I am sorry, sir, that I have hinder’d you,
But I protest he had the chain of me,
Though most dishonestly he doth deny it.
I'm sorry I've delayed you, but I'm telling you he got the chain from me, even though he's dishonestly denying it.
Sorry for holding you up, but look—he got that chain from me. He's just lying about it now.
sorry, he took my chain. now he's lying
How is the man esteem’d here in the city?
What's his reputation in this city?
So what's his reputation like around here? How do people see him?
what's his rep in town?
Of very reverend reputation, sir,
Of credit infinite, highly belov’d,
Second to none that lives here in the city.
His word might bear my wealth at any time.
He has a very respected reputation, sir—of unlimited credit and highly loved, second to no one living here. His word alone could be enough to stake my entire wealth.
He's got a perfect reputation—totally trusted, everyone loves him, one of the best people in the city. His word is basically as good as gold.
perfect rep. everyone trusts him. his word=gold
Speak softly. Yonder, as I think, he walks.
Speak quietly. Over there, I think, he walks.
Keep it down. That's him over there, I think.
shh. that's him
’Tis so; and that self chain about his neck
Which he forswore most monstrously to have.
Good sir, draw near to me, I’ll speak to him.
Signior Antipholus, I wonder much
That you would put me to this shame and trouble,
And not without some scandal to yourself,
With circumstance and oaths so to deny
This chain, which now you wear so openly.
Beside the charge, the shame, imprisonment,
You have done wrong to this my honest friend,
Who, but for staying on our controversy,
Had hoisted sail and put to sea today.
This chain you had of me, can you deny it?
Yes, and that same chain around his neck—which he monstrously swore he didn't have. Come close to me, I'll speak to him. Signior Antipholus, I'm amazed you'd put me through this shame and trouble, and not without scandal to yourself, using all kinds of circumstances and oaths to deny this chain you're wearing so openly. Beyond the financial charge, the shame, and imprisonment, you've wronged this honest friend of mine, who would have set sail and put to sea today if he hadn't stayed caught up in our dispute. This chain you got from me—can you deny it?
Yeah, and that chain right there around his neck—he swore up and down he didn't have it. Come on, let me face him. Antipholus, I can't believe you'd drag me through all this humiliation, and yourself too. You're standing there with the chain on you and swearing you never got it from me. This is costing me money, it's totally shameful, and this friend of mine—a good guy—would've already sailed away if he hadn't gotten stuck in our mess. You got this chain from me. You gonna keep denying it?
that's the chain around his neck. he swore he didn't have it. can't believe he's denying it while wearing it. he's messing with me and my friend
I think I had: I never did deny it.
I think I had it; I never denied it.
Yeah, I think I did get it from you. I'm not saying I didn't.
yeah i probably got it. wasn't denying it
Yes, that you did, sir, and forswore it too.
Yes, that's what you did, and you swore an oath to deny it too.
That's exactly what you did, and you literally swore you didn't.
you did tho. and you swore you didn't
Who heard me to deny it or forswear it?
Who heard me deny it or swear an oath against it?
Who heard me say that? Who heard me swear anything?
who heard me? show me proof
These ears of mine, thou know’st, did hear thee.
Fie on thee, wretch. ’Tis pity that thou liv’st
To walk where any honest men resort.
These ears of mine, you know, heard you. Shame on you, wretch. It's a pity you live to walk where any honest men gather.
I heard you with my own ears. You're disgusting. Honestly, it's a shame someone like you even gets to walk around where decent people are.
i heard u. you're trash. shouldn't even be around good people
Thou art a villain to impeach me thus;
I’ll prove mine honour and mine honesty
Against thee presently, if thou dar’st stand.
You're a villain to accuse me like this; I'll prove my honor and honesty against you right now, if you dare stand.
You're calling me a villain? I'll fight you right now and prove I'm an honest man. You want to go?
calling me a villain? let's fight. i'll prove it
I dare, and do defy thee for a villain.
I dare, and I challenge you as a villain.
Bring it on. I'm calling you a liar and a criminal.
let's go. you're trash
Hold, hurt him not, for God’s sake, he is mad.
Some get within him, take his sword away.
Bind Dromio too, and bear them to my house.
Stop, don't hurt him—for God's sake, he's mad. Someone grab him and take his sword. Tie Dromio up too, and carry them both to my house.
Wait, stop, don't hurt him! He's out of his mind. Get someone in there, take his sword away from him. Grab Dromio too and both of them need to come to my place.
stop! he's crazy. take his sword. tie them both up, bring them home
Run, master, run, for God’s sake, take a house.
This is some priory; in, or we are spoil’d.
Run, master, run—for God's sake, find a house. This is some priory; get inside, or we'll be destroyed.
Run, boss, run! Get inside somewhere, anywhere! This is a church sanctuary—if we get in there they can't touch us.
run! it's a church. get inside, we're safe there
Be quiet, people. Wherefore throng you hither?
Be quiet, people. Why are you crowding around here?
Everyone calm down. What's all this commotion? Why are you all gathering here?
quiet. why's everyone here?
To fetch my poor distracted husband hence.
Let us come in, that we may bind him fast
And bear him home for his recovery.
To bring my poor distracted husband home. Let us come inside so we can tie him up and carry him home for his recovery.
To get my husband out of here—he's losing his mind. Let us in so we can tie him up and take him home to get better.
my husband's here, he's crazy. let us in so we can tie him up and take him home
I knew he was not in his perfect wits.
I knew he wasn't in his right mind.
Yeah, I could tell something was wrong with him.
dude wasn't himself
I am sorry now that I did draw on him.
I'm sorry now that I drew my sword on him.
I feel bad now that I pulled my sword on him.
sorry i came at him
How long hath this possession held the man?
How long has this madness possessed the man?
How long has he been like this? When did this start?
how long's he been crazy?
This week he hath been heavy, sour, sad,
And much different from the man he was.
But till this afternoon his passion
Ne’er brake into extremity of rage.
This week he's been heavy, sour, and sad, very different from the man he was. But until this afternoon his anger never broke out into extreme rage.
He's been down and grumpy all week, really not himself. But it only got really bad and out of control this afternoon.
sad & angry all week. went crazy this afternoon
Hath he not lost much wealth by wreck of sea?
Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye
Stray’d his affection in unlawful love?
A sin prevailing much in youthful men
Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing?
Which of these sorrows is he subject to?
Did he lose much wealth in a shipwreck? Bury some dear friend? Or has his eye strayed his affection in unlawful love? This sin happens a lot in young men who give their eyes the freedom to gaze wherever they please. Which of these troubles is he suffering from?
Did he lose a lot of money in a shipwreck? Did he lose someone close? Or is he caught up in some forbidden romance? Young guys do that all the time—they let their eyes wander and get into trouble. Which one is it with him?
shipwreck? lost someone? cheating? which one?
To none of these, except it be the last,
Namely, some love that drew him oft from home.
None of these, except maybe the last one—some love that keeps pulling him away from home.
None of those, except yeah, there's this thing with another woman that keeps calling him away.
just the last one. some woman keeps taking him away
You should for that have reprehended him.
You should have criticized him for that.
You should've said something to him about that.
u should've called him out
Why, so I did.
Well, I did.
I did, actually.
i did
Ay, but not rough enough.
But not harshly enough.
But not hard enough.
not hard enough
As roughly as my modesty would let me.
As harshly as my modesty would let me.
About as harshly as I could manage without being totally immodest.
as much as i could without losing my dignity
When Dromio of Syracuse cries 'This is some priory — in, or we are spoil'd,' he is invoking a specific legal doctrine: the right of sanctuary. In medieval and early modern England, certain religious buildings — churches, monasteries, abbeys — could offer legal protection from secular arrest. Once a person physically crossed the threshold and claimed sanctuary, civil authorities (constables, sheriffs, even the crown) were technically powerless to remove them without the church's cooperation. This protection could last for up to forty days in some formulations, after which the claimant had to surrender, abjure the realm, or face forced removal. Shakespeare's audience would have recognized immediately why the Abbess can refuse Adriana's demand: it's not willfulness, it's law. The Abbess has the stronger legal position. The Duke himself can only ask her to bring the patient out — he cannot compel her to. By 1604, when the play was probably being performed at court, sanctuary was being legally eroded by James I's government — so audiences may have registered the Abbess's power as a slightly archaic but still recognizable claim. What makes it dramatically satisfying is that sanctuary, invoked for comic escape, becomes the mechanism of reunion: the abbey that sheltered Antipholus of Syracuse also sheltered his mother for thirty-three years.
Haply in private.
Perhaps when you were alone.
Maybe when nobody was around.
when ur alone maybe
And in assemblies too.
I also called him out in front of other people.
And yeah, in front of people too.
and in public
Ay, but not enough.
But not enough.
Still not enough though.
still not enough
It was the copy of our conference.
In bed he slept not for my urging it;
At board he fed not for my urging it;
Alone, it was the subject of my theme;
In company I often glanced it;
Still did I tell him it was vile and bad.
It was what we always talked about. In bed he couldn't sleep because I kept bringing it up; at meals he couldn't eat because I kept bringing it up. Alone, it was my only subject; in company I kept hinting at it. I kept telling him it was shameful and wrong.
That's literally all we ever talked about. It kept him up at night, ruined his meals, was all I could think about when we were alone. I'd bring it up in front of people too. I never let it go—just kept telling him it was disgusting and wrong.
never stopped talking about it. ruined sleep, meals, everything. told him it was wrong nonstop
And thereof came it that the man was mad.
The venom clamours of a jealous woman
Poisons more deadly than a mad dog’s tooth.
It seems his sleeps were hindered by thy railing,
And thereof comes it that his head is light.
Thou say’st his meat was sauc’d with thy upbraidings.
Unquiet meals make ill digestions;
Thereof the raging fire of fever bred,
And what’s a fever but a fit of madness?
Thou say’st his sports were hinder’d by thy brawls.
Sweet recreation barr’d, what doth ensue
But moody and dull melancholy,
Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair,
And at her heels a huge infectious troop
Of pale distemperatures and foes to life?
In food, in sport, and life-preserving rest
To be disturb’d would mad or man or beast.
The consequence is, then, thy jealous fits
Hath scar’d thy husband from the use of’s wits.
And that's what made the man mad. The poisonous outcries of a jealous woman kill more than a mad dog's tooth. It seems your nagging kept him from sleeping, and that's why his mind is confused. You say his food was seasoned with your complaints. Restless meals cause bad digestion; from that comes the raging fever, and what's a fever but a kind of madness? You say his entertainment was blocked by your fights. Without recreation to enjoy, what follows but gloomy and dull depression, cousin to dark and hopeless despair, and trailing behind it a huge crowd of pale illnesses and enemies of life? To be disturbed in food, in entertainment, and in rest that keeps us alive would drive any person or animal insane. The result is that your jealous fits scared your husband from using his mind.
And that's exactly why he went crazy. A jealous woman's nagging is more poisonous than a mad dog's bite. Your constant complaining wouldn't let him sleep, and that's why he's confused. You ruined his meals with your criticism. Bad meals cause bad digestion, which brings on fevers, and fevers make you crazy. You ruined his fun with all your fighting. No fun, no rest—just depression and despair, and that brings all kinds of illnesses. Anyone or anything needs food, rest, and happiness to stay sane. Your jealous accusations broke his mind.
that's why he went crazy. you nagged him nonstop. ruined sleep, meals, fun. no wonder he lost it
She never reprehended him but mildly,
When he demean’d himself rough, rude, and wildly.
Why bear you these rebukes and answer not?
She never criticized him except mildly, even when he behaved roughly, rudely, and wildly. Why do you accept these insults and not answer back?
She's never been harsh with him—even when he acts terrible and crazy, she's always been gentle. Why are you taking this without defending yourself?
she never even criticized him hard. why arent u defending urself?
She did betray me to my own reproof.
Good people, enter and lay hold on him.
She betrayed me by using my own words against me. Good people, come in and grab him.
She just threw my own mistakes in my face. Everyone, let's go in there and get him.
she called me out with my own words. let's grab him
No, not a creature enters in my house.
No, no one enters my house.
No one's coming into my home.
nobody's getting in
Then let your servants bring my husband forth.
Then have your servants bring my husband out.
Then send your people out here with my husband.
have ur people bring him out then
Neither. He took this place for sanctuary,
And it shall privilege him from your hands
Till I have brought him to his wits again,
Or lose my labour in assaying it.
Neither. He came to this place seeking sanctuary, and it will protect him from your hands until I've brought him back to his right mind, or I lose my effort trying.
No to both. He came to this church for sanctuary, and I'm keeping him safe until he gets better, or I'll die trying.
no. he's got sanctuary here. i'm keeping him safe til he's better
I will attend my husband, be his nurse,
Diet his sickness, for it is my office,
And will have no attorney but myself;
And therefore let me have him home with me.
I will stay with my husband, be his nurse, manage his sickness, because that's my job, and I won't have anyone else care for him except me. So let me have him home with me.
I should be the one taking care of him—he's my husband, it's my responsibility. I'm not letting someone else do it. Let me take him home.
i should nurse him, it's my job. let me take him home
Be patient, for I will not let him stir
Till I have used the approved means I have,
With wholesome syrups, drugs, and holy prayers,
To make of him a formal man again.
It is a branch and parcel of mine oath,
A charitable duty of my order;
Therefore depart, and leave him here with me.
Be patient. I won't let him leave until I've used all the proper treatments I have—with healing syrups, medicines, and holy prayers to make him a reasonable man again. It's a part and duty of my vow, a charitable responsibility of my religious order. So go, and leave him here with me.
Calm down. He's staying until I've tried everything—healing herbs, medicine, prayer, everything I know to get him back to normal. It's part of my vows as a nun. So go, and leave him with me.
wait. i'll use medicine & prayer to fix him. it's my duty. leave him here
I will not hence and leave my husband here;
And ill it doth beseem your holiness
To separate the husband and the wife.
I won't leave and abandon my husband here; and it doesn't look good for your holiness to separate husband and wife.
I'm not leaving my husband here. And it's really messed up for a nun to split up a married couple.
i'm not leaving. it's wrong to separate us
Be quiet and depart. Thou shalt not have him.
Be quiet and go. You're not getting him.
Stop arguing and get out of here. He's staying.
leave. you're not getting him
Complain unto the duke of this indignity.
File a complaint with the duke about this outrage.
Go complain to the duke about this. Tell him what she's doing.
tell the duke about this
Come, go. I will fall prostrate at his feet,
And never rise until my tears and prayers
Have won his grace to come in person hither
And take perforce my husband from the abbess.
Come on, let's go. I'll throw myself at his feet and never get up until my tears and prayers win his favor to come here in person and take my husband from the abbess by force.
Let's go. I'm going straight to the duke, getting down on my knees, and I'm not getting up until he agrees to come here and take my husband away from her by force if he has to.
let's go beg the duke. i'll make him take my husband back
By this, I think, the dial points at five.
Anon, I’m sure, the Duke himself in person
Comes this way to the melancholy vale,
The place of death and sorry execution
Behind the ditches of the abbey here.
By now, I think, the clock shows five o'clock. In a moment, I'm sure the Duke himself in person comes this way toward the sad valley, the place of death and sorry execution behind the ditches of the abbey here.
It's gotta be around five by now. Any minute the Duke is going to come down this road toward that sad area—where they execute people, out behind the abbey.
it's 5 oclock. duke's coming soon to the execution grounds behind the abbey
Upon what cause?
What's the reason?
For what?
y tho?
To see a reverend Syracusian merchant,
Who put unluckily into this bay
Against the laws and statutes of this town,
Beheaded publicly for his offence.
To see a respected merchant from Syracuse who came unluckily into this bay against the laws and rules of this city and will be publicly executed for his crime.
To watch them execute a wealthy merchant from Syracuse who sailed in here by bad luck. It's against their laws, so they're gonna behead him publicly.
to watch them behead a syracuse merchant. came in illegally. getting executed
See where they come. We will behold his death.
Look, they're coming. We'll watch his death.
Here they come. We're about to see him die.
here they come
Kneel to the Duke before he pass the abbey.
Kneel to the Duke before he passes the abbey.
Get on your knees to the Duke before he goes past the church.
kneel to the duke
other Officers.
Other officers.
Other officers appear.
officers come
Yet once again proclaim it publicly,
If any friend will pay the sum for him,
He shall not die; so much we tender him.
Listen again to a public announcement: if anyone will pay the money for him, he won't die—we care about him that much.
Hear this again, everyone: if somebody pays the fine for him, he doesn't have to die. We're giving him that chance.
if anyone pays, he lives. we're giving him a chance
Justice, most sacred duke, against the abbess!
Justice, most holy duke, against the abbess!
Your Grace, I'm begging for justice! That abbess is wronging me!
justice against the abbess!
She is a virtuous and a reverend lady,
It cannot be that she hath done thee wrong.
She's a virtuous and respected lady. It can't be that she's wronged you.
She's a good and respected woman. There's no way she'd do something wrong to you.
she's good. she wouldn't wrong u
May it please your grace, Antipholus, my husband,
Who I made lord of me and all I had
At your important letters, this ill day
A most outrageous fit of madness took him;
That desp’rately he hurried through the street,
With him his bondman all as mad as he,
Doing displeasure to the citizens
By rushing in their houses, bearing thence
Rings, jewels, anything his rage did like.
Once did I get him bound and sent him home,
Whilst to take order for the wrongs I went,
That here and there his fury had committed.
Anon, I wot not by what strong escape,
He broke from those that had the guard of him,
And with his mad attendant and himself,
Each one with ireful passion, with drawn swords,
Met us again, and, madly bent on us,
Chased us away; till raising of more aid,
We came again to bind them. Then they fled
Into this abbey, whither we pursued them.
And here the abbess shuts the gates on us,
And will not suffer us to fetch him out,
Nor send him forth that we may bear him hence.
Therefore, most gracious duke, with thy command
Let him be brought forth and borne hence for help.
May it please your favor, Duke—Antipholus, my husband, who I made lord of everything I owned at your strong recommendation, on this terrible day suddenly went mad. He rushed desperately through the streets, and his servant just as crazed with him, causing damage to the citizens by breaking into their houses and stealing rings and jewels and anything his anger wanted. I managed once to get him tied up and sent home, while I went to arrange to make up for the damage he'd caused throughout the city. Then, I don't know how, he escaped from the people who were watching him, and with his mad servant and himself, both angry and with swords drawn, they met us again, and crazy with rage toward us, they chased us until we got more help and came back to tie them up again. Then they ran into this abbey, and we chased them. Now the abbess closes the gates on us and won't let us get him out or send him out so we can take him home to get help. Therefore, gracious Duke, by your command let him be brought out and taken away for treatment.
Your Grace, my husband Antipholus—the man you pushed me to marry with your backing—he lost his mind completely today. He went running through the streets like a lunatic, and his servant with him, both of them destroying things, breaking into houses, stealing anything they could grab. I got him tied up and sent home once, then I went around trying to fix the damage he'd caused. But he got away somehow from the people watching him, and next thing I know he and his servant are coming at me and my sister with swords out, chasing us through the streets. We finally got help and got them tied up again, then they ran into the church here and we followed. Now that abbess has locked the gates and won't let me get my husband out or even have him sent home for help. Please, Duke, order her to let him out.
my husband went crazy today. smashing houses, stealing stuff. tied him up once but he escaped. came after me with a sword. now abbess won't let him out. order her to release him
Long since thy husband serv’d me in my wars,
And I to thee engag’d a prince’s word,
When thou didst make him master of thy bed,
To do him all the grace and good I could.
Go, some of you, knock at the abbey gate,
And bid the lady abbess come to me.
I will determine this before I stir.
For a long time your husband served me in battle, and I promised you as a prince that when you made him your husband, I would give him all the favor and good I could. Go, some of you, and knock on the abbey gate and tell the lady abbess to come to me. I will settle this before I move.
Your husband fought for me in the wars a long time ago, and I promised you back then that I'd help him however I could. Send someone to get the abbess over here. We're gonna sort this out right now.
he fought 4 me. i promised to help him. get the abbess. settling this now
O mistress, mistress, shift and save yourself.
My master and his man are both broke loose,
Beaten the maids a-row, and bound the doctor,
Whose beard they have singed off with brands of fire,
And ever as it blazed they threw on him
Great pails of puddled mire to quench the hair.
My master preaches patience to him, and the while
His man with scissors nicks him like a fool;
And sure (unless you send some present help)
Between them they will kill the conjurer.
My lady, my lady, run and save yourself! My master and his man both broke free, beat up the maids in a row, and tied up the doctor, and they singed off his beard with burning brands while he screamed, throwing huge buckets of muddy water on him to put out the flames. My master keeps telling him to stay calm while his man clips at him with scissors like a fool. Unless you send help right now, between the two of them they'll kill the fortune-teller.
Ma'am, get out of here! My boss and his servant broke loose—they beat up all the maids, tied up the doctor, and they're burning off his beard while throwing buckets of mud on him. My boss keeps preaching to stay calm while his buddy's cutting at him with scissors. They're gonna kill this fortune-teller guy if nobody stops them soon.
run! they broke loose. beat the maids. burning the doctor's beard. gonna kill him
Peace, fool, thy master and his man are here,
And that is false thou dost report to us.
Quiet, fool—your master and his man are here right now, and what you're telling us is a lie.
Shut up. Your master and his servant are standing right here with us. You're making that up.
shut up. they're right here. ur lying
Comedy of Errors is sometimes dismissed as Shakespeare's most mechanical play — a farce of mistaken identity without much emotional weight. The Abbess reveal at the end is the argument against that reading. Emilia's existence is not hinted at anywhere in the play. She is not foreshadowed, not referenced by any character. When she walks out of the abbey and identifies herself, the surprise is total. This is unusual for Shakespeare, who typically plants recognition seeds well in advance. Why is she hidden? Partly the source material (Plautus's Menaechmi has no such character), but the effect is to make the resolution feel like grace rather than calculation. No one engineered this outcome. Egeon walked into Ephesus to find his son and walked onto the execution ground instead. The fact that his wife is here — has been here all along, running this priory — is pure, unreasonable fortune. The play that opened with a man under a death sentence closes with a mother who has been thirty-three years in labor finally delivering her family. Shakespeare turns a farce into something closer to a myth about the persistence of love through time.
Mistress, upon my life, I tell you true.
I have not breath’d almost since I did see it.
He cries for you, and vows, if he can take you,
To scorch your face and to disfigure you.
Ma'am, I swear on my life I'm telling you the truth. I've barely been able to breathe since I saw it. He's calling for you and swears that if he can catch you, he'll burn your face and disfigure you.
No, seriously, I'm telling the truth. I'm still shaking from what I saw. He's yelling for you and says if he gets his hands on you, he's gonna burn your face off.
i'm serious. he's gonna burn u if he catches u
Hark, hark, I hear him, mistress. Fly, be gone!
Listen, listen, I hear him coming, mistress. Run, get away!
Wait, I hear him coming! Mistress, run away!
he's coming run go
Come, stand by me, fear nothing. Guard with halberds.
Come, stand by me—don't be afraid. Guards with spears, protect her.
Come stand next to me. Don't worry. Guards, protect her.
stay by me. guards protect her
Ay me, it is my husband. Witness you
That he is borne about invisible.
Even now we hous’d him in the abbey here,
And now he’s there, past thought of human reason.
My God, that's my husband. You can testify that he's carried around invisible. We just now housed him in the abbey, and now he's there, beyond all human understanding.
Oh my God, that's him. He's everywhere at once—like he's invisible or something. We literally just locked him in the abbey and now he's out there? This makes no sense.
that's him everywhere at once. impossible. we locked him in
Justice, most gracious duke; O, grant me justice!
Even for the service that long since I did thee
When I bestrid thee in the wars, and took
Deep scars to save thy life; even for the blood
That then I lost for thee, now grant me justice.
Justice, most gracious duke! I'm begging for justice! Even for the service I did for you long ago when I stood over you in battle and took deep scars to save your life—for that blood I lost for you, now give me justice.
Your Grace, please! I'm begging for justice! Remember when I fought for you in the wars, stood between you and danger, got cut up saving your life? I did that for you—now do this for me.
justice! i fought 4 u, got scarred saving u. help me now
Unless the fear of death doth make me dote,
I see my son Antipholus and Dromio.
Unless fear of death is making me confused, I see my son Antipholus and Dromio.
If I'm not going crazy, that's my son Antipholus over there, and that's Dromio with him.
that's my son. and dromio
Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there.
She whom thou gav’st to me to be my wife;
That hath abused and dishonour’d me
Even in the strength and height of injury.
Beyond imagination is the wrong
That she this day hath shameless thrown on me.
Justice, good prince, against that woman there—she who you gave to me as my wife. She's mistreated and dishonored me even at the worst moment of my suffering. The wrong she's shamefully thrown at me today is beyond all imagination.
Your Grace, justice against her—the woman you gave me to be my wife. She's treated me like garbage and humiliated me in the worst way. What she's done to me today is unbelievable.
justice against her. u gave her 2 me. she destroyed me
Discover how, and thou shalt find me just.
Explain how, and you'll find me just.
Tell me what happened and I'll make sure justice is done.
tell me. i'll fix it
This day, great duke, she shut the doors upon me
While she with harlots feasted in my house.
Today, great duke, she locked me out of my house while she partied with prostitutes inside.
Today she locked me out of my own home while she was inside partying with call girls.
she locked me out while partying w/ women
A grievous fault. Say, woman, didst thou so?
That's a serious crime. Tell me, woman, is that true?
That's a serious offense. Did you do that?
that true?
No, my good lord. Myself, he, and my sister
Today did dine together. So befall my soul
As this is false he burdens me withal.
No, my good lord. I, he, and my sister all dined together today. I swear on my soul this accusation he's making is false.
No, Your Grace. The three of us—me, him, and my sister—we ate lunch together. He's lying, I swear it.
no. we ate together. he's lying
Ne’er may I look on day nor sleep on night
But she tells to your highness simple truth.
May I never see daylight or sleep at night if she doesn't tell your majesty the simple truth.
I'll never see another day if what she's saying isn't the complete truth.
she's telling the truth
O perjur’d woman! They are both forsworn.
In this the madman justly chargeth them.
Oh, perjured woman! You're both lying under oath. The madman is right to blame you.
You're both lying! The crazy guy's actually telling the truth about you.
u're both lying. he's right
My liege, I am advised what I say,
Neither disturb’d with the effect of wine,
Nor heady-rash, provok’d with raging ire,
Albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad.
This woman lock’d me out this day from dinner.
That goldsmith there, were he not pack’d with her,
Could witness it, for he was with me then,
Who parted with me to go fetch a chain,
Promising to bring it to the Porpentine,
Where Balthasar and I did dine together.
Our dinner done, and he not coming thither,
I went to seek him. In the street I met him,
And in his company that gentleman.
There did this perjur’d goldsmith swear me down
That I this day of him receiv’d the chain,
Which, God he knows, I saw not. For the which
He did arrest me with an officer.
I did obey, and sent my peasant home
For certain ducats. He with none return’d.
Then fairly I bespoke the officer
To go in person with me to my house.
By th’ way we met
My wife, her sister, and a rabble more
Of vile confederates. Along with them
They brought one Pinch, a hungry lean-faced villain,
A mere anatomy, a mountebank,
A threadbare juggler, and a fortune-teller;
A needy, hollow-ey’d, sharp-looking wretch;
A living dead man. This pernicious slave,
Forsooth, took on him as a conjurer,
And gazing in mine eyes, feeling my pulse,
And with no face (as ’twere) outfacing me,
Cries out, I was possess’d. Then altogether
They fell upon me, bound me, bore me thence,
And in a dark and dankish vault at home
There left me and my man, both bound together,
Till gnawing with my teeth my bonds in sunder,
I gain’d my freedom and immediately
Ran hither to your Grace, whom I beseech
To give me ample satisfaction
For these deep shames and great indignities.
My lord, I know what I'm saying. I'm not confused from drinking wine, and I'm not speaking recklessly because of anger, even though my wrongs could drive a wise person crazy. This woman locked me out of my house at dinner time. That goldsmith there—if he weren't secretly working with her, he could witness it because he was with me then. He left me to fetch a chain and promised to bring it to the Porpentine, where Balthasar and I were going to eat together. When our meal was done and he didn't show up with the chain, I went looking for him. I found him in the street, and with him was that gentleman there. That goldsmith, breaking his oath, swore that I had gotten the chain from him that day, which God knows I never saw. For this lie, he had me arrested by a guard. I agreed and sent my servant home for the money to pay the fine. He came back with nothing. So I politely asked the guard to come with me to my house in person. On the way we ran into my wife, her sister, and a whole crowd of crazy people. With them came some guy named Pinch—a desperate, thin-faced scoundrel, a walking skeleton of a fraud, a worn-out trickster and fortune-teller, a needy, hollow-eyed, sharp-looking wretch, a living corpse. This rotten criminal pretended to be a magician and stared into my eyes, felt my pulse, and without any normal human expression, screams out that I was possessed by a demon. Then all of them attacked me at once, tied me up, and carried me off. They locked me and my servant both in a dark, damp basement at home until, by biting through my ropes, I broke free. Then I ran straight here to you, begging you to pay me back for these deep shames and terrible insults.
Your Majesty, I know what I'm saying. I'm not drunk, not speaking out of anger, though honestly what they've done could drive anyone crazy. She locked me out at dinner time. That goldsmith guy right there—if he wasn't secretly helping her, he'd tell you he was with me. He said he'd get me a chain and meet me at a restaurant where my friend and I were eating. We finished eating, he never showed up, so I went looking for him. Found him with this other guy right here. That goldsmith lied under oath, said I'd already gotten the chain from him that day—which I never did. So he had me arrested. I sent someone home for money, but he came back empty-handed. So I asked the guard to come with me to get it myself. On the way I ran into my wife, her sister, and a bunch of their friends. They had some skinny, crazy-looking guy named Pinch—some fake magic man, a con artist, a walking skeleton basically. He stares at me, checks my pulse, acts like he's in some weird trance, and screams that I'm possessed. Then they all jump me, tie me up, throw me in a basement at home in the dark. I chewed through the ropes and escaped, and now I'm here begging for help with all this.
i'm serious. locked out at dinner. goldsmith was there, can prove it. he lied about the chain. had me arrested. they threw me in basement. need justice
My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him,
That he din’d not at home, but was lock’d out.
My lord, I can honestly say he's telling the truth about this part—he didn't eat at home. He was locked out.
Your Grace, I can back him up on this. He definitely wasn't home for dinner, and he did get locked out.
he's right. he wasn't home. locked out
But had he such a chain of thee, or no?
But did he receive the chain from you or not?
So did he actually take it from you?
did he get the chain?
He had, my lord, and when he ran in here
These people saw the chain about his neck.
He did, my lord, and when he ran in here people saw the chain around his neck.
Yes, he did, and when he ran into the church, everyone saw it around his neck.
yeah he did. people saw it on him here
Besides, I will be sworn these ears of mine
Heard you confess you had the chain of him,
After you first forswore it on the mart,
And thereupon I drew my sword on you;
And then you fled into this abbey here,
From whence I think you are come by miracle.
Also, I swear on these ears of mine that I heard you admit you had gotten the chain from him after you first denied it at the market. And then I drew my sword on you for it, and then you ran away into this abbey. I think you got here only by miracle.
And I'll swear on my ears that I heard you confess you got the chain from him right after you swore you didn't at the market. That's when I came after you with my sword, and you ran in here. Honestly, I don't know how you got away.
i heard u admit u got it. then u ran here. miracle u got away
I never came within these abbey walls,
Nor ever didst thou draw thy sword on me.
I never saw the chain, so help me heaven;
And this is false you burden me withal.
I never came inside these abbey walls, and you never drew your sword on me. I never saw the chain—so help me heaven. And this is a lie you're putting on me.
I never set foot in this church, and you never pulled your sword on me. I never saw any chain—I swear to God. You're making this up.
never been here. never saw the chain. ur lying
Why, what an intricate impeach is this!
I think you all have drunk of Circe’s cup.
If here you hous’d him, here he would have been.
If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly.
You say he din’d at home, the goldsmith here
Denies that saying. Sirrah, what say you?
What a complicated mess this is! I think you've all drunk some magic potion. If you locked him in here, he'd still be here. If he was mad, he wouldn't argue so calmly. You say he ate at home—the goldsmith denies that. Hey you, what do you say?
This is completely insane. It's like you're all under some spell. If you trapped him in here, he'd still be inside. And if he was crazy, he wouldn't be talking so calmly and logically. You say he ate at home, but the goldsmith says he didn't. So which is it?
this makes no sense. u're all crazy. he's too calm 2 be insane
Sir, he dined with her there, at the Porpentine.
He had his meal with her at the Porpentine restaurant.
Yeah, he was eating with her at that place, the Porpentine.
he ate w/ her at the restaurant
He did, and from my finger snatch’d that ring.
He did, and he ripped this ring off my finger.
Yeah, and he grabbed this ring right off my hand.
yeah and he took my ring
’Tis true, my liege, this ring I had of her.
It's true, my lord—I did get this ring from her.
That's right—I got that ring from her.
i got that ring from her
Saw’st thou him enter at the abbey here?
Did you see him enter the abbey here?
Did you see him come into the church?
u see him come in here?
As sure, my liege, as I do see your grace.
As certainly, my lord, as I can see your face right now.
As sure as I'm looking at your face right now.
yeah definitely
Why, this is strange. Go call the abbess hither.
I think you are all mated, or stark mad.
This is very strange indeed. Go call the abbess here. I think you are all bewildered, or utterly mad.
This is so weird. Go get the abbess. I think you're all confused or you're actually going insane.
this is wild. get the abbess. you're all confused or losing it
Most mighty Duke, vouchsafe me speak a word;
Haply I see a friend will save my life
And pay the sum that may deliver me.
Most powerful Duke, let me speak a word. Maybe I see a friend who will save my life and pay the ransom to free me.
Your Grace, can I say something? I think I see somebody here who might help me. Someone who could save my life and pay what they're asking.
ur grace, maybe someone here can help. pay my ransom
Speak freely, Syracusian, what thou wilt.
Speak freely, man from Syracuse—say what you will.
Go ahead, Syracusian—say whatever you need to.
say what u want
Is not your name, sir, call’d Antipholus?
And is not that your bondman Dromio?
Isn't your name Antipholus, sir? And isn't that your servant Dromio?
Aren't you Antipholus? And isn't that Dromio, your servant?
ur antipholus? that's dromio?
Every error in the play passes through the Dromios. They carry messages that reach the wrong twin, receive money that belongs to the other household, get beaten for mistakes their doubles made, and are used as evidence in disputes they have no context for. They are, structurally, the hinge on which every confusion turns. And yet they are enslaved men — the play never lets the audience forget this. 'Bondman' is the repeated word; Antipholus of Ephesus chews through Dromio of Ephesus's bonds with his teeth, but no one in the play questions the underlying institution. The Dromios make jokes about being beaten (there's a running comic tradition throughout the play of physical abuse played for laughs), and they adapt to every chaotic situation with the improvisational resilience of people who have no other choice. What makes the final scene's last two lines remarkable is that Shakespeare gives them to Dromio of Ephesus rather than either Antipholus. 'We came into the world like brother and brother / And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another' — this is not just charm. It is the play's clearest statement about equality, spoken by the character with the least social power. Keep watching which characters Shakespeare trusts with the final words: it is rarely who you expect.
Within this hour I was his bondman, sir,
But he, I thank him, gnaw’d in two my cords.
Now am I Dromio, and his man, unbound.
Till an hour ago I was his servant, sir, but he was kind enough to chew through my bonds. Now I'm Dromio, a free man, no longer bound.
Until an hour ago I was his servant, but he actually bit through my ropes and freed me. Now I'm just Dromio—free.
was his servant til he freed me by biting ropes. now i'm free
I am sure you both of you remember me.
I'm certain you both remember me.
You two definitely remember me, right?
you remember me
Ourselves we do remember, sir, by you.
For lately we were bound as you are now.
You are not Pinch’s patient, are you, sir?
We remember ourselves because of you. We were recently imprisoned like you are now. Are you not Pinch's patient, are you, sir?
We know who we are because of you. We were just locked up like you are right now. You're not Pinch's mental patient, are you?
we remember u. we were bound too. pinch's patient?
Why look you strange on me? you know me well.
Why do you look at me strangely? You know me well.
Why are you looking at me like that? You know me!
why you staring? u know me
I never saw you in my life till now.
I've never seen you in my entire life until now.
I've never seen you before in my life.
never seen u before
O! grief hath chang’d me since you saw me last,
And careful hours with time’s deformed hand,
Have written strange defeatures in my face.
But tell me yet, dost thou not know my voice?
Oh! Grief has changed me since you last saw me, and all these worrying hours, marked by time's cruel hand, have written strange disfigurements on my face. But tell me, don't you recognize my voice?
Look, grief has completely changed me since you last saw me. All those years of worry and hardship have left their mark on my face. But surely you recognize my voice?
grief changed me. time destroyed my face. u know my voice?
Neither.
Neither.
Neither.
Neither.
Dromio, nor thou?
Dromio, or you?
Or you, Dromio?
or u?
No, trust me, sir, nor I.
No, I assure you, sir, nor do I.
No, I swear, I don't either.
nope, not me
I am sure thou dost.
I'm certain you do.
I'm sure you do.
ur lying
Ay, sir, but I am sure I do not, and whatsoever a man denies, you are
now bound to believe him.
Yes, sir, but I'm sure I do not, and whatever a man denies, you are now bound to believe him.
Yeah, sir, but trust me, I don't. And whatever a man says he didn't do, you have to believe him now.
im sure i dont. u gotta believe us
Not know my voice! O time’s extremity,
Hast thou so crack’d and splitted my poor tongue
In seven short years that here my only son
Knows not my feeble key of untun’d cares?
Though now this grained face of mine be hid
In sap-consuming winter’s drizzled snow,
And all the conduits of my blood froze up,
Yet hath my night of life some memory,
My wasting lamps some fading glimmer left,
My dull deaf ears a little use to hear.
All these old witnesses, I cannot err,
Tell me thou art my son Antipholus.
Not recognize my voice! Oh time's extreme cruelty, have you so broken and split my poor voice in seven short years that here my only son doesn't know my weak, worn-out plea? Though now this weathered face of mine is hidden in cold winter's drizzled snow, and all the vessels of my blood have frozen, yet my night of life still has some memory, my fading lamps still have some glimmering light, my dull deaf ears still have a little ability to hear. All these old witnesses, I cannot be wrong, tell me you are my son Antipholus.
You don't recognize my voice? What cruel time does to a person! Seven years is all it took to make my voice unrecognizable to my own son. Now this old, weathered face of mine is buried under winter's snow, and my blood has frozen up, but I still have memories of my life, my eyes still have a little light left in them, and my ears can still hear a bit. Everything about me screams that you're my son Antipholus.
u dont know my voice? 7 years. my face aged. my blood froze. but im ur dad
I never saw my father in my life.
I've never seen my father in my entire life.
My father is a complete stranger to me.
never saw my dad
But seven years since, in Syracusa, boy,
Thou know’st we parted; but perhaps, my son,
Thou sham’st to acknowledge me in misery.
But seven years ago, in Syracuse, boy, you know we parted; but perhaps, my son, you're ashamed to acknowledge me in my misery.
Seven years ago in Syracuse we said goodbye. Maybe now you're just ashamed to admit you're my son when I'm in this sorry state.
we parted 7 yrs ago. ur ashamed of me?
The duke and all that know me in the city,
Can witness with me that it is not so.
I ne’er saw Syracusa in my life.
The duke and everyone who knows me in the city can testify with me that this is not true. I've never seen Syracuse in my entire life.
The duke and everyone in the city who knows me can tell you that's not true. I've never been to Syracuse in my life.
duke knows me. ive never been 2 syracuse
I tell thee, Syracusian, twenty years
Have I been patron to Antipholus,
During which time he ne’er saw Syracusa.
I see thy age and dangers make thee dote.
I tell you, Syracusian, for twenty years I have been patron to Antipholus, during which time he never saw Syracuse. I can see that your age and hardships are making you confused.
Look, I'm telling you, for twenty years I've been this man's patron, and in all that time he never set foot in Syracuse. Your age and all you've been through are making you confused.
20 yrs. hes never been 2 syracuse. ur confused
Most mighty duke, behold a man much wrong’d.
Most mighty duke, look at a man who has been greatly wronged.
Your grace, just look at this poor man—he's been so badly hurt.
hes been wronged so bad
I see two husbands, or mine eyes deceive me.
I see two husbands, or my eyes are deceiving me.
I see two versions of my husband, or I'm going crazy.
i see 2 husbands??
One of these men is _genius_ to the other;
And so of these, which is the natural man,
And which the spirit? Who deciphers them?
One of these men is the guardian spirit of the other; so which of these is the real man and which is the spirit? Who can tell them apart?
One of these men is like the guardian spirit of the other. So which is the real one and which is the supernatural copy? Who can figure out which is which?
ones the spirit. which is real?
I, sir, am Dromio, command him away.
Listen, I'm Dromio. Get him out of here.
I'm Dromio—send that one away!
im dromio. send him away
I, sir, am Dromio, pray let me stay.
I, sir, am Dromio. I beg you to let me stay.
No, I'm the real Dromio—please let me stay!
im dromio. pls let me stay
Egeon, art thou not? or else his ghost?
You're Egeon, aren't you? Or are you his ghost?
Are you Egeon? Or are you his ghost?
egeon? or ur ghost?
O, my old master, who hath bound him here?
Oh, my old master, who has bound him here?
Oh, my old master, who's got him locked up?
master, whos got him?
Whoever bound him, I will loose his bonds,
And gain a husband by his liberty.
Speak, old Egeon, if thou be’st the man
That hadst a wife once called Emilia,
That bore thee at a burden two fair sons.
O, if thou be’st the same Egeon, speak,
And speak unto the same Emilia!
Whoever bound him, I will free his bonds, and gain a husband by his liberty. Speak, old Egeon, if you're the man who once had a wife called Emilia, who bore you at one birth two fair sons. Oh, if you're the same Egeon, speak, and speak to the same Emilia!
Whoever put those chains on him, I'm going to break them free, and I'll get my husband back through his freedom. Tell me, are you Egeon? Did you have a wife named Emilia who gave birth to twin sons? If you're that Egeon, speak to me—I'm Emilia!
ill free u. r u egeon? is ur wife emilia? i am
Why, here begins his morning story right:
These two Antipholus’, these two so like,
And these two Dromios, one in semblance,
Besides her urging of her wreck at sea.
These are the parents to these children,
Which accidentally are met together.
Why, here's where his story from this morning becomes clear: these two Antipholus', these two who look so alike, and these two Dromios, identical in appearance, plus her account of her shipwreck at sea—these are the parents to these children, who have accidentally met each other.
So that's what his morning story was about! We've got two Antipholus twins who look identical, and two Dromio twins who look the same too. And she was shipwrecked at sea. These must be the parents, and the twins have just accidentally found each other.
thats the story! twin brothers. parents reunited
If I dream not, thou art Emilia.
If thou art she, tell me where is that son
That floated with thee on the fatal raft?
If I'm not dreaming, you're Emilia. If you are, tell me where is that son who floated with you on the doomed raft?
Unless I'm dreaming, you have to be Emilia! If you are, tell me—where's the son who was with you on that shipwreck?
ur emilia? where's our son?
By men of Epidamnum, he and I
And the twin Dromio, all were taken up;
But, by and by, rude fishermen of Corinth
By force took Dromio and my son from them,
And me they left with those of Epidamnum.
What then became of them I cannot tell;
I to this fortune that you see me in.
By men of Epidamnum, he and I and the twin Dromio were all picked up; but soon after, rough fishermen from Corinth violently took Dromio and my son away from them, and left me with the men of Epidamnum. What became of them after that I cannot say; I've ended up in this situation you see me in.
The men of Epidamnum rescued me and the baby, along with one Dromio. But then these rough fishermen from Corinth showed up and ripped my son and the other Dromio away from us, leaving me with the Epidamnum crew. After that, I never knew what happened to them. And this is how I've ended up.
we were rescued but fishermen took my son. idk what happened 2 him
Antipholus, thou cam’st from Corinth first?
Antipholus, you came from Corinth first?
Wait—you came from Corinth?
u came from corinth?
No, sir, not I, I came from Syracuse.
No, that wasn't me. I'm originally from Syracuse.
No, not me. I came from Syracuse.
nope. i came from syracuse
Stay, stand apart, I know not which is which.
Wait, stand apart. I don't know which is which.
Hold on, you two—stand where I can see you separately. I can't tell which is which!
stand apart. cant tell u apart
For most of its length, Comedy of Errors is written in a mix of iambic pentameter (for noble characters), prose (for comic scenes), and doggerel rhyme (for the Dromios' wordplay). In Act 5, as the recognitions stack up, Shakespeare makes a craft choice: the verse tightens. Egeon's speech — 'O, grief hath chang'd me since you saw me last' — is metrically precise and emotionally elevated in a way that contrasts with the comedy around it. It is the verse of the tragedies: not yet, but reaching toward them. The recognition between Egeon and Emilia ('If I dream not, thou art Emilia') is handled in two-and-a-half lines each — short, stunned, urgent. Compare this to the longer, more rhetorical speeches earlier in the scene and you see Shakespeare compressing the emotional register as the stakes increase. The play's title promises errors; what the verse of Act 5 delivers is something closer to miracle. When Egeon says 'All these old witnesses, I cannot err, / Tell me thou art my son Antipholus,' the metrically stressed 'err' lands as its own joke — the man about to discover he has been speaking to the wrong twin uses the play's root word. Shakespeare rarely misses a trick.
I came from Corinth, my most gracious lord.
Your grace, I'm the one who came from Corinth.
I'm the one from Corinth, your grace.
i came from corinth
And I with him.
I came with him.
Same, I was traveling with him.
me too
Brought to this town by that most famous warrior,
Duke Menaphon, your most renowned uncle.
Duke Menaphon, the warrior and your uncle, brought us to this city.
Duke Menaphon, your uncle, brought us here—that famous warrior.
duke menaphon brought us here
Which of you two did dine with me today?
Which of you two had dinner with me today?
Tell me—which of you ate with me earlier?
who had dinner w me?
I, gentle mistress.
I did, madam.
That was me, ma'am.
that was me
And are not you my husband?
You're supposed to be my husband.
And aren't you my husband?
ur my husband right?
No, I say nay to that.
I'm denying that completely.
No, I'm saying no.
nope
And so do I, yet did she call me so;
And this fair gentlewoman, her sister here,
Did call me brother. What I told you then,
I hope I shall have leisure to make good,
If this be not a dream I see and hear.
And so do I, yet she did call me that; and this fair gentlewoman, her sister here, did call me brother. What I told you then, I hope I'll have time to prove, if this isn't a dream I'm seeing and hearing.
Same here, but she did call me that. And her sister also called me brother. I promise I'll explain everything once I figure out if this is real or if I'm dreaming.
they called me husband n brother. im so confused
That is the chain, sir, which you had of me.
That is the chain, sir, which you got from me.
That's the chain you got from me, sir.
thats ur chain
I think it be, sir. I deny it not.
I think it is, sir. I'm not denying it.
Yeah, I think so. I'm not going to deny it.
yeah its urs
And you, sir, for this chain arrested me.
And you, sir, arrested me because of this chain.
And you—you arrested me over this chain!
u arrested me over this
I think I did, sir. I deny it not.
I think I did, sir. I'm not denying it.
Yeah, I think I did. I'm not going to deny it.
yeah i did
I sent you money, sir, to be your bail
By Dromio, but I think he brought it not.
I sent you money, sir, to be your bail through Dromio, but I don't think he brought it.
I sent you money with Dromio to bail you out, but I don't think he actually delivered it.
i sent $ w dromio to bail u out
No, none by me.
No, none from me.
Nothing from me.
nope
This purse of ducats I receiv’d from you,
And Dromio my man did bring them me.
I see we still did meet each other’s man,
And I was ta’en for him, and he for me,
And thereupon these errors are arose.
This purse of gold coins I received from you, and Dromio my servant brought them to me. I see now that we kept meeting each other's servants, and I was taken for him, and he for me, and from this these errors arose.
I got this bag of money from you, and my servant Dromio brought it to me. I realize now—we kept running into each other's servants, thinking they were ours. I was mistaken for him and he for me, and that's how all this confusion started.
i got ur money. dromio brought it. we confused servants 4 each other
These ducats pawn I for my father here.
These gold coins I pledge for my father here.
I'm using these coins to pay for my father's release.
im giving u these coins 4 my dad
It shall not need, thy father hath his life.
It shall not be necessary; your father has his life.
You don't need to do that. Your father gets to live anyway.
u dont need 2. ur dad lives
Sir, I must have that diamond from you.
Sir, I need you to give me back that diamond.
Sir, I need that diamond back from you.
gimme the diamond
There, take it, and much thanks for my good cheer.
There, take it, and my great thanks for your good hospitality.
There you go, and thank you for your company and entertainment.
here. thx 4 everything
Renowned duke, vouchsafe to take the pains
To go with us into the abbey here,
And hear at large discoursed all our fortunes;
And all that are assembled in this place,
That by this sympathised one day’s error
Have suffer’d wrong, go, keep us company,
And we shall make full satisfaction.
Thirty-three years have I but gone in travail
Of you, my sons, and till this present hour
My heavy burden ne’er delivered.
The duke, my husband, and my children both,
And you, the calendars of their nativity,
Go to a gossips’ feast, and go with me.
After so long grief, such nativity.
Renowned duke, please take the trouble to go with us to the abbey here, and hear at length how all our fortunes unfolded; and all who are gathered in this place, who through this one day's confusion have suffered wrong, go, stay with us, and we shall make full recompense. For thirty-three years I have been in travail with you, my sons, and until this present hour my heavy burden has never been delivered. The duke, my husband, and my children both, and you, the records of their birth, go to a celebration feast, and go with me. After so much sorrow, such a happy birth day.
Your grace, would you come with us to the abbey and hear the whole story of what happened to us? Everyone here who suffered because of today's mix-up is invited. We'll make it right. I've spent thirty-three years waiting for this moment with my sons, pregnant with this hope the whole time. I finally have my duke back, my kids back, and you're here to witness our new beginning. Come celebrate with us.
come 2 the abbey. hear everything. celebrate w us. 33 yrs waiting 4 this
With all my heart, I’ll gossip at this feast.
With all my heart, I'll celebrate with you at this feast.
Absolutely, I'd be happy to celebrate with everyone.
lets celebrate
Master, shall I fetch your stuff from shipboard?
Master, shall I get your belongings from the ship?
Master, want me to go get your stuff from the ship?
get ur stuff from ship?
Dromio, what stuff of mine hast thou embark’d?
Dromio, what belongings of mine have you put on the ship?
Dromio, what stuff of mine did you put on the ship?
what did u put on the ship?
Your goods that lay at host, sir, in the Centaur.
Your goods that were stored, sir, at the Centaur inn.
Your stuff that you had stored at the Centaur Inn, sir.
ur stuff at the centaur
He speaks to me; I am your master, Dromio.
Come, go with us. We’ll look to that anon.
Embrace thy brother there, rejoice with him.
He's speaking to me; I am your master, Dromio. Come, go with us. We'll attend to that later. Embrace your brother there, and rejoice with him.
He's talking to me—I'm your real master, Dromio. Come on, come with us. We'll get that stuff later. Go hug your brother and celebrate with him.
im ur master. come w us. hug ur brother
There is a fat friend at your master’s house,
That kitchen’d me for you today at dinner.
She now shall be my sister, not my wife.
There is a plump woman at your master's house who fed me at your master's dinner today. She is now to be my sister, not my wife.
There's a big woman at your master's place who cooked for me at dinner today. Turns out she's going to be my sister, not my wife.
that big lady cooked 4 me. shes my sister now not wife
Methinks you are my glass, and not my brother.
I see by you I am a sweet-faced youth.
Will you walk in to see their gossiping?
It seems to me you are my mirror, and not my brother. I can see by looking at you that I'm a good-looking young man. Will you go inside to see their celebration?
You look like my mirror, not my brother. At least now I can see I'm pretty good-looking! Want to go in and watch the party?
ur my mirror. im cute! lets see the party
Not I, sir, you are my elder.
Not I, sir, you are my older brother.
Nope, you're the older one.
ur older
That’s a question, how shall we try it?
That's a good question. How shall we determine it?
Good question—how do we figure that out?
how we figure that out?
We’ll draw cuts for the senior. Till then, lead thou first.
We'll draw lots to decide who's the older one. Till then, you lead the way first.
We'll draw straws to see who's older. For now, you lead.
well draw straws. u go first
Nay, then, thus:
We came into the world like brother and brother,
And now let’s go hand in hand, not one before another.
Well then, here's how: we came into the world as brothers together, and now let's go hand in hand, not one before the other.
You know what? We came into this world as brothers, and let's stay that way—hand in hand, equal.
we came in as brothers. lets stay equal
The Reckoning
The play has been a precision-engineered chaos machine, and this scene is the moment it finally runs down. Error after error collapses in on itself until, improbably, everything clicks. What nobody expected — least of all Egeon, who walked in under a death sentence — is that the resolution is also a reunion: his wife is alive, his sons are both standing in front of him, and thirty-three years of grief ends not in execution but at a feast. The audience leaves feeling something rarer than comedy usually delivers: genuine relief.
If this happened today…
Imagine a massive multi-car pileup at a busy intersection — a mistaken identity chain reaction involving a stolen package, two pairs of identical twins who work for the same courier company, a jewelry dispute, a wrongful arrest, a kidnapping by an unlicensed therapist, and a dying old man who turns out to be the estranged father of one of the twins. Now add that the neutral arbiter called in to sort it out — the nun running the nearby convent — turns out to be the old man's wife, presumed dead for three decades. The whole thing gets untangled in one afternoon in the parking lot of a church. Someone's lawyer is going to have a field day, but everyone goes to the party anyway.