fend nobody: Is there any harm in-the heavier for 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. 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 in faith, honest as the skin between his brows. blunt, as, God help, I would desire they were; but, Verg. Yes, I thank God, I am as honest as any man Marg. Clap us into-Light o' love; that goes with-living, that is an old man, and no honester than I. out 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. 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. Beut. 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. 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, could find in my heart to bestow it all of your worship. Leon. All thy tediousness on me! ha! Dogh. 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 arrant knaves as any in Messina. your worship's presence, have ta'en a couple of as Dogb. A good old man, sir; he will be talking; as they say, When the age is in, the wit is out; God Beat. I am stuffed, cousin, I cannot smell. Marg. A maid, and stuffed, there's goodly catch-help us! it is a world to see!-Well said, i'faith, ing of cold. 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. Marg. Get you some of this distilled Carduus Bedictus, 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 such a fool to think what I list: nor I list not to think what I can; nor, indeed, I cannot think, if I would think my heart out of think ing, that you are in love, or that you will be in love, er 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, sigmor 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 discerns you nearly. two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind :neighbour Verges :-well, God's a good man; an 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. 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. 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 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. ACT IV. SCENE I.-The Inside of a Church. 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 shall recount their particular duties afterwards. Friar. You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady? | That you have in her, bid her answer truly. Claud. No. [marry her. Leon. To be married to her, friar; you come to 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 souls, to utter it. Hero? Claud. Know you any, Leon. I dare make his answer, 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 some be of laughing, as, ha! ha! he! Claud. Stand thee by, friar :-Father, by your Will you with free and unconstrained soul [leave; Give me this maid, your daughter? Leon. As freely, son, as God did give her me. To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear, Leon. What do you mean, my lord? Leon. Dear my lord, if you, in your own proof Have vanquished the resistance of her youth, And made defeat of her virginity, Claud. I know what you would say; If I have known You'll say, she did embrace me as a husband, [her, And so extenuate the 'forehand sin: No, Leonato, 1 never tempted her with word too large : But, as a brother to his sister shew'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 ere 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 Bene. This looks not like a nuptial. [true. True, O God! Hero. Claud. Leonato, stand I here? Is this the prince? Is this the prince's brother? Leon. I charge thee do so, as thou art my child. Hero. O God defend me! how am I beset!What kind of catechising call you this? 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. Hero. I talk'd with no man at that hour, my lord. Who hath, indeed, most like a liberal villain, D. John. Fy, fye! they are Not to be nam'd my lord, not to be spoke of; There is not chastity enough in language, Without offence, to utter them: Thus, pretty lady, I am sorry for thy much misgovernment. Claud. O Hero! what a Hero hadst thou been, If half thy outward graces had been placed About thy thoughts, and counsels of thy heart! But, fare thee well, most foul, most fair! farewell, Thou pure impiety, and impious purity! For thee I'll lock up all the gates of love, And on my eye-lids shall conjecture hang, To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm, And never shall it more be gracious. Leon. Hath no man's dagger here a point for me? [HERO Swoons. Beat. Why, how now, cousin? wherefore sink you down. D. John. Come, let us go: these things, come Smother her spirits up. [thus to light, [Exeunt Don PEDRO, Don JOHN, and CLAUDIO. Bene. How doth the lady? [friar! Beat. Dead, I think ;-help, uncle ;Hero! why Hero!-Uncle !-Signior Benedick!Leon. O fate, take not away thy heavy hand! Death is the fairest cover for her shame, That may be wish'd for. Beat. How now, cousin Hero? Friar. Have comfort, lady. Leon. Dost thou look up? Friar. Yea; Wherefore should she not? Leon. Wherefore? Why, doth not every earthly Cry shame upon her? Could she here deny [thing The story that is printed in her blood?— Do not live, Hero; do not ope thine eyes: For did I think thou would'st not quickly die, Thought I thy spirits were stronger than thy shames, Myself would, on the rearward of reproaches, Strike at thy life. Griev'd I, I had but one? Chid I for that at frugal nature's frame? O, one too much by thee! Why had I one? Why ever wast thou lovely in my eyes? Why had I not with charitable hand, Took up a beggar's issue at my gates; Who smirched thus, and mired with infamy, I might have said, No part of it is mine, This shame derives itself from unknown loins? But mine, and mine I lov'd, and mine I prais'd, And mine that I was proud on; mine so much, That I myself was to myself not mine, Valuing of her, why, she-O, she is fallen Bene. Sir, sir, be patient: Beat. O, on my soul, my cousin is belied! Leon. Confirm'd, confirm'd! O, that is stronger For I have only been silent so long, Leon. Friar, it cannot be : Thou seest, that all the grace that she hath left, Is, that she will not add to her damnation A sin of perjury; she not denies it: Why seek'st thou then to cover with excuse That which appears in proper nakedness? [none: Friar. Lady, what man is he you are accus'd of? Hero. They know, that do accuse me; I know If I know more of any man alive, Than that which maiden modesty doth warrant, Let all my sins lack mercy!-Ö my father, Prove you that any man with me convers'd At hours unmeet, or that I yesternight Maintain'd the change of words with any creature, Refuse me, hate me, torture me to death. [princes. Friar. There is some strange misprision in the Bene. Two of them have the very bent of honour; And if their wisdoms be misled in this, The practice of it lives in John the bastard, Whose spirits toil in frame of villanies. 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. Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor fortune made such havoc of my means, Leon. What shall become of this? What will this do? Friar. Marry, this, well carried, shall on her beChange slander to remorse; that is some good; [half But not for that, dream I on this strange course, But on this travail look for greater birth. She dying, as it must be so maintain'd, Upon the instant that she was accus'd, Shall be lamented, pitied, and excus'd, Of every hearer: For it so falls out, That what we have we prize not to the worth, Whiles we enjoy it; but being lack'd and lost, Why, then we rack the value, then we find The virtue, that possession would not shew us Whiles it was ours: So will it fare with Claudio : When he shall hear she died upon his words, The idea of her life shall sweetly creep Into his study of imagination; And every lovely organ of her life Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit, Than when she lived indeed :-then shall he mourn, Out of all eyes, tongues, minds, and injuries. Bene. Signior Leonato, let the friar advise you: And though, you know, my inwardness and love Is very much unto the prince and Claudio, Yet, by mine honour, I will deal in this As secretly, and justly as your soul Should with your body. Leon. Being that I flow in grief, The smallest twine may lead me. Friar. 'Tis well consented; presently away; For to strange sores strangely they strain the Come, lady, die to live: this wedding day, [cure.Perhaps, is but prolong'd; have patience, and endure. [Exeunt Friar, HERO, and LEONATO. Bene. Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this while? Beat. Yea, and I will weep awhile longer. Bene. I will not desire that. Beat. You have no reason, I do it freely. Bene. Surely, I do believe your fair cousin is wrong'd. Beat. Ah, how much might the man deserve of me that would right her. Bene. Is there any way to shew such friendship? Beat. It is a man's office, but not yours. Bene. I do love nothing in the world so well as you; Is not that strange? 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. Beat. Do not swear by it, and eat it. 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? Dogh. Yea, marry, let them come before me. Bene. With no sauce that can be devised to it: I What is your name, friend? protest, I love thee. Beat. Why then, God forgive me! Bene. What offence, sweet Beatrice? Beat. You have staid me in a happy hour; I was about to protest I loved you. Bene. And do it with all thy heart. Bora. Borachio. Dogb. Pray write down-Borachio.-Yours, sirrah? Con. I am a gentleman, sir, and my name is Conrade. Dogb. Write down-master gentleman Conrade.— Beat. I love you with so much of my heart that Masters, do you serve God? none is left to protest. 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. Bene. Tarry, sweet Beatrice. 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 knaves; and it will go near to be thought so shortly. Beat. I am gone, though I am here;-There is no How answer you for yourselves. love in you:-Nay, I pray you, let me go. Bene. Beatrice,- Beat. In faith, I will go. Bene. We'll be friends first. 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 Beat. You dare easier be friends with me, than thought you are false knaves. fight with mine enemy. Bene. Is Claudio thine enemy? Beat. Is he not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman?-O, that I were a man!-What! bear her in hand 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 ; 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. Dogh. Yea, marry, that's the eftest way :-Let 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 Beat. Talk with a man out at a window ?-a pro- prince's brother, was a villain. per saying. Bene. Nay but, Beatrice; Beat. Sweet Hero!-she is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone. Bene. Beat Beat. Princes, and counties? 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 Hero? 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 your cousin I must say, she is dead; and so, farewell. [Exeunt. : SCENE II.-A Prison. Enter DOGBERRY, VERGES, and Sexton, in gowns; Sexton. But which are the offenders that are to be examined? let them come before master constable. Dogb. Write down-prince Johu a villain :-Why this is flat perjury, to call a prince's brother-villain. Bora. Master constable, Dogb. Pray thee, fellow, peace; I do not like 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. Dogb. God's my life! where's the sexton ? let him write down-the prince's officer, coxcomb.-Coine, bind them :- -Thou naughty varlet! Con. 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, a householder; 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. O, that I had been writ down-an ass! [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I.-Before Leonato's House. Enter LEONATO and ANTONIO. Ant. If you go on thus, you will kill yourself; Measure his woe the length and breadth of mine, groan; Bat there is no such man: For, brother, men Aet. Therein do men from children nothing differ. Aut. Yet bend not all the harm upon yourself; Make those, that do offend you, suffer too. Leon. There thou speak'st reason: nay, I will do My soul doth tell me, Hero is belied; [so: And that shall Claudio know, so shall the prince, And all of them, that thus dishonour her. Enter Don PEDRO and CLAUDIO. Ant. Here comes the prince, and Claudio, hastily. Are you so hasty now?-well, all is one. [man. Claud. Leon. Claud. Who wrongs him? Marry, Thou, thou dost wrong me; thou dissembler, thou:- What I have done being young, or what would do, I say, thou hast belied mine innocent child; Thine, Claudio; thine I say. my lord. I'll prove it on his body, if he dare; If thou kill'st me, boy, thou shalt kill a man. Leon. Brother, [niece; Ant. Content yourself: God knows, I lov'd my And she is dead, slander'd to death by villains; That dare as well answer a man, indeed, As I dare take a serpent by the tongue : Boys, apes, braggarts, Jacks, milksops!Leon. Brother Antony, [yea, Ant. Hold you content: What, man! I know them, Leon. But, brother Antony,- Come, 'tis no matter; I will not hear you. No? |