Maintain a mourning ostentation;
And on your family's old monument
Hang mournful epitaphs, and do all rites
That appertain unto a burial.

Leon. What shall become of this? What will
this do?

Friar. Marry, this, well carried, shall on her
behalf

Change slander to remorse; that is some good:
But not for that dream I on this strange course,
But on this travail look for greater birth.
She dying, as it must be so maintain'd,
Upon the instant that she was accus'd,
Shall be lamented, pitied, and excus'd,
Of every hearer: for it so falls out,

That what we have we prize not to the worth,
Whiles' we enjoy it; but being lack'd and lost,
Why, then we rack the value; then we find
The virtue, that possession would not show us
Whiles it was ours:-So will it fare with
dio:

When he shall hear she died upon3 his words,
The idea of her life shall sweetly creep
Into his study of imagination;

And every lovely organ of her life

Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit,
More moving-delicate, and full of life,
Into the eye and prospect of his soul,

Beat. As strange as the thing I know not: it were as possible for me to say, I loved nothing so well as you: but believe me not; and yet I lie not; I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing:-I am sorry for my cousin.

Bene. By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me.
Beat, Do not swear by it, and eat it.

Bene. I will swear by it, that you love me; and I will make him eat it, that says, I love not you.

Beat. Will you not eat your word?

Bene. With no sauce that can be devised to it. I protest I love thee.

Beat. Why then, God forgive me!

Bene. What offence, sweet Beatrice? Beat. You have staid me in a happy hour; 1 was about to protest I loved you.

Bene. And do it with all thy heart.

Beat. I love you with so much of my heart, that

Clau-none is left to protest.

Than when she liv'd indeed :-then shall he mourn
(If ever love had interest in his liver,)
And wish he had not so accused her;

No, though he thought his accusation true.
Let this be so, and doubt not but success
Will fashion the event in better shape
Than I can lay it down in likelihood.
But if all aim but this be levell'd false,
The supposition of the lady's death
Will quench the wonder of her infamy:
And, if it sort not well, you may conceal her
(As best befits her wounded reputation,)
In some reclusive and religious life,

Out of all eyes, tongues, minds, and injuries.
Bene. Signior Leonato, let the friar advise you:
And though you know my inwardness and love
Is very much unto the prince and Claudio,
Yet, by mine honour, I will deal in this
As secretly, and justly, as your soul
Should with your body.

Leon.

Being that I flow in grief,
The smallest twine may lead me.
Friar. 'Tis well consented; presently away;
For to strange sores strangely they strain the

me,

than

fight with mine enemy.

Bene. Is Claudio thine enemy?

Beat. Is he not approv'd in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman?-0, that I were a man!-What! bear her in hands until they come to take hands; and then with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour,-O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place. Bene. Hear me, Beatrice;

Beat. Talk with a man out at a window? a proper saying!

Bene. Nay but, Beatrice;

Beat. Sweet Hero!-she is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone.

Bene. Beat

Beat. Princes, and counties! Surely a princely testimony, a goodly count-confect; a sweet gallant, surely! O that I were a man for his sake! or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is melted into courtesies, valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as HercuPerhaps, is but prolong'd; have patience, and les, that only tells a lie, and swears it :-I cannot endure. [Exe. Friar, Hero, and Leon. be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woBene. Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this man with grieving.

cure.

Come, lady, die to live: this wedding day,

while?

Beat. Yea, and I will weep a while longer.
Bene. I will not desire that.

Beat. You have no reason, I do it freely.
Bene. Surely, I do believe your fair cousin is
wrong'd.

Beat. Ah, how much might the man deserve of me, that would right her!

Bene. Is there any way to show such friendship?
Beat. A very even way, but no such friend.

Bene. May a man do it?

Beat. It is a man's office, but not yours.

Bene. Tarry, good Beatrice: by this hand I love thee.

Beat. Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it.

Bene. Think you in your soul the count Claudio hath wronged Hero?

Beat. Yea, as sure as I have a thought, or a soul.

Bene. Enough, I am engaged, I will challenge him; I will kiss your hand, and so leave you by this hand, Claudio shall render me a dear account: as you hear of me, so think of ine. Go, comfort

Bene. I do love nothing in the world so well as your cousin: I must say, she is dead; and so fareyou; is not that strange ?

well.

[Excunt.

(6) Noblemen. (7) A nobleman made out of sugar (8) Ceremony.

SCENE II-A prison. Enter Dogberry, Ver-
ges, and Sexton, in gowns; and the Watch,
with Conrade and Borachio.

Dogb. Is our whole dissembly appeared?
Verg. O, a stool and a cushion for the sexton!
Sexton. Which be the malefactors?

Verg. Let them be in band.
Con. Off, coxcomb!

Dogb. God's my life! where's the sexton? let
him write down-the prince's officer, coxcomb.-
Come, bind them:-Thou naughty varlet!
Con. Away you are an ass, you are an ass.
Dogb. Dost thou not suspect my place? Dost

Dogb. Marry, that am I and my partner.
Verg. Nay, that's certain; we have the exhibi-thou not suspect my years ?-0 that he were here

tion to examine.

Sexton. But which are the offenders that are to be
examined? let them come before master constable.
Dogb. Yea, marry, let them come before me.-
What is your name, friend?
Bora. Borachio.

to write me down-an ass!-but, masters, remember, that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass :-No, thou villain, thou art full of piety, as shall be proved upon thee by good witness. I am a wise fellow; and, which is more, an officer; and, which is more,

Dogb. Pray write down-Borachio.-Yours, a householder: and, which is more, as pretty a

sirrah?

Con. I am a gentleman, sir, and my name is

Conrade.

Dogb. Write down-master gentleman Conrade.-Masters, do you serve God?

Con. Bora. Yea, sir, we hope.

Dogb. Write down-that they hope they serve God-and write God first; for God defend but God should go before such villains!-Masters, it is proved already that you are little better than false

piece of flesh as any is in Messina; and one that
knows the law, go to; and a rich fellow enough,
go to; and a fellow that hath had losses; and one
that hath two gowns, and every thing handsome
about him :-Bring him away. Ŏ, that I had been
writ down-an ass.
[Exeunt.

ACT V.

knaves; and it will go near to be thought so shortly. SCENE I.-Before Leonato's house. Enter How answer you for yourselves?

Con. Marry, sir, we say we are none. Dogb. A marvellous witty fellow, I assure you; but I will go about with him.-Come you hither, sirrah; a word in your ear, sir; I say to you, it is thought you are false knaves.

Bora. Sir, I say to you, we are none. Dogb. Well, stand aside.-'Fore God, they are both in a tale: have you writ down-that they are none?

Sexton. Master constable, you go not the way to examine; you must call forth the watch that are their accusers.

Leonato and Antonio.

Ant. If you go on thus, you will kill yourself;
And 'tis not wisdom, thus to second grief
Against yourself.

Leon.
I pray thee, cease thy counsel,
Which falls into mine ears as profitless
As water in a sieve: give not me counsel;
Nor let no comforter delight mine ear,
But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine.
Bring me a father, that so lov'd his child,
Whose joy of her is overwhelm'd like mine,
And bid him speak of patience;
Measure his wo the length and breadth of mine,
And let it answer every strain for strain;
As thus for thus, and such a grief for such,
In every lineament, branch, shape, and form:
If such a one will smile, and stroke his beard;
Cry-sorrow, wag! and hem, when he should groan,
brother-Patch grief with proverbs; make misfortunes drunk
With candle-wasters; bring him yet to me,
And I of him will gather patience.

Dogb. Yea, marry, that's the eftest way:-Let the watch come forth:-Masters, I charge you,

the prince's name, accuse these men.

in

1 Watch. This man said, sir, that Don John, the prince's brother, was a villain.

Dogb. Write down-prince John a villain.Why this is flat perjury, to call a prince's

villain.

Bora. Master constable,

Dogb. Pray thee, fellow, peace; I do not like But there is no such man: For, brother, men thy look, I promise thee.

Sexton. What heard you him say else?

2 Watch. Marry, that he had received a thousand ducats of Don John, for accusing the lady Hero wrongfully.

Dogb. Flat burglary, as ever was committed.
Verg. Yea, by the mass, that it is.
Sexton. What else, fellow?

1 Watch. And that Count Claudio did mean, upon his words, to disgrace Hero before the whole assembly, and not marry her.

Dogb. O villain! thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption for this. Sexton. What else?

2 Watch. This is all.

Can counsel, and speak comfort to that grief
Which they themselves not feel; but, tasting it,
Their counsel turns to passion, which before
Would give preceptial medicine to rage,
Fetter strong madness in a silken thread,
Charm ache with air, and agony with words:
No, no; 'tis all men's office to speak patience
To those that wring under the load of sorrow;
But no man's virtue, nor sufficiency,
To be so moral, when he shall endure
The like himself: therefore give me no counsel:
My griefs cry louder than advertisement, 2

Ant. Therein do men from children nothing differ.
Leon. I pray thee, peace: I will be flesh and
blood;

Sexton. And this is more, masters, than you can For there was never yet philosopher, deny. Prince John is this morning secretly stolen That could endure the tooth-ach patiently; away; Hero was in this manner accused, in this However they have writ the style of gods, very manner refused, and upon the grief of this, And made a pish at chance and sufferance. suddenly died.-Master constable, let these men be bound, and brought to Leonato's; I will go before, and show him their examination. [Exit. Dogb. Come, let them be opinioned. (2) Admonition.

(1) Bond.

Ant. Yet bend not all the harm upon yourself:
Make those, that do offend you, suffer too.
Leon. There thou speak'st reason: nay, I will
do so.

My soul doth tell me, Hero is belied;
And that shall Claudio know, so shall the prince,

Nay, said I, the gentleman is wise; Certain, said kill me. I have deceived even your very eyes: she, a wise gentleman: Nay, said I, he hath the what your wisdoms could not discover, these shaltongues; That I believe, said she, for he swore a low fools have brought to light; who, in the night, thing to me on Monday night, which he forswore overheard me confessing to this man, how Den on Tuesday morning; there's a double tongue; John your brother incensed me to slander the lady there's two tongues. Thus did she, an hour toge- Hero; how you were brought into the orchard, ther, trans-shape thy particular virtues; yet, at and saw me court Margaret in Hero's garments; last, she concluded with a sigh, thou wast the pro- how you disgraced her, when you should marry perest man in Italy. her: my villany they have upon record; which I Claud. For the which she wept heartily, and had rather seal with my death, than repeat over to said, she cared not. my shame: the lady is dead upon mine and my master's false accusation; and, briefly, I desire nothing but the reward of a villain.

D. Pedro. Yea, that she did; but yet, for all that, an if she did not hate him deadly, she would love him dearly: the old man's daughter told us all. Claud. All, all; and moreover, God saw him| when he was hid in the garden.

D. Pedro. But when shall we set the savage] bull's horns on the sensible Benedick's head?

Claud. Yea, and text underneath, Here dwells Benedick the married man.

D. Pedro. Runs not this speech like iron through your blood?

Claud. I have drunk poison whiles he utter'd it. D. Pedro. But did my brother set thee on to this? Bora. Yea, and paid me richly for the practice of it.

D. Pedro. He is compos'd and fram'd of trea-
chery:-

Bene. Fare you well, boy; you know my mind;
I will leave you now to your gossip-like humour: And fled he is upon this villany.

you break jests as braggarts do their blades, which, Claud, Sweet Hero! now thy image doth appear
God be thanked, hurt not.-My lord, for your many In the rare semblance that I lov'd it first.
courtesies I thank you: I must discontinue your Dogb. Come, bring away the plaintiffs; by this
company; your brother, the bastard, is fled from time our Sexton hath reformed signior Leonato of
Messina: you have, among you, killed a sweet and the matter: and masters, do not forget to specify,
innocent lady for my lord Lack-beard, there, he when time and place shall serve, that I am an ass.
and I shall meet; and till then, peace be with him. Verg. Here, here comes master signior Leonato,
[Exit Benedick, and the Sexton too.

D. Pedro. He is in earnest.
Claud. In most profound earnest; and, I'll war-
rant you, for the love of Beatrice.

D. Pedro. And hath challenged thee?
Claud. Most sincerely.

D. Pedro. What a pretty thing man is, when hef
goes in his doublet and hose, and leaves off his wit!
Enter Dogberry, Verges, and the Watch, with
Conrade and Borachio.

Leon. Art thou the slave, that with thy breath hast kill'd Mine innocent child? Bora. Yea, even I alone. Leon. No, not so, villain, thou bely'st thyself; D. Pedro. But, soft you, let be; pluck up, my Here stand a pair of honourable men, heart, and be sad! Did he not say my brother was A third is fled, that had a hand in it:

Claud. He is then a giant to an ape: but then is an ape a doctor to such a man.

fled?

Dogb. Come, you, sir; if justice cannot tame you, she shall ne'er weigh more reasons in her balance; nay. an you be a cursing hypocrite once, you must be looked to.

D. Pedro. How now, two of my brother's men bound! Borachio, one!

Claud. Hearken to their offence, my lord! D. Pedro. Officers, what offence have these men done?

Dogb. Marry, sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly, they have belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust things: and, to conclude, they are lying knaves. D. Pedro. First, I ask thee what they have done; thirdly, I ask thee what's their offence; sixth and lastly, why they are committed; and, to conclude, what you lay to their charge?

I thank you, princes, for my daughter's death;
Record with your high and worthy deeds;
"Twas bravely done, if you bethink you of it.

Claud. I know not how to pray your patience,
Yet I must speak: Choose your revenge yourself;
Impose3 me to what penance your invention
Can lay upon my sin: yet sinn'd I not,
But in mistaking.

D. Pedro.

By my soul, nor I;
And yet, to satisfy this good old man,
would bend under any heavy weight
That he'll enjoin me to.

I

Leon. I cannot bid you bid my daughter live, That were impossible; but, I pray you both, Possess the people in Messina here How innocent she died: and, if your love Can labour ought in sad invention, Hang her an epitaph upon her tomb, And sing it to her bones; sing it to-night :Claud. Rightly reasoned, and in his own divi-To-morrow morning come you to my house; sion; and, by my troth, there's one meaning well And since you could not be my son-in-law, suited. Be yet my nephew: my brother hath a daughter, Almost the copy of my child that's dead, And she alone is heir to both of us; Give her the right you should have given her cousin. And so dies my revenge. Claud. O, noble sir, Your over-kindness doth wring tears from me! (4) Acquaint.

D. Pedro. Whom have you offended, masters, that you are thus bound to your answer? this learned constable is too cunning to be understood: What's your offence?

Bora. Sweet prince, let me go no further to mine answer; do you hear me, and let this count (2) Incited.

'1) Serious.

(3) Command

I do embrace your offer; and dispose
For henceforth of poor Claudio.

Leon. To-morrow then I will expect your coming;
To-night I take my leave.-This naughty man
Shall face to face be brought to Margaret,
Who, I believe, was pack'd in all this wrong,
Hir'd to it by your brother.

Bora.

No, by my soul, she was not;
Nor knew not what she did, when she spoke to me;
But always hath been just and virtuous,
In any thing that I do know by her.

And knows me, and knows me,
How pitiful I deserve,-

I mean, in singing; but in loving,-Leander the good swimmer, Troilus the first employer of pandars, and a whole book full of these quondam carpet-mongers, whose names yet run smoothly in the even road of a blank verse, why, they were never Dogb. Moreover, sir, (which, indeed, is not un-so truly turned over and over as my poor self, in der white and black,) this plaintiff here, the offen-love: Marry, I cannot show it in rhyme; I have der, did call me ass: I beseech you, let it be re- tried; I can find out no rhyme to lady but baby, an membered in his punishment: and also, the watch innocent rhyme; for scorn, horn, a hard rhyme; heard them talk of one Deformed: they say, he for school, fool, a babbling rhyme; very ominous wears a key in his ear, and a lock hanging by it; endings: No, I was not born under a rhyming and borrows money in God's name; the which he planet, nor I cannot woo in festival terms.2 hath used so long, and never paid, that now men Enter Beatrice. grow hard-hearted, and will lend nothing for God's Sweet Beatrice, would'st thou come when I called sake: pray you, examine him upon that point.

Leon. I thank thee for thy care and honest pains.
Dogb. Your worship speaks like a most thankful
and reverend youth; and I praise God for you.
Leon. There's for thy pains.

Dogb. God save the foundation!

Leon. Go, I discharge thee of thy prisoner, and

I thank thee.

thee?

Beat. Yea, signior, and depart when you bid me.
Bene. O, stay but till then!

Beat. Then, is spoken; fare you well now:and yet, ere I go, let me go with that I came for, which is, with knowing what hath passed between you and Claudio.

Bene. Only foul words; and thereupon, I will

Dogb. I leave an arrant knave with your wor-kiss thee. ship; which, I beseech your worship, to correct Beat. Foul words is but foul wind, and foul wind yourself, for the example of others. God keep your is but foul breath, and foul breath is noisome; worship; I wish your worship well; God restore therefore I will depart unkissed.

you to health: I humbly give you leave to depart; Bene. Thou hast frighted the word out of his and if a merry meeting may be wished, God prohi- right sense, so forcible is thy wit: But, I must tell bit it.-Come, neighbour. thee plainly, Claudio undergoes3 my challenge; and either I must shortly hear from him, or I will subscribe him a coward. And, I pray thee now, tell me, for which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?

[Exeunt Dogberry, Verges, and Watch Leon. Until to-morrow morning, lords, farewell. Ant. Farewell, my lords; we look for you to

morrow.

D. Pedro. We will not fail.
Claud.

To-night I'll mourn with Hero. [Exeunt Don Pedro and Claudio. Leon. Bring you these fellows on; we'll talk with Margaret,

How her acquaintance grew with this lewd' fellow. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Leonato's Garden. Enter Benedick and Margaret, meeting.

Bene. Pray thee, sweet mistress Margaret, deserve well at my hands, by helping me to the speech of Beatrice.

of

Marg. Will you then write me a sonnet in praise my beauty?

Bene. In so high a style, Margaret, that no man living shall come over it; for, in most comely truth, thou deservest it.

Marg. To have no man come over me? why, shall I always keep below stairs?

Bene. Thy wit is as quick as the greyhound's mouth, it catches.

Marg. And your's as blunt as the fencer's foils, which hit, but hurt not.

Beat. For them all together; which maintained so politic a state of evil, that they will not admit which of my good parts did you first suffer love any good part to intermingle with them. But for

for me?

Bene. Suffer love; a good epithet! I do suffer love, indeed, for I love thee against my will.

Beat. In spite of your heart, I think; alas! poor heart! If you spite it for my sake; I will spite it for yours; for I will never love that which my friend hates.

Bene. Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably. Beat. It appears not in this confession: there's not one wise man among twenty that will praise himself.

Bene. An old, an old instance, Beatrice, that lived in the time of good neighbours: if a man do not erect in this age his own tomb ere he dies, he shall live no longer in monument, than the bell rings, and the widow weeps.

Beat. And how long is that, think you?

Bene. Question?-Why, an hour in clamour, and a quarter in rheum: Therefore, it is most expeBene. A most manly wit, Margaret, it will not dient for the wise (if Don Worm, his conscience, hurt a woman; and so I pray thee, call Beatrice : find no impediment to the contrary,) to be the I give thee the bucklers.

trumpet of his own virtues, as I am to myself: So Marg. Give us the swords, we have bucklers of much for praising myself (who, I myself will bear

witness, is praiseworthy,) and now tell me, How doth your cousin?

Beat. Very ill.

Bene. And how do you?

Beat. Very ill too.

Bene. Serve God, love me, and mend: there

(3) Is subject to.