Dutch man to-day; a French man to-morrow; or in the fhape of two countries at once; as a German from the waist downward, all flops; and a Spaniard from the hip upward, all doublet: Unless he have a fancy to this foolery, as it appears he hath, he is no fool for fancy, as you would have it to appear he is.

Claud. If he be not in love with fome woman, there is no believing old figns: he brushes his hat o' mornings: What should that bode?

Pedro. Hath any man feen him at the barber's?

Claud. No, but the barber's man hath been seen with him; and the jold ornament of his cheek hath already stuff'd tennis-balls.

Leon. Indeed, he looks younger than he did, by the lofs of a beard.

Pedro. Nay, he rubs himself with civet: Can you smell him out by that?

Claud. That's as much as to fay, The fweet youth's in love. Pedro. The greateft note of it, is his melancholy.

Claud. And when was he wont to wash his face?

Pedro. Yea, or to paint himself? for the which, I hear what they fay of him.

Claud. Nay, but his jefting fpirit; which is now crept into a lute-string, and now govern'd by stops.

Pedro. Indeed, that tells a heavy tale for him: Conclude, conclude he is in love.

Claud. Nay, but I know who loves him.

Pedro. That would I know too; I warrant, one that knows him not.

Claud. Yes, and his ill conditions; and, in defpight of all, dies for him.

Ꮒ

flops;]-trowfers, loose breeches.

j old ornament, &c.]-muftachios, worn by Benedick as a foldier; which, being fhaven off, were properly applied to the stuffing of tennisballs.

Pedro.

k

Pedro. She fhall be buried with her face upwards.

Bene. Yet is this no charm for the tooth-ach.-Old fig nior, walk afide with me; I have ftudied eight or nine wife words to speak to you, which these hobby-horses must not hear. [Exeunt Benedick and Leonato.

Pedro. For my life, to break with him about Beatrice. Claud. 'Tis even fo: Hero and Margaret have by this time play'd their parts with Beatrice; and then the two bears will not bite one another, when they meet.

Enter Don John.

John. My lord and brother, God fave you.
Pedro. Good den, brother.

John. If

your leifure ferv'd, I would fpeak with you. Pedro. In private?

John. If it please you:-yet count Claudio may hear; for what I would fpeak of, concerns him.

Pedro. What's the matter?

John. Means your lordship to be marry'd to-morrow?

[To Claudio.

Pedro. You know, he does.
John. I know not that, when he knows what I know.
Claud. If there be any impediment, I pray you, dif-

cover it.

John. You may think, I love you not; let that appear hereafter, and aim better at me by that I now will manifest : For my brother, I think, he holds you well; and in dearness of heart hath holp to effect your enfuing marriage: furely, fuit ill-fpent, and labour ill-bestow'd!

Pedro. Why, what's the matter?

John. I came hither to tell you, and circumstances

with her face upwards.]-in her lover's arms with her feet, or heels upwards-face downwards.

fhorten'd

fhorten'd, (for fhe hath been too long a talking of) the

lady is difloyal.

Claud. Who? Hero?

John. Even fhe; Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero.

Claud. Difloyal?

John. The word is too good to paint out her wickednefs; I could fay, fhe were worfe; think you of a worfe title, and I will fit her to it. Wonder not till further warrant: go but with me to-night, you fhall fee her chamber-window enter'd; even the night before her weddingday if you love her then, to-morrow wed her; but it would better fit your honour to change your mind.

Claud. May this be fo?

Pedro. I will not think it.

John. If you dare not trust that you fee, confess not that you know if you will follow me, I will fhew you enough; and when you have feen more, and heard more, proceed accordingly.

Claud. If I fee any thing to-night why I fhould not marry her to-morrow; in the congregation, where I fhould wed, there will I fhame her.

Pedro. And, as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will join with thee to disgrace her.

John. I will difparage her no farther, till you are my witneffes bear it coldly but till midnight, and let the iffue fhew itself.

Pedro. O day untowardly turned !

Claud. O mifchief ftrangely thwarting!
John. O plague right well prevented!

So you will fay, when you have feen the fequel. [Exeunt.

VOL. I.

I i

SCENE

Enter Dogberry and Verges, with the Watch. Dogb. Are you good men and true?

Verg. Yea, or else it were pity but they should suffer falvation, body and foul.

Dogb. Nay, that were a punishment too good for them, if they should have any allegiance in them, being chofen for the prince's watch.

Verg. Well, give them their charge, neighbour Dogberry. Dogb. First, who think you the most desartless man to be constable?

I Watch. Hugh Oatcake, fir, or George Seacoal; for they can write and read.

Dogb. Come hither, neighbour Seacoal: God hath blefs'd you with a good name: to be a well-favour'd man is the gift of fortune; but to write and read comes by nature. 2 Watch. Both which, mafter constable,

Dogb. You have; I knew it would be your answer. Well, for your favour, fir, why, give God thanks, and make no boast of it; and for your writing and reading, let that appear when there is no need of fuch vanity. You are thought here to be the moft fenfelefs and fit man for the constable of the watch; therefore bear you the lanthorn: This is your charge; you fhall comprehend all vagrom men ; you are to bid any man stand, in the prince's

name.

2 Watch. How if he will not ftand?

Dogb. Why then, take no note of him, but let him go; and presently call the reft of the watch together, and thank God you are rid of a knave.

any allegiance]-want of it.

Verg. If he will not ftand when he is bidden, he is none of the prince's fubjects.

Dogb. True, and they are to meddle with none but the prince's subjects:-You shall also make no noise in the ftreets; for, for the watch to babble and talk, is most tolerable and not to be endur'd.

2 Watch. We will rather fleep than talk; we know what belongs to a watch.

Dogb. Why, you speak like an ancient and most quiet watchman; for I cannot fee how fleeping fhould offend : only, have a care that your m bills be not ftolen :-Well, you are to call at all the ale-houses, and bid them that are drunk get them to bed.

2 Watch. How if they will not?

Dogb. Why then, let them alone till they are fober; if they make you not then the better answer, you may say, they are not the men you took them for.

2 Watch. Well fir.

Dogb. If you meet a thief, you may fufpect him, by virtue of your office, to be no true man; and, for such kind of men, the lefs you meddle or make with them, why, the more is for your honesty.

2 Watch. If we know him to be a thief, fhall we not lay hands on him?

Dogb. Truly, by your office you may; but, I think, they that touch pitch will be defil'd: the most peaceable way for you, if you do take a thief, is, to let him shew

himfelf what he is, and steal out of your company.

Verg. You have always been ca l'd a merciful man, partner.

Dogb. Truly, I would not hang a dog by my will; much more a man who hath any honesty in him.

➡ bills]—staves, a kind of battle-axe, the weapon of our ancient infantry.