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and, I pray God, his bad voice bode no`mischief!) I had as lief have heard the night raven, come what plague could have come after it.

Pedro. Yea, marry;-Dost thou hear, Balthazar? I pray thee, get us some excellent musick; 5 for to-morrow night we would have it at the lady Hero's chamber-window.

Balth. The best I can, íny lord. [Er. Balthazar. Pedro. Doso: farewell. Come hither, Leonato.| What was it you told me of to-day, that your niece 10 Beatrice was in love with signior Benedick?

Cland. O, ay;-Stalk_ob, stalk on, the fowl sits'. [Aside to Pedro.] laid never think that lady would have lov'd any man.

Leon. No, nor I neither; but most wonderful, that she should so dote on signior Eenedick, whom she hath in all outward behaviours seemed ever to abhor.

Itween the sheet?

Claud. That.

Leon. O, she tore the letter into a thousand ialf-pence; railed at herself, that she should be so immodest to write to one that she knew would flout her: I measure him, says slre, by my own spirit; for I would fout him, if he writ to me s yea, though I love him, I should.

Claud. Then down upon her knees she falls, weeps, sobs, beats her heart, tears her hair, prays, curses --O sweet Benedick! God give me putience.

Leon. She doth indeed; my daughter says so; and the ecstacy hath so much overborne her, that my daughter is sonfetime afraid she will do des15perate outrage to herself; It is very true.

Bene. Is't possible? Sits the wind in that corner? Aside. 20 : Leon. By my troth, my lord, I cannot tell what to think of it, but that she loves him with an enraged affection:-it is past the infinite of thought. Pedro. May be, she doth but counterfeit. Claud. Faith, like enough.

Leon. O God! counterfeit! There never was counterfeit of passion came so near the life of passion, as she discovers it.

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Pedro. It were good, that Benedick knew of it by some other, if she will not discover it.

Claud. To what end? He would but make a port of it, and torment the poor lady worse. Pedro. An he should, it were an alms to hang him: She's an excellent sweet lady; and, out of all suspicion, she is virtuous.

Claud. And she is exceeding wise.

Pedro. In every thing, but in loving Benedick. Leon. O my lord, wisdom and blood combating in so tender a body, we have ten proofs to one that blood hath the victory. I am sorry for her, as 1 have just cause, being her uncle and her

Pedro. Why, what effects of passion shews sheguardian.
Claud. Bait the hook well; this fish will bite.

Aside

Leon. What effects, my lord! She will sit you, You heard my daughter tell you how,

Claud. She did, indeed.

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Pedro. Hath she made her affection known to 45 Benedick?

Leon. No; and swears she never will: that' her torment.

Claud. 'Tis true, indeed; so your daughter says: Shall I, says she, that have so oft encounter'd 50 him with scorn, write to him that I love him?

Leon. This says she now when she is beginning to write to him: for she'll be up twenty times a night; and there she will sit in her smock, 'till] she have writ a sheet of paper:-my daughter 55 tells us all.

Pedro. I would, she had bestowed this dotage on me; I would have daif'd' all other respects, and made her hali myself: I pray you, tell Bemedick of it, and hear what he will say. Leon. Were it good, think you?

Claud. He thinks surely, she will die: for she says, she will die if he love her not; and she wi die ere she make her love known; and she will die if he woo her, rather than she will bate one breath of her accustom'd crossness.

Pedro. She doth well: if she should make tender of her love, 'tis very possible, he'll scorn it; for the man, as you know all, hath a contemptible* spirit.

Claud. He is a very proper man.

Pedro. He hath, indeed, a good outward hap piness.

Claud. 'Fore God, and in my mind very wise. Pedro. He doth, indeed, shew some sparks that are like wit.

Leon. And I take him to be valiant.

Pedro. As Hector, I assure you: and in the managing of quarrels you may say he is wise; for either he avoids them with great discretion, or undertakes them with a christian-like fear.

Leon. If he do fear God, he must necessarily keep peace; if he break the peace, he ought to enter into a quarrel with tear and trembling.

Claud. Now you talk of a sheet of paper, I remember a pretty jest your daughter told us of. Pedro. And so will be do; for the man doth Leon. Oh,-When she had writ it, and was read- fear God, howsoever it seems not in him, by some ing it over, she found Benedick and Beatrice be-60llarge jests he will make. Well, I am sorry for

This alludes to the practice of shooting with a stalking-horse; by which the fowler anciently concealed himself from the sight of the game. 2 That is, into a thousand pieces of the saine bigTo daff, like to dof, means to do off, to put aside.

ness.

i. e. contemptuous.

your

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Pedro. Well, we will hear further of it by your daughter; let it cool the while. I love Benedick well; and I could wish he would inodestly examine himself to see how much he is unworthy 10 to have so good a lady.

Leon. My lord, will you walk? dinner is ready. Chaud. If he do not dote on her upon this, I will never trust my expectation. [Aside.

Pedro. Let there be the same net spread for her, 15 and that must your daughter and her gentlewomen| carry. The sport will be, when they hold an opinion of one another's dotage, and no such matter; that's the scene that I would see, which will be merely a dumb show. Let us send her to cali|20| him to dinner. [Aside.] [Exeunt.

Benedick advances from the arbour. Bene. This can be no trick: the conference was sadly' borne. They have the truth of this from Hero. They seem to pity the lady; it seems, her 25 affections have the full bent. Love me! why, it must be requited. I hear how I ani censur'd: they say; I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive the love come from her; they say too, that she will rather die than give any sign of affection.-I did 30 never think to marry:-I must not seem proud: happy are they that hear their detractions, and can put them to mending. They say, the lady is fair; 'tis a truth, I can bear them witness; and

[virtuous;-'tis so, I cannot reprove it:-and
wise-but for loving me:-By my troth, it is no
addition to her wit;-nor no great argument of
her folly, for I will be horribly in love with her.-
I may chance have some odd quirks and remnants
of wit broken on me, because I have rail'd so long
against marriage: But doth not the appetite alter?
A man loves the meat in his youth, that he can-
not endure in his age :-Shall quips, and sentences,
and these paper bullets of the brain, awe a man
from the career of his humour? No: the world
must be peopled. When I said, I would die a
batchelor, I did not think I should live till I were
marry'd.-Here comes Beatrice: By this day, she's
a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in her.
Enter Beatrice.

Beat. Against my will, I am sent to bid you come in to dinner.

Bene. Fair Beatrice, I thank you for your pains. Beat. I took no more pains for those thanks, than you take pains to thank me; if it had been painful, I would not have come.

Bene. You take pleasure then in the message? Beat. Yea, just as much as you may take upon a knife's point, and choak a daw withal:-You have no stomach, signior? fare you well. [Exit. Bene. Ha! Against my will I am sent to bid you come into dinner there's a double meaning in that. I took no more pains for those thanks, than you take pains to thank me-that's as much as to say, Any pains that I take for you is as easy as thanks:-If I do not take pity of her, I am a villain; if I do not love her, I am a Jew: I will go get her picture.

[Exit.

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SCENE I.

Continues in the Orchard.

Enter Hero, Margaret, and Ursula.
Hero. GOOD Margaret, run thee into the

parlour;

There shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice
Proposing with the prince and Claudio:
Whisper her ear, and tell her, I and Ursula
Walk in the orchard, and our whole discourse
Is all of her; say, that thou overheard'st us;
And bid her steal into the pleached bower,
Where honey-suckles, ripen'd by the sun,
Forbid the sun to enter ;-like favourites,
Made proud by princes, that advance their pride
Against that power that bred it:-there will she
hide her,
To listen our propose: This is thy office,
Bear thee well in it, and leave us alone.

That is, seriously held.

Marg. I'll make her come, I warrant you, presently.

[Exit. 45 Hero. Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth come, As we do trace this alley up and down, Our talk must only be of Benedick: When I do name him, let it be thy part To praise him more than ever man did merit: 50 My talk to thee must be, how Benedick Is sick in love with Beatrice: Of this matter Is little Cupid's crafty arrow made, That only wounds by hear-say. Now begin, Enter Beatrice behind.

155

For look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runs
Close by the ground, to hear our conference.

Urs. The pleasant'st angling is to see the fish
Cut with her golden oars the silver stream,
60 And greedily devour the treacherous bait:
So angle we for Beatrice; who even now

2 That is, our discourse.

Is couched in the woodbine coverture:
Fear you not my part of the dialogue. [nothing
Hero. Then go we near her, that her ear lose
Of the false sweet bait that we lay for it.-
"[They advance to the bower.
No, truly, Ursula, she is too disdainful;
I know, her spirits are as coy and wild
As haggards of the rock.

Urs. But are you sure,
That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely? [lord.
Hero. So says the prince, and my new-trothed
Urs. And did they bid you tell her of it, madam
Hero. They did intreat me to acquaint her of it:
But I persuaded them, if they lov'd Benedick,
To wish him wrestle with affection,
And never to let Beatrice know of it.

Urs. Why did you so? Doth not the gentleman
Deserve as full, as fortunate a bed',

As ever Beatrice shall couch upon?

It were a better death than die with mocks;
Which is as bad as die with tickling.

Urs. Yet tell her of it; hear what she will say.
Hero. No; rather I will go to Benedick,
5 And counsel him to fight against his passion:
And, truly, I'll devise some honest slanders
To stain my cousin with; one doth not know,
How much an ill word may empoison liking.
Urs. O, do not do your cousin such a wrong.
She cannot be so much without true judgment,
(Having so swift and excellent a wit,

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As she is priz'd to have) as to refuse
So rare a gentleman as signior Benedick.
Hero. He is the only man of Italy,
Always excepted my dear Claudio.

Urs. I pray you, be not angry with me, madam,
Speaking my fancy; signior Benedick,

For shape, for bearing, argument, and valour,
Goes foremost in report through Italy.

Hero. O God of love! I know, he doth deserve 20 Hero. Indeed, he hath an excellent good name.

As much as may be yielded to a man:
But nature never framed a woman's heart
Of prouder stuff than that of Beatrice:
Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes,
Misprising what they look on; and her wit
Values itself so highly, that to her

2

All matter else seems weak: she cannot love,
Nor take no shape nor project of affection,
She is so self-endear'd.

Urs. Sure, I think so;

And therefore, certainly, it were not good
She knew his love, lest she make sport at it. [man,
Hero. Why, you speak truth: I never yet saw
How wise, how noble, young, how rarely featur'd,
But she would spell him backward': if fair-fac'd,
She'd swear, the gentleman should be her sister;
If black, why, nature, drawing of an antick 4,
Made a foul blot; if tall, a lance ill-headed;
If low, an aglet' very vilely cut:

Urs. His excellence did earn it, ere he had it.When are you marry'd, madam?

[in, Hero. Why, every day,-to-morrow; Come, go I'll shew thee some attires; and have thy counsel, 25 Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow. Urs. She's lim'd', I warrant you; we have caught her, madam.

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Hero. If it prove so, then loving goes by haps: Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps. [Exeunt.

Beatrice advancing.

Beat. What fire is in mine ears? Čan this be true?
Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?
Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!

No glory lives behind the back of such.
And, Benedick, love on; I will requite thee;
Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand;
If thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee
To bind our loves up in a holy band:
40 For others say, thou dost deserve; and I
Believe it better than reportingly.

If speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds;
If silent, why, a block moved with none.
So turns she every man the wrong side out;
And never gives to truth and virtue, that
Which simpleness and merit purchaseth. [able.
Urs. Sure, sure, such carping is not commend-45
Hero. No; not to be so odd, and from all fashions,
As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable:
But who dare tell her so? If I should speak,
She'd mock me into air; O, she would laugh me
Out of myself, press me to death with wit.
Therefore let Benedick, like cover'd fire,
Consume away in sighis, waste inwardly;

í

2

150

SCENE II.

Leonato's House.

[Exit.

Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick,and Leonato. Pedro. I do but stay till your marriage be consummate, and then I go toward Arragon.

Claud. I'll bring you thither, my lord, if you'll vouchsafe me.

Pedro. Nay, that would be as great a soil in the new gloss of your marriage, as to shew a child his new coat, and forbid him to wear it. I will only be

3

Meaning, as rich a wife. That is, despising. This alludes to the received notion of witches saying their prayers backwards. "The antick was a buffoon in the old English farces, with a blacked face, and a patch-work habit. An aglet was the tag of those points, formerly so much in fashion. These tags were either of gold, silver, or brass, according to the quality of the wearer; and were commonly in the shape of little images; or at least had a head cut at the extremity. The French call them aiguillettes. And, as a tall man is before compared to a lance ill-headed; so, by the same figure, a little man is very aptly liken'd to an aglet ill-cut. Argument here seems to mean, the powers or gift of reasoning well. That is, entangled. Alluding to a proverbial saying, that people's ears burn when others are talking of them.

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bold

bold with Benedick for his company: for, from
the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, he is
ali 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 sound as a bell, and 5
his tongue is the clapper; for what his heart
thinks, his tongue speaks.

Bene. Gallants, I am not as I have been.
Leon. So say I; methinks, you are sadder.
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 sad, he wants money.

Bene. I have the tooth-ach.
Pedro. Draw it.

Bene. Hang it!

Claud. You must hang it first, and draw it afterwards.

Pedro. What, sigh for the tooth-ach?
Leon. Where is but a humour, or a worm?
Bene. Well, every one can master a grief, but
he that has it.

Claud. Yet say I, he is in love.

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15

eight or nine wise words to speak to you, which these hobby-horses must not hear.

[Exeunt Benedick and Leonato. Pedro. For my life, to break with him about Beatrice.

Claud. 'Tis even so: Hero and Margaret have by this time 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 save you!
Pedro. Good den, brother.

John. If your leisure serv'd, I would speak with

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20 morrow?

Pedro. You know, he does.

John. I know not that, when he knows what I

know.

Claud. If there be any impediment, I pray you, discover it.

Pedro. There is no appearance of fancy in him, unless it be a fancy that he hath to strange disguises; 25 as to be a Dutchman to-day; a Frenchman to-morrow; or in the shape of two countries at once; as a German from the waist downward, all slops'; and a Spaniard from the hip upward, no doublet: Unless he have a fancy to this foolery, as it ap-30'holp to effect your ensuing marriage: surely, suit

pears 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 some woman, there is no believing old signs: he brushes his hat o' mornings: What should that bode?

Pedro. Hath any man seen him at the barber's? Claud. No, but the barber's man hath been seen with him; and the old ornament of his cheek hath already stuff'd tennis-balls.

35

Leon. Indeed, he looks younger than he did, by 40 the loss of a beard.

Pedro. Nay, he rubs himself with civet: Can you smell him out by that?

Claud. That's as much as to say, 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 say of him.

John. You may think, I love you not; let that appear hereafter, and aim better at me by that I now will manifest: For my brother, I think, he holds you well; and in dearness of heart hath

ill-spent, and labour ill-bestow'd!

Pedro. Why, what's the matter?

John. I came hither to tell you, and circumstances shorten'd, (for she hath been too long a talking of) the lady is disloyal.

Claud. Who? Hero?

John. Even she; Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero.

Claud. Disloyal?

John. The word is too good to paint out her wickedness; I could say, she were worse; 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 see her chamber-window enter'd, 45 even the night before her wedding-day: if you love her then, to-morrow wed her; but it would better fit your honour to change your mind, Claud. May this be so?

Claud. Nay, but his jesting spirit; which is now 50 crept into a lute-string, and now govern'd by stops. Pedro. Indeed, that tells a heavy tale for hiin: conclude, conclude he is in love.

Claud. Nay, but I know who loves him. Pedro. That would I know too; I warrant, one 55 that knows him not.

Claud, Yes, and his ill conditions; and, in despight of all, dies for him.

Pedro. I will not think it.John. If you dare not trust that you see, confess not that you know: if will follow me, I will shew you enough; and when you have seen more, and heard more, proceed accordingly.

you

Claud. If I see any thing to-night why I should 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 disgrace her.

Pedro. She shall be buried with her face upwards. Pedro. I will disparage her no farther, till you Bene. Yet is this no charm for the tooth-ach.-60 are my witnesses: bear it coldly but till midnight, Old signior, walk aside with me; I have studied Jand let the issue shew itself,

That is, all breeches.

Pedro.

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1 Watch. Hugh Oatcake, sir, or George Sea-20 coal; for they can write and read.

Dogb. Come hither, neighbour Seacoal: God hath bless'd you with a good name: to be a wellfavour'd man is the gift of fortune; but to write and read comes by nature.

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2 Watch. Both which, master constable,Dogb. You have; I knew it would be your an swer. 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 30 is no need of such vanity. You are thought here to be the most senseless and fit man for the constable of the watch; therefore bear you the lanthorn: This is your charge; you shall comprehend all vagrom men; you are to bid any man 35 stand, in the prince's name.

2 Watch. How if he will not stand?

Dog. 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.

40

Dogb. True, and they are to meddle with none but the prince's subjects:-You shall also make no noise in the streets; for, for the watch to babble 45 and talk, is most tolerable and not to be endur'd.

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

Dogb. Why, you speak like an ancient and most quiet watchman; for I cannot see how sleeping 50 should offend: only, have a care that your bills' be not stolen:-Well, you are to call at all the ale-houses, and bid them that are drunk get them to bed.

2 Watch. How if they will not?

Watch. Why then, let them alone till they are sober; if they make you not then the better answer, you may say, they are not the men you took them for.

2 Watch. Well, sir.

Dogh. If you meet a thief, you may suspect him, by virtue of your office, to be no true man; and,

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for such kind of men, the less you meddle or make with them, why, the more is for your honesty.

2 Watch. 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 defi'd: the most peaceable way for you, if you do take a thief, is, to let him shew himself what he is, and steal out of your company.

Verg, You have always been call'd a merciful man, partner,

Dogb. Truly, I would not hang a dog by my will; much more a man who hath any honesty in him.

Verg, If you hear a child cry in the night, you must call to the nurse, and bid her still it.

2 Watch. 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 answer a calf when he bleats.

Verg. 'Tis very true.

Dogb. This is the end of the charge. You, constable, are to present the prince's own persona if you meet the prince in the night, you may stay hip.

Verg. Nay, by 'r Lady, that, I think, he cannot. Dogb. Five shillings to one on't, with any man that knows the statues, he may stay him: marry, not without the prince be willing: for, indeed, the watch ought to offend no man; and it is an offence to stay a man against his will.

Verg. By 'r Lady, I think it be so,

Dogb. Ha, ha, ha! Well, masters, good night: an there be any matter of weight chances, cail up me; keep your fellows' counsels, and your own, and good night.-Come, neighbour.

2 Watch. Well, masters, we hear our charge; let us go sit here upon the church-bench till two, and then all to bed.

Dogb. One wordmore, honest neighbours: I pray you, watch about signior Leonato's door; for the wedding being there to-morrow, there is a great coil to-night: Adieu, be vigilant, I beseech you. [Exeunt Dogberry and Ferges. Enter Borachio and Conrade,

Bora. What! Conrade,-
Watch. Peace, stir not.

[Aside.

Bora. Conrade, I say!
Conr. Here man, I am at thy elbow.
Bora. Mass, and my elbow itch'd; I thought,
there would a scab follow.

Conr. I will owe thee an answer for that; and now forward with thy tale.

Bora. Stand thee close then under this penthouse, for it drizzles rain; and I will, like a true drunkard, utter all to thee.

Watch. [Aside.] Some treason, masters; yet 60 stand close.

Bora. Therefore know, I have earned of Don John, a thousand ducats.

A bill was the old weapon of the English infantry,

Conr.

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