Page 1723 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Enter [Solinus,] the Duke of Ephesus, and [Egeon,] the Merchant of
Syracuse, barehead, with the Headsman, and other officers.

DUKE

Yet once again proclaim it publicly. [130]
If any friend will pay the sum for him,
He shall not die, so much we tender him.

ADRIANA

Justice, most sacred Duke, against the Abbess!

DUKE

She is a virtuous and a reverend lady.
It cannot be that she hath done thee wrong. [135]

ADRIANA

May it please your grace, Antipholus my husband,
Who I made lord of me and all I had
At your important letters - this ill day
A most outrageous fit of madness took him,
That desperately he hurried through the street, [140]
With him his bondman all as mad as he,
Doing displeasure to the citizens
By rushing in their houses, bearing thence
Rings, jewels, anything his rage did like.
Once did I get him bound, and sent him home [145]
Whilst to take order for the wrongs I went,
That here and there his fury had committed.
Anon, I wot not by what strong escape,
He broke from those that had the guard of him,
And with his mad attendant and himself, [150]
Each one with ireful passion, with drawn swords
Met us again, and, madly bent on us,
Chased us away; till, raising of more aid,
We came again to bind them. Then they fled
Into this abbey, whither we pursued them; [155]
And here the Abbess shuts the gates on us,
And will not suffer us to fetch him out,
Nor send him forth that we may bear him hence.
Therefore, most gracious Duke, with thy command