he is, as ever broke bread! but, Heaven is to be worshipped-All men are not alike, alas, good neighbour ! Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you. Dogb. Gifts, that Heaven gives. Leon. I must leave you. [Crossing to R. Dogb. One word, sir: our watch, sir, have, indeed, comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your worship. Leon. Take their examination yourself, and bring it me; I am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you. Dogb. It shall be suffigance. [Exit, R. Dogb. Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacoal, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol; we are now to examination these men. Verges. And we must do it wisely. Dogb. We will spare for no wit, I warrant you: here's that [Touching his forehead] shall drive some of them to a non-com: only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol. [Exeunt, L. END OF ACT III. ACT IV. SCENE I.-A Chapel. DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, LEONATO, FRIAR, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, and BEATRICE, discovered. Leon. (c.) Come, Friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain form of marriage, and you shall recount their particular duties afterwards. Friar. (R. c.) You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady? Claud. (L. c.) No. Leon. To be married to her, Friar; you come to marry her. Friar. Lady, you come hither to be married to this Count? Hero. (R. c.) I do. Friar. If either of you know any inward impediment, why you should not be conjoined, I charge you, on your souls, to utter it. Claud. Know you any, Hero? Friar. Know you any, Count? Leon. I dare make his answer, none. Claud. Oh, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do! Bened. (L.) How now? Interjections? Claud. Stand thee by, Friar: Father, by your leave; Will you, with free and unconstrained soul, Give me this maid, your daughter? Leon. As freely, son, as Heaven did give her me. Claud. And what have I to give you back, whose worth May counterpoise this rich and precious gift? Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again. Claud. Sweet Prince, you learn me noble thankful ness. There, Leonato, take her back again : She's but the sign and semblance of her honour: Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty. Leon. (L. C.) What do you mean, my lord? Not knit my soul to an approved wanton Leon. Dear my Lord, if you, in your own proof, Have vanquish'd the resistance of her youth-- I never tempted her with word too large; Bashful sincerity, and comely love. Hero. And seem'd I ever otherwise to you? Claud. Out on thy seeming! I will write against it; [BENEDICK retires up the stage. You seem to me, as Dian in her orb; As chaste, as is the bud ere it be blown; But you are more intemperate in your blood Than Venus, or those pamper'd animals, That rage in savage sensuality. Hero. Is my Lord well, that he doth speak so wide? Leon. Sweet Prince, why speak not you? Pedro. What should I speak? E 42 I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about Leon. Are these things spoken, or do I but dream? true. Hero. True, O Heaven! Claud. Leonato, stand I here? Is this the Prince? Is this the Prince's brother? Leon. All this is so; but what of this, my Lord : And, by that fatherly and kindly power That you have in her, bid her answer truly. Leon. I charge thee do so as thou art my child! Hero. O Heaven defend me! how I am beset!What kind of catechizing call you this? Claud. To make you answer truly to your name. Hero. Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name With any just reproach? Claud. Marry, that can Hero; Hero itself can blot out Hero's virtue. What man was he, talk'd with you yesternight, Hero. I talk'd with no man at that hour, my Lord. I am sorry, you must hear:-- Upon mine honour, John. Fie, fie, they ar Not to be named, my Lord, not to be spoke of; Without offence to utter them: Thus, pretty lady, Claud. O Hero, what an angel had'st thou been, If half thy outward graces had been placed But, fare thee well, most foul, most fair! farewell! To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm, [HERO Swoons in the arms of BEATRICE. [Exeunt DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, and CLAUDIO. Leon. Hath no man's dagger here a point for me? Beatr. Why, how now, cousin? wherefore sink you down? Bened. [Advancing to HERO and BEATRICE.] How doth the lady? Beatr. Dead, I think ;-Help, uncle! Hero! why, Hero! uncle! Siguior Benedick! Friar! That may be wish'd for. Beatr. How now, cousin Hero? Friar. [Advancing to c.] Have comfort, lady. Friar. Yea; Wherefore should she not? Leon. (L.) Wherefore? Why, doth not every earthly thing Cry shame upon her? Could she here deny For my part, I am so attired in wonder, Beatr. O, on my soul, my cousin is belied! I have this twelvemonth been her bedfellow. Leon. Confirm'd, confirm'd! Oh, that is stronger made, Which was before barr'd up with ribs of iron? Would the two Princes lie? and Claudio lie? Who loved her so, that, speaking of her foulness, Wash'd it with tears? Hence! from her! let her die! Friar. (c.) Hear me a little; For I have only silent been so long, And given way unto this course of fortune, Trust not my reading, nor my observation, Leon. Friar, it cannot be : Thou seest, that all the grace that she hath left, A sin of perjury: she not denies it : Why seek'st thou, then, to cover with excuse Friar. Lady, what man is he, you are accused of? Hero. They know, that do accuse me: I know none: If I know more of any man alive, Than that, which maiden modesty doth warrant, Prove you that any man with me conversed At hours unmeet, or that I yesternight Maintain'd the change of words with any creature, Friar. (L. c.) There is some strange misprision in the Princes. Bened. (L.) Two of them have the very bent of ho nour; And if their wisdoms be misled in this, The practice of it lives in John, the bastard, Whose spirits toil in frames of villainies. Leon. I know not; if they speak but truth of her, These hands shall tear her; if they wrong her honour, The proudest of them shall well hear of it. Friar. Pause awhile, And let my counsel sway you in this case. Let her awhile be secretly kept in, And publish it, that she is dead indeed. Leon. What shall become of this? what will this do? Friar. She dying, as it must be so maintain'd, Upon the instant that she was accused, Shall be lamented, pity'd, and excused, Of every hearer: So will it fare with Claudio: |