| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| Good signior Angelo you must excuse vs all, | Good Signor Angelo, you must excuse us all. | CE III.i.1 |
| My wife is shrewish when I keepe not howres; | My wife is shrewish when I keep not hours. | CE III.i.2 |
| Say that I lingerd with you at your shop | Say that I lingered with you at your shop | CE III.i.3 |
| To see the making of her Carkanet, | To see the making of her carcanet, | CE III.i.4 |
| And that to morrow you will bring it home. | And that tomorrow you will bring it home. | CE III.i.5 |
| But here's a villaine that would face me downe | But here's a villain that would face me down | CE III.i.6 |
| He met me on the Mart, and that I beat him, | He met me on the mart, and that I beat him, | CE III.i.7 |
| And charg'd him with a thousand markes in gold, | And charged him with a thousand marks in gold, | CE III.i.8 |
| And that I did denie my wife and house; | And that I did deny my wife and house. | CE III.i.9 |
| Thou drunkard thou, what didst thou meane by this? | Thou drunkard, thou – what didst thou mean by this? | CE III.i.10 |
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| I thinke thou art an asse. | I think thou art an ass. | CE III.i.15.1 |
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| Y'are sad signior Balthazar, pray God our cheer | You're sad, Signor Balthasar. Pray God our cheer | CE III.i.19 |
| May answer my good will, and your good welcom here. | May answer my good will, and your good welcome here. | CE III.i.20 |
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| Oh signior Balthazar, either at flesh or fish, | O, Signor Balthasar, either at flesh or fish | CE III.i.22 |
| A table full of welcome, makes scarce one dainty dish. | A table full of welcome makes scarce one dainty dish. | CE III.i.23 |
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| And welcome more common, for thats nothing but words. | And welcome more common, for that's nothing but words. | CE III.i.25 |
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| I, to a niggardly Host, and more sparing guest: | Ay, to a niggardly host and more sparing guest. | CE III.i.27 |
| But though my cates be meane, take them in good part, | But though my cates be mean, take them in good part. | CE III.i.28 |
| Better cheere may you haue, but not with better hart. | Better cheer may you have, but not with better heart. | CE III.i.29 |
| But soft, my doore is lockt; goe bid them let vs in. | But soft, my door is locked. Go bid them let us in. | CE III.i.30 |
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| Who talks within there? hoa, open the dore. | Who talks within, there? Hoa, open the door. | CE III.i.38 |
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| Wherefore? for my dinner: I haue not din'd to day. | Wherefore? For my dinner. I have not dined today. | CE III.i.40 |
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| What art thou that keep'st mee out from the howse I owe? | What art thou that keepest me out from the house I owe? | CE III.i.42 |
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| Doe you heare you minion, you'll let vs in I hope? | Do you hear, you minion? You'll let us in, I trow | CE III.i.54 |
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| Thou baggage let me in. | Thou baggage, let me in. | CE III.i.57.1 |
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| You'll crie for this minion, if I beat the doore downe. | You'll cry for this, minion, if I beat the door down. | CE III.i.59 |
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| Are you there Wife? you might haue come before. | Are you there, wife? You might have come before. | CE III.i.63 |
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| There is something in the winde, that we cannot get in. | There is something in the wind, that we cannot get in. | CE III.i.69 |
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| Go fetch me something, Ile break ope the gate. | Go fetch me something. I'll break ope the gate. | CE III.i.73 |
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| Well, Ile breake in: go borrow me a crow. | Well, I'll break in. Go borrow me a crow. | CE III.i.80 |
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| Go, get thee gon, fetch me an iron Crow. | Go, get thee gone. Fetch me an iron crow. | CE III.i.84 |
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| You haue preuail'd, I will depart in quiet, | You have prevailed. I will depart in quiet, | CE III.i.107 |
| And in despight of mirth meane to be merrie: | And in despite of mirth mean to be merry. | CE III.i.108 |
| I know a wench of excellent discourse, | I know a wench of excellent discourse, | CE III.i.109 |
| Prettie and wittie; wilde, and yet too gentle; | Pretty and witty; wild, and yet, too, gentle. | CE III.i.110 |
| There will we dine: this woman that I meane | There will we dine. This woman that I mean, | CE III.i.111 |
| My wife (but I protest without desert) | My wife – but, I protest, without desert – | CE III.i.112 |
| Hath oftentimes vpbraided me withall: | Hath oftentimes upbraided me withal. | CE III.i.113 |
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| To her will we to dinner, get you home | To her will we to dinner. (To Angelo) Get you home | CE III.i.114 |
| And fetch the chaine, by this I know 'tis made, | And fetch the chain. By this, I know, 'tis made. | CE III.i.115 |
| Bring it I pray you to the Porpentine, | Bring it, I pray you, to the Porpentine, | CE III.i.116 |
| For there's the house: That chaine will I bestow | For there's the house. That chain will I bestow – | CE III.i.117 |
| (Be it for nothing but to spight my wife) | Be it for nothing but to spite my wife – | CE III.i.118 |
| Vpon mine hostesse there, good sir make haste: | Upon mine hostess there. Good sir, make haste. | CE III.i.119 |
| Since mine owne doores refuse to entertaine me, | Since mine own doors refuse to entertain me, | CE III.i.120 |
| Ile knocke else-where, to see if they'll disdaine me. | I'll knock elsewhere to see if they'll disdain me. | CE III.i.121 |
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| Do so, this iest shall cost me some expence. | Do so. – This jest shall cost me some expense. | CE III.i.123 |
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| While I go to the Goldsmiths house, go thou | While I go to the goldsmith's house, go thou | CE IV.i.15 |
| And buy a ropes end, that will I bestow | And buy a rope's end; that will I bestow | CE IV.i.16 |
| Among my wife, and their confederates, | Among my wife and her confederates | CE IV.i.17 |
| For locking me out of my doores by day: | For locking me out of my doors by day. | CE IV.i.18 |
| But soft I see the Goldsmith; get thee gone, | But soft, I see the goldsmith. Get thee gone; | CE IV.i.19 |
| Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me. | Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me. | CE IV.i.20 |
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| A man is well holpe vp that trusts to you, | A man is well holp up that trusts to you. | CE IV.i.22 |
| I promised your presence, and the Chaine, | I promised your presence and the chain, | CE IV.i.23 |
| But neither Chaine nor Goldsmith came to me: | But neither chain nor goldsmith came to me. | CE IV.i.24 |
| Belike you thought our loue would last too long | Belike you thought our love would last too long | CE IV.i.25 |
| If it were chain'd together: and therefore came not. | If it were chained together, and therefore came not. | CE IV.i.26 |
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| I am not furnish'd with the present monie: | I am not furnished with the present money; | CE IV.i.34 |
| Besides I haue some businesse in the towne, | Besides, I have some business in the town. | CE IV.i.35 |
| Good Signior take the stranger to my house, | Good signor, take the stranger to my house, | CE IV.i.36 |
| And with you take the Chaine, and bid my wife | And with you take the chain, and bid my wife | CE IV.i.37 |
| Disburse the summe, on the receit thereof, | Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof. | CE IV.i.38 |
| Perchance I will be there as soone as you. | Perchance I will be there as soon as you. | CE IV.i.39 |
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| No beare it with you, least I come not time enough. | No, bear it with you lest I come not time enough. | CE IV.i.41 |
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| And if I haue not sir, I hope you haue: | An if I have not, sir, I hope you have; | CE IV.i.43 |
| Or else you may returne without your money. | Or else you may return without your money. | CE IV.i.44 |
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| Good Lord, you vse this dalliance to excuse | Good Lord! You use this dalliance to excuse | CE IV.i.48 |
| Your breach of promise to the Porpentine, | Your breach of promise to the Porpentine. | CE IV.i.49 |
| I should haue chid you for not bringing it, | I should have chid you for not bringing it, | CE IV.i.50 |
| But like a shrew you first begin to brawle. | But like a shrew you first begin to brawl. | CE IV.i.51 |
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| Why giue it to my wife, and fetch your mony. | Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money. | CE IV.i.54 |
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| Fie, now you run this humor out of breath, | Fie, now you run this humour out of breath. | CE IV.i.57 |
| Come where's the Chaine, I pray you let me see it. | Come, where's the chain? I pray you let me see it. | CE IV.i.58 |
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| I answer you? What should I answer you. | I answer you? What should I answer you? | CE IV.i.62 |
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| I owe you none, till I receiue the Chaine. | I owe you none till I receive the chain. | CE IV.i.64 |
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| You gaue me none, you wrong mee much to say so. | You gave me none. You wrong me much to say so. | CE IV.i.66 |
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| Consent to pay thee that I neuer had: | Consent to pay thee that I never had? | CE IV.i.75 |
| Arrest me foolish fellow if thou dar'st. | Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou darest. | CE IV.i.76 |
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| I do obey thee, till I giue thee baile. | I do obey thee till I give thee bail. | CE IV.i.81 |
| But sirrah, you shall buy this sport as deere, | But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dear | CE IV.i.82 |
| As all the mettall in your shop will answer. | As all the metal in your shop will answer. | CE IV.i.83 |
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| How now? a Madman? Why thou peeuish sheep | How now? A madman? Why, thou peevish sheep, | CE IV.i.94 |
| What ship of Epidamium staies for me. | What ship of Epidamnum stays for me? | CE IV.i.95 |
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| Thou drunken slaue, I sent thee for a rope, | Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope, | CE IV.i.97 |
| And told thee to what purpose, and what end. | And told thee to what purpose, and what end. | CE IV.i.98 |
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| I will debate this matter at more leisure | I will debate this matter at more leisure, | CE IV.i.101 |
| And teach your eares to list me with more heede: | And teach your ears to list me with more heed. | CE IV.i.102 |
| To Adriana Villaine hie thee straight: | To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight. | CE IV.i.103 |
| Giue her this key, and tell her in the Deske | Give her this key, and tell her in the desk | CE IV.i.104 |
| That's couer'd o're with Turkish Tapistrie, | That's covered o'er with Turkish tapestry | CE IV.i.105 |
| There is a purse of Duckets, let her send it: | There is a purse of ducats. Let her send it. | CE IV.i.106 |
| Tell her, I am arrested in the streete, | Tell her I am arrested in the street, | CE IV.i.107 |
| And that shall baile me: hie thee slaue, be gone, | And that shall bail me. Hie thee, slave. Be gone. | CE IV.i.108 |
| On Officer to prison, till it come. | On, officer; to prison, till it come. | CE IV.i.109 |
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| Feare me not man, I will not breake away, | Fear me not, man. I will not break away. | CE IV.iv.1 |
| Ile giue thee ere I leaue thee so much money | I'll give thee ere I leave thee so much money | CE IV.iv.2 |
| To warrant thee as I am rested for. | To warrant thee as I am 'rested for. | CE IV.iv.3 |
| My wife is in a wayward moode to day, | My wife is in a wayward mood today, | CE IV.iv.4 |
| And will not lightly trust the Messenger, | And will not lightly trust the messenger | CE IV.iv.5 |
| That I should be attach'd in Ephesus, | That I should be attached in Ephesus. | CE IV.iv.6 |
| I tell you 'twill sound harshly in her eares. | I tell you, 'twill sound harshly in her ears. | CE IV.iv.7 |
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| Heere comes my Man, I thinke he brings the monie. | Here comes my man. I think he brings the money. | CE IV.iv.8 |
| How now sir? Haue you that I sent you for? | How now, sir. Have you that I sent you for? | CE IV.iv.9 |
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| But where's the Money? | But where's the money? | CE IV.iv.11 |
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| Fiue hundred Duckets villaine for a rope? | Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope? | CE IV.iv.13 |
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| To what end did I bid thee hie thee home? | To what end did I bid thee hie thee home? | CE IV.iv.15 |
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| And to that end sir, I will welcome you. | And to that end, sir, I will welcome you. | CE IV.iv.17 |
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| Thou whoreson senselesse | Thou whoreson, senseless | CE IV.iv.22 |
| Villaine. | villain. | CE IV.iv.23 |
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| Thou art sensible in nothing but blowes, and so is an Asse. | Thou art sensible in nothing but blows; and so is an ass. | CE IV.iv.26 |
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| Come goe along, my wife is comming yonder. | Come, go along – my wife is coming yonder. | CE IV.iv.38 |
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| Wilt thou still talke? | Wilt thou still talk? | CE IV.iv.42 |
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| There is my hand, and let it feele your eare. | There is my hand, and let it feel your ear. | CE IV.iv.51 |
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| Peace doting wizard, peace; I am not mad. | Peace, doting wizard, peace. I am not mad. | CE IV.iv.56 |
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| You Minion you, are these your Customers? | You minion, you, are these your customers? | CE IV.iv.58 |
| Did this Companion with the saffron face | Did this companion with the saffron face | CE IV.iv.59 |
| Reuell and feast it at my house to day, | Revel and feast it at my house today, | CE IV.iv.60 |
| Whil'st vpon me the guiltie doores were shut, | Whilst upon me the guilty doors were shut, | CE IV.iv.61 |
| And I denied to enter in my house. | And I denied to enter in my house? | CE IV.iv.62 |
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| Din'd at home? Thou Villaine, what sayest thou? | Dined at home? (To Dromio) Thou villain, what sayst thou? | CE IV.iv.66 |
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| Were not my doores lockt vp, and I shut out? | Were not my doors locked up, and I shut out? | CE IV.iv.68 |
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| And did not she her selfe reuile me there? | And did not she herself revile me there? | CE IV.iv.70 |
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| Did not her Kitchen maide raile, taunt, and scorne me? | Did not her kitchen-maid rail, taunt, and scorn me? | CE IV.iv.72 |
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| And did not I in rage depart from thence? | And did not I in rage depart from thence? | CE IV.iv.74 |
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| Thou hast subborn'd the Goldsmith to arrest mee. | Thou hast suborned the goldsmith to arrest me. | CE IV.iv.80 |
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| Wentst not thou to her for a purse of Duckets. | Went'st not thou to her for a purse of ducats? | CE IV.iv.85 |
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| Say wherefore didst thou locke me forth to day, | Say, wherefore didst thou lock me forth today, | CE IV.iv.93 |
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| And why dost thou denie the bagge of gold? | And why dost thou deny the bag of gold? | CE IV.iv.94 |
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| Dissembling harlot, thou art false in all, | Dissembling harlot, thou art false in all, | CE IV.iv.99 |
| And art confederate with a damned packe, | And art confederate with a damned pack | CE IV.iv.100 |
| To make a loathsome abiect scorne of me: | To make a loathsome abject scorn of me. | CE IV.iv.101 |
| But with these nailes, Ile plucke out these false eyes, | But with these nails I'll pluck out these false eyes | CE IV.iv.102 |
| That would behold in me this shamefull sport. | That would behold in me this shameful sport. | CE IV.iv.103 |
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| What will you murther me, thou Iailor thou? | What, will you murder me? Thou, gaoler, thou, | CE IV.iv.107 |
| I am thy prisoner, wilt thou suffer them | I am thy prisoner – wilt thou suffer them | CE IV.iv.108 |
| to make a rescue? | To make a rescue? | CE IV.iv.109.1 |
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| Oh most vnhappie strumpet. | O most unhappy strumpet! | CE IV.iv.122 |
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| Out on thee Villaine, wherefore dost thou mad mee? | Out on thee, villain! Wherefore dost thou mad me? | CE IV.iv.124 |
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| Iustice most gracious Duke, oh grant me iustice, | Justice, most gracious Duke, O grant me justice, | CE V.i.190 |
| Euen for the seruice that long since I did thee, | Even for the service that long since I did thee | CE V.i.191 |
| When I bestrid thee in the warres, and tooke | When I bestrid thee in the wars, and took | CE V.i.192 |
| Deepe scarres to saue thy life; euen for the blood | Deep scars to save thy life. Even for the blood | CE V.i.193 |
| That then I lost for thee, now grant me iustice. | That then I lost for thee, now grant me justice! | CE V.i.194 |
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| Iustice (sweet Prince) against yt Woman there: | Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there, | CE V.i.197 |
| She whom thou gau'st to me to be my wife; | She whom thou gavest to me to be my wife; | CE V.i.198 |
| That hath abused and dishonored me, | That hath abused and dishonoured me | CE V.i.199 |
| Euen in the strength and height of iniurie: | Even in the strength and height of injury. | CE V.i.200 |
| Beyond imagination is the wrong | Beyond imagination is the wrong | CE V.i.201 |
| That she this day hath shamelesse throwne on me. | That she this day hath shameless thrown on me. | CE V.i.202 |
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| This day (great Duke) she shut the doores vpon me, | This day, great Duke, she shut the doors upon me | CE V.i.204 |
| While she with Harlots feasted in my house. | While she with harlots feasted in my house. | CE V.i.205 |
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| My Liege, I am aduised what I say, | My liege, I am advised what I say, | CE V.i.214 |
| Neither disturbed with the effect of Wine, | Neither disturbed with the effect of wine | CE V.i.215 |
| Nor headie-rash prouoak'd with raging ire, | Nor heady-rash provoked with raging ire, | CE V.i.216 |
| Albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad. | Albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad. | CE V.i.217 |
| This woman lock'd me out this day from dinner; | This woman locked me out this day from dinner. | CE V.i.218 |
| That Goldsmith there, were he not pack'd with her, | That goldsmith there, were he not packed with her, | CE V.i.219 |
| Could witnesse it: for he was with me then, | Could witness it, for he was with me then, | CE V.i.220 |
| Who parted with me to go fetch a Chaine, | Who parted with me to go fetch a chain, | CE V.i.221 |
| Promising to bring it to the Porpentine, | Promising to bring it to the Porpentine, | CE V.i.222 |
| Where Balthasar and I did dine together. | Where Balthasar and I did dine together. | CE V.i.223 |
| Our dinner done, and he not comming thither, | Our dinner done, and he not coming thither, | CE V.i.224 |
| I went to seeke him. In the street I met him, | I went to seek him. In the street I met him, | CE V.i.225 |
| And in his companie that Gentleman. | And in his company that gentleman. | CE V.i.226 |
| There did this periur'd Goldsmith sweare me downe, | There did this perjured goldsmith swear me down | CE V.i.227 |
| That I this day of him receiu'd the Chaine, | That I this day of him received the chain, | CE V.i.228 |
| Which God he knowes, I saw not. For the which, | Which, God he knows, I saw not. for the which | CE V.i.229 |
| He did arrest me with an Officer. | He did arrest me with an officer. | CE V.i.230 |
| I did obey, and sent my Pesant home | I did obey, and sent my peasant home | CE V.i.231 |
| For certaine Duckets: he with none return'd. | For certain ducats. He with none returned. | CE V.i.232 |
| Then fairely I bespoke the Officer | Then fairly I bespoke the officer | CE V.i.233 |
| To go in person with me to my house. | To go in person with me to my house. | CE V.i.234 |
| By'th' way, we met | By the way we met | CE V.i.235 |
| my wife, her sister, and a rabble more | My wife, her sister, and a rabble more | CE V.i.236 |
| Of vilde Confederates: Along with them | Of vile confederates. Along with them | CE V.i.237 |
| They brought one Pinch, a hungry leane-fac'd Villaine; | They brought one Pinch, a hungry, lean-faced villain, | CE V.i.238 |
| A meere Anatomie, a Mountebanke, | A mere anatomy, a mountebank, | CE V.i.239 |
| A thred-bare Iugler, and a Fortune-teller, | A threadbare juggler and a fortune-teller, | CE V.i.240 |
| A needy-hollow-ey'd-sharpe-looking-wretch; | A needy, hollow-eyed, sharp-looking wretch, | CE V.i.241 |
| A liuing dead man. This pernicious slaue, | A living dead man. This pernicious slave, | CE V.i.242 |
| Forsooth tooke on him as a Coniurer: | Forsooth, took on him as a conjurer, | CE V.i.243 |
| And gazing in mine eyes, feeling my pulse, | And gazing in mine eyes, feeling my pulse, | CE V.i.244 |
| And with no-face (as 'twere) out-facing me, | And with no face, as 'twere, outfacing me, | CE V.i.245 |
| Cries out, I was possest. Then altogether | Cries out I was possessed. Then all together | CE V.i.246 |
| They fell vpon me, bound me, bore me thence, | They fell upon me, bound me, bore me thence, | CE V.i.247 |
| And in a darke and dankish vault at home | And in a dark and dankish vault at home | CE V.i.248 |
| There left me and my man, both bound together, | There left me and my man, both bound together, | CE V.i.249 |
| Till gnawing with my teeth my bonds in sunder, | Till, gnawing with my teeth my bonds in sunder, | CE V.i.250 |
| I gain'd my freedome; and immediately | I gained my freedom, and immediately | CE V.i.251 |
| Ran hether to your Grace, whom I beseech | Ran hither to your grace, whom I beseech | CE V.i.252 |
| To giue me ample satisfaction | To give me ample satisfaction | CE V.i.253 |
| For these deepe shames, and great indignities. | For these deep shames and great indignities. | CE V.i.254 |
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| I neuer came within these Abbey wals, | I never came within these abbey walls, | CE V.i.266 |
| Nor euer didst thou draw thy sword on me: | Nor ever didst thou draw thy sword on me. | CE V.i.267 |
| I neuer saw the Chaine, so helpe me heauen: | I never saw the chain, so help me heaven, | CE V.i.268 |
| And this is false you burthen me withall. | And this is false you burden me withal. | CE V.i.269 |
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| Tis true (my Liege) this Ring I had of her. | 'Tis true, my liege, this ring I had of her. | CE V.i.278 |
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| I neuer saw you in my life till now. | I never saw you in my life till now. | CE V.i.297 |
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| Neither. | Neither. | CE V.i.302 |
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| I neuer saw my Father in my life. | I never saw my father in my life. | CE V.i.320 |
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| The Duke, and all that know me in the City, | The Duke and all that know me in the city | CE V.i.324 |
| Can witnesse with me that it is not so. | Can witness with me that it is not so. | CE V.i.325 |
| I ne're saw Siracusa in my life. | I ne'er saw Syracusa in my life. | CE V.i.326 |
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| I came from Corinth my most gracious Lord | I came from Corinth, my most gracious lord. | CE V.i.366 |
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| Brought to this Town by that most famous Warriour, | Brought to this town by that most famous warrior | CE V.i.368 |
| Duke Menaphon your most renowned Vnckle. | Duke Menaphon, your most renowned uncle. | CE V.i.369 |
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| No, I say nay to that. | No, I say nay to that. | CE V.i.372 |
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| And you sir for this Chaine arrested me. | And you, sir, for this chain arrested me. | CE V.i.380 |
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| These Duckets pawne I for my father heere. | These ducats pawn I for my father here. | CE V.i.390 |
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| There take it, and much thanks for my good cheere. | There, take it, and much thanks for my good cheer. | CE V.i.393 |
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| Dromio, what stuffe of mine hast thou imbarkt | Dromio, what stuff of mine hast thou embarked? | CE V.i.410 |