Scene 1. The Mart.
 Enter 2nd MERCHANT, ANGELO the goldsmith, and an OFFICER.

2nd 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.

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.

            Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS and DROMIO OF EPHESUS,
                          from the Courtesan's.

Officer	That labour may you save; see where he comes.

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.

Dromio
of Ephesus	I buy a thousand pound a year, I buy a rope.
												[Exit.
Antipholus
of Ephesus	A man is well holp up that trusts to you!
	I promisd 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.

Angelo	Saving your merry humour, 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.

Antipholus
of Ephesus	I am not furnished with the present money;
	Besides, I have some business in the town.
	Good signor, 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.

Angelo	Then you will bring the chain to her yourself.

Antipholus
of Ephesus	No, bear it with you lest I come not time enough.

Angelo	Well sir, I will. Have you the chain about you?

Antipholus
of Ephesus	An if I have not, sir, I hope you have;
	Or else you may return without your money.

Angelo	Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the chain.
	Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman,
	And I, too blame, have held him here too long.

Antipholus
of Ephesus	Good Lord! You use this dalliance to excuse
	Your breach of promise to the Porpentine.
	I should have chid you for not bringing it,
	But like a shrew you first begin to brawl.

2nd Merchant	The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, dispatch.

Angelo	You hear how he importunes me. - The chain!

Antipholus
of Ephesus	Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money.

Angelo	Come, come, you know I gave it you even now.
	Either send the chain or send me by some token.

Antipholus
of Ephesus	Fie, now you run this humour out of breath!
	Come, where's the chain? I pray you let me see it.

2nd Merchant	My business cannot brook this dalliance.
	Good sir, say whe'er you'll answer me or no;
	If not, I'll leave him to the officer.

Antipholus
of Ephesus	I answer you? What should I answer you?

Angelo	The money that you owe me for the chain.

Antipholus
of Ephesus	I owe you none till I receive the chain.

Angelo	You know I gave it you half an hour since.

Antipholus
of Ephesus	You gave me none; you wrong me much to say so.

Angelo	You wrong me more, sir, in denying it.
	Consider how it stands upon my credit.

2nd Merchant	Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.

Officer	I do,
	And 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.

Antipholus
of Ephesus	Consent to pay thee that I never had?
	Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar'st.

Angelo	Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer.
	I would not spare my brother in this case
	If he should scorn me so apparently.

Officer	I do arrest you, sir. You hear the suit.

Antipholus
of Ephesus	I do obey thee till I give thee bail.
	But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dear
	As all the metal in your shop will answer.

Angelo	Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus,
	To your notorious shame, I doubt it not.

                 Enter DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, from the bay.
Dromio
of Syracuse	Master, there's a bark of Epidamnum
	That stays but till her owner comes aboard,
	And then 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 nought at all
	But for their owner, master, and yourself.

Antipholus
of Ephesus	How now, a madman? Why, thou peevish sheep,
	What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?

Dromio
of Syracuse	A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.

Antipholus
of Ephesus	Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope,
	And told thee to what purpose and what end.

Dromio
of Syracuse	You sent me for a rope's end as soon.
	You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.

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 covered 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, be gone!
	On, officer, to prison till it come.
							 [Exeunt all but DROMIO OF SYRACUSE.
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 fulfil.
												[Exit.
