For testimony whereof, one in the prison Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke: good my lord, do not recompense me, in making me a cuckold. I have reserv'd alive. Duke. What's he? Prov. His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Claudio.Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provost. Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure: Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging. Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.- Re-enter Provost, Barnardine, Claudio, and Juliet. The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel, for his sake [Unmuffles Claudio. Duke. If he be like your brother, [To Isabella.] yours. I find an apt remission in myself: a coward, One all of luxury, an ass, a madman; I cannot but suspect that some other had newmodelled the novel of Cinthio, or written a story which in some particulars resembled it, and that Cinthio was not the author whom Shakspeare immediately followed. The emperor in Cinthio is named Maximine: the duke, in Shakspeare's enumeration of the persons of the drama, is called Vincentio. This appears a very slight remark; but since the duke has no name in the play, nor is ever mentioned but by his title, why should he be called Vincentio among the persons, but because the name was copied from the story, and placed superfluhabit of transcription? It is therefore likely that there was then a story of Vincentio duke of Vienna, different from that of Maximine emperor of the Romans. a fool, ously at the head of the list, by the mere Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: If you will hang me for it, you mav, but I had rather it would please you, I might be whiop'd. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.- Of this play, the light or comic part is very natural and pleasing, but the grave scenes, if a few passages be excepted, have more labour than elegance. The plot is rather intricate than artful. The time of the action is indefinite: some time, we know not how much, must have elapsed between the recess of the duke and the imprisonment of Claudio; for he must have learned the story of Mariana in his disguise, or he delegated his power to a man already known to be corrupted. The unities of action and place are sufficiently preserved. JOHNSON. (5) Punishments. (6) To reward. wise of Don Pedro. Benedick, a young lord of Padua, favourite like-Hero, daughter to Leonato. Leonato, governor of Messina. Antonio, his brother. Balthazar, servant to Don Pedro. Borachio, followers of Don John. Conrade, Dogberry, two foolish officers. Verges, ACT I. SCENE I.-Before Leonato's house. Enter Leonato, Hero, Beatrice, and others, with a Mes senger. Leonato. I LEARN in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon, comes this night to Messina. Mess. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him. Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action? Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name. Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio. Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: he hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age; doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how. Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it. Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much jov in him; even so much, that joy could not show itself modest enough, with out a badre of bitterness. Leon. Did he break out into tears? Leon. A kind overflow of kindness: There are Beatrice, niece to Leonato. Margaret, } gentlewomen allending on Hero. Messengers, watch, and attendants. 1 Scene, Messina. Mess. O, he is returned; and as pleasant as ever he was. Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina, and challenged Cupid at the flight:3 and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt.-I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he killed? for, indeed, I promised to eat all of his killing. Leon. Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not. Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these wars. Beat. You bad musty virtual, and he hath holp to eat it: he is a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent stomach. Mess. And a good soldier too, lady. Beat. And a good soldier to a lady; -But what is he to a lord? Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all honourable virtues. Beat. It is so, indeed; he is no less than a stuffed man: but for the stuffing,-Well, we are all mortal Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece: there is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedich and her: they never meet, but there is a skirmish of wit between them. Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our las conflict, four of his five wits went halting off and now is the whole man governed with one: se that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse: for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable creature. Who is his no faces truer than those that are so washed. How companion now? He hath every month a new much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping? Beat. I pray you, is signior Montanto returned from the wars, or no ? Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there was none such in the army of any sort. Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece? Padua. sworn brother. Mess. Is it possible? Beat. Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next block. Mess, I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books. Beat. No: an he were, I would burn my study But, I pray you, who is his companion? Is there no (1) Kind. (2) Abundance. (3) At long lengths. (4) Even. (5) A cuckold. (6) Mould for a hat young squarer' now, that will make a voyage with heartily prays some occasion may detain us longer: him to the devil? I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his Leon. If you swear, my lord, you shall not be Beat. O Lord! he will hang upon him like a dis-forsworn.-Let me bid you welcome, mv lora: ease: he is sooner caught than the pestilence, and being reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble you all duty. Mess. He is most in the company of the right heart. noble Claudio. Claudio! if he have caught the Benedick, it will D. John. I thank you: I am not of many words, cost him a thousand pound ere he be cured. Mess. I will hold friends with you, lady. Beat. Do, good friend. Leon. You will never run mad, niece. Beat. No, not till a hot January. Mess. Don Pedro is approached. Enter Don Pedro, attended by Balthazar, and others, Don John, Claudio, and Benedick. D. Pedro. Good signior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter it. but I thank you. Leon. Please it your grace lead on? D. Pedro. Your hand, Leonato; we will go to gether. [Exeunt all but Benedick ana Claudio. Claud. Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of signior Leonato? Bene. I noted her not; but I looked on her. Bene. Do you question me, as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgment; or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a pro fessed tyrant to their sex? ment. Leon. Never came trouble to my house in the Claud. No, I pray thee, speak in sober judglikeness of your grace: for trouble being gone, comfort should remain; but, when you depart from Bene. Why, i'faith, methinks she is too low for a me, sorrow abides, and happiness takes his leave, high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too lit tle for a great praise: only this commendation I can afford her; that were she other than she is, she were D. Pedro. You embrace your charge too willingly. I think, this is your daughter. not like her. Leon. Her mother hath many times told me so. unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I do D. Pedro. You have it full, Benedick: we may guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herself:-Be happy, lady! for you are like an honourable father. Claud. Thou thinkest, I am in sport; I pray thee tell me truly how thou likest her? Bene. Would you buy her, that you inquire after her? Claud. Can the world buy such a jewel? Bene. Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak Bene. If si znior Leonato be her father, she would you this with a sad brow? or do you play the floutnot have his head on her shoulders, for all Messina, ing jack; to tell us Cupid is a good hare-finder, and Vulcan a rare carpenter? Come, in what key shall as like him as she is. Bene. I wore that you will still be talking, a man take you, to go in the song? signior Benedick; no body marks you. Claud. In mine eye, she is the sweetest lady that Bene. What, my dear lady Disdain! are you yet ever I looked on. hving? Bene. I can see yet without spectacles, and I see Beat. Is it possible, disdain should die, while no such matter: there's her cousin, an she were not she hath such meet food to feed it, as signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence. is Bene. Then is courtesy a turn-coat: -But it certain, I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted : and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart; for, truly, I love none. Beat. A dear happiness to women; they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God, and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that; I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me. Bene. God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate scratched face. Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such a face as yours were. Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. Beat. A bird of my tongue, is better than a beast of vours. Bene. I would my horse had the speed of your tongue; and so good a continuer: But keep your way o' God's name; I have done. Beat. You always end with a jade's trick; I know you of old. D. Pedro. This is the sum of all: Leonato, signior Claudio, and signior Benedick, my dear friend Leonato, hath invited you all. I tell him, we shall stay here at the least a month; and he possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty, as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope you have no intent to turn hus. band; have you? Claud. I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife. Bene. Is it come to this, i'faith? Hath not the world one man, but he will wear his cap with suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore again? Go to, i'faith; an thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it, and sigh away Sundays. Look, Don Pedro is re turned to seek you. Re-enter Don Pedro. D. Pedro. What secret hath held you here, that you followed not to Leonato's ? Bene. I would, your grace would constrain me to tell. D. Pedro. I charge thee on thy allegiance. Bene. You hear, count Claudio: I can be secret as a dumb man, I would have you think so; but on my allegiance,-mark you this, on my allegiance:He is in love. With who?-now that is your grace's part.-Mark, how short his answer is:-With Hero, Leonato's short daughter. Claud. If this were so, so were it uttered. Bene. Like the old tale, my lord: it is not so, nor 'twas not so; but, indeed, God forbid it should be so. Claud. If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it should be otherwise. 120 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, D. Pedro. Amen, if you love her; for the lady D. Pedro. My love is thine to teach; teach it is very well worthy. Claud. You speak this to fetch me in, my lord. D. Pedro. By my troth, I speak my thought. Claud. And, in faith, my lord, I spoke mine. Bene. And, by my two faiths and troths, my lord, I spoke mine. Claud. That I love her, I feel. D. Pedro. That she is worthy, I know. but how, And thou shalt see how apt it is to learn Claud. O, my lord, Bene. That I neither feel how she should be I look'd upon her with a soldier's eye, But now I am return'd, and that war-thoughts Bene. That a woman conceived me, I thank her; live a bachelor. That know love's grier by his complexion! D. Pedro. I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with love. Bene. With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my lord: not with love: prove, that ever I The fairest grant is the necessity: lose more blood with love, than I will get again Look, what will serve, is fit: 'tis once, thou lov's with drinking, pick out mine eyes with a ballad- And I will fit thee with the remedy. maker's pen, and hang me up at the door of a I know, we shall have revelling to-night; brothel-house, for the sign of blind Cupid. D. Pedro. Well, if ever thou dost fall from this And tell fair Hero I am Claudio; faith, thou wilt prove a notable argument. I will assume thy part in some disguise, Bene. If I do, hang me in a bottle like a cat, and And take her hearing prisoner with the force shoot at me; and he that hits me, let him be clap- And strong encounter of my amorous tale: ped on the shoulder, and called Adam.4 D. Pedro. Well, as time shall try: In time the savage bull doth bear the yoke. Bene. The savage bull may; but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns, and set them in my forehead: and let me be vilely painted; and in such great letters as they write, Here is good horse to hire, let them signify under my sign,-Here you may see Benedick the married man. Claud. If this should ever happen, thou would'st be horn-mad. D. Pedro. Nay, if Cupid have not spent all his Then, after, to her father will I break; [Exeun. ter Leonato and Antonio. SCENE II.-A room in Leonato's house. En Leon. How now, brother? where is my cousin, your son? Hath he provided this music? Ant. He is very busy about it. But, brother, I can tell you strange news that you yet dreamed not of. Leon. Are they good? Ant. As the event stamps them; but they have a good cover, they show well outward. The prince and count Claudio, walking in a thick-pleached" hours. In the mean time, good signior Benedick, alley in my orchard, were thus much overheard repair to Leonato's; commend me to him, and tell by a man of mine: The prince discovered to C'auLim, I will not fail him at supper; for, indeed, he dio, that he loved my niece your daughter, and hath made great preparation. Bene. I have almost matter enough in me for such an embassage; and so I commit you Chaud. To the tuition of God: From my house if I had it) D. Pedro. The sixth of July: Your loving friend, Benedick. meant to acknowledge it this night in a dance; and, if he found her accordant, he meant to take the present time by the top, and instantly break with you of it. Leon. Hath the fellow any wit, that told you this? Ant. A good sharp fellow: I will send for him, and question him yourself. Bene. Nay, mock not, mock not: The body of Leon. No, no; we will hold it as a dream, till your discourse is sometime guarded with frag- it appears itself:-but I will acquaint my daughter ments, and the guards are but slightly basted on withal, that she may be the better prepared for an neither: ere you flout old ends any further, examine answer, if peradventure this be true. Go you, and your conscience; and so I leave you. [Exit Bene. tell her of it. [Several persons cross the stage, Claud. My liege, your highness now may do me Cousins, you know what you have to do.-0,! cry you mercy, friend; you go with me, and I good. (1) The tune sounded to call off the dogs. (4) The name of a famous archer. (5) Trimmed (7) Thickly interwoven (6) Once for all. will use your skill:-Good cousins, have a care hath all the glory of my overthrow; if I can cross this busy time. [Exeunt. him any way, I bless myself every way: You are SCENE III. Another room in Leonato's house. both sure, and will assist me? Enter Don John and Conrade. Con. To the death, my lord. Con. What the goujere, my lord! why are you thus out of measure sad? D. John. There is no measure in the occasion that breeds it, therefore the sadness is without limit. Con. You should hear reason. D. John. And when I have heard it, what blessing bringeth it? Con. If not a present remedy, yet a patient sufferance. D. John. I wonder that thou being (as thou say'st thou art) born under Saturn, goest about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no man's jests; eat when I have a stomach, and wait for no man's leisure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend to no man's business; laugh when I am merry, and claw2 no man in his humour. D. John. Let us to the great supper; their cheer is the greater, that I am subdued: 'Would the cook were of my mind! - Shall we go prove what's to be done? Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship. (Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE 1.- A hall in Leonato's house. Enter Leon. Was not count John here at supper ? Beat. How tartly that gentleman looks! I never can see him, but I am heart-burned an hour after. Hero. He is of a very melancholy disposition. Beat. He were an excellent man, that were made just in the mid-way between him and Bene Con. Yea, but you must not make the full show dick the one is too like an image, and says of this, till you may do it without controlment, nothing; and the other, too like my lady's eldest You have of late stood out against your brother, son, evermore tattling. and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace; where Leon. Then half signior Benedick's tongue in it is impossible you should take true root, but by the fair weather that you make yourself: it is needful that you frame the season for your own narvest. D. John. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rose in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be disdained of all, than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any: in this, though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied that I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with a muzzle, and enfranchised with a clog; therefore I have decreed not to sing in my cage; if I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking: in the mean time, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me. Con. Can you make no use of your discontent? D. John. I make all use of it, for I use it only, Who comes here? What news, Borachio? Enter Borachio. Bora. I came yonder from a great supper; the prince, your brother, is royally entertained by Leonato; and I can give you intelligenee of an Intended marriage. D. John. Will it serve for any model to build mischief on? What is he for a fool, that betroths himself to unquietness? Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right hand. D. John. A proper squire! And who, and who? which way looks he? count John's mouth, and half count John's melancholy in signior Benedick's face, Beat. With a good leg, and a good foot, uncle, and money enough in his purse, such a man would win any woman in the world, if he could get her good will. Leon. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a husband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue. Ant. In faith, she is too curst. Beat. Too curst is more than curst: 1 shall lessen God's sending that way: for it is said, God sends a curst cow short horns; but to a cow too curst he sends none. Leon. So, by being too curst, God will send you no horns. Beat. Just, if he send me no husband; for the which blessing, I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening: Lord! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face; I had rather lie in the woollen. Leon. You may light upon a husband, that hath no beard. Beat. What should I do with him? dress him in my apparel, and make him my waiting gentlewoman? He that hath a beard, is more than a youth; and he that hath no beard, is less than a man: and he that is more than a youth is not for me; and he that is less than a man, I am not for him. Therefore, I will even take sixpence in earnest of the bear-herd, and lead his apes into hell. Leon. Well then, go you into hell? Beat. No, but to the gate; and there will the devil meet me, like an old cuckold, with horns on his head, and say, Get you to heaven, Beatrice, get you to heaven; here's no place for you malds: so deliver I up my apes, and away to Saint Peter for Bora. Being entertained for a perfumer, as I the heavens; he shows me where the bachelors was smoking a musty room, comes me the prince sit, and there live we as merry as the day is long. and Claudio, hand in hand, in sad conference: I Ant. Well, niece, [To Hero.] I trust, you will whipt me behind the arras; and there heard it be ruled by your father. agreed upon, that the prince should woo Hero for Beat. Yes, faith; it is my cousin's duty to make himself, and having obtained her, give her to count courtesy, and say, Father, as it please you :-but Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato. D. John. A very forward March chick! How came you to this? Claudio. yet for all that, cousin, let him be a handsome felD. John. Come, come, let us thither; this may low, or else make another courtesy, and say, Fa prove food to my displeasure: that young start-up ther, as it please me. (1) The venereal disease. (2) Flatter. |