Conr. Yea, but you must not make the full show of this, 'till you may do it without controlement; you have of late ftood out against your brother, and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace, where it is impoffible you should take root, but by the fair weather that you make yourfelf; it is needful that you frame the feason for your own harvest.

John. I had rather be a canker 7 in a hedge, than a rofe in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be difdain'd of all, than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any in this, (though I cannot be faid to be a flattering honeft man) it must not be deny'd but I am a plain-dealing villain; I am trufted with a muzzel, and infranchised with a clog, therefore I have decreed not to fing in my cage: if I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking: in the mean time let me be that I am, and feek not to alter me.

Conr. Can you make no use of your discontent? John. I will make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here? what news, Borachio?

Enter Borachio.

Bora. I came yonder from a great fupper; the

mour.] To claw is to flatter, fo the pope's claw backs, in biThop Jewel, are the pope's flatterers. The fenfe is the fame in the proverb, Mulus mulum fabit.

7 I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rofe in his grace;] A canker is the canker role, dogrofe, cynobatus, or hip. The fenfe is, I would rather live in obfcurity the wild life of nature, than owe dignity or estimation to my brother. He ftill continues his wifh of gloomy independence. But what is the meaning of the ex

1

preffion, a refe in his grace? if he was a efe of himself, his bro ther's grace or favour could not degrade him. I once read thus, 1 had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rofe in his garden; that is, I had rather be what nature makes me, however mean, than owe any exaltation or improvement to my brother's kindnefs or cultivation. But a lefs change will be fufficient: I think it should be read, I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rofe by his grace.

Prince,

Prince, your brother, is royally entertain'd by Leonato, and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage.

John. Will it ferve for any model to build mischief on? what is he for a fool, that betroths himself to unquietness?

Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right hand.

John. Who, the moft exquifite Claudio?
Bora. Even he.

John. A proper Squire! and who, and who? which way looks he?

Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato.

John. A very forward March chick! How come you to know this?

Bora. Being entertain'd for a perfumer, as I was fmoaking a mufty room, comes me the Prince and Claudio hand in hand in fad conference. I whipt behind the Arras, and there heard it agreed upon, that the Prince fhould woo Hero for himfelf; and having obtained her, give her to Count Claudio.

John. Come, come, let us thither, this may prove food to my difpleasure. That young ftart-up hath all the glory of my overthrow; if I can cross him any way, I bless my felf every way; you are both fure, and will affift me.

Conr. To the death, my lord.

John. Let us to the great fupper; their Cheer is the greater, that I am fubdu'd; 'would the cook were of my mind!Shall we go prove what's to be done?

Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship.

[Exeunt.

ACT

ACT II.
II. SCENE I.

A Hall in Leonato's House.

Enter Leonato, Antonio, Hero, Beatrice, Margaret and Urfula.

W

LEONATO.

AS not Count John here at Supper?
Ant. I faw him not.

Beat. How tartly that gentleman looks! I never can see him, but I am heart-burn'd an hour after. Hero. He is of a very melancholy difpofition.

Beat. He were an excellent man, that were made juft in the mid-way between him and Benedick; the one is too like an image, and fays nothing: and the other too like my lady's eldest fon, evermore tatling.

Leon. Then half Signior Benedick's tongue in Count John's mouth, and half Count John's melancholy in Signior Benedick's face

Beat. With a good Leg, and a good foot, Uncle, and mony enough in his purfe, fuch a man would win any woman in the world, if he could get her good

Will.

Leon. By my troth, Neice, thou wilt never get thee a husband, if thou be fo fhrewd of thy tongue. Ant. In faith, fhe's too curst.

Beat. Too curft is more than curft; I fhall leffen God's fending that way; for it is faid, God fends a curft Cow short horns; but to a Cow too curst he fends none.

8

heart-burn'd an hour after.] The pain commonly called the heart-burn, proceeds 6

from an acid humour in the ftomach, and is therefore properly enough imputed to tart looks.

Leon.

Leon. So, by being too curft, God will fend you no horns.

Beat. Juft, if he fend me no Husband; for the which Bleffing I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening: Lord! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face, I had rather lye in woollen.

Leon. You may light upon a husband, that hath no beard.

Beat. What fhould I do with him? drefs him in my apparel, and make him my waiting-gentlewoman? he that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man; and he that is more than a youth, is not for me; and he that is lefs than a man, I am not for him: therefore I will even take fix pence in earneft of the bear-herd, and lead his apes into hell.

9

Ant. Well, Neice, I truft, you will be rul'd by your father. [To Hero. Beat. Yes, faith, it is my Coufin's duty to make curtfie, and fay, Father, as it pleases you; but yet for all that, Coufin, let him be a handfome fellow, or else make another curtfie, and fay, Father, as it pleases me. Leon. Well, Neice, I hope to fee you one day fitted with a husband.

Beat. Not 'till God make men of fome other metal than earth; would it not grieve a woman to be over-master'd with a piece of valiant duft? to make account of her life to a clod of way-ward marle ? no, uncle, I'll none; Adam's fons are my brethren, and, truly, I hold it a fin to match in my kindred. Leon. Daughter, remember, what I told you; if

9 Well then, &c. ] Of the two next speeches Mr. Warburton fays, All this impious non. fenfe thrown to the bottom is the players, and failed in without rhyme or reason. He therefore puts them in the margin. They 5

do not deferve indeed fo honourable a place, yet I am afraid they are too much in the manner of our author, who is fometimes trifling to purchase merriment at too dear a rate.

the

the Prince do follicit you in that kind, you know your answer.

you

Beat. The fault will be in the mufick, coufin, if be not woo'd in good time; If the Prince be too important, tell him, there is measure in every thing, and fo dance out the Anfwer; for hear me, Hero, wooing, wedding, and repenting, is as a Scotch jig, a measure, and a cinque-pace; the firft fuit is hot and hafty, like a Scotch jig, and full as fantaftical; the wedding mannerly-modeft, as a measure, full of state and ancientry; and then comes repentance, and with his bad legs falls into the cinque-pace faster and faster, 'till he finks into his grave.

Leon. Coufin, you apprehend paffing fhrewdly. Beat. I have a good eye, uncle, I can fee a church by day-light.

Leon. The revellers are entring, brother ; make good room.

Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar, and others in Mafquerade.

Pedro. Lady, will you walk about with your friend? Hero. So you walk foftly, and look fweetly, and fay nothing, I am yours for the walk, and especially when I walk away.

Pedro. With me in your company?

Hero. I may fay fo, when I pleafe.

Pedro. And when please you to fay fo?

Hero. When I like your favour; for God defend, the lute fhould be like the case!

Pedro. My vifor is Philemon's roof; within the house is Jove.

Important here and in many other places, is importunate.

My Vifor is Philemon's Roof, within the Houfe is Love.] Thus

Hero.

the whole Stream of the Copies, from the firft downwards. Hera fays to Don Pedro, God forbid, the Lute fhould be like the Cafe!