John. I know not that, when he knows what I know. Claud. If there be any impediment, I pray you difcover it. John. You may think I love you not; let that ap pear hereafter, and aim better at me by that I now will manifeft; for my brother, I think, he holds you well, and in dearnefs of heart hath holp to effect your enfuing marriage; furely, fuit ill fpent, and labour ill bestow'd! Pedro. Why, what's the matter? John I came hither to tell you, and circumftances fhorten'd, (for fhe hath been too long a talking of), the lady is difloyal. Claud. Who? Hero? John. Even the; Leonato's Héro, your Hero, every man's Hero. Claud. Difloyal? John. The word is too good to paint out her wickednefs. I could fay fhe were worfe; think you of a worse title, and I will fit her to it; wonder not till further warrant; go but with me to-night, you fhall fee her chamber-window enter'd, even the night before her wedding-day. If you love her, then to-morrow wed her; but it would better fit your honour to change your mind. Claud. May this be fo? Pedro. I will not think it.. John. If you dare not truft that you fee, confefs not that you know; if you will follow me, I will fhew you enough; and when you have feen more and heard more, proceed accordingly. Claud. If I fee any thing to-night why I fhould not marry her to-morrow; in the congregation, where I fhould wed, there will I fhame her. Pedro. And as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will o in with thee to difgrace her. John. I will disparage her no farther, till you are my witneffes; bear it coldly but till night, and let the iffue fhew itfelf. Pedro. O day untowardly turn'd! E 2 John. So John O plague right yell prevented! you will fay, when you have feen the fequel. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. Changes to the street. Enter Dogberry and Verges, with the watch. Dogb. Are you good men and true? Verg. Yea, or else it were pity but they should fuffer falvation, body and foul. Dogh Nay that were a punishment too good for them, if they fhould have any allegiance in them, being chofen for the Prince's watch. Verg. Well, give them their charge, neighbour Dogberry Dogb. First, who think you the most defartlefs man to be conftable? 1 Watch. Hugh Oatcake, Sir, or George Seacole; for they can write and read. Dogh. Come hither, neighbour Seacole: God hath bleffed you with a good name; and to be a well-favour'd man is the gift of fortune, but to write and read comes by nature. 3 2 Watch. Both which, Mafter Conftable Dogb. You have: I knew, it would be your answer. Well, for your favour, Sir, why, give God thanks, and make no boast of it; and for your writing and reading, let that appear when there is more need of fuch vanity: you are thought here to be the moft fenfelefs and fit man for the conftable of the watch, therefore bear you the lanthorn; this is your charge: you fhall comprehend all vagrom men; you are to bid any man ftand, in the Prince's name. 2 Watch. How if he will not ftand! Dogb. Why, then take no note of him, but let him go; and prefently call the reft of the watch together, and thank God you are rid of a knave. Verg. If he will not ftand when he is bidden, he is none of the Prince's fubjects. Dogb True, and they are to meddle with none but the Prince's fubjects. You fhall alfo make no noise in the the streets; for, for the watch to babble and talk, is moft tolerable, and not to be endur'd 2 Watch" Weill rather fleep than talk; we know "what belongs to a watch." Dogb. "Why, you speak like an ancient and most quiet watchman, for I cannot fee how fleeping "fhould offend only have a care that your bills be "not ftolen. Well, you are to call at all the alehoufes, and bid them that are drunk get them to "bed." 2 Watch. How if they will not? Dough. Why then let them alone till they are fober; if they make you not then the better anfwer, you may fay, they are not the men you took them for. 2 Watch. Well, Sir. Dogb. If you meet a thief, you may suspect him by virtue of your office to be no true man; and for fuch kind of men, the less you meddle or make with them, why, the more is for your honesty. 2 Watch. If we know him to be a thief, shall we not lay hands on him? Dogb. Truly, by your office you may; but, I think, they that touch pitch will de defil'd: the moft peaceable way for you, if you do take a thief, is, to let him fhew himself what he is, and fteal out of your company. Verg. You have been always call'd a merciful man, partner. Dogb. Truly, I would not hang a dog by my will, much more a man who hath any honesty in him. Verg. If you hear a child cry in the night, you must 'call to the nurfe and bid her ftill it. 2 Watch. How if the nurse be asleep, and will not hear us? Dogb. Why, then depart in peace, and let the child wake her with crying: for the ewe that will not hear her lamb when it baes, will never anfwer a calf when he bleats. Verg. 'Tis very true. Dogb. This is the end of the charge: you, constable, are to present the Prince's own person; if you meet the Prince in the night, you may fay him. Verg. Nay, birlady, that, I think, he cannot. Dogb. Five fhillings to one on't with any man that knows the ftatutes, he may ftay him; marry, not without the Prince be willing: for indeed the watch ought to offend no man; and it is an offence to stay a man against his will. Verg. Birlady, I think it be fo. Dogb. Ha, ha, ha! well, mafters, good night; an there be any matter of weight chances, call up me; keep your fellow's counfels and your own, and good night. Come, neighbour. go 2 Watch. Well, mafters, we hear our charge; let us fit here upon the church-bench till two, and then all to bed. Dogb. One word more, honeft neighbours. I pray you watch about Signior Leonato's door, for the wedding being there to-morrow, there is a great coil tonight. Adieu; be vigilant, I beseech you. [Exeunt Dogberry and Verges. SCENE V. Enter Borachio and Conrade. Bora. What? Conrade Watch. Peace, ftir not. Bora. Conrade, I fay. Conr. Here, man, I am at thy elbow. [Afide. Bora. Mafs, and my elbow itch'd, I thought there would a fcab follow. Conr. I will owe thee an answer for that, and now forward with thy tale. Bora. Stand thee close then under this pent-houfe, for it drizzles rain, and I will, like a true drunkard, utter all to thee. Watch. Some treafon, masters; yet ftand clofe. Bora. Therefore know, I have earned of Don John a thoufand ducats. Conr. Is it poffible that any villany fhould be fo dear? Bora. Thou fhould'ft rather afk, if it were poffible any villain should be fo rich? for when rich villains have need of poor ones, poor ones may make what price they will. Conr. I wonder at it. Bora. Bora. That fhews, thou art unconfirm'd, thou knoweft, that the fashion of a doublet, or a hat, or a cloak, is nothing to a man. Conr. Yes, it is apparel. Bora. I mean the fashion. Conr. Yes, the fashion is the fashion. Bora. Tufh, I may as well fay, the fool's the fool; but fee'it thou not, what a deformed thief this fashion is? Watch. I know that deformed; he has been a vile thief these seven years; he goes up and down like a gentleman: I remember his name. Bora Didft thou not hear fome body? Conr. No, 'twas the vane on the house. Bora. Seeft thou not, I fay, what a deformed thief this fashion is? how giddily he turns about all the hotbloods between fourteen and five and thirty, fometimes fashioning them like Pharaoh's foldiers in the reachy painting; fometimes like the God sel's priefts in the old church window; fometimes like the fhaven Hercules * in the smirch worm-eaten tapestry, where his codpiece feems as maffy as his club.. Conr. All this I fee, and fee that the fashion wears out more apparel than the man; but art not thou thyfelf giddy with the fashion too, that thou haft fhifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fashion? Bora. Not fo neither; but know, that I have to-night wooed Margaret, the Lady Hero's gentlewoman, by the name of Hero; the leans me out at her mistress's chamber-window, bids me a thousand times good night I tell this tale vildly-I fhould first tell thee, how the Prince, Claudio, and my master, planted and placed, and poffeffed by my mafter Don John, faw a far off in the orchard this amiable encounter. Conr. And thought they Margaret was Hero? Bora. Two of them did, the Prince and Claudio; but the devil my mater knew the was Margaret; and partly by his oaths, which firft poffefs'd them; partly by the dark night, which did deceive them; but chiefly by my villany, which did confirm any flander that Don John had made, away went Claudio enraged; fwore, he would meet her as he was appointed next morning at the temple, and there, before the whole congregation, shame Meaning Samfon, her |