E R R A T A.

Page 27. 1. 23. dele an. p. 142. 1. 30. for more read mere. p. 143. 1. 29. for his read is. p. 17.1. 1. 28. for formerly read formally, p. 230. 1. 7!. for O read of. p. 443. I. 6. for here read her.

Dramatis Perfonæ.

DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon.
Leonato, Governor of Messina.
Don John, Bastard-Brother to Don Pedro.
Claudio, a young Lord of Florence, Favourite to Don

Pedro.
Benedick, a young Lord of Padua, favour'd likewise by

Don Pedro.
Balthazar, Servant to Don Pedro.
Antonio, Brother to Leonato.
Borachio, Confident to Don John.
Conrade, Friend to Borachio.
Dogberry,

}; two foolish Officers.
Verges,

Hero, Daughter to Leonato.
Beatrice, Neice to Leonato.
Margaret,
Ursula,

} two Gentlewomen, attending on Hero.

A Friar, Messenger, Watch, Town-Clerk, Sexton, and

Attendants.

SCENE, Messina in Sicily.

Enter Leonato, Hero, and Beatrice, with a Messenger,

LEONATO.
Learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of
Arragon comes this night to Mefina,

Mej. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him.

Leon. How many gentlemen have you loft in this action ?

Mell. But few of any Sort, and none of Name.

Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the archiever brings home full numbers; I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, callid Claudio.

Mejs. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembred by Don Pedro: he hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better beti The Story from Ariosto, Orl. Fur. 1. 5.

ter'd expectation, than you must expect of me to tell

you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Melina will be very much glad of it.

Mel. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that 2 joy could not shew itself modeft enough, without a badge

a of bitterness.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?
Mel. In great measure.

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness. There are no faces truer than those that are so wash'd. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping! Beat. I

pray you, 3 is Signior Montanto return'd from the wars or no? Mes. I know none of that name, Lady; 4 there

4 was none fuch in the army of any Sort. . Leon. What is he that you ask for, Neice?

. Hero. My Cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua.

Mel. O, he's return'd, and as pleasant as ever he was.

Beat. He set up his bills here in Mefina, and challeng'd Cupid at the fight; and my Uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscrib'd for Cupid, and challeng'd him at the bird-bolt. “ I pray you, how many hath " he kill'd and eaten in there wars? but how many

a

2 joy could not few it self modeft enough, without a badge of bitterness.] This is judiciously express’d. Of all the transports of Joy, that which is attended with tears is least offensive; because carrying with it this mark of pain, it allays the envy that usually attends another's happiness. This he finely calls a modest joy, such a one as did not insult the observer by an indication of happiness unmixed with pain.