Antipholus began to think he must be dreaming, and had been married to
Adriana in his sleep; but when both the ladies insisted on his going
back with them to dinner, he allowed himself to be persuaded, and
determined to see what would be the end of this strange adventure.
As for Dromio, he was told to act porter at the gate, and to let no
one enter unless he wanted another beating.
Confusion worse Confounded
Dromio of Ephesus, who for the second time had been sent in search
of his master, at last found him. Antipholus of Ephesus had been
detained at the shop of a goldsmith, Angelo, who was making a chain
for his wife. The chain was not yet completed, but was promised for a
little later. Antipholus returned home, bringing with him as guests
the goldsmith Angelo and a merchant called Balthazar, but when
they reached the house they were refused admittance. No argument or
entreaty would induce the porter or the servants inside to open the
door. They said their master and Dromio were already at home, and
that these must be impostors. Antipholus at last went away in a rage,
saying that he would go and dine somewhere else, where he was treated
with less disdain.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Luciana was not at all pleased with the
way her supposed brother-in-law was behaving to his wife, and when
they found themselves alone, she took him to task about it. Antipholus
of Syracuse again persisted that Adriana was no wife of his; in fact,
he said, he very much preferred Luciana herself. Luciana did not think
it right to listen to such speeches, and went off to fetch her sister,
leaving Antipholus more than ever charmed with her gentle grace,
enchanting beauty, and wise discourse.
While he was musing over this, and thinking it high time that he
should leave Ephesus, which seemed to him inhabited by none but
witches, Angelo the goldsmith came that way, bringing the chain
which Antipholus of Ephesus had ordered as a present for his wife.
Antipholus of Syracuse, to whom he handed it in mistake, of course
knew nothing about it, and declared he had never ordered it; but
Angelo insisted on his keeping it, saying he would come back at five
o’clock for the money.
Antipholus had already sent Dromio to find out if there were any ship
sailing from Ephesus, for he did not want to stay a single night in
such a queer place. He now resolved to go and wait for Dromio in the
market, so that they could get off at the first possible moment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account