his grave.

handsome fellow, or else make another cour- Urs. Come, come ; do you think I do not tesy, and say, Father, as it please me.

know you by your excellent wit? Can virtue Leon. Well, niece, I hope to see you one day hide itself? Go to, mum, you are he : graces fitted with a husband.

will appear, and there's an end. Beat. Not till God make men of some other Beat. Will you not tell me who told you so? metal than earth. Would it not grieve a woman Bene. No, you shall pardon me. to be over-mastered with a piece of valiant Beal. Nor will you not tell me who you are ? dust? to make an account of her life to a clod Bene. Not now. of wayward marl? No, uncle, I'll none: Adam's Beat. That I was disdainful, and that I had sons are my brethren; and truly, I hold it a sin my good wit out of the Hundred merry Tales;to match in my kindred.

Well, this was signior Benedick that said so. Leon. Daughter, remember, what I told you: Bene. What's he? is the prince do solicit you in that kind, you Beat. I am sure, you know him well enough, know your answer.

Bene. Not I, believe me. Beat. The fault will be in the music, cousin, Beal. Did he never make you laugh? if you be not woo'd in good time: if the prince Bene. I pray you, what is he? be too important,* tell him, there is measure in Beat. Why, he is the prince's jester: a very every thing, and so dance out the answer. For dull fool; only his gift is in devising impossible hear me, Hero; Wooing, wedding, and repent. slanders ; none but libertines delight in him; ing, is as a Scotch jig, a measure, and a cinque- and the commendation is not in his wit, but in pace: the first suit is hot and hasty, like a his villany; for he both pleases men, and anScotch jig, and full as fantastical; the wed- gers them, and then they laugh at him, and ding, mannerly-modest, as a measure full of beat him: I am sure, he is in the fleet; I would state and ancientry; and then comes repent he had boardedt me. ance, and, with his bad legs, falls into the Bene. When I know the gentleman, I'll te!! cinque-pace faster and faster, till he sink into him what you say.

Beat. Do, do: he'll but break a comparison Leon.Cousin, you apprehend passing shrewd- or two on me; which, peradventure, not markly.

ed, or not laughed at strikes him into melanBeat. I have a good eye, uncle; I can see a choly; and then there's a partidge' wing saved, church by day-light.

for the fool will eat no supper that night. (Music Leon. The revellers are entering; brother, within.) We must follow the leaders. make good room.

Bene. In every good thing.

Beat. Nay, if they lead to any ill, I will leave Enter Don PEDRO,CLAUDIO, BENEDICK,Bal- them at the next turning. TRAZAR; Don John, BORACAIO, MARGA

(Dance. Then Exeunt all but Don John, RET, URSULA, and others, masked.

BORACHIO, and CLAUDIO, D. Pedro. Lady, will you walk about with

D. John. Sure, my brother is amorous ou

Hero, and hath withdrawn her father to break Hero. So you walk softly, and look sweetly,

with him about it: The ladies follow her, and and say nothing, I am yours for the walk;

but one visor remains. and, especially, when I walk away.

Bora. And that is Claudio: I know him by D. Pedro. With me in your company?

his bearing. I Hero. I may say so, when I please.

D. John. Are you not signior Benedick? D. Pedro. And when please you to say' so ?

Claud. You know me well; I am he. Hero. When I like your favour ; for God de

D. John. Signior, you are very near my brofend, f the late should be like the case !

ther in his love: he is enamoured on Hero; I D. Pedro. My visor is Philemon's roof; with pray you, dissuade him from her, she is no in the house is Jove.

equal for his birth: you may do the part of an Hero. Why,then yourvisor should be thatch'a. honest man in it. D. Pedro. Speak low, if you speak love.

Claud. How know you he loves her? [Takes her aside.

D. John. I heard him gwear his affection. Bene. Well, I would you did like me.

Bora. So did I too; and he swore he would Marg. So would not I, for your own sake; marry her to night. for I have many ill qualities,

D. John. Come, let us to the banquet. Bene. Which is one ?

[Exeunt Don John and BORACHIO. Marg. I say my prayers aloud.

Claud. Thus answer I in name of Benedick, Bene. I love you the better ; the hearers may But hear these ill news with the ears of Claucry, Amen.

dio.Marg. God match me with a good dancer!

'Tis certain so ;—the prince wooes for himself. Balth. Amen.

Friendship is constant in all other things, Marg. And God keep him out of my sight, Save in the office and affairs of love: when the dance is done Answer, clerk.

Therefore, all hearts in love use their own Balth. No more words; the clerk is an. Let every eye negotiate for itself, (tongues ; swered.

And trust no agent: for beauty is a witch, Urs. I know you well enough; you are sig- Against whose charms faith melteth into blood. nior Antonio.

This is an accident of hourly proof, [Hero Ant. At a word, I am not.

Which I mistrusted not: Farewell therefore, Urs. I know you by the waggling of your

Re-enter BENEDICK. head. Ant. To tell you true, I counterfeit him.

Bene. Count Claudio? Urs. You could never do him so ill-well, un

Claud. Yea, the same. Jess you were the very man : Here's his dry

Bene. Come, will you go with me? Irand up and down; you are he, you are he.

Claud. Whither? Ant. At a word, I am not.

Bene. Even to the next willow, about your * Importunate.

your friend ??

a

own business, count. What fashion will you may live as quiet in hell, as in a sanctuary ; wear the garland of? About your neck, like and people sin upon purpose, because they an usurer's chain? or under your arm, like a would go thither; so, indeed, all disquiet, Lieutenant's scarf? You must wear it one way, horror, and perturbation follow her. for the prince hath got your Hero.

Re-enter CLAUDIO and BEATRICE. Claud. I wish him joy of her.

D. Pedro. Look, here she comes. Bene. Why, that's spoken like an honest drover; so they sell bullocks. But did you vice to the world's end? I will go on the slight

Bene. Will your grace command me any serthink the prince would have served you thus?

est errand now to the Antipodes, that you can Claud. I pray you, leave me.

Bene. Ho! now you strike like the blind devise to send me on; I will fetch you a toothman; 'twas the boy that stole your meat, and picker now from the farthest inch of Asia ; you'll beat the post.

bring you the length of Prester John's foot; Claud. If it will not be, I'll leave you.

(Exil. do you any embassage to the Pigmies, rather

fetch you a hair off the great Cham's beard ; Bene. Alas, poor hurt fowl! Now will he than hold three words' conference with this creep into sedges.-But, that my lady Beatrice should know me, and not know me! The harpy: You have no employment for me?

D. Pedro. None, but to desire your good prince's fool!-Ha! it may be I go under that title, because I am merry.-Yea; but so; I am

company. apt to do myself wrong: I am not so reputed : I cannot endure my lady tongue.

Bene. O God, Sir, here's a dish I love not; it is the base, the bitter disposition of Beatrice,

[Erit. that puts the world into her person, and so the heart of signior Benedick.

D. Pedro. Come, lady, come; you have lost gives me out. Well, I'll be revenged as I may.

Beat. Indeed, my lord, he lent it me a while; Re-enter Don PEDRO, Hero, and LEONATO. and I give him use* for it, a double heart for

D. Pedro. Now, signior, where's the count; his single one: marry, once before, he won it Did you see him?

of me with false dice, therefore your grace may Bene. Troth, my lord, I have played the part well say, I have lost it. of lady Fame. I found him here as melancholy

D. Pedro. You have put him down, lady, you as a lodge in a warren; I told him, and, I have put him down. think, I told him true, that your grace had got

Beat. So I would not he should do me, my the good will of this young lady; and I offered lord, lest I should prove the mother of fools. I him my company to a willow tree, either to have brought count Claudio, whom you sent make him a garland, as being forsaken, or to me to seek. bind him up a rod as being worthy to be D. Pedro. Why, how now, count? where: whipped.

fore are you sad? D. Pedro. To be whipped! What's his fault? Claud. Not sad, my lord. Bene. The flat transgression of a school-boy;

D. Pedro. How then? Sick? who, being overjoy'd with finding a bird's nest, Claud. Neither, my lord. shows it his companion, and he steals it. Beat. The count is neither sad, nor sick, nor

D. Pedro. Wilt thou make a trust a trans- merry, nor well : but civil, count; civil as an gression? The transgressiou is in the stealer. orange, and something of that jealous com

Bene. Yet it had not been amiss, the rod had plexion. been made, and the garland too; for the gar- D. Pedro. l'faith, lady, I think your blazon land he might have worn himself: and the rod to be true; though, I'll be sworn, if he be so, he might have bestowed on you, who, as I take his conceit is false. Here, Claudio, I have it, have stol'n his bird's nest.

wooed in thy name, and fair Hero is won; I D. Pedro. I will but teach them to sing, and have broke with her father, and his good will restore them to the owner.

obtained : name the day of marriage, and God Bene. If their singing answer your saying, give you joy! by my faith, you say honestly.

Leon. Count, take of me my daughter, and D. Pedro. The lady Beatrice hath a quarrel with her my fortunes : his grace hath made the to you; the gentleman, that danced with her, match, and all grace say Amen to it? told her, that she is much wronged by you.

Beat. Speak, count, 'tis your cue.t Bene. O, she misused me past the endurance Claud. Silence is the perfectest herald of joy: of a block; an oak, but with one green leaf on I were but little happy, if I could say how it would have answered her; my very visor much.-Lady, as you are mine, I am yours: 1 began to assume life and scold with her: She give away myself for you, and dote upon the told me, not thinking I had been myself, that exchange. I was the prince's jester, that I was duller than Beat. Speak, cousin; or, if you cannot, stop a great thaw; huddling jest upon jest, with his mouth with a kiss, and let him not speak, such impossible* conveyance, upon me, that I neither. stood like a man at a mark, with a whole army

D. Pedro. In faith, lady, you have a merry shooting at me: She speaks poniards, and heart. every word stabs: if her breath were as terrible Beat. Yes, my lord; I thank it, poor fool, it as her terminations, there were no living near keeps on the windy side of care :-My cousin her, she would infect to the north star. I would tells him in his ear, that he is in her heart. not marry her, though she were endowed with Claud. And so she doth, cousin, all that Adam had left him before he trans- Beat. Good lord, for alliance Thus goes gressed : she would have made Hercules have every one to the world but I, and I am sunturned spit; yea, and have cleft his club to burned; I may sit in a corner, and cry, heigh make the fire too. Come, talk not of her ; you ho! for a husband. shall find her the infernal Atét in good apparel.

D. Pedro. Lady Beatrice, I will get you one. I would to God, some scholar would conjure

Beat. I would rather have one of your father's her; for, certainly, while she is here, a man getting: Hath your grace ne'er a brother like * Incredible.

+ The Goddess of Discord. * Interest. 1 Turn : & phrase among the players

you? Your father got excellent husbands, if a Bora. Yea, my lord; but I can cross it. maid could come by them.

D. John. Any bar, any cross, any impediD. Pedro. Will you have me, lady? ment will be medicinable to me: I am siek in

Beat. No, my lord, unless I might have an- displeasure to him; and whatsoever comes other for working-days; your grace is too athwart his affection, ranges evenly with mine. costly to wear every day :-But, I beseech How canst thou cross this marriage ? your grace, pardon me : I was born to speak Bora. Not honestly, my lord; but so covertly all mirth, and no matter.

that no dishonesty shall appear in me. D. Pedro. Your silence most offends me, and D. John. Show me briefly how. to be merry best becomes you; for, out of

Bora. I think I told your lordship, a year question, you were born in a merry hour. since, how much I am in the favour of Marga

Beat. No, sure, my lord, my mother cry'd; ret, the waiting-gentlewoman to Hero. but then there was a star danced, and under D. Jolin. I remember. that was I buin.-Cousins, God give you joy! Bora. I can at any unseasonable instant of

Leon. Niece, will you look to those things I the night, appoint her to look out at her lady's told you of?

chamber-window. Beat. I cry you mercy, uncle.-By your D. John. What life is in that, to be the death grace's pardon.

[Exit BEATRICE. of this marriage? D. Pedro. By my troth, a pleasant-spirited Bora. The poison of that lies in you to temlady.

per. Go you to the prince your brother ; Leon. There's little of the melancholy ele- spare not to tell him, that he hath wronged his ment in her, my lord: she is never sad, but honour in marrying the renowned Claudio when she sleeps; and not ever sad then ; for I (whose estimation do you mightily hold up) to have heard my daughter say, she hath often a contaminated stale, such a one as Hero. dreamed of unhappiness, and waked herself D. John. What proof shall I make of that? with laughing

Bora. Proof enough to misuse the prince, to D. Pedro. She cannot endure to hear tell of vex Claudio, to undo Hero, and kill Leonato: a husband.

Look you for any other issue? Leon. O, by no means; she mocks all her D. John. Only to despite them, I will endeawooers out of suit.

vour any thing. D. Pedro. She were an excellent wife for Bora. Go then, find me a meet hour to draw Benedick.

Don Pedro and the count Claudio, alone : tell Leon. O Lord, my lord, if they were but a them that you know that Hero loves me; inweek married, they would talk themselves mad. tend* a kind of zeal both to the prince and

D. Pedro. Count Claudio, when mean you Claudio, as—in love of your brother's honour to go to church?

who hath made this match; and his friend's Claud. To-morrow, my lord: Time goes on reputation, who is thus like to be cozened with crutches, till love have all his rites.

the semblance of a maid,--that you have disLeon. Not till Monday, my dear son, which covered thus. They will scarcely believe this is hence a just seven-night; and a time too without trial : offer them instances; which shall brief too, to have all things answer my mind. bear no less likelihood, than to see me ai her

D. Pedro. Come, you shake the head at so chamber-window; hear me call Margaret, long a breathing; but, I warrant thee, Claudio, Hero ; hear Margaret term me Borachio; and the time shall not go dully by us: I will, in the bring them to see this, the very night before the interim, undertake one of Hercules' labours; intended wedding: for, in the mean time, I will which is, to bring signior Benedick and the so fashion the matter, that Hero shall be absent; lady Beatrice into a mountain of affection, the and there shall appear such seeming truth of one with the other. I would fain have it a Hero's disloyalty, that jealousy shail be call'd match: and I doubt not but to fashion it, if assurance, and all the preparation overthrown. you three will but minister such assistance as D. John. Grow this to what adverse issue it I shall give you direction.

can, I will put it in practice: Be cunning in Leon. My lord, I am for you, though it cost the working this, and thy fee is a thousand me ten night's watchings.

ducats. Claud. And I, my lord.

Bora. Be you constant in the accusation, and D. Pedro. And you too, gentle Hero? my cunning shall not shame me.

Hero. I will do any modest office, my lord, D. John. I will presently go learn their day to help my cousin to a good husband.

of marriage.

(Exeunt. D. Pedro. And Benedick is not the unhope. fullest husband that I know: thus far can I

SCENE III.-LEONATO's Garden. praise him; he is of a noble strain,* of approved

Enter BENEDICK and a Boy. valour, and confirmed honesty. I will teach

Bene. Boy,you how to humour your cousin, that she shall

Boy. Signior. fall in love with Benedick :-and, 1, with your bring it hither to me in the orchard.

Bene. In my chamber-window lies a book; two helps, will so practise on Benedick, that, in despite of his quick wit and his queasyt

Boy. I am here already, sir. stomach, he shall fall in love with Beatrice. hence, and here again. [Exit Box.]-I do

Bene. I know that; but I would have thee If we can do this, Cupid is no longer an archer; much wonder, that one man, seeing how much his glory shall be ours, for we are the only another man is a fool when he dedicates his be. love-gods. Go in with me, and I will tell you haviours to love, will, after he hath laughed at my drift.

[Exeunt. such shallow follies in others, become the arSCENE II.-Another room in LEONATO's gument of his own scorn, by falling in love: House.

And such a man is Claudio. I have known, Enter Don JOAN and BORACHIO.

when there was no music with him but the D. John. It is so ; the count Claudio shall drum and fife; and now he would rather hear marry the daughter of Leonato.

the tabor and the pipe: I have known, when * Lineage. * Fastidions.

> Pretend

a

a

he would have walked ten mile afoot, to see

Sing no more dillies, sing no mo* a good armour; and now will he lie ten nights

Of dumps so dull and heary; awake carving the fashion of a new doublet.

The fraud of men was erer so, He was wont to speak plain, and to the pur

Since summer first was leary. pose, like an honest man, and a soldier; and

Then sigh not so,&c. now is he turnd orthographer; his words are D. Pedro. By my troth, a good song. a very fantastical banquet, just so many strange Balth. And an ill singer, my lord. dishes. May I be so converted, and see with D. Pedro. Ha? no; no, faith; thou singest these eyes? I cannot tell ; I think not: I will well enough for a shift. not be sworn, but love may transform me to an Bene. Aside.] An he had been a dog, that oyater; but I'll take my oath on it, till he have should have howled thus, they would have made an oyster of me, he shall never make me 'hanged him: and, I pray God, his bad voice such a fool. One woman is fair; yet I am bode no mischief! I had as lief have heard the well: another is wise ; yet I am well : another night-raven, come what plague could have virtuous ; yet I am well : but till all graces be come after it. in one woman, one woman shall not come in D. Pedro. Yea, marry; [To Claudio.] my grace. Rich she shall be, that's certain; -Dost thou hear, Balthazar! I pray thee get us wise, or I'll none; virtuous, or I'll never cheap- some excellent music; for to-morrow night we en her; fair, or I'll never look on her; mild, would have it at the lady Hero's chamberor come not near me; noble, or not I for an window, angel; of good discourse, an excellent musi- Balth. The best I can, my lord. eian, and her hair shall be of what colour it D. Pedro. Do so : farewell. [Exeunt Bal. please God. Ha! the prince and monsieur THAZAR and music.] Come hither, Leonato: Love! I will hide me in the arbour.

What was it you told me of to-day ? that your

[Withdraws. niece Beatrice was in love with signiorBenedick? Enter Don PEDRO, Leonato, and CLAUDIO. sits. [Aside to PEDRO.) I did never think that

Claud. O, ay :-Stalk on, stalk on; the fowl D. Pedro. Come, shall we hear this music? lady would have loved any man. Claud. Yea, my good lord :—How still the Leon. No, nor I neither; but most wonderful, evening is,

that she should so dote on signior Benedick, As hush'd on purpose to grace harmony ! whom she hath in all outward behaviours seemD. Pedro. See you where Benedick hath ed ever to abhor. hid himself?

Bene. Is't possible? Sits the wind in that Claud. O, very well, my lord: the music corner?

[.Aside. ended,

Leon. By my troih, my lord, I cannot tell We'll fit the kid-fox* with a penny-worth. what to think of it; but that she loves him Enter BALTHAZAR, with music.

with an enraged affection,—it is past the in

finite of thought.t D. Pedro. Come, Balthazar, we'll hear that

D. Pedro. May be, she doth but counterfeit. song again.

Claud. 'Faith, like enough. Balth. O good my lord, tax not so bad a

Leon. O God! counterfeit! There never was voice,

counterfeit of passion came so near the life of To slander music any more than once.

passion, as she discovers it. D. Pedro. It is the witness still of excellency,

D. Pedro. Why, what effects of passion shows To put a strange face on his own perfection :

she? I pray thee, sing, and let me woo no more.

Claud. Bait the hook well; this fish will bite. Balth. Because you talk of wooing, I will

[.Aside. sing:

Leon. What effects, my lord! She will sit Since many a wooer doth commence his suit

you,To her he thinks not worthy; yet he wooes ;

You heard my daughter tell you how. Yet will he swear, he loves.

Claud. She did, indeed. D. Pedro. Nay, pray thee, come:

D. Pedro. How, how, I pray you? You amaze Or, if thou wilt hold longer argument, me: I would have thought her spirit had been Do it in notes.

invincible against all assaults of affection. Balth. Note this before my notes,

Leon. I would have sworn it had, my lord ; There's not a note of mine that's worth the especially against Benedick. noting.

Bene. (Aside.] I should think this a gull, but D. Pedro. Why these are very crotchets that that the white-bearded fellow speaks it : knavhe speaks :

ery cannot, sure, hide itself in such reverence. Note, notes, forsooth, and noting ! [Music. Claud. He hath ta'en the infection; hold it Bene. Now, Divine air! now is his soul ra

up.

(Aside. vished !-Is it not strange, that sheep's guts D. Pedro. Hath she made her affection should hale souls out of men's bodies !

-Well, known to Benedick? a horn for my money, when all's done.

Leon. No; and swears she never will: that's BALTHAZAR sings.

her torment.

Claud. "Tis true, indeed; so your daughter Balth. Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, says: Shall I, says she, that have so oft encounMen were deceivers ever;

ter'd him with scorn, write to him that I love him ? One foot in sea and one on shore; Leon. This says she now when she is beginTo one thing constant never : ning to write to him: for she'll be up twenty Then sigh not so,

times a night: and there will she sit in her But let them go,

smock, till she have writ a sheet of paper :-my And be you blith and bonny;

daughter tells us all. Converting all your sounds of wo Claud. Now you talk of a sheet of paper, I Into, Hey nonny, nonny.

remember a pretty jest your daughter told us of * Young or cub-fox.

Longer. † Beyond the power of thought to conceive