I stand dishonored, that have gone about To link my dear friend to a common stale. Leon. Are these things spoken? Or do I but dream? D. John. Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true. Bene. This looks not like a nuptial. Hero. Claud. Leonato, stand I here? True, O God! Is this the prince? Is this the prince's brother? Leon. All this is so; but what of this, my lord? Claud. Let me but move one question to your daughter; And by that fatherly and kindly power 1 1 That you have in her, bid her answer truly. Leon. I charge thee do so, as thou art my child. Hero. O God, defend me! How am I 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 talked with you yesternight you are a maid, answer to this. Hero. I talked with no man at that hour, my lord. D. Pedro. Why then are you no maiden.-Leonato, I am sorry you must hear. Upon my honor, Myself, my brother, and this grieved count, Did see her, hear her, at that hour last night, Talk with a ruffian at her chamber-window; Who hath, indeed, most like a liberal2 villain, Confessed the vile encounters they have had A thousand times in secret. 1 i. e. "natural power." Kind is used for nature. 2 Liberal here, as in many places of these plays, means licentious be For did I think thou wouldst not quickly die, Hath drops too few to wash her clean again! Bene. Sir, sir, be patient: For my part, I am so attired in wonder, I know not what to say. Beat. O, on my soul, my cousin is belied! Bene. Lady, were you her bedfellow last night? Beat. No, truly, not; although, until last night, I have this twelvemonth been her bedfellow. Leon. Confirmed, confirmed! O, that is stronger made, Which was before barred up with ribs of iron ! Would the two princes lie? and Claudio lie? Who loved her so, that, speaking of her foulness, Washed it with tears? Hence from her; let her die Friar. Hear me a little; For I have only been silent so long, And given way unto this course of fortune, By noting of the lady. I have marked A thousand blushing apparitions start 1 Frame is order, contrivance, disposition of things. Into her face; a thousand innocent shames Leon. Friar, it cannot be. Thou seest, that all the grace that she hath left, Is, that she will not add to her damnation 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, Maintained the change of words with any creature, 1 Friar. There is some strange misprision in the princes. 2 Bene. Two of them have the very bent of honor; And if their wisdoms be misled in this, The practice of it lives in John the bastard, Whose spirits toil in frame of villanies. Leon. I know not. If they speak but truth of her, These hands shall tear her; if they wrong her honor, The proudest of them shall well hear of it. Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, 1 Misconception. 2 Bent is here used for the utmost degree of, or tendency to, honorable conduct. |