The Comedy of Errors

Enter the Duke of Ephesus, Ægeon the merchant of Syracuse, a Provost, Officer, Gaoler, and other Attendants.

DUKE. Proceed, Ægeon, to deliver up thy complaint.

ÆGEON. Before the time that man could say 'beware,' I was at sea; my wife on length of life Had almost worn out the attending of mine eyes, And while I fain would tell my love's farewel, The winds did woo her hence in happy hour; The heavens heard the prayer of my beloved, And promised us prosperity and peace. But, when the seas took us, alas! our ship Was fraught with peril, and the violent waves O'erthrew our barque, and we were left astray, And thus for many years we were like to be Cast on the mercy of the wind and wave: At length we 'scaped, by Providence's grace, To Syracuse; where, by the appointment of the fates, We are again misjoined, and now return To seek my wife and children long since lost.

DUKE. Away with him to prison: he that will Have money and ease, let him that hath none Come seek unto the laws; for we have no mercy To give away in public audiences.

PROVOST. Come, come, no more; pray spare your pleading; 'tis no time to plant compassion in a jail. Your humble suit is now of small avail; Away with him: I do arrest you for That which you can not answer: come, away!

ÆGEON. O, be not fatal then, my gracious lord, To slay me ere the cause of my complaint Be noted: bear me to the court; the laws Must hear me; though my fortune be condemned, Yet I would have my truth delivered clear. My sorrow makes me bold; and boldness, sirs, Gives me a liberty to speak my mind.

DUKE. Then sit, and tell thy story; what thou art, And whence thou com'st; and how thou cam'st to be Thus with an unknown face and desperate plight. We will not only hear thee, but afford Such means as may redress thy present wrong.

ÆGEON. Though at the first I did imbark for Genoa, To trade my goods and traffic thence again, The storms enforc'd us to the Syracusan shore, Where I have since remain'd in banishment, And now am haled to die for breaking laws Between the cities. All my goods are lost, And I, the body of theirs that once was mine, Am come to beg with all the patience I can.