touches me in reputation.
Either consent to pay this sum for me,
Or I attach you by this officer.
E. ANTIPHOLUS Consent to pay thee that I never
[75]
had!
Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar’st.
ANGELO Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer.
I would not spare my brother in this case,
If he should scorn me so apparently.
[80]
OFFICER I do arrest you, sir; you hear the suit.
E. ANTIPHOLUS 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.
ANGELO Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus,
[85]
To your notorious shame, I doubt it not.
Enter DROMIO of Syracuse, from the bay.
S. DROMIO Master, there’s a bark of Epidamnum
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
[90]
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. ANTIPHOLUS How now! a madman? Why, thou peevish sheep,
[95]
What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?
S. DROMIO A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.
E. ANTIPHOLUS Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope;
And told thee to what purpose and what end.
S. DROMIO You sent me for a rope’s end as soon –
[100]
You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.
E. ANTIPHOLUS 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
[105]
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.
[Exeu...