DOG. Yea, an 't were a thousand pound more than 't is; for I hear as good exclamation on your worship as of any man in the city; and though 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 presence, ha' ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves 30 as any in Messina.

DOG. A good old man, sir; he will be talking: as they say, When the age is in, the wit is out: God help us! it is a world to see. Well said, i' faith, neighbour Verges: well, God's a good man; an two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind. An honest soul, i' faith, sir; by my troth he is, as ever broke bread; but God is to be worshipped; all men are not alike; alas, good neighbour!

LEON. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you. DOG. Gifts that God gives.

LEON. I must leave you.

DOG. One word, sir: our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your worship.

LEON. Take their examination yourself, and bring it me: I am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you. DOG. It shall be suffigance.

LEON. Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well.

35 God's a good man] a colloquial exclamation in which "man" has merely the significance of "being."

40

Enter a MESSENGER

MESS. My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband.

LEON. I'll wait upon them: I am ready.

[Exeunt Leonato and Messenger.

DOG. Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacole; bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol: we are now to examination these men.

VERG. And we must do it wisely.

DOG. We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's that shall drive some of them to a noncome: only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol.

[Exeunt.

52 Francis Seacole] See III, iii, 10, "George Seacole," and note. 54 examination] Thus the Quarto; the Folio needlessly substitutes the

more correct examine.

57 noncome] Dogberry blunders into an abbreviated form of “ non compos" when he intends to say "non-plus."

50

Enter DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, LEONATO, FRIAR FRANCIS,
CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, BEATRICE, and attendants

LEONATO

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 married to her: friar, you come to marry her. FRIAR. Lady, you come hither to be married to this count.

HERO. I do.

you know any inward impediment

why you should not be conjoined, I charge you, on your

10

souls, to utter it.

CLAUD. Know you any, Hero?

HERO. None, my lord.

FRIAR. Know you any, count?

LEON. I dare make his answer, 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, ah, ha, he!

CLAUD. Stand thee by, friar.

Father, by your leave:

Will you with free and unconstrained soul

Give me this maid, your daughter?

LEON. As freely, son, as God did give her me. CLAUD. And what have I to give you back, whose worth

May counterpoise this rich and precious gift?

D. PEDRO. Nothing, unless you render her again. CLAUD. Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankful

ness.

There, Leonato, take her back again:

Give not this rotten orange to your friend;

She's but the sign and semblance of her honour.
Behold how like a maid she blushes here!

O, what authority and show of truth

Can cunning sin cover itself withal!

Comes not that blood as modest evidence

To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear,

11-13 If either . . . utter it] This is taken directly from the marriage service of the Church of England.

19 not knowing what they do] These words are from the Quarto; they are omitted from the Folios.

20

30

All you that see her, that she were a maid,
By these exterior shows? But she is none:
She knows the heat of a luxurious bed;
Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty.
LEON. What do you mean, my lord?
CLAUD.

Not to be married,

Not to knit my soul to an approved wanton.

LEON. Dear my lord, if you, in your own proof, Have vanquish'd the resistance of her youth,

And made defeat of her virginity,

CLAUD. I know what you would say: if I have known

her,

You will say she did embrace me as a husband,

And so extenuate the 'forehand sin:

No, Leonato,

I never tempted her with word too large;
But, as a brother to his sister, show'd

Bashful sincerity and comely love.

HERO. And seem'd I ever otherwise to you?
CLAUD. Out on thee!

against it:

Seeming!

You seem to me as Dian in her orb,

As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown;

I will write

But you are more intemperate in your blood

Than Venus, or those pamper'd animals

That rage in

savage sensuality.

HERO. Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide?
LEON. Sweet prince, why speak not you?

55 write against it] proclaim against, denounce it. Cf. Cymb. II, v, 32: "I will write against them."

40

50

60