First folio
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Enter Adriana, wife to Antipholis Sereptus, with | Enter Adriana, wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, with | | CE I.i.1.1 | |
Luciana her Sister | Luciana, her sister | | CE I.i.1.2 | |
Adr. | ADRIANA | | | |
Neither my husband nor the slaue return'd, | Neither my husband nor the slave returned, | slave (n.)fellow, rascal, rogue, villain | CE II.i.1 | |
That in such haste I sent to seeke his Master? | That in such haste I sent to seek his master? | | CE II.i.2 | |
Sure Luciana it is two a clocke. | Sure, Luciana, it is two o'clock. | | CE II.i.3 | |
Luc. | LUCIANA | | | |
Perhaps some Merchant hath inuited him, | Perhaps some merchant hath invited him, | | CE II.i.4 | |
And from the Mart he's somewhere gone to dinner: | And from the mart he's somewhere gone to dinner. | mart (n.)market | CE II.i.5 | |
Good Sister let vs dine, and neuer fret; | Good sister, let us dine, and never fret. | | CE II.i.6 | |
A man is Master of his libertie: | A man is master of his liberty. | | CE II.i.7 | |
Time is their Master, and when they see time, | Time is their master, and when they see time | time (n.)right moment, favourable opportunity | CE II.i.8 | |
They'll goe or come; if so, be patient Sister. | They'll go or come. If so, be patient, sister. | | CE II.i.9 | |
Adr. | ADRIANA | | | |
Why should their libertie then ours be more? | Why should their liberty than ours be more? | | CE II.i.10 | |
Luc. | LUCIANA | | | |
Because their businesse still lies out a dore. | Because their business still lies out o' door. | still (adv.)constantly, always, continually | CE II.i.11 | |
| | a (prep.)variant form of 'of' | | |
Adr. | ADRIANA | | | |
Looke when I serue him so, he takes it thus. | Look when I serve him so he takes it ill. | ill (adv.)badly, adversely, unfavourably | CE II.i.12 | |
| | look when (conj.)whenever, as soon as | | |
Luc. | LUCIANA | | | |
Oh, know he is the bridle of your will. | O, know he is the bridle of your will. | | CE II.i.13 | |
Adr. | ADRIANA | | | |
There's none but asses will be bridled so. | There's none but asses will be bridled so. | | CE II.i.14 | |
Luc. | LUCIANA | | | |
Why, headstrong liberty is lasht with woe: | Why, headstrong liberty is lashed with woe. | lash (v.)scourge, punish, flog | CE II.i.15 | |
There's nothing situate vnder heauens eye, | There's nothing situate under heaven's eye | | CE II.i.16 | |
But hath his bound in earth, in sea, in skie. | But hath his bound in earth, in sea, in sky. | bound (n.)limit, boundary, confine, barrier | CE II.i.17 | |
The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowles | The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowls, | | CE II.i.18 | |
Are their males subiects, and at their controules: | Are their males' subjects and at their controls. | | CE II.i.19 | |
Man more diuine, the Master of all these, | Man, more divine, the master of all these, | | CE II.i.20 | |
Lord of the wide world, and wilde watry seas, | Lord of the wide world and wild watery seas, | | CE II.i.21 | |
Indued with intellectuall sence and soules, | Indued with intellectual sense and souls, | indued, endued (adj.)endowed, supplied [with appropriate qualities] | CE II.i.22 | |
Of more preheminence then fish and fowles, | Of more pre-eminence than fish and fowls, | | CE II.i.23 | |
Are masters to their females, and their Lords: | Are masters to their females, and their lords. | | CE II.i.24 | |
Then let your will attend on their accords. | Then let your will attend on their accords. | accord (n.)agreement, assent, consent | CE II.i.25 | |
| | attend (v.)serve, follow, wait [on/upon] | | |
Adri. | ADRIANA | | | |
This seruitude makes you to keepe vnwed. | This servitude makes you to keep unwed. | | CE II.i.26 | |
Luci. | LUCIANA | | | |
Not this, but troubles of the marriage bed. | Not this, but troubles of the marriage-bed. | | CE II.i.27 | |
Adr. | ADRIANA | | | |
But were you wedded, you wold bear some sway | But were you wedded, you would bear some sway. | | CE II.i.28 | |
Luc. | LUCIANA | | | |
Ere I learne loue, Ile practise to obey. | Ere I learn love, I'll practise to obey. | | CE II.i.29 | |
Adr. | ADRIANA | | | |
How if your husband start some other where? | How if your husband start some otherwhere? | otherwhere (adv.)elsewhere, somewhere else | CE II.i.30 | |
| | start (v.)fly off, move off | | |
Luc. | LUCIANA | | | |
Till he come home againe, I would forbeare. | Till he come home again I would forbear. | forbear (v.)control oneself, have patience [for] | CE II.i.31 | |
Adr. | ADRIANA | | | |
Patience vnmou'd, no maruel though she pause, | Patience unmoved! No marvel though she pause. | pause (v.)delay, take time to consider | CE II.i.32 | |
They can be meeke, that haue no other cause: | They can be meek that have no other cause. | cause (n.)reason, motive, ground | CE II.i.33 | |
A wretched soule bruis'd with aduersitie, | A wretched soul, bruised with adversity, | | CE II.i.34 | |
We bid be quiet when we heare it crie. | We bid be quiet when we hear it cry. | | CE II.i.35 | |
But were we burdned with like waight of paine, | But were we burdened with like weight of pain, | like (adj.)same, similar, alike, equal | CE II.i.36 | |
As much, or more, we should our selues complaine: | As much or more we should ourselves complain. | | CE II.i.37 | |
So thou that hast no vnkinde mate to greeue thee, | So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee, | grieve (v.)vex, hurt, trouble | CE II.i.38 | |
With vrging helpelesse patience would releeue me; | With urging helpless patience would relieve me. | helpless (adj.)unavailing, useless, unprofitable | CE II.i.39 | |
But if thou liue to see like right bereft, | But if thou live to see like right bereft, | right (n.)just claim, rights, title | CE II.i.40 | |
| | like (adj.)same, similar, alike, equal | | |
| | bereave (v.)take away [from], deprive, deny, rob | | |
This foole-beg'd patience in thee will be left. | This fool-begged patience in thee will be left. | leave (v.)abandon, forsake, relinquish | CE II.i.41 | |
| | fool-begged (adj.)foolish, idiotic, silly | | |
Luci. | LUCIANA | | | |
Well, I will marry one day but to trie: | Well, I will marry one day, but to try. | try (v.)prove, ascertain, find out | CE II.i.42 | |
Heere comes your man, now is your husband nie. | Here comes your man. Now is your husband nigh. | | CE II.i.43 | |
Enter Dromio Eph. | Enter Dromio of Ephesus | | CE II.i.43 | |
Adr. | ADRIANA | | | |
Say, is your tardie master now at hand? | Say, is your tardy master now at hand? | | CE II.i.44 | |
E.Dro. | DROMIO OF EPHESUS | | | |
Nay, hee's at too hands with mee, | Nay, he's at two hands with me, | | CE II.i.45 | |
and that my two eares can witnesse. | and that my two ears can witness. | | CE II.i.46 | |
Adr. | ADRIANA | | | |
Say, didst thou speake with him? knowst thou his minde? | Say, didst thou speak with him? Knowest thou his mind? | | CE II.i.47 | |
E.Dro. | DROMIO OF EPHESUS | | | |
I, I, he told his minde vpon mine eare, | I? Ay. He told his mind upon mine ear. | tell (v.)communicate, make known | CE II.i.48 | |
Beshrew his hand, I scarce could vnderstand it. | Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it. | understand (v.)stand under the force of [with pun on ‘comprehend’] | CE II.i.49 | |
| | beshrew, 'shrew (v.)curse, devil take, evil befall | | |
Luc. | LUCIANA | | | |
Spake hee so doubtfully, thou couldst not feele | Spake he so doubtfully thou couldst not feel | doubtfully (adv.)ambiguously, hesitatingly, indistinctly | CE II.i.50 | |
his meaning. | his meaning? | | CE II.i.51 | |
E.Dro. | DROMIO OF EPHESUS | | | |
Nay, hee strooke so plainly, I could | Nay, he struck so plainly I could | | CE II.i.52 | |
too well feele his blowes; and withall so doubtfully, that I | too well feel his blows, and withal so doubtfully that I | doubtfully (adv.)dreadfully, awfully, fearfully | CE II.i.53 | |
could scarce vnderstand them. | could scarce understand them. | | CE II.i.54 | |
Adri. | ADRIANA | | | |
But say, I prethee, is he comming home? | But say, I prithee, is he coming home? | | CE II.i.55 | |
It seemes he hath great care to please his wife. | It seems he hath great care to please his wife. | | CE II.i.56 | |
E.Dro. | DROMIO OF EPHESUS | | | |
Why Mistresse, sure my Master is horne mad. | Why, mistress, sure my master is horn-mad. | horn-mad (adj.)[as of horned beasts] furious, enraged, raving mad | CE II.i.57 | |
Adri. | ADRIANA | | | |
Horne mad, thou villaine? | Horn-mad, thou villain? | | CE II.i.58.1 | |
E.Dro. | DROMIO OF EPHESUS | | | |
I meane not Cuckold mad, | I mean not cuckold-mad, | cuckold-mad (adj.)mad through being a cuckold | CE II.i.58.2 | |
But sure he is starke mad: | But sure he is stark mad. | | CE II.i.59 | |
When I desir'd him to come home to dinner, | When I desired him to come home to dinner | | CE II.i.60 | |
He ask'd me for a hundred markes in gold: | He asked me for a thousand marks in gold. | mark (n.)accounting unit in England (value: two-thirds of a pound) | CE II.i.61 | |
'Tis dinner time, quoth I: my gold, quoth he: | ‘ 'Tis dinner-time,’ quoth I. ‘ My gold,’ quoth he. | quoth (v.)said | CE II.i.62 | |
Your meat doth burne, quoth I: my gold quoth he: | ‘ Your meat doth burn,’ quoth I; ‘ My gold,’ quoth he. | | CE II.i.63 | |
Will you come, quoth I: my gold, quoth he; | ‘ Will you come home?’ quoth I. ‘ My gold,’ quoth he. | | CE II.i.64 | |
Where is the thousand markes I gaue thee villaine? | ‘ Where is the thousand marks I gave thee, villain?’ | | CE II.i.65 | |
The Pigge quoth I, is burn'd: my gold, quoth he: | ‘ The pig,’ quoth I, ‘ is burned.’ ‘ My gold,’ quoth he. | | CE II.i.66 | |
My mistresse, sir, quoth I: hang vp thy Mistresse: | ‘ My mistress, sir – ’ quoth I – ‘ Hang up thy mistress! | | CE II.i.67 | |
I know not thy mistresse, out on thy mistresse. | I know not thy mistress. Out on thy mistress!’ | | CE II.i.68 | |
Luci. | LUCIANA | | | |
Quoth who? | Quoth who? | | CE II.i.69 | |
E.Dr. | DROMIO OF EPHESUS | | | |
Quoth my Master, | Quoth my master. | | CE II.i.70 | |
I know quoth he, no house, no wife, no mistresse: | ‘ I know,’ quoth he, ‘ no house, no wife, no mistress.’ | | CE II.i.71 | |
so that my arrant due vnto my tongue, | So that my errand, due unto my tongue, | | CE II.i.72 | |
I thanke him, I bare home vpon my shoulders: | I thank him, I bare home upon my shoulders; | | CE II.i.73 | |
for in conclusion, he did beat me there. | For, in conclusion, he did beat me there. | | CE II.i.74 | |
Adri. | ADRIANA | | | |
Go back againe, thou slaue, & fetch him home. | Go back again, thou slave, and fetch him home. | | CE II.i.75 | |
Dro. | DROMIO OF EPHESUS | | | |
Goe backe againe, and be new beaten home? | Go back again, and be new-beaten home? | | CE II.i.76 | |
For Gods sake send some other messenger. | For God's sake send some other messenger. | | CE II.i.77 | |
Adri. | ADRIANA | | | |
Backe slaue, or I will breake thy pate a-crosse. | Back, slave, or I will break thy pate across. | | CE II.i.78 | |
Dro. | DROMIO OF EPHESUS | | | |
And he will blesse yt crosse with other beating: | And he will bless that cross with other beating, | bless (v.)wound, hurt, beat; also: consecrate | CE II.i.79 | |
| | cross (n.)crossness; also: sign of the cross | | |
Betweene you, I shall haue a holy head. | Between you I shall have a holy head. | holy (adj.)of holiness; also: full of holes | CE II.i.80 | |
Adri. | ADRIANA | | | |
Hence prating pesant, fetch thy Master home. | Hence, prating peasant, fetch thy master home. | prating (adj.)prattling, chattering, blathering | CE II.i.81 | |
| | peasant (n.)servant, fellow, rascal | | |
| She beats Dromio | | CE I.ii.81 | |
Dro. | DROMIO OF EPHESUS | | | |
Am I so round with you, as you with me, | Am I so round with you as you with me | round (adj.)blunt, forthright, straight, plain-spoken | CE II.i.82 | |
That like a foot-ball you doe spurne me thus: | That like a football you do spurn me thus? | spurn (v.)kick, strike, stamp [on], dash | CE II.i.83 | |
You spurne me hence, and he will spurne me hither, | You spurn me hence, and he will spurn me hither. | | CE II.i.84 | |
If I last in this seruice, you must case me in leather. | If I last in this service you must case me in leather. | case (v.)cover, protect, enclose | CE II.i.85 | |
| Exit | | CE II.i.85 | |
Luci. | LUCIANA | | | |
| (to Adriana) | | CE II.i.86 | |
Fie how impatience lowreth in your face. | Fie, how impatience loureth in your face. | lour, lower (v.)frown, scowl, look dark and threatening | CE II.i.86 | |
Adri. | ADRIANA | | | |
His company must do his minions grace, | His company must do his minions grace | minion (n.)darling, favourite, select one | CE II.i.87 | |
| | grace (n.)honour, favour, recognition, respect | | |
Whil'st I at home starue for a merrie looke: | Whilst I at home starve for a merry look. | starve (v.)die, perish | CE II.i.88 | |
Hath homelie age th' alluring beauty tooke | Hath homely age the alluring beauty took | homely (adj.)plain-looking, unattractive, ugly | CE II.i.89 | |
From my poore cheeke? then he hath wasted it. | From my poor cheek? Then he hath wasted it. | waste (v.)squander, wear away, lay waste to | CE II.i.90 | |
Are my discourses dull? Barren my wit, | Are my discourses dull? barren my wit? | wit (n.)mental sharpness, acumen, quickness, ingenuity | CE II.i.91 | |
| | discourse (n.)conversation, talk, chat | | |
| | barren (adj.)stupid, empty-headed, dull | | |
If voluble and sharpe discourse be mar'd, | If voluble and sharp discourse be marred, | sharp (adj.)witty, sharp-witted, discerning | CE II.i.92 | |
| | discourse (n.)conversation, talk, chat | | |
Vnkindnesse blunts it more then marble hard. | Unkindness blunts it more than marble hard. | | CE II.i.93 | |
Doe their gay vestments his affections baite? | Do their gay vestments his affections bait? | bait (v.)tempt, entice, lure | CE II.i.94 | |
That's not my fault, hee's master of my state. | That's not my fault; he's master of my state. | state (n.)condition, circumstances, situation, state of affairs | CE II.i.95 | |
What ruines are in me that can be found, | What ruins are in me that can be found | | CE II.i.96 | |
By him not ruin'd? Then is he the ground | By him not ruined? Then is he the ground | ground (n.)reason, cause, source | CE II.i.97 | |
Of my defeatures. My decayed faire, | Of my defeatures. My decayed fair | fair (n.)fair face, beauty | CE II.i.98 | |
| | defeature (n.)disfigurement, defacement, loss of beauty | | |
A sunnie looke of his, would soone repaire. | A sunny look of his would soon repair. | | CE II.i.99 | |
But, too vnruly Deere, he breakes the pale, | But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale | pale (n.)fence, paling, enclosure | CE II.i.100 | |
And feedes from home; poore I am but his stale. | And feeds from home. Poor I am but his stale. | stale (n.)dupe, sap, laughing-stock | CE II.i.101 | |
Luci. | LUCIANA | | | |
Selfe-harming Iealousie; fie beat it hence. | Self-harming jealousy! Fie, beat it hence. | | CE II.i.102 | |
Ad. | ADRIANA | | | |
Vnfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispence: | Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense. | dispense with (v.)disregard, pardon, put up with | CE II.i.103 | |
I know his eye doth homage other-where, | I know his eye doth homage otherwhere, | otherwhere (adv.)elsewhere, somewhere else | CE II.i.104 | |
Or else, what lets it but he would be here? | Or else what lets it but he would be here? | let (v.)hinder, prevent, stand in the way | CE II.i.105 | |
Sister, you know he promis'd me a chaine, | Sister, you know he promised me a chain. | | CE II.i.106 | |
Would that alone, a loue he would detaine, | Would that alone a love he would detain | detain (v.)keep back, withhold, retain | CE II.i.107 | |
So he would keepe faire quarter with his bed: | So he would keep fair quarter with his bed. | keep fair quarter withplay fair over, behave honourably over, have a proper regard to | CE II.i.108 | |
I see the Iewell best enamaled | I see the jewel best enamelled | enamelled (adj.)brightly coloured, multi-coloured, kaleidoscopic | CE II.i.109 | |
| | jewel (n.)fine ornament, costly adornment | | |
Will loose his beautie: yet the gold bides still | Will lose his beauty. Yet the gold bides still | still (adv.)constantly, always, continually | CE II.i.110 | |
| | bide (v.)remain, persist, continue in being | | |
That others touch, and often touching will, | That others touch; and often touching will | touch (v.)test the quality [of], put to the test | CE II.i.111 | |
Where gold and no man that hath a name, | Wear gold, and no man that hath a name | | CE II.i.112 | |
By falshood and corruption doth it shame: | But falsehood and corruption doth it shame. | | CE II.i.113 | |
Since that my beautie cannot please his eie, | Since that my beauty cannot please his eye, | | CE II.i.114 | |
Ile weepe (what's left away) and weeping die. | I'll weep what's left away, and weeping die. | | CE II.i.115 | |
Luci. | LUCIANA | | | |
How manie fond fooles serue mad Ielousie? | How many fond fools serve mad jealousy! | fond (adj.)credulous, naive, gullible | CE II.i.116 | |
Exit.
| Exeunt | | CE II.i.116 | |