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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.

Leon. Drink fome wine ere you go: fare you well.

Enter a Messenger:

Melf. My lord, they ftay for you to give your daughter to her husband.

Leon. I'll wait upon them. I am ready.

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[Exeunt Leonato. Dogb. Go, good Partner, go get you to Francis Seacoale, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail; we are now to examine those men.

Verg. And we must do it wifely.

Dogb. We will fpare for no wit, I warrant; here's That [touching his forehead] fhall drive fome of them to a non-come. Only get the learned writer to fet down our excommunication, and meet me at the Jail.

[Exeunt.

ACT

A CT IV.

SCENE I

A CHURCH.

Enter D. Pedro, D. John, Leonato, Friar, Claudio, Benedick, Hero, and Beatrice.

COM

LEONATO.

COME, friar Francis, be brief, only to the plain form of marriage, and you fhall 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?

Hero. None, my Lord.

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!

5

Bene. How now! Interjections? why, then fome be of laughing, as, ha, ha, he!

Claud. Stand thee by, friar: father, by your leave, Will you with free and unconstrained foul

$ Some be of laughing.] This is a quotation from the Accidence.

Give me this maid your daughter?

Leon. As freely, fon, as God did give her me. Claud. And what have I to give you back, whofe worth

May counterpoife this rich and precious gift?
Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again.
Claud. Sweet Prince, you learn me noble thankful-
nefs:

There, Leonato, take her back again;

Give not this rotten orange to your friend.
She's but the fign and femblance of her honour:
Behold, how like a maid she blushes here!
O, what authority and fhew of truth
Can cunning fin cover itself withal!
Comes not that blood, as modeft evidence,
To witness fimple virtue? would you not fwear,
All you that fee her, that the were a maid,
By these exterior fhews? but fhe is none:
She knows the heat of a luxurious bed';
Her blush is guiltinefs, not modefty.
Leon. What do you mean, my Lord?
Claud. Not to be marry'd,

Not to knit my foul to an approved Wanton.
Leon. Dear my Lord, if you in your own approof
Have vanquish'd the refiftance of her youth,
And made defeat of her virginity

Claud. I know what you would fay. If I have known her,

6 luxurious bed;] That is, lafcivious. Luxury is the confeffor's term for unlawful pleafures of the fex.

Dear my Lord, if you in your own Proof] I am furpriz'd, the Poetical Editors did not obferve the Lamenefs of this Verfe. It evidently wants a Syllable in the laft Foot, which I have reflor'd by a Word, which, I pre

fume, the firfl Editors might he fitate at; tho' it is a very proper one, and a Word elsewhere used by our Author. Befides, in the Paffage under Examination, this Word comes in a'moft neceffarily, as Claudio had faid in the line immediately preceding;

Not knit my Soul to an approved Wanton.

THEOBALD.

You'll

You'll fay, fhe did embrace me as a husband,
And to extenuate the forehand fin.

No, Leonato,

I never tempted her with word too large;
But, as a brother to his fifter, fhew'd
Bafhful fincerity, and comely love.

Hero. And feem'd I ever otherwife to you?
Claud. Out on thy Seeming! I will write against it:
You feem to me as Dian in her orb,

As chafte as is the budere it be blown :
But you are more intemperate in your blood
Than Venus, or thofe pamper'd animals
That rage in favage fenfuality.

Hero. Is my Lord well, that he doth speak fo wide?
Leon. Sweet Prince, why fpeak not you?
Pedro. What fhould I fpeak?

I ftand dishonour'd, that have gone about
To link my dear friend to a common Stale.
Leon. Are these things fpoken, or do I but dream;
John. Sir, they are spoken, and thefe things are true.
Bene. This looks not like a Nuptial.

Hero. True! O God!

Claud. Leonato, ftand I here?

Is this the Prince? Is this the Prince's Brother?

Is this face Hero's? are our eyes our own;

Leon. All this is fo; but what of this, my lord? Claud. Let me but move one queftion to your daughter,

2

And, by that fatherly and kindly power
That you have in her, bid her anfwer truly.

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Leon. I charge thee do so, as thou art my child. Hero. O God defend me, how am I befet! What kind of catechizing call you this?

Claud. To make you anfwer truly to your name. Hero. Is it not Hero? who can blot that name With any just reproach?

Claud. Marry, that can Hero;

Hero herfelf can blot out Hero's virtue.

What man was he talk'd with you yesternight
Out at your window betwixt twelve and one?
Now, if you are a maid, anfwer to this.

Hero. I talk'd with no man at that hour, my Lord. Pedro. Why, then you are no maiden. Leonato, I am forry, you must hear; upon mine Honour, Myfelf, my Brother, and this grieved Count Did fee her, hear her, at that hour last night, Talk with a ruffian at her chamber window Who hath, indeed, most like a liberal villain 3, Confefs'd the vile encounters they have had A thousand times in fecret.

John. Fie, fie, they are not to be nam'd, my Lord. Not to be spoken of;

There is not chastity enough in language,

Without offence, to utter them: thus, pretty lady,
I am forry for thy much mifgovernment.

Claud. O Hero! what a Hero hadft thou been +,
If half thy outward graces had been plac'd
About the thoughts and counfels of thy heart?
But fare thee well, moft foul, moft fair! farewel,
Thou pure impiety, and impious purity!
For thee I'll lock up all the gates of love,
And on my eyelids fhall Conjecture hang,
To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm;

3

liberal villain.] Li- ilüberal. beral here, as in many places of thefe plays, means, frank beyond banefty or decency. Free of tongue. Dr. Warburton unneceffarily reads

+ I am afraid here is intended a poor conceit upon the word. Hero.

And

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