SCENE V. Another room in LEONATO's house. Enter LEONATO, with DOGBERRY and VERGES. Leon. What would you with me, honest neighbour? Dog. Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you that decerns you nearly. Leon. Brief, I pray you; for you see it is a busy time with me. Dog. Marry, this it is, sir. Verg. Yes, in truth it is, sir. Leon. What is it, my good friends? Dog. Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off 10 the matter: an old man, sir, and his wits are not so blunt as, God help, I would desire they were ; but, in faith, honest as the skin between his brows. Verg. Yes, I thank God I am as honest as any man living that is an old man and no honester than I. Dog. Comparisons are odorous palabras, neighbour Verges. Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious. Dog. It pleases your worship to say so, 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 it in my heart to bestow it all of your worship. Leon. All thy tediousness on me, ah? Dog. Yea, an 'twere a thousand pound more 3. confidence, for 'conference.' 18. palabras, a corruption of the Span. pocas palabras, i.e. 'few words.' It appears as 20 paucas pallabris, in The Taming of the Shrew, Induct. 1. 5. 23. tedious; Dogberry understands by the word gracious,' or the like. 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 so am I. Leon. I would fain know what you have to say. Verg. Marry, sir, our watch to-night, excepting your worship's presence, ha' ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina. Dog. A good old man, sir; he will be talking: as they say, When the age is in, the wit is out: God help us! it is a world to see. Well said, 'faith, neighbour Verges: well, God's a good man; an two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind. An honest soul, i' faith, sir; by my troth he is, as ever broke bread; but God is to be worshipped; all men are not alike; alas, good neighbour ! Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you. Dog. Gifts that God gives. Leon. I must leave you. 30 40 Dog. One word, sir: our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two aspicious persons, and 50 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. Dog. It shall be suffigance. Leon. Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband. Leon. I'll wait upon them: I am ready, [Exeunt Leonato and Messenger. 60 Dog. Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacole; bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol we are now to examination these men. Verg. And we must do it wisely. Dog. We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's that shall drive some of them to a noncome only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I. A church. Enter DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, LEONATO, FRIAR FRANCIS, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, BEATRICE, and attendants. Leon. Come, Friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain form of marriage, and you shall recount their particular duties afterwards. Friar. You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady. Claud. 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. I do. Friar. If either of you 67. noncome, properly an abbreviation for non compos mentis, ⚫ of unsound mind'; but Dog know any inward impedi berry means to a nonplus. ment why you should not be conjoined, I charge you, on your souls, to utter it. Claud. Know you any, Hero ? Hero. None, my lord. Friar. Know you any, count? Leon. I dare make his answer, none. Claud. O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do, not knowing what they do! Bene. How now! interjections? some be of laughing, as, ah, ha, he! Why, then, 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 God did give her me. Claud. And what have I to give you back whose worth May counterpoise this rich and precious gift? 20 D. Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again. 30 Claud. Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankfulness. There, Leonato, take her back again: Give not this rotten orange to your friend; She's but the sign and semblance of her honour. O, what authority and show of truth. Can cunning sin cover itself withal ! Comes not that blood as modest evidence To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear, 22. Why, then, some be of laughing, etc., a quotation from the classification of interjections in the current school-grammars; But she is none: 40 cf. Lyly's Endym.: An interjection, whereof some are of mourning, as eho! vah!' 31. learn, teach. She knows the heat of a luxurious bed; Not to be married, Claud. I know what you would say: if I have You will say she did embrace me as a husband, No, Leonato, I never tempted her with word too large; But, as a brother to his sister, show'd Bashful sincerity and comely love. Hero. And seem'd I ever otherwise to you? Claud. Out on thee! Seeming! I will write against it You seem to me as Dian in her orb, As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown ; 50 But you are more intemperate in your blood 60 That rage in savage sensuality. Hero. Is my lord well, that he doth speak so Leon. Sweet prince, why speak not you? What should I speak? I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about To link my dear friend to a common stale. 42. luxurious, lustful. 45. approved, proved. 46. in your own proof, your self making trial of her. 51. the forehand sin, an act which was sinful only because premature. 53. large, free, loose. |