Imagens da página
PDF
ePub

Marg. A maid, and ftuff'd! there's goodly catching of cold.

Beat. O, God help me, God help me, how long have you profefs'd apprehenfion?

Marg. Ever fince you left it; doth not my wit be come 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 Benedictus, and lay it to your heart; it is the only thing for a qualm.

Hero. There thou prick'ft her with a thile.

Beat. Benedictus? 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 fuch 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 without 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.

Enter Urfula.

Urf. 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 [Exeunt

Urfula,

SCENE VIII. Another apartment in Leonato's house.

Enter Leonato, with Dogberry and Verges, Leon. What would you with me, honest neighbour? Dogb. 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.

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 fkin between his brows.

[ocr errors]

Verg. Yes, I thank God, I am as honeft 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 pleafes your Worfhip 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 bestow it all of your Worship.

Leon. All thy tedioufnefs 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 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. Marry, Sir, our watch to-night, excepting your Worship's prefence, hath ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Meffina.

66

86

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 horfe, one muft ride behind; an honeft “foul, i' faith, Sir, by my troth he is, as ever broke bread; but God is to be worfhipp'd; all men are "not alike, alas, good neighbour !"

Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too fhort of your Dogb. Gifts, that God gives.

Leon. I muft 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 fhall 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 daughter to her husband.

Leon. I'll wait upon them. I am ready. [Ex. Leon. Dogb. Go, good partner, go get you to Francis Seacoale, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail; we are now to examine thofe 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 non-come. Only get the learned writer to fet down our excommunication, and meet me at the jail. [Exeunt.

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

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

C

Leon. Ome, Friar Francis, be brief, only to the plain form of marriage, and you fhall recount their particular duties afterwards.

Friar. You come hither, my Lord, to marry this lady?

[ocr errors][merged small]

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.

[blocks in formation]

Leon. I dare make his anfwer, None.

Claud. O what men dare da ! 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. Claud. And what have I to give you back, whose worth

May counterpoife this rich and precious gift?

Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again.

Claud. Sweet Prince, you learn me noble thankfulThere, Leonato, take her back again;

to your

Give not this rotten orange
friend.
She's but the fign and femblance of her honour;
Behold, how like a maid she blushes here!
O, what authority and fhew of truth
Can cunning fin cover itself withal!
Comes not that blood, as modest evidence,
To witness simple virtue? would you not swear,
All you that fee her, that she were a maid,
By thefe exterior fhews? But fhe 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,

Nor knit my foul to an approved wanton.

[nefs:

Leon. Dear my Lord, if you in your own approof

Have vanquish'd the refiftance of her youth,

And made defeat of her virginity

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

You'll fay the 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, shew'd

Bafhful fincerity, and comely love.

Hero. And feem'd I ever otherwise to you?
Claud. Out on thy feeming! I will rate against it;

You feem to me as Dian in her orb,

As chafte as is the bud ere it be blown :
But you are more intemperate in your blood
Than Venus, or thofe 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 fhould I speak?

I ftand difhonour'd, that have gone about

To link my dear friend to a common ftale.

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?

[ocr errors]

Leon. All this is fo; but what of this, my Lord? Claud. Let me but move one question to your daugh-And, by that fatherly and kindly power

That you have in her, bid her answer truly.

[ter,

Leon. I charge thee do fo, as thou art my child.
Hero. O God defend me, how am I befet!

What kind of catechifing 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 herfelf can blot out Hero's virtue.

What man was he talk'd with you yesternight

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,
Myfelf, my brother, and this grieved Count
Did fee her, hear her, at that hour last night,
Talk with a ruffian at her chamber-window;
Who hath indeed, like an illiberal villain,
Confefs'd the vile encounters they have had
A thousand times in fecret.

Jahn. Fie, fie, they are not to be nam'd, my Lord,

« AnteriorContinuar »