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Isab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick.

Duke. A ghostly father, belike:-Who knows that Lodowick?

Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling
friar;

I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord,
For certain words he spake against your grace,
In your retirement, I had swing'd him soundly.
Duke. Words against me? This a good friar
belike!

And to set on this wretched woman here
Agairt our substitute-Let this friar be found.
Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that
friar

I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar,
A very scurvy fellow.

F. Peter.

Blessed be your royal grace!
I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abus'd: First, hath this woman,
Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute;
Who is as free from touch or soil with her,
As she from one ungot.

Duke.

We did believe no less.
Know you that friar Lodowick that she speaks of?
F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy;
Not scurvy nor a temporary medler,
As he's reported by this gentleman:
And, on my trust, a man that never yet
Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace.
Lucio. My lord, most villanously; believe it.
F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear
himself;

But at this instant he is sick, my lord,
Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request
(Being come to knowledge that there was com-
plaint

Intended 'gainst lord Angelo) came I hither,
To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true, and false; and what he with his oath,
And all probation, will make up full clear,
Whensoever he's convented. First, for this wo-

man

(To justify this worthy nobleman,
So vulgarly and personally accused ;)
Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.
Duke.
Good friar, let's hear it.
[Isabella is carried off, guarded; and
Mariana comes forward.
Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo 7-
O heaven! the vanity of wretched fools!-
Give us some seats.-Come, cousin Angelo ;
In this I'll be impartial; be you judge
Of your own cause.-Is this the witness, friar?
First, let her show her face; and, after speak.
Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my
face

Until my husband bid me.

Duke. What, are you married?
Mari. No, my lord.

Duke.

Mari.

Duke. A widow then?

Mari.
Duke.

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And, five years since, there was some speech of
marriage

Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off,
Partly, for that her promised proportions
Came short of composition; but, in chief,
For that her reputation was disvalued
In levity: since which time of five years,
I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from
her,

Upon my faith and honour.
Mari.

Noble prince, As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath,

As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue,
I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly
As words could make up vows: and, my good
lord,

But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-house,
He knew me as a wife: As this is true
Let me in safety raise me from my knees;
Or else for ever be confixed here,
A marble monument!

Ang.
I did but smile till now;
Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice;
My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,
These poor informal women are no more
But instruments of some more mightier member,
No, my lord. That sets them on: Let me have way, my lord,
To find this practice out.

Are you a maid?

Neither, my lord.

Why, you Are nothing then-Neither maid, widow, nor

wife 7

Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow; I would he had some canse

To prattle for himself.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Duke.
Ay, with my heart;
And punish them unto your height of pleasure.--
Thou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman,
Compact with her that's gone! think'st thou thy
oaths,

Though they would swear down each particular
saint,

Were testimonies against his worth and credit, That's seal'd in approbation 7-You, lord Es calus,

Mari. My lord, 1 do confess I ne'er was mar- Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains

ried;

And, I confess, besides, I am no maid:

I have known my husband; yet my husband

knows not,

That ever he knew me.

To find out this abuse, whence 'tis deriv'd.-
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

F. Peter. Would, he were here, my lord; for
he, indeed,

Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be Hath set the women on to this complaint;
Do better.

Your provost knows the place where he abiles

And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go, do it instantly.

[Exit Provost. And you, my nobie and well-warranted cousin, Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth, Do with your injuries as seems you best, in any chastisement: I for a while

But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes

Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.

Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison.

Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior

well

Determined upon these slanderers.

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[Exit Duke. Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villanous speeches of the duke. Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word. Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again; To an Attendant.] I would speak with her; Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her.

Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report. Escal. Say you?

Lucio. Marry, sir, I think if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publickly, she'll be ashamed.

Re-enter Officers, with Isabella, the Duke, in the Friar's habit, and Provost.

Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Escal. Come on, mistress: [ To Isabella.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here, with the provost.

Escal. In very good time:-speak not you to him, till we call upon you.

Lucio. Mum.

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Escal. How! know you where you are? Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil

Be sometimes honour'd for his burning throne:Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak.

Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak;

Look, you speak justly.

Duke. Boldly at least:-But O, poor souls, Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? Good night to your redress. Is the duke gone? Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust, Thus to retort your manifest appeal, And put your trial in the villain's mouth, Which here you come to accuse. Lucio. This is the rascal: this is he I spoke of. Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar!

Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women To accuse this worthy man; but in foul mouth, And in the witness of his proper ear,

To call him villain?

And then to glance from him to the duke himself;

To tax him with injustice? Take him hence; To the rack with him:-We'll touze you joint by joint,

But we will know this purpose:-What! unjust?
Duke. Be not so hot; the duke

Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own; his subject am I not,
Nor here provincial: My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
Till it o'errun the stew: laws for all faults;

Lucio?

Is this the man that you did tell us of?

Lucio. "Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate: Do you know me? Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison in the absence of the duke.

Lucio. O, did you so? and do you remember what you said of the duke? Duke. Most notedly, sir.

Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a flesh-monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be?

Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and much more, much worse. Lucio. Ó thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches? Duke. I protest, I love the duke, as I love my. 1 self.

Ang, Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal-Away with him to prison:-Where is the provost 7-Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him:-Let him speak no more:Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion.

[The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while.

Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir; Why, you bald-pated lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheepbiting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off? [Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the Duke.

Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er made

a duke.

First, Provost, let me bail these gentle threeSneak not away, sir; [To Lucio.] for the friar and you

Must have a word anon:-lay hold on him.
Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging.
Duke. What you have spoke, 1 pardon; sit
you down.
[To Escalus.
We'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your leave:
To Angelo.

Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office? If thou hast,
Rely upon it till my tale be heard,
And hold no longer out.

Ang.

O my dread lord, I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, To think I can be undiscernible, When I perceive, your grace, like power divine, Hath look'd upon my passes: Then, good prince, No longer session hold upon my shan.e, But let my trial be mine own confession; Immediate sentence then, and sequent death, Is all the grace I beg.

Duke. Come hither, Mariana;Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Ang. I was, my lord.

Duke. Go, take her hence, and marry her instantly.

Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again:-Go with him, Provost. [Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his dis honour, Than at the strangeness of it. Duke.

Come hither, Isabel:

Your friar is now your prince: As I was then
Advertising, and holy to your business,
Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attorney'd at your service.
Isab.
O, give me pardon,
That 1, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown sovereignty.
Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel:
And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;
And you may marvel, why I obscured myself,
Labouring to save his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power,
Than let him so be lost: 0, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That brain'd my purpose; But, peace be with
him!

That life is better life, past fearing death,

Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,

So happy is your brother.

Re-enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.
Isab.
1 do, my lord.
Duke. For this new-married man approaching|
here,

Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your

brother

(Being criminal, in double violation
Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependent for your brother's life,)
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death,
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like,and Measure still for Measure.
Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;
Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee

vantage:

We do condemn thee to the very block

Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
Till he did look on me: since it is so,
Let him not die: My brother Lad but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;
And must be buried but as an intent,
That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no sub-
jects;

Intents but merely thoughts.
Mari.

Merely, my lord.
Duke. Your snit's unprofitable; stand up, !

say.

I have bethought me of another fault :-
Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour.
Prov.
It was commanded so.
Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deer 7
Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private
message.

Duke. For which I do discharge you of your
office:
Give up your keys.
Prov.

Pardon me, noble lord:
I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice:
For testimony whereof, one in prison
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.
Duke.
Prov.

What's he?

His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would, thou had'st done so by Clan

dio.

Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him.
[Exit Provost.
Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise
As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure:
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,

Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like That I crave death more willingly than mercy;

haste

Away with him.

Mari.
O, my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband!
Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a
husband:

Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his possessions,
Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do instate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.
Mari.

O, my dear lord,
I crave no other, nor no better man.
Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mari. Gentle, my liege,-
[Kneeling.
Duke.
You do but lose your labour;
Away with him to death.-Now, sir, [ To Lucio.]
to you.

Mari. Ó, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take

my part;

Lend me your knees, and, all my life to come,
I'll lend you all my life to do you service.
Duke Against all sense you do importune her:
Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horror.
Mari.

Isabel,
Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me;
Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all.
They say, best men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad: so may my husband.
Isabel! will you not lend a knee?
Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.
Frab.

Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling.

"Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter Provost, Barnardine, Claudio, and Juliet.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?
Prov.
This, my lord.
Duke. There was a friar told me of this man:-
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no farther than this world,
And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt con-
demn'd;

But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come:-Friar, advise him:
I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fei-
low's that?

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his head;

As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

Unmuffles Claudio. Duke. If he be like your brother, [To Isabel. Ja.] for his sake

Is he pardoned; And, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: But fitter time for that.
By this, Lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye:-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth
yours.-

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I find an apt remission in myself:
And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon;
You, sirrah, [To Lucio.] that knew me for a
fool, a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I so deserved of you,
That you extol me thus?

Lucio. Faith, my lord, I spoke it but accord- Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.ing to the trick: If you will hang me for it, you She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you re may, but I had rather it would please you I might be whipp'd.

Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.-
Proclaim it, provost, round about the city;
If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow,
(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one
Whom he begot with child,) let her appear,
And he shall marry her; the nuptial finish'd,
Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

1

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honour thou shalt marry her.
Thy slanders I forgive: and therewithal
Remit thy other forfeits:-Take him to prison:
And see our pleasure berein executed.
Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing
to death, whipping, and hanging.

store.

Joy to you,

Mariana -love her, Angelo;

I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.-
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much good

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ACT I.

HERO, Daughter to Leonato.
BEATRICE, Niece to Leonato.

[Exeunt.

MARGARET, Gentlewomen attending on
URSULA,
Hero.

Messengers, Watch, and Attendants.

SCENE-Messina.

SCENE I. Before Leonato's House. Enter Leonato, Hero, Beatrice, and others, with a Messenger.

Leonato. I learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina. Mess. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him.

Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?

Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name. Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio.

Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there was none such in the army of any sort. Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece? Hero. My cousin means signior Benedick of Padua. Mess. O, he is returned; and as pleasant as ever he was.

Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina, and challenged Cupid at the flight: and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt.-I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he killed? for, indeed, 1 promised to eat all of his killing. Leon. 'Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it

not.

Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these

Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: He hath borne him-wars. self beyond the promise of his age; doing, in the Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath, to eat it: he is a very valiant trencher-man, he indeed, better bettered expectation, than you hath an excellent stomach. must expect of me to tell you how. Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will we very much glad of it.

Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that joy could not show itself modest enough, without a badge of bitterness

Leon. Did he break out into tears?
Mess. In great measure.

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness: There are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping!

Beat. I pray you, is signior Montanto returned from the wars or no?

Mess. And a good soldier too, lady.

Beat. And a good soldier to a lady:-But what is he to a lord?

Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all honourable virtues.

Beat. It is so, indeed; he is no less than a stuffed man:-But for the stuffing,-Well, we are all mortal.

Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece: there is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedick and her: they never meet, but there is a skirmish of wit between them.

Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our last conflict, four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man governed with

one: so that if he have wit enough to keep him-your tongue; and so good a continuer: But self warm, let him bear it for a difference be- keep your way o' God's name; I have done. tween himself and his horse: for it is all the Beat. You always end with a jade's trick; 1 wealth that he hath left, to be known a reason- know you of old. able creature.-Who is his companion now? He hath every month a new sworn brother. Mess. Is it possible?

Beat. Very easily possible: he wears his faith out as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next block.

Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your

books.

Beat. No: an he were, I would burn my study. But, I pray you, who is his companion? Is there no young squarer now, that will make a voyage with him to the devil.'

Mess. He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio.

Beat. O Lord! he will hang upon him like a disease: he is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! if he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a thousand pound ere he be cured.

Mess. I will hold friends with you, lady.
Beat. Do, good friend..

Leon. You will never run mad, niece.
Beat. No, not till a hot January.
Mess. Don Pedro is approached.

Enter Don Pedro, attended by Balthazar and others, Don John, Claudio, and Benedick. D. Pedro. Good siguior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter it. Leon. Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your grace: for trouble being gone, comfort should remain; but, when you depart from me, sorrow abides, and happiness takes his leave.

D. Pedro. You embrace your charge too willingly. I think, this is your daughter. Leon. Her mother hath many times told me so. Bene. Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her?

Leon. Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child.

D. Pedro. You have it full, Benedick: we may guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herself:-Be happy, lady! for you are like an honourable father." Bene. If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders, for all Messina, as like him as she is.

Beat. I wonder, that you will still be talking, signior Benedick; no body marks you. Bene. What, my dear lady Disdain are you yet living?

Beat. Is it possible disdain should die, while she hath such meet food to feed it, as signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence.

D. Pedro. This is the sum of all, Leonato,signior Claudio, and signior Benedick,-my dear friend Leonato, hath invited you all. 1 tell him, we shall stay here at the least a month; and he heartily prays, some occasion may detain us longer; I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his heart.

Leon. If you swear, my lord, you shall not be forsworn.-Let me bid you welcome, my lord, being reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe you all duty.

D. John. I thank you: I am not of many words, but I thank you.

Leon. Please it your grace lead on? D. Pedro. Your hand, Leonato; we will go together. [Exeunt all but Benedick and Claudio. Claud. Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of signior Leonato ?

Bene. I noted her not; but I looked on her.
Claud. Is she not a modest young lady?

Bene. Do you question me, as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgment; or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?

Claud. No, I pray thee, speak in sober judg

ment.

for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great praise: only this commendation I can afford her; that were she other than she is, she were unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I do not like her. Claud. Thou thinkest I am in sport; I pray thee, tell me truly how thou likest her. Bene. Would you buy her, that you inquire after her? Claud. Can the world buy such a jewel? Bene. Yea, and a case to put it into. speak you this with a sad brow? or do you play the flouting Jack; to tell us Cupid is a good hare-finder, and Vulcan a rare carpenter? Come, in what key shall a man take you to go in the song?

Bene. Why, i' faith, methinks she is too low

But

Claud. In mine eye, she is the sweetest lady that ever 1 looked on."

Bene. I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such matter; there's her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty, as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope, you have no intent to turn husband; have you? Claud. I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife.

Bene. Is it come to this, i' faith 7 Hath not the world one man, but he will wear his cap with suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore again? Go to, i' faith; and thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it, and sigh away Sundays. Look, Don Pedro

Bene. Then is courtesy a turn-coat :-But it
is certain, I am lov'd of all ladies, only you ex-is returned to seek you.
cepted and I would I could find in my heart
that I had not a hard heart; for, truly, I love

none.

Beat. A dear happiness to women; they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God, and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that; I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me. Bene. God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate scratched face.

Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such a face as yours were.

Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. Beat. A bird of my tongue is better than Deast of yours.

Bene. I would, my horse had the speed

of

Re-enter Don Pedro.

D. Pedro. What secret hath held you here, that you followed not to Leonato's? Bene. I would, your grace would constrain me to tell.

D. Pedro. I charge thee on thy allegiance. Bene. You hear, count Claudio: I can be secret as a dumb man, I would have you think so; but on my allegiance,-mark you this, on my allegiance:-He is in love. With who?--now that is your grace's part.-Mark, how short his answer is:-With Hero, Leonato's short daughter.

Claud. If this were so, so were it uttered. Bene. Like the old tale, my lord: it is not so,

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