Beat. I am stuff'd cousin, I cannot smell. Marg. A maid, and stuff'd! there's goodly catching of cold.

Beat. O, God help me! God help me! How long have you profess'd apprehension ?

Marg. Ever since you left it :-Doth not my wit become me rarely.

Beat. It is not seen enough, you should wear it in your cap.-By my troth, I am sick.

Marg. Get you some of this distill'd Carduus Benedictus, and lay it to your heart; it is the only thing for a qualm.

Hero. There thou prick'st her with a thistle.

Beat. Benedictus !-Why Benedictus ?-You have some moral in this Benedictus.

Marg. Moral-No, by my troth, I have no moral meaning; I meant, plain holy-thistle. You may think, perchance, that I think you are in love: nay, by'r lady, I am not such a fool to think what I list; nor I list not to think what I can; nor, indeed, I cannot think, if I would think my heart out of thinking, that you are in love, or that you will be in love, or that you can be in love: yet Benedict was such another, and now is he become a man he swore he would never marry; and yet now, in despite 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.

Urs. Madam, withdraw; the prince, the count, signior Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the town, are come to fetch you to church. Here. Help to dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Ursula. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.-Another Room in LEONATO's House.

Enter LEONATO, with DOG BERRY and VERGES. Leon. What would you with me, honest neigh

bour?

Dogb. Marry, Sir, I would have some confidence with you, that decerns you nearly.

• Hidden meaning.

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

Dogb. Marry, this it is, Sir.

Verg. Yes, in truth, it is Sir.

Leon. What is it, my good friends?

Dogb. Goodman Verges, Sir, speaks a little off the matter: an old man, Sir, and his wits are not so blunt as, God help, I would desire they were; but in faith, honest, as the skin between his brows.

Verg. Yes, I thank God, I am as honest as any man living, that is an old man, and no honester than I.

Dogb. Comparisons are odorous: palabras, neigh bour Verges.

Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious.

Dogb. It pleases 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 tediousness on me! ha!

Dogb. Yea, and '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 so am I.

Leon. I would fain know what you have to say. Verg. Marry, Sir, our watch to-night, excepting your worship's presence, have ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina.

Dogb. A good old man, Sir; he will be talking; as they say, when the age is in, the wit is out; God help us! it is a world to see!-Well said, i' faith, neighbour Verges: well, God's a good man; an two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind :-An honest soul, i' faith, Sir; by my troth he is, as ever broke bread; but, God is to be worshipp'd: all men are not alike; alas, good neighbour!

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

Leon. I must leave you.

Dogb. One word, Sir: our watch, Sir, have, indeed, comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your worship.

Leon. Take their examination yourself, and bring it me; I am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you.

VOL. I.

It is worth seeing.
Bbb

Dogb. It shall be suffigance.

Leon. Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well. Enter a MESSENGER.

Mess. My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband.

Leon. I will wait upon them; I am ready.

[Exeunt Leonato and Messenger. Dogb. Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacoal, bid him bring his pen and ink-horn 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.] shall drive some of them to a non com: only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol. [Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I-The Inside of a Church.

Enter Don PEDRO, Don JOHN, LEONATO, FRIAR, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, and BEATRICE, &c.

Leon. Come, friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain form of marriage, and you shall recount their particular duties afterwards.

Friar. You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady?

Claud. No.

Leon. To be married to her, friar; you come to marry her.

Friar. Lady, you come hither to be married 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 souls, 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 some be of laughing, as, ha ha! he!

Claud. Stand thee by, friar :-Father, by your leave;

Will you with free and unconstrained soul
Give me this maid, your daughter?

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

May counterpoise this rich and precious gift?

D. Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again. Claud. Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankfulness.

There, Leonato, take her back again;

Give not this rotten orange to your friend;

She's but the sign and semblance of her honour :-
Behold, how like a maid she blushes here:
O, what authority and show of truth
Can cunning sin cover itself withal!

Comes not that blood, as modest evidence,
To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear,
All you that see her, that she were a maid,
By these exterior shows? But she is none :
She knows the heat of a luxurious

Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty.

bed:

Leon. What do you mean, my lord?
Claud. Not to be married,

Not knit my soul to an approved wanton.
Leon. Dear my lord, if you in your own proof
Have vanquish'd the resistance of her youth,
And made defeat of her virginity,-

Claud. I know what you would say; if I have known her,

You'll say, she did embrace me as a husband,
And so extenuate the 'forehand sin:

No, Leonato,

I never tempted her with word too large t;
But, as a brother to his sister, shew'd

Bashful sincerity, and comely love.

Hero. And seem'd I ever otherwise to you?

Claud. Ont on thy seeming! I will write against

You seem to me as Dian in her orb;

As chaste as in the bud ere it be blown;

But you are more intemperate in your blood

Than Venus, or those pamper'd animals

That rage in savage sensuality.

[it:

Hero. Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide!?

Leon. Sweet prince, why speak not you?

D. Pedro. What should I speak?

Lascivious.

+ Licentious.

Remote from the business in hand.

I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about
To link my dear friend to a common stale.

Leon. Are these things spoken? or do I but dream? D. John. Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true.

Bene. This looks not like a nuptial.

Hero. True O God!

Claud. Leonato, stand I here?

Is this the prince's brother?

Is this face Hero's? Are our eyes our own?
Leon. All this is so; but what of this my lord?
Claud. Let me but move one question to your
daughter;

And by that fatherly and kindly power

That you have in her, bid her answer truly.

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

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

Claud. Marry, that can Hero;

Hero itself 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, answer to this.

Hero. I talk'd with no man at that hour, my lord.
D. Pedro. Why, then are you no maiden.-
Leonato,

I am sorry yon must hear; upon mine honour,
Myself, my brother, and this grieved count,
Did see her, hear her, at that hour last night,
Talk with a ruffian at her chamber-window;
Who hath, indeed, most like a liberal villain,
Confess'd the vile encounters they have had
A thousand times in secret.

D. John. Fie, fie! they are

Not to be named; my lord, not to be spoke of;
There is not chastity enough in language,

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

Claud. O Hero!-What a Hero hadst thou been,

If half thy outward graces had been placed
About thy thoughts, and counsels of thy heart!
But, fare thee well, most foul, most fair! farewell!
Thou pure impiety, and impious purity!.

For thee I'll lock up all the gates of love,

Too free of tongue.