That may be wish'd for. Beat. How now, cousin Hero? Friar. Have comfort, lady. Leon. Cry shame upon her? Could she here deny Myself would, on the reacward of reproaches, loins? That I myself was to myself not mine, Bene. Beat. 0, on my soul, my cousin is belied! Bene. Lady, were you her bedfellow last night? [night, Beat. No, truly, not : although, until last 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 foul - ness, [die. Wash'd it with tears? Hence from her; let her Friar. Hear me a little; For I have only been silent so long, * Disposition of things. | + Sallied. || Over-rate. | Thou seest, that all the grace that she hath left, Is, that she will not add to her damnation 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? [know none: Hero. They know, that do accuse me; I If I know more of any man alive, [rant, Than that which maiden modesty doth warLet all my sins lack mercy!—O my father, Prove you that any man with me convers'd At hours unmeet, or that I yesternight [tare, Maintain'd the change of words with any creaRefuse me, hate me, torture me to death. Friar. There is some strange misprision [honour ; in the princes. Bene. Two of them have the very bent of Nor fortune made such havock of my means, Friar. Pause a while, And let my counsel sway you in this case. Your daughter here the princes left for dead; Let her awhile be secretly kept in, And publish it, that she is dead indeed : Maintain a mourning ostentation ; And on your family's old monument Hang mournful epitaphs, and do all rites That appertain unto a burial. Leon. What shall become of this? What will this do? Friar. Marry, this, well carried, shall on her behalf [good: Change slander to remorse; that is some But not for that, dream I on this strange And every lovely organ of her life Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit, (If ever love had interest in his liver,) you: [love And though, you know, my inwardness and Is very much unto the prince and Claudio, Yet, by mine honour, I will deal in this As secretly, and justly, as your soul =Should with your body. Leon. Being that I flow in grief, The smallest twine may lead me. Friar. Tis well consented; presently away; [cure.For to strange sores strangely they strain the Come, lady, die to live: this wedding day, Perhaps, is but prolong'd; have patience, and endure. of [Exeunt Friar, HERO, and LEONATO. Bene. Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this while? Beat. Yea, and I will weep a while longer. Bene. I will not desire that. Beat. You have no reason, I do it freely. Bene. Surely, I do believe your fair cousin is wrong'd. Beat. Ah, how much might the man deserve me, that would right her! Bene. Is there any way to show such friendship? Beat. A very even way, but no such friend. Bene. May a man do it? Beat. It is a man's office, but not yours. Bene. I do love nothing in the world so well as you; Is not that strange? Beat. As strange as the thing I know not: It were as possible for me to say, I loved nothing so well as you: but believe me not; and yet I lie not; I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing:-1 am sorry for my consin. Bene. By my sword, Beatrice,thon lovest me. Beat. Do not swear by it, and eat it. Bene. I will swear by it, that you love me; and I will make him eat it, that says, I love not you. Beat. Will you not eat your word?t Bene. With no sance that can be devised to it: I protest, I love thee. Beat. Why then, God forgive me! * Intimacy. + Delude her with hopes. Bene. What offence, sweet Beatrice? Beat. You have staid me in a happy hour; I was about to protest, I loved you. Bene. And do it with all thy heart. Beat. I love you with so much of my heart, that none is left to protest. Bene. Come, bid me do any thing for thee. Bene. Ha! not for the wide world. Beat. I am gone, though I am here;There is no love in yon:-Nay, I pray you, let me go. Bene. Beatrice,― Beut. In faith, I will go. Bene. We'll be friends first.. Beat. You dare easier be friends with me, than fight with mine enemy. Bene. Is Claudio, thine enemy? Beut. Is he not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, disho noured my kinswoman-0, that I were a man!-What! bear her in hand† until they come to take hands; and then with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour, O God, that 1 were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place. Bene. Hear me, Beatrice; a Beat. Talk with a man out at a window?→→ proper saying! Bene. Nay but, Beatrice;Beat. Sweet Hero!-she is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone. Bene. Beat Beat. Princes, and counties! Surely, a princely testimony, a goodly count-confects; a sweet gallant, surely! O that I were a man for his sake! or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is melted into courtesies, valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules, that only tells a lie, and swears it :I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving. Bene. Tarry, good Beatrice : By this hand, I love thee. Beat. Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it. Bene. Think you in your soul the count Claudio hath wronged Hero? Beat. Yea, as sure as I have a thought, or a soul. Bene. Enough, I am engaged, I will challenge him; I will kiss your hand, and so leave you: By this hand, Claudio shall render me a dear account: As you hear of me, so think of me. Go, comfort your cousin: I must say, she is dead; and so, farewell. ! [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Prison. Enter DoG BERRY, VERGES, and Sexton in gowns; and the Watch, with CONRADE and BORACHIO. Dogb. Is our whole dissembly appeared? i Noblemen. § A nobleman made out of sugar. || Ceremony. Verg. O, a stool and a cushion for the sexton! Sexton. Which be the malefactors? Dogb. Marry, that an I and my partner. Verg. Nay, that's certain; we have the exhibition to examine. Sexton. But which are the offenders that are to be examined? let them come before master constable. Sexton. What heard you him say else? 2 Watch, Marry, that he had received a thousand ducats of Don John, for accusing the lady Hero wrongfully. Dogb. Flat burglary, as ever was committed. 1 Watch, And that count Clandio did Dogb. Yea, marry, let them come before mean, upon his words, to disgrace Hero before me. What is your name, friend? Bora. Borachio. -Dogb. "Pray write down-Borachio. Yours, sirrah? Con. I am a gentleman, sir, and my name is Conrade. Dogb. Write down-master gentleman Conrade.--Masters, do you serve God? Con. Bora. Yea, sir, we hope. Dogb. Write down-that they hope they serve God and write God first; for God defend but God should go before such villains! Masters, it is proved already that you are little better than false knaves; and it will go near to be thought so shortly. How answer you for yourselves? Con. Marry, sir, we say we are none. Dogb. A marvellous witty fellow, I assure you; but I will go about with him.-Come you hither, sirrah; a word in your ear, sir; I say to you, it is thought you are false knaves. Bora. Sir, I say to you, we are none. Dogb. Well, stand aside.-'Fore God,they are both in a tale: Have you wiit down that they are none? Sexton. Master constable, you go not the way to examine;"you must call forth the watch that are their accusers. Dogb. Yea, marry, that's the eftest way: Let the watch come forth :-Masters, I charge you, in the prince's name, accuse these men. I Watch. This man said, sir, that Don John, the prince's brother, was a villain. Dogb.Write down-prince John a villain:Why this is flat perjury, to call a prince's brother-villain. the whole assembly, and not marry her. Dogb. villain! thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption for this. Sexton. What else? 2 Watch. This is all. ་ ་ Sexton. And this is more, masters, than you can deny. Prince John is this morning secretly stolen away; Hero was in this manner accused, in this very manner refused, and upon the grief of this, suddenly died.Master constable, let these men be bound, and brought to Leonato's; I will go before, and show him their examination. [Exit. Dogb. Come, let them be opinioned. Verg. Let them be in band*. Con. Off, coxcomb! Dogb. God's my life! where's the sexton? let him write down-the prince's officer, coxcomb.-Come, bind them :-Thou naughty varlet! Con. Away! you are an ass, you are an ass. Dogb, Dost thou not suspect my place? Dost thou not suspect my years?-O that he were here to write me down-an ass! - but, masters, remember, that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass: No, thou villain, thou art full of piety, as shall be proved upon thee by good witness. I am a wise fellow; and, which is more, an officer; and, which is more, a householder; and, which is more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in Messina; and one that knows the law, go to; and a rich fellow enough, go to; and a fellow that hath had losses; and one that hath two gowns, and every thing handsome about him :-Bring him away. O, that I had been writ down Bora. Master constable,Dogh. Pray thee, fellow, peace; I do not an ass. like thy look, I promise thee. 1157 [Exeunt. SCENE I. Before Leonato's House. Enter LEONATO and ANTONIO. Ant. If you go on thus, you will kill yourself; And 'tis not wisdom, thus to second grief Against yourself. And bid him speak of patience; [mine, Leon. I pray thee, cease thy counsel, Which falls into mine ears as profitless As water in a sieve: give not me counsel; Nor let no comforter delight mine ear, But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine. Bring me a father, that so lov'd his child, Whose joy of her is overwhelm'd like mine, groan; Which they themselves not feel; but, tasting it, Leon. There thou speak'st reason nay, I will My soul doth tell me, Hero is belied; [do so: And that shall Claudio know, so shall the prince, And all of them, that thus dishonour her. Enter Don PEDRO and CLAUDIO. Ant. Here comes the prince, and Claudio, D. Pedro. Good den, good den. [hastily. Claud. Good day to both of you. Leon. Hear you, my lords,D. Pedro. We have some haste, Leonato. Leon. Some haste, my lord !-well, fare you well, my lord: Are you so hasty now?-well, all is one. D. Pedro. Nay, do not quarrel with us, good old man. [relling, Ant. If he could right himself with quarSome of us would lie low. Claud. Leon. Who wrongs him? Marry, Thou, thou dost wrong me; thou dissembler, thou: Nay, never lay thy hand upon thy sword, I say, thou hast belied mine innocent child; Thy slander hath gone through and through her heart, ་་ And she lies buried with her ancestors: Admonition. " I'll prove it on his body, if he dare; If thou kill'st me, boy, thou shalt kill a man. Ant. Content yourself: God knows, I lov'd my niece; And she is dead, slander'd to death by villains; Ant. Hold you content; What, man! I Leon. But, brother Antony,- [durst, Come, 'tis no matter; Do not you meddle, let me deal in this. D. Pedro. Gentlemen both, we will not wake your patience. My heart is sorry for your daughter's death; But, on my honour, she was charg'd with nothing But what was true, and very full of proof. No? And shall, Brother, away-I will be heard ; Ant. + Skill in fencing. Thrusting. D.Pedro. Dost thou wear thy wit by thy side? | mind; I will leave you now to your gossipClaud. Never any did so, though very like humour: you break jests as braggarts do many have been beside their wit.-I will bid their blades, which, God be thanked, hurt thee draw, as we do the minstrels; draw, to not.-My lord, for your many courtesies I pleasure us. thank you: I must discontinue your company: your brother, the bastard, is fled from Mes sina: you have, among you, killed a sweet and innocent lady: For my lord Lack-beard, there, he and I shall meet; and till then, peace be with him. [Exit BENEDICK. D. Pedro. As I am an honest man, he looks pale-Art thou sick, or angry? Claud. What! courage, man! What though care killed a cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care. Bene. Sir, I shall meet your wit in the career, an you charge it against me :-I pray you, choose another subject. Claud. Nay, then give him, another staff ; this last was broke cross. D. Pedro. By this light, he changes more and more; I think he be angry indeed. Claud. If he be, he knows how to turn his girdle *. Bene. Shall I speak a word in your ear? Claud, God bless me from a challenge! Bene. You are a villain;-I jest not:-I will make it good how you dare, with what you dare, and when you dare:-Do me right, or I will protest your cowardice. You have killed a sweet lady, and her death shall fall heavy on you: Let me hear from you. Claud. Well, I will meet you, so I may have good cheer. D. Pedro. What, a feast? a feast? Claud. I'faith, I thank him; he hath bidt me to a calf's-head and a capon; the which if I do not carve most curiously, say, my knife's naught.-Shall I not find a woodcock too? Bene. Sir, your wit ambles well; it goes easily. D. Pedro. He is in earnest. D. Pedro. What a pretty thing man is, when he goes in his doublet and hose, and leaves off his wit! Enter DOG BERRY, VERGES, and the Watch, with CONRADE and BORACHIO. Claud. He is then a giant to an ape: but then is an ape a doctor to such a man. D. Pedro. But, soft you, let be; pluck up, my heart, and be sad! Did he not say, my brother was fled? Dogb. Come, you, sir; if justice cannot tame you, she shall ne'er weigh more reasons in her balance : pay, an you be a cursing hypocrite once, you must be looked to.. D. Pedro. How now, two of my brother's men bound! Borachio, one! Claud. Hearken after their offence, my lord ! D. Pedro. Officers, what offence have these men done? Dogb. Marry, sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly, they have belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust things: and, to conclude, they are lying knaves. D. Pedro. First, I ask thee what they have done; thirdly, I ask thee what's their offence; sixth and lastly, why they are com mitted; and, to conclude, what you lay to their charge. D. Pedre. I'll tell thee how Beatrice praised thy wit the other day: I said, thou hadst fine wit; True, says she, a fine little one: No, said I, a great wit; Right, says she, a great gross one : Nay, said I, a good wit; Just, said she, it hurts nobody: Nay, said I, the gentleman is noise ; Certain, said she, a wise gentleman: Nay, said I, he hath the tongues; That I believe, said she, for he swore thing to me on Monday night, which he forswore on Tuesday morning; there's a double tongue; there's two tongues. Thus did she, an hour together, transshape D. Pedro. Whom have you offended, thy particular virtues ; yet, at last, she con-masters, that you are thus bound to your cluded with a sigh, thou wast the properest answer? this learned constable is too cunning man in Italy. |to be understood : What's your offence 1 Claud. For the which she wept heartily, and said, she cared not. D. Pedro. Yea, that she did; but yet, for all that, an if she did not hate him deadly, she would love him dearly: the old man's daughter, told us all. Claud. All, all; and moreover, God saw him when he was hid in the garden. D. Pedro. But when shall we set the sa vage bull's horns on the sensible Benedick's head ? Claud. Yea, and text underneath, Here dwells Benedick the married man? Bene. Fare you well, boy; you know my Claud. Rightly reasoned, and in his own division; and, by my troth, there's one mean. ing well suited. Bora. Sweet prince, let me go no further to mine answer; do you hear me, and let this count kill me. I have deceived even your very eyes: what your wisdoms could not discover, these shallow fools have brought to light; who, in the night, over-heard me confessing to this man, how Don John your brother incensed me to slander the lady Hero; how you were brought into the orchard, and saw me court Margaret in Hero's garments; how you disgraced her, when you should marry her: my villany they have |upon record; which I had rather seal with my death, than repeat over to my shame: the * To give a challenge. t: Invited. t Serious: ý Incited. |