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Enter Don John.

John. My Lord and brother, God fave you.
Pedro. Good den, brother.

John. If your leifure ferv'd, I would speak with you.
Pedro. In private?

John. If it pleafe you; yet Count Claudio may hear; for, what I would fpeak of, concerns him.

Pedro. What's the matter?

John. Means your lordship to be marry'd to-morrow.

Pedro. You know, he does.

[To Claudio.

John. I know not that, when he knows what I know. Claud. If there be any impediment, I pray you dif

cover it.

John. You may think, I love you not, let that appear hereafter; and aim better at me by that I now will manifeft; for my brother, I think, he holds you well, and in dearnefs of heart hath holp to effect your enfuing marriage; furely, Suit ill spent, and Labour ill

beftow'd.

Pedro. Why, what's the matter?

John. I came hither to tell you, and circumftances fhorten'd, (for fhe hath been too long a talking of) the Lady is difloyal.

Claud. Who? Hero?

John. Even fhe, Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero..

Claud. Difloyal?

John. The word is too good to paint out her wickednefs; I could fay, fhe were worfe; think you of a worfe title, and I will fit her to it; wonder not 'till further warrant; go but with me to-night, you fhall fee her chamber-window enter'd, ev'n the night before her wedding-day; if you love her, then to-morrow wed her; but it would better fit your honour to change your mind. Claud. May this be fo

Pedro. I will not think it.-am

John. If you dare not truft that you fee, confefs not that you know; if you will follow me, I will fhew you enough; and when you have seen more and heard more, proceed accordingly.

Claud.

Claud. If I fee any thing to-night why I fhould not marry her to-morrow; in the Congregation, where I fhould wed, there will I fhame her.

Pedro. And as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will join with thee to difgrace her.

John. I will difparage her no farther, 'till you are my witneffes; bear it coldly but 'till night, and let the iffue fhew itfelf.

Pedro. O day untowardly turned !

Claud. O mifchief ftrangely thwarting!
John. O plague right well prevented!

So will you fay, when you have feen the fequel.

SCEN Echanges to the Street.

[Exeunt.

Enter Dogberry and Verges, with the Watch.
you good men and true ?

RE

Degb. A Verg. Yea, or else it were pity but they

fhould fuffer falvation, body and foul.

Dogb. Nay, that were a punishment too good for them, if they fhould have any allegiance in them, being chofen for the Prince's Watch.

Verg. Well, give 'em their charge, neighbour Dogberry.

Dogb. First, who think you the most defartle's man to be conftable.

1 Watch. Hugh Oatecake, Sir, or George Seacole; for they can write and read.

Dogb. Come hither, neighbour Seacole: God hath bleft you with a good name; and to be a well-favour'd man is the gift of fortune, but to write and read comes by nature.

2 Watch. Both which, mafter conftable

Dogb. You have: I knew, it would be your answer. Well, for your Favour, Sir, why, give God thanks, and make no boaft of it; and for your writing and reading, let that appear when there is no need of fuch vanity; you are thought here to be the most fenfelefs

and

and fit man for the Conftable of the Watch, therefore bear you the lanthorn; this is your charge: you fhall comprehend all vagrom men; you are to bid any man ftand in the Prince's name.

2 Watch. How if he will not stand?

Dogb. Why, then take no note of him, but let him go; and presently call the reft of the Watch together, and thank God you are rid of a knave.

Verg. If he will not ftand when he is bidden, he is none of the Prince's Subjects.

Dogb. True, and they are to meddle with none but the Prince's Subjects: you fhall alfo make no noise in the ftreets; for, for the Watch to babble and talk, is moft tolerable, and not to be endur'd.

2 Watch. We will rather fleep, than talk; we know what belongs to a Watch.

Dogb. Why you speak like an ancient and moft quiet watchman, for I cannot fee how Sleeping fhould offend; only have a care that your Bills be not stolen: well, you are to call at all the ale-houses, and bid them that are drunk get them to bed.

2 Watch. How if they will not?

Dogb. Why, then, let them alone 'till they are sober; if they make you not then the better anfwer, you may fay, they are not the men you took them for.

2 Watch. Well, Sir.

Dogb. If you meet a thief, you may fufpect him by. virtue of your office to be no true man; and for such kind of men, the lefs you meddle or make with them, why, the more is for your honefty.

2 Watch. If we know him to be a thief, fhall we not lay hands on him?

Dogb. Truly, by your office you may; but, I think, they that touch pitch will be defil'd: the moft peaceable way for you, if you do take a thief, is, to let him fhew himself what he is, and fteal out of your company. Verg. You have been always call'd a merciful man, Partner.

Dogb. Truly, I would not hang a dog by my will, much more a man who hath any honefty in him.

Verg. If you hear a child cry in the night, you must call to the nuife and bid her ftill it.

2 Watch. How if the nurse be asleep, and will not hear us?

Dogb. Why, then depart in peace, and let the child wake her with crying for the ewe that will not hear her lamb when it baes, will never anfwer a calf when he bleats.

Verg. 'Tis very true.

Dogb. This is the end of the charge: you, conftable, are to prefent the Prince's own perfon; if you meet the Prince in the night, you may ftay him.

Verg. Nay, birlady, that, I think, he cannot.

Dogb. Five fhillings to one on't with any man that knows the Statues, he may tay him; marry, not without the Prince be willing: for, indeed, the Watch ought to offend no man; and it is an offence to stay a man against his will.

Verg. Birlady, I think, it be fo.

Dogb. Ha, ha, ha! well, mafters, good night; an there be any matter of weight chances, call up me; keep your fellow's counfels and your own, and good night; come, neighbour.

2 Watch. Well, mafters, we hear our charge; let us go fit here upon the church-bench 'till two, and then

all to bed.

Dogb. One word more, honeft neighbours. I pray you, watch about Signior Leonato's door, for the wedding being there tc-morrow, there is a great coil to night; adieu; be vigilant, I beteech you.

[Exeunt Dogberry and Verges.

Enter Borachio and Conrade.

Bora. What? Conrade,

Watch. Peace, ftir not.

[Afide.

Bora. Conrade, I say.

Conr. Here, man, I am at thy elbow.

Bora. Mafs, and my elbow itch'd, I thought there

would a fcab follow.

Conr.

Conr. I will owe thee an anfwer for that, and now forward with thy tale.

Bora. Stand thee clofe then under this pent-house, for it drizzles rain, and I will, like a true drunkard, utter all to thee.

Watch. Some treafon, mafters; yet stand close.

Bora. Therefore know, I have earned of Don John a thousand ducats.

Conr. Is it poffible that any villany should be fo dear? Bora. Thou fhould't rather afk, if it were poffible any villany should be fo rich? for when rich villains have need of poor ones, poor ones may make what price they will.

Conr. I wonder at it.

Bora. That fhews thou art unconfirm'd; thou knowest, that the fashion of a doublet, or a hat, or a cloak is nothing to a man.

Conr. Yes, it is apparel.

Bora. I mean, the fashion.

Conr. Yes, the fashion is the fashion.

Bora. Tufh, I may as well fay, the fool's the fool; but feeft thou not, what a deformed thief this fashion is? Watch. I know that Deformed; he has been a vile thief this feven years; he goes up and down like a gentleman: I remember his name.

Bora. Didft thou not hear fomebody?

Conr. No, 'twas the vane on the house.

Bora. Seeft thou not, I fay, what a deformed thief this fashion is? how giddily he turns about all the hotbloods between fourteen and five and thirty; fometimes fashioning them like Pharao's foldiers in the reachy painting; fometimes, like the God Bel's priests in the old church-window; fometimes, like the fhaven Hercules in the fmirch'd worm-eaten tapeftry, where his codpiece feems as maffy as his club.

Conr. All this I fee, and fee, that the fashion wears out more apparel than the man; but art not thou thyfelf giddy with the fashion too, that thou haft shifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fashion?

Bora. Not fo neither; but know, that I have to-night

wooed

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