The Comedy of Errors

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Enter Adriana, wife to Antipholis Sereptus, withEnter Adriana, wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, with CE I.i.1.1
Luciana her SisterLuciana, her sister CE I.i.1.2
Adr.ADRIANA 
Neither my husband nor the slaue return'd, Neither my husband nor the slave returned,slave (n.)

old form: slaue
fellow, rascal, rogue, villain
CE II.i.1
That in such haste I sent to seeke his Master? That in such haste I sent to seek his master? CE II.i.2
Sure Luciana it is two a clocke. Sure, Luciana, it is two o'clock. CE II.i.3
Luc.LUCIANA 
Perhaps some Merchant hath inuited him, Perhaps some merchant hath invited him, CE II.i.4
And from the Mart he's somewhere gone to dinner: And from the mart he's somewhere gone to dinner.mart (n.)
market
CE II.i.5
Good Sister let vs dine, and neuer fret; Good sister, let us dine, and never fret. CE II.i.6
A man is Master of his libertie: A man is master of his liberty. CE II.i.7
Time is their Master, and when they see time, Time is their master, and when they see timetime (n.)
right moment, favourable opportunity
CE II.i.8
They'll goe or come; if so, be patient Sister. They'll go or come. If so, be patient, sister. CE II.i.9
Adr.ADRIANA 
Why should their libertie then ours be more? Why should their liberty than ours be more? CE II.i.10
Luc.LUCIANA 
Because their businesse still lies out a dore.Because their business still lies out o' door.still (adv.)
constantly, always, continually
CE II.i.11
a (prep.)
variant form of 'of'
Adr.ADRIANA 
Looke when I serue him so, he takes it thus. Look when I serve him so he takes it ill.ill (adv.)
badly, adversely, unfavourably
CE II.i.12
look when (conj.)
whenever, as soon as
Luc.LUCIANA 
Oh, know he is the bridle of your will. O, know he is the bridle of your will. CE II.i.13
Adr.ADRIANA 
There's none but asses will be bridled so. There's none but asses will be bridled so. CE II.i.14
Luc.LUCIANA 
Why, headstrong liberty is lasht with woe: Why, headstrong liberty is lashed with woe.lash (v.)

old form: lasht
scourge, punish, flog
CE II.i.15
There's nothing situate vnder heauens eye, There's nothing situate under heaven's eye CE II.i.16
But hath his bound in earth, in sea, in skie. But hath his bound in earth, in sea, in sky.bound (n.)
limit, boundary, confine, barrier
CE II.i.17
The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowles The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowls, CE II.i.18
Are their males subiects, and at their controules: Are their males' subjects and at their controls. CE II.i.19
Man more diuine, the Master of all these, Man, more divine, the master of all these, CE II.i.20
Lord of the wide world, and wilde watry seas, Lord of the wide world and wild watery seas, CE II.i.21
Indued with intellectuall sence and soules, Indued with intellectual sense and souls,indued, endued (adj.)
endowed, supplied [with appropriate qualities]
CE II.i.22
Of more preheminence then fish and fowles, Of more pre-eminence than fish and fowls, CE II.i.23
Are masters to their females, and their Lords: Are masters to their females, and their lords. CE II.i.24
Then let your will attend on their accords. Then let your will attend on their accords.accord (n.)
agreement, assent, consent
CE II.i.25
attend (v.)
serve, follow, wait [on/upon]
Adri.ADRIANA 
This seruitude makes you to keepe vnwed. This servitude makes you to keep unwed. CE II.i.26
Luci.LUCIANA 
Not this, but troubles of the marriage bed. Not this, but troubles of the marriage-bed. CE II.i.27
Adr.ADRIANA 
But were you wedded, you wold bear some sway But were you wedded, you would bear some sway. CE II.i.28
Luc.LUCIANA 
Ere I learne loue, Ile practise to obey. Ere I learn love, I'll practise to obey. CE II.i.29
Adr.ADRIANA 
How if your husband start some other where? How if your husband start some otherwhere?otherwhere (adv.)

old form: other where
elsewhere, somewhere else
CE II.i.30
start (v.)
fly off, move off
Luc.LUCIANA 
Till he come home againe, I would forbeare. Till he come home again I would forbear.forbear (v.)

old form: forbeare
control oneself, have patience [for]
CE II.i.31
Adr.ADRIANA 
Patience vnmou'd, no maruel though she pause, Patience unmoved! No marvel though she pause.pause (v.)
delay, take time to consider
CE II.i.32
They can be meeke, that haue no other cause: They can be meek that have no other cause.cause (n.)
reason, motive, ground
CE II.i.33
A wretched soule bruis'd with aduersitie, A wretched soul, bruised with adversity, CE II.i.34
We bid be quiet when we heare it crie. We bid be quiet when we hear it cry. CE II.i.35
But were we burdned with like waight of paine, But were we burdened with like weight of pain,like (adj.)
same, similar, alike, equal
CE II.i.36
As much, or more, we should our selues complaine: As much or more we should ourselves complain. CE II.i.37
So thou that hast no vnkinde mate to greeue thee, So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee,grieve (v.)

old form: greeue
vex, hurt, trouble
CE II.i.38
With vrging helpelesse patience would releeue me; With urging helpless patience would relieve me.helpless (adj.)

old form: helpelesse
unavailing, useless, unprofitable
CE II.i.39
But if thou liue to see like right bereft, But if thou live to see like right bereft,right (n.)
just claim, rights, title
CE II.i.40
like (adj.)
same, similar, alike, equal
bereave (v.)
take away [from], deprive, deny, rob
This foole-beg'd patience in thee will be left. This fool-begged patience in thee will be left.leave (v.)
abandon, forsake, relinquish
CE II.i.41
fool-begged (adj.)

old form: foole-beg'd
foolish, idiotic, silly
Luci.LUCIANA 
Well, I will marry one day but to trie: Well, I will marry one day, but to try.try (v.)

old form: trie
prove, ascertain, find out
CE II.i.42
Heere comes your man, now is your husband nie. Here comes your man. Now is your husband nigh. CE II.i.43
Enter Dromio Eph.Enter Dromio of Ephesus CE II.i.43
Adr.ADRIANA 
Say, is your tardie master now at hand? Say, is your tardy master now at hand? CE II.i.44
E.Dro.DROMIO OF EPHESUS 
Nay, hee's at too hands with mee, Nay, he's at two hands with me, CE II.i.45
and that my two eares can witnesse. and that my two ears can witness. CE II.i.46
Adr.ADRIANA 
Say, didst thou speake with him? knowst thou his minde? Say, didst thou speak with him? Knowest thou his mind? CE II.i.47
E.Dro.DROMIO OF EPHESUS 
I, I, he told his minde vpon mine eare, I? Ay. He told his mind upon mine ear.tell (v.)
communicate, make known
CE II.i.48
Beshrew his hand, I scarce could vnderstand it. Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it.understand (v.)

old form: vnderstand
stand under the force of [with pun on ‘comprehend’]
CE II.i.49
beshrew, 'shrew (v.)
curse, devil take, evil befall
Luc.LUCIANA 
Spake hee so doubtfully, thou couldst not feele Spake he so doubtfully thou couldst not feeldoubtfully (adv.)
ambiguously, hesitatingly, indistinctly
CE II.i.50
his meaning. his meaning? CE II.i.51
E.Dro.DROMIO OF EPHESUS 
Nay, hee strooke so plainly, I could Nay, he struck so plainly I could CE II.i.52
too well feele his blowes; and withall so doubtfully, that I too well feel his blows, and withal so doubtfully that Idoubtfully (adv.)
dreadfully, awfully, fearfully
CE II.i.53
could scarce vnderstand them. could scarce understand them. CE II.i.54
Adri.ADRIANA 
But say, I prethee, is he comming home? But say, I prithee, is he coming home? CE II.i.55
It seemes he hath great care to please his wife.  It seems he hath great care to please his wife. CE II.i.56
E.Dro.DROMIO OF EPHESUS 
Why Mistresse, sure my Master is horne mad. Why, mistress, sure my master is horn-mad.horn-mad (adj.)

old form: horne mad
[as of horned beasts] furious, enraged, raving mad
CE II.i.57
Adri.ADRIANA 
Horne mad, thou villaine? Horn-mad, thou villain? CE II.i.58.1
E.Dro.DROMIO OF EPHESUS 
I meane not Cuckold mad, I mean not cuckold-mad,cuckold-mad (adj.)
mad through being a cuckold
CE II.i.58.2
But sure he is starke mad: But sure he is stark mad. CE II.i.59
When I desir'd him to come home to dinner, When I desired him to come home to dinner CE II.i.60
He ask'd me for a hundred markes in gold: He asked me for a thousand marks in gold.mark (n.)

old form: markes
accounting unit in England (value: two-thirds of a pound)
CE II.i.61
'Tis dinner time, quoth I: my gold, quoth he: ‘ 'Tis dinner-time,’ quoth I. ‘ My gold,’ quoth he.quoth (v.)
said
CE II.i.62
Your meat doth burne, quoth I: my gold quoth he: ‘ Your meat doth burn,’ quoth I; ‘ My gold,’ quoth he. CE II.i.63
Will you come, quoth I: my gold, quoth he; ‘ Will you come home?’ quoth I. ‘ My gold,’ quoth he. CE II.i.64
Where is the thousand markes I gaue thee villaine? ‘ Where is the thousand marks I gave thee, villain?’ CE II.i.65
The Pigge quoth I, is burn'd: my gold, quoth he: ‘ The pig,’ quoth I, ‘ is burned.’ ‘ My gold,’ quoth he. CE II.i.66
My mistresse, sir, quoth I: hang vp thy Mistresse: ‘ My mistress, sir – ’ quoth I – ‘ Hang up thy mistress! CE II.i.67
I know not thy mistresse, out on thy mistresse. I know not thy mistress. Out on thy mistress!’ CE II.i.68
Luci.LUCIANA 
Quoth who? Quoth who? CE II.i.69
E.Dr.DROMIO OF EPHESUS 
Quoth my Master, Quoth my master. CE II.i.70
I know quoth he, no house, no wife, no mistresse: ‘ I know,’ quoth he, ‘ no house, no wife, no mistress.’ CE II.i.71
so that my arrant due vnto my tongue, So that my errand, due unto my tongue, CE II.i.72
I thanke him, I bare home vpon my shoulders: I thank him, I bare home upon my shoulders; CE II.i.73
for in conclusion, he did beat me there. For, in conclusion, he did beat me there. CE II.i.74
Adri.ADRIANA 
Go back againe, thou slaue, & fetch him home. Go back again, thou slave, and fetch him home. CE II.i.75
Dro.DROMIO OF EPHESUS 
Goe backe againe, and be new beaten home? Go back again, and be new-beaten home? CE II.i.76
For Gods sake send some other messenger. For God's sake send some other messenger. CE II.i.77
Adri.ADRIANA 
Backe slaue, or I will breake thy pate a-crosse. Back, slave, or I will break thy pate across. CE II.i.78
Dro.DROMIO OF EPHESUS 
And he will blesse yt crosse with other beating: And he will bless that cross with other beating,bless (v.)

old form: blesse
wound, hurt, beat; also: consecrate
CE II.i.79
cross (n.)

old form: crosse
crossness; also: sign of the cross
Betweene you, I shall haue a holy head. Between you I shall have a holy head.holy (adj.)
of holiness; also: full of holes
CE II.i.80
Adri.ADRIANA 
Hence prating pesant, fetch thy Master home. Hence, prating peasant, fetch thy master home.prating (adj.)
prattling, chattering, blathering
CE II.i.81
peasant (n.)

old form: pesant
servant, fellow, rascal
She beats Dromio CE I.ii.81
Dro.DROMIO OF EPHESUS 
Am I so round with you, as you with me, Am I so round with you as you with meround (adj.)
blunt, forthright, straight, plain-spoken
CE II.i.82
That like a foot-ball you doe spurne me thus: That like a football you do spurn me thus?spurn (v.)

old form: spurne
kick, strike, stamp [on], dash
CE II.i.83
You spurne me hence, and he will spurne me hither, You spurn me hence, and he will spurn me hither. CE II.i.84
If I last in this seruice, you must case me in leather. If I last in this service you must case me in leather.case (v.)
cover, protect, enclose
CE II.i.85
Exit CE II.i.85
Luci.LUCIANA  
(to Adriana) CE II.i.86
Fie how impatience lowreth in your face. Fie, how impatience loureth in your face.lour, lower (v.)

old form: lowreth
frown, scowl, look dark and threatening
CE II.i.86
Adri.ADRIANA 
His company must do his minions grace, His company must do his minions graceminion (n.)
darling, favourite, select one
CE II.i.87
grace (n.)
honour, favour, recognition, respect
Whil'st I at home starue for a merrie looke: Whilst I at home starve for a merry look.starve (v.)

old form: starue
die, perish
CE II.i.88
Hath homelie age th' alluring beauty tooke Hath homely age the alluring beauty tookhomely (adj.)

old form: homelie
plain-looking, unattractive, ugly
CE II.i.89
From my poore cheeke? then he hath wasted it. From my poor cheek? Then he hath wasted it.waste (v.)
squander, wear away, lay waste to
CE II.i.90
Are my discourses dull? Barren my wit, Are my discourses dull? barren my wit?wit (n.)
mental sharpness, acumen, quickness, ingenuity
CE II.i.91
discourse (n.)
conversation, talk, chat
barren (adj.)
stupid, empty-headed, dull
If voluble and sharpe discourse be mar'd, If voluble and sharp discourse be marred,sharp (adj.)

old form: sharpe
witty, sharp-witted, discerning
CE II.i.92
discourse (n.)
conversation, talk, chat
Vnkindnesse blunts it more then marble hard. Unkindness blunts it more than marble hard. CE II.i.93
Doe their gay vestments his affections baite? Do their gay vestments his affections bait?bait (v.)

old form: baite
tempt, entice, lure
CE II.i.94
That's not my fault, hee's master of my state. That's not my fault; he's master of my state.state (n.)
condition, circumstances, situation, state of affairs
CE II.i.95
What ruines are in me that can be found, What ruins are in me that can be found CE II.i.96
By him not ruin'd? Then is he the ground By him not ruined? Then is he the groundground (n.)
reason, cause, source
CE II.i.97
Of my defeatures. My decayed faire, Of my defeatures. My decayed fairfair (n.)

old form: faire
fair face, beauty
CE II.i.98
defeature (n.)
disfigurement, defacement, loss of beauty
A sunnie looke of his, would soone repaire. A sunny look of his would soon repair. CE II.i.99
But, too vnruly Deere, he breakes the pale, But, too unruly deer, he breaks the palepale (n.)
fence, paling, enclosure
CE II.i.100
And feedes from home; poore I am but his stale. And feeds from home. Poor I am but his stale.stale (n.)
dupe, sap, laughing-stock
CE II.i.101
Luci.LUCIANA 
Selfe-harming Iealousie; fie beat it hence. Self-harming jealousy! Fie, beat it hence. CE II.i.102
Ad.ADRIANA 
Vnfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispence: Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense.dispense with (v.)

old form: dispence
disregard, pardon, put up with
CE II.i.103
I know his eye doth homage other-where, I know his eye doth homage otherwhere,otherwhere (adv.)

old form: other-where
elsewhere, somewhere else
CE II.i.104
Or else, what lets it but he would be here? Or else what lets it but he would be here?let (v.)
hinder, prevent, stand in the way
CE II.i.105
Sister, you know he promis'd me a chaine, Sister, you know he promised me a chain. CE II.i.106
Would that alone, a loue he would detaine, Would that alone a love he would detaindetain (v.)

old form: detaine
keep back, withhold, retain
CE II.i.107
So he would keepe faire quarter with his bed: So he would keep fair quarter with his bed.keep fair quarter with

old form: keepe faire
play fair over, behave honourably over, have a proper regard to
CE II.i.108
I see the Iewell best enamaled I see the jewel best enamelledenamelled (adj.)

old form: enamaled
brightly coloured, multi-coloured, kaleidoscopic
CE II.i.109
jewel (n.)

old form: Iewell
fine ornament, costly adornment
Will loose his beautie: yet the gold bides still Will lose his beauty. Yet the gold bides stillstill (adv.)
constantly, always, continually
CE II.i.110
bide (v.)
remain, persist, continue in being
That others touch, and often touching will, That others touch; and often touching willtouch (v.)
test the quality [of], put to the test
CE II.i.111
Where gold and no man that hath a name, Wear gold, and no man that hath a name CE II.i.112
By falshood and corruption doth it shame: But falsehood and corruption doth it shame. CE II.i.113
Since that my beautie cannot please his eie, Since that my beauty cannot please his eye, CE II.i.114
Ile weepe (what's left away) and weeping die. I'll weep what's left away, and weeping die. CE II.i.115
Luci.LUCIANA 
How manie fond fooles serue mad Ielousie? How many fond fools serve mad jealousy!fond (adj.)
credulous, naive, gullible
CE II.i.116
Exit.
Exeunt CE II.i.116
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