No Fear Shakespeare

The Comedy of Errors

William Shakespeare

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Act 4, Scene 1, Page 5

Original Text

Modern Text


85




90

DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
Master, there is a bark of Epidamnum
That stays but till her owner comes aboard,
And then, sir, 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 naught at all
But for their owner, master, and yourself.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
Master, there’s a ship from Epidamnum that’s going to set sail as soon as its owner gets on board. I’ve left our luggage on the ship, and I bought the oil, balm, and liquor you wanted. The ship is ready, the wind is up, and the sailors are only waiting for their owner and for you.


ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
How now? A madman? Why, thou peevish sheep,
What ship of Epidamnum stays for me?
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
What are you, a madman? You annoying idiot, what Epidamnum ship is waiting for me?

95
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
A ship you sent me to find, to book passage out of here.


ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope
And told thee to what purpose and what end.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
You drunken slave, I sent you for a rope, and I told you what to do with it.


DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
You sent me for a rope’s end as soon.
You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
Yeah, right—you sent me to get whipped. You sent me to the port to find a ship.

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105


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 cover’d 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. Begone.—
On, officer, to prison till it come.
ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
I’ll debate this with you later, and then I’ll teach you to listen more carefully. Go to Adriana, you scoundrel, and quickly. Give her this key, and tell her that there’s money in the desk that’s covered with a Turkish tapestry. Have her send it to me. Tell her that I’ve been arrested and the money will be my bail. Hurry, you slave! Go! Officer, take me to prison until the money comes.
Exeunt SECOND MERCHANT, ANGELO, OFFICER, and ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS
SECOND MERCHANT, ANGELO, OFFICER, and ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS exit.

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