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 swore, 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 ?

Marg. Not a false gallop.

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 dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Urfula.

[Exeunt. SCENE, another Apartment in Leonato's Houfe.

Leon.

Enter Leonato, with Dogberry and Verges.

W

HAT would you with me, honeft neighbour?

Dogb. Marry, Sir, I would have some 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.

Verg. 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 honest as any man living, that is an old man, and no honester than I. Dogb. Comparisons are odorous; palabras, neighbour Verges.

the

Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious.

Dogb. It pleases your worship to fay fo, but we are 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 so am I.

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

Verg. Marry, Sir, our Watch to night, excepting your worship's prefence, have ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina.

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 an horse, one must ride behind; an honeft foul, i̇'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.

Doğb. One word, Sir; our Watch have, indeed, comprehended two aufpicious perfons; and we would have them this morning examin'd before your worship.

Leon. Take their examination your felf, and bring. it me; I am now in great haste, as may appear unto you.

Dogb. It fhall be fuffigance.

Leon. Drink fome wine ere you go: fare you well.

Enter a Meffenger.

Me. 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 fhall 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.

Co

LEON AT 0.

ROME, 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.

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.

Hero. None, my Lord.

Friar. Know you any, Count?

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 fome 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 thankfulnefs:

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 the blushes here!
O, what authority and fhew of truth
Can cunning fin cover itself withal!
Comes not that blood, as modeft evidence,
To witness fimple 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 is 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 (13)

Have

(13) Dear my Lord, if you in your own Proof,] I am surpriz'd, the Poetical Editors did not obferve the Lameness of this Verfe. It evidently wants a Syllable in the laft Foot, which I have reftor'd by a Word, which, I prefume, the first. Editors might hesitate at; tho' it is a very proper one, and a Word elsewhere used by our Author. Besides, in the Paffage under C 4

Exami

Have vanquish'd the refiftance of her youth,

And made defeat of her virginity

Claud. I know what you would say: 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 otherwise to you?

Claud. Out on thy Seeming! I will write against it; You seem to me as Dian in her orb,

As chafte 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 speak not you?
Pedro. What fhould I speak?

I ftand dishonour'd, that have gone about
To link

my dear friend to a common Stale.

Leon. Are these things fpoken, 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 daughter,

And, by that fatherly and kindly power

That you have in her, bid her answer truly.

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

Examination, this Word comes in almost necessarily, as Clau die had faid in the Line immediately preceding;

Not knit my Soul to an approved Wanton.

What