Which princes, would they, may not disannul, 145
My soul should sue as advocate for thee.
But, though thou art adjudged to the death,
And passed sentence may not be recall'd
But to our honour's great disparagement,
Yet will I favour thee in what I can. 150
Therefore, merchant, I'll limit thee this day
To seek thy help by beneficial help:
Try all the friends thou hast in Ephesus;
Beg thou, or borrow, to make up the sum,
And live; if no, then thou art doom'd to die. 155
Gaoler, take him to thy custody.

_Gaol._ I will, my lord.

_Aege._ Hopeless and helpless doth Aegeon wend,
But to procrastinate his lifeless end.

[_Exeunt._

NOTES: I, 1.

A hall ... palace.] Malone. The Duke's palace. Theobald.
A publick Place. Capell.
AEGEON,] Rowe. with the Merchant of Siracusa, Ff.
Officers,] Capell. Officer, Staunton. om. Ff.
1: _Solinus_] F1. _Salinus_ F2 F3 F4.
10: _looks_] _books_ Anon. conj.
14: _Syracusians_] F4. _Siracusians_ F1 F2 F3. _Syracusans_ Pope.
See note (I).
16, 17, 18: _Nay more If ... seen At any_] Malone.
_Nay, more, if ... Ephesus Be seen at any_ Ff.
18: _any_] om. Pope.
23: _to ransom_] F1. _ ransom_ F2 F3 F4.
27: _this_] _'tis_ Hanmer.
33: _griefs_] F1. _griefe_ F2. _grief_ F3 F4.
35: _nature_] _fortune_ Collier MS.
39: _by me_] F1. _by me too_ F2 F3 F4.
42: _Epidamnum_] Pope. _Epidamium_ Ff. _Epidamnium_ Rowe.
See note (I).
43: _the_] _then_ Edd. conj.
_the ... care ... left_] Theobald. _he ... care ... left_ F1.
_he ... store ... leaving_ F2 F3 F4.
_heed ... caves ... left_ Jackson conj.
_random_] F3 F4. _randone_ F1 F2.
50: _had she_] Ff. _she had_ Rowe.
55: _meaner_] Delius (S. Walker conj.). _meane_ F1. _poor meane_ F2.
_poor mean_ F3 F4.
56: _burden, male twins_] _burthen male, twins_ F1.
61, 62: So Pope. One line in Ff.
61: _soon_] _soon!_] Pope. _soon._ Capell.
70: _gladly_] _gently_ Collier MS.
71: _weepings_] F1. _weeping_ F2 F3 F4.
76: _this_] _thus_ Collier MS.
79: _latter-_] _elder-_ Rowe.
86: _either end the mast_] _th' end of either mast_ Hanmer.
87, 88: _And ... Was_] Ff. _And ... Were_ Rowe.
_Which ... Was_ Capell.
91: _wished_] F1. _wish'd_ F2 F3 F4.
92: _seas wax'd_] _seas waxt_ F1. _seas waxe_ F2. _seas wax_ F3.
_seas was_ F4. _sea was_ Rowe.
94: _Epidaurus_] _Epidarus_ F1. _Epidamnus_ Theoba