Suggestions
Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.Please wait while we process your payment
If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there.
If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there.
Please wait while we process your payment
By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy.
Don’t have an account? Subscribe now
Create Your Account
Sign up for your FREE 7-day trial
Already have an account? Log in
Your Email
Choose Your Plan
Individual
Group Discount
Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan!
Purchasing SparkNotes PLUS for a group?
Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more!
Price
$24.99 $18.74 /subscription + tax
Subtotal $37.48 + tax
Save 25% on 2-49 accounts
Save 30% on 50-99 accounts
Want 100 or more? Contact us for a customized plan.
Your Plan
Payment Details
Payment Summary
SparkNotes Plus
You'll be billed after your free trial ends.
7-Day Free Trial
Not Applicable
Renews December 14, 2023 December 7, 2023
Discounts (applied to next billing)
DUE NOW
US $0.00
SNPLUSROCKS20 | 20% Discount
This is not a valid promo code.
Discount Code (one code per order)
SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan - Group Discount
Qty: 00
SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Free trial is available to new customers only.
Choose Your Plan
For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more!
You’ve successfully purchased a group discount. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. You'll also receive an email with the link.
Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership.
Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Continue to start your free trial.
Please wait while we process your payment
Your PLUS subscription has expired
Please wait while we process your payment
Please wait while we process your payment
Continue reading with a SparkNotes PLUS trial
Already have an account? Log in
Original Text |
Modern Text |
Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE , DROMIO OF SYRACUSE , and FIRST MERCHANT
|
Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE , DROMIO OF SYRACUSE , and FIRST MERCHANT
|
FIRST MERCHANT Therefore give out you are of Epidamnum,
Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate.
This very day a Syracusian merchant
Is apprehended for arrival here
5 And, not being able to buy out his life,
According to the statute of the town
Dies ere the weary sun set in the west.
There is your money that I had to keep.
|
FIRST MERCHANT Therefore give out you are of Epidamnum,
Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate.
This very day a Syracusian merchant
Is apprehended for arrival here
And, not being able to buy out his life,
According to the statute of the town
Dies ere the weary sun set in the west.
There is your money that I had to keep.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Go bear it to the Centaur, where we host,
10 And stay there, Dromio, till I come to thee.
Within this hour it will be dinnertime.
Till that, I’ll view the manners of the town,
Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings,
And then return and sleep within mine inn,
15 For with long travel I am stiff and weary.
Get thee away.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Go bear it to the Centaur, where we host,
And stay there, Dromio, till I come to thee.
Within this hour it will be dinnertime.
Till that, I’ll view the manners of the town,
Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings,
And then return and sleep within mine inn,
For with long travel I am stiff and weary.
Get thee away.
|
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Many a man would take you at your word
And go indeed, having so good a mean.
|
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Many a man would take you at your word
And go indeed, having so good a mean.
|
Exit DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
|
Exit DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE A trusty villain, sir, that very oft,
20 When I am dull with care and melancholy,
Lightens my humor with his merry jests.
What, will you walk with me about the town
And then go to my inn and dine with me?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE A trusty villain, sir, that very oft,
When I am dull with care and melancholy,
Lightens my humor with his merry jests.
What, will you walk with me about the town
And then go to my inn and dine with me?
|
FIRST MERCHANT I am invited, sir, to certain merchants,
25 Of whom I hope to make much benefit.
|
FIRST MERCHANT I am invited, sir, to certain merchants,
Of whom I hope to make much benefit.
|
I crave your pardon. Soon at five o'clock,
Please you, I’ll meet with you upon the mart
And afterward consort you till bedtime.
My present business calls me from you now.
|
I crave your pardon. Soon at five o'clock,
Please you, I’ll meet with you upon the mart
And afterward consort you till bedtime.
My present business calls me from you now.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 30 Farewell till then. I will go lose myself
And wander up and down to view the city.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Farewell till then. I will go lose myself
And wander up and down to view the city.
|
FIRST MERCHANT Sir, I commend you to your own content.
|
FIRST MERCHANT Sir, I commend you to your own content.
|
Exit FIRST MERCHANT exits.
|
Exit FIRST MERCHANT exits.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE He that commends me to mine own content
Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
35 I to the world am like a drop of water
That in the ocean seeks another drop,
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself.
So I, to find a mother and a brother,
40 In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE He that commends me to mine own content
Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
I to the world am like a drop of water
That in the ocean seeks another drop,
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself.
So I, to find a mother and a brother,
In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself.
|
Enter DROMIO OF EPHESUS
|
Enter DROMIO OF EPHESUS
|
Here comes the almanac of my true date.—
What now? How chance thou art returned so soon?
|
Here comes the almanac of my true date.—
What now? How chance thou art returned so soon?
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS Returned so soon? Rather approach’d too late!
The capon burns; the pig falls from the spit;
45 The clock hath strucken twelve upon the bell;
My mistress made it one upon my cheek.
She is so hot because the meat is cold;
The meat is cold because you come not home;
You come not home because you have no stomach;
50 You have no stomach, having broke your fast;
But we that know what ’tis to fast and pray
Are penitent for your default today.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS Returned so soon? Rather approach’d too late!
The capon burns; the pig falls from the spit;
The clock hath strucken twelve upon the bell;
My mistress made it one upon my cheek.
She is so hot because the meat is cold;
The meat is cold because you come not home;
You come not home because you have no stomach;
You have no stomach, having broke your fast;
But we that know what ’tis to fast and pray
Are penitent for your default today.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Stop in your wind, sir. Tell me this, I pray:
Where have you left the money that I gave you?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Stop in your wind, sir. Tell me this, I pray:
Where have you left the money that I gave you?
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS 55 O, sixpence, that I had o' Wednesday last
To pay the saddler for my mistress' crupper?
The saddler had it, sir; I kept it not.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS O, sixpence, that I had o' Wednesday last
To pay the saddler for my mistress' crupper?
The saddler had it, sir; I kept it not.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE I am not in a sportive humor now.
Tell me, and dally not: where is the money?
60 We being strangers here, how dar’st thou trust
So great a charge from thine own custody?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE I am not in a sportive humor now.
Tell me, and dally not: where is the money?
We being strangers here, how dar’st thou trust
So great a charge from thine own custody?
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner.
I from my mistress come to you in post;
If I return, I shall be post indeed,
65 For she will scour your fault upon my pate.
Methinks your maw, like mine, should be your clock,
And strike you home without a messenger.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner.
I from my mistress come to you in post;
If I return, I shall be post indeed,
For she will scour your fault upon my pate.
Methinks your maw, like mine, should be your clock,
And strike you home without a messenger.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Come, Dromio, come, these jests are out of season.
Reserve them till a merrier hour than this.
70 Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Come, Dromio, come, these jests are out of season.
Reserve them till a merrier hour than this.
Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee?
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS To me, sir? Why, you gave no gold to me!
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS To me, sir? Why, you gave no gold to me!
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Come on, sir knave, have done your foolishness,
And tell me how thou hast disposed thy charge.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Come on, sir knave, have done your foolishness,
And tell me how thou hast disposed thy charge.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS My charge was but to fetch you from the mart
75 Home to your house, the Phoenix, sir, to dinner.
My mistress and her sister stays for you.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS My charge was but to fetch you from the mart
Home to your house, the Phoenix, sir, to dinner.
My mistress and her sister stays for you.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Now, as I am a Christian, answer me
In what safe place you have bestowed my money,
Or I shall break that merry sconce of yours
80 That stands on tricks when I am undisposed.
Where is the thousand marks thou hadst of me?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Now, as I am a Christian, answer me
In what safe place you have bestowed my money,
Or I shall break that merry sconce of yours
That stands on tricks when I am undisposed.
Where is the thousand marks thou hadst of me?
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS I have some marks of yours upon my pate,
Some of my mistress' marks upon my shoulders,
But not a thousand marks between you both.
85 If I should pay your worship those again,
Perchance you will not bear them patiently.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS I have some marks of yours upon my pate,
Some of my mistress' marks upon my shoulders,
But not a thousand marks between you both.
If I should pay your worship those again,
Perchance you will not bear them patiently.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Thy mistress' marks? what mistress, slave, hast thou?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Thy mistress' marks? what mistress, slave, hast thou?
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS Your worship’s wife, my mistress at the Phoenix,
She that doth fast till you come home to dinner
90 And prays that you will hie you home to dinner.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS Your worship’s wife, my mistress at the Phoenix,
She that doth fast till you come home to dinner
And prays that you will hie you home to dinner.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face,
Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave. (beats DROMIO OF EPHESUS)
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face,
Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave. (beats DROMIO OF EPHESUS)
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS What mean you, sir? For God’s sake, hold your hands.
Nay, an you will not, sir, I’ll take my heels.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS What mean you, sir? For God’s sake, hold your hands.
Nay, an you will not, sir, I’ll take my heels.
|
Exit DROMIO OF EPHESUS
|
Exit DROMIO OF EPHESUS
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 95 Upon my life, by some device or other
The villain is o'erraught of all my money.
They say this town is full of cozenage,
As nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,
Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind,
100 Soul-killing witches that deform the body,
Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks,
And many suchlike liberties of sin.
If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner.
I’ll to the Centaur to go seek this slave.
105 I greatly fear my money is not safe.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Upon my life, by some device or other
The villain is o'erraught of all my money.
They say this town is full of cozenage,
As nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,
Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind,
Soul-killing witches that deform the body,
Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks,
And many suchlike liberties of sin.
If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner.
I’ll to the Centaur to go seek this slave.
I greatly fear my money is not safe.
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
Original Text |
Modern Text |
Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE , DROMIO OF SYRACUSE , and FIRST MERCHANT
|
Enter ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE , DROMIO OF SYRACUSE , and FIRST MERCHANT
|
FIRST MERCHANT Therefore give out you are of Epidamnum,
Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate.
This very day a Syracusian merchant
Is apprehended for arrival here
5 And, not being able to buy out his life,
According to the statute of the town
Dies ere the weary sun set in the west.
There is your money that I had to keep.
|
FIRST MERCHANT Therefore give out you are of Epidamnum,
Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate.
This very day a Syracusian merchant
Is apprehended for arrival here
And, not being able to buy out his life,
According to the statute of the town
Dies ere the weary sun set in the west.
There is your money that I had to keep.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Go bear it to the Centaur, where we host,
10 And stay there, Dromio, till I come to thee.
Within this hour it will be dinnertime.
Till that, I’ll view the manners of the town,
Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings,
And then return and sleep within mine inn,
15 For with long travel I am stiff and weary.
Get thee away.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Go bear it to the Centaur, where we host,
And stay there, Dromio, till I come to thee.
Within this hour it will be dinnertime.
Till that, I’ll view the manners of the town,
Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings,
And then return and sleep within mine inn,
For with long travel I am stiff and weary.
Get thee away.
|
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Many a man would take you at your word
And go indeed, having so good a mean.
|
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Many a man would take you at your word
And go indeed, having so good a mean.
|
Exit DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
|
Exit DROMIO OF SYRACUSE
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE A trusty villain, sir, that very oft,
20 When I am dull with care and melancholy,
Lightens my humor with his merry jests.
What, will you walk with me about the town
And then go to my inn and dine with me?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE A trusty villain, sir, that very oft,
When I am dull with care and melancholy,
Lightens my humor with his merry jests.
What, will you walk with me about the town
And then go to my inn and dine with me?
|
FIRST MERCHANT I am invited, sir, to certain merchants,
25 Of whom I hope to make much benefit.
|
FIRST MERCHANT I am invited, sir, to certain merchants,
Of whom I hope to make much benefit.
|
I crave your pardon. Soon at five o'clock,
Please you, I’ll meet with you upon the mart
And afterward consort you till bedtime.
My present business calls me from you now.
|
I crave your pardon. Soon at five o'clock,
Please you, I’ll meet with you upon the mart
And afterward consort you till bedtime.
My present business calls me from you now.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 30 Farewell till then. I will go lose myself
And wander up and down to view the city.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Farewell till then. I will go lose myself
And wander up and down to view the city.
|
FIRST MERCHANT Sir, I commend you to your own content.
|
FIRST MERCHANT Sir, I commend you to your own content.
|
Exit FIRST MERCHANT exits.
|
Exit FIRST MERCHANT exits.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE He that commends me to mine own content
Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
35 I to the world am like a drop of water
That in the ocean seeks another drop,
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself.
So I, to find a mother and a brother,
40 In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE He that commends me to mine own content
Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
I to the world am like a drop of water
That in the ocean seeks another drop,
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself.
So I, to find a mother and a brother,
In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself.
|
Enter DROMIO OF EPHESUS
|
Enter DROMIO OF EPHESUS
|
Here comes the almanac of my true date.—
What now? How chance thou art returned so soon?
|
Here comes the almanac of my true date.—
What now? How chance thou art returned so soon?
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS Returned so soon? Rather approach’d too late!
The capon burns; the pig falls from the spit;
45 The clock hath strucken twelve upon the bell;
My mistress made it one upon my cheek.
She is so hot because the meat is cold;
The meat is cold because you come not home;
You come not home because you have no stomach;
50 You have no stomach, having broke your fast;
But we that know what ’tis to fast and pray
Are penitent for your default today.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS Returned so soon? Rather approach’d too late!
The capon burns; the pig falls from the spit;
The clock hath strucken twelve upon the bell;
My mistress made it one upon my cheek.
She is so hot because the meat is cold;
The meat is cold because you come not home;
You come not home because you have no stomach;
You have no stomach, having broke your fast;
But we that know what ’tis to fast and pray
Are penitent for your default today.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Stop in your wind, sir. Tell me this, I pray:
Where have you left the money that I gave you?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Stop in your wind, sir. Tell me this, I pray:
Where have you left the money that I gave you?
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS 55 O, sixpence, that I had o' Wednesday last
To pay the saddler for my mistress' crupper?
The saddler had it, sir; I kept it not.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS O, sixpence, that I had o' Wednesday last
To pay the saddler for my mistress' crupper?
The saddler had it, sir; I kept it not.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE I am not in a sportive humor now.
Tell me, and dally not: where is the money?
60 We being strangers here, how dar’st thou trust
So great a charge from thine own custody?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE I am not in a sportive humor now.
Tell me, and dally not: where is the money?
We being strangers here, how dar’st thou trust
So great a charge from thine own custody?
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner.
I from my mistress come to you in post;
If I return, I shall be post indeed,
65 For she will scour your fault upon my pate.
Methinks your maw, like mine, should be your clock,
And strike you home without a messenger.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner.
I from my mistress come to you in post;
If I return, I shall be post indeed,
For she will scour your fault upon my pate.
Methinks your maw, like mine, should be your clock,
And strike you home without a messenger.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Come, Dromio, come, these jests are out of season.
Reserve them till a merrier hour than this.
70 Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Come, Dromio, come, these jests are out of season.
Reserve them till a merrier hour than this.
Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee?
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS To me, sir? Why, you gave no gold to me!
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS To me, sir? Why, you gave no gold to me!
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Come on, sir knave, have done your foolishness,
And tell me how thou hast disposed thy charge.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Come on, sir knave, have done your foolishness,
And tell me how thou hast disposed thy charge.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS My charge was but to fetch you from the mart
75 Home to your house, the Phoenix, sir, to dinner.
My mistress and her sister stays for you.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS My charge was but to fetch you from the mart
Home to your house, the Phoenix, sir, to dinner.
My mistress and her sister stays for you.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Now, as I am a Christian, answer me
In what safe place you have bestowed my money,
Or I shall break that merry sconce of yours
80 That stands on tricks when I am undisposed.
Where is the thousand marks thou hadst of me?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Now, as I am a Christian, answer me
In what safe place you have bestowed my money,
Or I shall break that merry sconce of yours
That stands on tricks when I am undisposed.
Where is the thousand marks thou hadst of me?
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS I have some marks of yours upon my pate,
Some of my mistress' marks upon my shoulders,
But not a thousand marks between you both.
85 If I should pay your worship those again,
Perchance you will not bear them patiently.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS I have some marks of yours upon my pate,
Some of my mistress' marks upon my shoulders,
But not a thousand marks between you both.
If I should pay your worship those again,
Perchance you will not bear them patiently.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Thy mistress' marks? what mistress, slave, hast thou?
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Thy mistress' marks? what mistress, slave, hast thou?
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS Your worship’s wife, my mistress at the Phoenix,
She that doth fast till you come home to dinner
90 And prays that you will hie you home to dinner.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS Your worship’s wife, my mistress at the Phoenix,
She that doth fast till you come home to dinner
And prays that you will hie you home to dinner.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face,
Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave. (beats DROMIO OF EPHESUS)
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face,
Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave. (beats DROMIO OF EPHESUS)
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS What mean you, sir? For God’s sake, hold your hands.
Nay, an you will not, sir, I’ll take my heels.
|
DROMIO OF EPHESUS What mean you, sir? For God’s sake, hold your hands.
Nay, an you will not, sir, I’ll take my heels.
|
Exit DROMIO OF EPHESUS
|
Exit DROMIO OF EPHESUS
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 95 Upon my life, by some device or other
The villain is o'erraught of all my money.
They say this town is full of cozenage,
As nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,
Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind,
100 Soul-killing witches that deform the body,
Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks,
And many suchlike liberties of sin.
If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner.
I’ll to the Centaur to go seek this slave.
105 I greatly fear my money is not safe.
|
ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Upon my life, by some device or other
The villain is o'erraught of all my money.
They say this town is full of cozenage,
As nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,
Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind,
Soul-killing witches that deform the body,
Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks,
And many suchlike liberties of sin.
If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner.
I’ll to the Centaur to go seek this slave.
I greatly fear my money is not safe.
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
Please wait while we process your payment