Marg. Not a falfe gallop.

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.

Another Apartment in Leonato's Houfe.

Enter Leonato, with Dogberry and Verges.

Leon. WHAT would you with me, honest neigh

Dogb. Marry, Sir, I would have some confidence with you, that decerns you nearly.

Leon. Brief, I pray you; for, you see, 'tis a busy time with me.

Dogb. Marry, this it is, Sir.

Verg. 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 skin between his brows.

Verg. Yes, I thank God, I am as honest as any man living, that is an old man, and no honester than I. Dogb. Comparisons are odorous; palabras, neighbour Verges.

Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious.

Dogb. It pleases your worship to say 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 bestow 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 worship as of any man in the city; and tho' I be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it. Verg.

Verg. And fo am I.

Leon. I would fain know what you have to fay. Verg. Marry, Sir, our Watch to night, excepting your worship's prefence, hath ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina.

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 horse, one muft ride behind; an honest foul, i'faith, Sir, by my troth he is, as ever broke bread, but God is to be worfhipp'd; allimen are not alike, alas, good neighbour!

Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too fhort of you.
Dogb. Gifts, that God gives.
Leon. I muit leave you.

Dogb. One word, Sir; our Watch have, indeed, comprehended two auspicious perfons; and we would have them this morning examin'd before your worfhip.

Leon. Take their examination yourself, and bring it me: I am now in great hafte, as may appear unto you.

Dogb. It fhall be fuffigance.

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

Enter a Messenger.

Meff. My lord, they stay for you to give your daugter to her husband.

Leon. I'll wait upon them. I am ready. [Ex. Leon. Dogb. Go, good Partner, go get you to Francis Seacole, 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 fhall drive fome of them to a noncome. Only get the learned writer to fet down our excommunication, and meet me at the Jail. Exeunt.

ACT

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

A

CHURCH.

Enter D. Pedro, D. John, Leonato, Friar, Claudio, Benedick, Hero, and Beatrice.

LEONATO.

O ME, friar Francis, be brief, only to the plain

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. None, my Lord.

Friar. Know you any, Count?

Leon. I dare make his answer, none.

Claud. O what men dare do! what men may do ! what Men daily do! not knowing what they do! 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.
VOL. II.

H

Claud.

Claud. And what have I to give you back, whose worth

May counterpoise this rich and precious gift?
Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again.
Claud. Sweet Prince, you learn me noble thank-
fulness:

There, Leonato, take her back again;

Give not this rotten orange to your

friend.

She's but the fign and femblance of her honour;
Behold, how like a maid fhe blushes here!
O, what authority and fhew of truth
Can cunning fin cover itself withal !

Comes not that blood, as modest evidence,
To witnefs fimple virtue? would you not fwear,
All you that fee her, that she were a maid,
By these exterior shews? but she is none:
She knows the heat of a luxurious bed;
Her blush is guiltinefs, not modefty,

Leon. What do you mean, my Lord?
Claud. Not to be marry'd,

Not knit my foul to an approved Wanton.

Leon. Dear my Lord, if you in your own approof Have vanquifh'd the refiftance of your youth, And made defeat of her virginity

Claud. I know what you would fay: if I have known her,

You'll fay, she did embrace me as a husband,
And fo extenuate the forehand fin.

No, Leonato,

I never tempted her with word too large;
But, as a brother to his fifter, fhew'd

Bafhful fincerity, and comely love.

Hero. And feem'd I ever otherwise to you?

Claud. Out on thy feeming! * I will write against it;

You seem to me as Dian in her orb,

As chafte as is the bud ere it be blown:

* I will write against it;] What? a Libel? Nonsense. We should read, I will rate against it, i, e. rail or revile.

But

But you are more intemperate in your blood
Than Venus, or those pamper'd animals

That rage in favage fenfuality.

Hero. Is my lord well, that he doth speak so 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 spoken, 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 queftion to your daughter,

And, by that fatherly and kindly power

That you have in her, bid her answer truly.
Leon. I charge thee do fo, as thou art my child.
Hero. O God defend me, how am I befet!
What kind of catechizing call you this?

Claud. To make you answer truly to your name. Hero. Is it not Hero? who can blot that name With any juft reproach?

Claud. Marry, that can Hero;

Hero herself can blot out Hero's virtue.
What man was he talk'd with you yefternight
Out at your window betwixt twelve and one?
Now, if you are a maid, answer to this.

Hero. I talk'd with no man at that hour, my Lord,
Pedro. Why, then you are no maiden. Leonato,
I am forry, you must hear; upon mine Honour,
Myself, my Brother, and this grieved Count
Did fee her, hear her, at that hour last night
Talk with a ruffian at her chamber-window;