For others fay thou dost deserve, and I

Believe it better than reportingly.

[Exit.

Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick and Leonato. Pedro. I do but ftay 'till your Marriage be confummate, and then I go toward Arragon.

Claud. I'll bring you thither my Lord, if you'll vouchfafe me.

Pedro. Nay, that would be as great a Soil in the new Glofs of your Marriage, as to fhew a Child his new Coat and forbid him to wear it. I will only be bold with Benedick for his Company, for from the Crown of his Head to the Soul of his Foot he is all Mirth; he hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's Bow-String. and the little Hangman dare not shoot at him; he hath a Heart as found as a Bell, and the Tongue is the Clapper; for what his Heart thinks, his Tongue fpeaks.

Bene. Gallants, I am not as I have been.

Leon. So fay I; methinks you are fadder.
Claud. I hope he be in Love.

Pedro. Hang him Truant, there's no true Drop of Blood in him, to be truly touch'd with Love; if he be fad, he wants Mony.

Bene. I have the Tooth-ach.

Pedro. Draw it.

Bene. Hang it.

Cland. You must hang it first, and draw it afterwards. Pedro. What? figh for the Tooth-ach.

Leon. Which is but a Humour or a Worm.

Bene. Well, every one cannot master a Grief, but he that has it.

Claud. Yet fay I, he is in Love.

Pedro. There is no Appearance of Fancy in him, unless it be a Fancy that he hath to ftrange Difguifes, as to be a Dutch Man to Day, a French Man to Morrow; unless he have a Fancy to this Foolery, as it appears he hath, he is no Fool for Fancy, as you would have it to appear

he is.

Claud. If he be not in Love with fome Woman, there is no believing old Signs; he brushes his Hat a Mornings: What should that bode?

Pedro. Hath any Man feen him at the Barbers?

Cland.

Claud. No, but the Barber's Man hath been feen with him, and the old ornament of his Cheek hath already stuft Tennis Balls.

Leon. Indeed he looks younger than he did, by the loss of a Beard.

Pedro. Nay he rubs himself with Civet, can you smell him out by that?

Cland. That's as much as to fay, the sweet Youth's in Love.

Pedro. The greatest Note of it is his Melancholy.

Claud. And when was he wont to wash his Face?

Pedro. Yea, or to paint himself? for the which I hear what they fay of him.

Claud. Nay, but his jefting Spirit, which is now crept into a Lute-ftring, and now govern'd by Stops

Pedro. Indeed that tells a heavy Tale for him; conclude he is in love.

Claud. Nay, but I know who loves him.

Pedro. That would I know too, I warrant one that knows him not.

Claud. Yes, and his ill Conditions, and in defpight of all dies for him.

Pedro. She fhall be bury'd with her Face upwards.

Bene. Yet is this no Charm for the Tooth-ake. Old Sig nior walk afide with me, I have ftudy'd eight or nine wife words to speak to you, which thefe Hobby-horses must not hear.

Pedro. For my Life to break with him about Beatrice. Cland. 'Tis even fo, Hero and Margaret have by this play'd their parts with Beatrice, and then the two Bears will not bite one another when they meet.

Enter Don John.

John. My Lord and Brother, God fave you.

Pedro. Good Den, Brother.

John. If your leifure ferv'd, I would fpeak with you. Pedro. In private?

John. If it please you; yet Count Claudio may hear, for what I would fpeak of concerns him.

Pedro. What's the matter?

John. Means your Lordship to be marry'd to Morrow?

[To Claudio.

Pedro

it.

Pedro. You know he does.

John. I know not that, when he knows what I know. Cland. If there be any Impediment, I pray you discover

John. You may think I love you not, let that appear hereafter, and aim better at me by that I now will manifeft; for my Brother, I think, he holds you well, and in dearness of Heart hath holp to effect your enfuing Marriage; furely Sute ill fpent, and Labour ill bestowed.

Pedro. Why, what's the Matter?

John. I came hither to tell you, and Circumftances fhortned (for fhe hath been too long a talking of) the Lady is difloyal.

Claud. Who? Hero?

John. Even the, Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every Man's

Hero.

Cland. Difloyal?

John. The Word is too good to paint out her wickednefs; I could fay fhe were worfe; think you of a worse Title, and I will fit her to it: Wonder not 'till further Warrant; go but with me to Night, you shall fee her Chamber Window enter'd, even the Night before her WeddingDay; if you love her, then to Morrow wed her; but it would better fit your Honour to change your Mind. Claud. May this be fo?

Pedro. I will not think it.

John. If you dare not truft that you fee, confefs not that you know; if you will follow me, I will fhew you enough; and when you have seen more, and heard more, proceed accordingly.

Claud. If I fee any thing to Night why I fhould not marry her to Morrow, in the Congregation where I should wed, there will I shame her.

Pedro. And as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will join with thee to difgrace her.

John. I will difparage her no farther, 'till you are my Witneffes; bear it coldly but 'till Night, and let the Iffue thew it felf.

Pedro. O Day untowardly turned!

Cland. O Mischief ftrangely thwarting!
John. O Plague right well prevented!

So will you fay when you have feen the Sequel,

[Exeunt.

Enter

Enter Dogbery and Verges, with the Watch: Dogb. Are you good Men and true?

Verg. Yea, or else it were pity but they fhould fuffer Salvation, Body and Soul.

Dogb. Nay, that were Punishment too good for them, if they should have any Allegiance in them, being chosen for the Prince's Watch.

Verg. Well, give them their charge, Neighbour Dogbery. Dogb. First, who think you the moft difartlefs Man to be Conftable?

Watch 1. Hugh Otecake, Sir, or George Seacole; for they can write and read.

Dogb. Come hither Neighbour Seacole, God hath bleft you with a good Name; to be a well-favour'd Man, is the Gift of Fortune, but to write and read comes by Nature. Watch 2. Both which, Master Constable

Dogb. You have: I knew it would be your Anfwer; well, for your Favour, Sir, why give God thanks, and make no boast of it; and for your Writing and Reading, let that appear when there is no need of fuch Vanity: You are thought here to be the most fenfelefs and fit Man for the Conftable of the Watch, therefore bear you the Lanthorn; this is your Charge: You fhall comprehend all vagrom Men, you are to bid any Man ftand in the Prince's Name.

Watch 2. How if he will not stand?

Dogb. Why then take no note of him, but let him go, and presently call the rest of the Watch together, and thank God you are rid of a Knave.

Verg. If he will not stand when he is bidden, he is none of the Prince's Subjects.

Dogb. True, and they are to meddle with none but the Prince's Subjects: You fhall alfo make no Noise in the Streets; For, for the Watch to babble and talk, is most tollerable, and not to be endur'd.

Watch. 2. We will rather fleep than talk; we know what belongs to a Watch.

Dogb. Why you fpeak like an ancient and most quiet Watchman, for I cannot fee how fleeping fhould offend; only have a care that your Bills be not ftolen: Well, you are to call at all the Alehoufes, and bid them that are drunk get them to Bed.

Watch. 2. How if they will not?

Dogb. Why then let them alone 'till they are fober; if they make you not then the better Anfwer, you may fay they are not the Men you took them for.

Watch. 2. Well, Sir.

Dogb. If you meet a Thief, you may fufpect him, by ver tue of your Office, to be no true Man; and for fuch kind of Men, the lefs you meddle or make with them, why the more is for your Honefty.

Watch. 2. If we know him to be a Thief, shall we not lay Hands on him?

Dogb. Truly by your Office you may; but I think they that touch Pitch will be defil'd: The moft peaceable way for you, if you do take a Thief, is, to let him fhew himfelf what he is, and fteal out of his Company.

Verg. You have been always call'd a merciful Man, Partner. Dogb. Truly I would not hang a Dog for my Will, much more a Man who hath any Honefty in him.

Verg. If you hear a Child cry in the Night, you must call to the Nurse, and bid her ftill it.

Watch. 2. How if the Nurse be asleep, and will not hear us? Dogb. Why then depart in Peace, and let the Child wake her with crying: For the Ewe that will not hear her Lamb when it Baes, will never anfwer a Calf when it Bleats.

Verg. 'Tis very true.

Dogb. This is the end of the Charge: You Constable are to present the Prince's own Perfon, if you meet the Prince in the Night you may ftay him.

Verg. Nay, Birlady, that I think I cannot.

Dogb. Five Shillings to one on't with any Man that knows the Statutes, he may ftay him, marry not without the Prince be willing: For indeed the Watch ought to offend no Man; and it is an Offence to ftay a Man against his Will.

Verg. Birlady, I think it be fo.

Dogb. Ha, ha, ha, well Mafters good Night, and there be any Matter of weight chances, call up me, keep your Fellow's Counfel, and your own, and good Night; come Neighbour.

Watch.