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.

b

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

Beat. Yea, Light 'o love, with your heels!-then if your husband have stables enough, you'll look he shall lack no

c barns.

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, an you be not turn'd Turk, there's no more failing by the star.

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 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 profefs'd apprehenfion?

2

Clap us.

b Light 'o love;]-an old dance tune.

"Beft fing it to the tune of "Light 'o love."

Two GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, A& I, S. 2. Jul. barns]-a pun, bairns, children. d H.]-a pun, ache, pain. turn'd Turk,]-have not changed your opinion, be not fallen in

Love.

Marg.

Marg. Ever since 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.

Marg. 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 f 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'r-lady, 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 fwore 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.

8

Beat. What pace is this that thy tongue keeps ?
Marg. Not a falfe gallop.

Re-enter Urfula.

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.

f moral.]-hidden meaning.

[Exeunt.

& he eats his meat without grudging:]-he is in love, and fubmits to his fate without murmuring; owns himfelf Cupid's captive, and hugs his chains.

SCENE

SCENE V.

Another Apartment in Leonato's Houfe.

Enter Leonato, with Dogberry and Verges.

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

Leon. Brief, I pray you; for you fee, 'tis a bufy 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, fpeaks 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, honest, 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 honester than I.

Dogb. Comparisons are odorous: palabras, neighbour Verges.

Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious.

Dogb. It pleafes your worship to fay fo, 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 beftow it all of your worship.

Leon. All thy tediousness 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.

Ꮒ palabras,]-words.

Verg. And fo am I.

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

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 faid, i'faith, neighbour Verges: —well, God's a good man; an two men ride, of a horse, one must ride behind :-An honest 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; alas good neighbour ! Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of Dogb. Gifts, that God gives.

Leon. I must leave you.

you.

Dogb. One word, fir: our watch have, indeed, compre hended two afpicious 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 haste, as may appear unto you. Dogb. It fhall be fuffigance.

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

Enter a Messenger.

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

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

[Exit Lecnato.

Dogb. Go, good partner, go, get you to George Seacoal,

bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail; we are now to examination thefe men.

Verg. And we must do it wifely.

i it is a world-wonderful.

Dogb.

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 jail.

[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

A Church.

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

Leon. 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 anfwer, none.

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

* non-com: -non plus.

Bene.