t with filver, fet with pearls down-fleeves, fide-fleeves and fkirts, round underborne with a blueifh tinfel; but for a fine, quaint, 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 huf band. 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; ask my lady Beatrice elfe, here fhe comes. Hero. SCENE VII. Enter Beatrice. OOD morrow, coz. G Beat. Good morrow, fweet Hero. 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 ftables enough, you'll look he fhall lack no barns. Marg. O illegitimate conftruction! I fcorn that with my heels. Beat. 'Tis almoft five o'clock, coufin; 'tis time you' were ready by my troth, I am exceeding ill; hey' bo! Marg. Marg. For a hawk, a horfe, or a husband? Beat. For the letter that begins them all, H. Marg. Well, if you be not turn'd Turk, there's no more failing by the flar. Beat. What means the fool, trow? Marg. Nothing I, but God fend every one their heart's defire! Hero. These gloves the count fent me, they are an excellent perfume. Beat. I am ftufft, coufin, I cannot smell. Marg. A maid, and stufft! there's goodly catching of cold. Beat. O, God help me, God help me, how long have you profest apprehension? 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, birÎady, I am not such 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 such another, and now he is become a man; he swore, 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. Marg. Not a false gallop. Urfu. 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 Urfula. SCENE VIII. Another Apartment in Leonato's Houfe. [Exeunt. Enter Leonato, with Dogberry and Verges. Leon." HAT would you with me, honeft neigh-, WHA bour? Dogb. Marry, Sir, I would have some confidence with you, that decerns you nearly. Leon. Brief, I pray you; for, you fee, 'tis a bufy 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 so blunt, as, God help, I would defire they were; but, in faith, as honest 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 honefter than I. Dogb. Comparisons are odorous; palabras, neigh:bour Verges. Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious. Dogb. It pleases your worship to fay fo, 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 beftow 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 tho' I be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it. Verg. Verg. And fo am I. Leon. I would fain know what you have to say. Verg. Marry, Sir, our Watch to night, excepting your worship's presence, hath ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Meffina. 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 said, i'faith, neighbour Verges, well, he's a good man; an two men ride an horse, one muft ride behind; an honest soul, i'faith, Sir, by my troth he is, as ever broke bread, but God is to be worshipp'd; allimen 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. you go: Enter a Meffenger. fare you well. Meff. My lord, they stay for you to give your daugter 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 muft do it wifely. Only Dogb. We will fpare for no wit, I warrant; here's That fhall drive fome of them to a noncome. get the learned writer to fet down our excommunication, and meet me at the Jail. [Exeunt. ACT A C T. IV. SCENE I. A CHURCH. Enter D. Pedro, D. John, Leonato, Friar, Claudio, Benedick, Hero, and Beatrice. COM LEONATO. O ME, friar Francis, be brief, only to the plain form of marriage, and you shall 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 should not be conjoin'd, I charge you on your fouls to utter it. Claud. Know you any, Hero? 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. How now? Interjections? why, then fome be of laughing, as ha, ha, he! Claud. Stand thee by, friar: father, by your leave; Leon. As freely, fon, as God did give her me. H Claud. |