THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. William Shakespeare

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СКАЧАТЬ breach of promise to the Porcupine:

       I should have chid you for not bringing it,

       But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.

       MERCHANT.

       The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, despatch.

       ANGELO.

       You hear how he importunes me: the chain,—

       ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.

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

       ANGELO.

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

       Either send the chain or send by me some token.

       ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.

       Fie! now you run this humour out of breath:

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

       MERCHANT.

       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.

       ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.

       I answer you! What should I answer you?

       ANGELO.

       The money that you owe me for the chain.

       ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.

       I owe you none till I receive the chain.

       ANGELO.

       You know I gave it you half-an-hour since.

       ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.

       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.

       MERCHANT.

       Well, officer, arrest him at 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.

       ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.

       Consent to pay thee that I never 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.

       OFFICER.

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

       ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.

       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,

       To your notorious shame, I doubt it not.

       [Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.]

       DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.

       Master, there’s a bark of Epidamnum

       That stays but till her owner comes aboard,

       And then, sir, 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.

       ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.

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

       What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?

       DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.

       A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.

       ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.

       Thou drunken slave! I sent the for a rope;

       And told thee to what purpose and what end.

       DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.

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

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

       ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.

       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 MERCHANT, ANGELO, OFFICER, and ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS.]

       DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.

       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 I must, although against my will,

       For servants must their masters’ minds fulfil.

       [Exit.]

      SCENE 2. The same.

       [Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA.]

       СКАЧАТЬ