The Comedy of Errors Translation Act 4, Scene 1
Enter SECOND MERCHANT, ANGELO and an OFFICER
SECOND MERCHANT
You know since Pentecost the sum is due, And since I have not much importuned you, Nor now I had not, but that I am bound To Persia, and want guilders for my voyage. Therefore make present satisfaction, Or I’ll attach you by this officer.
SECOND MERCHANT
You know the fee has been due since Pentecost. I haven't nagged you that much about it since then, and I don't want to now, but I'm leaving for Persia and I need the money for my voyage. Therefore, give me the money now, or I'll have you arrested 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, 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.
ANGELO
Antipholus owes me exactly the amount that I owe you. Right before I met you today, he bought a chain from me. At five o'clock, I'll get the money for that. If you care to walk with me down to his house, I'll pay you what I owe you and give you thanks.
Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS and DROMIO OF EPHESUS from the COURTESAN'S house
Everything you need
for every book you read.
and presented is seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive."
Everything you need for every book you read.
Everything you need for every book you read.
Get LitCharts A+COURTESAN'S OFFICER
That labor may you save. See where he comes.
COURTESAN'S OFFICER
You don't have to go far. Look, he's coming now.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
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. Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
[To DROMIO OF EPHESUS] While I go to the goldsmith's house, you go and buy a rope. I'll beat my wife and her accomplices with it for locking me out of my own house. But hush. I see the goldsmith. Get out of here. Buy the rope, and bring it back to me.
DROMIO OF EPHESUS
I buy a thousand pound a year! I buy a rope!
DROMIO OF EPHESUS
First a thousand marks and now a rope!
Exit DROMIO OF EPHESUS
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
[to ANGELO] A man is well holp up that trusts to you! I promisèd 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 chained together, and therefore came not.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
[To ANGELO] A man is in good hands when he trusts you! I expected you to come with the chain, but I didn't see either or you or the chain. Maybe you thought we'd be too inseparable if we were chained together so you didn't bother to come.
ANGELO
Saving your merry humor, here’s the note How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat, 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 discharged, For he is bound to sea, and stays but for it.
ANGELO
I'm glad you're in such a jolly mood, and here's the bill for how much your chain weighs down to the last carat, the quality of the gold, and the cost, which comes to three and a bit ducats more than I owe this gentleman. Please, pay up, for he's going to sea and is only waiting for the money.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
I am not furnished 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.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
I don't have the money right now. Besides, I have business to attend to in town. Good man, take the stranger to my house along with the chain, and ask my wife to pay the amount listed on the bill. Maybe I'll get there at the same time.
ANGELO
Then you will bring the chain to her yourself.
ANGELO
Then you will bring the chain to her yourself.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
No, bear it with you lest I come not time enough.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
No, you bring it in case I don't get there in time.
ANGELO
Well, sir, I will. Have you the chain about you?
ANGELO
Well, sir, I will. Do you have the chain with you?
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
An if I have not, sir, I hope you have,Or else you may return without your money.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
If I don't sir, I hope you do, or else you're not getting paid.
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.
ANGELO
No, come on, please, sir, give me the chain. The wind and the tide are on hold for this gentleman, and I've kept him here too long.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Good Lord! You use this dalliance to excuseYour breach of promise to the Porpentine.I should have chid you for not bringing it,But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Good Lord! You're stalling to make me forget that you didn't show up at the Porpentine as you'd promised. I should have laid into you for not bringing it, but, like a whiny brat, you start to fight first.
SECOND MERCHANT
The hour steals on. I pray you, sir, dispatch.
SECOND MERCHANT
The clock is ticking. Please, sir, let's get moving.
ANGELO
You hear how he importunes me. The chain!
ANGELO
You hear how he begs me! The chain!
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Just give it to my wife and get your money.
ANGELO
Come, come. You know I gave it you even now.Either send the chain, or send me by some token.
ANGELO
Come on now. You know I just gave it to you. Either give me the chain, or give me something of yours to let your wife know to pay me.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Fie, now you run this humor out of breath.Come, where’s the chain? I pray you, let me see it.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Really, now you're running this joke into the ground. Come on, where's the chain? I'm asking you, let me see it.
SECOND MERCHANT
My business cannot brook this dalliance. [to ANTIPHOLUS] Good sir, say whe'er you’ll answer me or no.If not, I’ll leave him to the Officer.
SECOND MERCHANT
I really don't have time for this dilly-dallying.
[To ANTIPHOLUS] Good sir, tell me whether you'll pay me or not. If not, I'll have Angelo arrested.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
I answer you? What should I answer you?
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
I pay you? What should I pay you?
ANGELO
The money that you owe me for the chain.
ANGELO
The money that you owe me for the chain.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
I owe you none till I receive the chain.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
I owe you nothing until I receive the chain.
ANGELO
You know I gave it you half an hour since.
ANGELO
You know I gave it to you half an hour ago.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
You gave me none. You wrong me much to say so.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
You gave me nothing. You do me wrong to say that.
ANGELO
You wrong me more, sir, in denying it.Consider how it stands upon my credit.
ANGELO
You do me more wrong, sir, in lying about it. Think about what this does to my reputation.
SECOND MERCHANT
Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.
SECOND MERCHANT
Well, officer, arrest him on my accusation.
OFFICER
I do, [to ANGELO] and charge you in the Duke’s name to obey me.
OFFICER
I do, [To ANGELO], and I 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.
ANGELO
[To ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS] This damages my reputation. Either agree to pay me the money you owe, or I'll have you arrested by this officer.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Consent to pay thee that I never had?—Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar’st.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Agree to pay you for something I never got?
[To OFFICER] Arrest me, foolish fellow, if you dare.
ANGELO
Here is thy fee. Arrest him, officer.I would not spare my brother in this caseIf he should scorn me so apparently.
ANGELO
Here's money to do it. Arrest him, officer. I'd have my brother arrested too, if he'd wronged me as obviously as this man has.
OFFICER
I do arrest you, sir. You hear the suit.
OFFICER
I do arrest you, sir. You've heard the accusation.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
I do obey thee till I give thee bail.But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dearAs all the metal in your shop will answer.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
I will obey you till I pay you bail.
[To ANGELO] But, sir, you'll pay for this, and it will cost you all the metal in your shop.
ANGELO
Sir, sir, I will have law in Ephesus,To your notorious shame, I doubt it not.
ANGELO
Sir, I'll make sure I have justice and keep my rights in Ephesus, even if it means you'll be humiliated and shamed.
Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
Master, there is a bark of Epidamnum That stays but till her owner comes aboard, And then, sir, she bears away. Our fraughtage, sir, I have conveyed 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 naught at all But for their owner, master, and yourself.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
Master, there's a ship from Epidamnum that's just waiting until her owners comes aboard, and then, sir, she sails away. All of our stuff, sir, I've brought on board, and I've bought the oil, the juice, and the alcohol. The ship's ready to go, and the wind is blowing away from land. They're waiting only for their owner and yourself, master.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
How now? A madman? Why, thou peevish sheep,What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Huh? Are you a madman? You silly animal, what ship from Epidamnum is waiting for me?
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
The ship you sent me to, to book our passage.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a ropeAnd told thee to what purpose and what end.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
You drunken slave, I sent you for a rope and told you what I wanted to use it for and for what purpose.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
You sent me for a rope’s end as soon.You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
That's as true as saying you sent me to get a beating with a rope. You sent me to the bay, sir, to find a ship.
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. Begone.— On, officer, to prison till it come.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
I'll argue you about this with you when we have more time, and I'll teach your ears to listen to me with greater care. Villain, get to Adriana, go immediately. Give her this key, and tell her that there's a bag of money in the desk that's covered with Turkish tapestry. Have her send it. Tell her I've been arrested in the street, and that the money will bail me out. Get going, slave. Move it.
[To OFFICER] Onwards, officer, to the prison until the money arrives.
Exeunt SECOND MERCHANT, ANGELO, OFFICER, and ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
To Adriana. That is where we dined,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 fulfill.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
To Adriana? That's where we ate, where that lady said I was her husband. She's more than I can handle. I must go there, even though I'd rather not, for servants must do whatever they're commanded.
Exit
