SUMMARY
Syracuse and Ephesus were two neighbouring states. But there was an enmity between them. No merchant of Syracuse was allowed in Ephesus. In case an intruder was discovered, he had to court death or pay a heavy ransom for his life. Once Aegeon, an old merchant of Syracuse was found violating the law of the land. He was brought before the Duke Of Ephesus. Aegeon had no money with him. He was given death sentence. But the Duke was curious to know why Aegeon having the full knowledge of the law of the land had entered there. This prompted Aegeon to tell the sad story of his life.Aegeon was a successful merchant of Syracuse. He had a happy conjugal life. Once he went to Epidamnum on a piece of business. He had to stay a long period of time there. His wife soon reached there. In Epidamnum Aegeon became the proud father of twin boys. The children looked exactly alike. On the very day of the birth of the twins there were born two sons of a poor man of Epidamnum. These poor children too were exactly alike. Aegeon felt pity for them. He bought the two boys and brought them up to attend upon his sons. One day Aegeon along with his wife, children and twin slaves set out for Syracuse. But they faced a heavy storm in the sea. The sailors left the ship in fright. Aegeon and his family were awaiting death.
Now Aegeon hit upon a plan. He tied both the youngest child and the youngest slave to one mast of the ship and the eldest child and the eldest slave to the other mast. He took the charge of the former and his wife was given the task of looking after the latter. In course of time they were separated from each other. Aegeon saw his wife and child recovered by a boat. He himself was then drifted by the heavy currents and wind.
Finally he too was rescued by some mariners and could come back safe to his native land. The youngest boy and the youngest slave began to live with him. But he had no news of his wife, his eldest child, and the eldest slave. In the meantime his son grew up. As he grew up, he felt an urge to get back his mother and brother. He parted with his father. The slave went with him. Long seven years had already passed. But his youngest son did not come back. Dejected and worried, Aegeon left Syracuse and travelled all parts of the world in search of his son. Eventually he came to Ephesus and here he was caught by the men of the Duke.
The Duke was moved to pity on hearing the sad tale of Aegeon. But he could not go against the law of the land. He postponed his immediate death and gave him a day more to collect the fine. But there was none in Ephesus to help him. He was sent to jail.
Suprinsingly enough, both the sons of Aegeon and their two attendants were in the city Of Ephesus at that time. Both his sons were called Antipholus and the twin slaves were named Dromio. The eledest Antipholus and the eldest Dromio had been living in Ephesus for long twenty years. The fisherman who rescued Antipholus, his mother and the eledst Dromio had sold the two boys to Duke Menaphon, uncle to the present Duke of Ephesus. Thus the mother lost her child. However the Duke of Ephesus had a liking to the young Antipholus. And he was made an officer in his army. Young Antipholus was a very brave warrior. He was married to Adriana, a rich lady of Ephesus. Thus Antipholus and his servant Dromio became a native of Ephesus. On the other hand Antipholus of Syracuse wandered here and there in search of his brother and mother. Eventually he came to Ephesus with Dromio. When he learnt the cruel law of the land, he was compelled to introduce himself as the citizen of Ephesus. Anyway both the sons did not know that their father was then in the jail of Ephesus. Antipholus of Syracuse gave his servant Dromio some money. He told him to carry it to the inn where he would dine. Dromio went away. Antipholus came walking along the street. Suddenly Dromio of Ephesus appeared before him. His sudden presence surprised Antipholus. Dromio took Antipholous for his master and told him to go at once to his house where his wife was waiting for him at the dinner table. Now Antipholus of Syracuse was in utter dismay. The more Dromio pressed him to meet his wife, the more furious Antipholus became. Finally, he beat Dromio and drove him away. Now Dromio went back home and told his mistress about the strange behaviour of her husband.
The news angered Adriana greatly. On hearing that her husband refused to call her his wife, she hurled abuses towards him. She suspected that her husband might fall in love with another lady. Her sister, Luciana persuaded her not to think in that way. But it came of no use. Now Dromio returned to the inn with the money. Antipholus of Syracuse and his own slave Dromio were enjoying food at the inn. Just then appeared the angry lady Adriana. She took Antipholus to the house. Antipholus tried in vain to sort out her confusion. But he failed. Anyway, Antipholus dined with Adriana and her sister Luciana in the house. Here Dromio too was heavily surprised when the cookmaid claimed him for her husband. When the dinner was going on, the Antipholus of Ephesus, the real husband of Adriana along with his slave Dromio came back home. But they were not allowed to enter the house. For Adriana ordered her servant, not to open the door at that time. Anyway, Antipholus flew in rage to learn that his wife was dining with a stranger. Meantime the dinner was over. Both Antipholus and Dromio were in utter. bewilderment. They soon escaped from the house secretly.
On the way they met a goldsmith. The man took Antipholus for his faithful customer. He gave him a gold chain. He told him that he had placed the order of that chain for his wife. Antipholus refused it. He told him that the chain did not belong to him. But the goldsmith did not mind it. Leaving the chain in his hand he went away. Antipholus of Syracuse met with so many strange experiences and was so confused that he decided to flee away from this place. He ordered his slave Dromio to make arrangements for their departure.
Now the goldsmith was arrested because of his inability to pay his debt in due time. The officer caught him on the street. At that time there appeared Antipholus of Ephesus. At once the goldsmith asked him to pay for the gold chain. But Antipholus did not get the chain. He point-blank refused to pay for the thing he had not got. But the goldsmith did not budge an inch from his stand. Now the officer arrested both and sent them to prison.
On the way to the prison Antipholus saw his brother's slave and ordered him to go to the house at once to inform Adriana of his arrest. Dromio was confused. He could not believe that his master might send him again to the strange house wherefrom they had fled in great difficulty.
However as a slave he was bound to follow the order they of his master. He went to the house, collected the money and was coming back. On the he met Antipholus of Syracuse, his real master. Dromio wanted to know how he way could gain freedom from the officer. He also handed him over the money Adriana gave to him. Antipholus of Syracause was completely dumbfounded. He could not understand what his slave meant to say by prison, arrest, purse, gold etc. He had a feeling that his' servant might become mad. He felt that he was in a land of illusions. And this thought terrified him. At this crucial juncture a lady came near him and demanded that he had promised her a gold chain. Antipholus of Syracuse never met such a lady. Obviously he abused her. The lady grew angry and claimed that she had given him a gold ring. She wanted to have it back. In fact, she was not telling false. Only she was mistaken. For, AntipholUS of Ephesus having driven out from his own house went to the house of that lady. There he dined with her and promised to give her a gold chain. But it was out of his anger for this distempering lady that he wanted to teach her a lesson. Practically he intended to give the gold chain to his wife. But the lady who gave Antipholus of Ephesus her gold ring had fallen into the same mistake the others had done. This made the situation complicated. On the other hand Antipholus of Syracuse was innocent of all these things'. Hence he ran away from her, calling her a sorcerers. The lady at once visiting the house of Antipholus and told his wife Adriana that her husband went mad. Meanwhile there came real Antipholus attended by the jailor to pay the debt. But Adriana knew not that the money she had already sent through Dromio was given to Antipholus of Syracuse. Adriana violently chided her husband. She continued complaining against his odd behaviour and accused him of his illegal love-affairs with other ladies. Dromio could not stand all the insults of his master. When both Antipholus and Dromio protested, Adriana made them bound with ropes and confined them in a room. Then Adriana sent for a doctor to cure her husband of his madness.
This time a servant informed Adriana that both Antipholus and Dromio were bound wandeing on the street. Adriana wondered how they escaped from the house. However, she ran out to fetch him home. Some men she took with her. They found Antipholus Of Syracuse near the convent gate. He had the gold chain round his neck. Adriana came up to him and claimed him as her lunatic husband. As soon as the men Adriana took with her went to catch Antipholus and Dromio, they ran into the convent and the abbess gave them shelter in her house. Now the abbess came out and did not allow anybody inside. She reproached Adriana for her misconduct and accused her of her ill-temper and jealousy. Ardiana confessed her guilt and decided not to show ill-temper in future. She was really ashamed of her own conduct.
Now it was evening. All day long so many events took place. Aegeon's end was near. He was brought to the place of his execution. The Duke was present there. Adriana aPProached to the Duke for justice. She told the Duke that the abbess had refused to deliver up her mad husband to her care. In the meantime her real husband also appeared, with his servant Dromio. He complained that his wife had confined him in a false charge of lunacy. But he managed to escape and arrived there for justice. Now Adriana was taken aback to see her husband before her whom she had just found in the house of the abbess. Aegeon saw Antipholus and recognised him. He was sure that his son would save his life by paying the ransom. But the son could not recognise his father.
Meanwhile there appeared lady abbess with the other Antipholus and Dromio. All were astonished. But the wise Duke who heard the story of Aegeon before at once realised what was what. .1t was revealed that the abbess was none other than the lost mother of two Antipholuses. Two Dromios were two brothers. The Duke was very happy. He did not accept the fine from Aegeon. A few days after the youngest Antipholus was married to Luciana, Adriana's sister. All of them began to live in Ephesus in peace and happiness. They would occasionally recall the past events o their lives. But even then they often made miStakes in their daily lives because of thei mistaken identity.
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