Page 1680 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

ACT III IT

Scene I IT

Enter Antipholus of Ephesus, his man Dromio, Angelo the goldsmith, and
Balthasar the merchant.

ANTIPHOLUS E.

Good Signior Angelo, you must excuse us all.
My wife is shrewish when I keep not hours.
Say that I lingered with you at your shop
To see the making of her carcanet,
And that tomorrow you will bring it home. [5]
But here’s a villain that would face me down
He met me on the mart, and that I beat him,
And charged him with a thousand marks in gold,
And that I did deny my wife and house.
Thou drunkard, thou, what didst thou mean by this? [10]

DROMIO E.

Say what you will, sir, but I know what I know:
That you beat me at the mart I have your hand to show.
If the skin were parchment and the blows you gave were ink,
Your own handwriting would tell you what I think.

ANTIPHOLUS E.

I think thou art an ass.

DROMIO E.

Marry, so it doth appear [15]
By the wrongs I suffer, and the blows I bear.
I should kick, being kicked, and, being at that pass,
You would keep from my heels, and beware of an ass.

ANTIPHOLUS E.

You’re sad, Signior Balthasar. Pray God our cheer