have need of poor ones, poor ones may make what price they will. Con. I wonder at it. Bor. That shows, thou art unconfirmed: Thou knowest that the fashion of a doublet, or a hat, or a cloak, is nothing to a man. Con. Yes, it is apparel. Bor. I mean the fashion. Con. Yes, the fashion is the fashion. Bor. Tush! I may as well say, the fool's the fool. But seest thou not what a deformed thief this fashion is? Sea. [Aside.] 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. Bor. Didst thou not hear somebody? Con. No; 'twas the vane on the house. Bor. Seest thou not, I say, what a deformed thief this fashion is? how giddily he turns about all the hot bloods, between fourteen and five and thirty? Con. Art not thou thyself giddy with the fashion too, that thou hast shifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fashion? Bor. Not so neither: but know, that I have tonight wooed Margaret, the Lady Hero's gentlewoman, by the name of Hero; she leans me out at her mistress' chamber window; bids me a thousand times good night,-I tell this tale vilely:-I should first tell thee, how the prince, Claudio, and my master, planted, and placed, and possessed by my master, Don John, saw afar off, in the orchard, this amiable encounter. Con. And thought they, Margaret was Hero? Bor. Two of them did, the prince and Claudio; but the devil, my master, knew she was Margaret : away went Claudio, enraged; swore he would meet her, as he was appointed, next morning at the temple, and there, before the whole congregation, shame her with what he saw over night, and send her home again without a husband. Sea. We charge you in the prince's name, stand! Oat. Call up the right master constable: [Exit a WATCHMAN.] We have here recovered the most dangerous piece of lechery that ever was known in the commonwealth. Sea. And one Deformed is one of them; I know him; he wears a lock. Con. Masters, masters,― Sea. You'll be made bring Deformed forth, I warrant you. Con. Masters, Sea. Never speak; we charge you, let us obey you to go with us. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. HERO'S Apartment in LEONATO's House. Enter HERO, MARGARET, and URSULA. Hero. Good Ursula, wake my cousin Beatrice, and desire her to rise. Urs. I will, lady. Hero. And bid her come hither. [Exit URSULA. Marg. Here she comes. Enter BEATRICE. Hero. Good morrow, coz. Beatr. Good morrow, sweet Hero. Hero. Why, how now! do you speak in the sick tune? Beatr. I am out of all other tune, methinks. 'Tis almost five o'clock, cousin; 'tis time you were ready. By my troth, I am exceeding ill-heigho! Hero. For a hawk, a horse, or a husband? Beatr. For the letter that begins them all, H.By my troth, I am sick. Hero. Get you some distilled Carduus Benedictus, and lay it to your heart; it is the only thing for a qualm. Beatr. Benedictus! why Benedictus? you have some moral in this Benedictus. Hero. Moral! No, by my troth; I meant plain holy-thistle. Enter URSULA. Urs. Madam, withdraw; the prince, the count, Signior Benedick, and Don John, are come to fetch you to church. Hero. Come in with me, good coz, good Meg, good Ursula. [Exeunt. SCENE V. A Hall in LEONATO's House. Enter LEONATO, DOG BERRY, and VERGES. Leon. What would you with me, honest neigh bour? Dogb. Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you, that discerns you nearly. Leon. Brief, I pray you; for you see, 'tis a busy time with me. Dogb. Marry, this it is, sir! Leon. What is it, my good friends? Dogb. Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off the matter: an old man, sir, and his wits are not so blunt, as, Heaven help, I would desire they were! but, in faith, honest as the skin between his brows. Verges. Yes, I thank Heaven, I am as honest as any man living, that is an old man, and no honester than I. Dogb. Comparisons are odorous: palabras, neighbour Verges. Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious. Dogb. It pleases 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 tediousness on me, ha? Dogb. Yea, and 'twere a thousand times more than 'tis; for I hear as good exclamation on your worship, as of any man in the city; and though I be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it. Verges. And so am I. Leon. I would fain know what you have to say. Verges. Marry, sir, our watch to-night, excepting your worship's presence, have ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina. Dogb. A good old man, sir;-he will be talkingas they say, When the age is in, the wit is out ;Heaven help us! it is a world to see!-Well said, i'faith, neighbour Verges!-An two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind :—An honest soul, i'faith, sir! by my troth, he is, as ever broke bread! but, Heaven is to be worshipped-All men are not alike; alas, good neighbour! Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you. Dogb. One word, sir: our watch, sir, have, indeed, comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your worship. Leon. Take their examination yourself, and bring I am now in great haste, as it may appear un it me; to you. Dogb. It shall be suffigance. Leon. Fare you well! [Exit. Dogb. Go, good partner, go get you to Francis Seacoal, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol; we are now to examination these men. Verges. And we must do it wisely. Dogb. We will spare for no wit, I warrant you : here's that, [Touching his Forehead.] shall drive some of them to a non-com: only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol. [Exeunt. ACT THE FOURTH. SCENE I. A Chapel. DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, LEONATO, FRIAR,CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, and BEATRICE, discovered. Leon. Come, Friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain form of marriage, and you shall recount their particular duties afterwards. |