Leon. Brief, I pray you; for, you fee, 'tis a busy time with me.

Dogb. Marry, this it is, Sir.

Verg. Yes, in truth it is, Sir.

Deon. What is it, my good friends?

Dogb. Goodman Verges, Sir, fpeaks a little of the matter; an old man, Sir, and his wits are not fo blunt, as, God help, I would defire they were; but, in faith, honeft as the skin between his brows.

Verg. "Yes, I thank God, I am as honeft as any "man living, that is an old man, and no honefter "than 1."

Dogb. Comparifons are odorous; palabras, neighbour Verges.

Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious.

Dogb. It pleafes your worship to fay fo, but we are the poor Duke's officers; but truly, for mine own part, if I were as tedious as a King, I could find in my heart to bestow it all of your Worship.

Leon. All thy tedioufnefs on me, ha?

Dogb. 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 Í be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it.

Verg. And fo am I

Leon. I would fain know what you have to fay.

Verg. Marry, Sir, our watch to-night, excepting your Worship's presence, hath ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Meffina.

66

Dogb. "A good old man, Sir; he will be talking; "as they fay, When the age is in, the wit is out; God help us, it is a world to fee: well faid, i' faith, neighbour Verges, well, he's a good man; an two "men ride of a horse, one must ride behind; an honeft “foul, i' faith, Sir, by my troth he is, as ever broke "bread; but God is to be worfhipp'd; all men are "not alike, alas, good neighbour!"

Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too fhort of you. Dogb. Gifts, that God gives.

Leon. I must leave you.

Dogb. One word, Sir; our watch have, indeed, comprehended two aufpicious perfons; and we would

have them this morning examin'd before your Worfhip.

Leon. Take their examination yourself, and bring it me; I am now in great hafte, as may appear unto you. Dogb. It fhall be fuffigance.

Leon. Drink fome wine ere you go: fare you well.
Enter a Meffenger.

Melf. My Lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband.

Leon. I'll wait upon them. I am ready. [Ex. Leon. Dogb. Go, good partner, go get you to Francis Seacoal, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail; we are now to examine those men.

Verg. And we muft do it wifely.

On

Dogb. "We will fpare for no wit, I warrant; here's "that fhall drive fome of them to a non-com. "" ly get the learned writer to fet down our excommunication, and meet me at the jail.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

A Church.

[Exeunt.

Enter Don Pedro, Don John, Leonato, Friar, Claudio, Benedick, Hero, and Beatrice.

Leon.

COME,

OME, 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? Claud. No.

Leon. To be marry'd to her, Eriar; you come to marry her.

Friar. Lady, you come hither to be marry'd to this Count.

Hero. I do.

Friar. If either of you know any inward impediment why you should not be conjoin'd, I charge you on your fouls to utter it.

Claud. Know you any, Hero?
Hero. None, my Lord.

Friar. Know you any, Count?

Leon.

Leon. I dare make his anfwer, 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 leave,

Will you with free and unconstrained foul

Give me this maid your daughter?

Leon. As freely, fon, as God did give her me.

Claud. And what have I to give you back, whose worth

May counterpoise this rich and precious gift?

Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again. Claud. Sweet Prince, you learn me noble thankfulness: There, Leonato, take her back again;

Give not this rotten orange to your friend.

She's but the fign and femblance of her honour;
Behold; how like a maid fhe blushes here!
O, what authority and fhew of truth
Can cunning fin cover itself withal!

Comes not that blood, as modeft evidence,
To witness simple virtue? would you not fwear,
All
you that fee her, that fhe were a maid,
By these exterior fhews? But fhe is none:
She knows the heat of a luxurious bed;
Her blush guiltinefs, not modefty.

Leon. What do you mean, my Lord?
Claud. Not to be marry'd,

Not knit my foul to an approved wanton.

Leon. Dear my Lord, if you in your own approof Have vanquish'd the refiftance of her youth,

And made defeat of her virginity.

Claud. I know what you would fay: if I have known her,

You'll fay fhe did embrace me as a husband,.
And fo extenuate the forehand fin.

No, Leonato,

I never tempted her with word too large;
But, as a brother to his fifter, fhew'd.

Bashful fincerity, and comely love.

·Hero. And feem'd I ever otherwife to you?

Claud. Out on thy feeming! I will rate against it:

You

You feem 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 favage fenfuality.

Hero. Is my Lord well, that he doth speak fo wide?
Leon. Sweet Prince, why fpeak not you?
Pedro. What should I speak?

I ftand difhonour'd, that have gone about
To link my dear friend to a common ftale.

Leon. Are these things spoken, or do I but dream?
John Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true.
Bene. This looks not like a nuptial.

Hero. True! O God!

Claud. Leonato, ftand I here?

Is this the Prince? Is this the Prince's brother?
Is this face Hero's? are our eyes our own?

Leon. All this is fo; but what of this, my Lord?
Claud Let me but move one queftion to your daughtery

And, by that fatherly and kindly power

That you have in her, bid her anfwer truly.

Leon. I charge thee do fo, as thou art my child.
Hero. O God defend me, how am I befet!

What kind of catechifing call you this?

Claud. To make you anfwer truly to your name. Hero. Is it not Hero? who can blot that name With any juft reproach?

Claud. Marry, that can Hero;

Hero herself can blot out Hero's virtue.

What man was he talk'd with you yefternight
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.
Pedro. Why, then you are no maiden. Leonato,
I am forry, you must hear; upon mine honour,
Myfelf, my brother, and this grieved Count
Did fee her, hear her, at that hour last night,
Talk with a ruffian at her chamber-window;
Who hath indeed, like an illiberal villain,
Confefs'd the vile encounters they have had
A thousand times in fecret.

John. Fie, fie, they are not to be nam'd, my Lord,

Not

Not to be spoken of:

There is not chastity enough in language,

Without offence, to utter them; thus, pretty Lady,
I am forry for thy much mifgovernment.

Claud. O Hero! what a Hero hadft thou been,
If half thy outward graces had been plac'd
About the thoughts and counfels 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 fhall conjecture hang,
To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm;
And never fhall it more be gracious.

Leon. Hath no man's dagger here a point for me? [Hero favoons. Beat. Why, how now, coufin? wherefore fink you down? John. Come, let us go; these things come thus to light, Smother her spirits up.

[Exeunt Don Pedro, Don John and Claud.

SCENE II.

Bene. How doth the lady?

Beat. Dead, I think; help, uncle.

Hero! why, Hero! uncle! Signior Benedick! Friar! Leon. O fate! take not away thy heavy hand; Death is the fairest cover for her shame,

That may be wifh'd for.

Beat. How now, coufin Hero?

Friar. Have comfort, Lady.

Leon. Doft thou look up?

Friar. Yea, wherefore fhould fhe not?

Leon. Wherefore? why, doth not every earthly thing Cry fhame upon her? could fhe here deny

The story that is printed in her blood?

Do not live, Hero, do not ope thine eyes:

For did I think thou wouldst not quickly die,

Thought I thy fpirits were ftronger than thy fhames,
Myfelf would on the rereward of reproaches
Strike at thy life. Griev'd I, I had but one?
Chid I for that at frugal nature's frame?
I've one too much by thee. Why had I one?

Why