sand ducats of Don John, for accusing the lady Hero wrongfully. Dogb. Flat burglary, as ever was committed. Verg. Yea, by the mass, that it is. Sexton. What else, fellow? 1 Watch. And that count Claudio did mean, upon his words, to disgrace Hero before the whole assembly, and not marry her. Dogb. O villain! thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption for this. Sexton. What else? 2 Watch. This is all. Sexton. And this is more, masters, than you can deny. Prince John is this morning secretly stolen away; Hero was in this manner accused, in this very manner refused, and upon the grief of this, suddenly died.-Master constable, let these men be bound, and brought to Leonato's; I will go before, and show him their examination. [Exit. Dogb. Come, let them be opinioned. Verg. Let them be in band.Î Con. Off, coxcomb! Dogb. God's my life! where's the sexton? let him write down-the prince's officer, coxcomb.Come, bind them :- Thou naughty varlet! Con. Away! you are an ass, you are an ass. Dogb. Dost thou not suspect my place? Dost thou not suspect my years?-O that he were here to write me down-an ass!-but, masters, remem ber, that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass :--No, thou villain, thou art full of piety, as shall be proved upon thee by good witness. I am a wise fellow; and, which is more, an officer; and, which is more, a householder: and, which is more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in Messina; and one that knows the law, go to; and a rich fellow enough, go to; and a fellow that hath had losses; and one (1) Bond. that hath two gowns, and every thing handsome about him:--Bring him away. O, that I had been writ down--an ass. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE 1-Before Leonato's house. Enter Leonato and Antonio. Ant. If you go on thus, you will kill yourself; And 'tis not wisdom, thus to second grief Against yourself. Leon. As water in a sieve: give not me counsel; But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine. Measure his wo the length and breadth of mine, But there is no such man: For, brother, men To be so moral, when he shall endure The like himself; therefore give me no counsel: My griefs cry louder than advertisement.1 Ant. Therein do men from children nothing differ. Leon. I pray thee, peace: I will be flesh and blood; For there was never yet philosopher, My soul doth tell me, Hero is belied; And that shall Claudio know, so shall the prince, And all of them, that thus dishonour her. Enter Don Pedro and Claudio. Ant. Here comes the prince, and Claudio, hastily. D. Pedro. Good den, good den. Claud. Good day to both of you. Leon. Hear you my lords, D. Pedro. We have some haste, Leonato. Leon. Some haste, my lord!-well, fare you well, my lord: Are you so hasty now?-well, all is one. D. Pedro. Nay, do not quarrel with us, good old man. Ant. If he could right himself with quarrelling, Some of us would lie low. Claud. Leon. Who wrongs him? Marry, Thou, thou dost wrong me; thou dissembler, thou:-Nay, never lay thy hand upon thy sword, I fear thee not. Marry, beshrew my hand, If it should give your age such cause of fear: (1) Admonition. In faith, my hand meant nothing to my sword. Leon. Tush, tush, man, never fleer and jest at me: I speak not like a dotard, nor a fool; As, under privilege of age, to brag What I have done being young, or what would do, I say, thou hast belied mine innocent child; And she lies buried with her ancestors: Leon. If thou kill'st me, boy, thou shalt kill a man. Leon. Brother, Ant. Content yourself: God knows, I lov'd n niece; 1 my And she is dead, slander'd to death by villains; That dare as well answer a man, indeed, (1) Skill in fencing. (2) Thrusting. As I dare take a serpent by the tongue : Leon. Ant. Hold you content; What, man! I know them, yea, And what they weigh, even to the utmost scruple: Leon. But, brother Antony, Ant. Come, 'tis no matter; Do not you meddle, let me deal in this. D. Pedro. Gentlemen both, we will not wake your patience. My heart is sorry for your daughter's death; D. Pedro. Leon. I will not hear you. Brother, away:-I will be heard ;— Or some of us will smart for it. No? And shall, [Exeunt Leonato and Antonio. Enter Benedick. D. Pedro. See, see, here comes the man we went to seek. Claud. Now, signior! what news? Bene. Good day, my lord. D. Pedro. Welcome, signior: You are almost come to part almost a fray. Claud. We had like to have had our two noses snapped off with two old men without teeth. D. Pedro. Leonato and his brother: What think'st thou? Had we fought, I doubt, we should have been too young for them. |