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

Beat. I am stuff'd, coufin; I cannot smell.

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

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

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

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

Marg. Get you fome of this diftill'd Carduus Benedictus, and lay it to your heart; it is the only thing for a qualm.

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

Beat. Benedictus! why Benedictus? you have fome moral in this Benedictus.

Marg. Moral! no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning; I meant, plain holy-thiftle. You may think, perchance, that I think you are in love: nay, by'rlady, I am not fuch a fool to think what I lift; nor I lift not to think what I can ; nor, indeed, I cannot think, if I would think my heart out o'thinking, that you are in love, or that you will be in love, or that you can be in love: yet Benedick was fuch another, and now is he become a man: he fwore he would never marry; and yet now, in defpight of his heart, he eats his meat without grudging: and how you may be converted, I know not: but, methinks, you look with your eyes as other women do.

Beat. What pace is this that thy tongue keeps? Marg. Not a falfe gallop.

E 3

Re-enter

Re-enter URSULA.

Urf. Madam, withdraw; the prince, the count, fignior Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the town, are come to fetch you to church.

Hero. Help to drefs me, good coz, good Meg, good Urfula. [Exeunt.

SCENE V. Another apartment in LEONATO's house.

Enter LEONATO, with DOGBERRY, and VERGES.

Leon. What would you have with me, honeft neighbour?

Dogb. Marry, fir, I would have fome confidence with you, that difcerns you nearly.

Leon. Brief, I pray you; for you fee, 'tis a bufy time with me.

Dogb. Marry, this it is, fir.

Verg. Yes, in truth it is, fir.

Leon. What is it, my good friends?

Dogb. Goodman Verges, fir, fpeaks a little of the matter: an old man, fir, and his wits are not fo blunt, as, God help, I would defire they were; but, in faith, honest, as the fkin between his brows.

Verg. Yes, I thank God, I am as honeft as any man living, that is an old man, and an honester than Í. Dogb. Comparifons are odorous: palabras, neigh bour Verges.

Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious.

Dogb. It pleafes your worship to fay fo, but we are the poor duke's officers; but, truly, for mine own part, if I were as tedious as a king, I could find in my heart to bestow it all of your worship.

Leon. All thy tedioufnefs on me! ha!

Dogb.

Dogb. Yea, and 'twere a thousand times more than 'tis: for I hear as good exclamation on your worship as of any man in the city; and though I be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it.

Verg. And fo am I.

Leon. I would fain know what you have to say. Verg. Marry, fir, our watch to-night, excepting your worship's prefence, hath ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Meffina.

Dogb. A good old man, fir; he will be talking; as they fay, When the age is in, the wit is out; God help us! it is a world to fee! Well faid, 'faith, neighbour Verges:-well, God's a good man; an two men ride of a horfe, one must ride behind :An honeft foul, i'faith, fir; by my troth he is, as ever broke bread: but, God is to be worshipp'd; All men are not alike; alas, good neighbour!

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

Leon. I must leave you.

Dogb. One word, fir: our watch have, indeed, comprehended two afpicious perfons, and we would have them this morning examin'd before your worship.

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

Dogb. It fhall be fuffigance.

Leon. Drink fome wine ere you go; fare you well Enter a Mejenger.

Me. My lord, they ftay for you to give your daughter to her husband.

Leon. I will wait upon them; I am ready.

[Exit LEONATO,

Dogb

Dogb. Go, good partner; go, get you to Francis Seacoal, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail; we are now to examination these men. Verg. And we must do it wifely.

Dogb. We will fpare for no wit, I warrant you; here's that [touching his forehead] fhall drive fome of them to a non-com: only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the jail.

[Exeunt

ACT IV.

SCENE I. A church.

Enter Don PEDRO, Don JOHN, LEONATO, Friar CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, and BEATRICE.

Leonato.

COME, friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain form of marriage, and you fhall recount their particular duties afterwards.

Friar. You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady?
Claud. No.

Leon. To be marry'd to her, friar; you come to marry her.

Friar. Lady, you come hither to be marry'd to this count?

Hero. I do.

Friar. If either of you know any inward impedi ment why you should not be conjoined, I charge you, on your fouls, to utter it.

Claud

Claud. Know you any, Hero?

Hero. None, my lord.

Friar. Know you any, count?

Leon. I dare make his anfwer, none.

Claud. O what man dare do! what men may do! Men daily do not knowing what they do! [what Bene. How now! Interjections? Why, then fome be of laughing, as, ha! ha! he!

Claud. Stand thee by, friar: -Father, by your Will you with free and unconstrained foul Give me this maid your daughter?

[leave;

Leon. As freely, fon, as God did give her me. Claud. And what have I to give you back, whofe May counterpoife this rich and precious gift? [worth Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again. Claud. Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankful There, Leonato, take her back again;

[nefs..
Give not this rotten orange to your friend:
She's but the fign and femblance of her honour:-
Behold, how like a maid she blushes here:
O, what authority and shew of truth
Can cunning fin cover itself withal !
Comes not that blood, as modeft evidence,
To witness fimple virtue? Would you not fwear
All you that fee her, that she were a maid,
By thefe exterior fhews? But fhe is none:
She knows the heat of a luxurious bed:
Her blush is guiltinefs, not modesty.
Leon. What do you mean, my lord?
Claud. Not to be marry'd, not knit

To an approved wanton.

Leon. Dear my lord,

If you in your own proof,

my

foul

Have vanquifh'd the refiftance of her youth,

And