Get this No Fear to go!
Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, DROMIO OF EPHESUS, ANGELO, and BALTHASAR
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, DROMIO OF EPHESUS,ANGELO, and BALTHASAR enter. |
|
|
5 10 |
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
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.
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?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Signior Angelo, please excuse us. My wife gets angry when I’m late. Here’s the story we’ll tell her: that I was with you at your shop, watching you make her necklace, and that you’re going to deliver it tomorrow. But here comes a scoundrel who says he saw me at the marketplace and that I beat on him, told him I’d given him a thousand marks in gold, and then lied about my wife and my house. You drunkard, what was that all about?
|
|
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS
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.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS
Say what you want, but I know what I know. You beat me at the marketplace, and I have the bruises to prove it. If my skin were paper and your punches were ink, you could read the beating on my body.
|
|
15 |
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
I think thou art an ass.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
I think you’re an ass.
|
|
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS
Marry, so it doth appear
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.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS
Honestly, it sure looks that way, judging by all the beatings and the bad treatment I’m getting. Since I’m an ass, I ought to kick like one. Then you’d be scared of me and keep away.
|
|
20 |
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
You’re sad, Signior Balthasar. Pray God our cheer
May answer my good will and your good welcome here.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Signior Balthasar, you look upset. I hope the good meal I’m going to give you will show the goodwill I bear you and how welcome you are.
|
Summary, analysis, themes, essay topics, and more.
Ask a question or post an answer.
Get the No Fear Shakespeare you can hold in your hand. In print and ebook at BN.com
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter