what I can; nor, indeed, I cannot think, if
I would think my heart out of thinking, that
you are in love, or that you will be in love, or
that you can be in love. Yet Benedick was 90
such another, and now is he become a man:
he swore he would never marry; and yet
now, in despite of his heart, he eats his meat
without grudging: and how you may be con-
verted, 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.

Re-enter Ursula.

Urs. Madam, withdraw: the prince, the count, Signior Benedick, Don John, and all the 100 gallants of the town, are come to fetch you to church.

Hero. Help to dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Ursula.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V

Another room in Leonato's house.

Enter Leonato, with Dogberry and Verges. Leon. What would you with me, honest neighbor?

Dog. Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you that decerns you nearly.

93. "eats his meat without grudging"; that is, feeds on love, and likes his food.-H. N. H.

3. "confidence"; for conference.-C. H. H.

Leon. Brief, I pray you; for you see it is a

busy time with me.

Dog. Marry, this it is, sir.

Verg. Yes, in truth it is, sir.

Leon. What is it, my good friends?

Dog. Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off 10 the matter: an old man, sir, and his wits are not so blunt as, God help, I would desire they were; but, in faith, honest 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.

Dog. Comparisons

neighbor Verges.

are odorous: palabras,

Leon. Neighbors, you are tedious.

Dog. It pleases your worship to say so, 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, ah?
Dog. Yea, an 't were a thousand pound more
than 'tis; for I hear as good exclamation on
your worship as of any man in the city; and

20

18. "Comparisons are odorous." An elaborate extension of this joke occurs in the old play of Sir Gyles Goosecappe (c. 1603).—I. G.

22. "the poor Duke's officers"; this stroke of pleasantry, arising from the transposition of the epithet poor, has already occurred in Measure for Measure. Elbow says, "If it please your honour, I am the poor Duke's constable."-H. N. H.

23. "tedious"; Dogberry understands by the word "gracious," or the like.-C. H. H.

though I be but a poor man, I am glad to 30 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 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, i̇' faith, neighbor Verges: well, God's 40 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 worshiped; all men are not alike; alas, good neighbor!

Leon. Indeed, neighbor, 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 50 comprehended two aspicious persons, and we

38. "When the age is in, the wit is out"; a blunder for the old proverbial expression, "when the ale is in, wit is out"

"When ale is in, wit is out,

When ale is out, wit is in,

The first thou showest out of doubt,
The last in thee hath not been."

-HEYWOOD'S Epigrams and Proverbs.
-I. G.

39. "a world to see"; this was a common apostrophe of admiration, equivalent to it is wonderful, or it is admirable. Baret in his Alvearie, 1580, explains "It is a world to heare" by "It is a thing worthie the hearing, audire est operæ pretium." In Cavendish's Life of Wolsey we have "Is it not a world to consider?”—H. N. H.

would have them this morning examined be-
fore 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.

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.

60

[Exeunt Leonato and Messenger. Dog. Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacole; bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail: 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 70 down our excommunication, and meet me at the jail.

[Exeunt.

ACT FOURTH

SCENE I

A church.

Enter Don Pedro, Don John, Leonato, Friar Francis, Claudio, Benedick, Hero, Beatrice, and attendants.

Leon. Come, 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.

Friar. If either of you know any inward im-
pediment why you should not be conjoined,
I charge you, on your souls, to utter it.
Claud. Know you any, Hero?

Hero. None, my lord.

10

12. "know any inward impediment"; this is borrowed from our marriage ceremony, which (with a few changes in phraseology) is the same as was used in Shakespeare's time.-H. N. H.