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SCENE I.
Before Leonato's boufe.

Enter Lesnate, Hero, and Beatrice, with a Messenger.

Leen

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LEARN in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Meffina. MT. 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?

Mr. But few of any fort 2, and none of name. L. A victory is twice itself, when the atchiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, call'd Claudio.

Me. Much deferv'd on his part, and equally remember'd 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 better'd expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.

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

Me. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that joy could not fhew itself modest enough, without a badge of bitterness.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?
Melf. 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, is fignior Montanto 3 return'd from the wars, or no?

Me. I know none of that name, lady; there was none fuch in the army of any fort.

Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece? Hero. My coufin means fignior Benedick of Padua. Meff. O, he's return'd; and as pleasant as ever he was.

Beat. He fet up his bills here in Meffina 4, and challenged Cupid at the flight 5: and my uncle's fool

Mr. Pope was of opinion, that the ftory of this play is taken from Ariofto's Orlando Furiofo, b.. Mr. Steevens, however, fupposes, that a novel of Belleforest, copied from another of Bandello, furnished Shakspeare with his fable. 2 That is, of any rank. 3 Montante, in Spanish, is a huge twohanded fwoord, given, with much humour, to one, the fpeaker would reprefent as a boafter or bravado. This alludes to the custom of fencers, or prize-fighters, fetting up bills, containing a general challenge. s. To challenge at the flight, was a challenge to fhoot with an arrow of a particular kind, with narrow feathers.

reading

Don John.

reading the challenge, fubfcribed for Cupid, and] Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar, and challenged him at the bird-bolt -I pray you, how many hath he kill'd and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he kill'd? for, indeed, I promis'd to eat all of his killing.

Lean. Faith, niece, you tax fignior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you2, I doubt it not. Melf. He hath done good fervice, lady, in thefe

wars.

Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it: he's a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent ftomach.

Mell. And a good foldier too, lady.

Beat. And a good foldier to a lady:—But what is he to a lord?

Pedro. Good fignior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid coft, and you encounter it.

Leon. Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your grace: for trouble being gone, comfort should remain; but, when you depart from me, forrow abides, and happiness takes his leave.

Pedro. You embrace your charge 8 too willingly.
I think, this is your daughter.

Leon. Her mother hath many times told me fo.
Bene. Were you in doubt, fir, that you ask'd her?
Leon. Signior Benedick, no; for then were you

Mel. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; ftuff'd a child. with all honourable virtues.

Beat. It is fo, indeed; he is no lefs than a stuff'd man: but for the stuffing, well, we are all

mortal.

Leon. You must not, fir, mistake my niece; there is a kind of merry war betwixt fignior Benedick and her: they never meet, but there's a fkirmish of wit between them.

Pedro. You have it full, Benedick: we may guefs by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herself:-Be happy, lady! for you are like an honourable father.

Bene. If fignior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Mestina, as like him as she is.

Beat. I wonder, that you will still be talking, fignior Benedick; no body marks you.

Bene, What, my dear lady Difdain! are you yet living?

Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our laft conflict, four of his five wits 3 went halting off, and now is the whole man govern'd with one: fo that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horfe; for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable creature.-Who is his com-in her prefence. panion now? he hath every month a new fworn brother.

Me. Is it poffible?

4

Beat. Very easily poffible; he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next block 5.

Beat. Is it poffible, disdain should die, while fhe hath fuch meet food to feed it, as fignior Benedick? Courtefy itself muft convert to difdain, if you come

Benc, Then is Courtesy a turn-coat :-But it is certain, I am lov'd of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart; for, truly, I love none.

Beat. A dear happiness to women; they would elfe have been troubled with a pernicious fuitor. I Me. I fee, lady, the gentleman is not in your thank God, and my cold blood, I am of your hu books". mour for that; I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man fwear he loves me.

Beat. No: an he were, I would burn my study. But, I pray you, who is his companion? Is there no young squarer? now, that will make a voyage with him to the devil?

Meff. He is most in the company of the right| noble Claudio.

Beat. O lord! he will hang upon him like a difeafe: he is fooner caught than the peftilence, and the taker runs prefently mad. God help the noble Claudio! if he have caught the Benedick, it will coft him a thousand pounds ere he be cur'd. Meff. I will hold friends with you, lady. Beat. Do, good friend.

Leon. You'll ne'er run mad, niece.

Beat. No, not till a hot January.

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Meff. Don Pedro is approach'd.

Bene. God keep your ladyfhip ftill in that mind! fome gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate fcratch'd face.

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Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere fuch a face as yours were.

Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.
Beat. A bird of my tongue, is better than a beast

of yours.

Bene. I would, my horse had the fpeed of your tongue; and fo good a continuer; But keep your way o' God's name; I have done.

Beat. You always end with a jade's trick; I know you of old.

Pedro. This is the fum of all: Leonato,-fignior Claudio, and fignior Benedick,-my dear friend

The bird-bolt is a fhort thick arrow without point, and spreading at the extremity so much, as to leave a flat furface, about the breadth of a fhilling. They are used at prefent to kill rooks with, and are fhot from a cross-bow. 2 That is, he will be even with, or a match for, you." 3 The five fenfes probably gave rife to the idea of a man's having five wits. feffion, but profeffion of friendship. 5 A block is the mould on which a hat is formed. 4 Not religious proman's books, originally meant to be in the lift of his retainers. 6 To be in a quarrelfome fellow, 3 Charge here fignifies incumbrance, 7 That is, no young, cholerick,

Leonate

Leonato hath invited you all. I tell him, we shall

Bene, You hear, Count Claudio: I can be fecret ftay here at the least a month; and he heartily as a dumb man, I would have you think so; but prays, fome occafion may detain us longer: I dare on my allegiance,mark you this, on my allegifwear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his heart. ance He is in love. With who?-now that is L. If you fwear, my lord, you shall not be your grace's part-mark, how fhort his anfwer fariworn-Let me bid you welcome, my lord; be-is ing reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe you all duty.

Job. I thank you; I am not of many words, but I thank you.

Len. Please it your grace lead on? Pedra, Your hand, Leonato; we will go together, [Exeunt all but Benedick and Claudio. Claud. Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of fignior Leonato?

Beat. I noted her not; but I look'd on her. Claud. Is the not a modeft young lady? B. Do you question me, as an honest man fhould do, for my fimple true judgment? or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a profelled tyrant to their fex?

Claud. No, I pray thee, speak in sober judgment, B. Why, i'faith, methinks the is too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praife, and too little for a great praise; only this commendation I can afford her; that were the other than fhe is, the were unhandfome; and being no other but as the is, I do not like her.

Clawd, Thou think'ft, I am in fport; I pray thee, tell me truly how thou lik'st her.

Bent. Would you buy her, that you enquire af. ter her?

Claud. Can the world buy fuch a jewel?

Bent. Yea, and a cafe to put it into. But fpeak you this with a fad brow? or do you play the floutng Jack; to tell us Cupid is a good hare-finder, and Vuican a rare carpenter? Come, in what key f a man take you, to go in the fong?

Chrad. In mine eye, fhe is the fweeteft lady that I ever looked on.

With Hero, Leonato's fhort daughter,

Claud. If this were fo, fo were it uttered. Bene. Like the old tale, my lord; it is not fo, nor 'twas not fo; but, indeed, God forbid it should be fo.

Claud. If my paffion change not shortly, God forbid it should be otherwise.

Pedro. Amen, if you love her, for the lady is very well worthy.

I

Claud. You fpeak this to fetch me in, my lord.
Pedro. By my troth, I fpeak my thought.
Claud. And, in faith, my lord, I spoke mine.
Bene. And by my two faiths and troths, my lord,
fpeak mine.

Claud. That I love her, I feel.

Pedro. That the is worthy, I know.

Bene. That I neither feel how the fhould be lov'd, nor know how she should be worthy, is the opinion that fire cannot melt out of me; I will die in it at the stake.

Pedro. Thou waft ever an obstinate heretick in the defpight of beauty.

Claud. And never could maintain his part, but in the force of his will.

Bene. That a woman conceiv'd me, I thank her; that the brought me up, I likewife give her most humble thanks: but that I will have a recheat winded in my forehead', or hang my bugle 2 in an invisible baldrick 3, all women fhall pardon me : Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to truft none; and the fine is, (for the which I may go the finer) I will live a batchelor.

Pedro. I fhall fee thee, ere I die, look pale with love.

Bene. I can fee yet without spectacles, and I fee Bene. With anger, with fickness, or with hunno foch matter: there's her coufin, an fhe were ger, my lord; not with love: prove, that ever I not poffefs'd with a fury, exceeds her as much in lofe more blood with love, than I will get again beauty, as the first of May doth the laft of Decem-with drinking, pick out mine eyes with a balladber. But I hope, you have no intent to turn huf-maker's pen, and hang me up at the door of a band; have you? brothel-houfe for the fign of blind Cupid.

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Pedro. Well, if ever thou doft fall from this faith, thou wilt prove a notable argument.

Bene. If I do, hang me in a bottle like a cat, and fhoot at me; and he that hits me, let him be clapp'd on the fhoulder, and call'd Adam 4. Pedro. Well, as time fhall try: In time the favage bull doth bear the yoke.

Bene. The favage bull may; but if ever the fenfible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns, and fet them in my forehead: and let me be vilely painted; and in fuch great letters as they write, Here is good horfe to hire, let them fignify under my fign,-Here you may fee Benedick the marry'd man.

Claud. If this fhould ever happeh, thou would'st be horn-mad.

1 A recheat is a particular lesson upon the horn, to call dogs back from the scent. 2 Bugle-horn. 3 Belt or girdle. 4 This probably alludes to one Adam Bell, who at that time of day was of repution for his skill at the bow.

Pedro.

397 Pedro. Nay, if Cupid hath not spent all his qui-
ver in Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly.
Bene. I look for an earthquake too then..
Pedro. Well, you will temporize with the hours.
In the mean time, good fignior Benedick, repair
to Leonato's; commend me to him, and tell him,
I will not fail him at fupper; for, indeed he hath
made great preparation.

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Bene. I have almost matter enough in me for fuch an embaffage; and fo I commit you→

Claud. To the tuition of God; from my houfe, (if I had it,)

Pedro. The fixth of July; your loving friend, Benedick.

I

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4 Room in Leontato's Houfe.

Enter Leonato and Antonio.

Leo. How now, brother? Where is my coufin, your fon? Hath he provided this musick?

Ant. He is very bufy about it. But, brother, I can tell you news that you yet dream'd not of. Leon. Are they good?

Ant. As the event stamps them; but they have a good cover, they show well outward. The prince and Count Claudio, walking in a thick-pleached 2 alley in my orchard, were thus overheard by a man of mine: The prince difcover'd to Claudio, that Bene. Nay, mock not, mock not: The body of he lov'd my niece your daughter, and meant to acyour difcourfe is fometime guarded with fragments, knowledge it this evening in a dance; and, if he and the guards are but flightly bafted on neither: found her accordant, he meant to take the prefent ere you flout old ends any further, examine your time by the top, and inftantly break with you of it, confcience; and so I leave you. Exit. Leon. Hath the fellow any wit that told you this? Claud. My liege, your highness now may do Ant. A good sharp fellow; I will fend for him, me good. [how, and question him yourself.. Pedro. My love is thine to teach; teach it but And thou shalt fee how apt it is to learn Any hard leffon that may do thee good.

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Claud. Hath Leonato any fon, my lord?
Pedra. No child, but Hern, fhe's his only heir:
Doft thou affect her, Claudio?

Claud. O my lord,

When you went onward on this ended action,
I look'd upon her with a foldier's eye,
That lik'd, but had a rougher task in hand
Than to drive liking to the name of love:
But now I am return'd, and that war-thoughts
Have left their places vacant, in their rooms
Come thronging foft and delicate defires,
All prompting me how fair young Hero is,
Saying, I lik'd her ere I went to wars.

Pedro. Thou wilt be like a lover presently,
And tire the hearer with a book of words:
If thou doft love fair Hero, cherish it;
And I will break with her, and with her father,
And thou fhalt have her: Was't not to this end,
- That thou began'ft to twift fo fine a story?

Claud. How fweetly do you minister to loye,
That know love's grief by his complection!
But left my liking might too fudden feem,
I would have falv'd it with a longer treatise.
Pedro. What need the bridge much broader than
the flood?

The faircft grant is the nece.fity:

Leon. No, no; we will hold it as a dream, till it appear itfelf:-but I will acquaint my daughter withal, that she may be the better prepared for an anfwer, if peradventure this be true: Go you, and tell her of it. [Several Servants cross the stage here.] Coufin, you know what you have to do,-O, I cry you mercy, friend; go you with me, and I will ufe your skill :-Good coufin, have a care this bufy time. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Another Apartment in Leonato's House.

Enter Don John and Conrade.

Conr. What the good-jer, my lord! why are you thus out of measure fad ?

John. There is no measure in the occafion that breeds it, therefore the fadnefs is without limit. Conr. You should hear reafon.

John. And when I have heard it, what blefling bringeth it?

Conr. If not a prefent remedy, yet a patient fufferance.

John. I wonder, that thou being (as thou fay'it thou art born) under Saturn, goeft about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I am: I must be fad when I have caufe, and smile at no man's jefts; eat when I have ftomach, and wait for no man's leifure; fleep when I am drowfy, and tend on no man's

Look, what will ferve, is fit; 'tis once, thou lov'ft; bufinefs; laugh when I am merry, and claw 3 no

And I will fit thee with the remedy.

I know, we shall have revelling to-night;
I will affume thy part in fome difguife,

And tell fair Hero I am Claudio;
And in her bofom I'll unclafp my heart,
And take her hearing prifoner with the force
And strong encounter of my amorous tale;
Then, after, to her father will I break;
And, the conclufion is, the fhall be thine:
In practice let us put it prefently.

man in his humour.

Conr. Yea, but you must not make the full show of this, till you may do it without controulment. You have of late ftood out against your brother, and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace; where it is impoffible you fhould take root, but by the fair weather that you make yourself; it is needful that you frame the feafon for your own harvest.

John. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rofe in his grace; and it better fits my blood to [Exeunt. be difdain'd of all, than to fathion a carriage to rob

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love from any: in this, though I cannot be faid to

Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir

be a flattering honeft man, it must not be deny'd of Leonato. but I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trufted

John. A very forward March-chick! How.come

with a muzzle, and infranchised with a clog; you to know this? therefore I have decreed not to fing in my cage: Bora. Being entertain'd for a perfumer, as I was. If I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my fmoaking a mufty room, comes me the prince and liberty, I would do my liking: in the mean time, Claudio, hand in hand, in fad conference :-I let me be that I am, and feek not to alter me. whipt me behind the arras; and there heard it Cour. Can you make no ufe of your difcontent? agreed upon, that the prince fhould woo Hero for John. I make all use of it, for I use it only.—himself, and having obtained her, give her to Who comes here? what news, Borachio ? count Claudio.

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AS not count John here at fupper
Ant. I faw him not.

WAS

Leon. So, by being too curft, God will fend you

no horns.

which bleffing, I am at him upon my knees every Beat. Juft, if he fend me no husband; for the morning and evening: Lord! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face; I had rather lie in woollen.

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Beat. How tartly that gentleman looks! I never Leon. You may light upon a husband, that hath n fee him, but I am heart-burn'd an hour after. no beard. 3”ཙ་ཏན་』ལྕི་ Hem He is of a very melancholy difpofition. Beat. What should I do with him? drefs him Best. He were an excellent inan, that were in my apparel, and make him my waiting-gentletade just in the midway between him and Bene-woman. He that hath a beard, is more than a dick: the one is too like an image, and fays no- youth; and he that hath no beard, is less than a thing; and the other, too like my lady's eldest fan, man: and he that is more than a youth, is not for evermore tattling. me; and he that is lefs than a man, I am not for Lee. Then half fignior Benedick's tongue in him: Therefore I will even take fix-pence in ear pa John's mouth, and half count John's me-neft of the bear-herd, and lead his apes into hell. atoly in fignior Benedick's face,Leon. Well then, go you into bell? Beat. With a good leg, and a good foot, uncle, Beat. No; but to the gate and there will the nd money enough in his purse, Such a man would devil meet me, like an old cuckold, with horns on vin any woman in the world,if he could get her his head, and fay, Get you to heaven, Beatrice, pet pod will you to heaven; bere's no place for you maids: fo des Lee. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get liver I up my apes, and away to Saint Peter for fer a hutband, if thou be 'ft fo fhrewd of thy the heavens; he thews me where the batchelors tage. fit, and there live we as merry as the day is long,, Ant. Well, niece, I truft, you will be rul'd by [To Hera,

Aut. In faith, fhe's too curft.

Beat. Yes, faith; it is my coufin's duty to make

Brat. Too curft is more than curft: I fhall lef-your father. in God's fending that way for it is faid, God fends part cow fbart boras; but to a cow too curft he a curtfy, and fay, Father, as it please you :-but yet for all that, coufin, let him be a handsome fel

* i. e. Serious; 2 i. e. To be depended on

low,

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