Beat. Benedictus? why Benedi&us? you have some moral in this Benedictus.

Marg. Moral? no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning, I meant plain holy-thistle: you may think, perchance, that I think you are in love; nay, birlady, I am not fuch a fool to think what I lift; nor I lift 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 Benedick 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 false gallop.

Urju. 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, another Apartment in Leonato's House.

Enter Leonato, with Dogberry and Verges.

Leon. WHAT would you with me, honest neighbour?

WH

Dogb. Marry, Sir, I would have fome confidence with you that decerns you nearly.

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

Dogb. Marry, this it is, Sir.

Ver. 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 skin between his brows.

Verg. Yes, I thank God, I am as honeft as any man living, that is an old man, and no honester than I. Dogb. Comparisons are odorous; palabras, neighbour Verges.

Leon. Neigbours, 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 worship.

Leon. All thy tedioufnefs on me, ha?

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

as of

Verg. And so am I.

Leon. I would fain know what you have to say.

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.

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, i'faith, neighbour Verges, well, he's a good man; an two men ride an horfe, one muft ride behind; an honest soul, i'faith, Sir, by my troth he is, as ever broke bread, but God is to be worship'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 muft leave you.

Dogb. One word, Sir; our Watch have, indeed, comprehended two aufpicious perfons; and we would have them this morning examin'd before your worship.

Leon. Take their examination yourself, and bring it me; I am now in great hafte, 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 ftay for you to give your daugh

ter to her husband.

Leon. I'll wait upon them: I am ready. [Ex. Leon. Dogb. Go, good Partner, go get you to Francis Seacoale, 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 fpare for no wit, I warrant; here's That fhall drive fome of them to a non-come. Only get the learned writer to fet down our excommunication, and meet ine at the jail. [Exeunt.

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

C

LEONATO.

NOME, friar Francis, be brief, only to the plain form of marriage, and you fhall recount 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 either of you know any

inward impediment

why you fhould 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. I dare make his anfwer, none.

Claud. O what men dare do! what men may do!

what men daily do! not knowing what they do!

Bene.

Bene. How now! Interjections? why, then fome be of laughing, as ha, ha, he!

Claud. Stand thee by, friar: father, by your leave; Will you with free and unconstrained foul Give me this maid your daughter?

Leon. As freely fon, as God did give her me.
Claud. And what have I to give you back, whose worth
May counterpoife this rich and precious gift?
Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again.
Claud. Sweet Prince, you learn me noble thankfulness:
There, Leonato, take her back again;

Give not this rotten orange to your friend.
She's but the fign and femblance of her honour:
Behold, how like a maid the blushes here!
O, what authority and fhew of truth
Can cunning fin cover itfelf withal!

Comes not that blood, as modeft evidence,
To witnefs fimple virtue? would you not swear,
All you that fee her, that he were a maid,
By these exterior fhews ? but he is none:
She knows the heat of a luxurious bed;
Her blush is guiltinefs, not modefty.
Leon. What do you mean, my Lord?
Claud. Not to be marry'd,

Not knit my foul to an approved Wanton.

Leon. Dear my Lord, if you in your own approof (16)

Have vanquish'd the refiftance of her youth,

And made defeat of her virginity

[her,,

Claud. I know what you would say: if I have known

(16) Dear my Lord, if you in your own Proof,] I am furpriz'd, the poetical editors did not obferve the lameness of this verfe. It evidently wants a fyllable in the last foot, which I have reftor'd by a word, which, I prefume, the first editors might hefitate at; tho' it is a very proper one, and a word elsewhere used by our author. Anth. and Cleop."

Sifter, prove fuch a wife

As my thoughts make thee, and my fartheft bond
Shall pass on thy Approof.

Befides, in the paffage under examination, this word comes in almost neceffarily, as Cloudio had faid in the line immediately preceding; Not knit my foul to an approved wanton.

C 4

You'll

You'll fay, fhe did embrace me as a husband,
And fo extenuate the forehand fin.

No, Leonato,

I never tempted her with word too large;
But, as a brother to his fifter, fhew'd
Bafhful fincerity, and comely love.

Hero. And feem'd I ever otherwise to you !

Claud. Out on thy Seeming! I will write against it; You feem to me as Dian in her orb,

As chafte as is the bud ere it be blown,

But you are more intemperate in your blood
Than Venus, or thofe pamper'd animals

That rage in favage fenfuality.

Hero. Is my Lord well, that he doth speak so wide ?
Leon. Sweet Prince, why speak not you?
Pedro. What fhould I speak?

I ftand difhonour'd, that have gone about

To link my dear friend to a common Stale.

Leon. Are these things spoken, or do I but dream ? John. Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true. Bene. This looks not like a Nuptial.

Hero. True! O God!

Claud. Leonato, ftand 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 fo; but what of this, my lord? Claud. Let me but move one queftion to your daughter,

And by that fatherly and kindly power

That you have in her, bid her anfwer truly.
Leon. I charge thee do fo, as thou art my child.
Hero. O God defend me, how am I befet!

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 juft reproach?

Claud. Marry, that can Hero;

Hero herself can blot out Hero's virtue.

What man was he talk'd with you yesternight
Out at your window betwixt twelve and one?
Now, if you are a maid, answer to this.

Hero.