Bene. You are a villain; I jest not. I will make it good how you dare, with what you dare, and when you dare. Do me right, or I will proteft your cowardice, You have kill'd a sweet lady, and her death shall fall heavy on you. Let me hear from you. Claud. Well, I will meet you, so I may have good cheer. Pedro. What, a feaft? Claud. I'faith, I thank him; he hath bid me to a calve's-head and a capon, the which if I do not carve most curiously, say, my knife's naught. Shall I not find a woodcock too? Bene. Sir, your wit ambles well; it goes easily. Pedro. I'll tell thee, how Beatrice prais'd thy wit the other day: I faid, thou hadst a fine wit; right, fays she, a fine little one; no, faid I, a great wit; just, said she, a great gross one; nay, faid I, a good wit; just, said she, it hurts no body; nay, faid I, the gentleman is wife; certain, said she, a wife gentleman; nay, said I, he hath the tongues; that I believe, faid the, for he fwore a thing to me on Monday night, which he forfwore on Tuesday morning; there's a double tongue, there's two tongues. Thus did she an hour together tranf-shape thy particular virtues; yet, at last, she concluded with a figh, thou wast the properest man in Italy. Claud. For the which the wept heartily, and faid, the car'd not. Pedro. Yea, that she did, but yet for all that, and if she did not hate him deadly, she would love him dearly; the old man's daughter told us all. Claud. All, all; and moreover, God faw him when he was hid in the garden. Pedro. But when shall we fet the savage bull's horns on the sensible Benedick's head? Claud. Yea, and text underneath, Here dwells Benedick the married man. Bene. Fare you well, boy, you know my mind; I will leave you now to your goflip-like humour; you break jests as braggarts do their blades, which, God be thank'd, thank'd, hurt not. My lord, for your many courtefies I thank you; I must discontinue your company; your brother, the bastard, is fled from Messina: you have among you killed a sweet and innocent lady. For my lord lack-beard there, he and I shall meet; and 'till [Exit Benedick. then, peace be with him! Pedro. He is in earnest. Claud. In most profound earnest, and, I'll warrant you, for the love of Beatrice. Pedro. And hath challeng'd thee ? Cluud. Most fincerely. Pedro. What a pretty thing man is, when he goes in his doublet and hose, and leaves off his wit! Enter Dogberry, Verges, Conrade and Borachio Claud. He is then a giant to an ape; but then is an ape a doctor to such a man. Pedro. But, foft you, let me fee, pluck up my heart and be sad; did he not say, my brother was filed? Dogb. Come, you, Sir; if justice cannot tame you, she shall ne'er weigh more reasons in her balance; nay, an you be a curfing hypocrite once, you must be look'd to. Pedro. How now, two of my brother's men bound f Borachio, one? Claud. Hearken after their offence, my lord. Pedro. Officers, what offence have these men done? Dogb. Marry, Sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; fixth and lastly, they have bely'd a lady's thirdly, they have verified unjust things; and, to con clude, they are lying knaves. Pedro. First, I ask thee what they have done; thirdly, I ask thee what's their offence; fixth and lastly, why they are committed; and, to conclude, what you lay to their charge? Claud. Rightly reason'd, and in his own division; and, by my troth, there's one meaning well suited. VOL. 11, Pesro. D 1 Pedro. Whom have you offended, masters, that you are thus bound to your answer? This learned conftable is too cunning to be understood. What's your offence? Bora. Sweet Prince, let me go no further to mine answer: do you hear me, and let this Count kill me: I have deceiv'd even your very eyes; what your wifdoms could not discover, these shallow fools have brought to light, who in the night overheard me confeffing to this man, how Don John your brother incens'd me to flander the lady Hero; how you were brought into the orchard, and faw me court Margaret in Hero's garments; how you disgrac'd her, when you should marry her; my villany they have upon record, which I had rather seal with my death, than repeat over to my shame; the lady is dead upon mine and my master's false accufation; and briefly, I defire nothing but the reward of a villain. Pedro. Runs not this speech like iron through your blood? And fled he is upon this villany. Claud. Sweet Hero! now thy image doth appear Dogb. Come, bring away the plaintiffs; by this time, our Sexton hath reform'd Signior Leonato of the matter; and masters, do not forget to specify, when time and place shall serve, that I am an afs. Verg. Here, here comes master Signior Leonato, and the Sexton too. Enter Leonato, and Sexton. Leon. Which is the villain? let me fee his eyes; Bora. If you would know your wronger, look on me. Haft Hast kill'd mine innocent child? Bora. Yea, even I alone. Leon. No, not so, villain; thou bely'st thyself; Here stand a pair of honourable men, Claud. I know not how to pray your patience, Pedro. By my fou', nor I; Leon. You cannot bid my daughter live again,. Give her the Right you should have given her Coufin, And fo dies my revenge. Claud. O noble Sir! Your over-kindness doth wring tears from me: I do embrace your offer; and dispose Leon. To-morrow then I will expect your Coming, To-night I take my leave. This naughty man Hir'd to it by your brother. D2 Bara. Bora. No, by my foul, she was not; Dogb. Moreover, Sir, which indeed is not under white and black, this plaintiff here, the offender, did call me ass: I beseech you, let it be remembred in his punishment; and also the watch heard them talk of one Deformed: they say, he wears a key in his ear, and a lock hanging by it; and borrows money in God's name, the which he hath us'd so long, and never paid, that now men grow hard hearted, and will lend nothing for God's fake. Pray you, examine him upon that point. Leon. I thank thee for thy care and honest pains. Dogb. Your Worship speaks like a most thankful and reverend youth; and I praise God for you. Leon. Go, I discharge thee of thy prisoner; and I thank thee. Dogb. I leave an errant knave with your Worship, which, I beseech your Worship, to correct yourself, for the example of others. God keep your Worship; I wish your Worship well: God restore you to health; I humbly give you leave to depart; and if a merry meeting may be wish'd, God prohibit it. Come, neighbour. [Exeunt. Lern. Until to-morrow morning, Lords, farewel. Claud. To-night I'll mourn with Hero. Leon. Bring you these fellows on, we'll talk with Margaret, How her acquaintance grew with this lewd fellow. [Exeunt feverally. SCENE |