2 Watch. You'll be made bring Deformed forth, I warrant you. Conr. Mafters, 1 Watch. Never speak; we charge you, let us obey you to go with us. Bora. We are like to prove a goodly commodity, being taken up of these mens bills. Conr. A commodity in queftion, I warrant you: come, we'll obey you. [Exeunt. SCENE, Hero's Apartment in Leonato's Houfe. Enter Hero, Margaret and Urfula. Hero. G defire her to rife. OOD Urfula, wake my cousin Beatrice, and before - Urfu. I will, lady. Hero. And bid her come hither. Marg. Troth, I think, your other Rebato were better. Hero. No, pray thee, good Meg, I'll wear this. Marg. By my troth, it's not fo good; and, I warrant, your coufin will fay fo. Hero. My coufin's a fool, and thou art another. I'll wear none but this. Marg. I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair were a thought browner; and your gown's a most rare fashion, i'faith. I faw the Dutchels of Milan's gown, that they praise so. Hero. O, that exceeds, they fay. Marg. By my troth, it's but a night-gown in refpect of yours; cloth of gold and cuts, and lac'd with filver, fet with pearls down-fleeves, fide-fleeves and skirts, round, underborn with a blucifh tinfel; but for a fine, queint, graceful and excellent fashion, yours is worth ten on't. Hero. God give me joy to wear it, for my heart is exceeding heavy! Marg. Twill be heavier foon by the weight of a man. VOL. I. G g Hero. Hero. Fie upon thee, art not afham'd? Marg. Of what, lady? of speaking honourably? is not marriage honourable in a beggar? is not your lord honourable without marriage? I think, you would have me fay (faving your reverence) a husband. If bad thinking do not wreft true fpeaking, I'll offend no body; is there any harm in the heavier for a huf band? none, I think, if it be the right husband, and the right wife, otherwife 'tis light and not heavy; ask my lady Beatrice elfe, here fhe comes. Enter Beatrice. Here. Good morrow, coz. Beat. Good morrow, fweet Hero. Hero. Why how now? do you fpeak in the fick tune? Marg Clap us into Light o' love; that goes without a burden; do you fing it, and I'll dance it. Beat. Yes, Light o' love with your heels; then if your husband have ftables enough, you'll look he fhall lack no barns. Marg. O illegitimate conftruction! I fcorn that with my heels. Beat. "Tis almoft five o'clock, coufin; 'tis time you were ready by my troth, I am exceeding ill; hey ho! Marg. For a hawk, a horfe, or a husband? Beat. For the letter that begins them all, H. Marg. Well, if you be not turn'd Turk, there's no more failing by the star. Beat. What means the fool, trow? Marg Nothing I, but God fend every one their heart's defire! Hero. Thefe gloves the Count fent me, they are an excellent perfume. Beat. I am ftuft, coufin, I cannot smell. Marg. A maid, and stuft! there's goodly catching of cold. Beat. O, God help me, God help me, how long have you profeft apprehenfion? Marg. Ever fince you left it; doth not my wit become me rarely? Beat. Beat. It is not feen enough, you should wear it in your cap. By my troth, I am fick. Marg. Get you fome of this diftill'd Carduus Beneditus, and lay it to your heart; it is the only thing for a qualm. Hero. There thou prick'ft her with a thiftle. Beat. Benedictus? why Benedictus? you have fome moral in this Benedictus. Marg. Moral? no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning, I meant plain holy-thiftle: you may think, perchance, that I think you are in love; nay, birlady, I am not fuch a fool to think what I lift; nor I lift not to think what I can; nor, indeed, I cannot think, if I would think my heart out with thinking, that you are in love, or that you will be in love, or that you can be in love: yet Benedick was fuch another, and now is he become a man; he fwore, he would never marry; and yet now, in defpight of his heart, he eats his meat without grudging; and how you may be converted, I know not; but, methinks, you look with your eyes as other women do. Beat. What pace is this that thy tongue keeps? Urfu. Madam, withdraw; the Prince, the Count, Signior Benedick, Don John, and all the Gallants of the town are come to fetch you to church. Hero. Help to drefs me, good coz, good Meg, good Urfula. [Exeunt. SCENE, another Apartment in Leonato's Houfe. Enter Leonato, with Dogberry and Verges. Leon. WHAT would you with me, honest neigh bour? Dogb. Marry, Sir, I would have fome confidence with you that decerns you nearly. Leon. Brief, I pray you; for, you fee, 'tis a busy time with me. Dogb. Marry, this it is, Sir. Ver. Yes, in truth it is, Sir. Leon. 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, as 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 I. Dogb. Comparisons are odorous; palabras, neighbour Verges. Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious. 9 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 tediousness 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 tho' I 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 prefence, hath ta'en a couple of as ar rant knaves as any in Melfina. Dogb. A good old man, Sir; he will be talking, as they lay; 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 an horfe, one must ride behind; an honeft foul, i'faith, Sir, by my troth he is, as ever broke bread, but God is to be worship'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 worship. Leon. Leon. Take their examination your felf, 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. Meff. My lord, they ftay 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 Seacoale, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail; we are now to examine those men. Verg. And we must do it wifely. Dogb. We will fpare for no wit, I warrant; here's That thall drive fome of them to a non-come. Only get the learned writer to fet down our excommunication, and meet me at the Jail. [Exeunt. SCENE, a Church. Enter D. Pedro, D. John, Leonato, Friar, Claudio, Benedick, Hero, and Beatrice. C LEONA TO. OME, friar Francis, be brief, only to the plain form of marriage, and you fhall recount their particular duties afterwards. Friar. You come hither, my Lord, to marry this lady? Claud. No. Leon. To be marry'd to her, friar; you come to marry her. Gg3 Friar, |