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Exhibit 1 — The Comedy of Errors:

ACT 1

Scene 1

Enter ⌜Solinus⌝ the Duke of Ephesus, with ⌜Egeon⌝ the Merchant of Syracuse, Jailer, and other Attendants.

EGEON Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall, And by the doom of death end woes and all. DUKE Merchant of Syracusa, plead no more. I am not partial to infringe our laws. 5 The enmity and discord which of late Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your duke To merchants, our well-dealing countrymen, Who, wanting guilders to redeem their lives, Have sealed his rigorous statutes with their bloods, 10 Excludes all pity from our threat’ning looks. For since the mortal and intestine jars ’Twixt thy seditious countrymen and us, It hath in solemn synods been decreed, Both by the Syracusians and ourselves, 15 To admit no traffic to our adverse towns. Nay, more, if any born at Ephesus Be seen at Syracusian marts and fairs; Again, if any Syracusian born Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies, 20 His goods confiscate to the Duke’s dispose,

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Unless a thousand marks be levièd To quit the penalty and to ransom him. Thy substance, valued at the highest rate, Cannot amount unto a hundred marks; 25 Therefore by law thou art condemned to die. EGEON Yet this my comfort: when your words are done, My woes end likewise with the evening sun. DUKE Well, Syracusian, say in brief the cause Why thou departedst from thy native home 30 And for what cause thou cam’st to Ephesus. EGEON A heavier task could not have been imposed Than I to speak my griefs unspeakable; Yet, that the world may witness that my end Was wrought by nature, not by vile offense, 35 I’ll utter what my sorrow gives me leave. In Syracusa was I born, and wed Unto a woman happy but for me, And by me, had not our hap been bad. With her I lived in joy. Our wealth increased 40 By prosperous voyages I often made To Epidamium, till my factor’s death And ⌜the⌝ great care of goods at random left Drew me from kind embracements of my spouse; From whom my absence was not six months old 45 Before herself—almost at fainting under The pleasing punishment that women bear— Had made provision for her following me And soon and safe arrivèd where I was. There had she not been long but she became 50 A joyful mother of two goodly sons, And, which was strange, the one so like the other As could not be distinguished but by names.

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That very hour, and in the selfsame inn, A mean woman was deliverèd 55 Of such a burden, male twins, both alike. Those, for their parents were exceeding poor, I bought and brought up to attend my sons. My wife, not meanly proud of two such boys, Made daily motions for our home return. 60 Unwilling, I agreed. Alas, too soon We came aboard. A league from Epidamium had we sailed Before the always-wind-obeying deep Gave any tragic instance of our harm; 65 But longer did we not retain much hope, For what obscurèd light the heavens did grant Did but convey unto our fearful minds A doubtful warrant of immediate death, Which though myself would gladly have embraced, 70 Yet the incessant weepings of my wife, Weeping before for what she saw must come, And piteous plainings of the pretty babes, That mourned for fashion, ignorant what to fear, Forced me to seek delays for them and me. 75 And this it was, for other means was none: The sailors sought for safety by our boat And left the ship, then sinking-ripe, to us. My wife, more careful for the latter-born, Had fastened him unto a small spare mast, 80 Such as seafaring men provide for storms. To him one of the other twins was bound, Whilst I had been like heedful of the other. The children thus disposed, my wife and I, Fixing our eyes on whom our care was fixed, 85 Fastened ourselves at either end the mast And, floating straight, obedient to the stream, Was carried towards Corinth, as we thought.

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At length the sun, gazing upon the earth, Dispersed those vapors that offended us, 90 And by the benefit of his wished light The seas waxed calm, and we discoverèd Two ships from far, making amain to us, Of Corinth that, of Epidaurus this. But ere they came—O, let me say no more! 95 Gather the sequel by that went before. DUKE Nay, forward, old man. Do not break off so, For we may pity though not pardon thee. EGEON O, had the gods done so, I had not now Worthily termed them merciless to us. 100 For, ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues, We were encountered by a mighty rock, Which being violently borne ⌜upon,⌝ Our helpful ship was splitted in the midst; So that, in this unjust divorce of us, 105 Fortune had left to both of us alike What to delight in, what to sorrow for. Her part, poor soul, seeming as burdenèd With lesser weight, but not with lesser woe, Was carried with more speed before the wind, 110 And in our sight they three were taken up By fishermen of Corinth, as we thought. At length, another ship had seized on us And, knowing whom it was their hap to save, Gave healthful welcome to their shipwracked guests, 115 And would have reft the fishers of their prey Had not their ⌜bark⌝ been very slow of sail; And therefore homeward did they bend their course. Thus have you heard me severed from my bliss, That by misfortunes was my life prolonged 120 To tell sad stories of my own mishaps.

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DUKE And for the sake of them thou sorrowest for, Do me the favor to dilate at full What have befall’n of them and ⌜thee⌝ till now. EGEON My youngest boy, and yet my eldest care, 125 At eighteen years became inquisitive After his brother, and importuned me That his attendant—so his case was like, Reft of his brother, but retained his name— Might bear him company in the quest of him, 130 Whom whilst I labored of a love to see, I hazarded the loss of whom I loved. Five summers have I spent in farthest Greece, Roaming clean through the bounds of Asia, And, coasting homeward, came to Ephesus, 135 Hopeless to find, yet loath to leave unsought Or that or any place that harbors men. But here must end the story of my life; And happy were I in my timely death Could all my travels warrant me they live. DUKE 140 Hapless Egeon, whom the fates have marked To bear the extremity of dire mishap, Now, trust me, were it not against our laws, Against my crown, my oath, my dignity, Which princes, would they, may not disannul, 145 My soul should sue as advocate for thee. But though thou art adjudgèd to the death, And passèd sentence may not be recalled But to our honor’s great disparagement, Yet will I favor thee in what I can. 150 Therefore, merchant, I’ll limit thee this day To seek thy ⌜life⌝ by beneficial help. Try all the friends thou hast in Ephesus; Beg thou, or borrow, to make up the sum,

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And live. If no, then thou art doomed to die.— 155 Jailer, take him to thy custody. JAILER I will, my lord. EGEON Hopeless and helpless doth Egeon wend, But to procrastinate his lifeless end. They exit.

⌜Scene 2⌝

Enter Antipholus ⌜of Syracuse, First⌝ Merchant, and Dromio ⌜of Syracuse.⌝

⌜FIRST⌝ MERCHANT Therefore give out you are of Epidamium, 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. ⌜He gives money.⌝ ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE, handing money to Dromio⌝ 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. DROMIO ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Many a man would take you at your word And go indeed, having so good a mean. Dromio ⌜of Syracuse⌝ exits.

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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? ⌜FIRST⌝ MERCHANT I am invited, sir, to certain merchants, 25 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. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ 30 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.⌜He 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.

Enter Dromio of Ephesus.

Here comes the almanac of my true date.— What now? How chance thou art returned so soon? DROMIO OF EPHESUS Returned so soon? Rather approached 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.

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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. 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. 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? 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. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Come, Dromio, come, these jests are out of season. 70 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! ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Come on, sir knave, have done your foolishness, And tell me how thou hast disposed thy charge.

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DROMIO OF EPHESUS 75 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, 80 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, 85 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? DROMIO OF EPHESUS 90 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, beating Dromio⌝ What, wilt thou flout me thus unto my face, Being forbid? There, take you that, sir knave. DROMIO OF EPHESUS 95 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 exits. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Upon my life, by some device or other The villain is ⌜o’erraught⌝ of all my money. 100 They say this town is full of cozenage, As nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,

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Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind, Soul-killing witches that deform the body, Disguisèd cheaters, prating mountebanks, 105 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. He exits.

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ACT 2

⌜Scene 1⌝

Enter Adriana, wife to Antipholus ⌜of Ephesus,⌝ with Luciana, her sister.

ADRIANA Neither my husband nor the slave returned That in such haste I sent to seek his master? Sure, Luciana, it is two o’clock. LUCIANA Perhaps some merchant hath invited him, 5 And from the mart he’s somewhere gone to dinner. Good sister, let us dine, and never fret. A man is master of his liberty; Time is their master, and when they see time They’ll go or come. If so, be patient, sister. ADRIANA 10 Why should their liberty than ours be more? LUCIANA Because their business still lies out o’ door. ADRIANA Look when I serve him so, he takes it ⌜ill.⌝ LUCIANA O, know he is the bridle of your will. ADRIANA There’s none but asses will be bridled so. LUCIANA 15 Why, headstrong liberty is lashed with woe.

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There’s nothing situate under heaven’s eye But hath his bound in earth, in sea, in sky. The beasts, the fishes, and the wingèd fowls Are their males’ subjects and at their controls. 20 Man, more divine, the master of all these, Lord of the wide world and wild wat’ry seas, Endued with intellectual sense and souls, Of more preeminence than fish and fowls, Are masters to their females, and their lords. 25 Then let your will attend on their accords. ADRIANA This servitude makes you to keep unwed. LUCIANA Not this, but troubles of the marriage bed. ADRIANA But, were you wedded, you would bear some sway. LUCIANA Ere I learn love, I’ll practice to obey. ADRIANA 30 How if your husband start some otherwhere? LUCIANA Till he come home again, I would forbear. ADRIANA Patience unmoved! No marvel though she pause; They can be meek that have no other cause. A wretched soul bruised with adversity 35 We bid be quiet when we hear it cry, But were we burdened with like weight of pain, As much or more we should ourselves complain. So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee, With urging helpless patience would relieve me; 40 But if thou live to see like right bereft, This fool-begged patience in thee will be left. LUCIANA Well, I will marry one day, but to try. Here comes your man. Now is your husband nigh.

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Enter Dromio ⌜of⌝ Ephesus.

ADRIANA Say, is your tardy master now at hand? DROMIO OF EPHESUS 45Nay, he’s at two hands with me, and that my two ears can witness. ADRIANA Say, didst thou speak with him? Know’st thou his mind? DROMIO OF EPHESUS Ay, ay, he told his mind upon mine ear. 50 Beshrew his hand, I scarce could understand it. LUCIANA Spake he so doubtfully thou couldst not feel his meaning? DROMIO OF EPHESUS Nay, he struck so plainly I could too well feel his blows, and withal so doubtfully 55 that I could scarce understand them. ADRIANA But say, I prithee, is he coming home? It seems he hath great care to please his wife. DROMIO OF EPHESUS Why, mistress, sure my master is horn mad. ADRIANA Horn mad, thou villain? DROMIO OF EPHESUS 60 I mean not cuckold mad, But sure he is stark mad. When I desired him to come home to dinner, He asked me for a ⌜thousand⌝ marks in gold. “’Tis dinnertime,” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he. 65 “Your meat doth burn,” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he. “Will you come?” quoth I. “My gold,” quoth he. “Where is the thousand marks I gave thee, villain?” “The pig,” quoth I, “is burned.” “My gold,” quoth 70 he.

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“My mistress, sir,” quoth I. “Hang up thy mistress! I know not thy mistress. Out on thy mistress!” LUCIANA Quoth who? DROMIO OF EPHESUS Quoth my master. 75 “I know,” quoth he, “no house, no wife, no mistress.” So that my errand, due unto my tongue, I thank him, I bare home upon my shoulders, For, in conclusion, he did beat me there. ADRIANA 80 Go back again, thou slave, and fetch him home. DROMIO OF EPHESUS Go back again and be new beaten home? For God’s sake, send some other messenger. ADRIANA Back, slave, or I will break thy pate across. DROMIO OF EPHESUS And he will bless that cross with other beating. 85 Between you, I shall have a holy head. ADRIANA Hence, prating peasant. Fetch thy master home. DROMIO OF EPHESUS Am I so round with you as you with me, That like a football you do spurn me thus? You spurn me hence, and he will spurn me hither. 90 If I last in this service, you must case me in leather. ⌜He exits.⌝ LUCIANA Fie, how impatience loureth in your face. ADRIANA His company must do his minions grace, Whilst I at home starve for a merry look. Hath homely age th’ alluring beauty took 95 From my poor cheek? Then he hath wasted it. Are my discourses dull? Barren my wit? If voluble and sharp discourse be marred,

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Unkindness blunts it more than marble hard. Do their gay vestments his affections bait? 100 That’s not my fault; he’s master of my state. What ruins are in me that can be found By him not ruined? Then is he the ground Of my defeatures. My decayèd fair A sunny look of his would soon repair. 105 But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale And feeds from home. Poor I am but his stale. LUCIANA Self-harming jealousy, fie, beat it hence. ADRIANA Unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense. I know his eye doth homage otherwhere, 110 Or else what lets it but he would be here? Sister, you know he promised me a chain. Would that alone o’ love he would detain, So he would keep fair quarter with his bed. I see the jewel best enamelèd 115 Will lose his beauty. Yet the gold bides still That others touch, and often touching will ⌜Wear⌝ gold; ⌜yet⌝ no man that hath a name By falsehood and corruption doth it shame. Since that my beauty cannot please his eye, 120 I’ll weep what’s left away, and weeping die. LUCIANA How many fond fools serve mad jealousy! ⌜They⌝ exit.

⌜Scene 2⌝

Enter Antipholus ⌜of Syracuse.⌝

ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ The gold I gave to Dromio is laid up Safe at the Centaur, and the heedful slave

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Is wandered forth in care to seek me out. By computation and mine host’s report, 5 I could not speak with Dromio since at first I sent him from the mart. See, here he comes.

Enter Dromio ⌜of⌝ Syracuse.

How now, sir? Is your merry humor altered? As you love strokes, so jest with me again. You know no Centaur? You received no gold? 10 Your mistress sent to have me home to dinner? My house was at the Phoenix? Wast thou mad, That thus so madly thou didst answer me? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE What answer, sir? When spake I such a word? ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Even now, even here, not half an hour since. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 15 I did not see you since you sent me hence, Home to the Centaur with the gold you gave me. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Villain, thou didst deny the gold’s receipt And told’st me of a mistress and a dinner, For which I hope thou felt’st I was displeased. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 20 I am glad to see you in this merry vein. What means this jest, I pray you, master, tell me? ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Yea, dost thou jeer and flout me in the teeth? Think’st thou I jest? Hold, take thou that and that. Beats Dromio. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Hold, sir, for God’s sake! Now your jest is earnest. 25 Upon what bargain do you give it me? ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Because that I familiarly sometimes Do use you for my fool and chat with you,

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Your sauciness will jest upon my love And make a common of my serious hours. 30 When the sun shines, let foolish gnats make sport, But creep in crannies when he hides his beams. If you will jest with me, know my aspect, And fashion your demeanor to my looks, Or I will beat this method in your sconce. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 35“Sconce” call you it? So you would leave battering, I had rather have it a “head.” An you use these blows long, I must get a sconce for my head and ensconce it too, or else I shall seek my wit in my shoulders. But I pray, sir, 40 why am I beaten? ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Dost thou not know? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Nothing, sir, but that I am beaten. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Shall I tell you why? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 45Ay, sir, and wherefore, for they say every why hath a wherefore. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ “Why” first: for flouting me; and then “wherefore”: for urging it the second time to me. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 50 Was there ever any man thus beaten out of season, When in the “why” and the “wherefore” is neither rhyme nor reason? Well, sir, I thank you. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Thank me, sir, for what? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 55Marry, sir, for this something that you gave me for nothing. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ I’ll make you amends next, to give you nothing for something. But say, sir, is it dinnertime? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 60No, sir, I think the meat wants that I have.

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ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ In good time, sir, what’s that? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Basting. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ 65Well, sir, then ’twill be dry. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE If it be, sir, I pray you eat none of it. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Your reason? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Lest it make you choleric and 70 purchase me another dry basting. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Well, sir, learn to jest in good time. There’s a time for all things. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE I durst have denied that before you were so choleric. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ 75By what rule, sir? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Marry, sir, by a rule as plain as the plain bald pate of Father Time himself. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Let’s hear it. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE There’s no time for a man to 80 recover his hair that grows bald by nature. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ May he not do it by fine and recovery? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Yes, to pay a fine for a periwig, and recover the lost hair of another man. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ 85Why is Time such a niggard of hair, being, as it is, so plentiful an excrement? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Because it is a blessing that he bestows on beasts, and what he hath scanted ⌜men⌝ in hair, he hath given them in wit. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ 90Why, but there’s many a man hath more hair than wit. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Not a man of those but he hath the wit to lose his hair. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Why, thou didst conclude 95 hairy men plain dealers without wit. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE The plainer dealer, the sooner lost. Yet he loseth it in a kind of jollity.

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ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ For what reason? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE For two, and sound ones too. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ 100Nay, not sound, I pray you. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Sure ones, then. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Nay, not sure, in a thing falsing. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Certain ones, then. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ 105Name them. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE The one, to save the money that he spends in ⌜tiring;⌝ the other, that at dinner they should not drop in his porridge. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ You would all this time 110 have proved there is no time for all things. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Marry, and did, sir: namely, e’en no time to recover hair lost by nature. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ But your reason was not substantial why there is no time to recover. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 115Thus I mend it: Time himself is bald and therefore, to the world’s end, will have bald followers. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ I knew ’twould be a bald conclusion. But soft, who wafts us yonder?

Enter Adriana, ⌜beckoning them,⌝ and Luciana.

ADRIANA 120 Ay, ay, Antipholus, look strange and frown. Some other mistress hath thy sweet aspects. I am not Adriana, nor thy wife. The time was once when thou unurged wouldst vow That never words were music to thine ear, 125 That never object pleasing in thine eye, That never touch well welcome to thy hand, That never meat sweet-savored in thy taste, Unless I spake, or looked, or touched, or carved to thee. 130 How comes it now, my husband, O, how comes it

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That thou art then estrangèd from thyself? “Thyself” I call it, being strange to me, That, undividable, incorporate, Am better than thy dear self’s better part. 135 Ah, do not tear away thyself from me! For know, my love, as easy mayst thou fall A drop of water in the breaking gulf, And take unmingled thence that drop again Without addition or diminishing, 140 As take from me thyself and not me too. How dearly would it touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate! 145 Wouldst thou not spit at me, and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stained skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding ring, And break it with a deep-divorcing vow? 150 I know thou canst, and therefore see thou do it. I am possessed with an adulterate blot; My blood is mingled with the crime of lust; For if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh, 155 Being strumpeted by thy contagion. Keep then fair league and truce with thy true bed, I live distained, thou undishonorèd. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Plead you to me, fair dame? I know you not. In Ephesus I am but two hours old, 160 As strange unto your town as to your talk, Who, every word by all my wit being scanned, Wants wit in all one word to understand. LUCIANA Fie, brother, how the world is changed with you!

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When were you wont to use my sister thus? 165 She sent for you by Dromio home to dinner. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ By Dromio? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE By me? ADRIANA By thee; and this thou didst return from him: That he did buffet thee and, in his blows, 170 Denied my house for his, me for his wife. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Did you converse, sir, with this gentlewoman? What is the course and drift of your compact? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE I, sir? I never saw her till this time. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Villain, thou liest, for even her very words 175 Didst thou deliver to me on the mart. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE I never spake with her in all my life. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ How can she thus then call us by our names— Unless it be by inspiration? ADRIANA How ill agrees it with your gravity 180 To counterfeit thus grossly with your slave, Abetting him to thwart me in my mood. Be it my wrong you are from me exempt, But wrong not that wrong with a more contempt. Come, I will fasten on this sleeve of thine. ⌜She takes his arm.⌝ 185 Thou art an elm, my husband, I a vine, Whose weakness, married to thy ⌜stronger⌝ state, Makes me with thy strength to communicate. If aught possess thee from me, it is dross, Usurping ivy, brier, or idle moss, 190 Who, all for want of pruning, with intrusion Infect thy sap and live on thy confusion.

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ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE, aside⌝ To me she speaks; she moves me for her theme. What, was I married to her in my dream? Or sleep I now and think I hear all this? 195 What error drives our eyes and ears amiss? Until I know this sure uncertainty I’ll entertain the ⌜offered⌝ fallacy. LUCIANA Dromio, go bid the servants spread for dinner. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE O, for my beads! I cross me for a sinner. ⌜He crosses himself.⌝ 200 This is the fairy land. O spite of spites! We talk with goblins, owls, and sprites. If we obey them not, this will ensue: They’ll suck our breath, or pinch us black and blue. LUCIANA Why prat’st thou to thyself and answer’st not? 205 Dromio—thou, Dromio—thou snail, thou slug, thou sot. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE I am transformèd, master, am I not? ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ I think thou art in mind, and so am I. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Nay, master, both in mind and in my shape. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ 210 Thou hast thine own form. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE No, I am an ape. LUCIANA If thou art changed to aught, ’tis to an ass. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE ’Tis true. She rides me, and I long for grass. ’Tis so. I am an ass; else it could never be 215 But I should know her as well as she knows me.

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ADRIANA Come, come, no longer will I be a fool, To put the finger in the eye and weep Whilst man and master laughs my woes to scorn. Come, sir, to dinner.—Dromio, keep the gate.— 220 Husband, I’ll dine above with you today, And shrive you of a thousand idle pranks. ⌜To Dromio.⌝ Sirrah, if any ask you for your master, Say he dines forth, and let no creature enter.— Come, sister.—Dromio, play the porter well. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE, aside⌝ 225 Am I in Earth, in heaven, or in hell? Sleeping or waking, mad or well-advised? Known unto these, and to myself disguised! I’ll say as they say, and persever so, And in this mist at all adventures go. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 230 Master, shall I be porter at the gate? ADRIANA Ay, and let none enter, lest I break your pate. LUCIANA Come, come, Antipholus, we dine too late. ⌜They exit.⌝

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ACT 3

Scene 1

Enter Antipholus of Ephesus, his man Dromio, Angelo the goldsmith, and Balthasar the merchant.

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Good Signior Angelo, you must excuse us all; My wife is shrewish when I keep not hours. Say that I lingered with you at your shop To see the making of her carcanet, 5 And that tomorrow you will bring it home. But here’s a villain that would face me down He met me on the mart, and that I beat him And charged him with a thousand marks in gold, And that I did deny my wife and house.— 10 Thou drunkard, thou, what didst thou mean by this? DROMIO OF EPHESUS Say what you will, sir, but I know what I know. That you beat me at the mart I have your hand to show; If the skin were parchment and the blows you gave 15 were ink, Your own handwriting would tell you what I think. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS I think thou art an ass. DROMIO OF EPHESUS Marry, so it doth appear By the wrongs I suffer and the blows I bear.

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20 I should kick being kicked and, being at that pass, You would keep from my heels and beware of an ass. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS You’re sad, Signior Balthasar. Pray God our cheer May answer my goodwill and your good welcome here. BALTHASAR 25 I hold your dainties cheap, sir, and your welcome dear. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS O Signior Balthasar, either at flesh or fish A table full of welcome makes scarce one dainty dish. BALTHASAR 30 Good meat, sir, is common; that every churl affords. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS And welcome more common, for that’s nothing but words. BALTHASAR Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 35 Ay, to a niggardly host and more sparing guest. But though my cates be mean, take them in good part. Better cheer may you have, but not with better heart.⌜He attempts to open the door.⌝ 40 But soft! My door is locked. ⌜To Dromio.⌝ Go, bid them let us in. DROMIO OF EPHESUS Maud, Bridget, Marian, Ciceley, Gillian, Ginn! DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, ⌜within⌝ Mome, malt-horse, capon, coxcomb, idiot, patch! Either get thee from the door or sit down at the 45 hatch.

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Dost thou conjure for wenches, that thou call’st for such store When one is one too many? Go, get thee from the door. DROMIO OF EPHESUS 50 What patch is made our porter? My master stays in the street. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, ⌜within⌝ Let him walk from whence he came, lest he catch cold on ’s feet. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Who talks within there? Ho, open the door. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, ⌜within⌝ 55 Right, sir, I’ll tell you when an you’ll tell me wherefore. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Wherefore? For my dinner. I have not dined today. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, ⌜within⌝ Nor today here you must not. Come again when you may. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 60 What art thou that keep’st me out from the house I owe? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, ⌜within⌝ The porter for this time, sir, and my name is Dromio. DROMIO OF EPHESUS O villain, thou hast stolen both mine office and my 65 name! The one ne’er got me credit, the other mickle blame. If thou hadst been Dromio today in my place, Thou wouldst have changed thy face for a name, or 70 thy name for an ass.

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Enter Luce ⌜above, unseen by Antipholus of Ephesus and his company.⌝

LUCE What a coil is there, Dromio! Who are those at the gate? DROMIO OF EPHESUS Let my master in, Luce. LUCE Faith, no, he comes too late, 75 And so tell your master. DROMIO OF EPHESUS O Lord, I must laugh. Have at you with a proverb: shall I set in my staff? LUCE Have at you with another: that’s—When, can you tell? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, ⌜within⌝ 80 If thy name be called “Luce,” Luce, thou hast answered him well. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜to Luce⌝ Do you hear, you minion? You’ll let us in, I hope? LUCE I thought to have asked you. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, ⌜within⌝ And you said no. DROMIO OF EPHESUS 85 So, come help. Well struck! There was blow for blow. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜to Luce⌝ Thou baggage, let me in. LUCE Can you tell for whose sake? DROMIO OF EPHESUS Master, knock the door hard. LUCE 90 Let him knock till it ache. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS You’ll cry for this, minion, if I beat the door down. ⌜He beats on the door.⌝

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LUCE What needs all that, and a pair of stocks in the town?

Enter Adriana, ⌜above, unseen by Antipholus of Ephesus and his company.⌝

ADRIANA Who is that at the door that keeps all this noise? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, ⌜within⌝ 95 By my troth, your town is troubled with unruly boys. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Are you there, wife? You might have come before. ADRIANA Your wife, sir knave? Go, get you from the door. ⌜Adriana and Luce exit.⌝ DROMIO OF EPHESUS If you went in pain, master, this knave would go 100 sore. ANGELO, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ Here is neither cheer, sir, nor welcome. We would fain have either. BALTHASAR In debating which was best, we shall part with neither. DROMIO OF EPHESUS 105 They stand at the door, master. Bid them welcome hither. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS There is something in the wind, that we cannot get in. DROMIO OF EPHESUS You would say so, master, if your garments were 110 thin. Your cake here is warm within; you stand here in the cold.

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It would make a man mad as a buck to be so bought and sold. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 115 Go, fetch me something. I’ll break ope the gate. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, ⌜within⌝ Break any breaking here, and I’ll break your knave’s pate. DROMIO OF EPHESUS A man may break a word with ⌜you,⌝ sir, and words are but wind, 120 Ay, and break it in your face, so he break it not behind. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, ⌜within⌝ It seems thou want’st breaking. Out upon thee, hind! DROMIO OF EPHESUS Here’s too much “Out upon thee!” I pray thee, let me in. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, ⌜within⌝ 125 Ay, when fowls have no feathers and fish have no fin. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜to Dromio of Ephesus⌝ Well, I’ll break in. Go, borrow me a crow. DROMIO OF EPHESUS A crow without feather? Master, mean you so? For a fish without a fin, there’s a fowl without a 130 feather.— If a crow help us in, sirrah, we’ll pluck a crow together. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Go, get thee gone. Fetch me an iron crow. BALTHASAR Have patience, sir. O, let it not be so. 135 Herein you war against your reputation, And draw within the compass of suspect Th’ unviolated honor of your wife. Once this: your long experience of ⌜her⌝ wisdom,

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Her sober virtue, years, and modesty 140 Plead on ⌜her⌝ part some cause to you unknown. And doubt not, sir, but she will well excuse Why at this time the doors are made against you. Be ruled by me; depart in patience, And let us to the Tiger all to dinner, 145 And about evening come yourself alone To know the reason of this strange restraint. If by strong hand you offer to break in Now in the stirring passage of the day, A vulgar comment will be made of it; 150 And that supposèd by the common rout Against your yet ungallèd estimation That may with foul intrusion enter in And dwell upon your grave when you are dead; For slander lives upon succession, 155 Forever housèd where it gets possession. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS You have prevailed. I will depart in quiet And, in despite of mirth, mean to be merry. I know a wench of excellent discourse, Pretty and witty, wild and yet, too, gentle. 160 There will we dine. This woman that I mean, My wife—but, I protest, without desert— Hath oftentimes upbraided me withal; To her will we to dinner. ⌜To Angelo.⌝ Get you home And fetch the chain; by this, I know, ’tis made. 165 Bring it, I pray you, to the Porpentine, For there’s the house. That chain will I bestow— Be it for nothing but to spite my wife— Upon mine hostess there. Good sir, make haste. Since mine own doors refuse to entertain me, 170 I’ll knock elsewhere, to see if they’ll disdain me. ANGELO I’ll meet you at that place some hour hence.

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ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Do so. This jest shall cost me some expense. They exit.

⌜Scene 2⌝

Enter ⌜Luciana⌝ with Antipholus of Syracuse.

⌜LUCIANA⌝ And may it be that you have quite forgot A husband’s office? Shall, Antipholus, Even in the spring of love thy love-springs rot? Shall love, in ⌜building,⌝ grow so ⌜ruinous?⌝ 5 If you did wed my sister for her wealth, Then for her wealth’s sake use her with more kindness. Or if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth — Muffle your false love with some show of 10 blindness. Let not my sister read it in your eye; Be not thy tongue thy own shame’s orator; Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty; Apparel vice like virtue’s harbinger. 15 Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted. Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint. Be secret-false. What need she be acquainted? What simple thief brags of his own ⌜attaint?⌝ ’Tis double wrong to truant with your bed 20 And let her read it in thy looks at board. Shame hath a bastard fame, well managèd; Ill deeds is doubled with an evil word. Alas, poor women, make us ⌜but⌝ believe, Being compact of credit, that you love us. 25 Though others have the arm, show us the sleeve; We in your motion turn, and you may move us.

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Then, gentle brother, get you in again. Comfort my sister, cheer her, call her ⌜wife.⌝ ’Tis holy sport to be a little vain 30 When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Sweet mistress—what your name is else I know not, Nor by what wonder you do hit of mine— Less in your knowledge and your grace you show not Than our Earth’s wonder, more than Earth divine. 35 Teach me, dear creature, how to think and speak. Lay open to my earthy gross conceit, Smothered in errors, feeble, shallow, weak, The folded meaning of your words’ deceit. Against my soul’s pure truth why labor you 40 To make it wander in an unknown field? Are you a god? Would you create me new? Transform me, then, and to your power I’ll yield. But if that I am I, then well I know Your weeping sister is no wife of mine, 45 Nor to her bed no homage do I owe. Far more, far more, to you do I decline. O, train me not, sweet mermaid, with thy note To drown me in thy ⌜sister’s⌝ flood of tears. Sing, Siren, for thyself, and I will dote. 50 Spread o’er the silver waves thy golden hairs, And as a ⌜bed⌝ I’ll take ⌜them⌝ and there lie, And in that glorious supposition think He gains by death that hath such means to die. Let love, being light, be drownèd if she sink. LUCIANA 55 What, are you mad that you do reason so? ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Not mad, but mated—how, I do not know. LUCIANA It is a fault that springeth from your eye.

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ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE For gazing on your beams, fair sun, being by. LUCIANA Gaze when you should, and that will clear your 60 sight. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE As good to wink, sweet love, as look on night. LUCIANA Why call you me “love”? Call my sister so. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Thy sister’s sister. LUCIANA That’s my sister. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 65 No, It is thyself, mine own self’s better part, Mine eye’s clear eye, my dear heart’s dearer heart, My food, my fortune, and my sweet hope’s aim, My sole Earth’s heaven, and my heaven’s claim. LUCIANA 70 All this my sister is, or else should be. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Call thyself “sister,” sweet, for I am thee. Thee will I love, and with thee lead my life; Thou hast no husband yet, nor I no wife. Give me thy hand. LUCIANA 75 O soft, sir. Hold you still. I’ll fetch my sister to get her goodwill.She exits.

Enter Dromio ⌜of⌝ Syracuse, ⌜running.⌝

ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Why, how now, Dromio. Where runn’st thou so fast? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Do you know me, sir? Am I 80 Dromio? Am I your man? Am I myself? ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Thou art Dromio, thou art my man, thou art thyself. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE I am an ass, I am a woman’s man, and besides myself.

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ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 85What woman’s man? And how besides thyself? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Marry, sir, besides myself I am due to a woman, one that claims me, one that haunts me, one that will have me. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 90What claim lays she to thee? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Marry, sir, such claim as you would lay to your horse, and she would have me as a beast; not that I being a beast she would have me, but that she, being a very beastly creature, lays 95 claim to me. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE What is she? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE A very reverend body, ay, such a one as a man may not speak of without he say “sir-reverence.” I have but lean luck in the match, 100 and yet is she a wondrous fat marriage. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE How dost thou mean a “fat marriage”? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Marry, sir, she’s the kitchen wench, and all grease, and I know not what use to 105 put her to but to make a lamp of her and run from her by her own light. I warrant her rags and the tallow in them will burn a Poland winter. If she lives till doomsday, she’ll burn a week longer than the whole world. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 110What complexion is she of? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Swart like my shoe, but her face nothing like so clean kept. For why? She sweats. A man may go overshoes in the grime of it. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE That’s a fault that water will 115 mend. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE No, sir, ’tis in grain; Noah’s flood could not do it. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE What’s her name? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Nell, sir, but her name ⌜and⌝

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120 three quarters—that’s an ell and three quarters— will not measure her from hip to hip. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Then she bears some breadth? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE No longer from head to foot than 125 from hip to hip. She is spherical, like a globe. I could find out countries in her. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE In what part of her body stands Ireland? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Marry, sir, in her buttocks. I 130 found it out by the bogs. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Where Scotland? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE I found it by the barrenness, hard in the palm of the hand. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Where France? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 135In her forehead, armed and reverted, making war against her heir. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Where England? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE I looked for the chalky cliffs, but I could find no whiteness in them. But I guess it 140 stood in her chin, by the salt rheum that ran between France and it. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Where Spain? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Faith, I saw it not, but I felt it hot in her breath. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 145Where America, the Indies? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE O, sir, upon her nose, all o’erembellished with rubies, carbuncles, sapphires, declining their rich aspect to the hot breath of Spain, who sent whole armadas of carracks to be 150 ballast at her nose. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Where stood Belgia, the Netherlands? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE O, sir, I did not look so low. To conclude: this drudge or diviner laid claim to me,

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155 called me Dromio, swore I was assured to her, told me what privy marks I had about me, as the mark of my shoulder, the mole in my neck, the great wart on my left arm, that I, amazed, ran from her as a witch. 160 And, I think, if my breast had not been made of faith, and my heart of steel, She had transformed me to a curtal dog and made me turn i’ th’ wheel. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Go, hie thee presently. Post to the road. 165 An if the wind blow any way from shore, I will not harbor in this town tonight. If any bark put forth, come to the mart, Where I will walk till thou return to me. If everyone knows us, and we know none, 170 ’Tis time, I think, to trudge, pack, and be gone. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE As from a bear a man would run for life, So fly I from her that would be my wife.He exits. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE There’s none but witches do inhabit here, And therefore ’tis high time that I were hence. 175 She that doth call me husband, even my soul Doth for a wife abhor. But her fair sister, Possessed with such a gentle sovereign grace, Of such enchanting presence and discourse, Hath almost made me traitor to myself. 180 But lest myself be guilty to self wrong, I’ll stop mine ears against the mermaid’s song.

Enter Angelo with the chain.

ANGELO Master Antipholus. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Ay, that’s my name.

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ANGELO I know it well, sir. Lo, here’s the chain. 185 I thought to have ta’en you at the Porpentine; The chain unfinished made me stay thus long. ⌜He gives Antipholus a chain.⌝ ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE What is your will that I shall do with this? ANGELO What please yourself, sir. I have made it for you. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Made it for me, sir? I bespoke it not. ANGELO 190 Not once, nor twice, but twenty times you have. Go home with it, and please your wife withal, And soon at supper time I’ll visit you And then receive my money for the chain. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE I pray you, sir, receive the money now, 195 For fear you ne’er see chain nor money more. ANGELO You are a merry man, sir. Fare you well.He exits. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE What I should think of this I cannot tell, But this I think: there’s no man is so vain That would refuse so fair an offered chain. 200 I see a man here needs not live by shifts When in the streets he meets such golden gifts. I’ll to the mart, and there for Dromio stay. If any ship put out, then straight away. He exits.

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ACT 4

Scene 1

Enter a ⌜Second⌝ Merchant, ⌜Angelo the⌝ Goldsmith, and an Officer.

⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT, ⌜to Angelo⌝ You know since Pentecost the sum is due, And since I have not much importuned you, Nor now I had not, but that I am bound To Persia and want guilders for my voyage. 5 Therefore make present satisfaction, Or I’ll attach you by this officer. ANGELO Even just the sum that I do owe to you Is growing to me by Antipholus. And in the instant that I met with you, 10 He had of me a chain. At five o’clock I shall receive the money for the same. Pleaseth you walk with me down to his house, I will discharge my bond and thank you too.

Enter Antipholus ⌜of⌝ Ephesus ⌜and⌝ Dromio ⌜of Ephesus⌝ from the Courtesan’s.

OFFICER That labor may you save. See where he comes. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜to Dromio of Ephesus⌝ 15 While I go to the goldsmith’s house, go thou

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And buy a rope’s end. That will I bestow Among my wife and ⌜her⌝ confederates For locking me out of my doors by day. But soft. I see the goldsmith. Get thee gone. 20 Buy thou a rope, and bring it home to me. DROMIO ⌜OF EPHESUS⌝ I buy a thousand pound a year! I buy a rope! Dromio exits. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜to Angelo⌝ A man is well holp up that trusts to you! I promisèd your presence and the chain, But neither chain nor goldsmith came to me. 25 Belike you thought our love would last too long If it were chained together, and therefore came not. ANGELO, ⌜handing a paper to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ Saving your merry humor, here’s the note How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat, The fineness of the gold, and chargeful fashion, 30 Which doth amount to three-odd ducats more Than I stand debted to this gentleman. I pray you, see him presently discharged, For he is bound to sea, and stays but for it. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS I am not furnished with the present money. 35 Besides, I have some business in the town. Good signior, take the stranger to my house, And with you take the chain, and bid my wife Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof. Perchance I will be there as soon as you. ANGELO 40 Then you will bring the chain to her yourself. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS No, bear it with you lest I come not time enough. ANGELO Well, sir, I will. Have you the chain about you?

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ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS An if I have not, sir, I hope you have, Or else you may return without your money. ANGELO 45 Nay, come, I pray you, sir, give me the chain. Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman, And I, to blame, have held him here too long. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Good Lord! You use this dalliance to excuse Your breach of promise to the Porpentine. 50 I should have chid you for not bringing it, But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl. ⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT, ⌜to Angelo⌝ The hour steals on. I pray you, sir, dispatch. ANGELO, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ You hear how he importunes me. The chain! ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money. ANGELO 55 Come, come. You know I gave it you even now. Either send the chain, or send ⌜by me⌝ some token. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Fie, now you run this humor out of breath. Come, where’s the chain? I pray you, let me see it. ⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT My business cannot brook this dalliance. 60 Good sir, say whe’er you’ll answer me or no. If not, I’ll leave him to the Officer. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS I answer you? What should I answer you? ANGELO The money that you owe me for the chain. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS I owe you none till I receive the chain. ANGELO 65 You know I gave it you half an hour since.

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ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS You gave me none. You wrong me much to say so. ANGELO You wrong me more, sir, in denying it. Consider how it stands upon my credit. ⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT Well, officer, arrest him at my suit. OFFICER, ⌜to Angelo⌝ 70 I do, and charge you in the Duke’s name to obey me. ANGELO, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ This touches me in reputation. Either consent to pay this sum for me, Or I attach you by this officer. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 75 Consent to pay thee that I never had?— Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou dar’st. ANGELO, ⌜to Officer⌝ Here is thy fee. Arrest him, officer.⌜Giving money.⌝ I would not spare my brother in this case If he should scorn me so apparently. OFFICER, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ 80 I do arrest you, sir. You hear the suit. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS I do obey thee till I give thee bail. ⌜To Angelo.⌝ But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dear As all the metal in your shop will answer. ANGELO 85 Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus, To your notorious shame, I doubt it not.

Enter Dromio ⌜of⌝ Syracuse from the bay.

DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Master, there’s a bark of Epidamium That stays but till her owner comes aboard,

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And then, sir, she bears away. Our fraughtage, sir, 90 I have conveyed aboard, and I have bought The oil, the balsamum, and aqua vitae. The ship is in her trim; the merry wind Blows fair from land. They stay for naught at all But for their owner, master, and yourself. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 95 How now? A madman? Why, thou peevish sheep, What ship of Epidamium stays for me? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE A ship you sent me to, to hire waftage. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope And told thee to what purpose and what end. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 100 You sent me for a rope’s end as soon. You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS I will debate this matter at more leisure And teach your ears to list me with more heed. To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight. ⌜He gives a key.⌝ 105 Give her this key, and tell her in the desk That’s covered o’er with Turkish tapestry There is a purse of ducats. Let her send it. Tell her I am arrested in the street, And that shall bail me. Hie thee, slave. Begone.— 110 On, officer, to prison till it come. ⌜All but Dromio of Syracuse⌝ exit. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE To Adriana. That is where we dined, Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband. She is too big, I hope, for me to compass. Thither I must, although against my will, 115 For servants must their masters’ minds fulfill. He exits.

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⌜Scene 2⌝

Enter Adriana and Luciana.

ADRIANA Ah, Luciana, did he tempt thee so? Might’st thou perceive austerely in his eye That he did plead in earnest, yea or no? Looked he or red or pale, or sad or merrily? 5 What observation mad’st thou in this case ⌜Of⌝ his heart’s meteors tilting in his face? LUCIANA First he denied you had in him no right. ADRIANA He meant he did me none; the more my spite. LUCIANA Then swore he that he was a stranger here. ADRIANA 10 And true he swore, though yet forsworn he were. LUCIANA Then pleaded I for you. ADRIANA And what said he? LUCIANA That love I begged for you he begged of me. ADRIANA With what persuasion did he tempt thy love? LUCIANA 15 With words that in an honest suit might move. First he did praise my beauty, then my speech. ADRIANA Did’st speak him fair? LUCIANA Have patience, I beseech. ADRIANA I cannot, nor I will not hold me still. 20 My tongue, though not my heart, shall have his will. He is deformèd, crooked, old, and sere, Ill-faced, worse-bodied, shapeless everywhere,

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Vicious, ungentle, foolish, blunt, unkind, Stigmatical in making, worse in mind. LUCIANA 25 Who would be jealous, then, of such a one? No evil lost is wailed when it is gone. ADRIANA Ah, but I think him better than I say, And yet would herein others’ eyes were worse. Far from her nest the lapwing cries away. 30 My heart prays for him, though my tongue do curse.

Enter Dromio ⌜of⌝ Syracuse ⌜with the key.⌝

DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Here, go—the desk, the purse! Sweet, now make haste. LUCIANA How hast thou lost thy breath? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 35 By running fast. ADRIANA Where is thy master, Dromio? Is he well? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE No, he’s in Tartar limbo, worse than hell. A devil in an everlasting garment hath him, One whose hard heart is buttoned up with steel; 40 A fiend, a fairy, pitiless and rough; A wolf, nay, worse, a fellow all in buff; A backfriend, a shoulder clapper, one that countermands The passages of alleys, creeks, and narrow lands; 45 A hound that runs counter and yet draws dryfoot well, One that before the judgment carries poor souls to hell. ADRIANA Why, man, what is the matter?

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DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 50 I do not know the matter. He is ’rested on the case. ADRIANA What, is he arrested? Tell me at whose suit. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE I know not at whose suit he is arrested well, But is in a suit of buff which ’rested him; that can I tell. 55 Will you send him, mistress, redemption—the money in his desk? ADRIANA Go fetch it, sister. (Luciana exits.) This I wonder at, ⌜That⌝ he, unknown to me, should be in debt. Tell me, was he arrested on a band? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 60 Not on a band, but on a stronger thing: A chain, a chain. Do you not hear it ring? ADRIANA What, the chain? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE No, no, the bell. ’Tis time that I were gone. It was two ere I left him, and now the clock strikes 65 one. ADRIANA The hours come back. That did I never hear. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE O yes, if any hour meet a sergeant, he turns back for very fear. ADRIANA As if time were in debt. How fondly dost thou 70 reason! DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Time is a very bankrout and owes more than he’s worth to season. Nay, he’s a thief too. Have you not heard men say That time comes stealing on by night and day?

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75 If ⌜he⌝ be in debt and theft, and a sergeant in the way, Hath he not reason to turn back an hour in a day?

Enter Luciana, ⌜with the purse.⌝

ADRIANA Go, Dromio. There’s the money. Bear it straight, And bring thy master home immediately. ⌜Dromio exits.⌝ 80 Come, sister, I am pressed down with conceit: Conceit, my comfort and my injury. ⌜They⌝ exit.

⌜Scene 3⌝

Enter Antipholus ⌜of⌝ Syracuse, ⌜wearing the chain.⌝

ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE There’s not a man I meet but doth salute me As if I were their well-acquainted friend, And everyone doth call me by my name. Some tender money to me; some invite me; 5 Some other give me thanks for kindnesses; Some offer me commodities to buy. Even now a tailor called me in his shop And showed me silks that he had bought for me, And therewithal took measure of my body. 10 Sure these are but imaginary wiles, And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here.

Enter Dromio ⌜of⌝ Syracuse ⌜with the purse.⌝

DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Master, here’s the gold you sent me for. What, have you got the picture of old Adam new-appareled? ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 15 What gold is this? What Adam dost thou mean?

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DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Not that Adam that kept the Paradise, but that Adam that keeps the prison; he that goes in the calf’s skin that was killed for the Prodigal; he that came behind you, sir, like an evil 20 angel, and bid you forsake your liberty. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE I understand thee not. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE No? Why, ’tis a plain case: he that went like a bass viol in a case of leather; the man, sir, that, when gentlemen are tired, gives 25 them a sob and ’rests them; he, sir, that takes pity on decayed men and gives them suits of durance; he that sets up his rest to do more exploits with his mace than a morris-pike. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE What, thou mean’st an 30 officer? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Ay, sir, the sergeant of the band; he that brings any man to answer it that breaks his band; one that thinks a man always going to bed and says “God give you good rest.” ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 35Well, sir, there rest in your foolery. Is there any ships puts forth tonight? May we be gone? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Why, sir, I brought you word an hour since that the bark Expedition put forth tonight, 40 and then were you hindered by the sergeant to tarry for the hoy Delay. Here are the angels that you sent for to deliver you.⌜He gives the purse.⌝ ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE The fellow is distract, and so am I, And here we wander in illusions. 45 Some blessèd power deliver us from hence!

Enter a Courtesan.

COURTESAN Well met, well met, Master Antipholus.

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I see, sir, you have found the goldsmith now. Is that the chain you promised me today? ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Satan, avoid! I charge thee, tempt me not. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 50 Master, is this Mistress Satan? ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE It is the devil. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Nay, she is worse; she is the devil’s dam, and here she comes in the habit of a light wench. And thereof comes that the wenches 55 say “God damn me”; that’s as much to say “God make me a light wench.” It is written they appear to men like angels of light. Light is an effect of fire, and fire will burn: ergo, light wenches will burn. Come not near her. COURTESAN 60 Your man and you are marvelous merry, sir. Will you go with me? We’ll mend our dinner here. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Master, if ⌜you⌝ do, expect spoon meat, or bespeak a long spoon. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Why, Dromio? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE 65Marry, he must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE, ⌜to the Courtesan⌝ Avoid then, fiend! What tell’st thou me of supping? Thou art, as you are all, a sorceress. I conjure thee to leave me and be gone. COURTESAN 70 Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner Or, for my diamond, the chain you promised, And I’ll be gone, sir, and not trouble you. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Some devils ask but the parings of one’s nail, a rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, a 75 nut, a cherrystone; but she, more covetous, would have a chain. Master, be wise. An if you give it her, the devil will shake her chain and fright us with it.

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COURTESAN I pray you, sir, my ring or else the chain. I hope you do not mean to cheat me so. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 80 Avaunt, thou witch!—Come, Dromio, let us go. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE “Fly pride,” says the peacock. Mistress, that you know. ⌜Antipholus and Dromio⌝ exit. COURTESAN Now, out of doubt Antipholus is mad; Else would he never so demean himself. 85 A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats, And for the same he promised me a chain. Both one and other he denies me now. The reason that I gather he is mad, Besides this present instance of his rage, 90 Is a mad tale he told today at dinner Of his own doors being shut against his entrance. Belike his wife, acquainted with his fits, On purpose shut the doors against his way. My way is now to hie home to his house 95 And tell his wife that, being lunatic, He rushed into my house and took perforce My ring away. This course I fittest choose, For forty ducats is too much to lose. ⌜She exits.⌝

⌜Scene 4⌝

Enter Antipholus ⌜of⌝ Ephesus with a Jailer, ⌜the Officer.⌝

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Fear me not, man. I will not break away. I’ll give thee, ere I leave thee, so much money, To warrant thee, as I am ’rested for. My wife is in a wayward mood today

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5 And will not lightly trust the messenger That I should be attached in Ephesus. I tell you, ’twill sound harshly in her ears.

Enter Dromio ⌜of⌝ Ephesus with a rope’s end.

Here comes my man. I think he brings the money. 10 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. 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 15 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 20Good sir, be patient. DROMIO 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 25 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 30Thou art sensible in nothing but blows, and so is an ass.

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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 35 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, 40 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.

Enter Adriana, Luciana, Courtesan, and a Schoolmaster called Pinch.

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Come, go along. My wife is coming yonder. DROMIO OF EPHESUS 45Mistress, respice finem, respect your end, or rather, the prophecy like the parrot, “Beware the rope’s end.” ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Wilt thou still talk? Beats Dromio. COURTESAN, ⌜to Adriana⌝ How say you now? Is not your husband mad? ADRIANA 50 His incivility confirms no less.— Good Doctor Pinch, you are a conjurer; Establish him in his true sense again, And I will please you what you will demand. LUCIANA Alas, how fiery and how sharp he looks! COURTESAN 55 Mark how he trembles in his ecstasy. PINCH, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ Give me your hand, and let me feel your pulse.

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ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜striking Pinch⌝ There is my hand, and let it feel your ear. PINCH I charge thee, Satan, housed within this man, To yield possession to my holy prayers, 60 And to thy state of darkness hie thee straight. I conjure thee by all the saints in heaven. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Peace, doting wizard, peace. I am not mad. ADRIANA O, that thou wert not, poor distressèd soul! ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS You minion, you, are these your customers? 65 Did this companion with the saffron face Revel and feast it at my house today Whilst upon me the guilty doors were shut And I denied to enter in my house? ADRIANA O husband, God doth know you dined at home, 70 Where would you had remained until this time, Free from these slanders and this open shame. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS “Dined at home”? ⌜To Dromio.⌝ Thou villain, what sayest thou? DROMIO OF EPHESUS Sir, sooth to say, you did not dine at home. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 75 Were not my doors locked up and I shut out? DROMIO OF EPHESUS Perdie, your doors were locked, and you shut out. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS And did not she herself revile me there? DROMIO OF EPHESUS Sans fable, she herself reviled you there. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Did not her kitchen maid rail, taunt, and scorn me?

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DROMIO OF EPHESUS 80 Certes, she did; the kitchen vestal scorned you. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS And did not I in rage depart from thence? DROMIO OF EPHESUS In verity you did.—My bones bears witness, That since have felt the vigor of his rage. ADRIANA, ⌜to Pinch⌝ Is ’t good to soothe him in these contraries? PINCH 85 It is no shame. The fellow finds his vein And, yielding to him, humors well his frenzy. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜to Adriana⌝ Thou hast suborned the goldsmith to arrest me. ADRIANA Alas, I sent you money to redeem you By Dromio here, who came in haste for it. DROMIO OF EPHESUS 90 Money by me? Heart and goodwill you might, But surely, master, not a rag of money. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Went’st not thou to her for a purse of ducats? ADRIANA He came to me, and I delivered it. LUCIANA And I am witness with her that she did. DROMIO OF EPHESUS 95 God and the rope-maker bear me witness That I was sent for nothing but a rope. PINCH Mistress, both man and master is possessed. I know it by their pale and deadly looks. They must be bound and laid in some dark room. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜to Adriana⌝ 100 Say wherefore didst thou lock me forth today.

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⌜To Dromio of Ephesus.⌝ And why dost thou deny the bag of gold? ADRIANA I did not, gentle husband, lock thee forth. DROMIO OF EPHESUS And, gentle master, I received no gold. 105 But I confess, sir, that we were locked out. ADRIANA Dissembling villain, thou speak’st false in both. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Dissembling harlot, thou art false in all, And art confederate with a damnèd pack To make a loathsome abject scorn of me. 110 But with these nails I’ll pluck out these false eyes That would behold in me this shameful sport. ADRIANA O bind him, bind him! Let him not come near me.

Enter three or four, and offer to bind him. He strives.

PINCH More company! The fiend is strong within him. LUCIANA Ay me, poor man, how pale and wan he looks! ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 115 What, will you murder me?—Thou jailer, thou, I am thy prisoner. Wilt thou suffer them To make a rescue? OFFICER Masters, let him go. He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him. PINCH 120 Go, bind this man, for he is frantic too. ⌜Dromio is bound.⌝ ADRIANA, ⌜to Officer⌝ What wilt thou do, thou peevish officer? Hast thou delight to see a wretched man Do outrage and displeasure to himself?

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OFFICER He is my prisoner. If I let him go, 125 The debt he owes will be required of me. ADRIANA I will discharge thee ere I go from thee. Bear me forthwith unto his creditor, And knowing how the debt grows, I will pay it.— Good Master Doctor, see him safe conveyed 130 Home to my house. O most unhappy day! ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS O most unhappy strumpet! DROMIO OF EPHESUS Master, I am here entered in bond for you. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Out on thee, villain! Wherefore dost thou mad me? DROMIO OF EPHESUS Will you be bound for nothing? Be mad, good 135 master. Cry “The devil!” LUCIANA God help poor souls! How idly do they talk! ADRIANA, ⌜to Pinch⌝ Go bear him hence. ⌜Pinch and his men⌝ exit ⌜with Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus.⌝ Officer, Adriana, Luciana, Courtesan remain. Sister, go you with me. 140 ⌜To Officer.⌝ Say now whose suit is he arrested at. OFFICER One Angelo, a goldsmith. Do you know him? ADRIANA I know the man. What is the sum he owes? OFFICER Two hundred ducats. ADRIANA Say, how grows it due? OFFICER 145 Due for a chain your husband had of him.

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ADRIANA He did bespeak a chain for me but had it not. COURTESAN Whenas your husband all in rage today Came to my house and took away my ring, The ring I saw upon his finger now, 150 Straight after did I meet him with a chain. ADRIANA It may be so, but I did never see it.— Come, jailer, bring me where the goldsmith is. I long to know the truth hereof at large.

Enter Antipholus ⌜of⌝ Syracuse with his rapier drawn, and Dromio ⌜of⌝ Syracuse.

LUCIANA God for Thy mercy, they are loose again! ADRIANA 155 And come with naked swords. Let’s call more help To have them bound again. OFFICER Away! They’ll kill us. Run all out as fast as may be, frighted. ⌜Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse remain.⌝ ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE I see these witches are afraid of swords. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE She that would be your wife now ran from you. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE 160 Come to the Centaur. Fetch our stuff from thence. I long that we were safe and sound aboard. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Faith, stay here this night. They will surely do us no harm. You saw they speak us fair, give us gold. Methinks they are such a gentle 165 nation that, but for the mountain of mad flesh that claims marriage of me, I could find in my heart to stay here still, and turn witch.

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ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE I will not stay tonight for all the town. Therefore, away, to get our stuff aboard. They exit.

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ACT 5

Scene 1

Enter the ⌜Second⌝ Merchant and ⌜Angelo⌝ the Goldsmith.

ANGELO I am sorry, sir, that I have hindered you, But I protest he had the chain of me, Though most dishonestly he doth deny it. ⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT How is the man esteemed here in the city? ANGELO 5 Of very reverend reputation, sir, Of credit infinite, highly beloved, Second to none that lives here in the city. His word might bear my wealth at any time. ⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT Speak softly. Yonder, as I think, he walks.

Enter Antipholus and Dromio ⌜of Syracuse⌝ again, ⌜Antipholus wearing the chain.⌝

ANGELO 10 ’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, 15 And not without some scandal to yourself,

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With circumstance and oaths so to deny This chain, which now you wear so openly. Besides the charge, the shame, imprisonment, You have done wrong to this my honest friend, 20 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? ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ I think I had. I never did deny it. ⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT Yes, that you did, sir, and forswore it too. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ 25 Who heard me to deny it or forswear it? ⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT 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. ANTIPHOLUS ⌜OF SYRACUSE⌝ Thou art a villain to impeach me thus. 30 I’ll prove mine honor and mine honesty Against thee presently if thou dar’st stand. ⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT I dare, and do defy thee for a villain.They draw.

Enter Adriana, Luciana, Courtesan, and others.

ADRIANA Hold, hurt him not, for God’s sake. He is mad.— Some get within him; take his sword away. 35 Bind Dromio too, and bear them to my house! DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Run, master, run. For God’s sake, take a house. This is some priory. In, or we are spoiled. ⌜Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse⌝ exit to the Priory.

Enter Lady Abbess.

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ABBESS Be quiet, people. Wherefore throng you hither? ADRIANA To fetch my poor distracted husband hence. 40 Let us come in, that we may bind him fast And bear him home for his recovery. ANGELO I knew he was not in his perfect wits. ⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT I am sorry now that I did draw on him. ABBESS How long hath this possession held the man? ADRIANA 45 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. ABBESS Hath he not lost much wealth by wrack of sea? 50 Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye Strayed 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? ADRIANA 55 To none of these, except it be the last, Namely, some love that drew him oft from home. ABBESS You should for that have reprehended him. ADRIANA Why, so I did. ABBESS Ay, but not rough enough. ADRIANA 60 As roughly as my modesty would let me. ABBESS Haply in private.

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ADRIANA And in assemblies too. ABBESS Ay, but not enough. ADRIANA It was the copy of our conference. 65 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 glancèd it. Still did I tell him it was vile and bad. ABBESS 70 And thereof came it that the man was mad. The venom clamors 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. 75 Thou sayst his meat was sauced 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? 80 Thou sayest his sports were hindered by thy brawls. Sweet recreation barred, what doth ensue But moody and dull melancholy, Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair, And at her heels a huge infectious troop 85 Of pale distemperatures and foes to life? In food, in sport, and life-preserving rest To be disturbed would mad or man or beast. The consequence is, then, thy jealous fits Hath scared thy husband from the use of wits. LUCIANA 90 She never reprehended him but mildly When he demeaned himself rough, rude, and wildly.— Why bear you these rebukes and answer not?

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ADRIANA She did betray me to my own reproof.— 95 Good people, enter and lay hold on him. ABBESS No, not a creature enters in my house. ADRIANA Then let your servants bring my husband forth. ABBESS Neither. He took this place for sanctuary, And it shall privilege him from your hands 100 Till I have brought him to his wits again Or lose my labor in assaying it. ADRIANA I will attend my husband, be his nurse, Diet his sickness, for it is my office And will have no attorney but myself; 105 And therefore let me have him home with me. ABBESS Be patient, for I will not let him stir Till I have used the approvèd means I have, With wholesome syrups, drugs, and holy prayers, To make of him a formal man again. 110 It is a branch and parcel of mine oath, A charitable duty of my order. Therefore depart and leave him here with me. ADRIANA I will not hence and leave my husband here; And ill it doth beseem your holiness 115 To separate the husband and the wife. ABBESS Be quiet and depart. Thou shalt not have him. ⌜She exits.⌝ LUCIANA, ⌜to Adriana⌝ Complain unto the Duke of this indignity. ADRIANA Come, go. I will fall prostrate at his feet And never rise until my tears and prayers

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120 Have won his grace to come in person hither And take perforce my husband from the Abbess. ⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT 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, 125 The place of ⌜death⌝ and sorry execution Behind the ditches of the abbey here. ANGELO Upon what cause? ⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT To see a reverend Syracusian merchant, Who put unluckily into this bay 130 Against the laws and statutes of this town, Beheaded publicly for his offense. ANGELO See where they come. We will behold his death. LUCIANA, ⌜to Adriana⌝ Kneel to the Duke before he pass the abbey.

Enter the Duke of Ephesus, and ⌜Egeon⌝ the Merchant of Syracuse, bare head, with the Headsman and other Officers.

DUKE Yet once again proclaim it publicly, 135 If any friend will pay the sum for him, He shall not die; so much we tender him. ADRIANA, ⌜kneeling⌝ Justice, most sacred duke, against the Abbess. DUKE She is a virtuous and a reverend lady. It cannot be that she hath done thee wrong. ADRIANA 140 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,

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That desp’rately he hurried through the street, 145 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 150 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, 155 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, 160 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. DUKE 165 Long since, thy husband served me in my wars, And I to thee engaged 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, 170 And bid the Lady Abbess come to me. I will determine this before I stir.⌜Adriana rises.⌝

Enter a Messenger.

⌜MESSENGER⌝ 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,

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175 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 180 His man with scissors nicks him like a fool; And sure, unless you send some present help, Between them they will kill the conjurer. ADRIANA Peace, fool. Thy master and his man are here, And that is false thou dost report to us. MESSENGER 185 Mistress, upon my life I tell you true. I have not breathed 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.Cry within. Hark, hark, I hear him, mistress. Fly, begone! DUKE 190 Come, stand by me. Fear nothing.—Guard with halberds.

Enter Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus.

ADRIANA Ay me, it is my husband. Witness you That he is borne about invisible. Even now we housed him in the abbey here, 195 And now he’s there, past thought of human reason. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 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 200 That then I lost for thee, now grant me justice. EGEON, ⌜aside⌝ Unless the fear of death doth make me dote, I see my son Antipholus and Dromio.

p. 145

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Justice, sweet prince, against that woman there, She whom thou gav’st to me to be my wife, 205 That hath abusèd and dishonored me Even in the strength and height of injury. Beyond imagination is the wrong That she this day hath shameless thrown on me. DUKE Discover how, and thou shalt find me just. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 210 This day, great duke, she shut the doors upon me While she with harlots feasted in my house. DUKE A grievous fault.—Say, woman, didst thou so? ADRIANA No, my good lord. Myself, he, and my sister Today did dine together. So befall my soul 215 As this is false he burdens me withal. LUCIANA Ne’er may I look on day nor sleep on night But she tells to your Highness simple truth. ANGELO O perjured woman!—They are both forsworn. In this the madman justly chargeth them. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 220 My liege, I am advisèd what I say, Neither disturbed with the effect of wine, Nor heady-rash provoked with raging ire, Albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad. This woman locked me out this day from dinner. 225 That goldsmith there, were he not packed 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. 230 Our dinner done and he not coming thither,

p. 147

I went to seek him. In the street I met him, And in his company that gentleman. ⌜He points to Second Merchant.⌝ There did this perjured goldsmith swear me down That I this day of him received the chain, 235 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 returned. Then fairly I bespoke the officer 240 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 245 villain, A mere anatomy, a mountebank, A threadbare juggler, and a fortune-teller, A needy, hollow-eyed, sharp-looking wretch, A living dead man. This pernicious slave, 250 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 possessed. Then all together They fell upon me, bound me, bore me thence, 255 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 gained my freedom and immediately Ran hither to your Grace, whom I beseech 260 To give me ample satisfaction For these deep shames and great indignities. ANGELO My lord, in truth, thus far I witness with him: That he dined not at home, but was locked out.

p. 149

DUKE But had he such a chain of thee or no? ANGELO 265 He had, my lord, and when he ran in here, These people saw the chain about his neck. ⌜SECOND⌝ MERCHANT, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ 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, 270 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. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS I never came within these abbey walls, Nor ever didst thou draw thy sword on me. 275 I never saw the chain, so help me heaven, And this is false you burden me withal. DUKE Why, what an intricate impeach is this! I think you all have drunk of Circe’s cup. If here you housed him, here he would have been. 280 If he were mad, he would not plead so coldly. ⌜To Adriana.⌝ You say he dined at home; the goldsmith here Denies that saying. ⌜To Dromio of Ephesus.⌝ Sirrah, what say you? DROMIO OF EPHESUS, ⌜pointing to the Courtesan⌝ 285 Sir, he dined with her there at the Porpentine. COURTESAN He did, and from my finger snatched that ring. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜showing a ring⌝ ’Tis true, my liege, this ring I had of her. DUKE, ⌜to Courtesan⌝ Saw’st thou him enter at the abbey here? COURTESAN As sure, my liege, as I do see your Grace.

p. 151

DUKE 290 Why, this is strange.—Go call the Abbess hither. Exit one to the Abbess. I think you are all mated or stark mad. EGEON 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. DUKE 295 Speak freely, Syracusian, what thou wilt. EGEON, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ Is not your name, sir, called Antipholus? And is not that your bondman Dromio? DROMIO OF EPHESUS Within this hour I was his bondman, sir, But he, I thank him, gnawed in two my cords. 300 Now am I Dromio, and his man, unbound. EGEON I am sure you both of you remember me. DROMIO OF EPHESUS 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? EGEON, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ 305 Why look you strange on me? You know me well. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS I never saw you in my life till now. EGEON O, grief hath changed me since you saw me last, And careful hours with time’s deformèd hand Have written strange defeatures in my face. 310 But tell me yet, dost thou not know my voice? ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Neither. EGEON Dromio, nor thou? DROMIO OF EPHESUS No, trust me, sir, nor I.

p. 153

EGEON I am sure thou dost. DROMIO OF EPHESUS 315Ay, sir, but I am sure I do not, and whatsoever a man denies, you are now bound to believe him. EGEON Not know my voice! O time’s extremity, Hast thou so cracked and splitted my poor tongue 320 In seven short years that here my only son Knows not my feeble key of untuned cares? Though now this grainèd face of mine be hid In sap-consuming winter’s drizzled snow, And all the conduits of my blood froze up, 325 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. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 330 I never saw my father in my life. EGEON But seven years since, in Syracusa, boy, Thou know’st we parted. But perhaps, my son, Thou sham’st to acknowledge me in misery. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS The Duke and all that know me in the city 335 Can witness with me that it is not so. I ne’er saw Syracusa in my life. DUKE I tell thee, Syracusian, twenty years Have I been patron to Antipholus, During which time he ne’er saw Syracusa. 340 I see thy age and dangers make thee dote.

Enter ⌜Emilia⌝ the Abbess, with Antipholus ⌜of⌝ Syracuse and Dromio ⌜of⌝ Syracuse.

p. 155

ABBESS Most mighty duke, behold a man much wronged. All gather to see them. ADRIANA I see two husbands, or mine eyes deceive me. DUKE One of these men is genius to the other. And so, of these, which is the natural man 345 And which the spirit? Who deciphers them? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE I, sir, am Dromio. Command him away. DROMIO OF EPHESUS I, sir, am Dromio. Pray, let me stay. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE Egeon art thou not, or else his ghost? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE O, my old master.—Who hath bound him here? ABBESS 350 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. 355 O, if thou be’st the same Egeon, speak, And speak unto the same Emilia. DUKE Why, here begins his morning story right: These two Antipholus’, these two so like, And these two Dromios, one in semblance— 360 Besides her urging of her wrack at sea— These are the parents to these children, Which accidentally are met together. EGEON If I dream not, thou art Emilia. If thou art she, tell me, where is that son 365 That floated with thee on the fatal raft?

p. 157

ABBESS By men of Epidamium 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, 370 And me they left with those of Epidamium. What then became of them I cannot tell; I to this fortune that you see me in. DUKE, ⌜to Antipholus of Syracuse⌝ Antipholus, thou cam’st from Corinth first. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE No, sir, not I. I came from Syracuse. DUKE 375 Stay, stand apart. I know not which is which. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS I came from Corinth, my most gracious lord. DROMIO OF EPHESUS And I with him. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Brought to this town by that most famous warrior Duke Menaphon, your most renownèd uncle. ADRIANA 380 Which of you two did dine with me today? ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE I, gentle mistress. ADRIANA And are not you my husband? ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS No, I say nay to that. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE And so do I, yet did she call me so, 385 And this fair gentlewoman, her sister here, Did call me brother. ⌜To Luciana.⌝ What I told you then I hope I shall have leisure to make good, If this be not a dream I see and hear. ANGELO, ⌜turning to Antipholus of Syracuse⌝ 390 That is the chain, sir, which you had of me.

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ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE I think it be, sir. I deny it not. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜to Angelo⌝ And you, sir, for this chain arrested me. ANGELO I think I did, sir. I deny it not. ADRIANA, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ I sent you money, sir, to be your bail 395 By Dromio, but I think he brought it not. DROMIO OF EPHESUS No, none by me. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE, ⌜to Adriana⌝ This purse of ducats I received from you, And Dromio my man did bring them me. I see we still did meet each other’s man, 400 And I was ta’en for him, and he for me, And thereupon these errors are arose. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS, ⌜to the Duke⌝ These ducats pawn I for my father here. DUKE It shall not need. Thy father hath his life. COURTESAN, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ Sir, I must have that diamond from you. ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS 405 There, take it, and much thanks for my good cheer. ABBESS Renownèd duke, vouchsafe to take the pains To go with us into the abbey here And hear at large discoursèd all our fortunes, And all that are assembled in this place 410 That by this sympathizèd one day’s error Have suffered 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 415 My heavy burden ⌜ne’er⌝ deliverèd.— The Duke, my husband, and my children both,

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And you, the calendars of their nativity, Go to a gossips’ feast, and go with me. After so long grief, such nativity! DUKE 420 With all my heart I’ll gossip at this feast. All exit except the two Dromios and ⌜the⌝ two brothers ⌜Antipholus.⌝ DROMIO OF SYRACUSE, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ Master, shall I fetch your stuff from shipboard? ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS Dromio, what stuff of mine hast thou embarked? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Your goods that lay at host, sir, in the Centaur. ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE, ⌜to Antipholus of Ephesus⌝ He speaks to me.—I am your master, Dromio. 425 Come, go with us. We’ll look to that anon. Embrace thy brother there. Rejoice with him. ⌜The brothers Antipholus⌝ exit. DROMIO OF SYRACUSE There is a fat friend at your master’s house That kitchened me for you today at dinner. She now shall be my sister, not my wife. DROMIO OF EPHESUS 430 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? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE Not I, sir. You are my elder. DROMIO OF EPHESUS That’s a question. How shall we 435 try it? DROMIO OF SYRACUSE We’ll draw cuts for the signior. Till then, lead thou first. DROMIO OF EPHESUS Nay, then, thus: We came into the world like brother and brother, 440 And now let’s go hand in hand, not one before another. They exit.

#shakespeare #the comedy of errors #william shakespeare #english literature #its free and the government can’t stop you #english

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spirestar · 7 months

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Being a million tiny pieces of nothing is a taxing job. Living a little life in each mote and cell, every invisible creature inside a drop of blood and each drop of blood in a stream and all the little bugs that aren't bugs at all that creep inside veins and sleep. There is nothing but the big vat of it all, of life, of living and wishing for dying and living too many times to count. Laughter inside of paper walls that glow like a candle in a lover's window. All the little creatures never go quiet under skin, always with their cicada wings rubbing noisily and their crying, mourning, sobbing. It makes the one they live inside's head feel like it may burst---And here's the doctor to diagnose them, to call them imagination and call them liars. In the warm, gentle arms of twyrine Peter can't hear them, not so much; If every dream of that wretched miracle is a song, he will hear them, but by the god that is his brother and his own hands made one, he wishes they'd leave him alone.

"You just ran into the wall. It's time to lie down." That voice swims in his ears for longer than he realizes, reverberating off the wide walls of center stage. The Bachelor, cast in a halo of light, a beam overhead blazing into the back of his head. And Peter is only backlit, a veritable shadow where he's landed / crashed / fallen to the wooden floor. Where is the wall? Where is his pen? Peter has seen angels in his sleep, has been sung to and flayed and used to create whatever masterpieces they deigned, but never has he touched one in a waking hour; He blinks blearily, the light too hot and bright in his face.

There's a hand on his arm--helping him up?--and that dingy orange light of his brother's watering hole has returned. Iron stings his tongue, thicker than ichor, and he laughs. Helpless. The world is a swirl of nothing at all, the same the same the same, and he is the only fraying end, unspooling himself onto the floor into tangles and knots that no one will ever dare gather up to salvage. Part of Peter misses that light. Dankovsky is all human again. There's nothing more beautiful than humans, mortal and fickle and true. Nothing more terrifying than the divine they create, the divine they empower and revere. Peter should know: He can remember killing god in his sleep, or was that his shadow?

"Bachelor," he breathes, the least coherent bits of him grasping for anything other than the fellow's name. For some reason it frightens him so now. "A wall where there was none--Just picture it." For effect, and perhaps for comedy that he no longer has any grasp of but once did, he knocks a trembling hand against said wall. The one he's clearly left him mark on, if the blood on it is any proof. His nose maybe? He can't really feel the source. "Now, why do you think my brother would do that to me. He knows I hate a cage," a willful smile, "and a jailer. That's not you, is it? Shepherding the little sheep and diseases to sleep?" Peter leans into the arm holding him up, but not because he means to. "Have you had a drink?"

@heartinhands

#heartinhands #peter stamatin: ic.#alcoholism /#substance abuse /#suicidal ideation /#unreality /#umm. okay here's where the tagging begins #lemme know if i should tag anything else !! i'm still figuring out the best way #i went a little pretentious and crazy w this cuz i don't feel like it's possible to write peter any other way #also i'm goin for mostly classic peter but i want him to have 2's jacket because it's cool

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dimensionhoppinghybrids · 2 months

Text

Juno looked at a diary. A diary that his mother, his true mother Nora had snagged for him. Yes, snagged. Stolen it. He had had it for a while now, but only used it for his poems. He had never really used it to keep it as a diary.

He took out a well worn pencil. Hed need a new one soon. Looked at its teeth worn markings, of a few scratches and chips.

Yeah hed need a few if his mother or Dylan could get them. Or if he could ask Kianga for a few.

He looked at the blank page. His mind blank for a good moment, unsure on what to write. Where to start even.

He paused. Then, tentatively, started slowly.

"I remember little of my past life.

I remember.. that i had a jailer in my life. Someone I know I deeply hated.

A creature i can only call my captor. A creature that insisted to be called 'Mother.'

A title that makes my skin crawl and my fur stand out."

Juno paused, looking at the hairs on his arms that indeed stood on end, making him poof out and look bigger, he knew. These memories made him always feel like this.

He looked at the page again as he worked to calm himself down.

"I also barely remember a father. I know I had a father, as a human. But of him I barely even remember. I think he left when I was very little.

I'm sad about that."

He paused again, searching himself. And yes, he was sad about it. Because he felt like that piece of his life had been stripped far before his new life as he was.

"The hag, the jailers fault i believe.

She was my human mother. And I wish to forget her. But I cant.

Sometimes, I have nightmares of her. Of her putting me in dresses or putting makeup on me. Bits and pieces.

But I always remember her voice. Calling me her little girl. Of how proud she was of me. It still makes my stomach feel like I've got large knots tied in twists and turns when I think about it. I try not too, but my mind invades me with little bits of it. Reminds me all the time. Because back then, I wasn't allowed to be me. I was always made to be someone else for someone else.

I wanted to die back then." Juno paused, finding the next part the hardest to write. He put his hands to his wrists. To a pain that he'd forgotten, but wax slowly returning as a echo. There was nothing there. No scars or markings. But still echoes.

"I. I think I tried it. Once. Maybe more then once. Not sure. Its. Its hard to put into words, even thoughts. It feels like I'm admitting it. But I think I did nearly die. Once." He paused.

"Twice. The second time I do remember, even if in strong fragments, is the night I escaped. I remember I didn't eat much. The taste of freedom when I escaped was something that spurred me on at the time. But, I think even then, I was happy to die. To let the pain go away, forever."

Tears streamed down his face, he had turned the page to write more. His tears coming down as the pain of his soul revealed another layer of his past.

"And its why I'm so happy now. Because I didn't. I'm alive. I feel like I shouldn't be. If, if I had stayed human. I. I often think I might've died. I know, somehow, I never could've endured it. Not then. Because the hag never would've let me go and be a trainer.

Too dangerous, she would probably say, the bitch. An excuse to keep me close, and make me her puppet. Forever and always her little girl."

The spite that he put in those words, it was palpable in how he dug the graphite in there a bit. The sour look and the bite on his lips sold it in visual form too, if ever seen.

"Well. I'm not your little girl anymore, you sour waste of a corpse hag of deepest depths of hell. You're the one's thats dead. And I'm alive.

You named me Juno. After a woman. Its my name now." He scratched in the word "my" in harsh bolding letters, putting all of his will into that one word.

"And she can't have it. Not until I'm dead."

That was all he had to say about it. He looked at the pages hed written. Looked at the words that contained his vitriol when it was needed.

Then he nodded. Tears still going down his face, and he worked to wipe them away and sniffle them away and ward any more to come.

That had been hard to write. To write for himself.

But it had done him a lot of good.

#the beast awakened (juno)#drabble (lore)#tw; self harm

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bedtimestoriesforbrokengirls · 1 year

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This... Is BGNN

Things you might want to know, for Mar 19, 2023:

'Jurassic Park' Star Sam Neill Treated for Stage-Three Blood Cancer: 'I'm Not Afraid of Dying, but It Would Annoy Me' — Why I love Sam Neill: Peaky Blinders, The Tudors, Restoration, The Hunt for Red October, Sirens, and “Dying would annoy me.” I wish for your lasting recovery, sir.

The FBI took her life savings. Now she’s fighting to help others get theirs back. — Hey, look, the Fox News crowd has discovered civil forfeiture! I know, it’s taken them long enough, and it’s only happening because they’re now even more paranoid about law enforcement than the rest of us, but still, on balance… a good thing.

Woman, after being told it's fine for man to film in public, argues with cop — Bitch, please. 🙄

Trump Says He Believes He Will Be Arrested On Tuesday, Calls On Supporters To Protest — It’s going to be difficult for his jailers, since it’s impossible to know where the orange jumpsuit begins and ends.

I used an incredible X-ray machine to look inside my gadgets — let me show you — I want someone to buy one of these things and use it to scan everything in the world.

38 years and 9 months ago, Tetris is officially released in the Soviet Union on the Electronika 60, closer to World War II than to today — Ugh. I am really, really old.

Will Vladimir Putin Actually Be Arrested for ICC Warrant? — SPOILER: No. No he will not.

The Jubalaires - Noah (First RAP Performance) — I’m not sure I get the “rap” part, but it’s still a good listen.

Disney Plus’ Willow isn’t canceled, just paused for at least a year, says producer — The fallout from the massive, post-COVID streaming contraction will be felt for years to come, and will impact projects that aren’t faltering… they’re just expensive. (RIP, Batgirl.)

Maybe stop with the uncomfortable Pedro Pascal thirst edits — Maybe chill the fuck out, Polygon writer. Pedro’s a grown-up, girls are horny, and until someone tries to Rebecca Schaefer him, let the fans have their fun.

The 20-year-old metaverse game 'Second Life' is getting a mobile app — I would say that Dwight is very excited by this, but let’s face it, by now he’s already in Berlin with the chandelier.

RUMOR: Sacha Baron Cohen to Star as Marvel's Mephisto in Disney+ Special — Okay, this could be very good. Because Mephisto is a ridiculous character that is taken seriously, and that’s, well… that’s pretty much SBC’s whole thing.

How to Get ChatGPT on Your Apple Watch

#news

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thronelessking · 9 months

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❝ i will teach them what it means to put a lion in a cage. ❞ - cornelius to mirabelle

What does one see kneeling at an altar of flesh. What does one see in the skin of victims unknown that stretches over moldering brick, the decay that leeches into it once the blood ceases to drip and pool, cooling into a grotesque mass of which prayer is written in, with the tips of pens, blades, and fingers. What does one see when they lay a new body over the old and offer screams and violence to He who revels in the act.

At the altar a priest kneels over the next body to be offered; masked in utmost secrecy there is a murmur, a litany of prayer to the idol of secrecy and violence, the shadow that stalks the halls of every home, of every church. With every word there is a unison of sound, the whetting of blades in reverence and acknowledgement of the foul tasks one must perform to earn favor; to earn the love of the Father of the many Children of the Mask, to be bestowed with love and favor and gifts from the greedy. The highest of all honors requires hefty sacrifice.

Coin and power do not fall into the laps of those He does not deem worthy, those who do not offer Him that which He desires.

The blade plunges into soft skin, sinks deep, leaves a wound that bleeds the sacrifice on the altar like swine. Their screams bounce off the stone once, reverberate with desperation and the shadows upon the wall quiver for a moment before slithering from the light that birthed them. Across an impossible distance they stretch from corner to corner before the torchlight extinguishes, drowning every parishioner and priest in the darkness that has long since been their cradle. The desperate cries of the one on the altar fall quiet, with little more than the gentle movement of air, a muted, dry, and yet mirthful laugh. Acknowledgement.

Sconces of torchlight flicker and dim, swallowed by something from the outer reaches. The fanged, ravenous maw of the hungry dark of Duskfathom snuffs out that which dares try to illuminate the worlds of secrets, replaces light with an unknowable gloom. For a moment, true faith breaches the veil, a sacrifice made in merciless vengeance is the pinnacle of all displays. It is a blessed sight, an image, a conjuration for the eyes of the priest at the altar and only for him. It is a sign of a much blessed love. Every drop of blood that Cornelius sheds is another step further into the darkest of depths, that promised afterlife.

Communion ends in silence and quiet steps of the faithful who exit without acknowledging the scene. As with all things, what happens in the dark of the night, in the blessed shadows, is not to be spoken about. No face remembered, no sound uttered, no remnants left behind but the priest and a body going supernaturally cold, the blood seeping into robes soon to be washed to pristine. From the soles of his shadows feet does the darkness lurch and writhe, giving way and shape to another as it climbs up his back and drapes over him with a towering height. The nondescript gains an appearance as shadows give way to long strands of pitch black hair, cascading over the priest like a curtain, and where was once nothing but shadow there is flesh; hands that grasp Cornelius' shoulders with a tense but loving grip.

Mirabelle leans down and blows a gentle cold stream of air past the mans ear as he settles his face against the others', cheek brushing cheek as the older of them slides a mask of flesh off the priest. "And so my caged lion breaks the lock of his own accord." He looks down only a fraction at the body, dislodges the pointed claws that threaten to pierce through Cornelius' shoulder and gestures. The corpse writhes and contorts as the shadow it casts is ripped free from its body and forms into an almost tangible thing. Something immediately pulled into the depths of Duskfathom with a gesture. "And to me, my lion delivers me his jailer. He will serve us both well in the far future."

The man makes sure to press close, enough for Cornelius to feel the rumble that works its way through him as he laughs; a delightful, joyous sound that belongs perfectly in this atrocious den. It tapers off with an echoing sigh as Mirabelle rests his chin upon the noble priests shoulder. "And yet only his jailer. Have you not yet found the rest of the beasts that would see you caged?" A tinge of almost disappointment colors the words; much the sort of reaching the highest of highs and yet have no follow through, only a steady descent. "Or do you plan to savor them all by yourself?"

#asks #crimsonetroupe #mirabelle #crawls up to you and puts this into your hands

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elliemarchetti · 2 years

Text

Wretches and Kings (Part II)

This is my fill for @steverogersbingo for the square Huddling for Warmth

Part 1

Plot: When the ship they were traveling on get caught in a storm, Steve is unable to leave Dania to her fate, and the witch desperately wants the gentle enemy to become her partner in misfortune

TW: nothing I can think of, but me know if anything could be triggering

Words: 2799

The ship rolled too much. Dania felt the huge waves crashing hard on the hull, while the werewolves upstairs struggled to stay on course and take advantage of the wind, with the deck and the rudder so slippery and the sails so soaked. What at the start was only a stream of water occasionally coming down the cracks on the ceiling, had now turned into a freezing and noisy waterfall, the puddle on the floor now reaching their ankles. When the weather began to deteriorate, the youngest of her fellow prisoners started to cry loudly, until her screams died down in soft sobbing, and finally subsided suddenly, convincing Dania, who could hardly see her, that she was dead. The other witch gave no sign of understanding the situation, nor she tried to convince their jailer, who removed her gag on Dania’s umpteenth plea, to free her to save everyone’s life, sure she was more likely to survive alone. At least from that point of view, Dania was undoubtedly smarter: there was no way to escape a storm of that magnitude, especially not when they were weakened to the point of barely standing up and found themselves in the middle of the North Sea, tied to rusty chains and rowan handcuffs who gave no sign of breaking, regardless of how hard they tried to wriggle, pull and yank, leaving them not only unable to use their magic but to swim too. A lost load, the survived Hounds would define them, while friends and relatives would wait at home for a return that would never happen. Although she lost track of time by now, Dania supposed Heimdall learned of her kidnapping; if only she was a little more important, Odin or Frigga would’ve sent someone to look for her, but she was just one of the many spies they could replace in the blink of an eye, and the truth was she was most likely going to drown alone, yet another victim of a war that couldn’t end if not in genocide. There was no way she could imagine the only thing Steve thought of when he saw a wave so high that it obscured the crescent moon, was her. He couldn’t stand the idea of leaving the resilient witch stuck with chains pushing her further and further toward an endless, chaotic and cold nothingness, so if nature wanted them all dead anyway, he would go with a clear conscience, and only then let the sea drag him to his destiny, where he could forget the training and the unbearable pain his mind and body endured once a month. He knew the torture was about to return: within a couple days, he would become a monster, a beast wanting nothing more than to destroy and contaminate. As he clung with all his might to the balustrade of the ship’s deck, he shut his eyes tightly, as if to ward off the useless feelings of guilt. It was a curse of many, and he did everything in his power to undo it, so it had to be enough. With the uncertain step of a child, he entered the hold, and using the chains to keep balance, he reached the one who hadn’t taken her dark eyes off him even for a second. When he put the key in the lock, the ship finally gave in and rolled over its side, water pouring in from everywhere.

“Don’t let me die,” she snarled, panicked, and as the mechanism clicked, she slipped out of the handcuffs and onto his arms, ready to try to achieve the impossible. The spell itself wasn’t particularly complex, but casting it while she had to hold her breath and avoid the pieces of the shattered hull wasn’t exactly something she practiced for. In the beginning, nothing happened, and for a moment she feared she was too weak, and this would be the horrible end, lungs on fire and eyes burning for the salt. At least she wouldn’t be alone, although dying in the arms of a Hound who wanted to exploit her powers wasn’t quite how she pictured she would go. When an unexpected rush of current washed over them, she almost screamed of joy, nearly forgetting to save as much air as possible until they reached the surface, where they were abruptly separated by another wave. Like any witch born in the Republic, Dania spent most of her childhood divided between books and the beach, with her head bowed over printed pages in the morning and her feet dipped in hot sand during the afternoon, so swimming until she reached a piece of wood thick enough to act as a rudimentary raft wasn’t a problem, not even wearing the woollen skirt, which soaked as it was weighted like a boulder, but rescuing someone who was at least twice her size, dressed in weapons like a mannequin in a museum, wasn’t quite the same thing. Truth be told, she still didn’t know why she was so adamant to join him: perhaps she felt she owed him something, since he shown her more attention than he gave to the other prisoners, or perhaps she wished to have company, sharing the misery of travelling to whichever coast was closest with someone. Also, the adrenaline of the moment was waning, and she was too exhausted to stay awake and cast a spell powerful enough to bring her ashore, so she needed someone to swim and stay alert when she couldn’t keep her eyes open and her head above the water. As she suspected, the Hound wasn’t breathing, and no matter how hard she shook or slapped him, he still didn’t, so she couldn’t do much but retort to a human technique, something that required stability, but if practiced right, would lead to the results she hoped for. It was with great effort that she dragged the young man to the centre of her makeshift raft, but even more difficult was undoing the belts, buttons and laces that separated her rigid fingers from his sculptural chest. Ignoring any perplexity, she followed the directions a sailor gave her long ago. Thirty compressions are needed to be sure to save a grown man, he said, his voice croaking, a strange accent exacerbated by the toothpick he held in his mouth. He came from a distant place few wanted to visit, a land with much to offer and much demanded back, but he couldn’t get away too long, and once he returned, he wasn’t sure he would see other coasts again. In the Court, time passes differently, he explained, while with bright eyes he watched the crew of the fishing boat trying to revive the poor boy who got entangled in one of the nets. They hired him in Belmar, one of the many orphans who asked for charity near the inns and pickpockets too drunk patrons. They must’ve thought he had quick hands, but those born on dry land don’t always know the pitfalls of a boat, even if it’s anchored. Perhaps there he could’ve been saved, the man continued undaunted, unaffected by the death happening before his eyes. It must’ve been the old age, which Dania could guess from the white hair and wrinkled skin, burned by sun and salt, or perhaps the decennial experience, hidden in the calloused hands and in that odd pose all sailor maintained even on land, or maybe it was something different, something hiding under the sturdy clothes and heavy boots. I know what you want, little girl, he concluded, before disappearing into a dark alley, yet another shadow merging with the darkness of the new moon, but I don’t know the secrets you’re looking for, only those of life and death. Follow my advice: to save a drowned man, compress his chest thirty times and blow air twice in his mouth, but remember to close his nose, or all your efforts will be in vain. At the time of the interaction, Dania had recently begun her job as a spy and gave little thought to the bizarre words, focusing mainly on the fact that a complete stranger, whom she met by chance only for a couple minutes, immediately understood she was searching for something, but over the years, she started to consider the memory something worth investigating, a path to follow when the others turned out to be dead ends. Did the sailor knew that one day his teachings would be useful enough to save her life? There was no way to know for sure, but she certainly intended to use them, probably longer than she should, refusing to believe a mountain of muscles, struck by a curse that would prevent him from dying of old age or disease, could perish for spending a few seconds too long underwater. Her efforts led to a positive outcome when a lazy trickle of water ran down the Hound’s lower lip, sliding down to his chin. Quickly, Dania pushed him onto his side, and watched anxiously as he profusely vomited salted water.

“Witch,” he whispered, glancing at her sideway, the semblance of a smile reviving his pale face. Only after many hours the sky proceeded to open, the torrential rain giving way to the first, timid rays of sun, but it was long past dawn when they saw in the distance something that looked like rocks, large, black and sharp stones peeking out from the surface of the water, white, foamy waves crashing on their peak. There hadn't been many words since Dania explained her plan, and she didn’t think there would be any more when they finally arrived on the dark beach, too different from what she was used to, to belong to the Mortal Kingdom. If that was the wolves home, the armistice between them was over, and she was once again going to be a prisoner, and him a jailer. Sure, she could’ve killed him, after all a werewolf alone, even if well trained, can do nothing against a witch, but for that she would’ve to wait, and above all silence her conscience, which begged her to spare the young man who swam in her place all that time.

“There’s something up there,” he gasped, pointing to a very specific spot between the mountains, which soared toward the sky less than a mile from the coast. At that distance, it seemed only a little black mass, a mirage before the fog of the pass that opened narrow and dangerous just in front of them, but it could’ve been a tiny village, or at least a shelter that allowed them to warm up and eat something.

“Signs of civilization?” Dania asked, hoping the Hound didn’t understand the multiple reasons behind her question. She was trained to deal with other of his kind in human form, and if they met any mortal they would’ve probably helped her, even if they dwelt in enemy territory, but during the night she noticed how little was left before his next transformation, and she wasn’t able to compete against more than one of those soulless beasts, who proved to be good witch hunters even under the full influence of the curse. What happened when a sorcerer was bitten, no one knew, but she didn’t have time to ask her companion, since he replied negatively to her previous question and extended his big, warm hand to help her get up. The sharpened eyesight, the ability to regain heat faster and also the incredible strength and stamina, everything that saved them was part of the spell their races were fighting over, a concept not so easy to accept. Shaken by the thought she should thank it for once, she followed the Hound unusually quiet, lost in brooding on the past, present and above all future of the war. What the werewolf saw from afar turned out to be a strange dwelling, a dome of stones smoothed by the current, with a low chimney allowing the smoke from the hearth, located in the centre of the building, to disperse outside. Evidently, no one entered it for a while, but Dania wouldn’t have called it abandoned or disused, with heavy woollen blankets folded neatly and ample supplies of wood and dried fish to await the owner’s return. There were also some strange ampoules, apparently filled with perfumed water, but neither she nor the Hound approached them, doing the same with the massive trunks.

“So you live like this?” she asked, looking around. The furniture was extremely rudimental, functional and minimal, but there were enough kitchen tools not to be considered a barbaric household. Judging by the spatula and the wide, flat pot, there must’ve been some chickens somewhere as well.

“Our cities are more beautiful, and the miners’ houses are carved into the mountains raw rock,” he replied, vague, as he tried desperately to light the fire. For some reason, he seemed frightened, and Dania decided to alleviate his suffering with a movement of her right hand, silently casting one of the first spell taught to children when they started their studies in the Republic. The smaller twigs caught flame easily, and the crackling sparks reflected for a while on her companion’s blue eyes, a contrast so interesting it distracted her from hi reaction to the deliberate use of magic in everyday life.

“You should take your clothes off,” she suggested, starting to get rid of her boots and socks, noting how his lower lip trembled slightly. “You may have a much higher base temperature, but by the time all those layers dry up, you’ll be frozen to death.”

“If this is your way of disarming me, I must inform you I’m as dangerous naked as I am with my knives,” he replied, getting up anyway to remove at least the coat. He couldn’t say he hadn’t thought about it, the closer the full moon was, the more his animalistic side influenced his mind, but he didn’t recognize the place, and even the coast seemed different from those of the Land of the Alpha, therefore he still couldn’t decide whether it was wise to abandon his weapons, if not for the witch’s safety, something he kept reminding himself he should’ve never cared about, at least for his own. Furthermore, his wilder side was clouding his mind even in regard to the young woman who was undressing in front of him, removing with painful speed every strip of soggy cloth separating her pale skin from the blanket. Regardless of how wrong it was, the corrupted part of him wanted to hold her in his arms and feel the softness of her body so greedily, he would probably rather let her freeze to death than approach her.

“I know, or I wouldn’t be in this situation,” she replied, harshly. “But I must inform you things are different now and I could get rid of your ass even if you were in full armour.”

"Why don't you do it, then?" he asked, breaking the silent pact they sealed saving each other during the shipwreck. Not for a moment he paused to think about the other prisoners and Hounds, and for that he couldn't blame his condition, only his own selfishness, telling him that perhaps it would be better if they were all dead, their absence giving him time to think about how to resolve the situation he got into when he captured his saviour.

“I still don’t know, I just don’t want to, probably,” she shrugged, throwing her underwear on the floor as well. The thought of certain parts of her body made him salivate, and for the first time since their journey began, he realized he was the prisoner, and of his own mind too. Pathetic, like his lack of willpower. It had been a long since the last time he was naked with a woman, but it was normal when his life was entirely devoted to finding a cure for lycanthropy, yet, though he vividly remembered each of his last private moments with Peggy, someone he loved and was reciprocated by, this time was somehow more intense, and cruelly platonic. In the silence interrupted only by the crackle of the fire, he listened to the witch’s breath slow down until it reached the regular rhythm of sleep, while her limbs relaxed perhaps for the first time since they met. Her face was serene, and Steve couldn’t resist the temptation to draw her closer, the slow beating of her heart soothing his. Half asleep, Dania intertwined her fingers with those of the one who should’ve been her enemy, and led by the warmth of his body, she wondered if perhaps the cold of the Mortal Kingdom hadn’t been so unbearable because she hadn’t the right person to huddle in the night.

#steve rogers bingo 2022 #werewolf steve rogers #beta steve rogers #steve rogers x original female character #previous peggy x steve #multi chapter

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chungwoohell · 16 days

Text

ep: 463

RTD arc part 3

-Please, please tell me the route to putting Lee Sejin in a straitjacket. It was in the music video or something, Please I don’t know how.

-The comedy ending where Cha Eugene escapes alone is so funny, I laughed out loud while filming Chakitty

-Wow, when Baese got his wallet stolen on the way to work, it was actually Chungwoo who stole it Lol the scene is shown in the jailer version!! (gameplay recording)

Good content after content and more content.

Originally, after the music video was released during the comeback, there was a gap of a few days between the appearance on music broadcast.

Usually, this period was spent in anticipation, looking at social media news, previews, and small content. Or watching the music video over and over again while anxiously waiting for the broadcast to air…

-Ahhhh, Eugene finally put on the guard uniform ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ wtf I’m so happy, I can barely breathe. Wear your uniform loosely, my baby.

It’s completely changed.

The fan community and SNS were flooded with all kinds of spoilers, strategies, videos, and screenshots, it was truly a celebration.

(t/n: “it was truly a celebration”: I didn’t know whether to change it to “it felt like Christmas” because in this context it felt like fans were getting so much content/fanservice similar to the feeling of getting lots of gifts on Christmas.)

TeSTAR placed a lenient rule that the ‘normal ending’ and ‘bad ending can only be streamed.

The reason for such an unconventional attempt in the first place was to spread the word of mouth and because it’s a promotional opportunity that couldn’t be missed.

Besides, if you wanted to experience it for yourself, you have to buy the album anyway.

The ‘code’ on the photocard, which opens the locked door at the ending, belongs to one account, so pirates couldn’t see the ending!

-LOL you’re a bitch.

-But I’m worried that it’ll be pirated soon because they’re good at making all kinds of cracks ㅠㅠㅠ

-However, it seems like the sales are doing okay since it’s released. Oh, it’s great that the USB is counted by album sales.

-it’s really a new worldview, fun fun

In addition, the lyrics, music, and concept photos that can be downloaded from the game title received favorable reviews for the unique emotions they provide when looking back after playing the game.

-The game deepens the narrative of the album… Fuck I hated the worldview so much. I can’t believe they made me say that.

Overall, it was a unique attempt.

And it was completely unexpected.

First of all, it means that aggro was drawn properly.

[TeSTAR put a real game in the album]

[<127 Section> Ruined Factory production team releases new work: Testa Album (no joke)]

[TeSTAR’s crazy live-action gameplay status haha]

The astonishment of fans who had no idea that the MV expansion version was actually a game spread everywhere, and naturally, Internet users came across the news.

-The MV was an introduction to the game.

-What’s going on lol

-TeSTAR, you really do everything. I really respect you. From a magical boy to the one road of Otaku

-I want to try this too. What's going on with the quality? Can I just buy the album? What should I buy?

On WeTube, several gamer streamers who couldn’t miss this piece of gold were already playing it.

It was because of Lee Sejin’s shocking prologue that it was easy to get reactions and the WeTube scene came out well, so it was a win-win.

Of course, there were fights and noises as tastes and evaluations went back and forth, but even that was a hot topic.

It was a promotion that I couldn’t ask for.

-If I order now from the official website, will it arrive tomorrow?? I took the bus to the store, and it was sold out.

-What version should I start with?

-TeSTAR, this title game is an OST? Hey?? Why is everyone so upset?

Thanks to this, album sales were soaring tremendously. Simple components such as a USB, recycled paper box, and photocard, lower the barrier to entry by allowing users to purchase the album without burden.

This was just the beginning of all this typhoon-like activity.

“Whoa.”

Homma was playing the game like crazy.

The balance of thrill with a cinematic live-action structure, interactive choices, and luck elements that do not require much control… It did a great job appealing to the people.

Thanks to this, she was devoting all her free time to playing.

“The scene of Moondae is really pretty…”

Currently, I was replaying the VER 2 album, which mainly features Prisoner Moondae. When playing as a prisoner through the VER 2 USB album, the chapter started from the past perspective of Park Moondae and Cha Eugene.

-Oh, the two of them are having a heated argument in the lab, but I’m scared of them all.

ㄴ?? Wasn’t it very sad and pitiful?

ㄴ?? What choice did you have?

ㄴ Exactly your choice.

Also, in the latter half of the episode, there was an event where the thieves wore prison uniforms when they were caught, and an event where they overpowered the guards and made them wear prison uniforms.

-Moondae throwing his prison uniform at Keunse seems to have personal feelings, but it’s not acting, it’s like they’re really friends.

ㄴ LOL

During the playthrough, I was able to find out a little bit about the identity of the experiments the prisoners were being subjected to.

[⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 10ml administration: Detect objects 100m away

-Complaints of dizziness, hallucinations, and headaches.]

'Hmm, psychic? Is this an experiment to create something similar?'

For some reason, it felt like an American sensibility... It was definitely a bit weird and creepy that way.

Anyway, Cha Eugene seemed to have an extraordinary mind and a very developed sixth sense, and Moondae seemed to be able to use telekinesis!

‘……Although he vomited blood.’

After recreating the scene in the music video where the surveillance camera explodes and seeing the bad ending where the gate collapses, she sealed away her telekinetic powers.......

Album VER 2's prisoner POV playthrough felt like that.

A story similar to the Phantom Thieves POV, but more desolate and focused on facilities.

However, the VER 3 album was a little different.

In the case of this camp of guards, we took a slightly special structure....

It was a play that started from Lee Sejin's perspective and cooperated with the phantom thieves.

-Shh.

-…!

-Be quiet and follow me.

‘Omg.’

It’s like he’s sick of the facility and pretend not to show it… It seemed like he was a guard on our side. Of course, the truth is, I was planning to catch them all at last minute, so they don’t steal them.

Is what Lee Sejin said while humming to himself.

-It’s nice~ They come on their own and break the rules…

‘Evil!’

VER 1, the first experience with the intensity of the prologue made it powerful!

Thanks to this, VER 3 has a strange structure which made the players dizzy wondering when they will get back stabbed.

‘Hmm, was this because I played as a Phantom Thief first?’

“Uh, wait. Come to think of it.”

Was the order really intentional?

Homma suddenly have an idea.

They key shape in the music video… it’s the same of the USB in the VER 1 album.

The other two look slightly different from the music video.

When selling, it was shown on the product page. People who were only going to buy one album would obviously buy VER 1.

Before that, I bought the album reservation without any information knowing that it would come in a set.

‘And those who bought all 3 must’ve played VER 1 first since it was in the music video.’

Don’t you think it was strange?

That means that the players will experience playing as phantom thieves before exploring the story of the prisoners and camp guard.

After experiencing the first version, you can continue discovering new things while maintaining the thrill in the other versions.

‘And.’

Homma gapped.

She was unable to process the detailed structured to prevent multiple playthroughs being boring. Even if she didn’t know the game well, it was very touching.

‘Oh my god,’

Anyways, let’s talk about it.

In VER 3, the phantom thieves were able to accompany Lee Sejin and wore blue navy unforms!

There was no longer an option to hide from the guards.

Instead, an event occurs where you can access the facility's documents or find more information.

-Keep It Safe, hence 'KIS'.... What do you mean by “keeping safe”?

-Um, the people outside?

-…From what?

-From all danger? Hey, I don't know either~ How would the employees know that?

Fortunately, Lee Sejin's values become slightly shaken when the phantom thieves cooperate with the prisoners and build some friendships with them.

This is because we learn that the two prisoners were imprisoned even though they had not broken any rules.

-I was kidnapped.

-Me too.

-……Hmm.

And through various events, he comes to accept Ryu Chungwoo's proposal to join as a phantom thief.

-Is that so?

-…!

-It’s almost time for me to change jobs since my annual leave is coming to an end.

“Oh oh!

This way, he was succeeded in seducing many TeSTARs, including the guard, Lee Sejin…

She watched only the normal ending to the end.

‘Why!?’

Although I was exposed to spoilers for Moondae’s syringe options, I made the right choice and saw the phantom thief’s uniform… It was in the normal ending back then too.

“What…?’

About Ahyeon… Is It because you’re so scared that you couldn’t approach Ahyeon or seduce him.

[We left this damn facility.]

It’s like this every time and the ending credits roll with after content!

Anyways, all that’s left is Park Moondae’s amazing thighs… That’s it.

So, this time she was really prepared.

“Let’s do this…”

Homma looked up a strategy while avoiding spoilers as much as possible and sat down in front of the computer again, clenching both hands.

Found it! The True Ending conditions!

‘First if all, you have to play VER 1 first…’

She clicked on the game icon and quicky played through it.

Now for the strategy.

-No matter which faction you are in, make everyone except Seon Ahyeon your comrades and then meet Ahyeon in front of the final gate!

‘I guess the dice came up when I was hiding was a hint!’

That wasn’t entirely the ‘right’ option.

If you meet without recruiting all your friends, it’s game over, but if you meet with all your friends, a true ending event will occur!

‘Good.’

Then the fateful moment.

-If you just turn there…

Homma closed her eyes tightly and ignored the ‘hide’ option.

Finally…

Tap, tap.

Bae Sejin, who had put the key in the lock pad, flinched and looked back.

From around the corner, a blonde guard in a navy-blue uniform came out, starting with military boots.

The screen froze.

“Whoa.”

Homma clenched her fists and…

-……

The background music flowed into emptiness.

Seon Ahyeon stared at the key Bae Sejin was holding.

Next, he glances at the six people standing around, dressed in the same style.

After alternating shots and breathtaking close-up scenes…

The guard opened his mouth.

-There it is.

-…!

-The jewel.

Homma covered her mouth.

‘Omg!’

Yes!

A gem that the phantom thieves tried to find, but ultimately concluded it was false information spread by this facility to capture test subjects.

Tutaculum really exists… Seon Ahyeon informed me.

Then, he turned around and started walking away again without shaking.

Tap, tap.

On the screen, Bae Sejin swallowed his saliva.

-…What should I do?

[Follow. -Trust]

[Ignore. -Disbelief]

“……After,”

This is unconditional.

If you follow along and fail here, there's no way you'll get the true ending!

Homma quickly clicked 'Follow', and naturally the characters on the screen followed Seon Ahyeon.

Seon Ahyeon passed the outskirts of the complex facility several times, moving at a speed that was not very considerate.

Down, down.

Overcome a couple of light dice decisions....

Jiiiing-

-…Where?

We arrived in front of a small iron gate.

Next to it is a locking pad like the entrance.

With modern organ BGM playing, Seon Ahyeon stood next to the iron gate.

The six members with the keys approached the lock pad.

Only then did the blonde guard open his mouth.

-Obverse.

'... obverse?'

Homma was embarrassed.

I'm entering the code and suddenly what does the front side mean?

'Is there anything on the front of the photocard?'

However, no matter how much I looked, there was no hint in the photo of Kim Raebin with the awl in his mouth.

'On the back is this....'

[AW23-5DQ2-B25E]

This code.

Just as she was about to panic, fortunately Bae Sejin's narration came out.

-The code is... Among the dummy data in the key, it was written on the back of the man's photo. It's not facing the front.

'I know yeah!'

-But facing front? Why are you saying the opposite?

-……Wait, the opposite?

"...!!"

At that moment, Homma also realized.

If you think of the letters on the back as being viewed from the front.

'... It looks backwards, in the opposite direction!'

If so, the code is....

Crash.

She started tapping on the keyboard.

[AW23-5DQ2-B25E]

this.

[E52B-2QD5-32WA]

Then it should be like this!

“…Okay!”

The moment you press enter,

Uuuuuung-!

With a bright light, the iron door began to open.

My toes felt tingly.

'Wow....'

And after the light subsides.

In the screen, in the very center of a small room with iron walls on all sides.

Inside the hexagonal glass tube was a beautiful, green-colored gem.

An ecstatic BGM was played.

'The props are really cool...’

The camera slowly approached the jewel....

A gloved hand reached out. and....

[Catch the jewel.]

[Ask a question.]

“……”

A choice appeared.

‘Hmm,’

Homma crossed her arms.

This game had no save and load feature.

It is possible to skip events that have already been seen, but this means that once a choice has been made, it’s impossible to go back to the previous moment.

But.

‘…The truth must be revealed.’

My friends on social media said that’s the meaning of the true ending!

Feeling like a detective, Homma swallowed and pressed down.

[Ask a question.]

On the screen, Bae Sejin withdrew his hand. Then he turned his head to Seon Ahyeon.

-…Why did you bring us here?

-……

-What is your purpose? Why are you giving us the jewel, the Tutaculum?

It was then.

-…! Wait for a sec,

Someone intervened.

…Prisoner Park Moondae, who was dressed in a phantom thief-style leather suit, asked quickly in a low voice.

-What do you mean “Tutaculum”?

Bae Sejin responded.

-This gem is the Tutaculum.

Park Moondae’s face turned pale.

-No, that’s… This is the drug administered to the prisoners managed here.

-…!!

-It’s not a gem. Tutaculum is… Here, it’s a code word meaning drug.

Wow, crazy.

‘The drug that creates superpowers…’

No, now that I think about it, it seemed like it was green too. Homma covered her mouth again and stared at the screen with a twist.

“…”

The camera slowly turns.

Ryu Chungwoo asked while looking at the blonde guard.

-Then,

-What is this gem?

That moment.

The screen turned off.

"...?!"

Only then did Seon Ahyeon’s voice rang softly from the black screen.

- The guard mysterious and scary with the black baton did not open his mouth.

-But at the end of that gaze... There was a prisoner.

With calm BGM, the screen became bright again.

And what is revealed... It was an attic.

TeSTAR sat on the floor between the warm lamp light and a board game in the middle.

That scene from the teaser.

"...??"

Homma is in confusion!

However, Sun Ahyeon’s calm voice continued.

-It’s the players’ turn.

Cha Eugene and Park Moondae, who were sitting comfortably, twitched their eyebrows at the same time. They were two people who played the role of prisoners.

Ryu Chungwoo, who was resting his chin, spoke thoughtfully.

-You said you saw the prisoner. Did he want to give the jewel to the prisoner? As Compensation?

-There’s no psychopath, so it's probably like that.

After Cha Eugene grumbled, Park Moondae opened his mouth, rubbing his chin.

-…Well, if a hacker is able convince several people to the same side in such a short period of time, it seems like he will become a threat in the future. Isn’t he trying to give me the real jewels and send them back? It’s cheating.

-Ah~ Don’t have any regrets.

Lee Sejin nodded and smiled cheerfully.

-Good! Then I will say this.

Then, the screen was sucked in, the background returned to the secret facility.

In that scene, Lee Sejin, dressed as a phantom thief, spoke.

-I also have a question~

-“Keep It Safe”. Speaking of the slogan… Actually, it’s not “Safe”, it’s Sacrifice, right? Chief jailer. What are we keeping safe?

-I thought there were rules, but now I see that they don’t really follow them~

After that, a truth battle continues using the secrets of the facility discovered while playing the game.

And the conclusion is…

-It’s not a prison… It was a research institute.

This facility was an institution conducting research to completely control Tutaculum, a drug that gives strange abilities!

'Ooh.'

It was quite exciting to see the information collected so far being connected.

-Really?

I still don't know why the scenery returns to the attic as if I'm being sucked in again.

It was nice to hear Seon Ahyeon’s soft voice.

-But the blonde guard was neither agitated nor answered.

-Oooooh!

-Should we fight?

-Let’s fight, I’ll roll the dice.

In response to the combative members’ reactions, Seon Ahyeon, who was holding a book, smiled and nodded.

-Yes, then… Who will fight?

-Of course, the strongest person should do it, right?

-……

Raebin Kim clicked his tongue and held up the dice as if he didn't feel like it and Seon Ahyeon also picked up the dice.

-I'm going to roll a cube. The maximum number is 6. Players are left with a dodecahedron, with a maximum number of 10. That's a big difference.

-Still, if the player's dodecahedron number is smaller, the player can defeat the warden.

Some might jeer at this as it is a ridiculous scam, but everyone is just nodding their heads as if they are very immersed in it.

Homma did the same, but soon realized the reality.

'Uh oh, can I really do it?'

And that premonition was correct.

'omg!’

As the dice appeared on the screen, Homma was almost screaming internally as she calculated the odds... Finally, I put my hand on the mouse again.

And pressed,

"evil."

Degurrrrr....

The ten-sided dice rolls... Rolling... The numbers....

[5]

‘…Oh, no.'

It’s too big!

Homma felt her blood run cold and swallowed her saliva without realizing it as she looked at the screen.

The game was in progress.

Sun Ahyeon was throwing the dice inside his book, so the numbers were not visible.

Over Seon Ahyeon's face, an expressionless guard in a navy-blue uniform briefly overlaps.

'uh?'

But after a while.

Seon Ahyeon smiled brightly and put the book away.

The number shown by the black die is....

[6]

-I was defeated.

-Oh my God!

-Oh~

Cheers erupt.

-So, you guys…

Seon Ahyeon smiled and closed the book.

-You obtained the jewel and successfully escaped from ‘KIS’ foundation.

-I was your game master.

Applause erupted.

-Ah~ It was fun!

-Thank you for calling me. It was fun to try.

-Oh, no…

Seon Ahyeon smiled softly and put the paper book he was holding. As he said before, he seems to be in charge of hosting this board game.

‘Oh, I think I saw something like this on TV?’

It came out like this because it was an American teen concept!

Homma nodded.

‘Ahyeon played a key role!’

Still, Ahyeon's fans may be a bit disappointed that the amount of content he has is small. That thought passed by without me thinking, but anyway, I was absorbed in the cute appearance and development of TeSTAR on the screen.

-You seem like a nerd, you made a fuss about not liking it, but surprisingly you enjoyed it~?

-I know that if anyone talks about what happened today at school, I won't leave them alone.

-Look at this guy!

While Cha Eugene and Lee Sejin are grumbling, Kim Raebin is rubbing his chin. A rather violent silver accessory was shaking.

-The setting was 2025. They say the world will fall in 1999, but in a later era, I will have a stronger role.......

-You're better than me, who was a kidnapped test subject.

-Being a test subject would be better.

Kim Raebin responded grimly, but Park Moondae just chuckled and Seon Ahyeon also laughed when he saw that.

In that wholesome scene, Bae Sejin smiled and put down his dice.

The narration continued.

-Secret confinement facilities, experiments with psychics, hackers and phantom thieves, and even a thrilling escape. It was a great journey.

In the board game, jewel tokens were shown close-up on the screen.

-The secret we discovered was surprising, but there may be another story hidden there.

-No, I think it would be fun to tell the same story again.

The camera show TeSTAR in the attic, bathed in soft lamp light.

-…I hope to come back to play again someday.

The camera moves up to capture a harmonious image of TeSTAR sitting in a circle.

Along with the gently arranged sub-songs of this album, a subtitle came to mind.

[True Ending]

~In the tutáculum. (은신처에서)

(t/n: 은신처에서/in the hiding place, it’s in parentheses for the ones who don’t know English.)

It was the true ending.

“Ha…”

She leaned back in her chair.

So, this game is like the American teen TeSTAR from the 80s playing a board game... That was the concept.

'So, repackage album........'

It was all connected....

Homma felt an indescribable overwhelming emotion and watched the ending credits roll again.

The scenes I had seen so far passed through my mind, the scenes in the attic, and the character details.

“…..”

The dopamine was constantly increasing.

(t/n: homma said some slang word for a dr*g LMAO but there’s no way she actually did them…)

I was very curious about the stage, but I still had to wait to see the stage.

So that was why.

‘I’ll play again!’

***

After taking care of the urgent matters, she clicked the icon again and reconnected to the game.

This time it was a different version.

‘The warden!'

The main subject of Moondae was postponed for the grand finale!

In order to see the true ending one more time, I continued pressing the skip button.

'Ah, this is really fun.'

My heart was pounding. What new things will be shown in this version?

When the TeSTARs wearing guard uniforms side by side finally reached the point where they pressed the code!

"Good!"

[E52B-2QD5-32WA]

'Great!'

And that was the moment I pressed enter.

'Now the door opens and the jewel....'

It definitely had to be that way.

[%EA%B8%B0%EB%8B%A4%EB%A0%B8%EC%96%B4]

Instead.

The blonde guard looked back at the camera.

Seon Ahyeon.

'...Uh?'

-I pressed the wrong button.

“...??"

-It's a different version of the code.

Seon Ahyeon, who is in uniform in the game, smiled. It was his first time smiling as a jailer.

-You’re okay.

-But... I made a mistake with this.

Cotton gloves grabbed the camera.

-It means you played a lot.

"...?!"

Just now... “Play”?

-Correct? So, by chance, you ended up making a mistake by writing the code written on the card, not exactly as it was, but in the opposite direction... It means you did a lot.

The BGM has disappeared.

No, before I knew it... The angle of the screen also changed.

In the game world, were the other members were invisible, only Seon Ahyeon was visible.

That moment.

-Let's keep playing.

The hidden route has begun.

#dmj hell #idol hell section #rtd arc

0 notes

hospitalterrorizer · 2 months

Text

diary178

3/11-12/2024

monday - tuesday

my package might come tomorrow...omg. so exciting.

something else exciting, my reading foucault. let's see. today i guess i want to partially work through some of the ideas i picked up today, one is in response to something i mentioned the other night i think, which was about the lyricism/sentiment/sensibility of those reformers and legal workers, the punishers and carriers of law, who would speak of torture and execution as excessive and base, too great a punishment for anyone or anything, and then that this humanist perspective they have is economically powerful for them. foucault brings up how the humanism of their perspective, and the non-total end of punishment/punitive aspects of law, but instead a refinement of pain, where pain leaves the body and instead tends to life, future, potentials, and so on. an obstacle, is what he calls it, the law goes from exacting the will of the sovereign in response to a crime, to instead, an ever present and potential obstacle, an apparatus which will limit what is thinkable/possible, but the limits are not necessarily the law, instead, the limits might be just beyond the law, so as to see who might go beyond, to betray regular sociality, who will exit the normal and then require the criminal excised from the man, this state of affairs re: punishment, foucault brings up how the humanist perspective, which is a mask for useful economic realities (for instance the protection of property (maintaining streams of illegality for the rich, even)), turns back on jailers and those who judge and punish, thought of as sorrowful for having to take on that role. imagine how people might talk about soldiers in america, they don't want to, they have to, it's a tragedy for them, and so on. power draws sympathy, power is softened and empathized with, here is how one brings shame to even death, where death is sent at those who have abandoned humanity but are not inhuman, those who are instead now visages of a mess to be cleaned, a failing somewhere in the distance. how could they make us do this, how could they make them suffer, etc. a hideous thing, inside of that.

another thing he brought up that fascinated me was the leniency here, is as i thought/think, it enables the punitive functions to work more economically, but also, these condescensions of power enable them to work better in the mind, as if they are voices speaking to you, to project signs/signifiers into you, a semiology of power that invades your thoughts, things of that nature. essentially in how you interact with your surroundings, there is a punitive voice, and a judgmental force, you are the jury, you are the defendant, you are the criminal, you are the surveyor, as a criminal you are thinking what you could get away with, as there must be room to flex somewhere, and as the surveyor you know there is nothing, as the punitive force, you are not guilty, you are willing to give yourself away, and give others away too.

the giving others away is interesting, as i have met many people who have a surplus of this desire.

and i wrote all this a while ago to get thoughts down so didn't lose them or not give myself footing in the reading i am doing.

right now i just did more vocal recording...at 2 am... well... it's okay maybe. no one punched the floor at me or whatever. i am in the clear. i am just trying to get my voice right, i figured out why there's an alignment issue, it's not me i think. which feels weird to even come close to admitting, but there's a 16th note latency it seems like, because it comes out kind of right sounding usually, but then on playback it sounds off, i assume usually that it's me, but there's no way i'm precisely a 16th note off right? am i that late? i don't know. it'll be a problem if i ever perform this stuff live i guess. but i don't think so... it's so regular and stuff.

i'm so sweaty now, and i also washed socks by hand earlier, too. so a productive day, and there's new ideas for the song vocally. so that's exciting, for me. a lot of stuff i've done, today.

i also recorded some this morning, so if i have the messed up timing on that and still like the tone of my vocals, or i go back to liking them since they weren't what i wanted, and i realized they sound better when i do sing from my diaphragm, which is what i need to do anyways, but it makes me sweat so much.

i just like that i'm like, going hard on vocals rn, it'll be good in the long run, these kinds of struggles help me get some things right eventually, usually, too.

ok... brb , i have to work out now.

i'll put this here and then say goodnight:

youtube

it's crazy how good lydia is on this song. she's like a great vocalist on this. a lot of the time she wasn't, but on this, she's like, an inspiration. she just throws her voice at the song kinda. it's so cool.

anyway it is late and i am sleepy and i have a long day ahead of me i'm sure, tomorrow. so:

byebye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#Youtube

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drwilfredwaterson · 7 months

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Status Updates for the Taylor Swift and Swifties Fight for the Swift Family's Music Therapy Legacy, the 2024 Presidential Election MAGA Threats to the United States from the NFL and Kansas City Chiefs, the Borchetta, Braun and Creative Industries Executives Threats to a Lasting Swift Family and Swifties Victory and the 2024 Presidential Election, and a Defensive Need to Ensure Taylor Swifts Journey from the Original 1989 Era to Today is Well-Documented with Supporting Evidence for Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions. Part 4/4.

16:40:10 GMT+3 Jerusalem, Israel, 06:40:10 PDT Local Time (approximately 212 minutes, 10 seconds (12,730 seconds) after posting the "Sunshine and Sunrise" post at 10:18:00 UTC)

Acts 16:36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.” Acts 16:37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” Acts 16:38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. Acts 16:39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. Acts 16:40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.

Mark 6:40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

John 6:40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 935: Isaiah 40:10 Behold, the Lord God comes in might, And His arm wins triumph for Him; See, His reward is with Him, His recompense before Him. Isaiah 40:11 Like a shepherd He pastures His flock: He gathers the lambs in His arms And carries them in His bosom; Gently He drives the mother sheep.

Title 20-A: EDUCATION Part 5: POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION Chapter 431-A: MAINE QUALITY CENTERS §12730. Put ME to Work Program

Establishment; purpose. The Put ME to Work Program, referred to in this section as "the program," is established within the centers. The program must facilitate the establishment of job training programs at community colleges in this State by working with private businesses and community colleges. https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/20-a/title20-Asec12730.html

Taylor Swift - "Mine": "You were in college, working part-time waiting tables Left a small town, never looked back You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter You are the best thing that's ever been mine Flash forward, and we're takin' on the world together You learn my secrets and you figure out why I'm guarded And we got bills to pay We got nothin' figured out When it was hard to take Yes, yes This is what I thought about You said, 'I'll never leave you alone'"

Earthquake: M 1.2 - 2 km (1.2 mi) NW of Yorba Linda, CA

2023-09-24 13:40:10 (UTC) 33.902°N 117.826°W 3.1 km depth

By 4091 Denver Avenue near Brooklyn Avenue, Jennifer Drive, OC Shaved Ice, and Matrix Towing Service.

TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 1413: Psalm 1:1 Happy is the man who has not followed the counsel of the wicked, or taken the path of sinners, or joined the company of the insolent; Psalm 1:2 rather, the teaching of the Lord is his delight, and he studies that teaching day and night. Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted beside streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, whose foliagte never fades, and whatever it produces thrives.

1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 1 John 3:2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

The Taylor Swift sexual assault trial was a legal case held in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. The trial involved David Mueller, a former DJ, filing for defamation against singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. He alleged that she had him wrongfully terminated following an incident at a 2013 meet-and-greet. Swift then counter-sued Mueller for battery and sexual assault, seeking a symbolic $1 in damages. The trial lasted one week, beginning on August 7, 2017, with both Mueller and Swift appearing in court. It concluded on the evening of August 14, 2017, with the jury ruling in Swift's favor and ordering Mueller to pay her $1. (Wikipedia)

Strong's Concordance #4091 Medan: The same as mdan; discord, strife; a son of Abraham and Keturah Original Word: מְדָן

1 John 5:6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

The Math is Mathing… Newton's Third Law: Action & Reaction His third law states that for every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction. If object A exerts a force on object B, object B also exerts an equal and opposite force on object A. In other words, forces result from interactions. (NASA.gov)

Taylor Swift - Death By A Thousand Cuts (From Taylor's Version #1: Lover)

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Published: August 22, 2019 (234th day) Duration: 3:20 (200 seconds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTEFSuFfgnU GTEFSuFfgnU efffggnstuu 5+6+6+6+7+7+40+90+100+200+200=667. 667+200=867. 867+234=1101. 1+1+1=3. .667 = two thirds. Even, and especially, in the presence of 666, a Holy Trinity will always be an important and everpresent part of a Christmas tree farmers' daughter's life, a Christmas tree farm family's life, and the lives of all whom they connect with and to. It's always been this way and it'll never be any different. The Passover sacrifice of Jesus Christ was every bit as sacred on the Christmas tree farm as it is now, and that blood covering can't be removed or washed away by anyone or anything; because the Father's eternal love will always endure far longer than any human lifetime and is far more significant and powerful than any human mistake and/or learning experience could ever be.

Strong's Concordance #1101 balal: to anoint, to overflow (specifically with oil), to mix cakes with oil, to mix, to mingle, to confound, to temper Original Word: בָּלַל

Fibonacci Sequence: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89 (A Taylor's Version Love Spiral) 8/13/2017: An important day in Taylor Swift's life… 8/14/2017: Taylor Swift Denver Victory 8/15/2017: Denver/Aurora Hail and Rainstorm 8/16/2017: Joyful Heart

TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 1402: Zechariah 13:8 Throughout the land--declares the Lord--Two-thirds shall perish, shall die, And one-third of it shall survive.

1989 Taylor's Version 33 Million Puzzles Solved and Vault Unlocked Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 14:49 GMT+3 Jerusalem, Israel, 11:49 AM UTC, 7:49 AM EDT, 4:49 AM PDT.

TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 1: Genesis 1:3 God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

Sunrise: New York City, NY: September 20, 2023: 6:41 AM EDT 1989 Taylor's Version Vault Unlocked 1 hour, 28 minutes (88 minutes: 5280 seconds) after the sun had risen over New York City, NY.

Strong's Concordance #5280 Naami: descendant of Naaman, Naomi; from na'em; pleasantness, pleasant Original Word: נַעֲמִי

Taylor Swift - "Blank Space" "So hey, let's be friends I'm dying to see how this one ends So it's gonna be forever 'Cause you know I love the players And you love the game"

TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 903 Isaiah 27:2 In that day, They shall sing of it: "Vineyard of Delight." Isaiah 27:3 I the Lord keep watch over it, I water it every moment; That no harm may befall it, I watch it night and day. Isaiah 27:4 There is no anger in Me: If one offers Me thorns and thistles, I will march to battle against him, And set all of them on fire. Isaiah 27:5 But if he holds fast to My refuge, He makes Me his friend; He makes Me his friend. Isaiah 27:6 [In days] to come Jacob shall strike root, Israel shall sprout and blossom, And the face of the world Shall be covered with fruit. Isaiah 27:7 Was he beaten as his beater has been? Did he suffer such slaughter as his slayers? Isaiah 27:8 Assailing them with fury unchained, His pitiless blast bore them off On a day of gale. Isaiah 27:9 Assuredly, by this alone Shall Jacob's sin be purged away; This is the only price For removing his guilt: That he make all the altar-stones Like shattered blocks of chalk--With no sacred post left standing, Nor any incense altar.

Nine-Nine… Trolls (November 17, 2023/321st day) - Can't Stop the Huggings!

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Published: January 18, 2019 Duration: 3:46 (226 seconds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hPgjW2ou9E 9hPgjW2ou9E hPgjWouE eghjopuw 5+7+8+600+50+60+200+900=1830. 1830+9+2+9=1850. 1850+226=2076. 2076+321=2397.

Strong's Concordance #2397 chach: bracelet, chain, hook, ring, fetter Original Word: חָח

“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” ― J.M. Barrie

“All of this has happened before, and it will all happen again.” ― J.M. Barrie , Peter Pan

“For long the two enemies looked at one another, Hook shuddering slightly, and Peter with the strange smile upon his face. "So, Pan," said Hook at last, "this is all your doing." "Ay, James Hook," came the stern answer, "it is all my doing." "Proud and insolent youth," said Hook, "prepare to meet thy doom." "Dark and sinister man," Peter answered, "have at thee.” ― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Don't Disrespect The Nightmare (Jennifer Huggins Version) at Hey, Hey, It's Wednesdays… (Season 4, Episode 22: Crime and Punishment: May 23, 2017/143rd day)

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Published: January 14, 2021 Duration: 2:49 (169 seconds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hfrJbdOWJA 0hfrJbdOWJA hfrJbdOWJA abdfhjjorw 1+2+4+6+8+600+600+50+80+900=2251. 2251+0=2251. 2251+169=2420. 2420+143=2563. 2563+4+22=2589.

Strong's Concordance #2589 channoth: be gracious, entreat, a store, a shop Original Word: חַנּוֹת

10/9+9+9… Back to the Future Part 3: October 27th: Martin Seamus "Marty" McFly and Jennifer: Red Truck, Better Choices, Blank Paper, Clean Future… "Make your future a good one…" - Christopher Lloyd (as Doc Brown)

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Published: November 13, 2020 (318th day) Duration: 6:23 (383 seconds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV7jeOQ8ezs xV7jeOQ8ezs xVjeOQezs eejoqsvxz 5+5+600+50+70+90+700+300+500=2320. 2320+7+8=2335. 2335+383=2718. 2718+318=3036.

Strong's Concordance #3036 Yadon: From yadah; thankful; "will know"; one of the builders of the walls of Jerusalem Original Word: יָדוֹן

As the October 2015 date featured in the Back to the Future films approached, media outlets began noting the similarities between the alternate 1985 version of Biff Tanen and Donald Trump, who at the time Part II was produced had just purchased the Plaza Hotel in New York City and, by 2015, was in the midst of an ultimately successful run for President of the United States. When the comparison was brought to Gale's attention in an interview, he said, "Yeah. That's what we were thinking about". (Wikipedia)

Trump Claimed ‘Magical Authorities’ Allowed Him to Do Illegal Things, Says Former Deputy Blasting Trump for "actively doing damage to our security," a former high-ranking Homeland Security official announces he is endorsing Joe Biden Tom Dickinson Rolling Stone August 18, 2020 Perhaps most alarming, Taylor says that Trump was undeterred by warnings that his chosen policy objectives were illegal: “He didn’t want us to tell them it was illegal anymore,” Taylor recalls, “because he knew that there were — and these were his words — he knew that he had ‘magical authorities.'” In the two-minute video, Taylor describes Trump not only as lawless, but as cruel and vindictive — alleging that the president sought to withhold FEMA aid to victims of wildfire in California because he was incensed that the state had voted against him, and that Trump wanted to restart the family-separation policy “to show those parents that they shouldn’t come to the border in the first place.” People who are still serving in this administration have said to me, 'Just wait until the second term. It’ll be no holds barred. It’ll be shock-and-awe. We’ll do what we want.' Given what I’ve experienced in the administration, I have to support Joe Biden for president. And even though I’m not a Democrat, even though I disagree on key issues, I’m confident that Joe Biden will protect the country. And I’m confident he won’t make the same mistakes as this president." https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-magical-authorities-miles-taylor-joe-biden-endorsement-1046114/

In me you will come forth, Lord: בֵּי תפֶּלֶ ט אַדּוֹן

Strong's Concordance #1046 Beth Palet: From bayith and paliyt; house of escape; house of output/production; house that delivers results; House of "Building Back Better"; a place in S. Judah Original Word: בֵּית פֶּלֶט

Strong's Concordance #114 Addon: powerful, lord, master, owner; a place in Babylon Original Word: אַדּוֹן

Aleister Crowley and Anton LaVey farm animal face doesn't make America great. Aleister Crowley believed that True Will and true magical power meant being a "demon infested" person with a self-proclaimed right and entitlement to: live by one's own law; live in the way that one wills to do; work, play, and rest as one will; die when and how one will; eat and drink what one will; live where one will; move about the earth as one will; think, speak, write, draw, paint, carve, etch, mould, build, and dress as one will; love when, where and with whom one will; and kill those who would thwart these rights irrespective of any laws and/or what anyone thinks or feels about the "demon infested" individual engaging in these indulgent, chaotic, indulgent, uncivilized, and criminal behaviors and actions. Crowley believed that the only real definition of a "Crime" is described as being a violation of one's True Will and that the "demon infested" individual has a divine right and responsibility to the world, humanity, and the Universe to kill those who would thwart a "demon infested" individual's True Will rights. (Wikipedia)

The anthropologist Jean La Fontaine highlighted an article that appeared in a LaVeyan magazine, The Black Flame, in which one writer described "a true Satanic society" as one in which the population consists of "free-spirited, well-armed, fully-conscious, self-disciplined individuals, who will neither need nor tolerate any external entity 'protecting' them or telling them what they can and cannot do." See: the cult of donald trump's MAGA/Christian Identity movement and the modern GOP/Republican Party of the United States (Wikipedia)

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (17 December 2003/351st day) - Éowyn of Rohan Cancels the Witch King: "I Am No Man"

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Published: November 9, 2022 Duration: 3:14 (194 seconds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7_c-R7i8F4 W7_c-R7i8F4 (7, 7, 8, 4) WcRiF cfirw 3+6+9+80+900=998. 998+7+7+8+4=1024. 1024+194=1218. 1218+351=1569.

Strong's Concordance #1569 Giladi: a descendant of Gilead, also an inhabitant of Gilead, Gilead Original Word: גִּלְעָדִי

The Republic of Gilead, colloquially referred to as simply Gilead or elsewhere sometimes called, by its leadership, the Divine Republic, is the totalitarian patriarchal theocracy that rules over most of the territory that belonged to the former continental United States in The Handmaid's Tale. The regime that governs it can be seen as the overall antagonist of the television adaptation. Individual civil liberties enumerated in the now-suspended U.S. Constitution have been replaced by a system of duties and privileges implemented in a hierarchy of social classes, with every former U.S. citizen being assigned to a particular class and expected (and/or forced) to fulfill certain roles (see Society and Class System). Much of this legislation is influenced and justified by a rigid, made-up interpretation of scripture. The name Gilead itself is taken from the Bible, referring to several different locations and generally translated as "hill of testimony." In particular, Gilead is a patriarchal society, where only men have access to higher education. Women are not allowed to have titles or deeds to property in their name and cannot have a career unless said career is specifically assigned to them by the Gilead leadership. Men are also the only ones eligible to hold political office. Women are regarded as second-class citizens as they must submit to the authority of men ("Next male of kin"). All female classes are forbidden to read or write. The only women who are still allowed to read and write are the Aunts, although Aunts are allowed to be literate, they are still inferior in rank to the Wives, who are considered the paramount rank a woman can hold in Gilead. Some civil rights however are assumed or confirmed to be suspended for good, e.g. freedom of speech (which is considered heresy), freedom of the press, freedom of religion and freedom of assembly. The Eyes serve as Gilead's political police force and sends spies to detect and punish infringements and political opponents. (Fandom.com)

Eowyn of Rohan:

Eowyn enowy 5+40+50+900+400=1395.

Strong's Concordance #1395 Gibathi: a goblet, a cup, a pot, a house, a hill; an inhabitant of Gibath (or Gibeah) Original Word: גִּבְעָתִי

Rohan ahnor 1+8+40+50+80=179.

Strong's Concordance #179 Obil: from 'abal; mournful; Ishmaelite overseer of King David's camels Original Word: אוֹבִיל

Oh, I'll come to you (Yiddish): אוֹבִ ילגִּ בְעָ תִי Because I'm sorry (Yiddish): אוֹבִ יל גִּבְ עָתִי Because you have sinned (Yiddish): אוֹבִ יל גִּ בְעָ תִי 11 and 14 (Hebrew): גִּבְ עָתִ יא וֹבִ יל

Trump accuses 'liberal Jews' of voting to 'destroy America and Israel' in Rosh Hashanah message The post on Trump's Truth Social account came on the weekend of the Jewish New Year. Sept. 18, 2023, 3:58 PM UTC / Updated Sept. 18, 2023, 6:13 PM UTC By Summer Concepcion with contributions from Jake Traylor Former president donald trump on Sunday night shared a post on his truth social platform that accused "liberal Jews" of voting to "destroy" America and Israel. “Just a quick reminder for liberal Jews who voted to destroy America & Israel because you believed in false narratives!" said the post, which came on the weekend of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. "Let’s hope you learned from your mistake & make better choices moving forward!”

The American Jewish Committee pointed to a tweet it posted Monday that condemned Trump's post: "Claiming that American Jews who did not vote for Mr. Trump voted to destroy America and Israel is deeply offensive and divisive." "As we approach one year until the next election, we urge political candidates from the top to the bottom of the ballot to avoid incendiary rhetoric." The Jerusalem Post’s then-editor-in-chief, Yaakov Katz, tweeted: “Nothing to see here. Just a former US president using threatening language about American Jews at a time when antisemitism is on a global rise." Retired Army Col. Alexander Vindman, in a tweet, accused Trump of “executing the fascist playbook to turn his mob on Jews.” In an interview in 2021, Trump also said, "The Jewish people in the United States either don’t like Israel or don’t care about Israel." “I’ll tell you, the evangelical Christians love Israel more than the Jews in this country,” said Trump, who won strong support from white evangelical voters in 2016 and 2020, according to the Pew Research Center. Trump also came under fire for his remarks in response to the 2017 violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. At the Unite the Right rally in August 2017, white nationalists and neo-Nazis carried tiki torches and chanted “Jews will not replace us,” among other slogans. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-goes-liberal-jews-israel-rosh-hashanah-message-rcna105540

Here are some questions for Israeli Hebrews/Jews and Orthodox Hebrews/Jews around the world:

How many Israeli Hebrews/Jews and/or Orthodox Rabbis actively attract and surround themselves with legions of thousands upon thousands of violent and extremist Nazis, white supremacists, and Hebrew/Jew-haters?

How many Nazis, white surpremacists, Replacement Theologians, and Hebrew/Jew haters consider the Hebrews/Jews to be a light upon all nations to guide them along their paths to righteous living?

How many of donald trump's heavily-armed legions of Nazi, white supremacist, Replacement Theologians, Christian Identity, QAnon, and Hebrew/Jew-hating supporters would be admitted into Israel by Israeli Customs and Immigration if Israeli Customs and Immigration knew every last detail about the majority of donald trump's supporters and enablers?

Would Israel leadership and Israeli Rabbis welcome donald trump's legions of Nazi, QAnon, and white supremacist supporters and enablers to move to Israel with their full arsenals and march around Jerusalem in fully-armed military columns while flying all of their Nazi, white supremacist, QAnon, and antisemitic flags and banners?

Mossad clearly knows all about donald trump's active lifelong antisemitism, naziism, and white supremacist lifestyle and behavior, so would Mossad actively and openly support former president donald trump violently installing himself as dictator for life over all of Israel with his offspring being the natural lifetime heirs to the Throne of David forever with the Third Temple obviously being the Trump Third Temple on the Trump Temple Mount?

Considering that donald trump and all of his Replacement Theology, Christian Identity, Nazi, QAnon, white supremacist, and Hebrew/Jew-hating supporters and enablers believe that the Hebrew TANAKH scriptures are "old, outdated, useless, and worthless," and the Hebrew seventh-day sabbath has been changed to the first-day sabbath by antisemitic "authorities", once donald trump and his offspring are seated upon the Throne of David forever, should all Hebrews/Jews around the world consider donald trump and his offspring to be the only Hebrew religious and spiritual authorities on earth and abandon all Hebrew traditions per G-d's new, improved, and permanent "King David"?

Will you please present all of your Hebrew TANAKH-based evidence and prophecies supporting your belief(s) that donald trump and his offspring are the new Davidic bloodline to be permanently seated upon the Throne of David as absolute dictators and religious and spiritual authorities for life over all of Israel and all Hebrews on earth?

TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English) Page 139: Exodus 12:51 That very day the Lord freed the Israelites from the land of Egypt, troop by troop.

Luke 12:51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

Trump supporters held a low-energy rally in DC to parrot the former president's baseless crybaby claims and protest their MAGA losses from the fair and honest 2020 presidential election Business Insider November 14, 2020, 12:51 PM PST President-elect Joe Biden defeated donald trump, has activated his transition team, and reportedly identified top picks for key Cabinet roles, after winning the 20 electoral votes in Pennsylvania, Insider and Decision Desk HQ projected last week, but the former president has not yet conceded and has repeatedly floated baseless claims of voter fraud. The former president's supporters have rallied behind his claims and protested the results of the election, with many organizing "stop the steal" demonstrations. Fox News estimated that the former president's so-called "Million MAGA" march attracted merely thousands of supporters, instead. Sleepy! Sad! Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-rally-dc-protest-election-results-echo-baseless-claims-2020-11

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mekandawn · 2 years

Text

Feb Day 4 Pose

Caythaes frowned as something shook Oribos, looking up from their Titendo and unfolding themself from their seated position. This wasn’t the first time the Jailer’s forces had attacked Oribos, but it was the first time Caythaes was present. They walked out of the Enclave and stepped onto the outer ring, looking up as Maldraxxi green lights flickered in between the black bodies of the Mawsworn. A few fell from the sky as they were struck, hurtling down towards the Maw at high speeds.

Well. That didn’t look good. Hopefully Anzhin was okay. Surely they would have evacuated the diplomats at the first sign of danger, right?

Pursing their lips, Caythaes headed back inside, this time headed for the Transporter Pads. Any minute, Anzhin would return from the Arbiter’s Chamber with all the other diplomats.

Any minute.

Caythaes watched as several frazzled looking officials staggered past, no sign of Anzhin’s gingery hair among them. They waited until the stream of people slowed back to the normal trickle of adventurers running everywhere, then sighed and left to find answers. Eventually, they managed to track down a Venthyr who’d been in the Arbiter’s Chamber when everything went sideways.

Anzhin had been knocked over the edge and fallen into the In Between. Which posed an interesting question; would Anzhin fall eternally through the In Between, fall down towards the Maw, or end up crashing into some random afterlife?

Well, they’d start by scrying for him in Zereth Mortis, then go from there.

It was a bit of a trick to get through the portal the Maw Walker opened up when the bulk of the forces going through it were military, but Caythaes was just good enough at Shadow magic to make themself invisible for a brief period; just long enough to dart through after the last soldier and scurry off into Haven before anyone noticed. They found a corner to scry in, cupping their travel scrying bowl in one hand as they absently snacked on gummy wyrms. Technically, they were using the candy as their scrying focus; Anzhin had given them the bag, so while it wasn’t perfect, it was the best thing they had on hand.

The results were… inconclusive. Pain, confusion, flashes of beige and the sound of static in the background. The impression of sand. Just enough information that Caythaes was certain that Anzhin was here, and that they wouldn’t have to go traipsing across the Shadowlands to try and find him. After putting their things away, they dusted off their skirts and peeked into Haven. In addition to the Azerothian soldiers, there were a few actual Venthyr around, so they didn’t stick out terribly in their heavy red Venthyr robes.

“Excuse me,” they murmured, sidling up to a… well, they thought it was a Broker? With what looked like a globe nearby and several maps. “Do, um. Is there a place with a lot of sand out here?"

The Maybe-Broker turned their faceplate to Caythaes and was quiet for a moment. They weren’t sure if they were being stared at like they were stupid, or if the Maybe-Broker was simply thinking until they snapped their fingers and reached for a map.

"Oh! Right, yes, There is... A lot of sand. One moment!" They spread out the map, using a quill to circle almost the entire Northeastern quadrant of it, marking out a spot near the edge with a little diamond. "That is all sand. There is a small camp nearby, where many of us stop during our pilgrimage!"

Their brow furrowing at how much ground they'd have to cover, Caythaes wilted with a soft whine. Looking back to the Maybe-Broker, they quietly asked, "If- if I say there's a staticy feel, would- would that narrow it down any?"

The Maybe-Broker hummed softly as they rubbed their chin. "Static, hmm? Give me a moment."

"There is a place that is... radiating a rather malevolent energy,” they explain, stepping away to dig through a pile of scrolls, opening them and setting them aside when they aren't what they were looking for. "Maybe that's the static you are looking for? I thought... Hmm. Where is that? I am trying to find the reports on the area so I'm not sending you to your demise."

They pull out another scroll, glancing over it. "Ah! The Dread Portal! Yes, this is-- hmm... This one describes the sensation of burning, but... Hmm. Wait!”

The Maybe-broker returned to the map, setting the scroll down as they took up the quill and adding more marks. “There's an area between the Dread Portal and the pilgrim camp that has been reported having a strange buildup of cosmic energy lately. Maybe that is your static? I have not been there myself, and they have not brought any updated reports."

"It's- it's a place to start, thank you!" Caythaes chirped, bowing politely to the Enlightened before another thought occurred to them. "I- hmm. I probably should have- I should have asked if anyone else went missing. Well, if- if I need extra help, I'll- I'll just yell at Terry. Thank you."

The Maybe-Broker shrugged, starting to clean up the mess they made of all the scrolls. "Stay safe, mortal. Or don't."

(( @daily-writing-challenge || Part of this was written in an RP with @anzhin-the-starman ))

#febdwc2022 #febdwc42022 #Titan Forgery || IC Journal

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words-with-wren · 3 years

Text

cause we all have wings but some of us don’t know why

for once i like posting stories on tumblr more than ao3 at least i know how the tags for this fandom work here.

anyway, based roughly off Tubbo and Phil’s streams on the 22/12 (or 23/12 if you’re like me and from the future) when Tubbo visits Phil in house arrest.

word count: 4,455

____

There was a ringing from above and Phil let out a long sigh, glancing up from where he was carving out his basement. For a moment he considered just letting it ring, but there wasn’t anywhere else he could be while under house arrest, and he didn’t really want his door to be broken down. He’d only just fixed the windows.

With some reluctance, he made his way out of the basement, shaking water from his hair and wings as he leapt free of the water elevator. A glance out the window made him let out another heavy sigh when he saw who was ringing the bell.

He quickly grabbed the ankle monitor boots from the amour stand he had set them on, adjusting them to make sure they sat correctly and opened the door.

“Good morning, Mr President,” he said stiffly, hostility clear in his voice. Tubbo, standing on the other side of the door with a pleasant smile, faltered only a moment at the greeting.

“Hey, Phil,” he said. “Can I come in?” There was an edge to his words, as though he were being almost too nice.

But Phil couldn’t really say no, so he moved aside silently, allowing the President to step into the house. Tubbo paused a moment to take in the room, the villager in one corner, the sheep Phil was babysitting for Ghostbur in another.

“How have you been?” Tubbo asked, and Phil knew him well enough to know that, at least, was genuine. He wasn’t in the mood to give him any ground.

“As well as I can be,” he said, the same ice to his voice as his initial greeting. If Tubbo noticed, he didn’t react.

The younger’s eyes landed on the armour stand, and Phil felt a moment of surprising nervousness -- he should have hidden that in a chest before opening the door.

“How’s the ankle monitor? Not uncomfortable?” Tubbo asked, and it wasn’t hard to read the real purpose behind those words. Again, Phil wasn’t in the mood to make this easy for Tubbo.

“It’s fine,” he said, glancing down at the offending items on his feet.

“Can I have a look?” Tubbo asked, and Phil locked eyes with him for a moment. Finally, he decided it wasn’t a battle worth fighting, and kicked the shoes off, pushing them towards Tubbo. Tubbo picked them up, silently turning them over in his hands. He handed them back, and Phil didn’t put them on. “How about I make you another pair?” Tubbo asked, and Phil narrowed his eyes.

“These are fine, I think,” he said. Tubbo once again locked eyes with him.

“It’s no trouble at all,” he said and moved out of the house. Phil let out a low curse, staring at the ankle monitor in his hands. He was willing to bet the new pair would have some kind of enchantment - Tubbo was a smart kid, smart enough to know Phil wasn’t wearing the ankle monitor at all times.

Sure enough, Tubbo returned a few minutes later, a new set of shoes in one hand. Phil wasn’t at all surprised to see the faint glow of an enchantment clinging to their surface. Tubbo held them out, smiling in a way that would almost seem friendly.

“Here you go, Phliza Minecraft,” he said.

“Here you go, Mr Minecraft! I made it for you!” Tubbo beamed, holding out a drawing he had just completed. It was a rough, childish scribble of a bee, hardly recognizable, but Phil couldn’t help but smile as he took it.

“Thanks, mate,” he said, ruffling the boy’s head. Somehow, Tubbo’s smile grew wider and he turned to run back to where Tommy was swinging a stick around. Phil smiled fondly after him.

“Is this really necessary?” he asked, taking the shoes. Curse of binding, he was pretty sure. Tubbo didn’t break eye contact.

“You tell me,” he said.

For a moment, they locked eyes, a silent battle of wits. Eventually, Phil again decided it wasn’t a battle worth fighting - they were only iron, after all, it shouldn’t take too much effort to break them. He probably had some magma in a chest, or he could ask Ghostbur to find a cactus.

Part of him wanted to know what Tubbo would do if he refused.

Part of him didn’t want to put the boy in that position.

So he sighed, reaching down and slipping the shoes into place. They clung uncomfortably, a prickle of magic shooting through his feet. He rolled his ankles, winching slightly at the uncomfortable sensation. It faded almost entirely a moment later, but they still felt odd. Wrong.

“How about I make you a helmet as well!” Tubbo said, fake cheerfulness dripping off his every word. “You have an anvil, right?” Without waiting for an answer, he moved past Phil to open his enderchest, pausing a moment before turning to the anvil, shooing Friend gently aside.

Phil laid a hand on the sheep’s head, watching as Tubbo enchanted a helmet with a book. It glowed softly, the same rippling, almost beautiful effect that Phil’s shoes currently bore.

“I’m not putting that on, Tubbo,” Phil said, trying to leave no room for argument. Tubbo narrowed his eyes, holding out the helmet.

“I just want to make sure you’re not going to run out on us,” he said.

“Why do you even want me here?” Phil asked. “I’m not technically a citizen of L’manburg.”

Tubbo hesitated, as though he hadn’t fully thought that through. Then he scowled, stepping close, helmet still held out.

“It’s better that we know where you are,” Tubbo said. As though Phil couldn’t break out in a second if he really wanted to.

He didn’t want to say that he was staying partly for Tubbo - for Fundy, for his family caught in the trap, feeling like they were unable to leave. Sure, he was probably going to be more help to Techno while on the inside, but he also couldn’t quite bring himself to leave the children of L’manburg completely alone. Not while there was some chance they could find a better way.

The shoes on his feet and the helmet Tubbo was holding made him less and less confident that was even possible.

"And the shoes will achieve that well enough,” he said, refusing to back down. Tubbo hesitated a moment longer, but Phil knew the boy had been around him long enough to know he couldn’t make him do anything he didn’t want to. So he dropped his eyes and returned the helmet to his inventory.

“I guess you’re right.” He shifted uncertainly and glanced back to the door with a reluctance about him, a reluctance to leave. Phil’s suspicion was confirmed when Tubbo turned back to him. “What have you been up to?”

There was an almost pleading note to his voice, as though he were asking for a truce. As though a moment ago he hadn’t been acting like Phil’s jailer. Phil was too tired to continue the mind games.

"I’ve been making a basement,” he said, crossing his arms and leaning against the ladder upstairs. Friend let out a low bleat.

“Oh, that’s cool!” Tubbo said, and there was genuine excitement in his words. He paused a moment, and Phil could almost see an idea take light in his mind. What, exactly, the idea was he was almost afraid to find out. “Do you want to see my guardian farm? I finally got it working.”

Phil couldn’t deny the curiosity. Tubbo had been working on the farm for a long time - far longer than he had been in L’manburg. When he had first heard of the project in an excited letter from Tubbo, he’d been very interested to see how it would turn out.

He had almost forgotten about it in the wake of everything that had happened. Clearly, Tubbo hadn’t.

“I can’t really go anywhere,” he said finally, gesturing to the ankle monitor. Tubbo frowned.

“I’m the president, right? If you’re with me I’m sure it doesn’t matter.”

The uncertainty of his statement made Phil a little uncomfortable. If even the president didn’t know the rules of L’manburg, who was really calling the shots?

“Mmm,” he said, unconvinced.

“Sam and I spent all day yesterday working on the redstone, and we finally got it working!” There was a buzzing excitement about Tubbo that Phil hadn’t seen for a long time, a pride about a complete project, a childish glee at something working the way it should.

It was that that finally made him sigh and push himself off the wall. Maybe Tubbo wasn’t all the way gone, and spending more time with him might help him to understand what had happened. When Tubbo had changed from an excitable, kind boy to a cold and cruel president.

Phil had practically raised the boy. Where had he gone wrong?

“Alright,” he said. “I can’t say I’m not curious to see it finally finished.”

Besides, an extended trip with Tubbo might help him gain some intel for Techno.

It was a beautiful day outside, the sun reflecting off the lake L'manburg rested upon. Phil paused as they exited, enjoying the rare warmth of the winter sun. It was the kind of day where he wanted to fly, to spread his wings and soar over the whole world, to leave everything behind.

But he didn't. Couldn't.

The wooden streets of the city were surprisingly empty as Phil followed Tubbo in the direction of the Nether hub. Only Ranboo was present, casting them a curious smile and wave from where he sat on the edge of one of the platforms, a notebook open on his lap.

The silence felt uncomfortable. Phil may not have been around for long, but he could still remember seeing L'manburg full of life, people working together to revive the nation.

He was pretty sure he knew when the silence had begun.

Maybe that was why Tubbo hadn't been around as much. Maybe that was why he had finally finished the project he'd been working on for months. He couldn't bear the silent streets of his home.

The uncomfortable silence followed them as they moved out of L’manburg borders towards the Nether portal. Phil wasn’t in any mood to try and alleviate the tension, so it sat heavily over them.

Tubbo kept glancing back at him, opening his mouth as though he wanted to say something and then shutting it again. He was clearly uncomfortable with the silence, and Phil would be lying to say he wasn’t a little satisfied with that result.

He’d been uncomfortable sitting in his house for the past few days. Watching them drag Techno out of retirement and try to kill him. The president could deal with a little uncomfortable silence.

His shoulder still stung from where Tubbo had shot him.

The heat of the Nether took a moment to get used to after the cool winter air of the Overworld. Tubbo paused a step away from the portal, pushing hair out of his eyes and glancing back as Phil stepped through.

“It’s this way,” he said, the first words that had been spoken between them since they had left. He made his way down the steps, heading towards the tunnel that would take them to the Nether roof.

But his gaze lingered long on two rickety, unstable cobblestone bridges stretching over the lava. Phil didn’t miss the way his face crumbled slightly at the sight of them, before he hardened his expression and turned to face the way they were going.

Tubbo began talking as they made their way up the stairs. He wasn’t talking about anything in particular, just filling the silence with stories of his and Sam’s efforts to make the farm work.

The rest of the trip past much the same, Tubbo filling the silence and Phil giving him an occasional grunt or acknowledgement. The wind was picking up as they exited the cave the portal opened into, the sea spread out before them.

In barely any time, Phil could make out the glass walls of the guardian farm, and once again he couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer size of it. He’d been here not long ago, helping Tubbo light it up properly, but clearly, more work had been done since then.

Tubbo drew the boat alongside the glass barrier, and Phil stepped onto it, spreading his wings and enjoying the wind through his damaged and clipped feathers. That was another annoyance of being stuck inside - he couldn’t really spread his wings fully.

“So what do you think?” Tubbo asked, a hint of pleading to his voice. He needed validation, needed to hear words of affirmation from Phil. Once again, he was reminded that the president was still just a child.

A child who had almost executed Techno. A child who had thrown Tommy aside. A child who had locked Phil in his own house for no reason but protecting the man he saw as a son.

But the farm was impressive, Phil couldn’t deny that. He jumped to the ground, instinctively spreading his wings as he fell. The water at the bottom broke his fall and he stepped out as Tubbo landed behind him.

“We were working on it all yesterday,” Tubbo said. “And the day before - I’ve really wanted to get it finished.” He moved forward, looking back and beckoning Phil to follow. He did, glancing up at the structure in the middle of the huge ring of glass.

“It’s impressive,” he said finally, and Tubbo lit up, grinning. “Well done mate.”

“You really think so?” Tubbo asked. A guardian fell to its death, and Phil couldn’t help but smile.

“‘Course, you’ve done a good job.”

“Look, look Phil!” Tubbo practically dragged him down the cave, excitement washing off him in waves.

“He’s been working on the nerd crap all week,” Tommy commented, following a few paces behind. Tubbo stuck out a tongue at him, stopping in front of the simple spider farm.

“I got it to work,” he said smugly, looking up at Phil and folding his arms.

“Well done mate,” Phil said, feeling strangely proud of the boy.

Tubbo seemed more like himself than he had for a long time standing here, the ocean water high above them. He moved quickly to the side of the farm, happily rambling about how he had constructed it and Phil felt some of his anger towards the boy fade, making a mental note to thank Sam for giving Tubbo a place to be himself. Once again, he was reminded that Tubbo was still young, that he had gone through so much and had the fate of an entire nation placed on his shoulders.

It didn’t excuse what he had done.

“...and we’ve got lots of slime chunks,” Tubbo said, gesturing to where a cobblestone marker stood across the field. As he spoke, a slime spawned into existence. “See. We’re going to make a slime farm there. Sam wants their balls.”

“You’ve got a good set up for a lot of farms here,” Phil commented, turning as he spoke. His wings fluttered slightly behind him, and once again he felt the loss of his flight keenly.

“That’s the plan,” Tubbo said. “We’ve also got a number of zombie villa-”

He was cut off by the tell-tale hiss of a creeper. Phil spun, sword instantly in his hand, just in time to see the mob explode beside Tubbo. The boy had enough sense to slam on armour, his face white and panicked.

He was thrown back a pace, landing on his back, gasping for breath. Ignoring the hole the creeper had left, Phil knelt by his side, taking in his wide eyes and shaking hands.

“You alright, mate?” he asked as Tubbo shakily sat up. It wasn’t just his hands that were shaking, his whole body shuddered and he wrapped his arms around his legs, closing his eyes and breathing quickly. “Tubbo?”

“Sorry,” Tubbo gasped out shakily. “Sorry - sorry, I-”

“Just breath,” Phil said, voice steady. “You’re alright, it was just a creeper.”

Tubbo nodded sharply but didn’t look up. He sat for a long moment, breathing deeply, his shaking slowly diminishing. Finally, he looked up, hair falling into his eyes. The scars on his face stood out painfully on his pale face.

“I don’t like explosions,” he muttered.

Phil couldn’t blame him.

“Let me fix the torch grid at then we should head back,” he said. Tubbo nodded, his face tight, guarded and when Phil stood, a stack of torches in his hand, he was gripping his sword tightly.

They were silent on the way back. Tubbo still hadn’t taken his armour off, his eyes still darting with nervousness. Once again, Phil found himself torn between anger towards the man in front of him and what he had done and anger towards what the world had done to Tubbo.

By the time they made it back to the Overworld, Tubbo seemed back to his normal self. He led the way back to L’manburg, taking a brief detour on the way to show Phil the bee apiary he had made. Phil raised an eyebrow at that, stepping into the surprisingly warm dome.

“It’s not the most efficient,” he said.

“Yeah, but there’s lots of bees,” Tubbo said, holding out a hand to one of them. He grinned as it buzzed towards him, bumping into his hand a few times before turning and flying away.

A few spare bottles of honey in their inventories, they finally returned to the wooden platforms of L’manburg city centre. Phil paused a moment to remove his armour as they arrived - he’d continue following that rule for now.

For as long as those in power decided to keep it. The way things were going, he wouldn't be surprised if the once peaceful nation became a military state.

It had been born in blood after all.

“Uh, Phil?” Tubbo called as Phil moved up the steps towards his house. He looked back to see Tubbo standing in the market place, all his armour gone expect his helmet. Which - Phil noted - was shimmering with an enchantment. “I think I put the wrong helmet on.”

Phil couldn't help but chuckle at that.

“Sounds like a problem for you to deal with,” he said, no sympathy for the president. Tubbo frowned, stepping lightly up the stairs to join Phil.

“Yeah but that means I have to be in house arrest as well,” he said.

Phil paused. He really just wanted to return to his basement, to his project that had been interrupted for long enough. But there was a glint - a hint of desperation to Tubbo’s eyes that suggested maybe he hadn’t done this entirely on accident.

“Does it?” he asked, his voice neutral. Unimpressed. Tubbo nodded. With a long sigh, Phil opened his door and gestured for the young president to enter. The boy ducked his head to hide a smile and shifted past Phil’s wings to move inside.

Phil lingered a moment longer, spreading his wings as wide as he could, rolling them to catch the late afternoon sun, feeling the breeze between his feathers one last time before folding them up behind him and moving into the small building.

Tubbo was petting Friend when Phil shut the door behind him. He looked up as Phil opened a chest, depositing his honey and a few other pieces he’d picked up on the journey.

“What have you been working on? Can I help?” he asked. Phil glanced over at him and sighed.

“Suppose so,” he said, digging through the chest to find a spare pickaxe. Tubbo caught it, tested its weight and nodded. Phil led the way, using his wings to guide himself down the water and to balance as he landed on the small ledge at the top of the stairs.

The basement was already deep, but not as deep as he wanted. He had a number of plans for the space -- mostly to just keep himself busy while stuck in the confined quarters of his two-room house.

“This is impressive,” Tubbo said, looking around as he landed on the stairs beside Phil.

“Thanks, mate,” Phil said. “The plan is to go all the way to bedrock.” He didn’t mention anything about breaking through. That probably wasn’t best to bring up around the person who had confined him here.

“Awesome,” Tubbo said. He kept pace with Phil as they began to move down, pickaxes in hand as they did. “Y’know, me and -”

He stopped, cutting himself off and shutting his mouth abruptly. Phil glanced sideways at him, seeing the way he shut down, face suddenly hard (hiding intense emotion Phil barely got a glimpse of).

Phil didn’t comment, knowing exactly what Tubbo was going to say. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tubbo reach to his neck as though clutching at a pendant that wasn’t there.

Their conversation was limited and about nothing in particular while they worked. Tubbo was more subdued than before, but only slightly. It was enough that Phil could tell he was putting on a front -- he was far more cheerful than he should be.

Finally, after a long stretch of silence, Tubbo lowered his pickaxe and wiped hair out of his eyes. He looked up at Phil, who was a few blocks above him and let out a small breath, dropping his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he said finally. Phil paused in his mining, looking down at where he stood. Once again, he looked very small. Very young.

He tried to kill Techno.

“I never meant for anyone to get hurt,” Tubbo continued. “I - I didn’t know what to do. I…” He looked to the side, blinking furiously and Phil mined down a block to be more level with him. “Phil, I don’t know what to do.”

Finally, he looked up, and there were tears shimmering in his eyes. It was a plea for help, and the part of Phil that had adopted three boys who needed him finally won over the part of him that called for blood.

He sat on the edge of his ledge to be level with the boy, spreading his wings slightly and waiting. Tubbo wasn’t finished yet, and he was good at listening.

“I - I don’t know if Techno is a threat anymore but Quackity said… And… and Dream is waiting, I know. He’s waiting for me to mess up again and… I didn’t want anyone to get hurt but....” His shoulders were shaking and his knuckles were white around the handle of his pickaxe. “But you’re trapped, and Techno… Techno nearly died and…and...” He cut himself off with a muffled sob, the tears finally flowing and Phil reached forward, laying a hand on his shoulder.

For a moment, Tubbo stiffened under the touch. Then he flung himself forward, wrapping desperate arms around Phil and Phil pulled him into an embrace, folding his wings close around both of them.

“I miss him,” Tubbo whispered into Phil’s shirt. “I miss him so, so much. I don’t know what to do, Phil. I don’t… it’s my fault. It’s my fault he’s gone. It’s my fault he…” And he trailed off, the sobbing becoming even more intense, his shoulders shuddering.

Phil didn’t say anything, just rubbed his back, rocking softly, humming a tuneless song. Or maybe it was a song he’d heard Wilbur sing once, a long time ago.

He hated this. Hated that he had nightmares about Wilbur’s mad laugh, the blood that he felt still stained his hands. Hated the echo of Wilbur that had been left behind as much as he loved what was left of his son. Hated that his youngest had been exiled and alone, lied to again and again. Hated that Techno had been forced to fight once again, after trying to retire.

Hated that he was holding the broken and sobbing form of a boy who was as much his son as Wilbur, or Tommy, or even Techno.

Hated that he hadn’t helped them before it was too late.

Hated that he could have.

“I’m sorry,” Tubbo whispered again. He had calmed considerably but was still clinging to Phil as though he couldn’t let go.

“So am I,” Phil whispered.

He sat there for a long time, holding Tubbo close, until he realized the boy had calmed completely, his breathing even and slow, his eyes closed.

With a small, sad smile, Phil lifted him into his arms and stood, carefully making his way out of the basement. Tubbo barely stirred, even though the water elevator, shifting closer to Phil, face screwed up tightly.

Fundy’s bed was empty - it had been empty for a few days, and Phil didn’t want to think about how that made him feel at the moment. He gently lay Tubbo down, prying off his shoes and pulling the covers over him.

Phil peered around the edge of the door, checking in on the two boys before he slept. Tommy was sprawled out across his bed, snoring lightly, one hand dangling off the edge.

Tubbo was tangled in his covers, curled into a tight ball, a slight frown covering his face.

Phil softly stepped into the rooms, untangling the blankets a little and shifting them so they would be more comfortable. He rested a hand in Tubbo’s hair, watching as he let out a small sigh and relaxed fully.

Tubbo shifted, muttering something, bunching the blankets tightly in one hand, face screwed into a tight frown. Phil sat beside him, one wing spread protectively over him, humming softly as he rubbed the boy’s back.

Slowly, Tubbo relaxed, his face settling back into a soft, peaceful expression. He let out a long sigh, releasing the death grip on the cover.

The scars on the face made him seem older when he was awake, but now they only stood out. He looked so young, so peaceful and quiet that the scars were a painful reminder of everything he had been through.

When was the last time he'd had a proper night sleep?

Phil rested a hand on Tubbo’s shoulder for a long moment, heart aching and wishing he could fix everything. But the children of L’manburg needed to find their own way. He could guide them, show them a better way, help them to break the pattern of their predecessors.

He stood, casting a long look at the chest of spare items Fundy had left behind.

But only if they let him.

With a long, soft sigh, he ran a hand down his face and withdrew his pickaxe again.

Maybe he could actually finish his basement in peace now.

#dream smp #philza minecraft #tubbo #dream smp fanfic #hurt/comfort #dadza #my writing

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