Here comes my man. I think he brings the money
Antipholus of Ephesus
Here comes my man. I think he brings the money.
How now, sir? Have you that I sent you for?
Dromio of Ephesus, handing over the rope’s end
Here’s that, I warrant you, will pay them all.
I have served him from the hour of my nativity
to this instant, and have nothing at his hands
for my service but blows.
Antipholus of Ephesus
But where’s the money?
Dromio of Ephesus
Why, sir, I gave the money for the rope.
Antipholus of Ephesus
Five hundred ducats, villain, for a rope?
Dromio of Ephesus
I’ll serve you, sir, five hundred at the rate.
Antipholus of Ephesus
To what end did I bid thee hie thee home?
Dromio of Ephesus
To a rope’s end, sir, and to that end am I returned.
Antipholus of Ephesus, beating Dromio
And to that end, sir, I will welcome you.
Officer
Good sir, be patient.
Antipholus of Ephesus
Nay, ’tis for me to be patient. I am in adversity.
Officer
Good now, hold thy tongue.
Dromio of Ephesus
Nay, rather persuade him to hold his hands.
Antipholus of Ephesus
Thou whoreson, senseless villain.
Dromio of Ephesus
I would I were senseless, sir, that
I might not feel your blows.
Antipholus of Ephesus
Thou art sensible in nothing
but blows, and so is an ass.
Dromio of Ephesus
I am an ass, indeed; you may
prove it by my long ears.—I have served him from
the hour of my nativity to this instant, and have
nothing at his hands for my service but blows.
When I am cold, he heats me with beating; when I
am warm, he cools me with beating. I am waked
with it when I sleep, raised with it when I sit,
driven out of doors with it when I go from home,
welcomed home with it when I return. Nay, I bear it
on my shoulders as a beggar wont her brat, and I
think when he hath lamed me, I shall beg with it
from door to door.