The story happened in a place called Epidamnum on the Adriatic. This is where two baby boys that were exactly alike
were born. They were the sons of Emilia and Egeon- a merchant of
Syracuse- a seaport in Sicily. The couple went to Epidamnum when Egeon's manager died. Here born the said twins.
In this place, a very extraordinary thing happened when twin baby boys were also born on the same tavern .The parents of the other twins were very poor that they sold their twins to Egeon and Emilia.
When the couple went home a storm came, Emilia tied one of her child together with one of the slave child and Egeon did the same. The parents tied each other with the pair of children individually .
Unfortunately, the ship suddenly struck a huge rock and ripped into two. Egeon and the two children drifted away from Emilia who also carrying the other children.
Emilia landed and helped by some people back in Epidamnum but her babies were taken away from her by some fishermen of Corinth.
Egeon and the other two children were also saved and was able to return to Syracuse and stayed with him. He named his child
Antipholus, and the slave child was named Dromio and bizarre enough, these were also the names given to the other two children who had taken away by the fishermen of Corinth from his wife.
As his son grew, he decided to look for his brother, They were then known as Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse.
Egeon then found out that Ephesians were treated very oppressive by the Duke of Syracuse after his travel. This made the government of Ephesus mandated a law which will punish a thousand pounds fine or even death to any Syracusan who should come to their place.
Without any knowledge of the said law, Egeon who came to Ephesus was arrested The Duke ordered that he must pay a thousand pounds before the end of the day or he must put to death.
The children who were abducted by the fishermen of Corinth had become citizens of Ephesus and were named Antipholus of Ephesus and Dromio of Ephesus.
Antipholus of Syracuse went to the Centaur and met two lovely ladies. They were sisters by the name Adriana and Luciana. Adriana is the wife of his brother Antipholus of Ephesus.
But the sisters really believed that it was really Adriana’s husband they’re talking to and he will dine with them tonight while asking for forgiveness of not being in to dinner with her the last time.
Antipholus of Ephesus knew from the outside that his wife had another man dining with her. He was very aggravated with his wife and decided to give the gold chain to another woman which is supposed to be for his wife.
Angelo the goldsmith went to Antipholus of Syracuse instead to hand him the chain which Antipholus of Ephesus promised to his wife but decided to give it to another woman. Antipholus was so amazed of the chain and handed the goldsmith money but Angelo refused and said he would just call again.
As a result, Angelo hasn’t paid the creditor so he was arrested unless he could quickly pay the debt. He was with the police officer when they saw Antipholus of Ephesus coming out of the house.
Though Adriana was mad of her husband she still gave the money to set his husband free. Unfortunately, while Dromio was heading to the police station, he met his real master and gave him the purse. They went to dine again with the ladies while Antipholus of Ephesus waited in vain for the money to release him.
Dromio of Ephesus who never knew about the instruction came bringing nothing but a single rope. With the entire master’s fury he beat his slave with all his might Because of that, the wife was called for the payment then Antipholus and Angelo became friends again.
The two friends talked about Antipholus behavior, but that was Antipholus of Syracuse he was now talking to. He wore the chain on his neck so Angelo asked why the friend denied the receipt while he was wearing now the chain itself. Antipholus was very mad that he drew his sword to fight Angelo.
Adriana arrived with the others. She ordered the people to bind him and his slave. But the two ran into the abbey. The abbess came out and asks the people why they gathered there.
. In a short while, Egeon and the headsmen arrived, she again told the story of her mad husband rushing about, stealing jewelry and drawing his sword, yet the abbess refused to allow her to bring him home.
Egeon ask Antipholus if he was his son. Antipholus of Ephesus answered that he never saw his father. Adriana was so surprised to see two husbands on her own eyes.
The day was full of surprises and it surprised even more when the abbess spoke “I will free that man by paying his fine, and gain my husband whom I lost. Speak Egeon for I am thy wife Emilia”
So Egeon and Emilia were reunited. Adriana and her husband reconciled. Antipholus of Syracuse went to Luciana and speak again his love and the two Dromios were very happy that they will not be beaten once again.