Verg. Nay, birlady, that, I think, he cannot. Dogb. Five shillings to one on't with any man that knows the statutes, he may stay 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, masters, good night; an there be any matter of weight chances, call up me; keep your fellow's counsels and your own, and good night. Come, neighbour. 2 Watch. Well, masters, we hear our charge; let us go fit here upon the church-bench till two, and then all to bed. Dogb. One word more, honest 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 befeech you. [Exeunt Dogberry and Verges. SCENE V. Enter Borachio and Conrade. Bora. What? Conrade Watch. Peace, stir not. Bora. Conrade, I fay. Conr. Here, man, I am at thy elbow. [Afide. Bora. Mass, 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-house, for it drizzles rain, and I will, like a true drunkard, utter all to thee. Watch. Some treafon, masters; yet stand close. Bora. Therefore know, I have earned of Don John a thousand ducats. Conr. Is it possible that any villany should be fo dear? Bora. Thou should'st rather ask, if it were poffible any villain should be so rich? for when rich villains have need of poor ones, poor ones may make what price they will. Conr. I wonder at it. Berd. Bora. That shews, thou art unconfirm'd; thou knowest, that the fashion of a doublet, or a hat, or a cloak, is nothing to a man. Conr. Yes, it is apparel. Conr. Yes, the fashion is the fashion. Bora. Tush, I may as well say, the fool's the fool; but fee'st 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. Didst thou not hear fome body? Bora. Seest 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 Bel's priests in the old church window; sometimes like the shaven Her cules * in the smirch worm-eaten tapestry, where his codpiece feems as massy as his club. Conr. All this I fee, and fee that the fashion wears out more apparel than the man; but art not thou thyself giddy with the fashion too, that thou haft shifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fathion ? Bora. Not so 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 should first tell thee, how the Prince, Claudio, and my master, planted and placed, and possessed by my master 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 master knew she was Margaret; and partly by his oaths, which first possess'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.. D 2 her her with what he faw o'er night, and fend her home again without a husband. I Watch. We charge you in the Prince's name, stand. 2 Watch. Call up the right Master Constable; we have here recovered the most dangerous piece of lechery that ever was known in the common-wealth. 1 Watch. And one deformed is one of them; I know him, he wears a lock. Conr. Masters, Masters, 2 Watch. You'll be made bring deformed forth, I warrant you. Conr. Masters, 1 Watch. Never speak; we charge you, let us obey you to go with us. 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 cousin Beatrice, and defire her to rifs. : 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 so 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 most rare fashion, i'faith. I saw the Duchefs of Milan's gown, that they praise fo. Hero. O, that exceeds, they say. Marg. By my troth, it's but a night-gown in respect of your's; cloth of gold and cuts, and lace'd with filver, fet with pearls down-sleeves, fide-fleeves and skirts, round round underborne with a bluish tinsel; 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 fpeaking 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 wrest true speaking, 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, otherwise 'tis light and not heavy. Afk my Lady Beatrice else, here she comes. SCENE VII. Enter Beatrice. Hero. Good morrow, coz. Hero. Why, how now? do you speak 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 scorn that with my heels. Beat. 'Tis almost five o'clock, cousin; 'tis time you were ready: by my troth, I am exceeding ill; hey hot Marg. For a hawk, a horse, or a husband? Beat. For the letter that begins them all, Н. Mar. Well, if you be not turn'd Turk, there's no more failing by the star. Beat. What means the fool, trow? Marg. Nothing I, but God send every one their heart's defire ! Hero. These gloves the Count sent me; they are an excellent perfume. Beat. I am stuff'd, coufin, I cannot smell. D3 Marg. Marg. A maid, and stuff'd! there's goodly catching of cold. Beat. O, God help me, God help me, how long have you profess'd apprehenfion ? Marg. Ever fince you left it; doth not my wit become me rarely ? Beat. It is not seen enough, you should wear it in your cap. By my troth, I am fick. Marg. Get you some of this distill'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-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 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 such another, and now is he become a man. He fwore he would never marry; and yet now, in despight 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 ? Enter Ursula. Urs. 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 dress me, good coz. good Meg, good [Exeunt. Urfula. SCENE VIII. Another apartment in Leonato's house. Leon. |