Con. Masters, masters. Marg. Well, an you be not turned Turk, there's 2 Watch. You'll be made bring Deformed forth,|| no more sailing by the star. I warrant you. Con. Masters, 1 Watch. Never speak; we charge you, let us obey you to go with us. Bora. We are like to prove a goodly commodity, being taken up of these men's bills. Con. A commodity in question, I warrant you. Come, we'll obey you. [Exeunt. 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. Beat. O, God help me! God help me! how En-long have you profess'd apprehension? SCENE IV-A room in Leonato's house. ter Hero, Margaret, and Ursula. Hero. Good Ursula, wake my cousin Beatrice, and desire her to rise. Hero. No, pray thee, good Meg, I'll wear this. 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. Marg. By my troth it's but a night-gown in respect of yours: Cloth of gold, and cuts, and laced with silver; set with pearls, down sleeves, sidesleeves, and skirts round, underborne with a bluish tinsel but for a fine, quaint, graceful, and excellent fashion, yours is worth ten on't. 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. Fie 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 inthe heavier for a husband? None, I think, an if it be the right husband, and the right wife; otherwise 'tis light, and not heavy: Ask my lady Bea-|| trice else, here she comes. Enter Beatrice. Hero. Good morrow, coz. Beat. Good morrow, sweet Hero. Hero. Why, how now! do you speak in the sick tune? Beat. I am out of all other tune, methinks. Marg Clap us into-Light o' love; that goes without a 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? A kind of ruff. (2) Head-dress. 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. Marg. Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus, and lay it to your heart; it is the only thing for a qualm. Hero. There thou prick'st her with a thistle. Beat. Benedictus! why Benedictus? you have some morals in this Benedictus. 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, in deed, I 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. 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, neighbour Verges. Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious. but we Dogb. It pleases your worship to say so, 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! (5) Hidden meaning. 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. Leon. I dare make his answer, none. Will you with free and unconstrained soul Dogb. A good old man, sir; he will be talking; Leon. As freely, son, as God did give her me. May counterpoise this rich and precious gift. fulness. Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of She's but the sign and semblance of her honour you. Dogb. Gifts, that God gives. Dogb. One word, sir: our watch, sir, have, indeed, comprehended two auspicious 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. Behold, how like a maid she blushes here: Leon. Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well. Not knit my soul to an approved wanton. 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 forehead.] 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. Leon. Dear my lord, if you, in your own proof Claud. I know what you would say; If I have You'll say, she did embrace me as a husband, I never tempted her with word too large ;3 Hero. And seem'd I ever otherwise to you? Hero. Is my lord well, that he doth speak so Leon. Sweet prince, why speak not you? I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about Hero. Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name Marry, that can Hero; Hero. I talk'd with no man at that hour, my lord. I am sorry you must hear; upon mine honour, D. John. Into a pit of ink! that the wide sea Sir, sir, be patient: Beat. O, on my soul, my cousin is belied! Leon. Confirm'd, confirm'd! O, that is stronger Which was before barr'd up with ribs of iron! For I have only been silent so long, thus to light, Smother her spirits up. Leon. O fate, take not away thy heavy hand! How now, cousin Hero? Dost thou look up? thing Cry shame upon her? Could she here deny (1) Too free of tongue. (2) Attractive. A sin of perjury; she not denies it: Friar. Lady, what man is he you are accused of? none : If I know more of any man alive, Than that which maiden modesty doth warrant, Friar. There is some strange misprisions in the Bene. Two of them have the very bent of honour; Leon. I know not; if they speak but truth of her, These hands shall tear her; if they wrong her honour, The proudest of them shall well hear of it. Nor fortune made such havoc of my means, Friar. Maintain a mourning ostentation; Leon. What shall become of this? What will Friar. Marry, this, well carried, shall on her be- Change slander to remorse; that is some good: Beat. As strange as the thing I know not: it were as possible for me to say, I loved nothing so well as you: but believe me not; and yet I lie not; I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing:-I am sorry for my cousin. Bene. By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me. Bene. I will swear by it, that you love me; and I will make him eat it, that says, I love not you. Beat. Will you not eat your word? Bene. With no sauce that can be devised to it: Beat. Why then, God forgive me! Bene. And do it with all thy heart. That what we have we prize not to the worth, When he shall hear she died upon3 his words, Into his study of imagination; And every lovely organ of her life Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit, Than when she liv'd indeed :-then shall he mourn Out of all eyes, tongues, minds, and injuries. Being that I flow in grief, cure. Come lady, die to live: this wedding day, Beat. Yea, and I will weep a while longer. Beat. You have no reason, I do it freely. Beat. Ah, how much might the man deserve of me, that would right her! Bene. Is there any way to show such friendship? Beat. It is a man's office, but not yours. Beat. I love you with so much of my heart, that Bene. Come, bid me do any thing for thee. Beat. Kill Claudio. Bene. Ha! not for the wide world. Beat. You kill me to deny it: farewell. Beat. I am gone, though I am here;-there is Beat. In faith I will go. Bene. We'll be friends first. Beat. You dare easier be friends with me, than fight with mine enemy. Bene. Is Claudio thine enemy? Beat. Is he not approv'd in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman?--O, that I were a man!-What! bear her in hands until they come to take hands; and then with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour, O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place. Bene. Hear me, Beatrice; Beat. Talk with a man out at a window?-a proper saying! Bene. Nay but, Beatrice; Beat. Sweet Hero!—she is wronged, she is slandered, she undone. Bene. Beat Beat. Princes, and counties !6 Surely a princely testimony, a goodly count-confect; a sweet gallant, surely! O that I were a man for his sake! or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is melted into courtesies,& valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules, that only tells a lie, and swears it :--I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving. Bene. Tarry, good Beatrice: by this hand I love thee. Beat. Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it. Bene. Think you in your soul the count Claudio hath wronged flero? Beat. Yea, as sure as I have a thought, or a soul. Bene. Enough, I am engaged, I will challenge him; I will kiss your hand, and so leave you: by this hand, Claudio shall render me a dear account : as you hear of me, so think of me. Go, comfort Bene. I do love nothing in the world so well as your cousin: I must say, she is dead; and so fareyou; is not that strange? well. [Exeunt. (6) Noblemen. (7) A nobleman made out of sugar. (8) Ceremony. SCENE II-A prison. Enter Dogberry, Ver- Dogb. Is our whole dissembly appeared? Dogb. Marry, that am I and my partner. Verg. Let them be in band. Dogb. God's my life! where's the sexton? let Con. Away! you are an ass, you are an ass. Verg. Nay, that's certain; we have the exhibi-thou not suspect my years?-O that he were here tion to examine. Sexton. But which are the offenders that are to be Dogb. Pray write down-Borachio.-Yours, sirrah? Con. I am a gentleman, sir, and my name is Conrade. Dogb. Write down-master gentleman Conrade.-Masters, do you serve God? Con. Bora. Yea, sir, we hope. Dogb. Write down-that they hope they serve God:-and write God first; for God defend but God should go before such villains!-Masters, it is proved already that you are little better than false to write me down-an ass!-but, masters, remem- ACT V. knaves; and it will go near to be thought so short- SCENE 1-Before Leonato's house. Entr ly. How answer you for yourselves? Con. Marry, sir, we say we are none. Dogb. A marvellous witty fellow, I assure you; but I will go about with him.-Come you hither, sirrah; a word in your ear, sir; I say to you, it is thought you are false knaves. Bora. Sir, I say to you, we are none. Dogb. Well, stand aside.-'Fore God, they are both in a tale: have you writ down-that they are none? Sexton. Master constable, you go not the way to examine; you must call forth the watch that are their accusers. Leonato and Antonio. Ant. If you go on thus, you will kill yourself; Leon. way that's the eftest :-Let Dogb. Yea, marry, the watch come forth :-Masters, I charge you, in the prince's name, accuse these men. 1 Watch. This man said, sir, that Don John, the prince's brother, was a villain. Dogb. Write down-prince John a villain:Why this is flat perjury, to call a prince's villain. Bora. Master constable, Dogb. Pray thee, fellow, peace; I do not like But there is no such man: For, brother, men thy look, I promise thee. Sexton. What heard you him say else? 2 Watch. Marry, that he had received a thousand ducats of Don John, for accusing the lady Hero wrongfully. Dogb. Flat burglary, as ever was committed. 1 Watch. And that count Claudio did mean, upon his words, to disgrace Hero before the whole assembly, and not marry her. Dogb. O villain! thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption for this. Sexton. What else? 2 Watch. This is all. Serton. And this is more, masters, than you can deny. Prince John is this morning secretly stolen away; Hero was in this manner accused, in this very manner refused, and upon the grief of this, suddenly died-Master constable, let these men will go be bound, and brought to Leonato's; before, and show him their examination. Dogb. Come, let them be opinioned. (2) Admonition. (1) Bond. [Exit. Can counsel, and speak comfort to that grief For there was never yet philosopher, |