Ant. He is very bufy about it; but, brother, I can tell you news that you yet dream'd not of.

Leon. Are they good?

Ant. As the event stamps them, but they have a good cover; they show well outward. The Prince and Count Claudio, walking in a thick-pleached alley in my orchard, were thus overheard by a man of mine : The Prince discover'd to Claudio, that he lov'd my niece your daughter, and meant to acknowledge it this night in a dance; and if he found her accordant, he meant to take the present time by the top, and instantIy break with you of it.

Leon. Hath the fellow any wit that told you this? Ant. A good sharp fellow; I will fend for him, and question him yourself.

Leon. No, no; we will hold it as a dream, till it appear itself: but I will acquaint my daughter withal, that she may be the better prepared for anfwer, if per adventure this be true; go you and tell her of it. Coufins, you know what you have to do. [Several crofs. the stage bere. O, I cry you mercy, friend, go you with me, and I will use your skill; good coufin, have a care this busy time. [Exeunt.

Changes to an apartment in Leonato's house.

Enter Don John and Conrade.

Conr. What the good-jer, my Lord, why are you thus out of measure fad ?

John. There is no measure in the occafion that breeds it, therefore the fadness is without limit. Conr. You should hear reason.

John. And when I have heard it, what bleffing bringeth it?

Conr. If not a present remedy, yet a patient fuffe

rance.

John. I wonder, that thou (being, as thou say'st thou art, born under Saturn) goest about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I am: I must be fad when I have cause, and smile at no man's jests; eat when I have ftomach, and wait

for

for no man's leisure; fleep when I am drowsy, and tend on no man's business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his humour.

Conr. Yea, but you must not make the full show of this, till you may do it without controlement. You have of late stood out against your brother, and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace, where it is impoffible you should take root, but by the fair weather that you make yourself; it is needful that you frame the feafon for your own harvest.

John. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rose in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be disdain'd of all, than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any: in this (though I cannot be faid to be a flattering honeft man) it must not be deny'd but I am a plain-dealing villain; I am trusted with a muzzel, and infranchised with a clog, therefore I have decreed not to fing in my cage: if I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking: in the mean time let me be that I am, and feek not to alter me.

Conr. Can you make no use of your difcontent? John. I will make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here? What news, Borachio ?

Enter Borachio.

Bora. I came yonder from a great fupper; the Prince, your brother, is royally entertain'd by Leonato, and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage.

John. Will it ferve for any model to build mischief on? what is he for a fool, that betrothes himself to unquietness?

Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right hand.
John. Who, the most exquisite Claudio ?

Bora. Even he.

John. A proper Squire! and who, and who? which way looks he?

• Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato.

John. A very forward March chick! How come you

to this?

D

Bora. Being entertain'd for a perfumer, as I smoking a musty room, comes me the Prince and C dío hand in hand in fad conference. I whipt bel the arras, and there heard it agreed upon, that Prince should woo Hero for himself; and having tain'd her, give her to Count Claudio.

John. Come, come, let us thither; this may p food to my difpleasure: that young start-up hatl the glory of my overthrow. If I can cross him way, I bless myself every way; you are both f and will afsist me.

Conr. To the death, my Lord.

John. Let us to the great fupper; their cheer is greater that I am fubdu'd; would the cook wer my mind! Shall we go prove what's to be do Bora. We'll wait upon your Lordship. [Exe

ACT II.

4

A hall in Leonato's house.

Enter Leonato, Antonio, Hero, Beatrice, Marga

Leon.

and Urfula.

W

AS not Count John here at fupper?
Ant. I faw him not.

Beat. How tartly that gentleman looks! I never fee him, but I am heart-burn'd an hour after. Hero. He is of a very melancholy difpofition. Beat. He were an excellent man, that were m just in the mid-way between him and Benedick: one is too like an image, and says nothing; and other too like my Lady's eldest fon, evermore tatli Lean. Then half Signior Benedick's tongue in Co John's mouth, and half Count John's melanchol Signior Benedick's face--

Beat. With a good leg, and a good foot, uncle, money enough in his purse, such a man would win woman in the world, if he could get her good-wi Leon. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get t a husband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue.

Ant In faith the's too curs'd

Beat. Too curs'd is more than curs'd. I shall lefssen God's fending that way for it is faid, God fends a curs'd cow short horns; but to a cow too curs'd, he fends none.

Leon. So, by being too curs'd, God will send you no horns.

Beat. Just if he send me no husband; for the which bleffing I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening. Lord! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face, I had rather lie in woollen.

Leon. You may light upon a husband that hath no beard.

Beat. What should I do with him? dress him in my apparel, and make him my waiting gentlewoman? He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man; and he that is more than a youth, is not for me; and he that is less than a man, I am not for him: therefore I will even take fixpence in earnest of the bear-herd, and lead his apes into hell *.

Ant. Well, niece, I trust, you will be rul'd by your father. [To Hero.

Beat. Yes, faith, it is my cousin's duty to make curtsy, and say, Father, as it pleases you; but yet for all that, coufin, let him be a handfome fellow, or elfe make another curtsy, and say, Father, as it pleases me.

Leon. Well, niece, I hope to fee you one day fitted with a husband.

Beat. Not till God make men of fome other metal than earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be overmater'd with a piece of valiant dust? to make account of her life to a clod of wayward marle? No, uncle, I'll none; Adam's fons are my brethren, and, truly, I hold it a fin to match in my kindred.

Leon. Daughter, remember, what I told you; if the Prince do folicit you in that kind, you know your anfwer.

Beat. The fault will be in the mufic, coufin, if you be not woo'd in good time. If the Prince be too importunate, tell him, there is measure in every thing, and fo dance out the anfwer: for hear me, Hero, wooing, wedding, and repenting, is a Scotch jig, a meafure, and a cinque-pace; the first fuit is hot and hafty, like a Scotch jig, and full as fantastical; the wedding mannerly modeft, as a measure, full of state and anchentry; and then comes repentance, and with his bad legs falls into the cinque-pace faster and fafter, till he finks into his grave.

Leon. Coufin you apprehend paffing shrewdly. Beat. I have a good eye, uncle, I can fee a church by day-light.

Leon. The ravellers are entering, brother; make good room.

Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar, and

others in masquerade.

Pedro. Lady, will you walk with your friend?

Hero, So you walk foftly, and look sweetly, and fay nothing, I am your's for the walk, and especially when I walk away.

Pedro. With me in your company?

Hero. I may say so when I please.

Pedro. And when please you to fay fo?

Hero. When I like your favour; for God defend, the lute should be like the cafe !

Pedro. My visor is Philemon's roof; within the house is Jove.

Hero. Why, then your vifor should be thatch'd. Pedro. Speak low, if you speak love *.

Balth. Well; I would you did like me.

Marg. So would not I for your own fake, for I have

many ill qualities.

Balth. Which is one?

* This seems to be a line quoted from a fong or some verses commonly known at that time,

Marg.