The Project Gutenberg eBook of Much Ado about Nothing, by William Shakespeare

Published：2026-07-31 18:48:53 Source: educational foam building blocks for 14 year olds Author: Tiara Toys

Executive Director's Notes:

In addition to the notes below,gift ideas with kids learning tablets for girls and so you will *NOT* think allthe spelling errors introduced by the printers of the time havebeen corrected, here are the first few lines of Hamlet, as theyare presented herein:

  Barnardo. Who's there?
  Fran. Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold
your selfe

Bar. Long liue the King

* * * *

As I understand it, the printers often ran out of certain wordsor letters they had often packed into a "cliche". . .this is theoriginal meaning of the term cliche. . .and thus, being unwillingto unpack the cliches, and thus you will see some substitutionsthat look very odd. . .such as the exchanges of u for v, v for u,above. . .and you may wonder why they did it this way, presumingShakespeare did not actually write the play in this manner. . . .

The answer is that they MAY have packed "liue" into a cliche at atime when they were out of "v"'s. . .possibly having used "vv" inplace of some "w"'s, etc. This was a common practice of the day,as print was still quite expensive, and they didn't want to spendmore on a wider selection of characters than they had to.

You will find a lot of these kinds of "errors" in this text, as Ihave mentioned in other times and places, many "scholars" have anextreme attachment to these errors, and many have accorded them avery high place in the "canon" of Shakespeare. My father read anassortment of these made available to him by Cambridge Universityin England for several months in a glass room constructed for thepurpose. To the best of my knowledge he read ALL those available. . .in great detail. . .and determined from the various changes,that Shakespeare most likely did not write in nearly as many of avariety of errors we credit him for, even though he was in/famousfor signing his name with several different spellings.

So, please take this into account when reading the comments belowmade by our volunteer who prepared this file: you may see errorsthat are "not" errors. . . .

So. . .with this caveat. . .we have NOT changed the canon errors,here is the Project Gutenberg Etext of Shakespeare's play.

Michael S. Hart
Project Gutenberg
Executive Director

* * * *

Scanner's Notes:

What this is and isn't. This was taken from a copy of
Shakespeare's first folio and it is as close as I can come in
ASCII to the printed text.

The elongated S's have been changed to small s's and theconjoined ae have been changed to ae. I have left the spelling,punctuation, capitalization as close as possible to the printedtext. I have corrected some spelling mistakes (I have puttogether a spelling dictionary devised from the spellings ofthe Geneva Bible and Shakespeare's First Folio and have unifiedspellings according to this template), typo's and expandedabbreviations as I have come across them. Everything withinbrackets [] is what I have added. So if you don't like that youcan delete everything within the brackets if you want a purerShakespeare.

Another thing that you should be aware of is that there aretextual differences between various copies of the first folio. Sothere may be differences (other than what I have mentioned above)between this and other first folio editions. This is due to theprinter's habit of setting the type and running off a number ofcopies and then proofing the printed copy and correcting the typeand then continuing the printing run. The proof run wasn't thrownaway but incorporated into the printed copies. This is just theway it is. The text I have used was a composite of more than 30different First Folio editions' best pages.

David Reed

=====================================================================

Much adoe about Nothing

Actus primus, Scena prima.

Enter Leonato Gouernour of Messina, Innogen his wife, Hero hisdaughter,and Beatrice his Neece, with a messenger.

  Leonato. I learne in this Letter, that Don Peter of Arragon,
comes this night to Messina

   Mess. He is very neere by this: he was not
three Leagues off when I left him

   Leon. How many Gentlemen haue you lost in this
action?
  Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name

Leon. A victorie is twice it selfe, when the atchieuerbrings home full numbers: I finde heere, that Don Peterhath bestowed much honor on a yong Florentine, calledClaudio

Mess. Much deseru'd on his part, and equally remembredby Don Pedro, he hath borne himselfe beyond thepromise of his age, doing in the figure of a Lambe, thefeats of a Lion, he hath indeede better bettred expectation,then you must expect of me to tell you how

Leo. He hath an Vnckle heere in Messina, wil be verymuch glad of it

Mess. I haue alreadie deliuered him letters, and thereappeares much ioy in him, euen so much, that ioy couldnot shew it selfe modest enough, without a badg of bitternesse

   Leo. Did he breake out into teares?
  Mess. In great measure

Leo. A kinde ouerflow of kindnesse, there are no facestruer, then those that are so wash'd, how much betteris it to weepe at ioy, then to ioy at weeping? Bea. I pray you, is Signior Mountanto return'd fromthe warres, or no? Mess. I know none of that name, Lady, there wasnone such in the armie of any sort

   Leon. What is he that you aske for Neece?
  Hero. My cousin meanes Signior Benedick of Padua
  Mess. O he's return'd, and as pleasant as euer he was

Beat. He set vp his bils here in Messina, & challeng'dCupid at the Flight: and my Vnckles foole reading theChallenge, subscrib'd for Cupid, and challeng'd him atthe Burbolt. I pray you, how many hath hee kil'd andeaten in these warres? But how many hath he kil'd? forindeed, I promis'd to eate all of his killing

Leon. 'Faith Neece, you taxe Signior Benedicke toomuch, but hee'l be meete with you, I doubt it not

Mess. He hath done good seruice Lady in these wars

Beat. You had musty victuall, and he hath holpe toease it: he's a very valiant Trencher-man, hee hath anexcellent stomacke

Mess. And a good souldier too Lady

   Beat. And a good souldier to a Lady. But what is he
to a Lord?
  Mess. A Lord to a Lord, a man to a man, stuft with
all honourable vertues

   Beat. It is so indeed, he is no lesse then a stuft man:
but for the stuffing well, we are all mortall

Leon. You must not (sir) mistake my Neece, there isa kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick, & her:they neuer meet, but there's a skirmish of wit betweenthem

Bea. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our last conflict,foure of his fiue wits went halting off, and now isthe whole man gouern'd with one: so that if hee hauewit enough to keepe himselfe warme, let him beare itfor a difference betweene himselfe and his horse: For itis all the wealth that he hath left, to be knowne a reasonablecreature. Who is his companion now? He hatheuery month a new sworne brother

   Mess. Is't possible?
  Beat. Very easily possible: he weares his faith but as
the fashion of his hat, it euer changes with y next block

   Mess. I see (Lady) the Gentleman is not in your
bookes

   Bea. No, and he were, I would burne my study. But
I pray you, who is his companion? Is there no young
squarer now, that will make a voyage with him to the
diuell?
  Mess. He is most in the company of the right noble
Claudio

Beat. O Lord, he will hang vpon him like a disease:he is sooner caught then the pestilence, and the takerruns presently mad. God helpe the noble Claudio, if heehaue caught the Benedict, it will cost him a thousandpound ere he be cur'd

Mess. I will hold friends with you Lady

Bea. Do good friend

Leo. You'l ne're run mad Neece

Bea. No, not till a hot Ianuary

Mess. Don Pedro is approach'd.

Enter don Pedro, Claudio, Benedicke, Balthasar, and Iohn thebastard.

Pedro. Good Signior Leonato, you are come to meetyour trouble: the fashion of the world is to auoid cost,and you encounter it

Leon. Neuer came trouble to my house in the likenesof your Grace: for trouble being gone, comfort shouldremaine: but when you depart from me, sorrow abides,and happinesse takes his leaue

Pedro. You embrace your charge too willingly: Ithinke this is your daughter

Leonato. Her mother hath many times told me so

   Bened. Were you in doubt that you askt her?
  Leonato. Signior Benedicke, no, for then were you a
childe

Pedro. You haue it full Benedicke, we may ghesse bythis, what you are, being a man, truely the Lady fathersher selfe: be happie Lady, for you are like an honorablefather

Ben. If Signior Leonato be her father, she would nothaue his head on her shoulders for al Messina, as like himas she is

   Beat. I wonder that you will still be talking, signior
Benedicke, no body markes you

Ben. What my deere Ladie Disdaine! are you yetliuing? Beat. Is it possible Disdaine should die, while sheehath such meete foode to feede it, as Signior Benedicke?Curtesie it selfe must conuert to Disdaine, if you come inher presence

   Bene. Then is curtesie a turne-coate, but it is certaine
I am loued of all Ladies, onely you excepted: and
I would I could finde in my heart that I had not a hard
heart, for truely I loue none

Beat. A deere happinesse to women, they would elsehaue beene troubled with a pernitious Suter, I thankeGod and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that, Ihad rather heare my Dog barke at a Crow, than a mansweare he loues me

Bene. God keepe your Ladiship still in that minde,so some Gentleman or other shall scape a predestinatescratcht face

Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, and 'tweresuch a face as yours were

Bene. Well, you are a rare Parrat teacher

Beat. A bird of my tongue, is better than a beast ofyour

Ben. I would my horse had the speed of your tongue,and so good a continuer, but keepe your way a Godsname, I haue done

Beat. You alwaies end with a Iades tricke, I knowyou of old

Pedro. This is the summe of all: Leonato, signior Claudio,and signior Benedicke; my deere friend Leonato, hathinuited you all, I tell him we shall stay here, at the leasta moneth, and he heartily praies some occasion may detainevs longer: I dare sweare hee is no hypocrite, butpraies from his heart

Leon. If you sweare, my Lord, you shall not be forsworne,let mee bid you welcome, my Lord, being reconciledto the Prince your brother: I owe you allduetie

   Iohn. I thanke you, I am not of many words, but I
thanke you

   Leon. Please it your grace leade on?
  Pedro. Your hand Leonato, we will goe together.

Exeunt. Manet Benedicke and Claudio.

  Clau. Benedicke, didst thou note the daughter of signior
Leonato?
  Bene. I noted her not, but I lookt on her

   Claud. Is she not a modest yong Ladie?
  Bene. Doe you question me as an honest man should
doe, for my simple true iudgement? or would you haue
me speake after my custome, as being a professed tyrant
to their sexe?
  Clau. No, I pray thee speake in sober iudgement

Bene. Why yfaith me thinks shee's too low for a hiepraise, too browne for a faire praise, and too little for agreat praise, onely this commendation I can affoord her,that were shee other then she is, she were vnhandsome,and being no other, but as she is, I doe not like her

   Clau. Thou think'st I am in sport, I pray thee tell me
truely how thou lik'st her

   Bene. Would you buie her, that you enquier after
her?
  Clau. Can the world buie such a iewell?
  Ben. Yea, and a case to put it into, but speake you this
with a sad brow? Or doe you play the flowting iacke, to
tell vs Cupid is a good Hare-finder, and Vulcan a rare
Carpenter: Come, in what key shall a man take you to
goe in the song?
  Clau. In mine eie, she is the sweetest Ladie that euer
I lookt on

Bene. I can see yet without spectacles, and I see nosuch matter: there's her cosin, and she were not possestwith a furie, exceedes her as much in beautie, as the firstof Maie doth the last of December: but I hope you haueno intent to turne husband, haue you? Clau. I would scarce trust my selfe, though I hadsworne the contrarie, if Hero would be my wife

Bene. Ist come to this? in faith hath not the world oneman but he will weare his cap with suspition? shall I neuersee a batcheller of three score againe? goe to yfaith,and thou wilt needes thrust thy necke into a yoke, wearethe print of it, and sigh away sundaies: looke, don Pedrois returned to seeke you.

Enter don Pedro, Iohn the bastard.

  Pedr. What secret hath held you here, that you followed
not to Leonatoes?
  Bened. I would your Grace would constraine mee to
tell

Pedro. I charge thee on thy allegeance

Ben. You heare, Count Claudio, I can be secret as adumbe man, I would haue you thinke so (but on my allegiance,marke you this, on my allegiance) hee is inloue, With who? now that is your Graces part: markehow short his answere is, with Hero, Leonatoes shortdaughter

Clau. If this were so, so were it vttred

   Bened. Like the old tale, my Lord, it is not so, nor 'twas
not so: but indeede, God forbid it should be so

   Clau. If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it
should be otherwise

   Pedro. Amen, if you loue her, for the Ladie is verie
well worthie

Clau. You speake this to fetch me in, my Lord

Pedr. By my troth I speake my thought

Clau. And in faith, my Lord, I spoke mine

Bened. And by my two faiths and troths, my Lord, Ispeake mine

Clau. That I loue her, I feele

Pedr. That she is worthie, I know

Bened. That I neither feele how shee should be loued,nor know how shee should be worthie, is theopinion that fire cannot melt out of me, I will die in it atthe stake

Pedr. Thou wast euer an obstinate heretique in the despightof Beautie

Clau. And neuer could maintaine his part, but in theforce of his will Ben. That a woman conceiued me, I thanke her: thatshe brought mee vp, I likewise giue her most humblethankes: but that I will haue a rechate winded in myforehead, or hang my bugle in an inuisible baldricke, allwomen shall pardon me: because I will not do them thewrong to mistrust any, I will doe my selfe the right totrust none: and the fine is, (for the which I may goe thefiner) I will liue a Batchellor

Pedro. I shall see thee ere I die, looke pale with loue

Bene. With anger, with sicknesse, or with hunger,my Lord, not with loue: proue that euer I loose moreblood with loue, then I will get againe with drinking,picke out mine eyes with a Ballet-makers penne, andhang me vp at the doore of a brothel-house for the signeof blinde Cupid

Pedro. Well, if euer thou doost fall from this faith,thou wilt proue a notable argument

Bene. If I do, hang me in a bottle like a Cat, & shootat me, and he that hit's me, let him be clapt on the shoulder,and cal'd Adam

   Pedro. Well, as time shall trie: In time the sauage
Bull doth beare the yoake

Bene. The sauage bull may, but if euer the sensibleBenedicke beare it, plucke off the bulles hornes, and setthem in my forehead, and let me be vildely painted, andin such great Letters as they write, heere is good horseto hire: let them signifie vnder my signe, here you maysee Benedicke the married man

   Clau. If this should euer happen, thou wouldst bee
horne mad

   Pedro. Nay, if Cupid haue not spent all his Quiuer in
Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly

Bene. I looke for an earthquake too then

Pedro. Well, you will temporize with the houres, inthe meane time, good Signior Benedicke, repaire to Leonatoes,commend me to him, and tell him I will not failehim at supper, for indeede he hath made great preparation

   Bene. I haue almost matter enough in me for such an
Embassage, and so I commit you

   Clau. To the tuition of God. From my house, if I
had it

Pedro. The sixt of Iuly. Your louing friend, Benedick

Bene. Nay mocke not, mocke not; the body of yourdiscourse is sometime guarded with fragments, and theguardes are but slightly basted on neither, ere you floutold ends any further, examine your conscience, and so Ileaue you.

Enter.

  Clau. My Liege, your Highnesse now may doe mee
good

   Pedro. My loue is thine to teach, teach it but how,
And thou shalt see how apt it is to learne
Any hard Lesson that may do thee good

   Clau. Hath Leonato any sonne my Lord?
  Pedro. No childe but Hero, she's his onely heire.
Dost thou affect her Claudio?
  Clau. O my Lord,
When you went onward on this ended action,
I look'd vpon her with a souldiers eie,
That lik'd, but had a rougher taske in hand,
Than to driue liking to the name of loue:
But now I am return'd, and that warre-thoughts
Haue left their places vacant: in their roomes,
Come thronging soft and delicate desires,
All prompting mee how faire yong Hero is,
Saying I lik'd her ere I went to warres

   Pedro. Thou wilt be like a louer presently,
And tire the hearer with a booke of words:
If thou dost loue faire Hero, cherish it,
And I will breake with her: wast not to this end,
That thou beganst to twist so fine a story?
  Clau. How sweetly doe you minister to loue,
That know loues griefe by his complexion!
But lest my liking might too sodaine seeme,
I would haue salu'd it with a longer treatise

   Ped. What need y bridge much broder then the flood?
The fairest graunt is the necessitie:
Looke what will serue, is fit: 'tis once, thou louest,
And I will fit thee with the remedie,
I know we shall haue reuelling to night,
I will assume thy part in some disguise,
And tell faire Hero I am Claudio,
And in her bosome Ile vnclaspe my heart,
And take her hearing prisoner with the force
And strong incounter of my amorous tale:
Then after, to her father will I breake,
And the conclusion is, shee shall be thine,
In practise let vs put it presently.

Exeunt.

Enter Leonato and an old man, brother to Leonato.

  Leo. How now brother, where is my cosen your son:
hath he prouided this musicke?
  Old. He is very busie about it, but brother, I can tell
you newes that you yet dreamt not of

Lo. Are they good? Old. As the euents stamps them, but they haue a goodcouer: they shew well outward, the Prince and CountClaudio walking in a thick pleached alley in my orchard,were thus ouer-heard by a man of mine: the Prince discoueredto Claudio that hee loued my niece your daughter,and meant to acknowledge it this night in a dance,and if hee found her accordant, hee meant to take thepresent time by the top, and instantly breake with youof it

   Leo. Hath the fellow any wit that told you this?
  Old. A good sharpe fellow, I will send for him, and
question him your selfe

Leo. No, no; wee will hold it as a dreame, till it appeareit selfe: but I will acquaint my daughter withall,that she may be the better prepared for an answer, if peraduenturethis bee true: goe you and tell her of it: coosins,you know what you haue to doe, O I crie you merciefriend, goe you with mee and I will vse your skill,good cosin haue a care this busie time.

Exeunt.

Enter Sir Iohn the Bastard, and Conrade his companion.

  Con. What the good yeere my Lord, why are you
thus out of measure sad?
  Ioh. There is no measure in the occasion that breeds,
therefore the sadnesse is without limit

Con. You should heare reason

   Iohn. And when I haue heard it, what blessing bringeth
it?
  Con. If not a present remedy, yet a patient sufferance

Ioh. I wonder that thou (being as thou saist thou art,borne vnder Saturne) goest about to apply a morall medicine,to a mortifying mischiefe: I cannot hide what Iam: I must bee sad when I haue cause, and smile at nomans iests, eat when I haue stomacke, and wait for nomans leisure: sleepe when I am drowsie, and tend on nomans businesse, laugh when I am merry, and claw no manin his humor

Con. Yea, but you must not make the ful show of this,till you may doe it without controllment, you haue oflate stood out against your brother, and hee hath taneyou newly into his grace, where it is impossible youshould take root, but by the faire weather that you makeyour selfe, it is needful that you frame the season for yourowne haruest

Iohn. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, then a rosein his grace, and it better fits my bloud to be disdain'd ofall, then to fashion a carriage to rob loue from any: in this(though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man)it must not be denied but I am a plaine dealing villaine, Iam trusted with a mussell, and enfranchisde with a clog,therefore I haue decreed, not to sing in my cage: if I hadmy mouth, I would bite: if I had my liberty, I would domy liking: in the meane time, let me be that I am, andseeke not to alter me

   Con. Can you make no vse of your discontent?
  Iohn. I will make all vse of it, for I vse it onely.
Who comes here? what newes Borachio?

Enter Borachio.

Bor. I came yonder from a great supper, the Princeyour brother is royally entertained by Leonato, and I cangiue you intelligence of an intended marriage

   Iohn. Will it serue for any Modell to build mischiefe
on? What is hee for a foole that betrothes himselfe to
vnquietnesse?
  Bor. Mary it is your brothers right hand

   Iohn. Who, the most exquisite Claudio?
  Bor. Euen he

   Iohn. A proper squier, and who, and who, which way
lookes he?
  Bor. Mary on Hero, the daughter and Heire of Leonato

Iohn. A very forward March-chicke, how came youto this: Bor. Being entertain'd for a perfumer, as I was smoakinga musty roome, comes me the Prince and Claudio,hand in hand in sad conference: I whipt behind the Arras,and there heard it agreed vpon, that the Prince shouldwooe Hero for himselfe, and hauing obtain'd her, giueher to Count Claudio

Iohn. Come, come, let vs thither, this may proue foodto my displeasure, that young start-vp hath all the glorieof my ouerthrow: if I can crosse him any way, I blessemy selfe euery way, you are both sure, and will assistmee? Conr. To the death my Lord

   Iohn. Let vs to the great supper, their cheere is the
greater that I am subdued, would the Cooke were of my
minde: shall we goe proue whats to be done?
  Bor. Wee'll wait vpon your Lordship.

Exeunt.

Actus Secundus.

Enter Leonato, his brother, his wife, Hero his daughter, andBeatrice hisneece, and a kinsman.

  Leonato. Was not Count Iohn here at supper?
  Brother. I saw him not

   Beatrice. How tartly that Gentleman lookes, I neuer
can see him, but I am heart-burn'd an howre after

Hero. He is of a very melancholy disposition

Beatrice. Hee were an excellent man that were madeiust in the mid-way betweene him and Benedicke, the oneis too like an image and saies nothing, and the other toolike my Ladies eldest sonne, euermore tatling

   Leon. Then halfe signior Benedicks tongue in Count
Iohns mouth, and halfe Count Iohns melancholy in Signior
Benedicks face

Beat. With a good legge, and a good foot vnckle, andmoney enough in his purse, such a man would winne anywoman in the world, if he could get her good will

Leon. By my troth Neece, thou wilt neuer get thee ahusband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue

Brother. Infaith shee's too curst

Beat. Too curst is more then curst, I shall lessen Godssending that way: for it is said, God sends a curst Cowshort hornes, but to a Cow too curst he sends none

Leon. So, by being too curst, God will send you nohornes

Beat. Iust, if he send me no husband, for the whichblessing, I am at him vpon my knees euery morning andeuening: Lord, I could not endure a husband with abeard on his face, I had rather lie in the woollen

Leonato. You may light vpon a husband that hath nobeard

Beatrice. What should I doe with him? dresse him inmy apparell, and make him my waiting gentlewoman? hethat hath a beard, is more then a youth: and he that hathno beard, is lesse then a man: and hee that is more then ayouth, is not for mee: and he that is lesse then a man, I amnot for him: therefore I will euen take sixepence in earnestof the Berrord, and leade his Apes into hell

Leon. Well then, goe you into hell

Beat. No, but to the gate, and there will the Deuillmeete mee like an old Cuckold with hornes on his head,and say, get you to heauen Beatrice, get you to heauen,heere's no place for you maids, so deliuer I vp my Apes,and away to S[aint]. Peter: for the heauens, hee shewes meewhere the Batchellers sit, and there liue wee as merry asthe day is long

Brother. Well neece, I trust you will be rul'd by yourfather

Beatrice. Yes faith, it is my cosens dutie to make curtsie,and say, as it please you: but yet for all that cosin, lethim be a handsome fellow, or else make an other cursie,and say, father, as it please me

Leonato. Well neece, I hope to see you one day fittedwith a husband

Beatrice. Not till God make men of some other mettallthen earth, would it not grieue a woman to be ouermastredwith a peece of valiant dust: to make account ofher life to a clod of waiward marle? no vnckle, ile none:Adams sonnes are my brethren, and truly I hold it a sinneto match in my kinred

   Leon. Daughter, remember what I told you, if the
Prince doe solicit you in that kinde, you know your answere

Beatrice. The fault will be in the musicke cosin, if yoube not woed in good time: if the Prince bee too important,tell him there is measure in euery thing, & so danceout the answere, for heare me Hero, wooing, wedding, &repenting, is as a Scotch jigge, a measure, and a cinquepace:the first suite is hot and hasty like a Scotch jigge(and full as fantasticall) the wedding manerly modest,(as a measure) full of state & aunchentry, and then comesrepentance, and with his bad legs falls into the cinquepacefaster and faster, till he sinkes into his graue

Leonato. Cosin you apprehend passing shrewdly

   Beatrice. I haue a good eye vnckle, I can see a Church
by daylight

   Leon. The reuellers are entring brother, make good
roome.
Enter Prince, Pedro, Claudio, and Benedicke, and Balthasar, or
dumbe Iohn,
Maskers with a drum.

  Pedro. Lady, will you walke about with your friend?
  Hero. So you walke softly, and looke sweetly, and say
nothing, I am yours for the walke, and especially when I
walke away

Pedro. With me in your company

Hero. I may say so when I please

   Pedro. And when please you to say so?
  Hero. When I like your fauour, for God defend the
Lute should be like the case

   Pedro. My visor is Philemons roofe, within the house
is Loue

Hero. Why then your visor should be thatcht

Pedro. Speake low if you speake Loue

Bene. Well, I would you did like me

   Mar. So would not I for your owne sake, for I haue
manie ill qualities

   Bene. Which is one?
  Mar. I say my prayers alowd

Ben. I loue you the better, the hearers may cry Amen

Mar. God match me with a good dauncer

Balt. Amen

Mar. And God keepe him out of my sight when thedaunce is done: answer Clarke

Balt. No more words, the Clarke is answered

Vrsula. I know you well enough, you are Signior Anthonio

Anth. At a word, I am not

Vrsula. I know you by the wagling of your head

Anth. To tell you true, I counterfet him

Vrsu. You could neuer doe him so ill well, vnlesseyou were the very man: here's his dry hand vp & down,you are he, you are he

Anth. At a word I am not

Vrsula. Come, come, doe you thinke I doe not knowyou by your excellent wit? can vertue hide it selfe? goeto mumme, you are he, graces will appeare, and there'san end

   Beat. Will you not tell me who told you so?
  Bene. No, you shall pardon me

   Beat. Nor will you not tell me who you are?
  Bened. Not now

Beat. That I was disdainfull, and that I had my goodwit out of the hundred merry tales: well, this was SigniorBenedicke that said so

   Bene. What's he?
  Beat. I am sure you know him well enough

Bene. Not I, beleeue me

Beat. Did he neuer make you laugh? Bene. I pray you what is he? Beat. Why he is the Princes ieaster, a very dull foole,onely his gift is, in deuising impossible slanders, nonebut Libertines delight in him, and the commendation isnot in his witte, but in his villanie, for hee both pleasethmen and angers them, and then they laugh at him, andbeat him: I am sure he is in the Fleet, I would he hadboorded me

Bene. When I know the Gentleman, Ile tell him whatyou say

Beat. Do, do, hee'l but breake a comparison or twoon me, which peraduenture (not markt, or not laugh'dat) strikes him into melancholly, and then there's a Partridgewing saued, for the foole will eate no supper thatnight. We must follow the Leaders

Ben. In euery good thing

Bea. Nay, if they leade to any ill, I will leaue themat the next turning.

Exeunt.

Musicke for the dance.

Iohn. Sure my brother is amorous on Hero, and hathwithdrawne her father to breake with him about it: theLadies follow her, and but one visor remaines

Borachio. And that is Claudio, I know him by his bearing

   Iohn. Are not you signior Benedicke?
  Clau. You know me well, I am hee

Iohn. Signior, you are verie neere my Brother in hisloue, he is enamor'd on Hero, I pray you disswade himfrom her, she is no equall for his birth: you may do thepart of an honest man in it

   Claudio. How know you he loues her?
  Iohn. I heard him sweare his affection

   Bor. So did I too, and he swore he would marrie her
to night

Iohn. Come, let vs to the banquet.

Ex. manet Clau.

  Clau. Thus answere I in name of Benedicke,
But heare these ill newes with the eares of Claudio:
'Tis certaine so, the Prince woes for himselfe:
Friendship is constant in all other things,
Saue in the Office and affaires of loue:
Therefore all hearts in loue vse their owne tongues.
Let euerie eye negotiate for it selfe,
And trust no Agent: for beautie is a witch,
Against whose charmes, faith melteth into blood:
This is an accident of hourely proofe,
Which I mistrusted not. Farewell therefore Hero.
Enter Benedicke.

Ben. Count Claudio

Clau. Yea, the same

Ben. Come, will you goe with me? Clau. Whither? Ben. Euen to the next Willow, about your own businesse,Count. What fashion will you weare the Garlandoff? About your necke, like an Vsurers chaine? Orvnder your arme, like a Lieutenants scarfe? You mustweare it one way, for the Prince hath got your Hero

Clau . I wish him ioy of her

   Ben. Why that's spoken like an honest Drouier, so
they sel Bullockes: but did you thinke the Prince wold
haue serued you thus?
  Clau. I pray you leaue me

   Ben. Ho now you strike like the blindman, 'twas the
boy that stole your meate, and you'l beat the post

   Clau. If it will not be, Ile leaue you.
Enter.

Ben. Alas poore hurt fowle, now will he creepe intosedges: But that my Ladie Beatrice should know me, &not know me: the Princes foole! Hah? It may be I goevnder that title, because I am merrie: yea but so I amapt to do my selfe wrong: I am not so reputed, it is thebase (though bitter) disposition of Beatrice, that putt'sthe world into her person, and so giues me out: well, Ilebe reuenged as I may.Enter the Prince.

Pedro. Now Signior, where's the Count, did yousee him? Bene. Troth my Lord, I haue played the part of LadyFame, I found him heere as melancholy as a Lodge in aWarren, I told him, and I thinke, told him true, that yourgrace had got the will of this young Lady, and I offeredhim my company to a willow tree, either to make him agarland, as being forsaken, or to binde him a rod, as beingworthy to be whipt

   Pedro. To be whipt, what's his fault?
  Bene. The flat transgression of a Schoole-boy, who
being ouer-ioyed with finding a birds nest, shewes it his
companion, and he steales it

   Pedro. Wilt thou make a trust, a transgression? the
transgression is in the stealer

Ben. Yet it had not been amisse the rod had beenemade, and the garland too, for the garland he might haueworne himselfe, and the rod hee might haue bestowed onyou, who (as I take it) haue stolne his birds nest

   Pedro. I will but teach them to sing, and restore them
to the owner

   Bene. If their singing answer your saying, by my faith
you say honestly

Pedro. The Lady Beatrice hath a quarrell to you, theGentleman that daunst with her, told her shee is muchwrong'd by you

Bene. O she misusde me past the indurance of a block:an oake but with one greene leafe on it, would haue answeredher: my very visor began to assume life, and scoldwith her: shee told mee, not thinking I had beene myselfe, that I was the Princes Iester, and that I was dullerthen a great thaw, hudling iest vpon iest, with such impossibleconueiance vpon me, that I stood like a man at amarke, with a whole army shooting at me: shee speakespoynyards, and euery word stabbes: if her breath wereas terrible as terminations, there were no liuing neereher, she would infect to the north starre: I would notmarry her, though she were indowed with all that Adamhad left him before he transgrest, she would haue made Hercules haue turnd spit, yea, and haue cleft his club tomake the fire too: come, talke not of her, you shall findeher the infernall Ate in good apparell. I would to Godsome scholler would coniure her, for certainely while sheis heere, a man may liue as quiet in hell, as in a sanctuary,and people sinne vpon purpose, because they would goethither, so indeed all disquiet, horror, and perturbationfollowes her.Enter Claudio and Beatrice, Leonato, Hero.

Pedro. Looke heere she comes

Bene. Will your Grace command mee any seruice tothe worlds end? I will goe on the slightest arrand nowto the Antypodes that you can deuise to send me on: Iwill fetch you a tooth-picker now from the furthest inchof Asia: bring you the length of Prester Iohns foot: fetchyou a hayre off the great Chams beard: doe you any embassageto the Pigmies, rather then hould three wordsconference, with this Harpy: you haue no employmentfor me? Pedro. None, but to desire your good company

   Bene. O God sir, heeres a dish I loue not, I cannot indure
this Lady tongue.
Enter.

  Pedr. Come Lady, come, you haue lost the heart of
Signior Benedicke

Beatr. Indeed my Lord, hee lent it me a while, and Igaue him vse for it, a double heart for a single one, marryonce before he wonne it of mee, with false dice, thereforeyour Grace may well say I haue lost it

   Pedro. You haue put him downe Lady, you haue put
him downe

   Beat. So I would not he should do me, my Lord, lest
I should prooue the mother of fooles: I haue brought
Count Claudio, whom you sent me to seeke

   Pedro. Why how now Count, wherfore are you sad?
  Claud. Not sad my Lord

   Pedro. How then? sicke?
  Claud. Neither, my Lord

Beat. The Count is neither sad, nor sicke, nor merry,nor well: but ciuill Count, ciuill as an Orange, and somethingof a iealous complexion

Pedro. Ifaith Lady, I thinke your blazon to be true.though Ile be sworne, if hee be so, his conceit is false:heere Claudio, I haue wooed in thy name, and faire Herois won, I haue broke with her father, and his good willobtained, name the day of marriage, and God giuethee ioy

Leona. Count, take of me my daughter, and with hermy fortunes: his grace hath made the match, & all gracesay, Amen to it

Beatr. Speake Count, tis your Qu

Claud. Silence is the perfectest Herault of ioy, I werebut little happy if I could say, how much? Lady, as youare mine, I am yours, I giue away my selfe for you, anddoat vpon the exchange

Beat. Speake cosin, or (if you cannot) stop his mouthwith a kisse, and let not him speake neither

Pedro. In faith Lady you haue a merry heart

Beatr. Yea my Lord I thanke it, poore foole it keepeson the windy side of Care, my coosin tells him in his earethat he is in my heart

Clau. And so she doth coosin

Beat. Good Lord for alliance: thus goes euery oneto the world but I, and I am sun-burn'd, I may sit in a cornerand cry, heigh ho for a husband

Pedro. Lady Beatrice, I will get you one

Beat. I would rather haue one of your fathers getting:hath your Grace ne're a brother like you? your fathergot excellent husbands, if a maid could come by them

Prince. Will you haue me? Lady

Beat. No, my Lord, vnlesse I might haue another forworking-daies, your Grace is too costly to weare euerieday: but I beseech your Grace pardon mee, I was borneto speake all mirth, and no matter

Prince. Your silence most offends me, and to be merry,best becomes you, for out of question, you were bornin a merry howre

Beatr. No sure my Lord, my Mother cried, but thenthere was a starre daunst, and vnder that was I borne: cosinsGod giue you ioy

   Leonato. Neece, will you looke to those things I told
you of?
  Beat. I cry you mercy Vncle, by your Graces pardon.

Exit Beatrice.

Prince. By my troth a pleasant spirited Lady

Leon. There's little of the melancholy element in hermy Lord, she is neuer sad, but when she sleepes, and noteuer sad then: for I haue heard my daughter say, she hathoften dreamt of vnhappinesse, and wakt her selfe withlaughing

Pedro. Shee cannot indure to heare tell of a husband

Leonato. O, by no meanes, she mocks all her wooersout of suite

Prince. She were an excellent wife for Benedick

   Leonato. O Lord, my Lord, if they were but a weeke
married, they would talke themselues madde

   Prince. Counte Claudio, when meane you to goe to
Church?
  Clau. To morrow my Lord, Time goes on crutches,
till Loue haue all his rites

Leonato. Not till monday, my deare sonne, which ishence a iust seuen night, and a time too briefe too, to haueall things answer minde

Prince. Come, you shake the head at so long a breathing,but I warrant thee Claudio, the time shall not goedully by vs, I will in the interim, vndertake one of Herculeslabors, which is, to bring Signior Benedicke and theLady Beatrice into a mountaine of affection, th' one withth' other, I would faine haue it a match, and I doubt notbut to fashion it, if you three will but minister such assistanceas I shall giue you direction

Leonato. My Lord, I am for you, though it cost meeten nights watchings

Claud. And I my Lord

   Prin. And you to gentle Hero?
  Hero. I will doe any modest office, my Lord, to helpe
my cosin to a good husband

Prin. And Benedick is not the vnhopefullest husbandthat I know: thus farre can I praise him, hee is of a noblestraine, of approued valour, and confirm'd honesty, I willteach you how to humour your cosin, that shee shall fallin loue with Benedicke, and I, with your two helpes, willso practise on Benedicke, that in despight of his quickewit, and his queasie stomacke, hee shall fall in loue withBeatrice: if wee can doe this, Cupid is no longer an Archer,his glory shall be ours, for wee are the onely louegods,goe in with me, and I will tell you my drift.Enter.

Enter Iohn and Borachio.

Ioh. It is so, the Count Claudio shal marry the daughterof Leonato

Bora. Yea my Lord, but I can crosse it

Iohn. Any barre, any crosse, any impediment, will bemedicinable to me, I am sicke in displeasure to him, andwhatsoeuer comes athwart his affection, ranges euenlywith mine, how canst thou crosse this marriage? Bor. Not honestly my Lord, but so couertly, that nodishonesty shall appeare in me

Iohn. Shew me breefely how

Bor. I thinke I told your Lordship a yeere since, howmuch I am in the fauour of Margaret, the waiting gentlewomanto Hero

Iohn. I remember

Bor. I can at any vnseasonable instant of the night,appoint her to looke out at her Ladies chamber window

Iohn. What life is in that, to be the death of this marriage? Bor. The poyson of that lies in you to temper, goeyou to the Prince your brother, spare not to tell him, thathee hath wronged his Honor in marrying the renownedClaudio, whose estimation do you mightily hold vp, to acontaminated stale, such a one as Hero

   Iohn. What proofe shall I make of that?
  Bor. Proofe enough, to misuse the Prince, to vexe
Claudio, to vndoe Hero, and kill Leonato, looke you for any
other issue?
  Iohn. Onely to despight them, I will endeauour any
thing

Bor. Goe then, finde me a meete howre, to draw onPedro and the Count Claudio alone, tell them that youknow that Hero loues me, intend a kinde of zeale bothto the Prince and Claudio (as in a loue of your brothershonor who hath made this match) and his friends reputation,who is thus like to be cosen'd with the semblanceof a maid, that you haue discouer'd thus: they will scarcelybeleeue this without triall: offer them instances whichshall beare no lesse likelihood, than to see mee at herchamber window, heare me call Margaret, Hero; heareMargaret terme me Claudio, and bring them to see thisthe very night before the intended wedding, for in themeane time, I will so fashion the matter, that Hero shallbe absent, and there shall appeare such seeming truths ofHeroes disloyaltie, that iealousie shall be cal'd assurance,and all the preparation ouerthrowne

Iohn. Grow this to what aduerse issue it can, I willput it in practise: be cunning in the working this, andthy fee is a thousand ducates

   Bor. Be thou constant in the accusation, and my cunning
shall not shame me

   Iohn. I will presentlie goe learne their day of marriage.
Enter.

Enter Benedicke alone.

Bene. Boy

Boy. Signior

   Bene. In my chamber window lies a booke, bring it
hither to me in the orchard

   Boy. I am heere already sir.
Enter.

Bene. I know that, but I would haue thee hence, andheere againe. I doe much wonder, that one man seeinghow much another man is a foole, when he dedicates hisbehauiours to loue, will after hee hath laught at suchshallow follies in others, become the argument of hisowne scorne, by falling in loue, & such a man is Claudio.I haue known when there was no musicke with him butthe drum and the fife, and now had hee rather heare thetaber and the pipe: I haue knowne when he would hauewalkt ten mile afoot, to see a good armor, and now willhe lie ten nights awake caruing the fashion of a new dublet:he was wont to speake plaine, & to the purpose (likean honest man & a souldier) and now is he turn'd orthography,his words are a very fantasticall banquet, iust somany strange dishes: may I be so conuerted, & see withthese eyes? I cannot tell, I thinke not: I will not beesworne, but loue may transforme me to an oyster, but Iletake my oath on it, till he haue made an oyster of me, heshall neuer make me such a foole: one woman is faire, yetI am well: another is wise, yet I am well: another vertuous,yet I am well: but till all graces be in one woman,one woman shall not come in my grace: rich shee shallbe, that's certaine: wise, or Ile none: vertuous, or Ile neuercheapen her: faire, or Ile neuer looke on her: milde,or come not neere me: Noble, or not for an Angell: ofgood discourse: an excellent Musitian, and her haire shalbe of what colour it please God, hah! the Prince andMonsieur Loue, I will hide me in the Arbor.Enter Prince, Leonato, Claudio, and Iacke Wilson.

  Prin. Come, shall we heare this musicke?
  Claud. Yea my good Lord: how still the euening is.
As husht on purpose to grace harmonie

   Prin. See you where Benedicke hath hid himselfe?
  Clau. O very well my Lord: the musicke ended,
Wee'll fit the kid-foxe with a penny worth

Prince. Come Balthasar, wee'll heare that song again

   Balth. O good my Lord, taxe not so bad a voyce,
To slander musicke any more then once

   Prin. It is the witnesse still of excellency,
To slander Musicke any more then once

   Prince. It is the witnesse still of excellencie,
To put a strange face on his owne perfection,
I pray thee sing, and let me woe no more

   Balth. Because you talke of wooing, I will sing,
Since many a wooer doth commence his suit,
To her he thinkes not worthy, yet he wooes,
Yet will he sweare he loues

   Prince. Nay pray thee come,
Or if thou wilt hold longer argument,
Doe it in notes

   Balth. Note this before my notes,
Theres not a note of mine that's worth the noting

   Prince. Why these are very crotchets that he speaks,
Note notes forsooth, and nothing

Bene. Now diuine aire, now is his soule rauisht, is itnot strange that sheepes guts should hale soules out ofmens bodies? well, a horne for my money when all'sdone.

The Song.

Sigh no more Ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceiuers euer,
One foote in Sea, and one on shore,
To one thing constant neuer,
Then sigh not so, but let them goe,
And be you blithe and bonnie,
Conuerting all your sounds of woe,
Into hey nony nony.
Sing no more ditties, sing no moe,
Of dumps so dull and heauy,
The fraud of men were euer so,
Since summer first was leauy,
Then sigh not so, &c

Prince. By my troth a good song

Balth. And an ill singer, my Lord

Prince. Ha, no, no faith, thou singst well enough for ashift

Ben. And he had been a dog that should haue howldthus, they would haue hang'd him, and I pray God hisbad voyce bode no mischiefe, I had as liefe haue heardthe night-rauen, come what plague could haue come afterit

Prince. Yea marry, dost thou heare Balthasar? I praythee get vs some excellent musick: for to morrow nightwe would haue it at the Lady Heroes chamber window

Balth. The best I can, my Lord.

Exit Balthasar.

Prince. Do so, farewell. Come hither Leonato, whatwas it you told me of to day, that your Niece Beatricewas in loue with signior Benedicke? Cla. O I, stalke on, stalke on, the foule sits. I did neuerthinke that Lady would haue loued any man

Leon. No, nor I neither, but most wonderful, that sheshould so dote on Signior Benedicke, whom shee hath inall outward behauiours seemed euer to abhorre

   Bene. Is't possible? sits the winde in that corner?
  Leo. By my troth my Lord, I cannot tell what to
thinke of it, but that she loues him with an inraged affection,
it is past the infinite of thought

Prince. May be she doth but counterfeit

Claud. Faith like enough

Leon. O God! counterfeit? there was neuer counterfeitof passion, came so neere the life of passion as she discouersit

   Prince. Why what effects of passion shewes she?
  Claud. Baite the hooke well, this fish will bite

   Leon. What effects my Lord? shee will sit you, you
heard my daughter tell you how

Clau. She did indeed

Prince. How, how I pray you? you amaze me, I wouldhaue thought her spirit had beene inuincible against allassaults of affection

Leo. I would haue sworne it had, my Lord, especiallyagainst Benedicke

Bene. I should thinke this a gull, but that the whitebeardedfellow speakes it: knauery cannot sure hidehimselfe in such reuerence

Claud. He hath tane th' infection, hold it vp

   Prince. Hath shee made her affection known to Benedicke:
  Leonato. No, and sweares she neuer will, that's her
torment

Claud. 'Tis true indeed, so your daughter saies: shallI, saies she, that haue so oft encountred him with scorne,write to him that I loue him? Leo. This saies shee now when shee is beginning towrite to him, for shee'll be vp twenty times a night, andthere will she sit in her smocke, till she haue writ a sheetof paper: my daughter tells vs all

   Clau. Now you talke of a sheet of paper, I remember
a pretty iest your daughter told vs of

   Leon. O when she had writ it, & was reading it ouer,
she found Benedicke and Beatrice betweene the sheete

Clau. That

Leon. O she tore the letter into a thousand halfpence,raild at her self, that she should be so immodest to write,to one that shee knew would flout her: I measure him,saies she, by my owne spirit, for I should flout him if heewrit to mee, yea though I loue him, I should

Clau. Then downe vpon her knees she falls, weepes,sobs, beates her heart, teares her hayre, praies, curses, Osweet Benedicke, God giue me patience

Leon. She doth indeed, my daughter saies so, and theextasie hath so much ouerborne her, that my daughter issomtime afeard she will doe a desperate out-rage to herselfe, it is very true

   Prince. It were good that Benedicke knew of it by some
other, if she will not discouer it

   Clau. To what end? he would but make a sport of it,
and torment the poore Lady worse

Prin. And he should, it were an almes to hang him,shee's an excellent sweet Lady, and (out of all suspition,)she is vertuous

Claudio. And she is exceeding wise

Prince. In euery thing, but in louing Benedicke

Leon. O my Lord, wisedome and bloud combating inso tender a body, we haue ten proofes to one, that bloudhath the victory, I am sorry for her, as I haue iust cause,being her Vncle, and her Guardian

Prince. I would shee had bestowed this dotage onmee, I would haue daft all other respects, and made herhalfe my selfe: I pray you tell Benedicke of it, and hearewhat he will say

Leon. Were it good thinke you? Clau. Hero thinkes surely she wil die, for she saies shewill die, if hee loue her not, and shee will die ere sheemake her loue knowne, and she will die if hee wooe her,rather than shee will bate one breath of her accustomedcrossenesse

Prince. She doth well, if she should make tender of herloue, 'tis very possible hee'l scorne it, for the man (as youknow all) hath a contemptible spirit

Clau. He is a very proper man

Prin. He hath indeed a good outward happines

Clau. 'Fore God, and in my minde very wise

Prin. He doth indeed shew some sparkes that are likewit

Leon. And I take him to be valiant

Prin. As Hector, I assure you, and in the managing ofquarrels you may see hee is wise, for either hee auoydesthem with great discretion, or vndertakes them with aChristian-like feare

Leon. If hee doe feare God, a must necessarilie keepepeace, if hee breake the peace, hee ought to enter into aquarrell with feare and trembling

Prin. And so will he doe, for the man doth fear God,howsoeuer it seemes not in him, by some large ieasts heewill make: well, I am sorry for your niece, shall we goesee Benedicke, and tell him of her loue

   Claud. Neuer tell him, my Lord, let her weare it out
with good counsell

   Leon. Nay that's impossible, she may weare her heart
out first

Prin. Well, we will heare further of it by your daughter,let it coole the while, I loue Benedicke well, and Icould wish he would modestly examine himselfe, to seehow much he is vnworthy to haue so good a Lady

Leon. My Lord, will you walke? dinner is ready

Clau. If he do not doat on her vpon this, I wil neuertrust my expectation

Prin. Let there be the same Net spread for her, andthat must your daughter and her gentlewoman carry:the sport will be, when they hold one an opinion of anothersdotage, and no such matter, that's the Scene that Iwould see, which will be meerely a dumbe shew: let vssend her to call him into dinner.

Exeunt.

Bene. This can be no tricke, the conference was sadlyborne, they haue the truth of this from Hero, they seemeto pittie the Lady: it seemes her affections haue the fullbent: loue me? why it must be requited: I heare how Iam censur'd, they say I will beare my selfe proudly, if Iperceiue the loue come from her: they say too, that shewill rather die than giue any signe of affection: I did neuerthinke to marry, I must not seeme proud, happy arethey that heare their detractions, and can put them tomending: they say the Lady is faire, 'tis a truth, I canbeare them witnesse: and vertuous, tis so, I cannot reprooueit, and wise, but for louing me, by my troth it isno addition to her witte, nor no great argument of herfolly; for I wil be horribly in loue with her, I may chancehaue some odde quirkes and remnants of witte brokenon mee, because I haue rail'd so long against marriage:but doth not the appetite alter? a man loues the meat inhis youth, that he cannot indure in his age. Shall quipsand sentences, and these paper bullets of the braine awea man from the careere of his humour? No, the worldmust be peopled. When I said I would die a batcheler, Idid not think I should liue till I were maried, here comesBeatrice: by this day, shee's a faire Lady, I doe spie somemarkes of loue in her.Enter Beatrice.

Beat. Against my wil I am sent to bid you come in todinner

Bene. Faire Beatrice, I thanke you for your paines

Beat. I tooke no more paines for those thankes, thenyou take paines to thanke me, if it had been painefull, Iwould not haue come

Bene. You take pleasure then in the message

Beat. Yea iust so much as you may take vpon a kniuespoint, and choake a daw withall: you haue no stomackesignior, fare you well.Enter.

Bene. Ha, against my will I am sent to bid you comeinto dinner: there's a double meaning in that: I tookeno more paines for those thankes then you took painesto thanke me, that's as much as to say, any paines that Itake for you is as easie as thankes: if I do not take pittyof her I am a villaine, if I doe not loue her I am a Iew, Iwill goe get her picture.Enter.

Actus Tertius.

Enter Hero and two Gentlemen, Margaret, and Vrsula.

  Hero. Good Margaret runne thee to the parlour,
There shalt thou finde my Cosin Beatrice,
Proposing with the Prince and Claudio,
Whisper her eare, and tell her I and Vrsula,
Walke in the Orchard, and our whole discourse
Is all of her, say that thou ouer-heardst vs,
And bid her steale into the pleached bower,
Where hony-suckles ripened by the sunne,
Forbid the sunne to enter: like fauourites,
Made proud by Princes, that aduance their pride,
Against that power that bred it, there will she hide her,
To listen our purpose, this is thy office,
Beare thee well in it, and leaue vs alone

Marg. Ile make her come I warrant you presently

   Hero. Now Vrsula, when Beatrice doth come,
As we do trace this alley vp and downe,
Our talke must onely be of Benedicke,
When I doe name him, let it be thy part,
To praise him more then euer man did merit,
My talke to thee must be how Benedicke
Is sicke in loue with Beatrice; of this matter,
Is little Cupids crafty arrow made,
That onely wounds by heare-say: now begin,
Enter Beatrice.

For looke where Beatrice like a Lapwing runs
Close by the ground, to heare our conference

   Vrs. The pleasant'st angling is to see the fish
Cut with her golden ores the siluer streame,
And greedily deuoure the treacherous baite:
So angle we for Beatrice, who euen now,
Is couched in the wood-bine couerture,
Feare you not my part of the Dialogue

   Her. Then go we neare her that her eare loose nothing,
Of the false sweete baite that we lay for it:
No truely Vrsula, she is too disdainfull,
I know her spirits are as coy and wilde,
As Haggerds of the rocke

   Vrsula. But are you sure,
That Benedicke loues Beatrice so intirely?
  Her. So saies the Prince, and my new trothed Lord

   Vrs. And did they bid you tell her of it, Madam?
  Her. They did intreate me to acquaint her of it,
But I perswaded them, if they lou'd Benedicke,
To wish him wrastle with affection,
And neuer to let Beatrice know of it

   Vrsula. Why did you so, doth not the Gentleman
Deserue as full as fortunate a bed,
As euer Beatrice shall couch vpon?
  Hero. O God of loue! I know he doth deserue,
As much as may be yeelded to a man:
But Nature neuer fram'd a womans heart,
Of prowder stuffe then that of Beatrice:
Disdaine and Scorne ride sparkling in her eyes,
Mis-prizing what they looke on, and her wit
Values it selfe so highly, that to her
All matter else seemes weake: she cannot loue,
Nor take no shape nor proiect of affection,
Shee is so selfe indeared

   Vrsula. Sure I thinke so,
And therefore certainely it were not good
She knew his loue, lest she make sport at it

   Hero. Why you speake truth, I neuer yet saw man,
How wise, how noble, yong, how rarely featur'd.
But she would spell him backward: if faire fac'd,
She would sweare the gentleman should be her sister:
If blacke, why Nature drawing of an anticke,
Made a foule blot: if tall, a launce ill headed:
If low, an agot very vildlie cut:
If speaking, why a vane blowne with all windes:
If silent, why a blocke moued with none.
So turnes she euery man the wrong side out,
And neuer giues to Truth and Vertue, that
Which simplenesse and merit purchaseth

Vrsu. Sure, sure, such carping is not commendable

   Hero. No, not to be so odde, and from all fashions,
As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable,
But who dare tell her so? if I should speake,
She would mocke me into ayre, O she would laugh me
Out of my selfe, presse me to death with wit,
Therefore let Benedicke like couered fire,
Consume away in sighes, waste inwardly:
It were a better death, to die with mockes,
Which is as bad as die with tickling

Vrsu. Yet tell her of it, heare what shee will say

   Hero. No, rather I will goe to Benedicke,
And counsaile him to fight against his passion,
And truly Ile deuise some honest slanders,
To staine my cosin with, one doth not know,
How much an ill word may impoison liking

   Vrsu. O doe not doe your cosin such a wrong,
She cannot be so much without true iudgement,
Hauing so swift and excellent a wit
As she is prisde to haue, as to refuse
So rare a Gentleman as signior Benedicke

   Hero. He is the onely man of Italy,
Alwaies excepted, my deare Claudio

   Vrsu. I pray you be not angry with me, Madame,
Speaking my fancy: Signior Benedicke,
For shape, for bearing argument and valour,
Goes formost in report through Italy

Hero. Indeed he hath an excellent good name

   Vrsu. His excellence did earne it ere he had it:
When are you married Madame?
  Hero. Why euerie day to morrow, come goe in,
Ile shew thee some attires, and haue thy counsell,
Which is the best to furnish me to morrow

   Vrsu. Shee's tane I warrant you,
We haue caught her Madame?
  Hero. If it proue so, then louing goes by haps,
Some Cupid kills with arrowes, some with traps.
Enter.

  Beat. What fire is in mine eares? can this be true?
Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorne so much?
Contempt, farewell, and maiden pride, adew,
No glory liues behinde the backe of such.
And Benedicke, loue on, I will requite thee,
Taming my wilde heart to thy louing hand:
If thou dost loue, my kindnesse shall incite thee
To binde our loues vp in a holy band.
For others say thou dost deserue, and I
Beleeue it better then reportingly.
Enter.

Enter Prince, Claudio, Benedicke, and Leonato.

  Prince. I doe but stay till your marriage be consummate,
and then go I toward Arragon

   Clau. Ile bring you thither my Lord, if you'l vouchsafe
me

Prin. Nay, that would be as great a soyle in the newglosse of your marriage, as to shew a childe his new coatand forbid him to weare it, I will onely bee bold withBenedicke for his companie, for from the crowne of hishead, to the sole of his foot, he is all mirth, he hath twiceor thrice cut Cupids bow-string, and the little hang-mandare not shoot at him, he hath a heart as sound as a bell,and his tongue is the clapper, for what his heart thinkes,his tongue speakes

Bene. Gallants, I am not as I haue bin

Leo. So say I, methinkes you are sadder

Claud. I hope he be in loue

Prin. Hang him truant, there's no true drop of bloudin him to be truly toucht with loue, if he be sad, he wantsmoney

Bene. I haue the tooth-ach

Prin. Draw it

Bene. Hang it

Claud. You must hang it first, and draw it afterwards

Prin. What? sigh for the tooth-ach

Leon. Where is but a humour or a worme

Bene. Well, euery one cannot master a griefe, but heethat has it

Clau. Yet say I, he is in loue

Prin. There is no appearance of fancie in him, vnlesseit be a fancy that he hath to strange disguises, as to bee aDutchman to day, a Frenchman to morrow: vnlesse heehaue a fancy to this foolery, as it appeares hee hath, heeis no foole for fancy, as you would haue it to appearehe is

Clau. If he be not in loue with some woman, thereis no beleeuing old signes, a brushes his hat a mornings,What should that bode? Prin. Hath any man seene him at the Barbers? Clau. No, but the Barbers man hath beene seen withhim, and the olde ornament of his cheeke hath alreadiestuft tennis balls

   Leon. Indeed he lookes yonger than hee did, by the
losse of a beard

   Prin. Nay a rubs himselfe with Ciuit, can you smell
him out by that?
  Clau. That's as much as to say, the sweet youth's in
loue

Prin. The greatest note of it is his melancholy

   Clau. And when was he wont to wash his face?
  Prin. Yea, or to paint himselfe? for the which I heare
what they say of him

   Clau. Nay, but his iesting spirit, which is now crept
into a lute-string, and now gouern'd by stops

   Prin. Indeed that tels a heauy tale for him: conclude,
he is in loue

Clau. Nay, but I know who loues him

   Prince. That would I know too, I warrant one that
knowes him not

   Cla. Yes, and his ill conditions, and in despight of all,
dies for him

Prin. Shee shall be buried with her face vpwards

Bene. Yet is this no charme for the tooth-ake, old signior,walke aside with mee, I haue studied eight or ninewise words to speake to you, which these hobby-horsesmust not heare

Prin. For my life to breake with him about Beatrice

Clau. 'Tis euen so, Hero and Margaret haue by thisplayed their parts with Beatrice, and then the two Beareswill not bite one another when they meete.Enter Iohn the Bastard.

Bast. My Lord and brother, God saue you

Prin. Good den brother

Bast. If your leisure seru'd, I would speake with you

   Prince. In priuate?
  Bast. If it please you, yet Count Claudio may heare,
for what I would speake of, concernes him

   Prin. What's the matter?
  Basta. Meanes your Lordship to be married to morrow?
  Prin. You know he does

Bast. I know not that when he knowes what I know

Clau. If there be any impediment, I pray you discouerit

Bast. You may thinke I loue you not, let that appearehereafter, and ayme better at me by that I now will manifest,for my brother (I thinke, he holds you well, and indearenesse of heart) hath holpe to effect your ensuingmarriage: surely sute ill spent, and labour ill bestowed

   Prin. Why, what's the matter?
  Bastard. I came hither to tell you, and circumstances
shortned, (for she hath beene too long a talking of) the
Lady is disloyall

   Clau. Who Hero?
  Bast. Euen shee, Leonatoes Hero, your Hero, euery
mans Hero

Clau. Disloyall? Bast. The word is too good to paint out her wickednesse,I could say she were worse, thinke you of a worsetitle, and I will fit her to it: wonder not till further warrant:goe but with mee to night, you shal see her chamberwindow entred, euen the night before her weddingday, if you loue her, then to morrow wed her: But itwould better fit your honour to change your minde

   Claud. May this be so?
  Princ. I will not thinke it

Bast. If you dare not trust that you see, confesse notthat you know: if you will follow mee, I will shew youenough, and when you haue seene more, & heard more,proceed accordingly

Clau. If I see any thing to night, why I should notmarry her to morrow in the congregation, where I sholdwedde, there will I shame her

Prin. And as I wooed for thee to obtaine her, I willioyne with thee to disgrace her

Bast. I will disparage her no farther, till you are mywitnesses, beare it coldly but till night, and let the issueshew it selfe

   Prin. O day vntowardly turned!
  Claud. O mischiefe strangelie thwarting!
  Bastard. O plague right well preuented! so will you
say, when you haue seene the sequele.
Enter.

Enter Dogbery and his compartner with the watch.

  Dog. Are you good men and true?
  Verg. Yea, or else it were pitty but they should suffer
saluation body and soule

Dogb. Nay, that were a punishment too good forthem, if they should haue any allegiance in them, beingchosen for the Princes watch

   Verges. Well, giue them their charge, neighbour
Dogbery

   Dog. First, who thinke you the most desartlesse man
to be Constable

   Watch.1. Hugh Ote-cake sir, or George Sea-coale, for
they can write and reade

Dogb. Come hither neighbour Sea-coale, God hathblest you with a good name: to be a wel-fauoured man,is the gift of Fortune, but to write and reade, comes byNature

Watch 2. Both which Master Constable Dogb. You haue: I knew it would be your answere:well, for your fauour sir, why giue God thankes, & makeno boast of it, and for your writing and reading, let thatappeare when there is no need of such vanity, you arethought heere to be the most senslesse and fit man for theConstable of the watch: therefore beare you the lanthorne:this is your charge: You shall comprehend allvagrom men, you are to bid any man stand in the Princesname

   Watch 2. How if a will not stand?
  Dogb. Why then take no note of him, but let him go,
and presently call the rest of the Watch together, and
thanke God you are ridde of a knaue

   Verges. If he will not stand when he is bidden, hee is
none of the Princes subiects

Dogb. True, and they are to meddle with none butthe Princes subiects: you shall also make no noise in thestreetes: for, for the Watch to babble and talke, is mosttollerable, and not to be indured

Watch. We will rather sleepe than talke, wee knowwhat belongs to a Watch

Dog. Why you speake like an ancient and most quietwatchman, for I cannot see how sleeping should offend:only haue a care that your bills be not stolne: well, youare to call at all the Alehouses, and bid them that aredrunke get them to bed

   Watch. How if they will not?
  Dogb. Why then let them alone till they are sober, if
they make you not then the better answere, you may say,
they are not the men you tooke them for

Watch. Well sir, Dogb. If you meet a theefe, you may suspect him, byvertue of your office, to be no true man: and for suchkinde of men, the lesse you meddle or make with them,why the more is for your honesty

Watch. If wee know him to be a thiefe, shall wee notlay hands on him

Dogb. Truly by your office you may, but I think theythat touch pitch will be defil'd: the most peaceable wayfor you, if you doe take a theefe, is, to let him shew himselfewhat he is, and steale out of your company

Ver. You haue bin alwaies cal'd a merciful ma[n] partner

   Dog. Truely I would not hang a dog by my will, much
more a man who hath anie honestie in him

   Verges. If you heare a child crie in the night you must
call to the nurse, and bid her still it

Watch. How if the nurse be asleepe and will notheare vs? Dog. Why then depart in peace, and let the childewake her with crying, for the ewe that will not heareher Lambe when it baes, will neuer answere a calfe whenhe bleates

Verges. 'Tis verie true

Dog. This is the end of the charge: you constableare to present the Princes owne person, if you meete thePrince in the night, you may staie him

Verges. Nay birladie that I thinke a cannot

Dog. Fiue shillings to one on't with anie man thatknowes the Statutes, he may staie him, marrie not withoutthe prince be willing, for indeed the watch ought tooffend no man, and it is an offence to stay a man againsthis will

Verges. Birladie I thinke it be so

Dog. Ha, ah ha, well masters good night, and there beanie matter of weight chances, call vp me, keepe yourfellowes counsailes, and your owne, and good night,come neighbour

Watch. Well masters, we heare our charge, let vs gosit here vpon the Church bench till two, and then all tobed

Dog. One word more, honest neighbors. I pray youwatch about signior Leonatoes doore, for the wedding beingthere to morrow, there is a great coyle to night,adiew, be vigitant I beseech you.

Exeunt.

Enter Borachio and Conrade.

  Bor. What, Conrade?
  Watch. Peace, stir not

Bor. Conrade I say

Con. Here man, I am at thy elbow

   Bor. Mas and my elbow itcht, I thought there would
a scabbe follow

   Con. I will owe thee an answere for that, and now
forward with thy tale

Bor. Stand thee close then vnder this penthouse, for itdrissels raine, and I will, like a true drunkard, vtter all tothee

Watch. Some treason masters, yet stand close

Bor. Therefore know, I haue earned of Don Iohn athousand Ducates

Con. Is it possible that anie villanie should be so deare? Bor. Thou should'st rather aske if it were possible anievillanie should be so rich? for when rich villains haueneede of poore ones, poore ones may make what pricethey will

Con. I wonder at it

Bor. That shewes thou art vnconfirm'd, thou knowestthat the fashion of a doublet, or a hat, or a cloake, is nothingto a man

Con. Yes, it is apparell

Bor. I meane the fashion

Con. Yes the fashion is the fashion

Bor. Tush, I may as well say the foole's the foole, butseest thou not what a deformed theefe this fashion is? Watch. I know that deformed, a has bin a vile theefe,this vii. yeares, a goes vp and downe like a gentle man:I remember his name

   Bor. Did'st thou not heare some bodie?
  Con. No, 'twas the vaine on the house

Bor. Seest thou not (I say) what a deformed thiefethis fashion is, how giddily a turnes about all the Hotblouds,betweene, foureteene & fiue & thirtie, sometimesfashioning them like Pharaoes souldiours in the rechiepainting, sometime like god Bels priests in the oldChurch window, sometime like the shauen Hercules inthe smircht worm-eaten tapestrie, where his cod-peeceseemes as massie as his club

Con. All this I see, and see that the fashion weares outmore apparrell then the man; but art not thou thy selfegiddie with the fashion too that thou hast shifted out ofthy tale into telling me of the fashion? Bor. Not so neither, but know that I haue to nightwooed Margaret the Lady Heroes gentle-woman, by thename of Hero, she leanes me out at her mistris chamberwindow,bids me a thousand times good night: I tellthis tale vildly. I should first tell thee how the PrinceClaudio and my Master planted, and placed, and possessedby my Master Don Iohn, saw a far off in the Orchard thisamiable incounter

Con. And thought thy Margaret was Hero? Bor. Two of them did, the Prince and Claudio, but thediuell my Master knew she was Margaret and partly byhis oathes, which first possest them, partly by the darkenight which did deceiue them, but chiefely, by my villanie,which did confirme any slander that Don Iohn hadmade, away went Claudio enraged, swore hee wouldmeete her as he was apointed next morning at the Temple,and there, before the whole congregation shame herwith what he saw o're night, and send her home againewithout a husband

Watch.1. We charge you in the Princes name stand

Watch.2. Call vp the right master Constable, we hauehere recouered the most dangerous peece of lechery, thateuer was knowne in the Common-wealth

Watch.1. And one Deformed is one of them, I knowhim, a weares a locke

Conr. Masters, masters

   Watch.2. Youle be made bring deformed forth I warrant
you,
  Conr. Masters, neuer speake, we charge you, let vs obey
you to goe with vs

   Bor. We are like to proue a goodly commoditie, being
taken vp of these mens bils

   Conr. A commoditie in question I warrant you, come
weele obey you.

Exeunt.

Enter Hero, and Margaret, and Vrsula.

Hero. Good Vrsula wake my cosin Beatrice, and desireher to rise

Vrsu. I will Lady

Her. And bid her come hither

Vrs. Well

Mar. Troth I thinke your other rebato were better

Hero. No pray thee good Meg, Ile weare this

   Marg. By my troth's not so good, and I warrant your
cosin will say so

   Hero. My cosin's a foole, and thou art another, ile
weare none but this

Mar. I like the new tire within excellently, if thehaire were a thought browner: and your gown's a mostrare fashion yfaith, I saw the Dutchesse of Millainesgowne that they praise so

Hero. O that exceedes they say

Mar. By my troth's but a night-gowne in respect ofyours, cloth a gold and cuts, and lac'd with siluer, set withpearles, downe sleeues, side sleeues, and skirts, round vnderbornwith a blewish tinsel, but for a fine queint gracefulland excellent fashion, yours is worth ten on't

   Hero. God giue mee ioy to weare it, for my heart is
exceeding heauy

   Marga. 'Twill be heauier soone, by the waight of a
man

Hero. Fie vpon thee, art not asham'd? Marg. Of what Lady? of speaking honourably? isnot marriage honourable in a beggar? is not your Lordhonourable without marriage? I thinke you would haueme say, sauing your reuerence a husband: and bad thinkingdoe not wrest true speaking, Ile offend no body, isthere any harme in the heauier for a husband? none Ithinke, and it be the right husband, and the right wife,otherwise 'tis light and not heauy, aske my Lady Beatriceelse, here she comes.Enter Beatrice.

Hero. Good morrow Coze

Beat. Good morrow sweet Hero

   Hero. Why how now? do you speake in the sick tune?
  Beat. I am out of all other tune, me thinkes

   Mar. Claps into Light a loue, (that goes without a
burden,) do you sing it and Ile dance it

Beat. Ye Light aloue with your heeles, then if yourhusband haue stables enough, you'll looke he shall lackeno barnes

   Mar. O illegitimate construction! I scorne that with
my heeles

   Beat. 'Tis almost fiue a clocke cosin, 'tis time you
were ready, by my troth I am exceeding ill, hey ho

   Mar. For a hauke, a horse, or a husband?
  Beat. For the letter that begins them all, H

   Mar. Well, and you be not turn'd Turke, there's no
more sayling by the starre

   Beat. What meanes the foole trow?
  Mar. Nothing I, but God send euery one their harts
desire

   Hero. These gloues the Count sent mee, they are an
excellent perfume

Beat. I am stuft cosin, I cannot smell

   Mar. A maid and stuft! there's goodly catching of
colde

   Beat. O God helpe me, God help me, how long haue
you profest apprehension?
  Mar. Euer since you left it, doth not my wit become
me rarely?
  Beat. It is not seene enough, you should weare it in
your cap, by my troth I am sicke

   Mar. Get you some of this distill'd carduus benedictus
and lay it to your heart, it is the onely thing for a qualm

Hero. There thou prick'st her with a thissell

Beat. Benedictus, why benedictus? you haue some morallin this benedictus

Mar. Morall? no by my troth, I haue no morall meaning,I meant plaine holy thissell, you may thinke perchancethat I thinke you are in loue, nay birlady I am notsuch a foole to thinke what I list, nor I list not to thinkewhat I can, nor indeed, I cannot thinke, if I would thinkemy hart out of thinking, that you are in loue, or that youwill be in loue, or that you can be in loue: yet Benedickewas such another, and now is he become a man, he sworehee would neuer marry, and yet now in despight of hisheart he eates his meat without grudging, and how youmay be conuerted I know not, but me thinkes you lookewith your eies as other women doe

Beat. What pace is this that thy tongue keepes

   Mar. Not a false gallop.
Enter Vrsula.

Vrsula. Madam, withdraw, the Prince, the Count, signiorBenedicke, Don Iohn, and all the gallants of thetowne are come to fetch you to Church

   Hero. Helpe me to dresse mee good coze, good Meg,
good Vrsula.
Enter Leonato, and the Constable, and the Headborough.

  Leonato. What would you with mee, honest neighbour?
  Const.Dog. Mary sir I would haue some confidence
with you, that decernes you nearely

   Leon. Briefe I pray you, for you see it is a busie time
with me

Const.Dog. Mary this it is sir

Headb. Yes in truth it is sir

Leon. What is it my good friends? Con.Do. Goodman Verges sir speakes a little of thematter, an old man sir, and his wits are not so blunt, asGod helpe I would desire they were, but infaith honestas the skin betweene his browes

   Head. Yes I thank God, I am as honest as any man liuing,
that is an old man, and no honester then I

   Con.Dog. Comparisons are odorous, palabras, neighbour
Verges

Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious

Con.Dog. It pleases your worship to say so, but we arethe poore Dukes officers, but truely for mine owne part,if I were as tedious as a King I could finde in my heart tobestow it all of your worship

Leon. All thy tediousnesse on me, ah? Const.Dog. Yea, and 'twere a thousand times morethan 'tis, for I heare as good exclamation on your Worshipas of any man in the Citie, and though I bee but apoore man, I am glad to heare it

Head. And so am I

Leon. I would faine know what you haue to say

Head. Marry sir our watch to night, excepting yourworships presence, haue tane a couple of as arrantknaues as any in Messina

Con.Dog. A good old man sir, hee will be talking asthey say, when the age is in, the wit is out, God helpe vs,it is a world to see: well said yfaith neighbour Verges,well, God's a good man, and two men ride of a horse,one must ride behinde, an honest soule yfaith sir, by mytroth he is, as euer broke bread, but God is to bee worshipt,all men are not alike, alas good neighbour

Leon. Indeed neighbour he comes too short of you

Con.Do. Gifts that God giues

Leon. I must leaue you

Con.Dog. One word sir, our watch sir haue indeedecomprehended two aspitious persons, & we would hauethem this morning examined before your worship

Leon. Take their examination your selfe, and bring itme, I am now in great haste, as may appeare vnto you

Const. It shall be suffigance

   Leon. Drinke some wine ere you goe: fare you well.
Enter.

  Messenger. My Lord, they stay for you to giue your
daughter to her husband

Leon. Ile wait vpon them, I am ready

Dogb. Goe good partner, goe get you to Francis Seacoale,bid him bring his pen and inkehorne to the Gaole:we are now to examine those men

Verges. And we must doe it wisely

Dogb. Wee will spare for no witte I warrant you:heere's that shall driue some to a non-come, onlyget the learned writer to set downe our excommunication,and meet me at the Iaile.

Exeunt.

Actus Quartus.

Enter Prince, Bastard, Leonato, Frier, Claudio, Benedicke, Hero,
and
Beatrice.

Leonato. Come Frier Francis, be briefe, onely to theplaine forme of marriage, and you shal recount their particularduties afterwards

Fran. You come hither, my Lord, to marry this Lady

Clau. No

   Leo. To be married to her: Frier, you come to marrie
her

   Frier. Lady, you come hither to be married to this
Count

Hero. I doe

Frier. If either of you know any inward impedimentwhy you should not be conioyned, I charge you on yoursoules to vtter it

   Claud. Know you anie, Hero?
  Hero. None my Lord

   Frier. Know you anie, Count?
  Leon. I dare make his answer, None

   Clau. O what men dare do! what men may do! what
men daily do!
  Bene. How now! interiections? why then, some be
of laughing, as ha, ha, he

   Clau. Stand thee by Frier, father, by your leaue,
Will you with free and vnconstrained soule
Giue me this maid your daughter?
  Leon. As freely sonne as God did giue her me

   Cla. And what haue I to giue you back, whose worth
May counterpoise this rich and precious gift?
  Prin. Nothing, vnlesse you render her againe

   Clau. Sweet Prince, you learn me noble thankfulnes:
There Leonato, take her backe againe,
Giue not this rotten Orenge to your friend,
Shee's but the signe and semblance of her honour:
Behold how like a maid she blushes heere!
O what authoritie and shew of truth
Can cunning sinne couer it selfe withall!
Comes not that bloud, as modest euidence,
To witnesse simple Vertue? would you not sweare
All you that see her, that she were a maide,
By these exterior shewes? But she is none:
She knowes the heat of a luxurious bed:
Her blush is guiltinesse, not modestie

   Leonato. What doe you meane, my Lord?
  Clau. Not to be married,
Not to knit my soule to an approued wanton

   Leon. Deere my Lord, if you in your owne proofe,
Haue vanquisht the resistance of her youth,
And made defeat of her virginitie

   Clau. I know what you would say: if I haue knowne
(her,
You will say, she did imbrace me as a husband,
And so extenuate the forehand sinne: No Leonato,
I neuer tempted her with word too large,
But as a brother to his sister, shewed
Bashfull sinceritie and comely loue

   Hero. And seem'd I euer otherwise to you?
  Clau. Out on thee seeming, I will write against it,
You seeme to me as Diane in her Orbe,
As chaste as is the budde ere it be blowne:
But you are more intemperate in your blood,
Than Venus, or those pampred animalls,
That rage in sauage sensualitie

   Hero. Is my Lord well, that he doth speake so wide?
  Leon. Sweete Prince, why speake not you?
  Prin. What should I speake?
I stand dishonour'd that haue gone about,
To linke my deare friend to a common stale

   Leon. Are these things spoken, or doe I but dreame?
  Bast. Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true

Bene. This lookes not like a nuptiall

   Hero. True, O God!
  Clau. Leonato, stand I here?
Is this the Prince? is this the Princes brother?
Is this face Heroes? are our eies our owne?
  Leon. All this is so, but what of this my Lord?
  Clau. Let me but moue one question to your daughter,
And by that fatherly and kindly power,
That you haue in her, bid her answer truly

Leo. I charge thee doe, as thou art my childe

   Hero. O God defend me how am I beset,
What kinde of catechizing call you this?
  Clau. To make you answer truly to your name

   Hero. Is it not Hero? who can blot that name
With any iust reproach?
  Claud. Marry that can Hero,
Hero it selfe can blot out Heroes vertue.
What man was he, talkt with you yesternight,
Out at your window betwixt twelue and one?
Now if you are a maid, answer to this

Hero. I talkt with no man at that howre my Lord

   Prince. Why then you are no maiden. Leonato,
I am sorry you must heare: vpon mine honor,
My selfe, my brother, and this grieued Count
Did see her, heare her, at that howre last night,
Talke with a ruffian at her chamber window,
Who hath indeed most like a liberall villaine,
Confest the vile encounters they haue had
A thousand times in secret

   Iohn. Fie, fie, they are not to be named my Lord,
Not to be spoken of,
There is not chastitie enough in language,
Without offence to vtter them: thus pretty Lady
I am sorry for thy much misgouernment

   Claud. O Hero! what a Hero hadst thou beene
If halfe thy outward graces had beene placed
About thy thoughts and counsailes of thy heart?
But fare thee well, most foule, most faire, farewell
Thou pure impiety, and impious puritie,
For thee Ile locke vp all the gates of Loue,
And on my eie-lids shall Coniecture hang,
To turne all beauty into thoughts of harme,
And neuer shall it more be gracious

   Leon. Hath no mans dagger here a point for me?
  Beat. Why how now cosin, wherfore sink you down?
  Bast. Come, let vs go: these things come thus to light,
Smother her spirits vp

   Bene. How doth the Lady?
  Beat. Dead I thinke, helpe vncle,
Hero, why Hero, Vncle, Signor Benedicke, Frier

   Leonato. O Fate! take not away thy heauy hand,
Death is the fairest couer for her shame
That may be wisht for

   Beatr. How now cosin Hero?
  Fri. Haue comfort Ladie

   Leon. Dost thou looke vp?
  Frier. Yea, wherefore should she not?
  Leon. Wherfore? Why doth not euery earthly thing
Cry shame vpon her? Could she heere denie
The storie that is printed in her blood?
Do not liue Hero, do not ope thine eyes:
For did I thinke thou wouldst not quickly die,
Thought I thy spirits were stronger then thy shames,
My selfe would on the reward of reproaches
Strike at thy life. Grieu'd I, I had but one?
Chid I, for that at frugal Natures frame?
O one too much by thee: why had I one?
Why euer was't thou louelie in my eies?
Why had I not with charitable hand
Tooke vp a beggars issue at my gates,
Who smeered thus, and mir'd with infamie,
I might haue said, no part of it is mine:
This shame deriues it selfe from vnknowne loines,
But mine, and mine I lou'd, and mine I prais'd,
And mine that I was proud on mine so much,
That I my selfe, was to my selfe not mine:
Valewing of her, why she, O she is falne
Into a pit of Inke, that the wide sea
Hath drops too few to wash her cleane againe,
And salt too little, which may season giue
To her foule tainted flesh

   Ben. Sir, sir, be patient: for my part, I am so attired
in wonder, I know not what to say

Bea. O on my soule my cosin is belied

   Ben. Ladie, were you her bedfellow last night?
  Bea. No, truly: not although vntill last night,
I haue this tweluemonth bin her bedfellow

   Leon. Confirm'd, confirm'd, O that is stronger made
Which was before barr'd vp with ribs of iron.
Would the Princes lie, and Claudio lie,
Who lou'd her so, that speaking of her foulnesse,
Wash'd it with teares? Hence from her, let her die

   Fri. Heare me a little, for I haue onely bene silent so
long, and giuen way vnto this course of fortune, by noting
of the Ladie, I haue markt.
A thousand blushing apparitions,
To start into her face, a thousand innocent shames,
In Angel whitenesse beare away those blushes,
And in her eie there hath appear'd a fire
To burne the errors that these Princes hold
Against her maiden truth. Call me a foole,
Trust not my reading, nor my obseruations,
Which with experimental seale doth warrant
The tenure of my booke: trust not my age,
My reuerence, calling, nor diuinitie,
If this sweet Ladie lye not guiltlesse heere,
Vnder some biting error

   Leo. Friar, it cannot be:
Thou seest that all the Grace that she hath left,
Is, that she wil not adde to her damnation,
A sinne of periury, she not denies it:
Why seek'st thou then to couer with excuse,
That which appeares in proper nakednesse?
  Fri. Ladie, what man is he you are accus'd of?
  Hero. They know that do accuse me, I know none:
If I know more of any man aliue
Then that which maiden modestie doth warrant,
Let all my sinnes lacke mercy. O my Father,
Proue you that any man with me conuerst,
At houres vnmeete, or that I yesternight
Maintain'd the change of words with any creature,
Refuse me, hate me, torture me to death

Fri. There is some strange misprision in the Princes

   Ben. Two of them haue the verie bent of honor,
And if their wisedomes be misled in this:
The practise of it liues in Iohn the bastard,
Whose spirits toile in frame of villanies

   Leo. I know not: if they speake but truth of her,
These hands shall teare her: If they wrong her honour,
The proudest of them shall wel heare of it.
Time hath not yet so dried this bloud of mine,
Nor age so eate vp my inuention,
Nor Fortune made such hauocke of my meanes,
Nor my bad life reft me so much of friends,
But they shall finde, awak'd in such a kinde,
Both strength of limbe, and policie of minde,
Ability in meanes, and choise of friends,
To quit me of them throughly

   Fri. Pause awhile:
And let my counsell sway you in this case,
Your daughter heere the Princesse (left for dead)
Let her awhile be secretly kept in,
And publish it, that she is dead indeed:
Maintaine a mourning ostentation,
And on your Families old monument,
Hang mournfull Epitaphes, and do all rites,
That appertaine vnto a buriall

   Leon. What shall become of this? What wil this do?
  Fri. Marry this wel carried, shall on her behalfe,
Change slander to remorse, that is some good,
But not for that dreame I on this strange course,
But on this trauaile looke for greater birth:
She dying, as it must be so maintain'd,
Vpon the instant that she was accus'd,
Shal be lamented, pittied, and excus'd
Of euery hearer: for it so fals out,
That what we haue, we prize not to the worth,
Whiles we enioy it; but being lack'd and lost,
Why then we racke the value, then we finde
The vertue that possession would not shew vs
Whiles it was ours, so will it fare with Claudio:
When he shal heare she dyed vpon his words,
Th' Idea of her life shal sweetly creepe
Into his study of imagination.
And euery louely Organ of her life,
Shall come apparel'd in more precious habite:
More mouing delicate, and ful of life,
Into the eye and prospect of his soule
Then when she liu'd indeed: then shal he mourne,
If euer Loue had interest in his Liuer,
And wish he had not so accused her:
No, though he thought his accusation true:
Let this be so, and doubt not but successe
Wil fashion the euent in better shape,
Then I can lay it downe in likelihood.
But if all ayme but this be leuelld false,
The supposition of the Ladies death,
Will quench the wonder of her infamie.
And if it sort not well, you may conceale her
As best befits her wounded reputation,
In some reclusiue and religious life,
Out of all eyes, tongues, mindes and iniuries

   Bene. Signior Leonato, let the Frier aduise you,
And though you know my inwardnesse and loue
Is very much vnto the Prince and Claudio.
Yet, by mine honor, I will deale in this,
As secretly and iustlie, as your soule
Should with your bodie

   Leon. Being that I flow in greefe,
The smallest twine may lead me

   Frier. 'Tis well consented, presently away,
For to strange sores, strangely they straine the cure,
Come Lady, die to liue, this wedding day
Perhaps is but prolong'd, haue patience & endure.
Enter.

  Bene. Lady Beatrice, haue you wept all this while?
  Beat. Yea, and I will weepe a while longer

Bene. I will not desire that

Beat. You haue no reason, I doe it freely

Bene. Surelie I do beleeue your fair cosin is wrong'd

   Beat. Ah, how much might the man deserue of mee
that would right her!
  Bene. Is there any way to shew such friendship?
  Beat. A verie euen way, but no such friend

   Bene. May a man doe it?
  Beat. It is a mans office, but not yours

Bene. I doe loue nothing in the world so well as you,is not that strange? Beat. As strange as the thing I know not, it were aspossible for me to say, I loued nothing so well as you, butbeleeue me not, and yet I lie not, I confesse nothing, norI deny nothing, I am sorry for my cousin

Bene. By my sword Beatrice thou lou'st me

Beat. Doe not sweare by it and eat it

   Bene. I will sweare by it that you loue mee, and I will
make him eat it that sayes I loue not you

   Beat. Will you not eat your word?
  Bene. With no sawce that can be deuised to it, I protest
I loue thee

Beat. Why then God forgiue me

   Bene. What offence sweet Beatrice?
  Beat. You haue stayed me in a happy howre, I was about
to protest I loued you

Bene. And doe it with all thy heart

Beat. I loue you with so much of my heart, that noneis left to protest

Bened. Come, bid me doe any thing for thee

Beat. Kill Claudio

Bene. Ha, not for the wide world

Beat. You kill me to denie, farewell

Bene. Tarrie sweet Beatrice

Beat. I am gone, though I am heere, there is no louein you, nay I pray you let me goe

Bene. Beatrice

Beat. Infaith I will goe

Bene. Wee'll be friends first

Beat. You dare easier be friends with mee, than fightwith mine enemy

Bene. Is Claudio thine enemie? Beat. Is a not approued in the height a villaine, thathath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? Othat I were a man! what, beare her in hand vntill theycome to take hands, and then with publike accusationvncouered slander, vnmittigated rancour? O God that Iwere a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place

Bene. Heare me Beatrice

Beat. Talke with a man out at a window, a propersaying

Bene. Nay but Beatrice

Beat. Sweet Hero, she is wrong'd, shee is slandered,she is vndone

Bene. Beat? Beat. Princes and Counties! surelie a Princely testimonie,a goodly Count, Comfect, a sweet Gallant surelie,O that I were a man for his sake! or that I had anyfriend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is meltedinto cursies, valour into complement, and men areonelie turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is nowas valiant as Hercules, that only tells a lie, and sweares it:I cannot be a man with wishing, therfore I will die a womanwith grieuing

Bene. Tarry good Beatrice, by this hand I loue thee

   Beat. Vse it for my loue some other way then swearing
by it

   Bened. Thinke you in your soule the Count Claudio
hath wrong'd Hero?
  Beat. Yea, as sure as I haue a thought, or a soule

Bene. Enough, I am engagde, I will challenge him, Iwill kisse your hand, and so leaue you: by this hand Claudioshall render me a deere account: as you heare of me,so thinke of me: goe comfort your coosin, I must say sheis dead, and so farewell.Enter the Constables, Borachio, and the Towne Clerke in gownes.

  Keeper. Is our whole dissembly appeard?
  Cowley. O a stoole and a cushion for the Sexton

   Sexton. Which be the malefactors?
  Andrew. Marry that am I, and my partner

   Cowley. Nay that's certaine, wee haue the exhibition
to examine

   Sexton. But which are the offenders that are to be examined,
let them come before master Constable

   Kemp. Yea marry, let them come before mee, what is
your name, friend?
  Bor. Borachio

Kem. Pray write downe Borachio. Yours sirra

Con. I am a Gentleman sir, and my name is Conrade

Kee. Write downe Master gentleman Conrade: maisters,doe you serue God: maisters, it is proued alreadiethat you are little better than false knaues, and it will goeneere to be thought so shortly, how answer you for yourselues? Con. Marry sir, we say we are none

Kemp. A maruellous witty fellow I assure you, but Iwill goe about with him: come you hither sirra, a wordin your eare sir, I say to you, it is thought you are falseknaues

Bor. Sir, I say to you, we are none

   Kemp. Well, stand aside, 'fore God they are both in
a tale: haue you writ downe that they are none?
  Sext. Master Constable, you goe not the way to examine,
you must call forth the watch that are their accusers

Kemp. Yea marry, that's the eftest way, let the watchcome forth: masters, I charge you in the Princes name,accuse these men

   Watch 1. This man said sir, that Don Iohn the Princes
brother was a villaine

   Kemp. Write down, Prince Iohn a villaine: why this
is flat periurie, to call a Princes brother villaine

Bora. Master Constable

   Kemp. Pray thee fellow peace, I do not like thy looke
I promise thee

   Sexton. What heard you him say else?
  Watch 2. Mary that he had receiued a thousand Dukates
of Don Iohn, for accusing the Lady Hero wrongfully

Kemp. Flat Burglarie as euer was committed

Const. Yea by th' masse that it is

   Sexton. What else fellow?
  Watch 1. And that Count Claudio did meane vpon his
words, to disgrace Hero before the whole assembly, and
not marry her

   Kemp. O villaine! thou wilt be condemn'd into euerlasting
redemption for this

   Sexton. What else?
  Watch. This is all

Sexton. And this is more masters then you can deny,Prince Iohn is this morning secretly stolne away: Herowas in this manner accus'd, in this very manner refus'd,and vpon the griefe of this sodainely died: Master Constable,let these men be bound, and brought to Leonato,I will goe before, and shew him their examination

Const. Come, let them be opinion'd

Sex. Let them be in the hands of Coxcombe

Kem. Gods my life, where's the Sexton? let him writedowne the Princes Officer Coxcombe: come, binde themthou naughty varlet

Couley. Away, you are an asse, you are an asse

Kemp. Dost thou not suspect my place? dost thou notsuspect my yeeres? O that hee were heere to write meedowne an asse! but masters, remember that I am an asse:though it be not written down, yet forget not y I am anasse: No thou villaine, y art full of piety as shall be prou'dvpon thee by good witnesse, I am a wise fellow, andwhich is more, an officer, and which is more, a houshoulder,and which is more, as pretty a peece of flesh as any inMessina, and one that knowes the Law, goe to, & a richfellow enough, goe to, and a fellow that hath had losses,and one that hath two gownes, and euery thing handsomeabout him: bring him away: O that I had been writdowne an asse!Enter.

Actus Quintus.

Enter Leonato and his brother.

  Brother. If you goe on thus, you will kill your selfe,
And 'tis not wisedome thus to second griefe,
Against your selfe

   Leon. I pray thee cease thy counsaile,
Which falls into mine eares as profitlesse,
As water in a siue: giue not me counsaile,
Nor let no comfort delight mine eare,
But such a one whose wrongs doth sute with mine.
Bring me a father that so lou'd his childe,
Whose ioy of her is ouer-whelmed like mine,
And bid him speake of patience,
Measure his woe the length and bredth of mine,
And let it answere euery straine for straine,
As thus for thus, and such a griefe for such,
In euery lineament, branch, shape, and forme:
If such a one will smile and stroke his beard,
And sorrow, wagge, crie hem, when he should grone,
Patch griefe with prouerbs, make misfortune drunke,
With candle-wasters: bring him yet to me,
And I of him will gather patience:
But there is no such man, for brother, men
Can counsaile, and speake comfort to that griefe,
Which they themselues not feele, but tasting it,
Their counsaile turnes to passion, which before,
Would giue preceptiall medicine to rage,
Fetter strong madnesse in a silken thred,
Charme ache with ayre, and agony with words,
No, no, 'tis all mens office, to speake patience
To those that wring vnder the load of sorrow:
But no mans vertue nor sufficiencie
To be so morall, when he shall endure
The like himselfe: therefore giue me no counsaile,
My griefs cry lowder then aduertisement

Broth. Therein do men from children nothing differ

   Leonato. I pray thee peace, I will be flesh and bloud,
For there was neuer yet Philosopher,
That could endure the tooth-ake patiently,
How euer they haue writ the stile of gods,
And made a push at chance and sufferance

   Brother. Yet bend not all the harme vpon your selfe,
Make those that doe offend you, suffer too

   Leon. There thou speak'st reason, nay I will doe so,
My soule doth tell me, Hero is belied,
And that shall Claudio know, so shall the Prince,
And all of them that thus dishonour her.
Enter Prince and Claudio.

Brot. Here comes the Prince and Claudio hastily

Prin. Good den, good den

Clau. Good day to both of you

   Leon. Heare you my Lords?
  Prin. We haue some haste Leonato

   Leo. Some haste my Lord! wel, fareyouwel my Lord,
Are you so hasty now? well, all is one

Prin. Nay, do not quarrel with vs, good old man

   Brot. If he could rite himselfe with quarrelling,
Some of vs would lie low

   Claud. Who wrongs him?
  Leon. Marry y dost wrong me, thou dissembler, thou:
Nay, neuer lay thy hand vpon thy sword,
I feare thee not

   Claud. Marry beshrew my hand,
If it should giue your age such cause of feare,
Infaith my hand meant nothing to my sword

   Leonato. Tush, tush, man, neuer fleere and iest at me,
I speake not like a dotard, nor a foole,
As vnder priuiledge of age to bragge,
What I haue done being yong, or what would doe,
Were I not old, know Claudio to thy head,
Thou hast so wrong'd my innocent childe and me,
That I am forc'd to lay my reuerence by,
And with grey haires and bruise of many daies,
Doe challenge thee to triall of a man,
I say thou hast belied mine innocent childe.
Thy slander hath gone through and through her heart,
And she lies buried with her ancestors:
O in a tombe where neuer scandall slept,
Saue this of hers, fram'd by thy villanie

   Claud. My villany?
  Leonato. Thine Claudio, thine I say

Prin. You say not right old man

   Leon. My Lord, my Lord,
Ile proue it on his body if he dare,
Despight his nice fence, and his actiue practise,
His Maie of youth, and bloome of lustihood

Claud. Away, I will not haue to do with you

   Leo. Canst thou so daffe me? thou hast kild my child,
If thou kilst me, boy, thou shalt kill a man

   Bro. He shall kill two of vs, and men indeed,
But that's no matter, let him kill one first:
Win me and weare me, let him answere me,
Come follow me boy, come sir boy, come follow me
Sir boy, ile whip you from your foyning fence,
Nay, as I am a gentleman, I will

Leon. Brother

   Brot. Content your self, God knows I lou'd my neece,
And she is dead, slander'd to death by villaines,
That dare as well answer a man indeede,
As I dare take a serpent by the tongue.
Boyes, apes, braggarts, Iackes, milke-sops

Leon. Brother Anthony

   Brot. Hold you content, what man? I know them, yea
And what they weigh, euen to the vtmost scruple,
Scambling, out-facing, fashion-monging boyes,
That lye, and cog, and flout, depraue, and slander,
Goe antiquely, and show outward hidiousnesse,
And speake of halfe a dozen dang'rous words,
How they might hurt their enemies, if they durst.
And this is all

Leon. But brother Anthonie

   Ant. Come, 'tis no matter,
Do not you meddle, let me deale in this

   Pri. Gentlemen both, we will not wake your patience
My heart is sorry for your daughters death:
But on my honour she was charg'd with nothing
But what was true, and very full of proofe

Leon. My Lord, my Lord

   Prin. I will not heare you.
Enter Benedicke.

Leo. No come brother, away, I will be heard.

Exeunt. ambo.

Bro. And shall, or some of vs will smart for it

Prin. See, see, here comes the man we went to seeke

   Clau. Now signior, what newes?
  Ben. Good day my Lord

   Prin. Welcome signior, you are almost come to part
almost a fray

   Clau. Wee had likt to haue had our two noses snapt
off with two old men without teeth

Prin. Leonato and his brother, what think'st thou? hadwee fought, I doubt we should haue beene too yong forthem

   Ben. In a false quarrell there is no true valour, I came
to seeke you both

   Clau. We haue beene vp and downe to seeke thee, for
we are high proofe melancholly, and would faine haue it
beaten away, wilt thou vse thy wit?
  Ben. It is in my scabberd, shall I draw it?
  Prin. Doest thou weare thy wit by thy side?
  Clau. Neuer any did so, though verie many haue been
beside their wit, I will bid thee drawe, as we do the minstrels,
draw to pleasure vs

   Prin. As I am an honest man he lookes pale, art thou
sicke, or angrie?
  Clau. What, courage man: what though care kil'd a
cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care

   Ben. Sir, I shall meete your wit in the careere, and
you charge it against me, I pray you chuse another subiect

   Clau. Nay then giue him another staffe, this last was
broke crosse

   Prin. By this light, he changes more and more, I thinke
he be angrie indeede

Clau. If he be, he knowes how to turne his girdle

   Ben. Shall I speake a word in your eare?
  Clau. God blesse me from a challenge

Ben. You are a villaine, I iest not, I will make it goodhow you dare, with what you dare, and when you dare:do me right, or I will protest your cowardise: you hauekill'd a sweete Ladie, and her death shall fall heauie onyou, let me heare from you

   Clau. Well, I will meete you, so I may haue good
cheare

   Prin. What, a feast, a feast?
  Clau. I faith I thanke him, he hath bid me to a calues
head and a Capon, the which if I doe not carue most curiously,
say my knife's naught, shall I not finde a woodcocke
too?
  Ben. Sir, your wit ambles well, it goes easily

Prin. Ile tell thee how Beatrice prais'd thy wit the otherday: I said thou hadst a fine wit: true saies she, a finelittle one: no said I, a great wit: right saies shee, a greatgrosse one: nay said I, a good wit: iust said she, it hurtsno body: nay said I, the gentleman is wise: certaine saidshe, a wise gentleman: nay said I, he hath the tongues:that I beleeue said shee, for hee swore a thing to me onmunday night, which he forswore on tuesday morning:there's a double tongue, there's two tongues: thus didshee an howre together trans-shape thy particular vertues,yet at last she concluded with a sigh, thou wast theproprest man in Italie

Claud. For the which she wept heartily, and said sheecar'd not

Prin. Yea that she did, but yet for all that, and if sheedid not hate him deadlie, shee would loue him dearely,the old mans daughter told vs all

   Clau. All, all, and moreouer, God saw him when he
was hid in the garden

   Prin. But when shall we set the sauage Bulls hornes
on the sensible Benedicks head?
  Clau. Yea and text vnderneath, heere dwells Benedicke
the married man

Ben. Fare you well, Boy, you know my minde, I willleaue you now to your gossep-like humor, you breakeiests as braggards do their blades, which God be thankedhurt not: my Lord, for your manie courtesies I thankyou, I must discontinue your companie, your brotherthe Bastard is fled from Messina: you haue among you,kill'd a sweet and innocent Ladie: for my Lord Lackebeardthere, he and I shall meete, and till then peace bewith him

Prin. He is in earnest

Clau. In most profound earnest, and Ile warrant you,for the loue of Beatrice

Prin. And hath challeng'd thee

Clau. Most sincerely

Prin. What a prettie thing man is, when he goes in hisdoublet and hose, and leaues off his wit.Enter Constable, Conrade, and Borachio.

Clau. He is then a Giant to an Ape, but then is an Apea Doctor to such a man

Prin. But soft you, let me be, plucke vp my heart, andbe sad, did he not say my brother was fled? Const. Come you sir, if iustice cannot tame you, sheeshall nere weigh more reasons in her ballance, nay, andyou be a cursing hypocrite once, you must be lookt to

Prin. How now, two of my brothers men bound? Borachioone

Clau. Harken after their offence my Lord

Prin. Officers, what offence haue these men done? Const. Marrie sir, they haue committed false report,moreouer they haue spoken vntruths, secondarily theyare slanders, sixt and lastly, they haue belyed a Ladie,thirdly, they haue verified vniust things, and to concludethey are lying knaues

Prin. First I aske thee what they haue done, thirdlieI aske thee what's their offence, sixt and lastlie why theyare committed, and to conclude, what you lay to theircharge

Clau. Rightlie reasoned, and in his owne diuision, andby my troth there's one meaning well suted

Prin. Who haue you offended masters, that you arethus bound to your answer? this learned Constable is toocunning to be vnderstood, what's your offence? Bor. Sweete Prince, let me go no farther to mine answere:do you heare me, and let this Count kill mee: Ihaue deceiued euen your verie eies: what your wisedomescould not discouer, these shallow fooles hauebrought to light, who in the night ouerheard me confessingto this man, how Don Iohn your brother incensedme to slander the Ladie Hero, how you were broughtinto the Orchard, and saw me court Margaret in Heroesgarments, how you disgrac'd her when you shouldmarrie her: my villanie they haue vpon record, whichI had rather seale with my death, then repeate ouer tomy shame: the Ladie is dead vpon mine and my mastersfalse accusation: and briefelie, I desire nothing but thereward of a villaine

   Prin. Runs not this speech like yron through your
bloud?
  Clau. I haue drunke poison whiles he vtter'd it

   Prin. But did my Brother set thee on to this?
  Bor. Yea, and paid me richly for the practise of it

   Prin. He is compos'd and fram'd of treacherie,
And fled he is vpon this villanie

   Clau. Sweet Hero, now thy image doth appeare
In the rare semblance that I lou'd it first

Const. Come, bring away the plaintiffes, by this timeour Sexton hath reformed Signior Leonato of the matter:and masters, do not forget to specifie when time & placeshall serue, that I am an Asse

   Con.2. Here, here comes master Signior Leonato, and
the Sexton too.
Enter Leonato.

  Leon. Which is the villaine? let me see his eies,
That when I note another man like him,
I may auoide him: which of these is he?
  Bor. If you would know your wronger, looke on me

   Leon. Art thou the slaue that with thy breath
hast kild mine innocent childe?
  Bor. Yea, euen I alone

   Leo. No, not so villaine, thou beliest thy selfe,
Here stand a paire of honourable men,
A third is fled that had a hand in it:
I thanke you Princes for my daughters death,
Record it with your high and worthie deedes,
'Twas brauely done, if you bethinke you of it

   Clau. I know not how to pray your patience,
Yet I must speake, choose your reuenge your selfe,
Impose me to what penance your inuention
Can lay vpon my sinne, yet sinn'd I not,
But in mistaking

   Prin. By my soule nor I,
And yet to satisfie this good old man,
I would bend vnder anie heauie waight,
That heele enioyne me to

   Leon. I cannot bid you bid my daughter liue,
That were impossible, but I praie you both,
Possesse the people in Messina here,
How innocent she died, and if your loue
Can labour aught in sad inuention,
Hang her an epitaph vpon her toomb,
And sing it to her bones, sing it to night:
To morrow morning come you to my house,
And since you could not be my sonne in law,
Be yet my Nephew: my brother hath a daughter,
Almost the copie of my childe that's dead,
And she alone is heire to both of vs,
Giue her the right you should haue giu'n her cosin,
And so dies my reuenge

   Clau. O noble sir!
Your ouerkindnesse doth wring teares from me,
I do embrace your offer, and dispose
For henceforth of poore Claudio

   Leon. To morrow then I will expect your comming,
To night I take my leaue, this naughtie man
Shall face to face be brought to Margaret,
Who I beleeue was packt in all this wrong,
Hired to it by your brother

   Bor. No, by my soule she was not,
Nor knew not what she did when she spoke to me,
But alwaies hath bin iust and vertuous,
In anie thing that I do know by her

Const. Moreouer sir, which indeede is not vnder whiteand black, this plaintiffe here, the offendour did call meeasse, I beseech you let it be remembred in his punishment,and also the watch heard them talke of one Deformed,they say he weares a key in his eare and a lock hangingby it, and borrowes monie in Gods name, the whichhe hath vs'd so long, and neuer paied, that now men growhard-harted and will lend nothing for Gods sake: praieyou examine him vpon that point

Leon. I thanke thee for thy care and honest paines

Const. Your worship speakes like a most thankefulland reuerend youth, and I praise God for you

Leon. There's for thy paines

Const. God saue the foundation

Leon. Goe, I discharge thee of thy prisoner, and Ithanke thee

Const. I leaue an arrant knaue with your worship,which I beseech your worship to correct your selfe, forthe example of others: God keepe your worship, Iwish your worship well, God restore you to health,I humblie giue you leaue to depart, and if a merriemeeting may be wisht, God prohibite it: comeneighbour

Leon. Vntill to morrow morning, Lords, farewell.

Exeunt.

Brot. Farewell my Lords, we looke for you to morrow

Prin. We will not faile

Clau. To night ile mourne with Hero

Leon. Bring you these fellowes on, weel talke withMargaret, How her acquaintance grew with this lewdfellow.

Exeunt.

Enter Benedicke and Margaret.

Ben. Praie thee sweete Mistris Margaret, deseruewell at my hands, by helping mee to the speech of Beatrice

Mar. Will you then write me a Sonnet in praise ofmy beautie? Bene. In so high a stile Margaret, that no man liuingshall come ouer it, for in most comely truth thou deseruestit

   Mar. To haue no man come ouer me, why, shall I alwaies
keepe below staires?
  Bene. Thy wit is as quicke as the grey-hounds mouth,
it catches

   Mar. And yours, as blunt as the Fencers foiles, which
hit, but hurt not

Bene. A most manly wit Margaret, it will not hurt awoman: and so I pray thee call Beatrice, I giue thee thebucklers

Mar. Giue vs the swords, wee haue bucklers of ourowne

Bene. If you vse them Margaret, you must put in thepikes with a vice, and they are dangerous weapons forMaides

Mar. Well, I will call Beatrice to you, who I thinkehath legges.

Exit Margarite.

Ben. And therefore will come. The God of loue thatsits aboue, and knowes me, and knowes me, how pittifullI deserue. I meane in singing, but in louing, Leanderthe good swimmer, Troilous the first imploier ofpandars, and a whole booke full of these quondam carpet-mongers,whose name yet runne smoothly in the euenrode of a blanke verse, why they were neuer so truelyturned ouer and ouer as my poore selfe in loue: marrieI cannot shew it rime, I haue tried, I can finde out norime to Ladie but babie, an innocent rime: for scorne,horne, a hard rime: for schoole foole, a babling rime:verie ominous endings, no, I was not borne vnder a rimingPlannet, for I cannot wooe in festiuall tearmes:Enter Beatrice.

sweete Beatrice would'st thou come when I cal'dthee? Beat. Yea Signior, and depart when you bid me

Bene. O stay but till then

Beat. Then, is spoken: fare you well now, and yet ereI goe, let me goe with that I came, which is, with knowingwhat hath past betweene you and Claudio

Bene. Onely foule words, and thereupon I will kissethee

Beat. Foule words is but foule wind, and foule windis but foule breath, and foule breath is noisome, thereforeI will depart vnkist

Bene. Thou hast frighted the word out of his rightsence, so forcible is thy wit, but I must tell thee plainely,Claudio vndergoes my challenge, and either I must shortlyheare from him, or I will subscribe him a coward, andI pray thee now tell me, for which of my bad parts didstthou first fall in loue with me? Beat. For them all together, which maintain'd sopolitique a state of euill, that they will not admit anygood part to intermingle with them: but for which ofmy good parts did you first suffer loue for me? Bene. Suffer loue! a good epithite, I do suffer loue indeede,for I loue thee against my will, Beat. In spight of your heart I think, alas poore heart,if you spight it for my sake, I will spight it for yours, forI will neuer loue that which my friend hates

Bened. Thou and I are too wise to wooe peaceablie

Bea. It appeares not in this confession, there's not onewise man among twentie that will praise himselfe

Bene. An old, an old instance Beatrice, that liu'd inthe time of good neighbours, if a man doe not erect inthis age his owne tombe ere he dies, hee shall liue nolonger in monuments, then the Bels ring, & the Widdowweepes

Beat. And how long is that thinke you? Ben. Question, why an hower in clamour and a quarterin rhewme, therfore is it most expedient for the wise,if Don worme (his conscience) finde no impediment tothe contrarie, to be the trumpet of his owne vertues, asI am to my selfe so much for praising my selfe, who I myselfe will beare witnesse is praise worthie, and now tellme, how doth your cosin? Beat. Verie ill

   Bene. And how doe you?
  Beat. Verie ill too.
Enter Vrsula.

  Bene. Serue God, loue me, and mend, there will I leaue
you too, for here comes one in haste

Vrs. Madam, you must come to your Vncle, yondersold coile at home, it is prooued my Ladie Herohath bin falselie accusde, the Prince and Claudiomightilie abusde, and Don Iohn is the author of all, whois fled and gone: will you come presentlie? Beat. Will you go heare this newes Signior? Bene. I will liue in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be buriedin thy eies: and moreouer, I will goe with thee tothy Vncles.

Exeunt.

Enter Claudio, Prince, and three or foure with Tapers.

  Clau. Is this the monument of Leonato?
  Lord. It is my Lord.

Epitaph.

Done to death by slanderous tongues,
Was the Hero that here lies:
Death in guerdon of her wrongs,
Giues her fame which neuer dies:
So the life that dyed with shame,
Liues in death with glorious fame.
Hang thou there vpon the tombe,
Praising her when I am dombe

Clau. Now musick sound & sing your solemn hymne

Song.

Pardon goddesse of the night,
Those that slew thy virgin knight,
For the which with songs of woe,
Round about her tombe they goe:
Midnight assist our mone, helpe vs to sigh and grone.
Heauily, heauily.
Graues yawne and yeelde your dead,
Till death be vttered,
Heauenly, heauenly

Lo. Now vnto thy bones good night, yeerely will I do this right

   Prin. Good morrow masters, put your Torches out,
The wolues haue preied, and looke, the gentle day
Before the wheeles of Phoebus, round about
Dapples the drowsie East with spots of grey:
Thanks to you all, and leaue vs, fare you well

Clau. Good morrow masters, each his seuerall way

   Prin. Come let vs hence, and put on other weedes,
And then to Leonatoes we will goe

   Clau. And Hymen now with luckier issue speeds,
Then this for whom we rendred vp this woe.

Exeunt.

Enter Leonato, Bene. Marg. Vrsula, old man, Frier, Hero.

  Frier. Did I not tell you she was innocent?
  Leo. So are the Prince and Claudio who accus'd her,
Vpon the errour that you heard debated:
But Margaret was in some fault for this,
Although against her will as it appeares,
In the true course of all the question

Old. Well, I am glad that all things sort so well

   Bene. And so am I, being else by faith enforc'd
To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it

   Leo. Well daughter, and you gentlewomen all,
Withdraw into a chamber by your selues,
And when I send for you, come hither mask'd:
The Prince and Claudio promis'd by this howre
To visit me, you know your office Brother,
You must be father to your brothers daughter,
And giue her to young Claudio.

Exeunt. Ladies.

Old. Which I will doe with confirm'd countenance

Bene. Frier, I must intreat your paines, I thinke

   Frier. To doe what Signior?
  Bene. To binde me, or vndoe me, one of them:
Signior Leonato, truth it is good Signior,
Your neece regards me with an eye of fauour

Leo. That eye my daughter lent her, 'tis most true

Bene. And I doe with an eye of loue requite her

   Leo. The sight whereof I thinke you had from me,
From Claudio, and the Prince, but what's your will?
  Bened. Your answer sir is Enigmaticall,
But for my will, my will is, your good will
May stand with ours, this day to be conioyn'd,
In the state of honourable marriage,
In which (good Frier) I shall desire your helpe

Leon. My heart is with your liking

   Frier. And my helpe.
Enter Prince and Claudio, with attendants.

Prin. Good morrow to this faire assembly

   Leo. Good morrow Prince, good morrow Claudio:
We heere attend you, are you yet determin'd,
To day to marry with my brothers daughter?
  Claud. Ile hold my minde were she an Ethiope

Leo. Call her forth brother, heres the Frier ready

   Prin. Good morrow Benedicke, why what's the matter?
That you haue such a Februarie face,
So full of frost, of storme, and clowdinesse

   Claud. I thinke he thinkes vpon the sauage bull:
Tush, feare not man, wee'll tip thy hornes with gold,
And all Europa shall reioyce at thee,
As once Europa did at lusty Ioue,
When he would play the noble beast in loue

   Ben. Bull Ioue sir, had an amiable low,
And some such strange bull leapt your fathers Cow,
A got a Calfe in that same noble feat,
Much like to you, for you haue iust his bleat.
Enter brother, Hero, Beatrice, Margaret, Vrsula.

  Cla. For this I owe you: here comes other recknings.
Which is the Lady I must seize vpon?
  Leo. This same is she, and I doe giue you her

Cla. Why then she's mine, sweet let me see your face

   Leon. No that you shal not, till you take her hand,
Before this Frier, and sweare to marry her

   Clau. Giue me your hand before this holy Frier,
I am your husband if you like of me

   Hero. And when I liu'd I was your other wife,
And when you lou'd, you were my other husband

   Clau. Another Hero?
  Hero. Nothing certainer.
One Hero died, but I doe liue,
And surely as I liue, I am a maid

Prin. The former Hero, Hero that is dead

Leon. Shee died my Lord, but whiles her slander liu'd

   Frier. All this amazement can I qualifie,
When after that the holy rites are ended,
Ile tell you largely of faire Heroes death:
Meane time let wonder seeme familiar,
And to the chappell let vs presently

   Ben. Soft and faire Frier, which is Beatrice?
  Beat. I answer to that name, what is your will?
  Bene. Doe not you loue me?
  Beat. Why no, no more then reason

   Bene. Why then your Vncle, and the Prince, & Claudio,
haue beene deceiued, they swore you did

   Beat. Doe not you loue mee?
  Bene. Troth no, no more then reason

   Beat. Why then my Cosin Margaret and Vrsula
Are much deceiu'd, for they did sweare you did

Bene. They swore you were almost sicke for me

Beat. They swore you were wel-nye dead for me

   Bene. 'Tis no matter, then you doe not loue me?
  Beat. No truly, but in friendly recompence

Leon. Come Cosin, I am sure you loue the gentlema[n]

   Clau. And Ile be sworne vpon't, that he loues her,
For heres a paper written in his hand,
A halting sonnet of his owne pure braine,
Fashioned to Beatrice

   Hero. And heeres another,
Writ in my cosins hand, stolne from her pocket,
Containing her affection vnto Benedicke

Bene. A miracle, here's our owne hands against ourhearts: come I will haue thee, but by this light I takethee for pittie

Beat. I would not denie you, but by this good day, Iyeeld vpon great perswasion, & partly to saue your life,for I was told, you were in a consumption

Leon. Peace I will stop your mouth

Prin. How dost thou Benedicke the married man? Bene. Ile tell thee what Prince: a Colledge of witte-crackerscannot flout mee out of my humour, dost thouthink I care for a Satyre or an Epigram? no, if a man willbe beaten with braines, a shall weare nothing handsomeabout him: in briefe, since I do purpose to marry, I willthinke nothing to any purpose that the world can say againstit, and therefore neuer flout at me, for I haue saidagainst it: for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion:for thy part Claudio, I did thinke to haue beatenthee, but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, liue vnbruis'd,and loue my cousin

Cla. I had well hop'd y wouldst haue denied Beatrice, yI might haue cudgel'd thee out of thy single life, to makethee a double dealer, which out of questio[n] thou wilt be,if my Cousin do not looke exceeding narrowly to thee

Bene. Come, come, we are friends, let's haue a danceere we are married, that we may lighten our own hearts,and our wiues heeles

Leon. Wee'll haue dancing afterward

Bene. First, of my word, therfore play musick. Prince,thou art sad, get thee a wife, get thee a wife, there is nostaff more reuerend then one tipt with horn.Enter. Mes.

  Messen. My Lord, your brother Iohn is tane in flight,
And brought with armed men backe to Messina

   Bene. Thinke not on him till to morrow, ile deuise
thee braue punishments for him: strike vp Pipers.

Dance.

FINIS.

Related articles