No Fear Shakespeare

The Comedy of Errors

William Shakespeare

Get this No Fear to go!

Act 4, Scene 4

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS and the OFFICER
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS enters with the OFFICER.





5

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Fear me not, man. I will not break away:
I’ll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money,
To warrant thee, as I am ’rested for.
My wife is in a wayward mood today
And will not lightly trust the messenger
That I should be attached in Ephesus.
I tell you, ’twill sound harshly in her ears.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Don’t worry, man, I won’t try to escape. When it’s time for me to be freed, I’ll pay you the fee you’re entitled to for arresting me. My wife’s in a perverse mood today. She’ll be suspicious when the messenger tells her that I was arrested. I tell you, this will make her angry when she hears about it.
Enter DROMIO OF EPHESUS with a rope’s end
DROMIO OF EPHESUS enters, holding a length of rope.

Here comes my man. I think he brings the money.
How now, sir? Have you that I sent you for?
Here’s my servant. I think he’s got the money. Hello there, sir! Do you have what I told you to get?

10
DROMIO OF EPHESUS
Here’s that, I warrant you, will pay them all.
DROMIO OF EPHESUS
Yes. And this rope will take care of everybody, I guarantee it.

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
But where’s the money?
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
But where’s the money?

DROMIO OF EPHESUS
Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope.
DROMIO OF EPHESUS
Why, sir, I spent it on this rope.

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope?
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
You idiot! Five hundred ducats for a rope?

DROMIO OF EPHESUS
I’ll serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate.
DROMIO OF EPHESUS
I can get you five hundred ropes for that price.

15
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
To what end did I bid thee hie thee home?
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Why did I just send you home?

DROMIO OF EPHESUS
To a rope’s end, sir, and to that end am I returned.
DROMIO OF EPHESUS
To get a piece of rope. And here I am, with that piece.

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
And to that end, sir, I will welcome you. (beats DROMIO OF EPHESUS)
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
And I’ll use that piece of rope to welcome you with. (beats DROMIO OF EPHESUS)

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