Conft. Marrie fir, they haue committed falfe report, moreouer they haue fpoken vntruths, fecondarily they are flanders, fixt and laftly, they haue belyed a Ladie, thirdly, they haue verified vniuft things, and to conclude they are lying knaues.

Prin. First I aske thee what they haue done, thirdlie I aske thee vvhat's their offence, fixt and laftlie why they are committed, and to conclude, what you lay to their charge.

Clau. Rightlie reasoned, and in his owne diuifion, and by my troth there's one meaning vvell futed.

Prin. Who haue you offended mafters, that you are thus bound to your answer? this learned Conftable is too cunning to be vnderstood, vvhat's your offence?

Bor. Sweete Prince, let me go no farther to mine anfwere do you heare me, and let this Count kill mee: I haue deceiued euen your verie eies: vvhat your wifedomes could not difcouer, thefe fhallow fooles haue brought to light, vvho in the night ouerheard me confeffing to this man, how Don Iohn your brother incenfed me to flander the Ladie Hero, how you were brought into the Orchard, and faw me court Margaret in Heroes garments, how you difgrac'd her vvhen you fhould marrie her my villanie they haue vpon record, vvhich I had rather feale vvith my death, then repeate ouer to my fhame the Ladie is dead vpon mine and my masters falfe accufation: and briefelie, I defire nothing but the reward of a villaine.

:

Clau. I haue drunke poifon whiles he vtter'd it.
Prin. But did my Brother fet thee on to this?
Bor. Yea, and paid me richly for the practise of it.
Prin. He is compos'd and fram'd of treacherie,
And fled he is vpon this villanie.

Clau. Sweet Hero, now thy image doth appeare
In the rare femblance that I lou'd it first.

Conft. Come, bring away the plaintiffes, by this time our Sexton hath reformed Signior Leonato of the matter: and masters, do not forget to fpecifie when time & place thall ferue, that I am an Affe.

Con. 2. Here, here comes mafter Signior Leonato, and the Sexton too.

Enter Leonato.

Leon. Which is the villaine? let me fee his eies, That when I note another man like him,

I may auoide him: vvhich of thefe is he?

Bor. If you vvould know your wronger, looke on me. Leon. Art thou thou the flaue that with thy breath haft kild mine innocent childe?

Ber. Yea, euen I alone.

Leo. No, not fo villaine, thou belieft thy felfe, Here ftand a paire of honourable men,

A third is fled that had a hand in it:

I thanke you Princes for my daughters death,
Record it with your high and worthie deedes,
'Twas brauely done, if you bethinke you of it.
Clau. I know not how to pray your patience,
Yet I must speake, choose your reuenge your felfe,
Impofe me to what penance your inuention
Can lay vpon my finne, yet finn'd I not,
But in mistaking.

Prin. By my foule nor I,

And yet to fatisfie this good old man,

I vvould bend vnder anie heauie vvaight, That heele enioyne me to.

Leon. I cannot bid you bid my daughter liue, That vvere impoffible, but I praie you both, Poffeffe the people in Meljina here, How innocent fhe died, and if your loue Can labour aught in fad inuention, Hang her an epitaph vpon her toomb, And fing it to her bones, fing it to night: To morrow morning come you to my house, And fince you could not be my fonne in law, Be yet my Nephew: my brother hath a daughter, Almoft the copie of my childe that's dead, And the alone is heire to both of vs,

Giue her the right you should haue giu'n her cofin, And fo dies my reuenge.

Clau. O noble fir!

Your ouerkindneffe doth wring teares from me, do embrace your offer, and difpofe

For henceforth of poore Claudio.

Leon. To morrow then I will expect your comming,
To night I take my leaue, this naughtie man
Shall face to face be brought to Margaret,
Who I beleeue was packt in all this wrong,
Hired to it by your brother.

Bor. No by my foule fhe was not,

Nor knew not what he did when the fpoke to me,
But alwaies hath bin iuft and vertuous,

In anie thing that I do know by her.

Conft. Moreouer fir, which indeede is not vnder white and black, this plaintiffe here, the offendour did call mee affe, I beseech you let it be remembred in his punishment, and alfo the vvatch heard them talke of one Deformed, they fay he weares a keyin his eare and a lock hanging by it, and borrowes monie in Gods name, the which he hath vs'd fo long, and neuer paied, that now men grow hard-harted and will lend nothing for Gods fake : praie you examine him vpon that point.

Leon. I thanke thee for thy care and honeft paines. Conft. Your vvorfhip fpeakes like a moft thankefull and reuerend youth, and I praife God for you. Leon. There's for thy paines.

Conft. God faue the foundation.

Leon. Goe, I discharge thee of thy prifoner, and I thanke thee.

Conft. I leaue an arrant knaue vvith your vvorship, which I befeech your worship to correct your felfe, for the example of others: God keepe your vvorship, I with your worship vvell, God restore you to health, I humblie giue you leaue to depart, and if a merrie meeting may be wifht, God prohibite it : come neighbour.

Leon. Vntill to morrow morning, Lords, farewell. Exeunt. Brot. Farewell my Lords, vve looke for you to mor

Mar. Will you then write me a Sonnet in praise of my beautie?

Bene. In fo high a ftile Margaret, that no man liuing fhall come ouer it, for in moft comely truth thou deferueft it.

Mar. To haue no man come ouer me, why, fhall I alwaies keepe below staires?

Bene.Thy wit is as quicke as the grey-hounds mouth, it catches.

Mar. And yours, as blunt as the Fencers foiles, which hit, but hurt not.

Bene. A moft manly wit Margaret, it will not hurt a woman and fo I pray thee call Beatrice, I giue thee the bucklers.

Mar. Giue vs the fwords, wee haue bucklers of our

Mar. Well, I will call Beatrice to you, who I thinke hath legges. Exit Margarite. Ben. And therefore will come. The God of loue that fits aboue, and knowes me, and knowes me, how pittifull I deferue. I meane in finging, but in louing, Leander the good swimmer, Troilous the first imploier of pandars, and a whole booke full of thefe quondam carpet-mongers, whole name yet runne fmoothly in the euen rode of a blanke verfe, why they were neuer so truely turned ouer and ouer as my poore felfe in loue: marrie I cannot fhew it rime, I haue tried, I can finde out no rime to Ladie but babie, an innocent rime for fcorne, horne, a hard time for schoole foole, a babling time: verie ominous endings, no, I was not borne vnder a riming Plannet, for I cannot wooe in feftiuall tearmes : Enter Beatrice.

:

fweete Beatrice would't thou come when I cal'd thee?

Beat. Yea Signior, and depart when you bid me.
Bene. O ftay but till then.

Beat. Then, is spoken: fare you well now, and yet ere I goe, let me goe with that I came, which is, with knowing what hath past betweene you and Claudio.

Bene. Onely foule words, and thereupon I will kiffe thee.

Beat. Foule words is but foule wind, and foule wind is but foule breath, and foule breath is noifome, therefore I will depart vnkist.

Bene. Thou haft frighted the word out of his right fence, fo forcible is thy wit, but I must tell thee plainely, Claudio vndergoes my challenge, and either I must shortly heare from him, or I will fubfcribe him a coward, and I pray thee now tell me, for which of my bad parts didft thou firft fall in loue with me?

Beat. For them all together, which maintain'd fo politique a ftate of euill, that they will not admit any good part to intermingle with them but for which of my good parts did you firft fuffer loue for me?

Bene. Suffer loue! a good epithite, I do fuffer loue indeede, for I loue thee against my will.

Beat. In fpight of your heart I think, alas poore heart, if you fpight it for my fake, I will fpight it for yours, for I will neuer loue that which my friend hates.

Bened. Thou and I are too wife to wooe peaceablie.

Bea. It appeares not in this confeffion, there's not one wife man among twentie that will praise himselfe.

Bene. An old, an old inftance Beatrice, that liu'd in the time of good neighbours, if a man doe not erect in this age his owne tombe ere he dies, hee shall liue no longer in monuments, then the Bels ring, & the Widdow

weepes.

Beat. And how long is that thinke you?

Ben. Question, why an hower in clamour and a quarter in rhewme, therfore is it moft expedient for the wife, if Don worme (his confcience) finde no impediment to the contrarie, to be the trumpet of his owne vertues, as I am to my felfe fo much for praifing my felfe, who I my felfe will beare witneffe is praife worthie, and now tell me, how doth your cofin?

Beat. Verie ill.

Bene. And how doe you? Beat. Verie ill too.

Enter Urfula.

Bene.Serue God, loue me, and mend, there will I leaue you too, for here comes one in haste.

Vrf. Madam, you must come to your Vncle, yonders old coile at home, it prooued my Ladie Hero hath bin falfelie accufde, the Prince and Claudio mightilie abufde, and Don Iohn is the author of all, who is fled and gone will you come presentlie?

Beat. Will you go heare this newes Signior?

Bene. I will liue in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be buried in thy eies : and moreouer, I will goe with thee to thy Vncles. Exeunt.

Lo. Now vnto thy bones good night, yeerely will I do Prin. Good morrow mafters, put your Torches out, The wolues haue preied, and looke, the gentle day Before the wheeles of Phœbus, round about Dapples the drowfie Eaft with spots of grey : Thanks to you all, and leaue vs, fare you well.

Clau. Good morrow masters, each his feuerall way. Prin. Come let vs hence, and put on other weedes, And then to Leonatoes we will goe.

Clau. And Hymen now with luckier iffue fpeeds,

Then

Exeunt.

Then this for whom we rendred vp this woe.
Enter Leonato, Bene. Marg. Vrfula, old man, Frier, Hero.
Frier. Did I not tell you fhe was innocent?
Leo. So are the Prince and Claudio who accus'd her,
Vpon the errour that you heard debated:
But Margaret was in fome fault for this,
Although against her will as it appeares,
In the true courfe of all the question.

Old. Well, I am glad that all things fort fo well.
Bene. And fo am I, being else by faith enforc'd
To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it.

Leo. Well daughter, and you gentlewomen all,
Withdraw into a chamber by your felues,
And when I fend for you, come hither mask'd:
The Prince and Claudio promis'd by this howre
To vifit me, you know your office Brother,
You must be father to your brothers daughter,
And giue her to young Claudio.

Exeunt Ladies. Old. Which I will doe with confirm'd countenance. Bene. Frier, I must intreat your paines, I thinke. Frier. To doe what Signior?

Bene. To binde me, or vndoe me, one of them: Signior Leonato, truth it is good Signior,

Your neece regards me with an eye of fauour.

Leo. That eye my daughter lent her, 'tis most true. Bene. And I doe with an eye of loue requite her. Leo. The fight whereof I thinke you had from me, From Claudio, and the Prince, but what's your will? Bened. Your anfwer fir is Enigmaticall,

But for my will, my will is, your good will
May ftand with ours, this day to be conioyn'd,
In the ftate of honourable marriage,

In which (good Frier) I fhall defire your helpe.
Leon. My heart is with your liking.
Frier. And my helpe.

Enter Prince and Claudio, with attendants.
Prin. Good morrow to this faire affembly.
Leo. Good morrow Prince, good morrow Claudio:
We heere attend you, are you yet determin'd,
To day to marry with my brothers daughter?

Claud. Ile hold my minde were the an Ethiope.

Leo. Call her forth brother, heres the Frier ready. Prin. Good morrow Benedike, why what's the matter? That you haue fuch a Februarie face,

So full of froft, of ftorme, and clowdineffe.

Claud. I thinke he thinkes vpon the fauage bull: Tufh, feare not man, wee'll tip thy hornes with gold, And all Europa fhall reioyce at thee,

As once Europa did at lufty Toue,

When he would play the noble beast in loue.

Ben. Bull Ioue fir, had an amiable low,

And fome fuch strange bull leapt your fathers Cow,

A got a Calfe in that fame noble feat,

Much like to you, for you haue iuft his bleat.

Enter brother, Hero, Beatrice, Margaret, Vrfula. Cla. For this I owe you: here comes other recknings. Which is the Lady I muft feize vpon?

Leo. This fame is fhe, and I doe giue you her. Cla. Why then she's mine, fweet let me fee your face. Leon. No that you fhal not, till you take her hand, Before this Frier, and fweare to marry her.

Clau. Giue me your hand before this holy Frier,

I am your husband if you like of me.

Hero. And when I liu'd I was your other wife,

And when you lou'd, you were my other husband.
Clau. Another Hero?

Hero. Nothing certainer. One Hero died, but I doe liue, And furely as I liue, I am a maid.

Prin. The former Hero, Hero that is dead.

Leon. Shee died my Lord, but whiles her flander liu'd.
Frier. All this amazement can I qualifie,

When after that the holy rites are ended,

Ile tell you largely of faire Heroes death:
Meane time let wonder feeme familiar,
And to the chappell let vs prefently.

Ben. Soft and faire Frier, which is Beatrice?
Beat. I answer to that name, what is your will?
Bene. Doe not you loue me?

Beat. Why no, no more then reason.

Bene. Why then your Vncle, and the Prince, & Claudio, haue beene deceiued, they fwore you did.

Beat. Doe not you loue mee?

Bene. Troth no, no more then reason.
Beat. Why then my Cofin Margaret and Urfula
Are much deceiu'd, for they did fweare you did.
Bene. They fwore you were almost sicke for me.
Beat. They fwore you were wel-nye dead for me.
Bene. 'Tis no matter, then you doe not loue me?
Beat. No truly, but in friendly recompence.

Leon. Come Cofin, I am fure you loue the gentlemã.
Clau. And Ile be fworne vpon't, that he loues her,
For heres a paper written in his hand,

A halting fonnet of his owne pure braine,
Fashioned to Beatrice.

Hero. And heeres another,

Writ in my cofins hand, ftolne from her pocket,
Containing her affection vnto Benedicke.

Bene. A miracle, here's our owne hands against our hearts come I will haue thee, but by this light I take thee for pittie.

Beat. I would not denie you, but by this good day,I yeeld vpon great perfwafion, & partly to faue your life, for I was told, you were in a confumption.

Leon. Peace I will stop your mouth.

Prin. How doft thou Benedicke the married man? Bene. Ile tell thee what Prince: a Colledge of wittecrackers cannot flout mee out of my humour, doft thou think I care for a Satyre or an Epigram? no, if a man will be beaten with braines, a fhall weare nothing handsome about him in briefe, fince I do purpose to marry, I will thinke nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it, and therefore neuer flout at me, for I haue faid against it for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclufion: for thy part Claudio, I did thinke to haue beaten thee, but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, liue vnbruis'd, and loue my coufin.

Cla. I had well hop'd y wouldst haue denied Beatrice, y I might haue cudgel'd thee out of thy fingle life, to make thee a double dealer, which out of queftio thou wilt be, if my Coufin do not looke exceeding narrowly to thee. Bene. Come, come, we are friends, let's haue a dance ere we are married, that we may lighten our own hearts, and our wiues heeles.

Leon. Wee'll haue dancing afterward.

Bene. First, of my vvord, therfore play mufick. Prince, thou art fad, get thee a vvife, get thee a vvife, there is no staff more reuerend then one tipt with horn. Enter. Mef. Meffen. My Lord, your brother Iohn is tane in flight, And brought with armed men backe to Messina.

Bene. Thinke not on him till to morrow, ile deuife thee braue punishments for him: ftrike vp Pipers. Dance.

L

FINIS.

122

Enter Ferdinand King of Nauarre, Berowne, Longauill, and

Dumane.

Ferdinand.

Et Fame, that all hunt after in their liues,
Liue registred vpon our brazen Tombes,
And then grace vs in the difgrace of death:
when fpight of cormorant deuouring Time,
Th'endeuour of this prefent breath may buy:
That honour which fhall bate his fythes keene edge,
And make vs heyres of all eternitie.

Therefore braue Conquerours, for so you are,
That warre against your owne affections,
And the huge Armie of the worlds defires.
Our late edict fhall ftrongly ftand in force,
Nauar fhall be the wonder of the world.
Our Court shall be a little Achademe,
Still and contemplatiue in liuing Art.

You three, Berowne, Dumaine, and Longauill,

Haue fworne for three yeeres terme, to liue with me:
My fellow Schollers, and to keepe thofe ftatutes
That are recorded in this fcedule heere.

Your oathes are paft, and now fubfcribe your names:
That his owne hand may strike his honour downe,
That violates the smallest branch heerein:
If you are arm'd to doe, as fworne to do,
Subscribe to your deepe oathes, and keepe it to.

Longauill. I am refolu'd, 'tis but a three yeeres faft:
The minde fhall banquet, though the body pine,
Fat paunches haue leane pates: and dainty bits,
Make rich the ribs, but bankerout the wits.

Dumane. My louing Lord, Dumane is mortified,
The groffer manner of these worlds delights,
He throwes vpon the groffe worlds bafer flaues :
To loue, to wealth, to pompe, I pine and die,
With all these liuing in Philofophie.

Berowne. I can but fay their protestation ouer,
So much, deare Liege, I haue already fworne,
That is, to liue and study heere three yeeres.
But there are other strict obferuances:
As not to fee a woman in that terme,
Which I hope well is not enrolled there.
And one day in a weeke to touch no foode:
And but one meale on euery day befide:
The which I hope is not enrolled there.
And then to fleepe but three houres in the night,
And not be feene to winke of all the day.
When I was wont to thinke no harme all night,
And make a darke night too of halfe the day:

Which I hope well is not enrolled there.
O, these are barren taskes, too hard to keepe,
Not to fee Ladies, ftudy, faft, not sleepe.

Ferd. Your oath is paft, to paffe away from these.
Berow. Let me fay no my Liedge, and if you please,
I onely fwore to study with your grace,
And stay heere in your Court for three yeeres space.
Longa. You fwore to that Berowne, and to the reft.
Berow. By yea and nay fir, than I swore in ieft.
What is the end of study, let me know?

Fer. Why that to know which elfe wee fhould not know.

Ber. Things hid & bard (you meane) frõ comon sense. Ferd. I, that is ftudies god-like recompence.

Bero. Come on then, I will fweare to ftudie fo,

To know the thing I am forbid to know:
As thus, to study where I well may dine,
When I to faft expreffely am forbid.

Or ftudie where to meet fome Miftreffe fine,
When Miftreffes from common fenfe are hid.
Or hauing fworne too hard a keeping oath,
Studie to breake it, and not breake my troth.
If ftudies gaine be thus, and this be fo,
Studie knowes that which yet it doth not know,
Sweare me to this, and I will nere fay no.

Ferd. These be the ftops that hinder ftudie quite,

And traine our intellects to vaine delight.

Ber. Why? all delights are vaine, and that most vaine
Which with paine purchas'd, doth inherit paine,
As painefully to poare vpon a Booke,

To feeke the light of truth, while truth the while
Doth falfely blinde the eye-fight of his looke:
Light feeeking light, doth light of light beguile :
So ere you finde where light in darkeneffe lies,
Your light growes darke by lofing of your eyes.
Studie me how to please the eye indeede,
By fixing it vpon a fairer eye,

Who dazling fo, that eye fhall be his heed,
And giue him light that it was blinded by.
Studie is like the heauens glorious Sunne,
That will not be deepe fearch'd with fawcy lookes:
Small haue continuall plodders euer wonne,
Saue bafe authoritie from others Bookes.
Thefe earthly Godfathers of heauens lights,
That giue a name to euery fixed Starre,
Haue no more profit of their shining nights,
Then thofe that walke and wot not what they are.
Too much to know, is to know nought but fame :
And euery Godfather can giue a name.

Fer. How well hee's read, to reafon against reading.

Dum.

Dum. Proceeded well, to ftop all good proceeding. Lon. Hee weedes the corne, and ftill lets grow the weeding.

Ber. The Spring is neare when greene geeffe are a breeding.

Dum. How followes that?

Ber. Fit in his place and time.

Dum. In reafon nothing.

Ber. Something then in rime.

Ferd. Berowne is like an enuious fneaping Froft, That bites the first borne infants of the Spring.

Ber. Wel, fay I am, why should proud Summer boast, Before the Birds haue any cause to fing? Why should I ioy in any abortiue birth?

At Chriftmas I no more defire a Rofe,

Then with a Snow in Mayes new fangled fhowes:
But like of each thing that in season growes.
So you to ftudie now it is too late,

That were to clymbe ore the houfe to vnlocke the gate.
Fer. Well, fit you out: go home Bercwne: adue.
Ber. No my good Lord, I haue fworn to stay with you.
And though I haue for barbarisme spoke more,
Then for that Angell knowledge you can say,
Yet confident Ile keepe what I haue fworne,
And bide the pennance of each three yeares day.
Giue me the paper, let me reade the fame,
And to the ftricteft decrees Ile write my name.

Fer. How well this yeelding refcues thee from fhame.
Ber. Item. That no woman fhall come within a mile

of my Court.

Hath this bin proclaimed?

Lon. Foure dayes agoe.
Ber. Let's fee the penaltie.
On paine of loofing her tongue.
Who deuis'd this penaltie?

Len. Marry that did I.

Ber. Sweete Lord, and why?

Lon. To fright them hence with that dread penaltie, A dangerous law against gentilitie.

Item, If any man be feene to talke with a woman within the tearme of three yeares, hee fhall indure fuch publique fhame as the rest of the Court fhall poffibly deuife.

Ber. This Article my Liedge your felfe muft breake, For well you know here comes in Embaffie

The French Kings daughter, with your felfe to fpeake :
A Maide of grace and compleate maieftie,

About furrender vp of Aquitaine :

To her decrepit, ficke, and bed-rid Father.
Therefore this Article is made in vaine,

Or vainly comes th'admired Princesse hither.
Fer. What fay you Lords?
Why, this was quite forgot.

Ber. So Studie euermore is ouershot,
While it doth ftudy to haue what it would,
It doth forget to doe the thing it should:
And when it hath the thing it hunteth moft,
'Tis won as townes with fire, fo won, fo loft.

Fer. We muft of force difpence with this Decree,

She muft lye here on meere neceffitie.

Ber. Neceffity will make vs all forfworne

Three thousand times within this three yeeres fpace:
For

euery man with his affects is borne,

Not by might maftred, but by fpeciall grace.

If I breake faith, this word fhall breake for me,
I am forfworne on meere neceffitie.

So to the Lawes at large I write my name,
And he that breakes them in the leaft degree,
Stands in attainder of eternall shame.
Suggestions are to others as to me:
But I beleeue although I feeme fo loth,
I am the last that will last keepe his oth.
But is there no quicke recreation granted?

Fer. I that there is, our Court you know is hanted With a refined trauailer of Spaine,

A man in all the worlds new fashion planted,
That hath a mint of phrafes in his braine :
One, who the muficke of his owne vaine tongue,
Doth rauish like inchanting harmonie :

A man of complements whom right and wrong
Haue chofe as vmpire of their mutinie.
This childe of fancie that Armado hight,
For interim to our ftudies fhall relate,

In high-borne words the worth of many a Knight:
From tawnie Spaine loft in the worlds debate.
How you delight my Lords, I know not I,
But I proteft I loue to heare him lie,
And I will vfe him for my Minstrelfie.

Bero. Armado is a moft illuftrious wight,

A man of fire, new words, fafhions owne Knight.
Lon. Coftard the swaine and he, fhall be our fport,
And so to studie, three yeeres is but short.

Enter a Conftable with Coftard with a Letter.

Conft. Which is the Dukes owne person.
Ber. This fellow, What would'st?

Con. I my felfe reprehend his owne perfon, for I am his graces Tharborough: But I would fee his own person in flesh and blood.

Ber. This is he.

Con. Signeor Arme, Arme commends you:

Ther's villanie abroad, this letter will tell you more.
Clow. Sir the Contempts thereof are as touching

mee.

Fer. A letter from the magnificent Armado.

Ber. How low foeuer the matter, I hope in God for high words.

Lon. A high hope for a low heauen, God grant vs patience.

Ber. To heare, or forbeare hearing.

Lon. To heare meekely fir, and to laugh moderately, or to forbeare both.

Ber. Well fir, be it as the ftile fhall giue vs cause to clime in the merrineffe.

Clo. The matter is to me fir, as concerning Iaquenetta.
The manner of it is, I was taken with the manner.
Ber. In what manner?

Clo. In manner and forme following fir all those three. I was feene with her in the Mannor houfe, fitting with her vpon the Forme, and taken following her into the Parke which put to gether, is in manner and forme following. Now fir for the manner; It is the manner of a man to fpeake to a woman, for the forme in fome forme.