Bene. You are a villain; I jeft not. I will make it good how you dare, with what you dare, and when you dare. Do me right, or I will proteft your cowardise. You have kill'd a sweet lady, and her death fhall fall heavy on you. Let me hear from you.

Claud. Well, I will meet you, fo I may have good

cheer.

Pedro. What, a feast?

Claud. I' faith, I thank him; he hath bid me to a calves-head and a capon, the which if I do not carve muft curiously, fay, my knife's naught. Shall I not find a woodcock too?

Bene. Sir, your wit ambles well; it goes eafily.

Pedro. I'll tell thee, how Beatrice prais'd thy wit the other day I faid, thou hadit a fine wit; right, fays fhe, a fine little one; no, faid I, a great wit; juft, faid he, a great grofs one; nay, faid I, a good wit; juft, faid fhe, it hurts no body; nay, faid I, the gentleman is wife; certain, faid fhe, a wife gentleman; ray, faid I, he hath the tongues; that I believe, said fhe, for he fwore a thing to me on Monday night, which he forfwore on Tuesday morning; there's a double tongue, there's two tongues. Thus did the an hour together tranffhare thy particular virtues; yet, at laft, fhe concluded with a figh, thou waft the properest man in Italy.

Claud. For the which the wept heartily, and said, she car'd not.

Pedro. Yea, that he did; but yet for all that, and if the did not hate him deadly, fhe would love him dearly; the old man's daughter told us all.

Claud. All, all; and moreover, God faw him when he was hid in the garden.

Pedro. But when fhall we fet the falvage bull's horns on the fenfible Benedick's head?

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

Bene. Fare you well, boy, you know my mind; I will leave you now to your golip-like humour; you

break iefts as bragoarts do their blades. which God be

MUCH A DO about NOTHING. 73
d, hurt not. My lord, for your many courtefies
k you; I muft difcontinue your company; your
r, the baftard, is fled from Meffina; you have a-
you killed a fweet and innocent lady. For my
ack-beard there, he and I fhall meet; and 'till
peace be with him!
[Exit Benedick.

ro. He is in earnest.

d. In moft profound earnest, and, I'll warrant For the love of Beatrice.

ro. And hath challeng'd thee?

d. Moft fincerely.

ro. What a pretty thing man is, when he goes doublet and hose, and leaves off his wit!

er Dogberry, Verges, Conrade and Borachio guarded.

d. He is then a giant to an ape; but then is an
Coctor to fuch a man.

Fo. But, foft you, let me fee, pluck up my heart
fad; did he not say, my brother was fled ?
b. Come, you, Sir; if juftice cannot tame you,
Il ne'er weigh more reasons in her balance; nay,
u be a curfing hypocrite once, you must be

to.

-o. How now, two of my brother's men bound? io, one?

d. Hearken after their offence, my lord.

o. Officers, what offence have these men done?
5. Marry, Sir, they have committed falfe report ;'
er, they have spoken untruths; fecondarily, they
ders; fixth and laftly, they have bely'd a lady;
, they have verify'd unjuft things; and, to con-
they are lying knaves.

-o. First, I ask thee what they have done; third-
ask thee what's their offence; fixth and lastly,
ey are committed; and, to conclude, what you
heir charge?

d. Rightly reafon'd, and in his own divifion;
my troth, there's one meaning well fuited.
o. Whom have you offended, mafters, that you
. II.
D

ara

are thus bound to your anfwer? This learned conftable is too cunning to be understood. What's your of fence?

Bora. Sweet Prince, let me go no further to mine aniwer do you hear me, and let this Count kill me: I have deceiv'd even your very eyes; what your wifdoms could not difcover, thefe fhallow fools have brought to light, who in the night overheard me confeffing to this man, how Don John your brother incens'd me to flander the lady Hero; how you were brought into the orchard, and faw me court Margaret in Hero's garments; how you difgrac'd her, when you fhould marry her; my villany they have upon record, which I had rather feal with my death, than repeat over to my fhame; the lady is dead upon mine and my mafter's falfe accufation; and briefly, I defire nothing but the reward of a villain.

Pedro. Runs not this fpeech like iron through your blood?

Claud. I have drunk poison, while he utter'd it. Pedro. But did my brother fet thee on to this ? Bora. Yea, and paid me richly for the practice of it. Pedro. He is compos'd and fram'd of treachery; And fled he is upon this villany.

Claud. Sweet Hero! now thy image doth appear In the rare femblance that I lov'd it first.

Dogb. Come, bring away the plaintiffs; by this time, our Sexton hath reform'd Signior Leonato of the matter; and mafters, do not forget to fpecifie, when time and place fhall ferve, that I am an afs.

Verg. Here, here comes mafter Signior Leonato, and the Sexton too.

Enter Leonato, and Sexton.

Leon. Which is the villain? let me fee his eyes; That when I note another man like him,

I

may avoid him; which of these is he?

Haft kill'd mine innocent child?

Bora. Yea, even I alone.

Leon. No, not fo, villain; thou bely'st thy felf; Here ftand a pair of honourable men,

A third is fled, that had a hand in it:

I thank you, Princes, for my daughter's death;
Record it 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: chufe your revenge your felf;
Impose me to what penance your invention
Can lay upon my fin; yet finn'd I not,
But in mistaking.

Pedro. By my foul, nor I

;

And yet, to satisfie this good old man,
I would bend under any heavy weight,

That he'll enjoyn me to.

Leon. You cannot bid my daughter live again,
That were impoffible; but, I pray you both,
Poffefs the People in Mefina here

How innocent fhe dy'd; and if your love
Can labour aught in fad invention,
Hang her an Epitaph upon her tomb,
And fing it to her bones; fing it to night:
To morrow morning come you to my house,
And fince you could not be my fon-in-law,
Be yet my nephew; my brother hath a daughter,
Almoft the copy of my child that's dead,

And fhe alone is heir to both of us;

Give her the Right you should have given her Coufin,

And fo dies my revenge.

Claud. O noble Sir!

Your over-kindness doth wring tears from me:

I do embrace your offer; and difpofe

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

Hir'd to it by your brother.

D 2

wrong,

Bora.

Bora. No, by my foul, fhe was not;

Nor knew not what fhe did, when she spoke to me.
But always hath been juft and virtuous,
In any thing that I do know by her.

Dogb. Moreover, Sir, which indeed is not under white and black, this plaintiff here, the offender, did call me afs: I befeech you, let it be remembred in his punishment; and also the watch heard them talk of one Deformed: they fay, he wears a key in his ear, and a lock hanging by it; and borrows money in God's name, the which he hath us'd fo long, and never paid, that now men grow hard-hearted, and will lend nothing for God's fake. Pray you, examine him upon that point.

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

Dogb. God fave the foundation!

Leon. Go, I difcharge thee of thy prifoner; and I thank thee.

Dogb. I leave an errant knave with your Worship, which, I beseech your Worship, to correct your felf, for the example of others. God keep your Worship; I wish your Worship well: God restore you to health; I humbly give you leave to depart; and if a merry meeting may be wifh'd, God prohibit it. Come, neighbour. [Exeunt. Leon. Until to morrow morning, Lords, farewel. Ant. Farewel, my Lords; we look for you to morrow, Pedro. We will not fail.

Claud. To night I'll mourn with Hero.

Leon. Bring you these fellows on, we'll talk with Margaret,

How her acquaintance grew with this lewd fellow.

[Exeunt feverally.

SCENE