THE

WORKS

O F

SHAKES PEA R.

VOLUME THE SECOND.

CONTAINING,

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING..
The MERCHANT of VENICE.

LOVE'S LABOUR's LOST.

AS YOU LIKE IT.

The TAMING of the SHREW.

EDINBURG H:

Printed by A. DONALDSON, and fold at his Shop,
corner of Arundel-Street, Strand, London; and
at Edinburgh.

M. DCC. LXXI.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

A court before Leonato's houfe.

Enter Leonato, Hero, and Beatrice, with a messenger. Leon. LEARN in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Meffina. Me. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him. Leon. How many gentlemen have you loft in this action ?

I

Me. But few of any fort, and none of name.

Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the atchiever brings home full numbers; I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio..

The Acry from Ariolo, Orl. Fur. 1.5. Mr Pope.
VOL. II.

A

Mef

Me. Much deferved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: he hath borne himself beyond the promife of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion: he hath indeed better better'd expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Melfina will be very much glad of it.

Me. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even fo much, that joy' could not fhew itfelf modeft enough, without a badge of bitternefs.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?

Mej. In great measure.

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness. There are no faces truer than those that are fo washed. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping!

Deat. I pray you, is Signior Montanto * returned from the wars, or no?

Meg. I know none of that name, Lady; there was none fuch in the army of any fort.

Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece?

Hero. My coufin means Signior Benedick of Padua. Mef. O, he's return'd, and as pleasant as ever he

was.

Beat. He fet up his bills here in Meffina, and chalTenge'd Cupid at the flight; and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, fubfcribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt. “ I pray you, how many hath "he kill'd and eaten in thefe wars? but how many "hath he kill'd? for indeed I promis'd to eat all of "his killing."

Leon. Faith, niece, you tax Signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not.

Mel. He hath done good fervice, Lady, in thefe wars. Beat. "You had mufty victuals, and he hath holp "to cat it; he's a very valiant trencher-man, he hath "an excellent ftomach."

Me. And a good foldier too, Lady.

*She gives him tl's name, to ridicule in him the character of a bluffering foldier, the word tanto in Spanish (grifying a two-handed favord.

Beat.