[brother al-Away with him to prison:--Where is the For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your provost? Away with him to prison; lay bolts (Being criminal, in double violation enough upon him:-Let him speak no more:- Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, Away with those giglots too, and with the other Thereon dependent for your brother's life), confederate companion. The very mercy of the law cries out Most audible, even from his proper tongue, An Angelo for Claudio, death for death, [sure; Haste still pays haste and leisure answers leiLike doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure. Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee [The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while. Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheepbiting face, and be hanged an hour! Wilt not off? [Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er made a duke First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three:Sneak not away, sir; [To Lucio.] for the friar and you Must have a word anon:-lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down. [To ESCALUS. We'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your leave: [To ANGELO. Hast thou or word, or wit, or imprudence, That yet can do thee office? If thou hast, Rely upon it till my tale be heard, And hold no longer out. Ang. O my dread lord, I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, To think I can be undiscernible, When, I perceive, your grace, like power divine, Hath look'd upon my passes: Then, good prince, No longer session hold upon my shame, But let my trial be mine own confession; Immediate sentence then, and sequent death, Is all the grace I beg. Duke. Come hither, Mariana; Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Aug. I was, my lord. [stantly. Duke. Go, take her hence, and marry her inDo you the office, friar: which consummate, Return him here again:-Go with him, Provost. [Exeunt ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost. Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his disThan at the strangeness of it. [honour, Duke. Come hither, Isabel: Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Advertising, and holy to your business, Not changing heart with habit, I am still Attorney'd at your service. Isab. O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employed and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty. Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel: And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Which I did think with slower foot came on, vantage: We do condemn thee to the very block Mari. Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, O, my dear lord, Duke. Againstall sense you do importune her: Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Most bounteous sir, His act did not o'ertake his bad intent; Mari. Duke. For which I do discharge you of your Give up your keys. [office : Prov. Pardon me, noble lord: I thought it was a fault, but knew it not; Yet did repent me, after more advice: For testimony whereof, one in the prison, That should by private order else have died, I have reserv'd alive. Duke. Prov. What's he? His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would, thou had'st done so by Claudio. Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provost. Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise As lord Angelo, have still appear'd, you, Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood, And lack of temper'd judgment afterward. Ang. I am sorry that such sorrow I procure: Duke. Which is that Barnardine? This, my lord. Duke. There was a friar told me of this man: Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, That apprehends no further than this world, And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd; But for those earthly faults, I quit them all; Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his As like almost to Claudio, as himself. [head; [Unmufles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, [To ISABEL LA] for his sake Is he pardoned; And, for your lovely sake, You, sirrah, [To LUCIO] that knew me for a fool, a coward, One all of luxury, an ass, a madman, Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: If you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you I might be whipp'd. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.Proclaim it, provost, round about the city; If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow, (As I have heard him swear himself, there's one Whom he begot with child), let her appear, And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, Let him be whipp'd and hang'd." Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold. Duke. Upon mine honour thou shalt marry her. Thy slanders I forgive: and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits:-Take him to prison: And see our pleasure herein executed. to death, whipping, and hanging. Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you re store. ness: Joy to you, Mariana!-love her Angelo; I So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know. [Exeunt. Gentlewomen attending on Hero. Messengers, Watch, and Attendants. SCENE-Messina. SCENE I. Before Leonato's House. Enter LEONATO, HERO, BEATRICE, and others, with a Messenger. Leonato. I LEARN in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina. Mess. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him. Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action? Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name. Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio. Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered 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 bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how. Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it. Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that joy could not show itself modest enough, without a badge of bitterness. Leon. Did he break out into tears? Leon. A kind overflow of kindness: There are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping! Beat. I pray you, is signior Montanto returned from the wars, or no? Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there was none such in the army of any sort. Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece? Hero. My cousin means signior Benedick of Padua. [ever he was. Mess. O, he is returned; and as pleasant as Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina, and challenged Cupid at the flight: and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt.-I pray you how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he killed? for, indeed, I promised to eat all of his killing. it not. Leon. 'Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt [these wars. Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it: he is a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent stomach. Mess. And a good soldier too, lady. Beat. And a good soldier to a lady:-But what is he to a lord? Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all honourable virtues. Beat. It is so, indeed; he is no less than a stuffed man:-But for the stuffing,-Well, we are all mortal. Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece: there is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedick and her: they never meet, but there is a skirmish of wit between them. disease: he is sooner caught than the pestilence, Leon. You will never run mad, niece. Enter DON PEDRO, attended by BALTHAZAR and others, DON JOHN, CLAUDIO, and BENEDICK. D. Pedro. Good signior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid cost, 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, sorrow abides, and happiness takes his leave. D. Pedro. You embrace your charge too willingly.-I think, this is your daughter. Leon. Her mother hath many times told me so. Bene. Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her? [you a child. Leon. Signior Benedick, no; for then were D. Pedro. You have it full, Benedick: may guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herself:-Be happy, lady! for you are like an honourable father. we Bene. If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders, for all Messina, as like him as she is. Beat. I wonder, that you will still be talking, signior Benedick; no body marks you. Bene. What, my dear lady Disdain! are you yet living? Beat. Is it possible disdain should die, while she hath such meet food to feed it, as signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence. Bene. 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 else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God, and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that; I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me. Bene. God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate scratched face. Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such a face as yours were. Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. Beat. A bird of my tongue is better than a Peat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our last conflict, four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one: so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference be-beast of yours. tween himself and his horse: for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable creature.-Who is his companion now? He hath every month a new sworn brother. Mess. Is it possible? with the next block. Bene. I would, my horse had the speed of your tongue; and so 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. Beat. Very easily possible: he wears his faith D. Pedro. This is the sum of all, Leonato,but as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes signior Claudo, and signior Benedick,-my [books. dear friend Leonato, hath invited you all. I Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your tell him, we shall stay here at the least a month; Beat. No: an he were, I would burn my and he heartily prays, some occasion may detain study. But, I pray you, who is his companion? us longer; I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but Is there no young squarer now, that will make a voyage with him to the devil. Mess. He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio. Beat. O Lord! he will hang upon him like a prays from his heart. Leon If you swear, my lord, you shall not be forsworn.-Let me bid you welcome, my lord, being reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe you all duty. D. John. I thank you; I am not of many words, but I thank you. Leon. Please it your grace lead on? D. Pedro. Your hand, Leonato; we will go together. [Exeunt all but BENEDICK and CLAUDIO. Claud. Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of signior Leonato? Claud. That I love her, I feel. D. Pedro. That she is worthy, I know. Bene. That I neither feel how she should be loved, 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. D. Pedro. Thou wast ever an obstinate heretick in the despite of beauty. Claud. And never could maintain his part but in the force of his will. Bene. I noted her not; but I looked on her. Claud. Is she not a modest young lady? Bene. Do you question me, as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgement; or Bene. That a woman conceived me, I thank would you have me speak after my custom, as her; that she brought me up, I likewise give being a professed tyrant to their sex? [ment. her most humble thanks: Iut that I will have Claud. No, I pray thee, speak in sober judg-a recheat winded in my forehead, or hang my Bene. Why, i'faith, methinks she is too low bugle in an invisible baldrick, all women shall for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, pardon me: Because I will not do them the and too little for a great praise: only this com- wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the mendation I can afford her; that were she other right to trust none; and the fine is (for the which than she is, she were unhandsome; and being I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor. no other but as she is, I do not like her. Claw. Thou thinkest I am in sport; I pray thee, tell me truly how thou likest her. Bene. Would you buy her, that you inquire after her? Claud. Can the world buy such a jewel? Bene. Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak you this with a sad brow? or do you play the flouting Jack; to tell us Cupid is a good hare-finder, and Vulcan a rare carpenter? Come, in what key shall a man take you to go in the song? Claud. In mine eye, she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on. D. Pedro. I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with love. Bene. With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my lord; not with love: prove, that ever I lose more blood with love, than I will get again with drinking, pick out mine eyes with a ballad-maker's pen, and hang me up at the door of a brothel-house, for the sign of blind Cupid. D. Pedro. Well, if ever thou dost fall from this faith, thou wilt prove a notable argument. Bene. If I do, hang me in a bottle like a cat, and shoot at me; and he that hits me, let him be clapped on the shoulder, and called Adam. D. Pedro. Well, as time shall try: In time the savage bull doth bear the yoke. Bene. I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such matter: there's her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty, as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope, you have no in-horns, and set them in my forehead; and let tent to turn husband; have you? Claud. I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife. Bene. Is it come to this, i'faith? Hath not the world one man, but he will wear his cap with suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore again? Go to, i'faith; and thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it, and sigh away Sundays. Look, Don Pedro is returned to seek you. D. Pedro, I charge thee on thy allegiance. Bene. You hear, Count Claudio: I can be secret as a dumb man, I would have you think so; but on my allegiance,-mark you this, on my allegiance :-He is in love. With who?now that is your grace's part.--Mark, how short his answer is:-With Hero, Leonato's short daughter. Claud. If this were so, so were it uttered. Bene. Like the old tale, my lord: it is not so, nor 'twas not so: but, indeed, God forbid it should be so. Claud. If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it should be otherwise. D. Pedro. Amen, if you love her; for the lady is very well worthy. Claud. You speak this to fetch me in, mylord. D. Pedro. By my troth, I speak my thought. Claud. And, in faith, my lord, I spoke mine. Bene. And, by my two faiths and troths, my lord, I spoke mine. Bene. The savage bull may; but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's me be vilely painted; and in such great letters as they write, Here is good horse to hire, let them signify under my sign-Here you may see Benedick the married man. Claud. If this should ever happen, thou would'st be horn mad. D. Pedro. Nay, if Cupid have not spent all his quiver in Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly. Bene. I look for an earthquake too then. D. Pedro. Well, you will temporize with the hours. In the mean time, good signior Benedick, repair to Leonato's; commend me to him, and tell him, I will not fail him at supper; for, indeed, he hath made great preparation. Bene. I have almost matter enough in me for such an embassage: and so I commit youClaud. To the tuition of God: From my house, (if I had it)— [friend, Benedick. D. Pedro. The sixth of July: Your loving Bene. Nay, mock not, mock not: The body of your discourse is sometime guarded with fragments, and the guards are but slightly basted on neither: ere you flout old ends any further, examine your conscience, and so I leave you. me good. [Exit BENEDICK. Claud. My liege, your highness now may do Claud. Hath Leonato any son, my lord? That lik'd but had a rougher task in hand D. Pedro. Thou wilt be like a lover presently, The fairest grant is the necessity: [lov'st; I know we shall have revelling to-night; [Exeunt. 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 alley in my orchard, were thus much overheard by a man of mine: The prince discovered to Claudio, that he loved my niece your daughter, and meant to acknowledge it this night in a dance; and, if he found her accordant, he meant to take the present time by the top, and instantly break with you of it. Leon. Hath the fellow any wit, that told you this. Ant. A good sharp fellow: I will send for him, and question him yourself. Leon. No, no; we will hold it as a dream, till it appear itself: but I will acquaint my daughter withal, that she may be the better prepared for an answer, if peradventure this be true. Go you, and tell her of it. [Several persons cross the stage.] Cousins, you know what you have to do.--Ó, I cry you mercy, friend; go you with ine, and I will use your skill:-Good cousins, have a care this busy time. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Another Room in Leonato's House. Enter Dox JOHN and Conrade. Con. What the good year, my lord why are you thus out of measure sad? D. John. There is no measure in the occasion that breeds it, therefore the sadness is without Con. You should hear reason. [limit. D. John. And when I have heard it, what blessing bringeth it? to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no man's jests; eat when I have a stomach, and wait for no man's leisure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend to no man's business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his humour. Con. Yea, but you must not make the full show of this, till you may do it without controlment. You have of late stood out against your brother, and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace: where it is impossible you should take true root, but by the fair weather that you make yourself: it is needful that you frame the season for your own harvest. D. John. I had rather be a canker in the hedge, than a rose in his grace: and it better fits my blood to be disdained of all, than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any; in this, though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied that I am a plain dealing villain. I am trusted with a muzzle, and enfranchised with a clog; therefore I have decreed not to sing in my cage: If I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking: in the mean time, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me. Con. Can you make no use of your discontent? D.John. I make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here? What news, Borachio? Enter BORACHIO, Bora. I came yonder from a great supper; the prince, your brother, is royally entertained by Leonato; and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage. D. John. Will it serve for any model to build mischief on? What is he for a fool, that betroths himself to unquietness? Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right hand. D. John. Who? the most exquisite Claudio? Bora. Even he. D. John. A proper squire! And who, and who? which way looks he? Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato. D. John. A very forward March chick! How came you to this? Bora. Being entertained for a perfumer, as I was smoking a musty room, comes me the prince and Claudio, hand in hand, in sad conference: I whipt me behind the arras: and there heard it agreed upon, that the prince should woo Hero for himself, and having obtained her, give her to count Claudio. D. John. Come, come, let us thither; this may prove food to my displeasure: that young start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow; if I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way; You are both sure, and will assist me? Con. To the death, my lord. D. John. Let us to the great supper: their cheer is the greater, that I am subdued: 'Would, the cook were of my mind!-Shall we go prove what's to be done? Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt. Art Serond. SCENE I. A Hall in Leonato's House. [sufferance. Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, HERO, BEATRICE, and others. Con. If not a present remedy, yet a patient D. John. I wonder, that thou being (as thou say'st thou art) born under Saturn, goest about Leon. Was not count John here at supper? Ant. I saw him not. |