Sexton. What else, fellow? 400 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. Sexton. And this is more, masters, than you can deny. Prince John is this morning secretly stolen away; Hero was in this manner accus'd, in this very manner refus'd, and upon the grief of this, suddenly dy'd.-Master constable, let these men be bound, and brought to Leonato's; I will go before, and shew him their examination. Dogb. Come, let them be opinion'd. "Verg. Let them be in hand. "Conr. Off, coxcomb! [Exit. "Dogb. God's my life! where's the sexton ? let him "write down-the prince's officer, coxcomb."Come, bind them :-Thou naughty varlet! 420 Conr. Away! you are an ass, you are an ass. Dogb. Dost thou not suspect my place? Dost thou not suspect my years ?—O that he were here to write me down-an ass !-but, masters, remember, that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass :-No, thou villain, thou art full of piety, as shall be proved upon thee by good witness I am a wise fellow; and, which is more, an officer; and, which is more, an housholder; and, : which is more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in Messina; and one that knows the law, go to; and a rich fellow enough, go to; and a fellow that hath had losses; and one that hath two gowns, and every thing handsome about him :-Bring him away. that I had been writ down-an ass ! 0, 435 IF F you go on thus, you will kill yourself; Leon. I pray thee, cease thy counsel, But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine. "Measure his woe the length and breadth of mine, 10 "If such a one will smile, and stroke his beard; "In sorrow wag! cry hem, when he should groan ; "Patch grief with proverbs; make misfortune drunk "With candle-wasters; bring him yet to me, "And I of him will gather patience. "But there is no such man: For, brother, men To be so moral, when he shall endure The like himself: therefore give me no counsel; "My griefs cry louder than advertisement." 20 30 Ant. Therein do men from children nothing differ. Leon. I pray thee, peace; I will be flesh and blood; For there was never yet philosopher, That could endure the tooth-ach patiently; Ant. Yet bend not all the harm upon yourself; .4c Make those, that do offend you, suffer too. Leon. There thou speak st reason: nay, I will de SO: My soul doth tell me, Hero is bely'd; Anc And that shall Claudio know, so shall the prince Enter Don PEDRO and CLAUDIO. Ant. Here comes the prince, and Claudio, hastily, Pedro. Good den, good den. Claud. Good day to both of you. Leon. Hear you, my lords,→ Pedro. We have some haste, Leonato. 50 Leon. Some haste, my lord?-well, fare you well, my lord : Are you so hasty now ?-well, all is one. Pedro. Nay, do not quarrel with us, good old man. Ant. If he could right himself with quarrelling, Some of us would lye low. Claud. Who wrongs him? Leon. Marry, thou dost wrong me, thou dissembler, thou! Nay, never lay thy hand upon thy sword, I fear thee not. Claud. Marry, beshrew my hand, If it should give your age such cause of fear: In faith, my hand meant nothing to my sword. 60 Leon. Tush, tush, man, never fleer and jest at me; I speak not like a dotard, nor a fool; As, under privilege of age, to brag What I have done being young, or what would do, And, And, with grey hairs, and bruise of many days, I say, thou hast bely'd mine innocent child, 70 Thy slander hath gone through and through her heart, And she lies bury'd with her ancestors : Leon. Thine, Claudio; thine I say. I'll prove it on his body, if he dare; Despight his nice fence, and his active practice, 89 If thou kill'st me, boy, thou shalt kill a man. Leon. Brother, Ant. Content yourself: God knows, I lov'd my niece; And she is dead, slander'd to death by villains That dare as well answer a man, indeed, As |