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Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA
Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA

ADRIANA

Neither my husband nor the slave returned
That in such haste I sent to seek his master?
Sure, Luciana, it is two o'clock.

ADRIANA

Neither my husband nor the slave returned
That in such haste I sent to seek his master?
Sure, Luciana, it is two o'clock.

LUCIANA

Perhaps some merchant hath invited him,
5 And from the mart he’s somewhere gone to dinner.
Good sister, let us dine and never fret.
A man is master of his liberty;
Time is their master, and when they see time
They’ll go or come. If so, be patient, sister.

LUCIANA

Perhaps some merchant hath invited him,
And from the mart he’s somewhere gone to dinner.
Good sister, let us dine and never fret.
A man is master of his liberty;
Time is their master, and when they see time
They’ll go or come. If so, be patient, sister.

ADRIANA

10 Why should their liberty than ours be more?

ADRIANA

Why should their liberty than ours be more?

LUCIANA

Because their business still lies out o' door.

LUCIANA

Because their business still lies out o' door.

ADRIANA

Look when I serve him so, he takes it ill.

ADRIANA

Look when I serve him so, he takes it ill.

LUCIANA

O, know he is the bridle of your will.

LUCIANA

O, know he is the bridle of your will.

ADRIANA

There’s none but asses will be bridled so.

ADRIANA

There’s none but asses will be bridled so.

LUCIANA

15 Why, headstrong liberty is lashed with woe.
There’s nothing situate under heaven’s eye
But hath his bound, in earth, in sea, in sky.
The beasts, the fishes, and the wingèd fowls
Are their males' subjects and at their controls.
20 Man, more divine, the masters of all these,

LUCIANA

Why, headstrong liberty is lashed with woe.
There’s nothing situate under heaven’s eye
But hath his bound, in earth, in sea, in sky.
The beasts, the fishes, and the wingèd fowls
Are their males' subjects and at their controls.
Man, more divine, the masters of all these,
Lord of the wide world and wild wat'ry seas,
Endued with intellectual sense and souls,
Of more preeminence than fish and fowls,
Are masters to their females, and their lords.
25 Then let your will attend on their accords.
Lord of the wide world and wild wat'ry seas,
Endued with intellectual sense and souls,
Of more preeminence than fish and fowls,
Are masters to their females, and their lords.
Then let your will attend on their accords.

ADRIANA

This servitude makes you to keep unwed.

ADRIANA

This servitude makes you to keep unwed.

LUCIANA

Not this, but troubles of the marriage bed.

LUCIANA

Not this, but troubles of the marriage bed.

ADRIANA

But, were you wedded, you would bear some sway.

ADRIANA

But, were you wedded, you would bear some sway.

LUCIANA

Ere I learn love, I’ll practice to obey.

LUCIANA

Ere I learn love, I’ll practice to obey.

ADRIANA

30 How if your husband start some otherwhere?

ADRIANA

How if your husband start some otherwhere?

LUCIANA

Till he come home again, I would forbear.

LUCIANA

Till he come home again, I would forbear.

ADRIANA

Patience unmoved! No marvel though she pause;
They can be meek that have no other cause.
A wretched soul, bruised with adversity
35 We bid be quiet when we hear it cry,
But were we burdened with like weight of pain,
As much or more we should ourselves complain.
So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee,
With urging helpless patience would relieve me;
40 But, if thou live to see like right bereft,
This fool-begged patience in thee will be left.

ADRIANA

Patience unmoved! No marvel though she pause;
They can be meek that have no other cause.
A wretched soul, bruised with adversity
We bid be quiet when we hear it cry,
But were we burdened with like weight of pain,
As much or more we should ourselves complain.
So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee,
With urging helpless patience would relieve me;
But, if thou live to see like right bereft,
This fool-begged patience in thee will be left.

LUCIANA

Well, I will marry one day, but to try.
Here comes your man. Now is your husband nigh.

LUCIANA

Well, I will marry one day, but to try.
Here comes your man. Now is your husband nigh.
Enter DROMIO OF EPHESUS
Enter DROMIO OF EPHESUS

ADRIANA

Say, is your tardy master now at hand?

ADRIANA

Say, is your tardy master now at hand?

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Nay, he’s at two hands with me, and that my two ears can witness.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Nay, he’s at two hands with me, and that my two ears can witness.

ADRIANA

Say, didst thou speak with him? Know’st thou his mind?

ADRIANA

Say, didst thou speak with him? Know’st thou his mind?

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Ay, ay, he told his mind upon mine ear.
Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Ay, ay, he told his mind upon mine ear.
Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it.

LUCIANA

50 Spake he so doubtfully thou couldst not feel his meaning?

LUCIANA

Spake he so doubtfully thou couldst not feel his meaning?

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Nay, he struck so plainly I could too well feel his blows, and withal so doubtfully that I could scarce understand them.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Nay, he struck so plainly I could too well feel his blows, and withal so doubtfully that I could scarce understand them.

ADRIANA

But say, I prithee, is he coming home?
It seems he hath great care to please his wife.

ADRIANA

But say, I prithee, is he coming home?
It seems he hath great care to please his wife.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

55 Why, mistress, sure my master is horn mad.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Why, mistress, sure my master is horn mad.

ADRIANA

Horn mad, thou villain!

ADRIANA

Horn mad, thou villain!

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

     I mean not cuckold mad,
But sure he is stark mad.
When I desired him to come home to dinner,
He asked me for a thousand marks in gold.
60 “'Tis dinnertime,” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

     I mean not cuckold mad,
But sure he is stark mad.
When I desired him to come home to dinner,
He asked me for a thousand marks in gold.
“'Tis dinnertime,” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he.
“Your meat doth burn,” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he.
“Will you come?” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he.
“Where is the thousand marks I gave thee, villain?”
“The pig,” quoth I, “is burned.” “My gold,” quoth he.
65 “My mistress, sir,” quoth I. “Hang up thy mistress!
I know not thy mistress. Out on thy mistress!”
“Your meat doth burn,” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he.
“Will you come?” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he.
“Where is the thousand marks I gave thee, villain?”
“The pig,” quoth I, “is burned.” “My gold,” quoth he.
“My mistress, sir,” quoth I. “Hang up thy mistress!
I know not thy mistress. Out on thy mistress!”

LUCIANA

Quoth who?

LUCIANA

Quoth who?

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Quoth my master.
“I know,” quoth he, “no house, no wife, no mistress.”
70 So that my errand, due unto my tongue,
I thank him, I bare home upon my shoulders,
For, in conclusion, he did beat me there.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Quoth my master.
“I know,” quoth he, “no house, no wife, no mistress.”
So that my errand, due unto my tongue,
I thank him, I bare home upon my shoulders,
For, in conclusion, he did beat me there.

ADRIANA

Go back again, thou slave, and fetch him home.

ADRIANA

Go back again, thou slave, and fetch him home.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Go back again and be new beaten home?
75 For God’s sake, send some other messenger.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Go back again and be new beaten home?
For God’s sake, send some other messenger.

ADRIANA

Back, slave, or I will break thy pate across.

ADRIANA

Back, slave, or I will break thy pate across.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

And he will bless that cross with other beating.
Between you, I shall have a holy head.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

And he will bless that cross with other beating.
Between you, I shall have a holy head.

ADRIANA

Hence, prating peasant! Fetch thy master home.

ADRIANA

Hence, prating peasant! Fetch thy master home.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

80 Am I so round with you as you with me,
That like a football you do spurn me thus?
You spurn me hence, and he will spurn me hither.
If I last in this service, you must case me in leather.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Am I so round with you as you with me,
That like a football you do spurn me thus?
You spurn me hence, and he will spurn me hither.
If I last in this service, you must case me in leather.
Exit DROMIO OF EPHESUS
Exit DROMIO OF EPHESUS

LUCIANA

Fie, how impatience loureth in your face.

LUCIANA

Fie, how impatience loureth in your face.

ADRIANA

85 His company must do his minions grace,
Whilst I at home starve for a merry look.
Hath homely age th' alluring beauty took
From my poor cheek? Then he hath wasted it.
Are my discourses dull? Barren my wit?
90 If voluble and sharp discourse be marred,
Unkindness blunts it more than marble hard.
Do their gay vestments his affections bait?
That’s not my fault; he’s master of my state.
What ruins are in me that can be found
95 By him not ruined? Then is he the ground
Of my defeatures. My decayèd fair
A sunny look of his would soon repair.
But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale
And feeds from home. Poor I am but his stale.

ADRIANA

His company must do his minions grace,
Whilst I at home starve for a merry look.
Hath homely age th' alluring beauty took
From my poor cheek? Then he hath wasted it.
Are my discourses dull? Barren my wit?
If voluble and sharp discourse be marred,
Unkindness blunts it more than marble hard.
Do their gay vestments his affections bait?
That’s not my fault; he’s master of my state.
What ruins are in me that can be found
By him not ruined? Then is he the ground
Of my defeatures. My decayèd fair
A sunny look of his would soon repair.
But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale
And feeds from home. Poor I am but his stale.

LUCIANA

100 Self-harming jealousy, fie, beat it hence.

LUCIANA

Self-harming jealousy, fie, beat it hence.

ADRIANA

Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense.
I know his eye doth homage otherwhere,
Or else what lets it but he would be here?
Sister, you know he promised me a chain.
105 Would that alone o' love he would detain,
So he would keep fair quarter with his bed.
I see the jewel best enamelèd
Will lose his beauty. Yet the gold bides still
That others touch, and often touching will
110 Wear gold; yet no man that hath a name
By falsehood and corruption doth it shame.
Since that my beauty cannot please his eye,
I’ll weep what’s left away, and weeping die.

ADRIANA

Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense.
I know his eye doth homage otherwhere,
Or else what lets it but he would be here?
Sister, you know he promised me a chain.
Would that alone o' love he would detain,
So he would keep fair quarter with his bed.
I see the jewel best enamelèd
Will lose his beauty. Yet the gold bides still
That others touch, and often touching will
Wear gold; yet no man that hath a name
By falsehood and corruption doth it shame.
Since that my beauty cannot please his eye,
I’ll weep what’s left away, and weeping die.

LUCIANA

How many fond fools serve mad jealousy!

LUCIANA

How many fond fools serve mad jealousy!
Exeunt
Exeunt

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA
Enter ADRIANA and LUCIANA

ADRIANA

Neither my husband nor the slave returned
That in such haste I sent to seek his master?
Sure, Luciana, it is two o'clock.

ADRIANA

Neither my husband nor the slave returned
That in such haste I sent to seek his master?
Sure, Luciana, it is two o'clock.

LUCIANA

Perhaps some merchant hath invited him,
5 And from the mart he’s somewhere gone to dinner.
Good sister, let us dine and never fret.
A man is master of his liberty;
Time is their master, and when they see time
They’ll go or come. If so, be patient, sister.

LUCIANA

Perhaps some merchant hath invited him,
And from the mart he’s somewhere gone to dinner.
Good sister, let us dine and never fret.
A man is master of his liberty;
Time is their master, and when they see time
They’ll go or come. If so, be patient, sister.

ADRIANA

10 Why should their liberty than ours be more?

ADRIANA

Why should their liberty than ours be more?

LUCIANA

Because their business still lies out o' door.

LUCIANA

Because their business still lies out o' door.

ADRIANA

Look when I serve him so, he takes it ill.

ADRIANA

Look when I serve him so, he takes it ill.

LUCIANA

O, know he is the bridle of your will.

LUCIANA

O, know he is the bridle of your will.

ADRIANA

There’s none but asses will be bridled so.

ADRIANA

There’s none but asses will be bridled so.

LUCIANA

15 Why, headstrong liberty is lashed with woe.
There’s nothing situate under heaven’s eye
But hath his bound, in earth, in sea, in sky.
The beasts, the fishes, and the wingèd fowls
Are their males' subjects and at their controls.
20 Man, more divine, the masters of all these,

LUCIANA

Why, headstrong liberty is lashed with woe.
There’s nothing situate under heaven’s eye
But hath his bound, in earth, in sea, in sky.
The beasts, the fishes, and the wingèd fowls
Are their males' subjects and at their controls.
Man, more divine, the masters of all these,
Lord of the wide world and wild wat'ry seas,
Endued with intellectual sense and souls,
Of more preeminence than fish and fowls,
Are masters to their females, and their lords.
25 Then let your will attend on their accords.
Lord of the wide world and wild wat'ry seas,
Endued with intellectual sense and souls,
Of more preeminence than fish and fowls,
Are masters to their females, and their lords.
Then let your will attend on their accords.

ADRIANA

This servitude makes you to keep unwed.

ADRIANA

This servitude makes you to keep unwed.

LUCIANA

Not this, but troubles of the marriage bed.

LUCIANA

Not this, but troubles of the marriage bed.

ADRIANA

But, were you wedded, you would bear some sway.

ADRIANA

But, were you wedded, you would bear some sway.

LUCIANA

Ere I learn love, I’ll practice to obey.

LUCIANA

Ere I learn love, I’ll practice to obey.

ADRIANA

30 How if your husband start some otherwhere?

ADRIANA

How if your husband start some otherwhere?

LUCIANA

Till he come home again, I would forbear.

LUCIANA

Till he come home again, I would forbear.

ADRIANA

Patience unmoved! No marvel though she pause;
They can be meek that have no other cause.
A wretched soul, bruised with adversity
35 We bid be quiet when we hear it cry,
But were we burdened with like weight of pain,
As much or more we should ourselves complain.
So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee,
With urging helpless patience would relieve me;
40 But, if thou live to see like right bereft,
This fool-begged patience in thee will be left.

ADRIANA

Patience unmoved! No marvel though she pause;
They can be meek that have no other cause.
A wretched soul, bruised with adversity
We bid be quiet when we hear it cry,
But were we burdened with like weight of pain,
As much or more we should ourselves complain.
So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee,
With urging helpless patience would relieve me;
But, if thou live to see like right bereft,
This fool-begged patience in thee will be left.

LUCIANA

Well, I will marry one day, but to try.
Here comes your man. Now is your husband nigh.

LUCIANA

Well, I will marry one day, but to try.
Here comes your man. Now is your husband nigh.
Enter DROMIO OF EPHESUS
Enter DROMIO OF EPHESUS

ADRIANA

Say, is your tardy master now at hand?

ADRIANA

Say, is your tardy master now at hand?

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Nay, he’s at two hands with me, and that my two ears can witness.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Nay, he’s at two hands with me, and that my two ears can witness.

ADRIANA

Say, didst thou speak with him? Know’st thou his mind?

ADRIANA

Say, didst thou speak with him? Know’st thou his mind?

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Ay, ay, he told his mind upon mine ear.
Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Ay, ay, he told his mind upon mine ear.
Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it.

LUCIANA

50 Spake he so doubtfully thou couldst not feel his meaning?

LUCIANA

Spake he so doubtfully thou couldst not feel his meaning?

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Nay, he struck so plainly I could too well feel his blows, and withal so doubtfully that I could scarce understand them.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Nay, he struck so plainly I could too well feel his blows, and withal so doubtfully that I could scarce understand them.

ADRIANA

But say, I prithee, is he coming home?
It seems he hath great care to please his wife.

ADRIANA

But say, I prithee, is he coming home?
It seems he hath great care to please his wife.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

55 Why, mistress, sure my master is horn mad.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Why, mistress, sure my master is horn mad.

ADRIANA

Horn mad, thou villain!

ADRIANA

Horn mad, thou villain!

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

     I mean not cuckold mad,
But sure he is stark mad.
When I desired him to come home to dinner,
He asked me for a thousand marks in gold.
60 “'Tis dinnertime,” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

     I mean not cuckold mad,
But sure he is stark mad.
When I desired him to come home to dinner,
He asked me for a thousand marks in gold.
“'Tis dinnertime,” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he.
“Your meat doth burn,” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he.
“Will you come?” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he.
“Where is the thousand marks I gave thee, villain?”
“The pig,” quoth I, “is burned.” “My gold,” quoth he.
65 “My mistress, sir,” quoth I. “Hang up thy mistress!
I know not thy mistress. Out on thy mistress!”
“Your meat doth burn,” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he.
“Will you come?” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he.
“Where is the thousand marks I gave thee, villain?”
“The pig,” quoth I, “is burned.” “My gold,” quoth he.
“My mistress, sir,” quoth I. “Hang up thy mistress!
I know not thy mistress. Out on thy mistress!”

LUCIANA

Quoth who?

LUCIANA

Quoth who?

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Quoth my master.
“I know,” quoth he, “no house, no wife, no mistress.”
70 So that my errand, due unto my tongue,
I thank him, I bare home upon my shoulders,
For, in conclusion, he did beat me there.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Quoth my master.
“I know,” quoth he, “no house, no wife, no mistress.”
So that my errand, due unto my tongue,
I thank him, I bare home upon my shoulders,
For, in conclusion, he did beat me there.

ADRIANA

Go back again, thou slave, and fetch him home.

ADRIANA

Go back again, thou slave, and fetch him home.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Go back again and be new beaten home?
75 For God’s sake, send some other messenger.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Go back again and be new beaten home?
For God’s sake, send some other messenger.

ADRIANA

Back, slave, or I will break thy pate across.

ADRIANA

Back, slave, or I will break thy pate across.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

And he will bless that cross with other beating.
Between you, I shall have a holy head.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

And he will bless that cross with other beating.
Between you, I shall have a holy head.

ADRIANA

Hence, prating peasant! Fetch thy master home.

ADRIANA

Hence, prating peasant! Fetch thy master home.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

80 Am I so round with you as you with me,
That like a football you do spurn me thus?
You spurn me hence, and he will spurn me hither.
If I last in this service, you must case me in leather.

DROMIO OF EPHESUS

Am I so round with you as you with me,
That like a football you do spurn me thus?
You spurn me hence, and he will spurn me hither.
If I last in this service, you must case me in leather.
Exit DROMIO OF EPHESUS
Exit DROMIO OF EPHESUS

LUCIANA

Fie, how impatience loureth in your face.

LUCIANA

Fie, how impatience loureth in your face.

ADRIANA

85 His company must do his minions grace,
Whilst I at home starve for a merry look.
Hath homely age th' alluring beauty took
From my poor cheek? Then he hath wasted it.
Are my discourses dull? Barren my wit?
90 If voluble and sharp discourse be marred,
Unkindness blunts it more than marble hard.
Do their gay vestments his affections bait?
That’s not my fault; he’s master of my state.
What ruins are in me that can be found
95 By him not ruined? Then is he the ground
Of my defeatures. My decayèd fair
A sunny look of his would soon repair.
But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale
And feeds from home. Poor I am but his stale.

ADRIANA

His company must do his minions grace,
Whilst I at home starve for a merry look.
Hath homely age th' alluring beauty took
From my poor cheek? Then he hath wasted it.
Are my discourses dull? Barren my wit?
If voluble and sharp discourse be marred,
Unkindness blunts it more than marble hard.
Do their gay vestments his affections bait?
That’s not my fault; he’s master of my state.
What ruins are in me that can be found
By him not ruined? Then is he the ground
Of my defeatures. My decayèd fair
A sunny look of his would soon repair.
But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale
And feeds from home. Poor I am but his stale.

LUCIANA

100 Self-harming jealousy, fie, beat it hence.

LUCIANA

Self-harming jealousy, fie, beat it hence.

ADRIANA

Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense.
I know his eye doth homage otherwhere,
Or else what lets it but he would be here?
Sister, you know he promised me a chain.
105 Would that alone o' love he would detain,
So he would keep fair quarter with his bed.
I see the jewel best enamelèd
Will lose his beauty. Yet the gold bides still
That others touch, and often touching will
110 Wear gold; yet no man that hath a name
By falsehood and corruption doth it shame.
Since that my beauty cannot please his eye,
I’ll weep what’s left away, and weeping die.

ADRIANA

Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense.
I know his eye doth homage otherwhere,
Or else what lets it but he would be here?
Sister, you know he promised me a chain.
Would that alone o' love he would detain,
So he would keep fair quarter with his bed.
I see the jewel best enamelèd
Will lose his beauty. Yet the gold bides still
That others touch, and often touching will
Wear gold; yet no man that hath a name
By falsehood and corruption doth it shame.
Since that my beauty cannot please his eye,
I’ll weep what’s left away, and weeping die.

LUCIANA

How many fond fools serve mad jealousy!

LUCIANA

How many fond fools serve mad jealousy!
Exeunt
Exeunt

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