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, birlady, 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 with 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. Beat. What pace is this that thy tongue keeps ? Urfu. Madam, withdraw; the Prince, the Count, Signior Benedick, Don John, and all the Gallants of the town are come to fetch you to church. Hero. Help to drefs me, good coz, good Meg, good Urfula. [Exeunt. SCENE, another Apartment in Leonato's Houfe. Enter Leonato, with Dogberry and Verges. HAT would you with me, honeft neigh Leon. W bour? Dogb. Marry, Sir, 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, Sir. Ver. Yes, in truth it is, Sir. Leon. What is it, my good friends? Dogb. Goodman Verges, Sir, fpeaks a little of the matter; an old man, Sir, and his wits are not fo blunt," as, God help, I would defire they were; but, in faith, as honelt 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 İ. 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 tedioufnefs on me, ha? Dogb. Yea, and 'twere a thousand times more than 'tis, for I hear as good exclamation on your worship as of any man in the city; and tho' I be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it. Verg. And fo am I. Leon. I would fain know what you have to say. Verg. Marry, Sir, our Watch to night, excepting your worship's prefence, hath ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Meina. Dogb. A good old man, Sir; 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, he's a good man; an two men ride an horfe, one must ride behind; an honeft foul, i'faith, Sir, by my troth he is, as ever broke bread, but God is to be worship'd; all men are not alike, alas, good neighbour ! Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you. Leon. I must leave you. Dogb. One word, Sir; our Watch have, indeed, comprehended two aufpicious perfons; and we would have them this morning examin'd before your worship. Leon. Take their examination your felf, and bring it me; I am now in great haste, as may appear unto you. Dogb. It fhall be fuffigance. C 3 you well. Enter Enter a Meffenger. Me. My lord, they ftay for you to give your daughter to her husband. Leon. I'll wait upon them. I am ready. [Ex. Leon. Dogb. Go, good Partner, go get you to Francis Seacoale, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail; we are now to examine those men. Verg. And we must do it wifely. Dogb. We will fpare for no wit, I warrant; here's That shall drive fome of them to a non-come. Only get the learned writer to fet down our excommunication, and meet me at the Jail. [Exeunt. A CT IV. SCENE, a CHURCH. Enter D. Pedro, D. John, Leonato, Friar, Claudio, Benedick, Hero, and Beatrice. C LEON AT 0. OME, 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 conjoin'd, I charge you on your fouls to utter it. Claud. Know you any, Hero? Hero. Hero. None, my Lord. Friar. Know you any, Count? Leon. I dare make his anfwer, none. do! what Bene. How now! Interjections? why, then fome be of laughing, as ha, ha, he! Claud. Stand thee by, friar: father, by your leave; Will you with free and unconstrained foul Give me this maid your daughter? Leon. As freely, fon, as God did give her me. Claud. And what have I to give you back, whose worth May counterpoife this rich and precious gift? Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again. Claud. Sweet Prince, you learn me noble thankfulnefs : There, Leonato, take her back again; Give not this rotten orange to your friend. She's but the fign and femblance of her honour: O, what authority and fhew of truth Leon. What do you mean, my Lord ? Not knit my foul to an approved Wanton. Have (13) Dear my Lord, if you in your own Proof,] I am furpriz'd, the Poetical Editors did not observe the Lameness of this Verfe. It evidently wants a Syllable in the laft Foot, which I have reftor'd by a Word, which, I prefume, the first Editors might hesitate at; tho' it is a very proper one, and a Word elsewhere used by our Author. Besides, in the Paffage under C 4 Exami Have vanquifh'd the refiftance of her youth, And made defeat of her virginity Claud. I know what you would fay: if I have known her, You'll fay, fhe did embrace me as a husband, No, Leonato, I never tempted her with word too large; Bashful fincerity, and comely love. Hero. And feem'd I ever otherwife to you? Claud. Out on thy Seeming! I will write against it; You feem to me as Dian in her orb, As chafte as is the bud ere it be blown: blood Hero. Is my Lord well, that he doth speak fo wide } Leon. Sweet Prince, why speak not you? Pedro. What should I speak? I ftand dishonour'd, that have gone about To link my dear friend to a common Stale. Leon. Are these things fpoken, or do I but dream John. Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true. Bene. This looks not like a Nuptial. Hero. True! O God! Claud. Leonato, ftand I here ? Is this the Prince? Is this the Prince's Brother? Is this face Hero's? are our eyes our own? Leon. All this is fo; but what of this, my lord? Claud. Let me but move one question to your daughter, And, by that fatherly and kindly power That you have in her, bid her anfwer truly. Leon. I charge thee do fo, as thou art my child. Examination, this Word comes in almoft neceffarily, as Claudio had faid in the Line immediately preceding; Not knit my Soul to an approved Wanton. What |