wooed Margaret, the lady Hero's gentlewoman, by the name of Hero; fhe leans me out at her miftrefs's chamberwindow, bids me a thousand times, good night - Į tell this tale vilely — I should firft tell thee, how the Prince, Claudio, and my master, planted and placed, and poffeffed by my mafter Don John, faw a-far off in the orchard this amiable encounter.

Conr. And thought they, Margaret was Hero?

Bora. Two of them did, the Prince and Claudio; but the devil my mafter knew, he was Margaret; and partly by his oaths, which firft poffeft them, partly by the dark night, which did deceive them, but chiefly by my villany, which did confirm any flander that Don John had made, away went Claudio enraged; fwore, he would meet her as he was appointed next morning at the Temple, and there before the whole Congregation fhame her with what he faw o'er night, and fend her home again without a husband.

1 Watch. We charge you in the Prince's name, ftand. 2 Watch. Call up the right mafter conftable; we have here recovered the most dangerous piece of lechery that ever was known in the common-wealth.

1 Watch. And one Deformed is one of them; I know him, he wears a lock.

Conr. Mafters, mafters,-(15)

2 Watch. You'll be made bring Deformed forth, I warrant you.

Conr. Mafters,

I Watch. Never fpeak; we charge you, let us obey to go with us.

you

(15) Conr. Mafters, mafters,

2 Watch. You'll be made bring Deformed forth, I warrant you. Conr. Mafiers, never speak, we charge you, let us obey you to go with us.] The different regulation which I have made in this laft fpeech, tho' against the authority of all the printed copies, I flatter myfeif, carries its proof with it. Conrade and Borachio are not defign'd to talk abfurd nonfenfe; that is the diftinguishing characteristick of the Conftabie and Watch. It is evident therefore, that Conrade is attempting his own juftification; but is interrupted in it by the impertinence of the men in office.

VOL. II.

C

Bora.

Bora. We are like to prove a goodly commodity, being taken up of these mens bills.

Cour. A commodity in queftion, I warrant you: come, we'll obey you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE Hero's Apartment in Leonato's House.

Hero.

G

Enter Hero, Margaret and Urfula.

OOD Urfula, wake my coufin Beatrice, and defire her

Urfu. I will, lady.

to rife.

Hero. And bid her come hither.
Urfu. Well.

Marg. Troth, I think, your other Rebato were better.
Hero. No, pray thee, good Meg, I'll wear this.

Marg. By my troth, it's not fo good; and, I warrant, your coufin will fay fo.

Hero. My coufin's a fool, and thou art another. I'll wear none but this.

Marg. I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair were a thought browner; and your gown's a most rare fashion, i'faith. I faw the Duchefs of Milan's gown, that they praife fo.

Hero. O, that exceeds, they fay.

Marg. By my troth, it's but a night-gown in refpect of yours; cloth of gold and cuts, and lac'd with filver, fet with pearls down-fleeves, fide-fleeves and skirts, round, underborn with a blueish tinfel; but for a fine, queint, graceful and excellent fashion, yours is worth

ten on't.

Hero. God give me joy to wear it, for my heart is exceeding heavy!

Marg. Twill be heavier focn by the weight of a man. Hero. Fie upon thee, art not asham'd?

Marg. Of what, lady? of fpeaking honourably? is not marriage honourable in a beggar is not your lord honourable without marriage? I think, you would have me fay (faving your reverence) a hufband. If bad thinking do not wreft true fpeaking, I'll offend no body; is

there

there any harm in the heavier for a husband? none, I think, if it be the right hufband, and the right wife, otherwife 'tis light and not heavy; ask my lady Beatrice elfe, here fhe comes.

Enter Beatrice.

Hero. Good-morrow, coz.

Beat. Good-morrow, fweet Hero.

Hero. Why how now? do you speak in the fick tune? Beat. I am out of all other tune, methinks.

Marg. Clap us into Light o' love; that goes without a burden; do you fing it, and I'll dance it.

Beat. Yes, Light o' love with your heels; then if your husband have stables enough, you'll look he fhall lack no barns.

Marg. O illegitimate conftruction! I fcorn that with my heels.

Beat. 'Tis almoft five o'clock, coufin; 'tis time you were ready: by my troth, I am exceeding ill; hey ho! Marg. For a hawk, a horfe, or a husband?

Beat. For the letter that begins them all, H.

Marg. Well, if you be not turn'd Turk, there's no more failing by the star.

Beat. What means the fool, trow?

Marg. Nothing I, but God fend every one their heart's defire!

Hero. Thefe gloves the Count fent me, they are an excellent perfume.

Beat. I am ftufft, coufin, I cannot fmell.

Marg. A maid, and ftufft! there's goodly catching of cold. Beat. O, God help me, God help me, how long have you profeft apprehenfion?

Marg. Ever fince you left it; doth not my wit become me rarely?

Beat. It is not feen enough, you should wear it in your cap. By my troth, I am fick.

Marg. Get you

fome of this diftill'd Carduus Benediftus, and lay it to your heart; it is the only thing for à qualm.

Hero. There thou prick'st her with a thistle.
C 2

Beat.

Beat. Benedi&tus? why Benedictus ? you have some moral in this Benedictus.

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 such 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 with out 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?
Marg. Not a falfe gallop.

Urju. 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.

Leon. WHAT would you with me, honest neigh

Dogh. 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 - honeft as the fkin between his brows.

Verg. Yes, I thank God, I am as honeft as any manliving, that is an old man, and no honefter than I. Dogb. Comparifons are odorous; palabras, neighbour Verges.

Leon. Neigbours, 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 tediousness on me, ha?

Dogb. Yea, and 'twere a thousand times more than 'tis, for I hear as good exclamation on your worlip as of any man in the city; and though 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 fay.

Verg. Mary, Sir, our Watch to night, excepting your worship's prefence, hath ta'en a couple of as ar rant knaves as any in Melina.

Dogb. A good old man, Sir; he will be talking, as they lay; 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 horie, one must ride behind; an honest soul, 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 fhort of you. Dogb. Gifts, that God gives.

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 yourself, and bring it me; I am now in great hafte, as may appear unto you. Dogb. It shall be fuffigance.

Leon. Drink fome wine ere you go: fare you well.

Enter a Meffenger.

Me My lord, they ftay for you to give your daugh

ter to her husband.