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the ftreets; for, for the watch to babble and talk, is moft tolerable, and not to be endur'd.

2 Watch. "We will rather fleep than talk; we know "what belongs to a watch."

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Dogb. "Why, you fpeak like an ancient and most quiet watchman, for I cannot fee how fleeping fhould offend; only have a care that your bills be "not ftolen. Well, you are to call at all the ale"houfes, and bid them that are drunk get them to "bed."

2 Watch. How if they will not?

Dogb. Why then let them alone till they are fober; if they make you not then the better anfwer, you may fay, they are not the men you took them for.

2 Watch. Well, Sir.

Dogb. If you meet a thief, you may fufpect him by virtue of your office to be no true man; and for fuch kind of men, the less you meddle or make with them, why, the more is for your honesty.

2 Watch. If we know him to be a thief, fhall we not lay hands on him?

Dogb. Truly, by your office you may; but, I think, they that touch pitch will be defil'd: the moft peaceable way for you, if you do take a thief, is, to let him fhew himfelf what he is, and fteal out of your company.

Verg. You have been always call'd a merciful man, partner.

Dogb. Truly, I would not hang a dog by my will, much more a man who hath any honefty in him,

Verg. If you hear a child cry in the night, you must call to the nurfe and bid her ftill it.

2 Watch. How if the nurse be afleep, and will not hear us?

Dogb. Why, then depart in peace, and let the child wake her with crying: for the ewe that will not hear her lamb when it baes, will never anfwer a calf when he bleats.

Verg. 'Tis very true.

Dogb. This is the end of the charge: you, conftable, are to prefent the Prince's own perfon; if you meet the Prince in the night, you may stay him.

VOL. II.

D

Verg. Nay, birlady, that, I think, he cannot.

Dogb. Five fhillings to one on't with any man that knows the ftatutes, he may ftay him; marry, not without the Prince be willing: for indeed the watch ought to offend no man; and it is an offence to stay a man against his will.

Verg. Birlady, I think it be fo.

Dogb. Ha, ha, ha! well, masters, good night; an there be any matter of weight chances, call up me; keep your fellow's counfels and your own, and good night. Come, neighbour.

2 Watch. Well, mafters, we hear our charge; let us go fit here upon the church-bench till two, and then all

to bed.

Dogb. One word more, honeft neighbours. I pray you watch about Signior Leonato's door, for the wedding being there to-morrow, there is a great coil tonight. Adieu; be vigilant, I befeech you.

SCENE V.

[Exeunt Dogberry and Verges.

Enter Borachio and Conrade.

[Afide.

Bora. What? Conrade

Watch. Peace, ftir not.

Bora. Conrade, I say.

Conr. Here, man, I am at thy elbow.

Bora. Mafs, and my elbow itch'd, I thought there would a fcab follow.

Conr. I will owe thee an answer for that, and now forward with thy tale.

Bora. Stand thee close then under this pent-house, for it drizzles rain, and I will, like a true drunkard, utter all to thee.

Watch. Some treason, masters; yet ftand close.

Bora. Therefore know, I have earned of Don John a thousand ducats.

Conr. Is it poffible that any villany fhould be fo dear?

Bora. Thou fhould'ft rather ask, if it were poffible any villain fhould be fo rich? for when rich villains have need of poor ones, poor ones may make what price they will.

Conr. I wonder at it.

Bora. That fhews, thou art unconfirm'd; thou knoweft, that the fashion of a doublet, or a hat, or a cloak, is nothing to a man.

Conr. Yes, it is apparel.

Bora. I mean the fashion.

Conr. Yes, the fashion is the fashion.

Bora. Tufh, I may as well fay, the fool's the fool; but feeft thou not, what a deformed thief this fashion is?

Watch. I know that Deformed; he has been a vile thief these seven years; he goes up and down like a gentleman: I remember his name.

Bora. Didft thou not hear fome body?

Conr. No, 'twas the vane on the house.

Bora. Seeft thou not, I fay, what a deformed thief this fashion is? how giddily he turns about all the hotbloods between fourteen and five and thirty, fometimes fashioning them like Pharaoh's foldiers in the reachy painting; fometimes like the God Bel's priests in the old church window; fometimes like the fhaven Hercules in the fmirch worm-eaten tapeftry, where his codpiece feems as maffy as his club.

Conr. All this I fee, and fee that the fashion wears out more apparel than the man; but art not thou thyfelf giddy with the fashion too, that thou haft shifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fashion?

Bora. Not fo neither; but know, that I have to-night wooed Margaret, the Lady Heroe's gentlewoman, by the name of Hero; fhe leans me out at her miftrefs's chamber-window, bids me a thousand times good night I tell this tale vildly-I fhould firft tell thee, how the Prince, Claudio, and my mafter, planted and placed, and poffeffed by my mafter Don John, faw a far off in the orchard this amiable encounter.

Conr. And thought they Margaret was Hero?

Bora. Two of them did, the Prince and Claudio; but the devil my mafter knew fhe was Margaret; and partly by his oaths, which firft poffefs'd them; partly by the dark night, which did deceive them; but chiefly by my villany, which did confirm any flander that Don John had made, away went Claudio enraged; fwore, he would meet her as he was appointed next morning at the

Meaning Samfon.,

temple, and there, before the whole congregation, shame her with what he faw o'er night, and fend her home again without a husband.

I Watch. We charge you in the Prince's name, ftand. 2 Watch. Call up the right Mafter Conftable; we have here recovered the most dangerous piece of lechery that ever was known in the common-wealth.

I Watch. And one Deformed is one of them; E know him, he wears a lock.

Conr. Mafters, Mafters,

2 Watch. You'll be made bring Deformel forth, I warrant you.

Conr. Mafters,

I Watch. Never fpeak; we charge you, let us obey you to go with us.

Bora. We are like to prove a goodly commodity, being taken up of these mens bills.

Conr. A commodity in question, I warrant you : come, we'll obey you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI. Hero's apartment in Leonato's house.

Enter Hero, Margaret, and Ursula.

Hero. Good Urfula, wake my coufin Beatrice, and defire her to rife.

Urf. I will, Lady.

Hero. And bid her come hither.

Urf. Well,

[Exit.

Marg. Troth, I think your other rebato were better. Hero. No, pray thee, good Meg, I'll wear this. Marg. By my troth, it's not fo good; and I warrant your coufin will fay fo.

Hero. My coufin's a fool, and thou art another. I'll wear none but this.

Marg. I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair were a thought browner; and your gown's a moft rare fashion, i'faith. I faw the Dutchefs of Milan's

gown, that they praise fo.

Hero. O, that exceeds, they fay.

Marg. By my troth, it's but a night-gown in refpect of your's; cloth of gold and cuts, and lac'd with filver,. fet with pearls down-fleeves, fide-fleeves and fkirts,

round underborne with a bluish tinfel; but for a fine, queint, graceful, and excellent fashion, your's is worth ten on't.

Hero. God give me joy to wear it, for my heart is exceeding heavy!

Marg. 'Twill be heavier foon by the weight of a man. Hero. Fie upon thee, art not afham'd?

Marg. Of what, Lady? of speaking honourably? Is. not marriage honourable in a beggar? is not your Lord honourable without marriage? I think you would have me fay (faving your reverence) a husband. If bad thinking do not wreft true fpeaking, I'll offend no body; is there any harm in the heavier for a husband? None, I think, if it be the right husband, and the right wife, otherwife 'tis light and not heavy. Afk my Lady Beatrice elfe, here fhe comes.

SCENE VII.

Hero. Good morrow, coz.

Enter Beatrice.

Beat. Good morrow, fweet Hero.

Hero. Why, how now? do you speak in the fick tune ?

Beat. I am out of all other tune, methinks.

Marg. Clap us into Light o' love; that goes without a burden; do you fing it, and I'll dance it.

Beat. Yes, Light o' love with your heels; then if your husband have ftables enough, you'll look he shall lack no barns.

Marg. O illegitimate construction! I fcorn that with my heels.

Beat. 'Tis almoft five o'clock, coufin; 'tis time you were ready: by my troth, I am exceeding ill; hey ho! Marg. For a hawk, a horse, or a husband?

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Beat. For the letter that begins them all, H.

Marg. Well, if you be not turn'd Turk, there's no more failing by the star.

Beat. What means the fool, trow?

Marg. Nothing I, but God fend every one their heart's defire !

Hero. Thefe gloves the Count fent me; they are an excellent perfume.

Beat. I am stuff'd, coufin, I cannot smell,

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