ple, and there, before the whole congregation, fhame her with what he faw o'er night, and fend her home again without a hufband.

1 Watch. We charge you in the prince's name, ftand. 2 Watch. Call up the right mafter conftable. We have here recovered the most dangerous piece of lechery that ever was known in the commonwealtha

I Watch. And one Deformed is one of them; I know him, he wears a lock.

Conr. Mafters, mafters,

2 Watch. You'll be made bring Deformed forth, I warrant you.

Conr. Mafters,

I Watch. Never speak; we charge you, let us obey you to go with us.

Bora. We are likely to prove a goodly commodity, being taken up with thefe men's bills.

Conr. A commodity in queftion, I warrant you.→ Come, we'll obey you. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

An Apartment in LEONATO's House. Enter HERO, MARGARET, and URSULA.

Hero. Good Urfula, wake my coufin Beatrice, and

defire her to rise.

Urf. I will, lady.

Hero. And bid her come hither.

Urf. Well.

[Exit URSULA. Marg. Troth, I think your other rabato were better. Hero. No, pray thee, good Meg, I'll wear this.

Marg. By my troth, it's not fo good; and I warrant your coufin will fay fo.

Hero. My coufin's a fool, and thou art another; I'll wear none but this.

Marg. I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair were a thought browner; and your gown's a moft rare fashion, i'faith. I faw the duchefs of Milan's gown, that they praise fo.

Hero. O, that exceeds, they fay.

Marg. By my troth, it's but a night-gown in respect of yours: Cloth of gold, and cuts, and laced with filver, fet with pearls, down fleeves, fide fleeves, and skirts round,

underborne with a blueish tinsel: but for a fine, quaint, graceful and excellent fashion, yours is worth ten on't.

Hero. God give me joy to wear it, for my heart is exceeding heavy.

Marg. 'Twill be heavier foon, by the weight of a man. Hero. Fie upon thee! art not afham'd?

Marg. Of what, madam? of fpeaking honourably? Is not marriage honourable in a beggar? Is not your lord honourable without marriage? I think, you would have me say, (saving your reverence) a husband. An bad thinking do not rest true speaking, I'll offend no body: Is there any harm in-the heavier for a husband? None, I think, an it be the right husband, and the right wife; otherwise 'tis light, and not heavy: Afk my lady Beatrice elfe; here fhe comes.

Enter BEATRICE. Hero. Good-morrow, coz.

Beat. Good-morrow, fweet Hero.

Hero. Why, how now! do you speak in the fick tune? Beat. I am out of all other tune, methinks.

Marg. Clap us into Light o' love; that goes without a burden; do you fing it, and I'll dance it.

Beat. Yes, Light o' love, with your heels! then if your husband have ftables enough, you'll look he shall lack no barns.[2]

Marg. O illegitimate conftruction! I fcorn that with, my heels.

Beat. 'Tis almoft five o'clock, coufin; 'tis time you were ready. By my troth, I am exceeding ill :-hey ho! Marg. For a hawk, a horse, or a husband?

Beat. For the letter that begins them all, H.

Marg. Well, if you be not turn'd Turk, there's no more failing by the ftar.[3]

Beat. What means the fool, trow?

Marg. Nothing I; but God fend every one their heart's defire?

Hero. Thefe gloves the count fent me, they are an excellent perfume.

Beat. I am ftuff'd, coufin, I cannot smell.

Marg. A maid, and stuff'd! there's goodly catching of cold.

[2] A quibble between 'barns,' repofitories of corn, and ‘bairns,' the old word for children. JOHNS.

[3] "To turn Turk, was a common phrase for a change of former condition or opinion. STEEV.

Beat. O, God help me! God help me! how long have you profefs'd apprehenfion?

Marg. Ever fince you left it: Doth not my wit become me rarely?

Beat. It is not feen enough, you should wear it in your cap. By my troth, I am fick.

Mar. Get you fome of this diftill'd Carduus Benedictus, and lay it to your heart; it is the only thing for a qualm. Hero. There thou prick'ft her with a thistle.

Beat. Benedictus ! why Benedictus ? you have fome moral in this Benedictus.

Marg. Moral! no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning; I meant, plain holy-thiftle. You may think, perchance, that I think you are in love: nay, by'rlady, I am not fuch a fool to think what I lift ; nor I lift not to think what I can ; nor indeed, I cannot think, if I would think my heart out o'thinking, that you are in love, or that you will be in love, or that you can be in love: yet Benedick was fuch another, and now is he become a man: he swore, he would never marry; and yet now, in defpight of his heart, he eats his meat without grudging: and how you may be converted, I know not; but, methinks, you look with your eyes as other women do. Beat. What pace is this that thy tongue keeps ? Marg. Not a false gallop.

Re-enter URSULA.

Urf. Madam, withdraw; the prince, the count, fignior Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the town, are come to fetch you to church.

Hero. Help to dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Urfula.

SCENE V.

[Exeunt.

Another Apartment of LEONATO's Houfe. Enter LEONATO, with DOGBERRY and VERGES.

Leon. What would you with me, honeft neighbour? Dogb. Marry, fir, I would have fome confidence with " you, that decerns you nearly.

Leon. Brief, I pray you; for, you see, 'tis a busy time with me.

Dogb. Marry, this it is, fir.

Verg. Yes, in truth it is, fir.

Leon. What is it, my good friends?

Dogb. Goodman Verges, fir, speaks a little of the matter: an old man, fir, and his wits are not fo blunt, as, God help, I would defire they were; but, in faith, as honeft as the skin between his brows.

Verg. Yes, I thank God, I am as honeft as any man living, that is an old man, and no honefter than I. Dogb. Comparisons are odorous

bour Verges.

Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious.

Palabras, neigh

Dogb. It pleafes your worship to say so, but we are the poor duke's officers; but, truly, for mine own part, if I were as tedious as a king, I could find in my heart to bestow it all of your worship.

Leon. All thy tedioufnefs on me! ha!

Dogb. Yea, an 'twere a thousand times more than 'tis : for I hear as good exclamation on your worship, as of any man in the city; and though I be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it.

Verg. And fo am I.

Leon. I would fain know what you have to fay.

Verg. Marry, fir, our watch to-night, excepting your worship's prefence, hath ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves, as any in Meffina.

Dogb. A good old man, fir; he will be talking; as they fay, When the age is in, the wit is out; God help us! it is a world to fee !-Well said, i'faith, neighbour Verges-well, God's a good man; an two men ride of a horse, one muft ride behind :-An honeft foul, i'faith, fir; by my troth, he is, as ever broke bread: but God is to be worshipp'd: All men are not alike; alaṣ, good neighbour !

Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too fhort of you.
Dogb. Gifts, that God gives.

Leon. I muft leave you.

Dogb. One word, fir: our watch have, indeed, comprehended two afpicious perfons, and we would have them this morning examin'd before your worship.

Leon. Take their examination your felf, and bring it me; I am now in great hafte, as may appear unto you. Dogb. It shall be suffigance.

Leon. Drink fome wine ere you go: fare you well.
Enter a Meffenger.

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

Leon. I will wait upon them; I am ready. [Ex. LEon. Dogb. Go, good partner; go, get you to Francis Seacoal, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol: we are now to examination these men.

Verg. And we must do it wisely.

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

[Exeunt.

A Church.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Enter Don PEDRO, Don JOHN, LEONATO, Friar, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, and BEATRICE.

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 conjoined, 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 answer, none.

Claud. O what men dare do! what men may do! what Men daily do not knowing what they do!

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

Give me this maid your daughter?

Leon. As freely, fon, as God did give her me.