John. I had rather be a canker 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 muft 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 difcontent?

John. I will make all use of it, for I ufe it only. Who comes here? what news, Borachio?

Enter Borachio.

Bora. I came yonder from a great fupper; the 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 mifchief on? what is he for a fool, that betroths himself to unquietness?

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

John. Who, the most 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 Leo

nato.

John. A very forward March chick! How come you

to 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 thould woo Hero for himself; and having obtain'd 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,

way, I blefs my self 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! -fhall we go prove what's to be done? Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE, a Hall in Leonato's House.

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

W

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 just 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 eldeft 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, she's too curft.

Beat.

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 curft he sends

none.

Leon. So, by being too curft, God will send 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 huf band with a beard on his face, I had rather lyc in woollen.

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

Beat. What should 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 lefs than a man; and he that is more than a youth, is not for me; and he that is less than a man, I am not for him: therefore I will even take fix pence in earnest of the bear-herd, and lead his apes into hell.

Leon. Well then, go you into hell,

Beat. No, but to the gate; and there will the devil meet me, like an old cuckold, with his horns on his head, and fay, "get you to heaven, Beatrice, get 66 you to heav'n, here's no place for you maids." fo deliver I up my apes, and away to St. Peter, for the heav'ns; he fhews me where the batchelors fit, and there live we as merry as the day is long.

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 please 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 see you one day fitted with a husband.

Beat. Not 'till God make men of some other metal than earth; would it not grieve a woman to be over

mafter'd

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

Beat. The fault will be in the mufick, coufin, if you be not woo'd in good time; (4) 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 meafure, and a cinque-pace; the firft fuit is hot and hafty, like a Scotch jig, and full as fantastical; the wedding mannerly-modeft, as a measure, full of state and anchentry; and then comes repentance, and with his bad legs falls into the cinque-pace fafter 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 efpecially when I walk away.

Pedro. With me in your company?

Hero. I may fay fo, when I please.
Pedro. And when please you to say so?

(4) If the Prince be too importunate,] This is the Reading only of Mr. Pope's Impreffions, as I can find, and warranted by none of the Copies. I have reftor'd with all the old Books, important; i.e. if the Prince be too forcible, preffing, lays too much Strefs on his Suit, &c. The Poet employs this word again, in the like Signification, in K. Lear. therefore great France

My Mourning, and important Tears hath pitied.

VOL. I.

Ee

Hero.

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

Pedro. (5) My vifor is Philemon's roof; within the house is Jove.

Hero. Why, then your visor fhould be thatch'd.

(5) My Vifer is Philemon's Roof, within the Houfe is Love.] Thus the whole Stream of the Copies, from the first downwards. I muft own, this Paffage for a long while appear'd very obfcure to me, and gave me much Trouble in attempting to understand it. Hero fays to Don Pedrs, God forbid, the Lute fhould be like the Cafe! i. e. that your Face fhould be as homely and as courfe as your Mask. Upon this, Don Pedro compares his Vifor to Philemon's Roof. 'Tis plain, the Poet alludes to the Story of Baucis and Philemon from OvID: And this old Couple, as the Roman Poet defcribes it, liv'd in a thatch'd Cottage;

Stipulis & cannâ tecla paluftri.

But why, Within the Houfe is Love? Baucis and Philemon, 'tis true, had liv'd to old Age together, in a comfortable State of Agreement. But Piety and Hospitality are the top Parts of their Character. Our Poet unqueftionably goes a little deeper into the Story. Tho' this old Pair liv'd in a Cottage, this Cottage receiv'd two ftraggling Gods, (Jupiter and Mercury,) under its Roof. So, Don Pedro is a Prince; and tho' his Vifor is but ordinary, he would infinuate to Hero, that he has fomething god like within: alluding either to his Dignity, or the Qualities of his Perfon and Mind. By thefe Circumftances, I am fure, the Thought is mended: as, I think verily, the Text is too by the Change of a fingle Letter.

within the Houfe is Jove.

I made this Correction in my SHAKESPEARE reftor'd; and Mr. Pope has vouchfaf'd to adopt it, in his laft Edition. Nor is this Emendation a little confirm'd by another Paffage in our Author, in which he plainly alludes to the fame Story. As you

like it.

Clown. I am here with thee and thy Goats, as the most capricious Poet, honest Ovid, was amongst the Goths.

Jaq. O Knowledge ill inhabited, worse than Jove in a thatch'd Houfe.

I am naturally drawn here to correct a Paffage in Beaumont and Fletcher's Two Noble Kinfmen, where a Fault of the like Kind has obtain'd in all the Copies.

here Love himself fits smiling;

Juft fuch Another awanton Ganymede

Set Love a fire with, and enforc'd the God
Snatch up the goodly Eoy, and fet him by him

A fhining Conftellation:

All my Readers, who are acquainted with the poetical History here alluded to, will concur with me in the Certainty of the following Emen

dation :

Just fuch Another wanton Ganymede
Set Jove a-fire with.

Pedro.