her with what he faw o'er night, and fend her home again without a husband.

1 Watch. We charge you in the Prince's name, ftand.

2 Watch. Call up the right Mafter Constable; we have here recovered the most dangerous piece of lechery that ever was known in the common-wealth.

I Watch. And one deformed is one of them; I know him, he wears a lock.

Conr. Mafters, Mafters,

2 Watch. You'll be made bring deformed forth, L warrant you.

Conr. Mafters,

1 Watch. Never fpeak; we charge you, let us obey with us you to go

Bora. We are like to prove a goodly commodity, being taken up of these mens bills.

Conr. A commodity in question, I warrant you: come, we'll obey you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI. Hero's apartment in Leonato's house.

Enter Hero, Margaret, and Urfula.

Hero. Good Urfula, wake my coufin Beatrice, and defire her to rife.

Urf. I will, Lady.

Hero. And bid her come hither.
Urf. Well.

[Exit.

Marg. Troth, I think your other rebato were better. Hero. No, pray thee, good Meg, I'll wear this. Marg. By my troth, it's not fo good; and I warrant your coufin will fay fo.

Hero. My coufin's a fool, and thou art another. I'll wear none but this.

Marg. I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair were a thought browner; and your gown's a moft rare fashion, i'faith. I faw the Duchefs of Milan's gown, that they praise so.

Hero. O, that exceeds, they fay.

Marg. By my troth, it's but a night-gown in refpect of your's cloth of gold and cuts, and lace'd with filver, fet with pearls down-fleeves, fide-fleeves and fkirts,

round

1

round underborne with a bluish tinfel; but for a fine, queint, graceful, and excellent fashion, your's is worth

ten on't.

Hero. God give me joy to wear it, for my heart is exceeding heavy!

Marg. Twill be heavier foon by the weight of a man. Hero. Fie upon thee, art not asham'd?

Marg. Of what, Lady? of speaking honourably? Is not marriage honourable in a beggar? is not your Lord honourable without marriage? I think you would have me fay (faving your reverence) a husband. If bad thinking do not wreft true fpeaking, I'll offend no body; is there any harm in the heavier for a husband? None, I think, if it be the right husband, and the right wife, otherwife 'tis light and not heavy. Afk my Lady Beatrice elfe, here fhe comes.

SCENE VII.

Hero. Good morrow, coz.

Enter Beatrice.

Beat. Good morrow, fweet Hero.

Hero. Why, how now? do you fpeak in the fick tune?

Beat. I am out of all other tune, methinks.

Marg. Clap us into Light o'love; that goes without a burden; do you fing it, and I'll dance it.

Beat. Yes, Light o'love with your heels; then if your husband have stables enough, you'll look he shall lack no barns.

Marg. O illegitimate construction! I fcorn that with my heels.

Beat. 'Tis almost five o'clock, coufin; 'tis time you were ready by my troth, I am exceeding ill; hey ho! - Marg. For a hawk, a horse, or a husband?

Beat. For the letter that begins them all, H.

Mar. Well, if you be not turn'd Turk, there's no more failing by the ftar.

Beat. What means the fool, trow?

Marg. Nothing I, but God fend every one their heart's defire !

Hero. Thefe gloves the Count fent me; they are an excellent perfume.

Beat. I am stuff'd, coufin, I cannot smell.

VOL. II.

F

Marg.

Marg. A maid, and ftuff'd! there's goodly catching of cold.

Beat. O, God help me, God help me, how long have you profefs'd apprehenfion?

Marg. Ever fince you left it; doth not my wit become me rarely?

Beat. It is not feen enough, you should wear it in your cap. By my troth, I am fick.

Marg. Get you fome of this diftill'd Carduus Benedictus, and lay it to your heart; it is the only thing for a qualm.

Hero. There thou prick'st her with a thistle.

Beat. Benedictus? why Benedictus you have fome moral in this Benedictus.

Marg. Moral? no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning, I meant plain holy-thiftle. You may think, perchance, that I think you are in love; nay, birlady, I am not fuch a fool to think what I list; nor I list not to think what I can; nor indeed I cannot think, if I would think my heart out with thinking, that you are in love, or that you will be in love, or that you can be in love. Yet Benedict was fuch another, and now is he become a man. He fwore he would never marry; and yet now, in defpight of his heart, he eats his meat without grudging: and how you may be converted, 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 falfe gallop.

Enter Urfula.

Urf. Madam, withdraw; the Prince, the Count, Signior Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the town, are come to fetch you to church.

Hero. Help to drefs me, good coz. good Meg, good Urfula.

[Exeunt. SCENE VIII. Another apartment in Leonato's houfe.

Enter Leonato, with Dogberry and Verges. Leon. What would you with me, honeft neighbour? Dogb. Marry, Sir, I would have fome confidence with you, that decerns you nearly.

Leon.

Leon Brief, I pray you; for, you fee, 'tis a busy time with me

Dogb. Marry, this it is, Sir.

Verg. Yes, in truth it is, Sir.

Leon. What is it, my good friends?

Dogb. Goodman Verges, Sir, fpeaks a little of the matter; an old man, Sir, and his wits are not fo blunt, as, God help, I would defire they were; but, in faith, as honeft as the fkin between his brows.

Verg "Yes, I thank God, I am as honeft as any man living, that is an old man, and no honefter " than I "

Dogb. Comparisons are odorous; palabras, neighbour Verges.

Leon Neighbours, you are tedious.

Dogb. It pleafes 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 Worfhip.

Leon. All thy tedioufneís on me, ha?

Dogb. Yea, and 'twere a thousand times more than 'tis, for I hear as good exclamation on your Worfhip as of any man in the city; and though I be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it.

Verg. And fo am I.

Leon. I would fain know what you have to fay. Verg. Marry, Sir, our watch to-night, excepting your Worship's prefence, hath ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina.

66

66

Dogb. "A good old man, Sir; he will be talking, as they fay; when the age is in, the wit is out; God help us, it is a world to fee: well faid, ' faith, neighbour Verges; well, he's a good man; an two "men ride an horse, one must ride behind; an honeft foul, i' faith, Sir, by my troth he is, as ever broke "bread, but God is to be worfhipp'd; all men are "not alike, alas, good neighbour!"

Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too fhort of you. Dogb. Gifts, that God gives.

Leon I must leave you.

Dogb. One word, Sir; our watch have, indeed, comprehended two aufpicious perfons; and we would

F 2

have

have them this morning examin'd before your Worship. Leon Take their examination yourself, and bring it me; I am now in great haste, as may appear unto you. Dogb It fhall be fuffigance.

Leon. Drink fome wine ere you go: fare you well.
Enter a meffenger.

Me. My Lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband.

Leon. I'll wait upon them. I am ready. [Ex. Leon. Dogb. Go, good partner, go get you to Francis Seacole, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail, we are now to examine those men.

Verg. And we must do it wifely.

Dogb. "We will spare for no wit, I warrant; here's "that fhall drive fome of them to a non-come." On ly get the learned writer to fet down our excommunication, and meet me at the jail. [Exeunt.

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

Leon plain form of marriage, and you shall re

OME, Friar Francis, be brief, only to the

count their particular duties afterwards.

Friar. You come hither, my Lord, to marry this lady?

Claud. No.

Leon. To be marry'd to her, Friar; you come to marry her.

Friar. Lady, you come hither to be marry'd to this Count!

Hero. I do.

Friar. If any of you know any inward impediment why you should not be conjoin'd, I charge you on your fouls to utter it.

Claud. Know you any, Hero?
Hero. None, my Lord.

Friar. Know you any, Count

Leon