I never tempted her with word too large; Bashful sincerity, and comely love. Hero. And seem'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 chaste as is the bud, ere it be blown: But you are more intemperate in your blood That rage in savage sensuality. Hero. Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide? I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about Leon. Are these things spoken? or do I but dream? true. Bene. This looks not like a nuptial. Hero. True, O God! Claud. Leonato, stand 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 so; But what of this, my lord? Claud. Let me but move one question to your daugh ter; And, by that fatherly and kindly power That you have in her, bid her answer truly. Leon. I charge thee do so, as thou art my child. Hero. O God defend me! how am I beset!What kind of catechizing call you this? Claud. To make you answer truly to your name. Hero. Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name With any just reproach? Claud. Marry, that can Hero; Hero itself can blot out Hero's virtue. What man was he talk'd with you yesternight Hero. I talk'd with no man at that hour, my lord. D. Pedro. Why, then are you no maiden.-Leonato, I am sorry you must hear; Upon mine honour, Myself, my brother, and this grieved count, Did see her, hear her, at that hour last night, Talk with a ruffian at her chamber-window; Who hath, indeed, most like a liberal villain, Confess'd the vile encounters they have had A thousand times in secret. D. John. Fye, fye! they are Not to be nam'd, my lord, not to be spoke of; Claud. O Hero! what a Hero hadst thou been, Leon. Hath no man's dagger here a point for me? Beat. Why, how now, cousin? wherefore sink you down? D. John. Come, let us go: these things, come thus to light, Smother her spirits up. [Exeunt Don PEDRO, Don JOHN, and CLAUDIO. Bene. How doth the lady? Beat. Dead, I think;-help, uncle;-Hero! why, Hero!-Uncle !-Signior Benedict!—friar! Leon. O fate, take not away thy heavy hand! Death is the fairest cover for her shame, That may be wish'd for. Beat. How now, cousin Hero? Friar. Have comfort, lady. Leon. Dost thou look up? Friar. Yea; Wherefore should she not? Leon. Wherefore? Why, doth not every earthly thing Cry shame upon her? Could she here deny This shame derives itself from unknown loins? But mine, and mine, I lov'd, and mine, I prais'd, Into a pit of ink! that the wide sea Hath drops too few to wash her clean again, Bene. Sir, sir, be patient: For my part, I am so attir'd in wonder, Beat. O, on my soul, my cousin is belied! Bene. Lady, were you her bedfellow last night? Beat. No, truly, not; although, until last night, I have this twelvemonth been her bedfellow. Leon. Confirm'd, confirm'd! O, that is stronger made, Which was before barr'd up with ribs of iron! Would the two princes lie? and Claudio lie? Who lov'd her so, that, speaking of her foulness, Wash'd it with tears? hence from her; let her die. Friar. Hear me a little For I have only been silent so long, And given way unto this course of fortune, Which with experimental seal doth warrant If this sweet lady lie not guiltless here Leon. Friar, it cannot be: Thou seest, that all the grace, that she hath left, A sin of perjury; she not denies it: Why seek'st thou then to cover with excuse That, which appears in proper nakedness? Friar. Lady, what man is he you are accus'd of? Hero. They know, that do accuse me; I know none: If I know more of any man alive, Than that which maiden modesty doth warrant, Maintain'd the change of words with any creature, Friar. There is some strange misprision in the prin ces. Bene. Two of them have the very bent of honour; And if their wisdoms be misled in this, The practice of it lives in John the bastard, Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies. Leon. I know not; If they speak but truth of her, These hands shall tear her; if they wrong her honour, The proudest of them shall well hear of it. Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havock of my means, |