2 Leon. To be married to her, friar ; you come Leon. All this is 80; but what of this, my lord ? to marry her. Friar. Lady, you come bither to be married Claud. Let me but move one question to your to this couut? daughter; Hero, I do. And, by that fatherly and kindly power Friar, If either of you know any inward im That you have in ber, bid her answer truly. peditnent why you should not be conjoined, I Leon. I charge thee do so, as thou art my charge you, on your souls, to utter it. child. Claud. Know you any, Hero ? Hero. O God defend me! how am I beset ! What kind of catechizing call you this ? Claud. To make you answer uuly to your pame. Claud. Oh! what men dare du ! what men Hero. Is it not Hero Wbo cau blot that may do! what men daily do! not kuowing what name With any just reproach? Hero itself can blot out Hero's virtue. Out at your window, betwixt twelve and one ? Hero. I talk'd with bo mau at that hour, my lord. me. D. Pedro. Why, then are you no maiden.-Claud. And what have I to give you back, Leonato, I am sorry you must hear ; Upon mine honour, Talk with a rufliau at her chainber-window; villain, thankfulness. Confess'd the vile encounters they have had A thousand times in secret. There is not chastity enough in language, lady, I am sorry for thy much misgoverninent. Claud. o Hero! what a Hero hadst thou been, About thy thoughts, and counsels of thy heart ! well, Thon pure impiety, and impious purity! For thee, I'll lock up all the wates of love, To turn all beauty into thoughts of ham, And never shall it more be gracious. + Leon. Hath no man's dagger here a point for me ? (HERO suoons. Claud. I know what you would say ; if I Beat. Why, how pow, cousin ? whereive have known her, sink you down ! You'll say, she did embrace me as a husband, D. John. Come, let us go : these things come And so extenuate the 'foreband sin : thus to light, Smother her spirits up. (Exeunt Don PEDRO, Don JOHN, and But, as a brother to his sister, show'd CLAUDIO. Bene. How doth the lady? Beat. Dead, I think ;-help, uncle ;- dick l-iriar! Yon seem to me as Dian in her orb ; Leon. O fate, take not away thy heavy hand ! Death is the fairest cover for ber shaune, Beut. How now, cousin Hero! Friar. Have comfort, lady? Leon. Dost thou look up ? Friar. Yea: Wherefore should she not! Leon. Sweet prince, why speak not you? Leon. Wherefore ? Why, doth not every D. Pedro. What should I speak ! earthly thing I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about Cry shame upon her ? Could she here deny To link iny dear friend to a cominon stale. The story that is printed in her blood !-Leon. Are these tbings spoken ? or do I but Do not live, Hero ; do not ope thine eyes : dream For did I think thou would': i not quickly die, D. John. Sir, they are spoken, and these Thought I thy spirits were stronger than thy things are true. shames, Bene. This looks not like a naptial. Myself would, on the rearward of reproaches, Hero. True, O God ! Strike at thy life Griev'd I, I bad hut one ? Chid I for that at frugal pature's trameti o one too much by thee! Why had I one! Is this face Hero's ? Are our eyes our own! Why ever wast thou lovely iu my eyes? • Lascivious. + Licentious. 1 Kemote from the business in hand. • Too free of congne. * Attractive. i Dispositiva of things. A A B 1 А M A Why bad I not, with cbaritable hand, т T L But mine, and mine I lor'd, and mine I prais'd, A And mine that I was proud on ; mine so much, M That I myself was to myself not mine, Valging of her: wby, she-Oh! she is fallen Into a pit of ink I that tbe wide sea T Bene. Sir, Sir, be patient ; Beat. Oh! on my soul, my cousin is belied ! Bene. Lady, were you her bedfellow lasts night! U Bear. No, truly, not; although, antil Jast si night, I have this twelvemonth been her bedfellow. Leon. Confirin'd, confirm'd! oh! that is " stronger made, Which was before barr'd up with ribs of iron ! 1 Would the two prioces lie i and Claudio lie ! W Who lov'd her so, that, speaking of her foul ness, Wash'd it with tears! Hence from her ; let her T die. Friar. Hear me a little ; For I bave only been silent so long, S1 And given way unto this course of fortune, By noting of the lady : I have mark'd A thousand blushing apparitions start 1 Juto ber face; a thousand innocent shames In angel whiteness bear away ibose blushes ; And in her eye there hath appear'd a fire, To burn the errors that these princes hold Against her maides truth :--Call me a fuol; Trust not my reading, nor my observations, Which with experiental seal doth warrant 11 The lenour of my book ; trust not my age, My reverence, calling, por divinity, T1 If this sweet lady lie not guiluess here W Under some biting error. Leon. Friar, it cannot be : Thou seest, that all the grace that she hath in left, 0 Is, that she will not add to her damnation A sin of perjury; she noi denies it : A1 Why seek'st thou then to cover with excuse That which appears in proper nakedness ? Friar. Lady, what pian is he you are accus'dY of Hero. They know, that do accuse me; I know Sb If I know more of any man alive, (none : Than that which maiden modesty doth warrant TL Let all my sins lack mercy !~0 my father, Prove you that any man with me convers'd At bours unmeet, or that I yesternight Maintain'd the change of words with any crea.co ture, Refuse me, bate me, torture me to death. Friar. There is some strange misprison + in the princes. Bene. Two of them have the very bent of ho-wh nour; 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 wr her, These bands sball tear her; if they wrong ber or honour, The proudest of them shall well hear of it. shi Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my means, Nor my bad life reft me so much of friends, But they shall find, awak'd ia such a kind, Both strength of limb, and policy of mind, • Sullied. + Misconception. Is as Beat. As strange as the thing I know not : Serton. Which be the malefactors? Du were as possible for me to say, I loved nothing Dogb. Marry, that am I and my partner. so well as you : but believe me not ; and yet Verg. Nay, that's certain ; we have the exhi. I lie not; I confess nothing, nor I deuy nothing :bition to examine. I am sorry for my cousin. Serton. But wbich are the offenders that are Bene. By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me. to be examined ? let them come before master Beat. Do not swear by it, and eat it. Constable. Bene. I will swear by it, that you love me ; Dogb. Yea, marry, let them come before me. and I will make him eat it, that says, I love | What is your name, friend? not you. Bora. Boracbio. Beat. Will you not eat your word ? Dogb. Pray write down-Borachio.—Yours, Bene. With no sauce that can be devised to sirrah? it : 1 protest, I love thee. Con. I am a gentleman, Sir, and my name is Beat. Why then, God forgive me ! Conrade. Bene. What cffence, sweet Beatrice ? Dogb. Write down--master gentleman ConBeat. You have staid me in a happy hour; rade.- Masters, do you serve God ? I was about to protest, I loved you. Con. Bora. Yea, Sir, we hope. Bene. And do it with all thy heart. Dogb. Write down-that they hope they serve Beat. I love you with so much of my heart, God and write God first; for God defend that noue is left to protest. but God should go before such villains !-Mas. Bene. Come, bid me do any thing for thee. ters, it is proved already that you are little bet. Beat. Kill Claudio. ter than false knaves ; and it will go near to be Bene. Ha ! not for the wide world. thought so sbortly. How answer you for yourBeat. You kill me to deny it: Farewell. selves ? Bene. Tarry, sweet Beatrice. Con. Marry, Sir, we say we are none. Beat. I am gone, though I am here ;- There Dogb. A marvellous witty fellow, I assure you ; is no love in you :-Nay, I pray you, let me go. but I will go about with him.-Come you hitber, Bene. Beatrice, sirrah ; a word in your ear, Sir; I say to you, it Beat. In faith, I will go. is thought you are false koaves. Bene. We'll be friends first. Bora. Sir, I say to you, we are none. Beat. You dare easier be friends with me, Dogh. Well, stand aside.-'Fore God, they are tban tight with mine enemy. both in a tale : Have you writ dowu-that they Bene. Is Claudio thine enemy? are none ? Beat. Is he not approved in the height a Serton. Master constable, you go not the way villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishon: to examine ; you must call forth the watch that oured my kinswoman ?-Oh! that I were a man! are their accusers. - What! bear her in hand. until they come to Dogb. Yea, marry, that's the estest way :take bands; aud then with public accusation, Let the watch come forth :- Masters, I charge ancovered slander, unmitigated rancour,--O God, you, in the prince's name, accuse these men. that I were a man ! I would eat his heart in the 1 Watch. This man said, Sir, that Don John, market place. the prince's brother, was a villain. Bene. Hear me, Beatrice ; Dogb. Write down-prince John a villain :-Beat. Talk with a man out at a window ?--a why this is flat perjury, to call a prince's broproper saying! ther--villain. Bene. Nay but, Beatrice ; Bora. Master constable,-Beat. Sweet Hero I-she is wronged, she is Dogh. Pray thee, fellow, peace; I do not like slandered, she is undone. thy look, I promise thee. Bene. Beat Sexton. What heard you bim say else? Bral. Princes, and counties ! + Surely, a 2 Watch. Marry, that he had received a thouprincely testimony, a goodly count.confect; I a sand ducats of Don Jobn, for accusing the lady sweet gallant surely ! o that I were a man for Hero wrongsully. his sake! or that I had any friend would be a Dogb. Flat burglary, as ever was committed. man for my sake! But manhood is melted into Virg. Yea, by the mass, that it is. courtesies, ģ valour into compliment, and men Serton. What else, fellow? are only torned into tongue, and trim ones too : 1 Watch. And that count Claudio did mean, he is now as valiant as Hercules, that only tells upon his words, to disgrace Hero before the a lie, and swears it :-1 cannot be a man with whole assembly, and not marry her. wishing, therefore I will die a woman with Dogb. O villain! thou wilt be condemned into grieving. everlasting redemption for this. Bene. Tarry, good Beatrice : By this band, I Serton. What else ? love thee. 2 Watch. This is all. Brat. Use it for any love some other way than Serton. And this is more, masters, than you Ewearing by it. can deny. Prince John is this morning secretly Bene. Think you in your soul the count Clau-stolen away ; Hero was in this manner accused, dio bath wronged Hero? in this very manner refused, and upon the grief Beat. Yea, as sure as I bave a thought, or a of this, suddenly died.-- Master constable, let soul. these men be bound, and brought to Leonato's ; Bene. Enough, I am engaged, I will challenge I will go before, and show bin their examina. bim; I will kiss your hand, and so leave you : tion. By this band, Claudio sball render me a dear Dogb. Come, let them be opinioned. account : As you hear of me, so think of me. Verg. Let them be in band.. Go, comfort your cousin : I must say, she is Con. Off, coxcomb ! dead; and so, farewell. (Eseunt. Dogb. God's my life! where's the sexton let him write down-the prince's officer, coxSCENE II.-A Prison. comb.-Come, bind them :--Thou naughty varlet! Enter DOG BERRY, VERGES, and SEXTON, in Con. Away! you are an ass, you are an ass. guwns; and the Watch, with CONRADE and Dogb. Dost thou not suspect place? BARACH10. Dost thou not suspect my years P-0 ibat he Dogh. Is our whole dissembly appeared ? were here to write me down-an ass I -- but, Perg. Oh! a stool and a cushion for the masters, remember, that I am an ass ; though sexlon ! it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass :--No, thou villain, thou art full of piety, • De'nde her with hopes. + Noblemen. 1 A noticman made out of sugar. Ceremony • Bond. (Exit. as shall be proved upon thee by good witness. Ant. If he could right bimself with quarreling, I am a wise fellow; and, which is more, an of. Some of us would lie low. Acer ; aud, which is more, a householder; and, Claud. Who wrongs bim ! which is more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any Leon. Marry, is in Messina ; and one, ibat knows the law, go Thou, thou dost wrong me; tboa disseabler, to ; and a rich fellow enough, go to; and a fel tbou : low that hath had losses; and one that bath two Nay, never lay thy band upon thy sword, gowns, and every thing bandsome about bien :- I fear tbee not. Briug biun away. O that I bad been writ down Claud. Marry, beshrew my hand, -an ass [Ereunt. If it should give your age such cause of fear : In faith, my hand meant nothing to my ssard. at me: I speak not like a dotard, nor a fool; What I have done being young, or what we SCENE I.-Before LEONATO's House. Were I not old : Know, Claudio, to uby bend, Tbou bast so wrong'd mine innocent ct 230 Enter LEONATO and ANTONIO. That I am forc'd to lay my reverence be ; Ant. If you go on tbus, you will kill yourself; And, with grey hairs, and bruise of mang ters, And 'tis not wisdom, thus to second grief Do challenge thee to trial of a man. Against yourself. I say, thou hast belied mine innocent chill; Leon. I pray thee, cease thy connsel, Th, slander halb gone through and throago 5 Which falls into mine ears as prontless And she Jies buried with her ancestors : As water in a sieve : give not me counsel ; Oh ! in a tomb where never scandal slept, Save this of her's fram'd by tby villany. Leon. Thine, Claudio ; thine I sav. D. Pedro. You say not rigat, old man. And bid bim speak of patience ; Leon. My lord, my lord, Measure his woe the length and breadth of I'll prove it on bis body, if he daret mine, Despite his nice fence, and his active practice, And let it answer every strain for strain ; His May of youth, and bloom of lastband As thus for thus, and such a grief for such, Claud. Away, I will not bare to do with you. In every lineament, branch, sbape, and form i Leon. Canst thou so daff me! Thua kast If such a one will smile, and stroke his beard ; kill'd my child ; Cry-sorrow, wag ! and bem, when he should I thou kill'st ine, boy, thou sbakt kill a pan. groan ; Ant. He shall kill iwo of us, and idea 14ed: Patch grief with proverbs ; make misfortune But that's no matter; let bin kill ose fee ;drunk Win me and wear me,- let him answer oneWith candle-wasters ; hring him yet to me, Come, follow me, boy ; cone, boy, folkes se And I of him will gather patience. Sır boy, I'll whip you from your foining feese; But there is no such man : For, brother, men Yay, as I am a gentleman, i will. Can counsel, and speak comfort to that grief Leon. Brotber,Which themselves not feel; but, tasting it, Ant. Content yourself: God knows, I le's Their counsel turns to passion, which before my niece ; Would give preceptial medicine to rage, And she is dead, olander'd to death by llanas; Fetter strong madness in a silken thread, Tbat dare as well auswer a man, indeed, Charm ach with air, and agony with words; As I dare take a serpent by the league : No, no ; 'tis all meu's office to speak patieuce Boys, apes, braggards, Jacks, milksops i To those that wring under the load of sorrow; Leon. Brother Antony, But no man's virtue, nor sufficiency, Ant. Hold you content: Wbat, man! I kan To be so inoral, when he shall endure them, yea, The like bimself: therefore give me no counsel And what they weigb, even to the My griefs cry louder than advertisement. scruple : Ant. Therein do men from children nothing Scambling, out-facing, fashion-inong'ring bers, differ. That lie, and cold, and tout, deprave, 24 Leon. I pray thee, peace : I will be flesh and slander blood; Go antickly, and show ontwurd bideoase, For tbere was never yet philosopher, And speak off half a dozen dangervas mix, Leon. But, brother Antony,- D. Pedro. Gentlemen both, we will not make do so: your patience. My soul doth tell me, Hero is belied, My heart is sorry for your daughter's desi : And that shall Claudio know, so shall the prince, But, on my honour, she was cisar'a sistema And all of them, that thus dishonour her. thing But what was true, and very full of prout Leon, My lord, my lord, - D. Pedro. I will not bear you. hastily. Leon. No ? D. Pedro. Good den, good den. Brother, away I will be heard; Cland. Good day to both of you. Ant. And shall, Leon. Hear you, my lords, Or some of us will start for it. D. Pedro. We have some baste, Leonato. (Exeunt LEONATO and ANTONIO Leon. Some baste, my lord !--well, fare you well, my lord : Enter BENEDICA. Are you so hasty now ?--well, all is one. D. Pedro. See, see; here comes tbe a re D. Pedro, Nay, do not quarrel with us, good went to seek. old man. Claud. Now, signior ! wbat news! • Admonition. • Skill in fencing. + Thrusting Bene. Good day, my lord. | lord, for your many courtesies I thank you : 1 D. Pedro. Welcome, siguior : You are almost must discoutinue your company : your brother, come to part almost a fray. the bastard, is fled from Messina : you bave, Claud. We had like to have had our two aniong you, killed a sweet and innocent lady : noses snapped off with two old men without For my lord Lack-beard, there, he aud I shall teeth. meet; and till then, peace be with him. D. Pedro. Leonato and his brother : What (Exit BENEDICK. thiuk'st thou ? Had we fought, I doubt, we should D. Pedro. He is in earnest. have been too young for them. Claud. in most profound earnest ; and, I'll Bene. In a false quarrel there is no true va- warrant you, for the love of Beatrice. lour. I came to seek you both. D. Pedro. Aud hath cballenged thee? Claud. We have been up and down to seek Claud. Most sincerely. tbee; for we are high-proof melaucholy, and D. Pedro. What a pretty thing man is, wben Would faiu bave it beatcu away: Wilt thou use be goes in his doublet and hose, and leaves off thy wit? his wit! Bene. It is in my scabbard ; Sball I draw it? D. Pedro. Dost thou wear thy wit by thy side? Enter DOG BERRY, VERGES, and the Watch, Claud. Never any did so, though very many with CONRADE and BORACH10. have been beside their wit.I will bid thee Claud. He is then a giant to an ape : but then draw, as we do the minstrels ; draw, lo plea- is an ape a doctor to such a man. sure us. D. Pedro. But, soft you, let be ; pluck up, D. Pedro. As I am an honest man, be looks my beart, and be sad ! Did he not say my pale :- Art thou sick, or apgry? brother was ficd? Claild. What! courage, man! What though Dogb. Come, you, Sir; if justice cannot tame care killed a cat, thou hast meltle enough in thee you, she shall ne'er weigh more reasous in her to kill care. balance : nay, an you be a cursing hypocrite Bene. Sir, I shall meet your wit in the career, once, you must be looked to. an you charge it against inė :-I pray you, choose D. Pedro. How now, two of my brother's another subject. inen bound ! Burachio, one! (laud. Nay, then give him another staff; this Clauit. Hearken after their offence, my lord ! last was broke cross. D. Pearo. Others, what otituce have these D. Pedro. By this light be changes more and men done ? inore; I think, ne be angry indeed. Dogo. Marry, Sir, they have committed false Claud. If he be, be knows how to turn his report; moreover, they have spoken uutnuitlis : girdle. • secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly, Bene. Sball I speak a word in your ear? they have belied a lady ; thirdly, they bave Claud. God bless me from a challenge! veritied unjust things : and, to conclude, they Bene. You are a villain ;-! jest not :-1 will are lying knaves. make it good how you dare, with what you dare, D. Pedro. First, I ask thee what they have and when you dare :--Do me right, or I will done ; thirdly, I ask thee what's their vitence ; protest your cowardice. You have killed a sweet sixth and lastly, why they are committed; and, lady, and lier death shall fall heavy on you: Letto conclude, what you lay to their charge. me hear from you. Claud. Rightly reasoned, and in his own di. Cluud. Well, I will meet you, so I may have vision; and, by my troth, there's one meauing good cheer. well suited. D. Pedro. What, a feast I a feast? D. Pedro. Whom have you offended, inasters, Claud. I'raith, I thank him; he batb bid + me that you are thus bound to your answer? this to a call's-bead and a capon ; the which if I do leaned constable is too cunning to be understood : not carve most curiously, say, my knife's Daught. What's your oflence ? --Shall I not lind a woodcock too? bora. Sweet prince, let me go no further to Bene. Sir, your wil ambles well; it goes mine answer ; do you bear me, and let this easily. count kill me. I have deceived even yeur Veiy D. Pedro. I'll tell thee how Beatrice praised eyes : ubat your wizdoms could uot discovei, thy wit the other day : I said, thou hadse a tie bese shallow fools bare brought to light; wbo, wit ; True, 88 she, a fine little one : No, in the night, over-beard me confessing to this said I, a great uit; Night, says she, a great man, how Don John your brother iuccused + me brossone : Nay, said 1, a good wit ; Just, said to sunder the lady Heio: how you were brought sbe, it hurts nobody: Vay, said I, the gentle into the orcbard, and saw me court Margaret in man is krise ; Curtain, said she, a uise gentle Hero's garment; how you disgraced her, when man : Nay, said I, he hath the tongues : Thut you should marry ber: my villany they have I bxlieve, said she, for he suore a thing to me upon record ; which I bad rather seal with iny on Monday night, which he forsuore on Heath, iban repeat over to my sbame : the lady Tuesday morning ; there's a double tongue ; is dead upon mine and my master's false accusathere's tuo tongues. Thus did she, au bour Lion; and, briefly, I desire nothing but the retogether, transshape thy particular virtues; yet ward of a villanu. at last she concluded with a bigli, thou wast the D. Pedro. Rung not this speech like iron properest man in Italy. through your blood ? Claud. For the which she wept beartily, and Claud. I have drunk poison, wbiles he utter'd said, she cared not. D. Pedro. Yea, that she did ; but yet, for all D. Pedro. But did my brotber set thee on to tbal, au if sbe did not hate bim deadly, she this! would love him dearly : the old mau's daughter Bora. Yea, and paid me richly for the practold us all. tice of it Claud. Ali, all ; and moreover, God saw him D. Pedro. He is compos'd and fram'd of tchen he was hid in the garden. And fled be is upon his villany. (treachery :D. Pedro, But when ball we set the savage Claud. Sweet Hero! now iby image doth apbuil's horns on the sensible Benedick's bead ? pear (land. Yea, and text underneath, Here duells in the rare serblauce Lat lov'd it first. Benedick the married man! Dogb. Come, bring away the plaintiffs ; by bene. Fare you well, boy; you know my this time our Sexwou lath reformed sigbior I did; I will leave you now to your gossip-like Leonato of the matter : And wastega, do not for. ha inour ; you break jests as braggarls do their sei lo specify, when lime and place shall serve, biades, which, God be tbuuked, hurt boi.- My ibat I am an ass. • lo give a challenge. + lovated. † faritri. |