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Urs. Sure, I think so;

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

And therefore, certainly, it were not good
She knew his love, lest she make sport at it.
Hero. Why, you speak truth: I never yet saw

man,

How wise, how noble, young, how rarely featur'd,
But she would spell him backward: if fair-faced,
She'd swear the gentleman should be her sister;
If black, why, nature, drawing of an antic,
Made a foul blot :2 if tall, a lance ill-headed;
If low, an agate very vilely cut:3

If speaking, why a vane blown with all winds:
If silent, why a block moved with none.
So turns she every man the wrong side out;
And never gives to truth and virtue that
Which simpleness and merit purchaseth.

Urs. Sure, sure, such carping is not commendable.
Hero. No: nor to be so odd, and from all fashions,
As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable:
But who dare tell her so? If I should speak,
She'd mock me into air; O, she would laugh me
Out of myself, press me to death with wit.4
Therefore let Benedick, like cover'd fire,
Consume away in sighs, waste inwardly:
It were a better death than die with mocks;
Which is as bad as die with tickling."

Urs. Yet tell her of it; hear what she will say.
Hero. No; rather I will go to Benedick,
And counsel him to fight against his passion:
And, truly, I'll devise some honest slanders
To stain my cousin with: One doth not know,
How much an ill word may empoison liking.

Urs. O, do not do your cousin such a wrong.
She cannot be so much without true judgment,
(Having so swift and excellent a wit,
As she is priz'd to have,) as to refuse
So rare a gentleman as signior Benedick.
Hero. He is the only man of Italy,

Always excepted my dear Claudio.

Urs. I pray you, be not angry with me, madam,
Speaking my fancy; signior Benedick,
For shape, for bearing, argument,' and valour,
Goes foremost in report through Italy.

Hero. Indeed, he hath an excellent good name.
Urs. His excellency did earn it, ere he had it.
When are you married, madam?

Hero. Why, every day;--to-morrow: Come, goin: I'll show thee some attires; and have thy counsel, Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow.

Urs. She's lim'd I warrant you; we have caught her, madam.

Hero. If it prove so, then loving goes by haps: Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps. [Exeunt HERO and URSULA.

BEATRICE advances.

Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?
Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!
No glory lives behind the back of such.
And, Benedick, love on, I will requite thee;
Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand;10
If thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee
To bind our loves up in a holy band:
; and I
For others say, thou dost deserve
Believe it better than reportingly.

[Exit.

SCENE II, A Room in Leonato's House. Enter
DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, and LE-

ONATO.

D. Pedro. I do but stay till your marriage be conand then I summate, toward Arragon. go Claud. I'll bring you thither, my lord, if you'll

vouchsafe me.

D. Pedro. Nay, that would be as great a soil in the new gloss of your marriage, as to show a child his new coat, and forbid him to wear it. I will only be bold with Benedick for his company: for, from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, he is all mirth; he hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's bowstring, and the little hangman' dare not shoot at him: he hath a heart as sound as a bell, and his tongue is the clapper; for what his heart thinks, his tongue speaks.12

Bene. Gallants, I am not as I have been.
Leon. So say I'; methinks you are sadder.
Claud, I hope, he be in love.

D. Pedro. Hang him, truant; there's no true drop of blood in him, to be truly touch'd with love: if he be sad, he wants money.

Bene. I have the tooth-ach.1a

D. Pedro. Draw it.

Bene. Hang it!

Claud. You must hang it first, and draw it afterwards.

D. Pedro. What, sigh for the tooth-ach ?
Leon. Where is but a humour, or a worm?
Bene. Well, every one can master a grief, but he
that has it.

Claud. Yet say I, he is in love.

.15

D. Pedro. There is no appearance of fancy14 m him, unless it be a fancy that he hath to strange disguises; as, to be a Dutchman to-day; a Frenchman to-morrow; or in the shape of two countries at once; as, a German from the waist downward, all slops;16 and a Spaniard from the hip upward, no 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 appear he is.

Claud. If he be not in love with some woman,

she therefore says, that wild as her heart is, she will

Beat. What fire is in mine ears? Can this be tame it to the hand.
true?

1 Alluding to the practice of witches in uttering pray. ers, i. e. misinterpret them. Several passages, containing a similar train of thought, are cited by Mr. Steevens from Lily's Euphues.

2 A black man here means a man with a dark or thick beard, which is the blot in nature's drawing.

3 An agate is often used metaphorically for a very diminutive person, in allusion to the figures cut in agate for rings, &c. Queen Mab is described, 'In shape no bigger than an agate stone on the forefinger of an alderman.' See note on K. Henry IV. Part 2.

4 The allusion is to an ancient punishment inflicted on those who refused to plead to an indictment. If they continued silent, they were pressed to death by heavy weights laid on their stomach. This species of torture is now abolished.

11 Dr. Farmer has illustrated this term by citing a passage from Sidney's Arcadia, B. II. C. xiv. ; but it seems cutioner, slayer of hearts. probable that no more is meant by hangman than exe12 A covert allusion to the old proverb: 'As the fool thinketh The bell clinketh.'

13 So, in The False One, by Beaumont and Fletcher:
O this sounds mangily,

Poorly and scurvily in a soldier's mouth;
You had best be troubled with the toothach too,
For lovers ever are.'

14 A play upon the word fancy, which Shakspeare uses for love, as well as for humour, caprice, or affec tation.

15 So, in The Seven deadly Sinnes of London, by Decker, 1606, For an Englishman's sute is like a trai Itor's body that hath beene hanged, drawne, and quar

5 This word is intended to be pronounced as a trisyl-tered, and is set up in several places: his codpiece, in lable, it was sometimes written tickeling.

7 Conversation.
6 Quick, ready.
81. e. ensnared and entangled, as a sparrow with
bird-lime.

9 Alluding to the proverbial saying, which is as old
ears do glow and
as Pliny's time: That when our
tingle, some there be that in our absence do talke of us.'
Holland's Translation, B. xxxiii. p. 297.

10 This image is taken from Falconry. She has been
charged with being as wild as haggards of the rock;

Denmarke; the collar of his dublet and the belly, in France; the wing and narrow sleeve, in Italy; the short waste hangs over a botcher's stall in Utrich; his huge sloppes speaks Spanish; Polonia gives him the bootes, &c.-and thus we mocke everie nation for keeping one fashion, yet steale patches from everie of them to piece out our pride; and are now laughing-stocks to them, bs cause their cut so scurvily becomes us.'

16 Large loose breeches or trowsers. Hence a slop soller for one who furnishes seamen, &c. with clothes

there is no believing old signs: he brushes his hat o' mornings; What should that bode?

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

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

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

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

Claud. That's as much as to say,The sweet youth's in love.

D. Pedro. The greatest note of it is his melancholy.

Claud. And when was he wont to wash his face? D. Pedro. Yea, or to paint himself? for the which, I hear what they say of him.

Claud. Nay, but his jesting spirit; which is now crept into a lutestring and now governed by stops. D. Pedro. Indeed, that tells a heavy tale for him: Conclude, conclude, he is in love.

Claud. Nay, but I know who loves him. D. Pedro. That would I know too; I warrant, one that knows him not.

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

D. Pedro. She shall be buried with her face upwards.2

Bene. Yet is this no charm for the tooth-ach.— Old signior, walk aside with me: I have studied eight or nine wise words to speak to you, which these hobby-horses must not hear.

[Exeunt BENEDICK and LEONATO. D. Pedro. For my life, to break with him about Beatrice.

Claud. 'Tis even so: Hero and Margaret have by this played their parts with Beatrice; and then the two bears will not bite one another when they

meet.

Enter Dox JOHN.

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

D. John. If your leisure served, I would speak with you.

D. Pedro. In private?

D. John. If it please you:-yet Count Claudio may hear; for what I would speak of concerns him. D. Pedro. What's the matter?

D. John. Means your lordship to be married tomorrow? [To CLAUDIO. D. Pedro. You know, he does. D. John. I know not that, when he knows what I know.

Claud. If there be any impediment, I pray you, discover it.

D. 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 ensuing marriage; surely, suit ill spent, and labour ill bestowed!

D. Pedro. Why, what's the matter?

D. John. I came hither to tell you; and, circumstances shortened, (for she hath been too long a talking of,) the lady is disloyal.

Claud. Who? Hero?

you shall see her chamber-window entered; even the night before her wedding-day: if you love her then, to-morrow wed her: but it would better fit your honour to change your mind.

Claud. May this be so?
D. Pedro. I will not think it.

D. John. If you dare not trust that you see, confess not that you know: if you will follow me, I will show you enough; and when you have seen more, and heard more, proceed accordingly.

Claud. If I see any thing to-night why I should not marry her to-morrow; in the congregation, where I should wed, there will I shame her.

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

D. John. I will disparage her no farther, till you are my witnesses: bear it coldly but till midnight, and let the issue show itself.

D. Pedro. O day untowardly turned!
Claud. O mischief strangely thwarting!
D. John. O plague right well prevented!
So will you say, when you have seen the sequel.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. A Street. 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 salvation, body and soul.

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

Verg. Well, give them their charge,4 neighbour Dogberry.

Dogb. First, who think you the most desartless man to be constable ?

1 Watch. Hugh Oatcake, sir, or George Seacoal; for they can write and read.

Dogb. Come hither, neighbour Seacoal. God hath blessed you with a good name: to be a well favoured man is the gift of fortune; but to write and read comes by nature.

2 Watch. Both which, master constable,

Dogb. You have; I knew it would be your answer. Well, for your favour, sir, 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 such vanity. You are thought here to be the most senseless and fit man for the constable of the watch; therefore bear you the lantern: This is your charge: You shall comprehend all vagrom men: you are to bid any man stand, in the prince's

name.

2 Watch. How if he will not stand?

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

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

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

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

Dogb. Why, you speak like an ancient and most quie watchman; for I cannot see how sleeping D. John. Even she; Leonato's Hero, your Hero, should offend; only, have a care that your bills be every man's Hero.

Claud. Disloyal?

D. John. The word is too good to paint out her wickedness; I could say, she were worse; think you of a worse title, and I will fit her to it. Wonder not till further warrant: go but with me to-night,

1 Love-songs, in Shakspeare's time, were sung to the lute. So, in Henry VI. Part 1.

'As melancholy as an old lion or a lover's lute, 2 i. e. 'in her lover's arms.' So in The Winter's Tale :

Flo. What? like a corse?

Per. No, like a bank for love to lie and play on; Not like a corse :-or if,-not to be buried, But quick and in my arms.'

not stolen :-Well, you are to call at all the alehouses, and bid those that are drunk get them to bed.

2 Watch. How if they will not?

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

3 The first of these worthies is named from the Dogberry or female cornel, a shrub that grows in every county in England. Verges is only the provincial pro. nunciation of verjuice.

4 To charge his fellows seems to have been a regular part of the duty of the constable.

2 Watch. Well, sir. Dogb. If you meet a thief, you may suspect him, by virtue of your office, to be no true man: and, for such kind of men, the less you meddle or make with them, why, the more is for your honesty. 2 Watch. If we know him to be a thief, shall we not lay hands on him?

Dogh. Truly, by your office, you may; but I think, they that touch pitch will be defiled: the most peaceable way for you, if you do take a thief, is, to let him show himself what he is, and steal out of your company.

Verg. You have been always called 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. Verg. If you hear a child cry in the night, you must call to the nurse, and bid her still it.'

2 Watch. How if the nurse be asleep, and will not hear us?

Dogb. Why then, depart in peace, and let the child wake her with crying; for the ewe that will not hear her lamb when it baas, will never answer a calf when he bleats.

Verg. "Tis very true.

Dogb. This is the end of the charge. You, constable, are to present the prince's own person; if you meet the prince in the night, you may stay him.

Verg. Nay, by'r lady, that, I think, he cannot. Dogb. Five shillings to one on't, with any man that knows the statues, he may stay him: marry, not without the prince be willing; for, indeed, the watch ought to offend no man; and it is an offence to stay a man against his will.

Verg. By'r lady, I think, it be so.

Dogb. Ha, ha, ha! Well, masters, good night: an there be any matter of weight chances, call up me: keep your fellows' counsels and your own,2 and good night.-Come, neighbour.

2 Watch. Well, masters, we hear our charge: let us go sit here upon the church-bench till two, and then all to bed.

Dogb. One word more, honest neighbours: I pray you, watch about signior Leonato's door; for the wedding being there to-morrow, there is a great coil to-night: Adieu, be vigitant, I beseech you.

[Exeunt DOGBERRY and VERGES. Enter BORACHIO and CONRADE.

Bora. What! Conrade,-
Watch. Peace, stir not.

Bora. Conrade, I say!

Con. Here, man, I am at thy elbow.

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Watch. I know that Deformed; he has been a vile thief this seven year; he goes up and down like a gentleman: I remember his name. Bora. Didst thou not hear somebody? Con. No; 'twas the vane on the house.

Bora. Seest thou not, I say, what a deformed thief this fashion is? how giddily he turns about all the hot bloods, between fourteen and five and thirty! sometime, fashioning them like Pharaoh's soldiers in the reechy painting; sometime, like god Bel's priests in the old church window; sometime, like the shaven Hercules in the smirched' worm-eaten tapestry, where his cod-piece seems as massy as his club?

Con. All this I see; and see, that the fashion wears out more apparel than the man: But art not thou thyself giddy with the fashion too, that thou hast shifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fashion.

Bora. Not so neither: but know, that I have tonight wooed Margaret, the lady Hero's gentlewoman, by the name of Hero; she leans me out at her mistress' chamber-window, bids me a thousand times good night,-I tell this tale vilely :-I should first tell thee, how the Prince, Claudio, and my master, planted, and placed, and possessed by my master Don John, saw afar off in the orchard this amiable

encounter.

Con. And thought they, Margaret was Hero? Bora. Two of them did, the Prince and Claudio; but the devil my master knew she was Margaret; and partly by his oaths, which first possessed them, partly by the dark night, which did deceive them, but chiefly by my villany, which did confirm any slander that Don John had made, away went Claudio enraged; swore he would meet her as he was appointed, next morning at the temple, and there, before the whole congregation, shame her with what he saw over-night, and send her home again without a husband.

1 Watch. We charge you in the prince's name,

stand.

2 Watch. Call up the right master constable: We [Aside. have here recovered the most dangerous piece of lechery that ever was known in the commonwealth. 1 Watch. And one Deformed is one of them; I know him, he wears a lock.

Bora. Mass, and my elbow itched; I thought there would a scab follow.

Con. I will owe thee an answer for that; and now! forward with thy tale.

Bora. Stand thee close then under this pent-house, for it drizzles rain; and I will, like a true drunkard, utter all to thee.

Watch. [Aside.] Some treason, masters; yet stand close.

Bora. Therefore know, I have earned of Don John a thousand ducats.

Con. Is it possible that any villany should be so

dear?

Bora. Thou shouldst rather ask, if it were possible any villany should be so rich; for when 'rich villains have need of poor ones, poor ones may make what price they will.

Con. I wonder at it.

Bora. That shows thou art unconfirmed: Thou knowest, that the fashion of a doublet, or a hat, or a cloak, is nothing to a man.

1 It is not impossible but that a part of this scene was intended as a burlesque upon The Statutes of the Streets, imprinted by Wolfe in 1595.'

2 This is part of the oath of a grand juryman, and is one of many proofs of Shakspeare's having been very conversant with legal proceedings and courts of justice at some period of his life.

3 Unpracticed in the ways of the world.

Con. Masters, masters.

2 Watch. You'll be made bring Deformed forth, I warrant you.

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7 i. e. in examination or trial.

8 A kind of ruff. Rabat, Fr. Menage says it comes

4 i. e. discoloured by sinoke, reeky From recan, from rabattre, to put back, being at first nothing but the Saxon.

collar of the shirt turned back toward the shoulders.

Marg. By my troth, it's not so good; and I warrant, your cousin will say so.

Hero. My cousin's a fool, and thou art another; I'll wear none but this.

Marg. I like the new tire' within excellently, if the hair were a thought browner: and your gown's a most rare fashion, i'faith. I saw the duchess of Milan's gown, that they praise so.

Hero. O, that exceeds, they say.

Beat. O, God help me! God help me! how long have you profess'd apprehension? Marg. Ever since you left it: doth not my wit become me rarely?

Beat. It is not seen enough, you should wear it in your cap.-By my troth, I am sick.

Murg. Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus, and lay it to your heart; it is the only thing for a qualm.

Marg. By my troth it's but a night-gown in re-
spect of yours: Cloth of gold, and cuts, and laced
with silver; set with pearls, down-sleeves, side-some moral in this Benedictus.
sleeves, and skirts round, underborne with a blueish
tinsel: but for a fine, quaint, graceful, and excellent
fashion, yours is worth ten on't.

Hero. There thou prick'st her with a thistle.
Beat. Benedictus! why Benedictus? you have

Hero. God give me joy to wear it, for my heart is exceeding heavy!

Marg. "Twill be heavier soon by the weight of a

man.

Hero. Fye upon thee! art not ashamed? Marg. Of what, lady? of speaking honourably? Is not marriage honourable in a beggar? Is not your lord honourable without marriage? I think, you would have me say, saving your reverence,-a husband: an bad thinking do not wrest true speaking, I'll offend nobody: Is there any harm in-the heavier for a husband? None, I think, an it be the right husband, and the right wife; otherwise 'tis light, and not heavy: Ask my lady Beatrice else, hero she

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Beat. I am out of all other tune, methinks. Marg. Clap us into-Light o' love; that goes without burden; do you sing it, and I'll dance it. Beat. Yea, Light o' love, with your heels?then if your husband have stables enough, you'll see he shall lack no barns.^

Marg. O illegitimate construction! I scorn that with my heels.

Beat. "Tis almost five o'clock, cousin; 'tis time you were ready. By my troth I am exceeding ill : -hey ho!

Marg. For a hawk, a horse, or a husband? Beat. For the letter that begins them all, H. Marg. Well, an you be not turned Turk, there's no more sailing by the star.

Beat. What means the fool, trow ?

Marg. Nothing I; but God send every one their heart's desire!

Hero. These gloves the count sent me, they are an excellent perfume.

Beat. I am stuffed, cousin, I cannot smell. Marg. A maid, and stuffed! there's goodly catching of cold.

}

Head-dress.

i. e. long sleeves. Side or syde in North Britain is used for long when applied to the garment. It has the same signification in Anglo-Saxon and Danish.

3 The name of a popular old dance tune, mentioned again in the Two Gentlemen of Verona, and in several of our old dramas. The notes are given in the Variorum Shakspeare.

4 A quibble between barns repositories for corn, and bairns children, formerly pronounced barns. So, in The Winter's Tale :

'Mercy on us, a barn! a very pretty barn!!
5 That is for an ach or pain, pronounced aitch. See
note on Tempest, Act i. Sc. 2. Heywood has an epigram
which best elucidates this:

'H is worst among letters in the cross-row,
For if thou find him either in thine elbow,
In thine arm or leg, in any degree;
In thine head, or teeth, or toe, or knee;
Into what place soever H may pike him,

Wherever thou find him ache thou shalt not like him.' 6 So in The Merry Wives of Windsor: Who's there, trow This obsolete exclamation of inquiry is a contraction of trow ye? think you? believe you? Steevens was mistaken in saying, that To trow is to imagine, to conceiva.

Marg. Moral? no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning; I meant, plain holy-thistle. You may think, perchance, that I think you are in love: nay, by'r lady, I am not such a fool to think what I list; nor I list not to think what I can; nor, indeed, Í cannot think, if I would think my heart out of thinking, that you are in love, or that you will be in love, or that you can be in love: yet Benedick was such another, and now is he become a man: he swore he would never marry; and yet now, in despite of his heart, he eats his meat without grudging: and how you may be converted, I know not; but methinks, you look with your eyes as other women do. Beat. What pace is this that thy tongue keeps? Marg. Not a false gallop.

Re-enter URSULA.

Urs. Madam, withdraw; the prince, the count, signior Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the town, are come to fetch you to church.

Hero. Help to dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Ursula. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Another Room in Leonato's House. Enter LEONATO, with DOGBERRY and VERGES.

Leon. What would you with me, honest neighbour?

Dogb. Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you, that decerns you nearly.

Leon. Brief, I pray you; for you see, 'tis a busy time with me.

Dogb. Marry, this it is, sir.

Verg. Yes, in truth it is, sir.

Leon. What is it, my good friends?

Dogb. Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off the matter: an old man, sir, and his wits are not so blunt, as, God help, I would desire they were; but in faith, honest as the skin between his brows.

Verg. Yes, I thank God, I am as honest as any man living, that is an old man and no honester than I.

Dogb. Comparisons are odorous: palabras,10 neighbour Verges.

Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious.

Dogb. It pleases your worship to say so, but we are the poor duke's officers; but, truly, for mine own part, if I were as tedious as a king, I could find in my heart to bestow it all of your worship. Leon. All thy tediousness on me!" ha!

7 Carduus Benedictus, or blessed thistle (says Cogan in his Haven of Health, 1595), so worthily named for the singular virtues that it hath. This herbe may worthily be called Benedictus, or Omnimorbia, that it is a salve for every sore, not known to physitians of old time, but lately revealed by the special providence of Almighty God.'

S You have some moral in this Benedictus,' i. e. some hidden meaning, like the moral of a fable. Thus in the Rape of Lucrece:

Nor could she moralize his wanton sight.' And in the Taming of the Shrew, to expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens."'

9 i. e. feeds on love, and likes his food.'

10 i. e. tords, in Spanish. It seems to have been current here for a time, even among the vulgar; it was probably introduced by our sailors, as well as the corrupted form pala'ver. We have it again in the mouth of Sly the Tinker, Therefore paucus pallabris: let the world slide, Sessa.'

11 This stroke of pleasantry, arising from the trans position of the epithet poor, has already occurred in Measure for Measure. Elbow says; 'If it please your horour, I am the poor duke's constable.'

Dogb. Yea, and 'twere a thousand times more than 'tis; for I hear as good exclamation on your worship, as of any man in the city; and though I be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it.

Verg. And so am I.

Leon. I would fain know what you have to say. Verg. Marry, sir, our watch to-night, excepting your worship's presence, have ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina.

Dogb. A good old man, sir; he will be talking; as they say, When the age is in, the wit is out; God help us! it is a world to see!'-Well said, i'faith, neighbour Verges:-well, God's a good man; an two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind:-An honest soul, i'faith, sir: by my troth he is, as ever broke bread: but, God is to be worshipped: All men are not alike; alas! good neighbour!

Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of

you.

Dogb. Gifts, that God gives.
Leon. I must leave you.

Dogb. One word, sir: our watch, sir, have, indeed, comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your worship.

Leon. Take their examination yourself, and bring it me; I am now in great haste, as it may appear

unto you.

Dogb. It shall be suffigance.

Leon. Drink some wine ere you go; fare you well. Enter a Messenger.

Mess. My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband.

Leon. I will wait upon them; I am ready. [Exeunt LEONATO and Messenger. Dogb. Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacoal, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol; we are now to examination these men. Verg. And we must do it wisely.

Dogb. We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's that, [Touching his foreheat, shall drive some of them to a non com: only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol. [Exeunt.

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Claud. Stand thee by, friar:-Father, by your leave!

Will you with free and unconstrained soul
Give me this maid, your daughter?

Leon. As freely, son, as God did give her me. Claud. And what have I to give you back, whose worth

May counterpoise this rich and precious gift?
D. Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again.
Claud. Sweet prince, you learn me noble thank-
fulness.-

There Leonato, take her back again.
Give not this rotten orange to your friend;
She's but the sign and semblance of her honour:~
Behold, how like a maid she blushes here:
O, what authority and show of truth
Can cunning sin cover itself withal!
Comes not that blood, as modest evidence,
To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear,
All you that see her that she were a maid,
By these exterior shows ?-But she is none:
She knows the heat of a luxurious bed:
Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty.
Leon. What do you mean, my lord?
Claud.
Not to be married,

Not to knit my soul to an approved wanton.
Leon. Dear my lord, if you, in your own proof
Haye vanquish'd the resistance of her youth,
And made defeat of her virginity,
Claud. I know what
you would
say; If I have
known her,
You'll say she did embrace me as a husband,
And so extenuate the 'forehand sin;
No, Leonato,

I never tempted her with word too large;"
But, as a brother to his sister, show'd
Bashful sincerity, and comely love.

Hero. And seem'd I ever otherwise to you?
Claud. Out on thy seeming! I will write against it
You seem to me as Dian in her orb;
As chaste as is the bud cre it be blown;
But you are more intemperate in your blood
Than Venus or those pamper'd animals
That rage in savage sensuality.

Hero. Is my lord well, that he doth speak so
wide?
Leon. Sweet prince, why speak not you?
D. Pedro.
What should I speak?

I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about
To link my dear friend to a common stale.
Leon. Are these things spoken? or do I but dream?
D. John. Sir, they are spoken, and these things

are true.

Bene. This looks not like a nuptial. Hero.

Claud. Leonato stand I here?

True, O God.

Is this the prince? Is this the prince's brother?
Is this face Hero's? Are our eyes our own?
Leon. All this is so; but what of this my lord?
Claud. Let me but move one question to your
daughter;

And by that fatherly and kindly power"
That you have in her, bid her answer truly.

Leon. I charge thee do so, as thou art my child.
What kind of catechizing call you this?
Hero. O God, defend me! how am I beset!-

Claud. To make you answer truly to your name. Hero. Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name With any just reproach?

Claud.

Marry, that can Hero; Hero itself can blot out Hero's virtue. What man was he talk'd with you yesternight Out at your window, betwixt twelve and one? Now, if you are a maid, answer to this.

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