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Claud. I'll bring you thither my Lord, if you'll vouch'fafe me.

Pedro. Nay, that would be as great a foil in the new glofs of your marriage, as to fhew a child his new coat, and forbid him to wear it. I will only be bold with Benedick for his company: for, from the crown of his head to the fole of his foot, he is all mirth; he hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's bow-ftring, and the little hangman dare not shoot at him: he hath a heart as found as a bell, and his tongue is the clapper; for what his heart thinks, his tongue fpeaks.

Bene. Gallants, I am not as I have been.
Leon. So fay I; methinks

Claud. I hope he is in love.

you are fadder.

Pedro. Hang him, truant, there's no true drop of blood in him, to be truly touch'd with love; if he be fad, he wants money.

Bene. I have the tooth-ach.

Pedro. Draw it.

Bene. Hang it.

Claud. You muft hang it first, and draw it afterwards. Pedro. What! figh for the tooth-ach!

Leon. Which is but a humour, or a worm.

Bene. Well, every one can master a grief but he that has it.

Claud. Yet fay I, he is in love

Pedro. "There is no appearance of fancy in him, "unlefs it be a fancy that he hath to frange difguifes; "as to be a Dutchman to-day, a Frenchman to-mor"row; or in the shape of two countries at once; a "German from the wafte downward, all flops; and a

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Spaniard from the hip upward, no doublet." Unlefs he have a fancy to this foolery, as it appears he hath, he is no fool for fancy, as you would have it to appear he is.

Claud. If he be not in love with fome woman, there is no believing old figns: he brushes his hat o'mornings; what fhould that bode?

Pedro. Hath any man seen him at the barber's?

Claud. No, but the barber's man hath been seen with him; and the old ornament of his cheek hath already ftuff'd tennis-balls.

Leon.

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Leon. Indeed he looks younger than he did by the lofs of a beard.

Pedro. Nay, he rubs himself with civet; can you fmell him out by that?

Claud. That's as much as to fay, the fweet youth's in love.

Pedro. The greatest note of it is his melancholy.

Claud. And when was he wont to wafh his face?

Pedro. Yea, or to paint himself? for the which, I hear what they fay of him.

Claud. Nay, but his jefting fpirit, which is now crept into a lute-ftring, and now govern'd by steps

Pedro. Indeed that tells a heavy tale for him. Con clude he is in love.

Claud. Nay, but I know who loves him.

Pedro. That would I know too: I warrant, one that knows him not.

Claud. Yes, and his ill conditions, and in defpight of all, dies for him.

Pedro. She fhall be bury'd with her face upwards. Bene. Yet is this no charm for the tooth-ach. Old Signior, walk afide with me; I have ftudy'd eight or nine wife words to speak to you, which these hobby-horses must not hear. [Exeunt Benedick and Leonato. break with him about Beatrice. Hero and Margaret have by

Pedro. For my life, to
Claud. 'Tis even fo.

this play'd their parts with Beatrice; and then the two bears will not bite one another when they meet.

SCENE III. Enter Don John.

John. My Lord and brother, God fave you.

Pedro. Good den, brother.

John. If your leisure ferv'd, I would speak with you. Pedro. In private?

John. If it pleafe you; yet Count Claudio may hear; for what I would fpeak of, concerns him.

Pedro. What's the matter?

John. Means your Lordship to be marry'd to morrow?

Pedro. You know he does.

[To Claudio.

John.

John. I know not that, when he knows what I know.

Claud. If there be any impediment, I pray you dif

cover it.

John. You may think I love you not; let that appear hereafter and aim better at me by that I now will manifeft; for my brother, I think, he holds you well, and in dearnefs of heart hath holp to effect your'enfuing marriage; furely, fuit ill fpent, and labour ill beftow'd!

Pedro. Why, what's the matter?

John. I came hither to tell you, and circumftances fhorten'd, (for the hath been too long a-talking of,) the lady is difloyal.

Claud. Who? Hero?

John. Even fhe; Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero.

Claud. Difloyal?

of a

John. The word is too good to paint out her wickednefs. I could fay fhe were worse; think you worfe title, and I will fit her to it; wonder not till further warrant; go but with me to-night, you shall fee her chamber-window enter'd, even the night before her wedding-day. If you love her, then to-morrow wed her; but it would better fit your honour to change your mind.

Claud. May this be fo?

Pedro. I will not think it.

John. If you dare not truft that you fee, confefs not that you know; if you will follow me, I will fhew you enough; and when you have feen more and heard more, proceed accordingly.

Claud. If I fee any thing to-night why I should not marry her to-morrow; in the congregation, where I fhould wed, there will I fhame her.

Pedro. And as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will join with thee to difgrace her.

John. I will difparage her no farther, till you are my witneffes; bear it coldly but till night, and let the iffue fhew itself.

Pedro. O day untowardly turn'd!

Claud. O mischief ftrangely thwarting!

John.

So

John. O plague right well prevented!

you will fay, when you have seen the sequel.

SCENE IV. Changes to the freet.

[Exeunt.

Enter Dogberry and Verges, with the watch.

Dogb. Are you good men and true?

Verg. Yea, or else it were pity but they should suffer falvation, body and foul.

Dogb. Nay, that were a punishment too good for them, if they fhould have any allegiance in them, be ing chofen for the Prince's watch.

Verg. Well, give them their charge, neighbour Dogberry.

Dogb. First, who think you the moft defartless man to be conftable?

1 Watch. Hugh Oatcake, Sir, or George Seacole; for they can write and read.

Dogb. Come hither, neighbour Seacole: God hath blefs'd you with a good name; and to be a well-favour'd man is the gift of fortune, but to write and read comes by nature.

2 Watch. Both which, Master Constable

Dogb. You have: I knew, it would be your anfwer. Well, for your favour, Sir, why, give God thanks, and make no boast of it; and for your writing and reading, let that appear when there is more need of fuch vanity; you are thought here to be the most senseless and fit man for the constable of the watch, therefore bear you the lanthorn: this is your charge: you shall comprehend all vagrom men; you are to bid any man ftand, in the Prince's

name.

go;

2 Watch. How if he will not ftand! Dogb. Why, then take no note of him, but let him and prefently call the reft of the watch together, and thank God you are rid of a knave.

Verg. If he will not ftand when he is bidden, he is none of the Prince's fubjects.

Dogb. True, and they are to meddle with none but the Prince's fubjects. You fhall alfo make no noife in the

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the ftreets; for, for the watch to babble and talk, is moft tolerable, and not to be endur'd.

2 Watch. "We will rather fleep than talk; we know "what belongs to a watch."

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Dogb. "Why, you fpeak like an ancient and most quiet watchman, for I cannot see how sleeping should "offend; only have a care that your bills be not stolen. "Well, you are to call at all the ale-houses, and bid them "that are drunk get them to bed."

2 Watch. How if they will not?

Dogb. Why then let them alone till they are fober; if they make you not then the better answer, you may say, they are not the men you took them for.

2 Watch. Well, Sir.

Dogb. If you meet a thief, you may suspect him by virtue of your office to be no true man; and for fuch kind of men, the lefs you meddle or make with them, why, the more is for your honesty.

2 Watch. If we know him to be a thief, shall we not lay hands on him?

Dogb. Truly, by your office you may; but, I think, they that touch pitch will be defil'd: the moft peaceable way for you, if you do take a thief, is, to let him fhew himself what he is, and fteal out of your company.

Verg. You have been always call'd a merciful man, partner.

Dogb. Truly, I would not hang a dog by my will, much more a man who hath any honefty in him.

Verg. If you hear a child cry in the night, you must call to the nurse and bid her still it.

2 Watch. How if the nurse be asleep, and will not hear us?

Dogb. Why, then depart in peace, and let the child" wake her with crying: for the ewe that will not hear her lamb when it baes, will never anfwer a calf when he bleats.

Verg. 'Tis very true,

Dogb. This is the end of the charge: you, conftable, are to prefent the Prince's own perfon; if you meet the Prince in the night, you may ftay him.

VOL. II.

D

Verg.

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