Re-enter LEONATO and ANTONIO, with the 1 Dogb. I leave an arrant knave with your
Sexton.

worship; which, I beseech your worship, to Leon. Which is the villain? Let me see his correct yourself, for the example of others. That when I note another man like him, [eyes;

God keep your worship; I wish your worship I may avoid him: Which of these is he?

well; God restore you to health: 1 humbly give Bora. If you would know your wronger look

you leave to depart; and it a merry meeting on me.

may be wished, God prohibit it.-Come, neigh'Leon. Art thou the slave, that with thy breath

bour. hast kill'd

(Exeunt DOGBERRY, VERGES, and WATCH. Mine innocent child?

Leon. Until to-morrow morning, lords, fareBora. Yea, even l alone.

well. Leon. No, not so, villain; thou beli'st thyself;

Ant. Farewell, my lords; we look for you Here stand a pair of honourable men,

to-morrow. A third is filed, that had a hand in it:

D. Pedro. We will not fail. I thank you, princes, for my daughter's death; }

Claudia To-night I'll mourn with Hero. Record it with your high and worthy deeds;

(Exeunt Don Pedro and CLAUDIO. 'Twas bravely done, if you bethink you of it.

Leon. Bring you these fellows on; we'll talk Claud. I know not how to pray your patience,

with Margaret, Yet I must speak: Choose your revenge your

How her acquaintance grew with this lewd* self;

fellow.

[Exeunt. Impose me to what penance your invention Can lay upon my sin : yet sinn'd I not,

SCENE II.-Leonato's Garden.
But in mistaking.

Enter BENEDICK and MARGARET, meeting.
D. Pedro. By my soul, nor 1;
And yet, to satisfy this good old man,

Bene. Pray thee, sweet mistress Margaret,
I would bend under any heavy weight deserve well at my hands, by helping me to
That he'll enjoin me to.

the speech of Beatrice.
Leon. I cannot bid you bid my daughter live, Marg. Will you then write me a sonnet in
That were impossible; but, I pray you both, praise of my beauty?
Possess the people in Messina here

Bene. In so high a style, Margaret, that no
How innocent she died : and, if your love man living shall come over it; for, in most
Can labour aught in sad invention,

comely truth, thou deservest it. Hang ber an epitaph upon her tomb,.

Murg. To have no man come over me? why,
And sing it to her bones; sing it to-night : shall I always keep below stairs ?
To-morrow morning come you to my house; Bene. Thy wit is as quick as the greyhound's
And since you could not be my son-in-law, mouth, it catches.
Be yet my nephew: my brother hath a daugh Marg. And your's as blunt as the fencer's
Almost the copy of my child that's dead, [ter, | foils, which hit, but hurt not.
And she alone is heir to both of us;

Bene. A most manly wit, Margaret, it will
Give her the right you should have given her not hurt a woman; and so, I pray thee, call
And so dies my revenge.

[cousin, Beatrice: I give thee the bucklers. Claud. O, noble Sir,

Marg. Give us the swords, we have bucklers
Your over-kindness doth wring tears from me! of our own.
I do embrace your offer; and dispose

Bene. If you use them, Margaret, you must
For hepceforth of poor Claudio.

put in the pikes with a vice; and they are danLeon. To-morrow then I will expect your | gerous weapons for maids. .

Marg. Well, I will call Beatrice to you, who,
To-night I take my leave.-This naughty man I think, hath legs.

(Erit MARGARET.
Shall face to face be brought to Margaret, Bene. And therefore will come.
Who, I believe, was pack'dt in all this wrong,
Hir'd to it by your brother.

The god of love, (Singing.)
Boru. No, by my soul, she was not; me;

That sits above, Nor knew not what she did, when she spoke to

And knows me, and knows me, But always hath been just and virtuous,

How pitiful I deserve,In any thing that I do know by her.

I mean, in singing ; but in loving,- Leander Dogb. Moreover, Sir, (which, indeed, is not

the good swimmer, Troilus the first employer under white and black,) this plaintiff here, the

of pandars, and a whole book full of these offender, did call me ass: I beseech you, let it

quondam carpet-mongers, whose names yet be remembered in his punishment. And also,

run smoothly in the even road of a blank verse, the watcb heard them talk of one Deformed:

why, they were never so truly turned over and they say, he wears a key in his ear, and a lock

over as my poor self, in love: Marry, I cannot hanging by it; and borrows money in God's

show it in rhyme; I have tried; I can find out name; the which he hath used so long, and

no rhyme to ludy but baby, an innocent rhyme; Dever paid, that now men grow hard-hearted,

for scorn, horn, a hard rhyme ; for school, fool, and will lend nothing for God's sake; Pray

a babbling rhyme; very ominous endings: No, you, examine him upon that point. ..

I was not born under a rhyming planet, nor I Leon. I thank thee for thy care and honest

cannot woo in festival terms.t Dogb. Your worship speaks like a most

Enter BEATRICE. thankful and reverend youth; and I praise God

Sweet Beatrice, would'st thou come when I

called thee? Leon. There's for thy pains. Dogb. God save the foundation !

Beat. Yea, signior, and depart when you bid Leon, Go, I discharge thee of thy prisoner, me. . and I thank thee.

Bené. O, stay but till then!

+ Holiday phrases. Command. Acquaint. Combined.

* Ignorant. I

R

pains.

for you.

Beat. Then, is spoken; fare you well now: So the life, that died with shame, and yet, ere I go, let me go with that I came Lives in déuth with glorious fame. for, which is, with knowing what hath passed Hang thou there upon the tomb, [Affixing it. between you and Claudio.

Praising her when I am dumb. Bene. Only foul words; and thereupon I will kiss thee,

Now, music, sound, and sing your solemn Beat. Foul words is but foul wind, and foul

hymn. wind is but foul breath, and foul breath is noi

SONG. some; therefore I will depart unkissed.

Pardon, goddess of the night, Bene. Thou hast frighted the word out of his

Those that slew thy virgin knight, right sense, so forcible is thy wit: But, I must

For the which, with songs of woe, tell thee plainly, Claudio undergoes* my chal

Round about her tomb they go. lenge; and either I must shortly hear from him,

Midnight, assist our moan; or I will subscribe him a coward. And, I pray

Help us to sigh and groan, thee now, tell me, for which of my bad parts

Heavily, heavily: didst thou first fall in love with me?

Graves, yawn, and yield your dead, Beat. For them all together; which main

Till death be úttered, tained so politic a state of evil, that they will

Heavily, heavily. not admit any good part to intermingle with them. But for which of my good parts did

Claud. Now, unto thy bones good night! you first suffer love for me?

Yearly will I do this rite. Bene. Suffer love; a good epithet! I do suffer

D. Pedro. Good morrow, masters; put your love, indeed, for I love thee against my will.

torches out: Beat. In spite of your heart, I think; alas!

The wolves have prey'd; and look, the poor heart! If you spite it for my sake, I will

gentle day, spite it for yours; for I will never love that

Before the wheels of Phoebus, round about which my friend hates.

Dapples the drowsy east with spots of gray: Bene. Thou and I are too wise to woo peace

Thanks to you all, and leave us; fare you well. ably.

Claud. Good morrow, masters; each bis seBeat. It appears not in this confession: there's

veral way. not one wise man among twenty that will praise

D. Pedro. Come, let us hence, and put on himself.

other weeds; Bene. An old, an old instance, Beatrice, that

old instance Beatrice that And then to Leonato's we will go. lived in the time of good neighbours: if a man | Claud. And, Hymen, now with luckier issue do not erect in this age his own tomb ere he

speed's, dies, he shall live no longer in monument, than

Than this, for whom we render'd up this woe! the bell rings, and the widow weeps.

(Exeunt. Beat. And how long is that, think you? SCENE IV.-A Room in Leonato's House.

Bene. Question ?- Why, an hour in clamour, and a quarter in rheum: Therefore it is most

Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, BENEDICK, BEAexpedient for the wise, (if Don Worm his con

TRICE, URSULA, FRIAR, and HERO, science, find no impediment to the contrary,)

Friar. Did I not tell you she was innocent? to be the trumpet of his own virtues, as I am Leon. So are the prince and Claudio, who to myself: So much for praising myself, (who,

accus'd her, I myself will bear witness, is praise-worthy,)

Upon the error that you heard debated: and now tell me, How doth your cousin ?

But Margaret was in some fault for this; Beat. Very ill.

Although against her will, as it appears Bene. And how do you?

In the true course of all the question. Beat. Very ill too.

Ant. Well, I am glad that all things sort so Bene. Serve God, love me, and mend: there |

well. will I leave you too, for here comes one in haste.

Bene. And so am I, being else by faith enforc'd

To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it. Enter Ursula.

Leon. Well, daughter, and you gentlewomen Urs. Madam, you must come to your uncle;

Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves; (all, yonder's old coilt at home: it is proved, my

And, when I send for you, come hither mask'd: lady Hero hath been falsely accused, the prince

The prince and Claudio promis'd by this hour and Claudio mightily abused ; and Don John

To visit me :-You know your office, brother; is the author of all, who is fled and gone: will

You must be father to your brother's daughter,

And give her to young Claudio. Beat. Will you go hear this news, signior?

(Exeunt Ladies. Bene. I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap,

Ant. Which I will do with confirm'd counand be buried in thy eyes; and, moreover, I

tenance. will go with thee to thy uncle's. [Exeunt. |

Bene. Friar, I must entreat your pains, I think.

Friar. To do what, signior? SCENE III.-The Inside of a Church, Bene. To bind me, or undo me, one of them.Enter Don Pedro, CLAUDIO, and ATTENDANTS,

Signior Leonato, truth it is, good signior, with Music and Tupers.

Your niece regards me with an eye of favour. Cluud. Is this the monument of Leonato ?

Leon. That eye my daughter lent her; 'Tis

most true. Atten. It is, my lord.

Bene. And I do with an eye of love requite Claud. (Reads from a scroll.] Done to death by slanderous tongues

Leon. The sight whereof, I think, you had Was the Hero that here lies :

from me, Death, the guerdont of her wrongs

From Claudio, and the prince; But what's your Gires her fume which never dies :

Bene. Your answer, Sir, is enigmatical:

But, for my will, my will is, your good will Is subject to.

Reward. | May stand with ours, this day to be conjoin'd

me presently?

her.

In the estate of honourable marriage;

1. Bene. No, no more than reason. In which, good friar, I shall desire your help. Beat. Why, then my cousin, Margaret, and Leon. My heart is with your liking.

Ursula, Friar. And my help.

Are much deceiv'd; for they did sware you did. Here comes the prince, and Claudio.

Bene. They swore that you were almost sick

for me. Enter Don Pedro and CLAUDIO, with Attendants.

Beut. They swore that you were well-nigh D. Pedro. Good morrow to this fair assembly.

dead for me. Leon. Good morrow, prince; good morrow, Bene. "Tis no such matter:-Then, you do Claudio;

not love me? We bere attend you ; are you yet determin'd Beat. No, truly, but in friendly recompense. To-day to marry with my brother's daughter ? Leon. Come, cousin, I am sure you love the Claud. I'll hold my mind, were she an Ethiope.

gentleman. Leon. Call her forth, brother, here's the friar Claud. And I'll be sworn upon't, that he loves ready.

[Exit ANTONIO. For here's a paper, written in his hand, (her; D. Pedro. Good morrow, Benedick: Why, A halting sonnet of his own pure brain, what's the matter, ..

Fashion’å to Beatrice. That you have such a February face,

Hero. And here's another,

(pocket, So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness? Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her Claud. I think, he thinks upon the savage Containing her affection unto Benedick. bull :

[gold, Bene, A miracle! here's our own hands Tush, fear not, man, we'll tip thy horns with against our hearts !-Come, I will have thee; And all Europa shall rejoice at thee;

but, by this light, I take thee for pity. As once Europa did at lusty Jove,

Beat. I would not deny you; but, by this When he would play the noble beast in love. good day, I yield upon great persuasion; and,

Bene. Bull Jove, Sir, had an amiable low; partly, to save your life, for I was told you And some such strange bull leap'd your father's were in a consumption And got a calf in that same noble feat, (cow, Bene. Peace, I will stop your mouth.Much like to you, for you have just his bleat.

[Kissing her. Re-enter ANTONIO, with the Ladies masked.

D. Pedro. How dost thou, Benedick the

married man? Claud. For this I owe you : here comes other Bene. I'll tell thee what, prince; a college of reckonings.

wit-crackers cannot flout me out of my humour: Which is the lady I must seize upon?

Dost thou think, I care for a satire, or an epiAnt. This same is she, and I do give you her. gram? No: if a man will be beaten with brains, Claud. Why, then she's mine: Sweet, let me

he shall wear nothing handsome about him : see your face..

In brief, since I do propose to marry, I will Leon. No, that you shall not, till you take think nothing to any purpose that the world her hand

can say against it; and therefore never flout at Before this friar, and swear to marry her. me for what I have said against it; for man is

Claud. Give me your hand before this holy a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion.--For I am your husband, if you like of me. [friar; thy part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten Hero. And when I lived, I was your other thee; but in that thou art like to be my kins

[Unmasking. man, live unbruised, and love my cousin. And when you loved, you were my other hus Claud. I had well hoped, thou wouldst have band.

denied Beatrice, that I might have cudgelled Claud. Another Hero?

thee out of thy single life, to make thee a double Hero. Nothing certainer:

dealer; which, out of question, thou wilt be, if One Hero died defil'd; but I do live,

my cousin do not look exceeding narrowly to And, surely as I live, I am a maid.

thee. D. Pedro. The former Hero! Hero that is Bene. Come, come, we are friends :-let's dead!

have a dance ere we are married, that we may Leon. She died, my lord, but whiles her slan- lighten our own hearts, and our wives' heels. der lived.

Leon. We'll have dancing afterwards. Friar, All this amazement can I qualify; Bene. First, o' my word; therefore, play, When, after that the holy rites are ended, ,

music.I'll tell you largely of fair Hero's death: ' Prince, thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee Mean time, let wonder seem familiar,

a wife: there is no staff more reverend than And to the chapel let us presently.

one tipped with horn. Bene. Soft and fair, friar. Which is Bea

Enter a MESSENGER. Beut. I answer to that name; (Unmasking. ] Mess. My lord, your brother John is ta'en in What is your will ?

flight, Bene. Do not you love me?

And brought with armed men back to Messina. Beat. No, no more than reason.

Bene. Think not on him till to-morrow, I'll Bene. Why, then your uncle, and the prince, devise thee brave punishments for him.--Strike and Claudio, up, pipers.

[Dance. Have been deceived for they swore vou did.

[Exeunt. Beat. Do not you love me?

we

wife:

ACT I.

Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her SCENE I.-Athens.-A Room in the Palace ofl. .. rhymes,

And interchang'd love-tokens with my child: THESEUS.

Thou hast by moon-light at her window sung, Enter Theseus, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and

With feigning voice, verses of feigning love; Attendants.

And stol'n the impression of her fantasy The. Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conDraws on apace; four happy days bring in

ceits,

[gers Another moon:

thinks, how slow Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats; messenThis old moon wanes ! she lingers my desires, Of strong prevailment in unharden'd youth: Like to a step-dame, or a dowager,

With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's Long withering out a young man's revenue.

heart; Hip. Four days will quickly steep themselves Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me, in nights ;

To stubborn harshness:-And, my gracious Four nigbts will quickly dream away the time;

duke, And then the moon, like to a silver bow

Be it so she will not here before your grace New bept in beaven, shall behold the night Consent to marry with Demetrius, Of our solennities.

I beg the ancient privilege of Athens; The. Go, Philostrate,

As she is mine, I may dispose of her: Stir up thé Athenian youth to merriments; Which shall be either to this gentleman, Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth; | Or to her death; according to our law, Turn melancholy forth to funerals,

Immediately provided in that case. The pale companion is not for our pomp.-- The. What say you, Hermia? be advis'd, fair rit PHILOSTRATE.

maid: Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword, To you your father should be as a god; And won thy love, doing thee injuries; One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one But I will wed thee in another key,

To whom you are bat as a form in wax, With pomp, with triumph, * and with revelling. By him imprinted, and within his power

To leave the figure, or disfigure it. Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and Demetrius is a worthy gentleman. DEMETRIUS.

Her. So is Lysander. Ege. Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke! | The. In himself he is : The. Thanks, good Egeus: What's the news But, in this kind, wanting your father's voice, with thee?

The other must be held the worthier. Ege. Full of vexation come I, with complaint Her. I would, my father look'd but with my Against my child, my daughter Hermia.

eyes. Stand forth, Demetrius;-My noble lord,

The. Rather your eyes must with his judgeThis man hath my consent to marry her:

ment look. Stand forth, Lysander;-and, my gracious Her. I do entreat your grace to pardon me. * duke,

| I know not by what power I am made bold; This hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child: Nor how it may concern my modesty,

In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts: Her. Belike for want of rain; which I could But I beseech your grace that I may know

well The worst that may befall me in this case, Beteem them from the tempest of mine eyes. If I refuse to wed Demetrius.

Lys. Ah me! for aught that ever I could read, The. Either to die the death, or to abjure Could ever hear by tale or history, For ever the society of men.

The course of true love never did run smooth: Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, But, either it was different in blood; Know of your youth, examine well your blood, Her. () cross ! too high to be enthrall'd to Whether, if you yield not to your father's

low! You can endure the livery of a nun; (choice, Lys. Or else misgraffed, in respect of years; For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd,

Her. O spite ! too old to be engag'd to young! To live a barren sister all your life,

Lys. Or else it stood upon the cboice of Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon.

friends : Thrice blessed they, that master so their blood, Her. O hell! to choose love by another's eye? To undergo such maiden pilgrimage :

Lys. Or, if there were a sympathy in choice, But earthlier happy is the rose distillid, War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it; Than that, which, withering on the virgin thorn, Making it momentanyt as a sound, Grows, lives, and dies, in single blessedness.' Swift as a shadow, short as any dream;

Her. So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Brief as the ligbtning in the colliedt night, Ere I will yield my virgin patent up

That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke

earth, My soul consents not to give sovereignty. And ere a man hath power to say,-Behold! The. Take time to pause : and by the next The jaws of darkness do devour it up: new moon,

So quick bright things come to confusion. (The sealing-day betwixt my love and me, Her. If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, For everlasting bond of fellowship,)

It stands as an edict in destiny : Upon that day either prepare to die,

Then let us teach our trial patience, For disobedience to your father's will;

Because it is a customary cross ; [sighs, Or else, to wed Demetrius, as he would : As due to love, as thoughts, and dreams, and Or on Diana's altar to protest,

Wishes, and tears, poor fancy's followers. For aye, austerity and single life.

Lys. A good persuasion; therefore, hear me, Dem. Relent, sweet Hermia ;-And, Lysan

Hermia. der, yield

I have a widow aunt, a dowager Thy crazed title to my certain right.

Of great revenue, and she hath no child: Lys. You have her father's love, Demetrius; From Athens is her house remote seven Let me have Hermia's : do you marry him.

leagues ; Ege. Scornful Lysander ! true, he bath my | And sbe respects me as her only son. love;

There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee; And what is mine my love shall render him; And to that place the sharp Athenian law . And she is mine; and all my right of her Cannot pursue us : If thou lov'st me then, I do estate unto Demetrius.

Steal forth thy father's house to-morrow night; Lys. I am, my lord, as well deriv'd as he, And in the wood, a league without the town, As well possess’d; my love is more than his ; Where I did meet thee once with Helena, Ny fortunes every way as fairly rank'd, To do observance to a morn of May, If not with vantage, as Demetrius';

There will I stay for thee. And, which is more than all these boasts can be, | Her. My good Lysander ! I am belov'd of beauteous Hermia :

I swear to thee, by Cupid's strongest bow; Why should not I then prosecute my right? By his best arrow with the golden head; Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head,

By the simplicity of Venus' doves; (loves; Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, By that which knitteth souls, and prospers And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes, And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry,

queen, Upon this spottedt and inconstant man. When the false Trojan under sail was seen;. The. I must confess, that I have heard so By all the vows that ever men have broke, much,

[thereof; | In number more than ever woman spoke ;And with Demetrius thought to have spoke In that same place thou hast appointed me, But, being over-full of self-affairs,

To-morrow truly will I meet with thee. My mind did lose it.-But, Demetrius, come; Lys. Keep promise, love: Look, here comes And come, Egeus; you shall go with me,

Helena. have some private schooling for you both.

Enter HELENA.
For you fair Hermia, look you arm yourself
To fit your fancies to your father's will;

Her. God speed fair Helena! Whither away? Or else the law of Athens yield you up

Hel. Call you me fair? that fair again unsay. Which by no means we may extenuate,)

Demetrius loves your fair : 0 happy fair! To death, or to a vow of single life.

Your eyes are lode-stars ;// and your tongue's

sweet air. Come, my Hippolyta ; What cheer, my love ?Demetrius, and Egeus, go along :

More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear, must employ you in some business

When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds Against our nuptial ; and confer with you

appear. VI something nearly that concerns yourselves. Sickness is catching ; 0, were favourf so! Ege. With duty, and desire we follow you. Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go;

[Exeunt TheS. Hip. Ege. Dem, and irain. My ear should catch your voice, my eye your Lys. How now, my love? Why is your cheek

eye,

(melody. so pale

My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet How chance the roses there do fade so fast? Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated,

. Give, bestow. Momentary. Black Ever,

+ Wicked.

| Loves # Pole-stars. Countenance.