MARG. Get you fome of this diftill'd 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 moral 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 fuch a fool to think what I lift ; nor I lift not to think what I can; nor, indeed, 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 Benedict was such another, and now is he become a man: he fwore 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? Re-enter URSULA. URS. Madam, withdraw; the prince, the count, fignior Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the town, are come to fetch you to church. HERO. Help to drefs me, good coz, good Meg, good Urfula. [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, fir, I would have some confidence with you, that decerns you nearly. LEON. Brief, I pray you; for you with me. DOGB. Marry, this it is, fir. fee, 'tis a busy time LEON. What is it, my good friends? DOGB. Goodman Verges, fir, fpeaks a little off the matter: an old man, fir, and his wits are not fo blunt, as, God help, I would defire they were; but, in faith, honest, as the skin between his brows. VERG. Yes, I thank God, I am as honeft 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. 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! 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 fo am I. LEON. I would fain know what you have to say. VERG. Marry, fir, our watch to-night, excepting your worship's presence, have ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Meffina. DOGB. A good old man, fir; he will be talking; as they fay, When the age is in, the wit is out; God help us! it is a world to fee!-Well faid, 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, fir; by G g iiij my troth he is, as ever broke bread; but, God is to be worshipp'd: All men are not alike; alas good neighbour! LEON. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too fhort of LEON. I must leave you, you. DOGB. One word, fir: our watch, fir, have, indeed, comprehended two afpicious perfons, 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 fhall be fuffigance. LEON. Drink fome wine ere you go: fare you well. Enter a MESSENGER, MESS, My lord, they ftay 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 thefe men. VERG. And we must do it wifely. DOGB. We will fpare for no wit, I warrant you; here's that [Touching his forehead.] fhall drive fome of them to a non com only get the learned writer to fet down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol. ACT IV. SCENE I. The infide of a Church. [Exeunt. Enter Don PEDRO, Don JOHN, LEONATO, FRIAR, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, and BEATRICE, &C. LEON. Come, friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain form of marriage, and you fhall recount their particular duties afterwards. FRIAR. You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady? CLAUD. NO. LEON. To be married to her, friar; you come to marry her. FRIAR. Lady, you come hither to be married to this count? HERO. I do. FRIAR. If either of you know any inward impediment why you should not be conjoined, I charge you, on your fouls, to utter it. CLAUD. Know you any, Hero? HERO. None, my lord. FRIAR. Know you any, count? LEON. I dare make his anfwer, none. CLAUD. O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do not knowing what they do! BENE. How now! Interjections? Why, then fome be of laughing, as, ha! ha! he! CLAUD. Stand thee by, friar :-Father, by your leave; Will you with free and unconstrained foul Give me this maid, your daughter? LEON. As freely, fon, as God did give her me. CLAUD. And what have I to give you back, whofe worth May counterpoise this rich and precious gift? D. PEDRO. Nothing, unless you render her again. CLAUD. Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankful There, Leonato, take her back again; Give not this rotten orange to your friend; [nefs. She's but the fign and femblance of her honour : Behold, how like a maid fhe blushes here: O, what authority and fhow of truth Can cunning fin cover itself withal! Comes not that blood, as modeft evidence, To witness fimple virtue? Would you not fwear, Not knit my foul to an approved wanton. LEON. Dear my lord, if you, in your own proof Have vanquish'd the resistance of her youth, And made defeat of her virginity, [her, CLAUD. I know what you would say; If I have known You'll fay, she did embrace me as a husband, And fo extenuate the 'forehand fin: No, Leonato, I never tempted her with word too large; But, as a brother to his fifter, fhow'd Bashful fincerity, and comely love. HERO. And feem'd I ever otherwise to you? CLAUD. Out on thy feeming! I will write against it : You seem to me as Dian in her orb; As chafte as is the bud ere it be blown ; But you are more intemperate in your blood HERO. Is my lord well, that he doth speak fo wide? LEON. Sweet prince, why speak not you? D. PEDRO. What should I speak? I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about LEON. Are these things fpoken? or do I but dream? |