Page 1662 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

FIRST MERCHANT Exit.

Sir, I commend you to your own content.

ANTIPHOLUS S.

He that commends me to mine own content
Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
I to the world am like a drop of water [35]
That in the ocean seeks another drop,
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself.
So I, to find a mother and a brother,
In quest of them unhappy, lose myself. [40]

Enter Dromio of Ephesus.
Here comes the almanac of my true date.
What now? How chance thou art returned so soon?

DROMIO E.

Returned so soon? Rather approached too late.
The capon burns, the pig falls from the spit.
The clock hath strucken twelve upon the bell; [45]
My mistress made it one upon my cheek.
She is so hot because the meat is cold.
The meat is cold because you come not home.
You come not home because you have no stomach.
You have no stomach, having broke your fast. [50]
But we that know what ’tis to fast and pray
Are penitent for your default today.

ANTIPHOLUS S.

Stop in your wind, sir. Tell me this, I pray:
Where have you left the money that I gave you?

DROMIO E.

O, sixpence that I had o’ Wednesday last [55]
To pay the saddler for my mistress’ crupper.
The saddler had it, sir. I kept it not.

ANTIPHOLUS S.

I am not in a sportive humour now.