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SCENE II."

A Prifon.

Enter DOGBERRY, VERGES, and Sexton, in gowns; and the Watch, with CONRADE and BORACHIO.

DOGB. Is our whole diffembly appear'd?

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2 Scene II. The perfons, throughout this fcene, have been ftrangely confounded in the modern editions. The firft error has been the introduction of a Town-Clerk, who is, indeed, mentioned in the ftage-direction, prefixed to this scene in the old editions, (Enter the Conftables, Borachio, and the Towne-Clerke, in gownes,) but no where else; nor is there a fingle fpeech afcribed to him in thofe editions. The part, which he might reasonably have, been expected to take upon this occafion, is performed by the Sexton 5 who affifts at, or rather directs, the examinations; fets them down in writing, and reports them to Leonato. It is probable, therefore,

I think, that the Sexton has been ftyled the Town-Clerk, in the ftage-direction above-mentioned, from his doing the duty of such an officer. But the editors, having brought both Sexton and TownClerk upon the ftage, were unwilling, as it feems, that the latter fhould be a mute perfonage; and therefore they have put into his mouth almost all the abfurdities which the poet certainly intended for his ignorant conftable. To redify this confufion, little more is neceffary than to go back to the old editions, remembering that the names of Kempe and Cowley, two celebrated actors of the time, ate put in this fcene, for the names of the perfons represented; viz. Kempe for Dogberry, and Cowley for Verges. TYRWHITT.

I have followed Mr. Tyrwhitt's regulation, which is undoubtedly just; but have left Mr. Theobald's notes as I found them.

STEEVENS.

3 in gowns;] It appears from The Black Book, 4to. 1604,

that this was the drefs of a conftable in our author's time: when they mift their conftable, and fawe the black gowne of his office lye full in a puddle.

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The Sexton (as Mr. Tyrwhitt obferved) is ftyled in this ftagedirection, in the old copies, the Town-Clerk, "probably from his doing the duty of fuch an officer." But this error has only happened here; for throughout the fcene itfelf he is defcribed by his proper title. By mistake alfo in the quarto, and the folio, which

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VERG: O, a ftool and a cushion for the fexton! 3 SEXTON. Which be the malefactors?

DOGB. Marry, that am I and my partner.

VERG Nay, that's certain; we have the exhibition to examine.

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SEXTON. But which are the offenders that are to be examined? let them come before mafter conftable.

DOGB. Yea, marry, let them come before me.What is your name, friend?

BORA. Borachio.

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DOGB. Pray write down - Borachio. Yours, firrah?

CON. I am a gentleman, fir, and my name is Conrade.

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DOGB. Write down-mafter gentleman Conrade. Mafiers, do you ferve God?

CON. BORA. Yea, fir, we hope.

DOGB. Write down-that they hope they ferve God:-and write God firft; for God defend but God fhould go before fuch villains! Mafters, it is

appears to have been printed from it, the name of Kempe (an actor in our author's theatre) throughout this fcene is prefixed to the fpeeches of Dogberry, and that of Cowley to thofe of Verges, except in two or three inftances, where either Conftable or Andrew are fubítituted for Kempe. MALONE.

30, a tool and a cushion for the Sexton!] Perhaps a ridicule was here aimed at The Spanish Tragedy:

"Hieron. What, are you ready?

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Balth. Bring a chaire and a cushion for the king."

MALONE.

Con. Bora. Yea, fir, we hope. Dogb. Write down that they hope they ferve God: and write God first for God defend but God should go before fuch villains!] This short paffage, which is truly humorous and in 'character, I have added from the old quarto. Befides, it fupplies a defect:

proved already that you are little better than falfe knaves; and it will go near to be thought fo fhortly. How answer you for yourselves?

CON. Marry, fir, we fay we are none.

DOGB. A marvellous witty fellow, I affure you;

but I will go about with him.

Come you hither, firrah; a word in your ear, fir; I fay to you, it is thought you are falfe knaves.

BORA. Sir, I fay to you, we are none.

DOGB. Well, ftand afide.-'Fore God, they are both in a tale: Have you writ down that they are none?

SEXTON. Mafter conftable, you go not the way to examine; you must call forth the watch that are their accufers.

DOGB. Yea, marry, that's the eftest way: "-Let the watch come forth:- Mafters, I charge you, in the prince's name, accuse these men.

for without it, the Town-Clerk afks à queftion of the prisoners, and goes on without ftaying for any answer to it. THEOBALD.

The omiffion of this paffage fince the edition of 1600, may be accounted for from the ftat. 3 Jac. I. c. 21. the facred name being jeftingly used four times in one line. BLACKSTONE.

Fore God, they are both in a tale: ] This is an admirable stroke of humour: Dogberry lays of the prifoners that they are falfe knaves; and from that denial of the charge, which one in his wits could not but be fuppofed to make, he infers a communion of counfels, and records it in the examination as an evidence of their guilt. SIR J. HAWKINS.

If the learned annotator will amend his comment by omitting the word guilt, and inferting the word innocence, it will except as to the fuppofed inference of a communication of counfels, which fhould likewife be omitted or corrected) be a juft and pertinent remark. RITSON.

Yea, marry, that's the efteft way:] Our modern editors, who were at a lofs to make out the corrupted reading of the old copies,_read eafieft. The quarto, in 1600, and the first and fecond editions in folio,

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