Serton. 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. Serton. What else? 2 Watch. This is all. · Sexton. And this is more, masters, than you can deny. Prince John is this morning secretly stolen away; Hero was in this manner accused, in this very manner refused, and upon the grief of this, 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. 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 thou not suspect my years?-0 that he were here 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, a housholder; and, which is more, as pretty a 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. O, that I had been writ down-an ass! [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. Before Leonato's House. Enter LEONATO and ANTONIO. Ant. If you go on thus, you will kill yourself; And 'tis not wisdom, thus to second grief Against yourself. Leon. As water in a sieve: give not me counsel; But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine. Measure his woe the length and breadth of mine, groan; Patch grief with proverbs; make misfortune drunk But there is no such man: For, brother, men make misfortune drunk With candle-wasters;] Perhaps, those who sit up all night to drink. Fetter strong madness in a silken thread, To be so moral, when he shall endure The like himself: therefore give me no counsel : Ant. Therein do men from children nothing differ. Leon. I pray thee, peace; I will be flesh and blood; For there was never yet philosopher, That could endure the tooth-ach patiently; 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, And all of them, that thus dishonour her. Enter Don PEDRO and CLAUDIO. Ant. Here comes the prince, and Claudio, hastily. D. Pedro. Good den, good den. Claud. Good day to both of you. Leon. Hear you, my lords,— D. Pedro. We have some haste, Leonato. Leon. Some haste, my lord!—well, fare you well, my lord : Are you so hasty now?-well, all is one. D. Pedro. Nay, do not quarrel with us, good old man. than advertisement.] That is, than admonition. Ant. If he could right himself with quarrelling, Some of us would lie low. Claud. Leon. Who wrongs him? Marry, Thou, thou dost wrong me; thou dissembler, thou: Nay, never lay thy hand upon thy sword, I fear thee not. Claud. Marry, beshrew my hand, If it should give your age such cause of fear: In faith, my hand meant nothing to my sword. Leon. Tush, tush, man, never fleer and jest at me: I speak not like a dotard, nor a fool; What I have done being young, or what would do, I say, thou hast belied mine innocent child; And she lyes buried with her ancestors: Leon. say. My lord, my lord, I'll prove it on his body, if he dare; 2 Despite his nice fence, and his active practice, 2 Despite his nice fence,] i, e. defence, or skill in the science of fencing, or defence. Claud. Away, I will not have to do with you. Leon. Canst thou so daff me?3 Thou hast kill'd my child; If thou kill'st me, boy, thou shalt kill a man. Ant. He shall kill two of us, and men indeed; But that's no matter; let him kill one first ;Win me and wear me,-let him answer me,Come, follow me, boy; come, boy, follow me : Sir boy, I'll whip you from your foining fence ;* Nay, as I am a gentleman, I will. Leon. Brother, Ant. Content yourself: God knows, I lov'd my nicce ; And she is dead, slander'd to death by villains; Brother Antony, Ant. Hold you content: What, man! I know them, yea, And what they weigh, even to the utmost scruple: Leon. But, brother Antony,- Come, 'tis no matter; Do not you meddle, let me deal in this. D. Pedro. Gentlemen both, we will not wake your patience. My heart is sorry for your daughter's death; 3 Canst thou so daff me?] or doff, i. e. put me off. 4 thrusting. foining fence;] Foining is a term in fencing, and means 5 Scambling,] i. e. scrambling. |