Dogb. Write down-prince John a villain:-Why this is flat perjury, to call a prince's brother-villain. Bora. Master constable, Dogb. Pray thee, fellow, peace; I do not like thy look, I promise thee. Sexton. What heard you him say else? 2 Watch. Marry, that he had received a thousand ducats of Don John, for accusing the lady Hero wrongfully. Dogb. Flat burglary, as ever was committed. 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. 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, remember, that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass:-No, thou * Bond. 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 that bath two gowns, and every thing handsome about him-Bring him away. O, that I had been writ down-an ass. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. 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. I pray thee, cease thy counsel, Which falls into mine ears as profitless As water in a sieve: give not me counsel; Nor let no comforter delight mine ear, But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine. Whose joy of her is overwhelm'd like mine, Measure his woe the length and breadth of mine, But there is no such man: For, brother, men Can counsel, and speak comfort to that grief To be so moral, when he shall endure The like himself: therefore give me no counsel: 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, That could endure the tooth-ach patiently; Leon. There thou speak'st reason: nay, I will do so. 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. Claud. Good day to both of you. We have some haste, Leonato. Leon. Hear you my lords, D. Pedro. 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. • Admonition. Ant. If he could right himself with quarreling, 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. Claud. Marry, beshrew my hand, If it should give your age such cause of fear: 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; O! in a tomb where never scandal slept, Leon. Thine, Claudio; thine I say. D. Pedro. You say not right, old man. Leon. My lord, my lord, I'll prove it on his body, if he dare; If thou kill'st me, boy, thou shalt kill a man. Ant. He shall kill two of us, and men indeed: But that's no matter; let him kill one first:Win me and wear me,-let him answer me, Skill in fencing. Come, follow me, boy; come, boy, follow me:- Leon. Brother, Ant. Content yourself: God knows, I lov'd my niece; And she is dead, slander'd to death by villains; As I dare take a serpent by the tongue : Leon. Brother Antony, 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; But, on my honour, she was charg'd with nothing But what was true, and very full of proof. Leon. My lord, my lord,— D. Pedro. Leon. I will not hear you. No? And shall, Brother, away:-I will be heard ; Ant. Or some of us will smart for it. [Exeunt Leonato and Antonio. Enter Benedick. D. Pedro. See, sce, here comes the mau we went to seek. * Thrusting. |