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Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed ? | Methinks, I see a quick’ning in his eye.Proo. No, my good lord; it was by private Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well : message.

Look that you love your wife; ber worth wortb Duke. For which I do discharge you of your

yours.office :

I find an apt remission in myself: Give up your keys.

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon :-Prov.

Pardon me, noble lord : You, sirrah, [To Lucio] that knew me for a fool, I thougtt it was a fault, but knew it not:

a coward, Yet did repent me, after more advice :

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
For testimony whereof, one in the prison,

Wherein hare I so deserv'd of you,
That should by private order else bave died, That you extol me thus ?
I hare resery'd alive.

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according
Duke.
What's he?

to the trick : If you will hang me for it, you may; Prov.

His name is Barnardine. but I had rather it would please you, I'might ba Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Claudio,– whipp'd. Go, fetch bim bither; let me look upon him. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after,

[Exit Provost. Proclaim it, provost, round about the city; Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow, As you, Lord Angelo, have still appear'd,

(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one 8! uld slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood, Whom he begot with child,) let her appear, And lack of temper'd judgment afterward. And he shall marry ber: nuptial finishid,

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure : Let him be whipp'd and bang'd. And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry, That I crave death more willingly than mercy;

me to a whore' Your bighness said even now, 1 Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

made you a duke; good my lord, do not recom

pense me, in making me a cuckold Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. JULIET.

Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Duke. Which is that Barnardine ?

Remit thy other forfeits :Take bim to prison : Prou.

This, my lord. And see our pleasure herein executed. Duke. There was a friar told me of this man :- Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, death, whipping, and banging: That apprebends no further than this world,

Duke. Slandering a prinos deserves it.And squars't thy life according. Thou’rt con. She, Claudio, that you wrongd, look you restore.denn'd;

Joy to you, Mariana !- love her, Angelo; But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all ; I have confess'd ber, and I know her virtue, And pray thee, take this mercy to provide Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodFor better times to come :--Friar, adrise him ; I leave bim to your hand.- What muffled fellow's There's more bebind, that is more gratulate. that?

Thanks, provost, for thy care, and secrecy; Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, We shall employ thee in a worthier place :That should have died when Claudio lost his head; Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you bom As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;

[Unmuffles CI AUDIO. The offence pardons itself.— Drar Isabel, Duke. If he be like your brother, (To Isabella] I have a motion much imports your good; for bis sake

Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline, Is be pardon'd: And, for your lovely sake, What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine : Give me your band, and say you will be mine, So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show He is my brother too : But étter time for that. What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know By ibis, Lord Angelo perceives he's safe :

( Essunt.

ness:

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and Don Pedro, prince of Arragon.

There appears much joy in him; even so much, tba: Don John, his baslard brother.

joy could not show itself modest enough, without a Claudio, a young lord of Florence, favourite to badge of bitterness. Don Pedro.

Leon. Did he break out into tears ? BENEDICK, a young lord of Padua, favourite likewise

Mess. In great measure. of Don Pedro.

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness : There are Leonato, governor of Messina.

no faces truer than those that are so wasbed. How ANTONIO, his brother.

much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy aBALTHAZAR, servant to Don Pedro.

weeping ! Borachio,

Beat. I pray you, is Signior Montanto retur de i followers of Don John. CONRADE,

from the wars, or no ? Doc BERRY,

Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there we :: VERGES, two foolish officers.

none such in the army of any sort. A Sexton,

Leon. What is be that you ask for, niece ? A Friar.

Hero. My cousin means Signior Benedick ei

Padua, A Boy.

Mess. 0, he is returned, and as pleasant as eve; Hero, daughter to Leonato. BEATRICE, niece to Leonato.

Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina, and MARCARET,

challenged Cupid at the flight: and my uncle's fool, URSULA,

reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and Messengers, Watch, and Attendants.

challenged him at the bird-bolt.-I pray you, hope

many hath be killed and eaten in these wars? Bu? SCENE,-Messina.

| bow many bath be killed ? for, indeed, I pro iseu to eat all of his killing.

Leon. Faith, niece, you tax Signior Benedick toc much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not.

Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these

he was.

} gentlewomen atter:ding on Hero.

wars.

ACT I.

Beat. You had musty victuul, and be bath help

to eat it. He is a very valiant trencber-ma bo SCENE I.-Before Leonato's House. hath an excellent stomach.

Mess. And a good soldier too, lady. Enter LEONATO, HERO, BEATRICE, and others, with

Beat. And a good soldier to a lady ;-But wha a Messenger.

is he to a lord ? Leon. I learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; s'uffed Arragon comes this night to Messina.

with all honourable virtues. Mess. He is very near by this; he was not three Beat. It is so, indeed : be is no less than a leagues off when I left him.

stuffed man: but for the stuffing,–Well, we a ea: Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in mortal. tbis action ?

Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my nieoe : Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name. there is a kind of merry war betwixt Siznior Be.

Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever nedick and her: they never meet, but there is a brings home full numbers. I find here, that Donskirmish of wit between them. Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Flo- Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our. rentine, called Claudio.

last conflict four of his five wits went halting off, Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally and now is the old mau governed with one: 80 thai remembered by Don Pedro: He hath borne him- if he have wit en dugh to keep himself warm let 6c1f beyond the promise of his age; doing, in the bim bear it for a difference between himself and tigure of a lamb, the feats of a lin: he hath, in. This horse ; for it is all the wealth that he hath left. deed, better betiered expectation, than you must to be known a reasonable creature.- Who hii expect of me to tell you how,

companion now? He hatb erery month & RON Leon. He bath an uncle here in Messina will be sworn bro her. very much glad of it.

Mess. Is it possible ?

Beat. Very easily possible : he wears bis faith Beat. You always end with a jade's trick; I but as the fashion of bis hat, it ever changes with know you of old. the next block.

D. Pedro. This is the sum of all: Leonato,Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your Signior Claudio, and Signior Benedick,-my dear books.

friend Leonato bath invited you all. I tell him Beat. No: an be were, I would burn my study. we shall stay bere at the least a month ; and he But, I pray you, who is his companion ? Is there heartily prays some occasion may detain us longer. Do young squarer now, that will make a voyage I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his with him to ihe devil?

heart. Mess. He is most in the company of the right Leon. If you swear, my lord, you shall not be noble Claudio.

forsworn.—Let me bid you welcome, my lord : Beat. O Lord! he will bang upon him like a being reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe disease : be is sooner caught than the pestilence, you all duty: and the taker runs presently mad. God help the D. John. I thank you: I am not of many words, noble Claudio ! if he bave caught the Benedick, it but I thank you. will cost him a thousand pound ere he be cured. Leon. Please it your grace lead on? Mess. I will hold friends with you, lady.

D. Pedro. Your hand, Leonato; we will go toBeat. Do, good friend.

gether. [Ereunt all but BENEDICK and Claudio. Leon. You will never run mad, niece.

Claud. Benedick, didst thou note the daughter Beat. No, not till a hot January.

of Signior Leonato ? Mess. Don Pedro is approached.

Bene. I noted her pot : but I looked on her.

Claud. Is she not a modest young lady? Enter Don Pedro, attended by Balthazar and

Bene. Do you question me as an honest man others, Don John, Claudio, and BenEDICK.

should do, for my simple true judgment; or would D. Pedro. Good Signior Leonato, you are come you bave me speak after my custom, as being a proto meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to fessed tyrant to their sex ? avoid cost, and you encounter it.

Claud. No, I pray thee speak in sober judgLeon. Never came trouble to my house in the ment. likeness of your grace ; for trouble being gone, Bene. Why, i'faith, methinks she is too low for comfort should remain; but when you depart from a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too me, sorrow abides, and happiness takes his leave. little for a great praise : only this commendation I

D. Pedro. You embrace your charge too will. can afford her; that were she other than she is, she ingly.-I think this is your daughter.

were unhandsome; and being no other but as sho Leon. Her mother hath many times told me so. is, I do not like her. Bene. Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her ? Claud. Thou thinkest I am in sport; I pray thee,

Leon. Signior Benedick, no ; for then were you tell me truly, how thou likest her. a child.

Bene. Would you buy her, that you inquire after D. Pedro. You have it full, Benedick : we may ber? guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, Claud. Can the world buy such a jewel? the lady fathers herself:-Be happy, lady ! for you Bene. Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak are like an honourable father.

you this with a sad brow ? or do you play the RoutBene. If Signior Leonato be her father, she ing Jack; to tell us Cupid is a good bare-findor, would not have his head on ber shoulders for all and Vulcan a rare carpenter ? Come, in wbat key Messina, as like him as she is.

shall a man take you, to go in the song? Beat. I wonder that you will still be talking, Claud. In mine eye, she is the sweetest lady Signior Benedick ; nobody marks you.

that ever I looked on. Bene. What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you Bene. I can see yet without spectacles, and I see Fet living.

no such matter : there's her cousin, an she were not Beat. Is it possible, Disdain should die, while she possessed with a fury, exceeds ber 'as much in bath such meet food to feed it, as Signior Bene- beauty, as the first of May doth the last of Decemdick? Courtesy itself must convert to Disdain, if ber. But I bope, you bave no intent to turn husyou come in her presence.

band ; bave you ? Bene. Then is courtesy a turn coat.- But it is Claud. I would scarce trust myself, thougb I bad certain, I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted; sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife. and I would I could find in my heart that I had not Bene. Is it come to this, i'faith ? Hath not the a bard heart: for, truly, I love none.

world one man, but he will wear bis cap with susBeat. A dear happiness to women; they would picion ? Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore else bave been troubled with a pernicious suitor. again ? Go to, i'faith : an thou wilt needs thru-e I tbank God, and my cold blood, I am of your hu- thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it, and sigh mour for tbit; I had rather bear my dog bark at a away Sundays. Look, Don Pedro is returned to crow, than d non swear he loves me. Bene. God keep your ladyship still in that mind !

Re enter Don Pedro. bo some gentlemen or other shall 'scape a predestiDate scratched face.

D. Pedro. Wbat secret hath held you here, that Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an you followed not to Leonato's ? 'trere such a face as yours were.

Bene. I would your grace would constrain me Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.

to tell. Beat. A bird of my tongue is better than a beast D. Pedro. I charge thee on thy allegiance. of pours.

Bene. You hear, Count Claudio: I con be sp. Bene. I would, my horse had the speed of your cret as a dumb man, I would have you think longue; and so good a continuer : But keep your so; but on my allegiance,-mark you this, on my way o'God's name ; I have done.

allegiance :-He is in love. With who?---DON

seek you.

cbat is your grace's part.--Mark, how sbort his an- your discourse is sometime guarded with fragments, swer is :-With Hero, Leonato's short daughter. and the guards are but slightly basted on neither :

Claud. If this were so, so were it uttered. ere you fout old ends any further, examine your

Bene. Like the old tale, my lord : “ it is not so, conscience ; and so I leave you. [Exit BENEDICK. nor 'twas not so ; but, indeed, God forbid it should Claud. My liege, your bigbness now may do me be so."

good. Claud. If my passion change not shortly, God D. Pedro. My love is thine to teach ; teach it forbid it should be otherwise,

but how, D. Pedro. Amen, if you love her; for the lady And thou shalt see how apt it is to learn is very well worthy.

Any hard lesson that may do thee good. Claud. You speak this to fetch me in, my lord. Člaud. Hath Leonato any son, my lord ! D. Pedro. By my troth, I speak my thought. D. Pedro. No child but Hero, she's his only Claud. And in faith, my lord, I spoke mine.

beir : Bene. And by my two faiths and truths, my lord, Dost thou affect her, Claudio ? I spoke mine.

Claud.

O my lord, Claud, That I love her, I feel.

When you went onward on this euded action, D. Pedro. That she is worthy, I know. I look'd upon her with a soldier's eye,

Bene. That I neither feel how she should be That lik’d, but had a rougher task in hand loved, nor know how she should be worthy, is the Than to drive liking to he name of love: opinion that fire cannot melt out of ine; I will die But now I am return’d, and that war-thoughts, in it at the stake.

Have left their places vacant, in their rooms D. Pedro. Thou wast ever an obstinate heretic Come thronging soft and delicate desires. in the despite of beauty.

All prompting me how fair young Hero is, Claud. And never could maintain bis part, but Saying, I lik d her ere I went to wars. in the force of his will.

D. Pedro. Thou wilt be like a lover presently Zene. That a woman conceived me, I thank And tire the hearer with a hook of worils : her ; that she brought me up, I likewise give ber If thou dost love fair Hero, cherish it; mosi humble thanks : but that I will have a recheat And I will break with her, and with her father, windrd in my forehead, or hang my bugle in an And thou shalt bave her: Was't not in this end, invisible baldrick, all women shall pardon me : Be- That thuu began'st to iwist so fine a story? cause I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, Claud. Ilow sweetly do you minister to love, I will do myself the right to trust none; and the fine That kuow love's grief by his complexion ! is, (for the which I may go the finer,) I will live But lest my liking might too sudden seem, a bachelor.

I would bave saly'd it with a longer treatise. D. Pedro. I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale D. Pedro. Wbat need the bridge much broader with lovo.

thau the flood ? Bene. With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, The fairest grant is the necessity : my lord ; not with love : prove that ever I lose Look, what will serve, is fit: 'tis once, thou lov'st; more blood with love, than I will get again with And I will fit thee with the remedy. dr.uking, pick out mine eyes with a ballad-maker's I know, we shall have revelling to-nighe; pen, and bang me up at the door of a brothel-house, I will assume thy part in some disguise, for the sign of blind Cupid.

And tell fair Hero I am Claudio; D. Pedro. Well, if ever thou dost fall from this And in her bosom I'll unclasp my heart, faitb, thou wilt prove a notable argument.

And take her hearing prisoner with the force Bene. If I do, hang mo in a botile like a cat, and And strong encounter of my amorous tale : shoot at me ; and he that bits me, let him be clapped Then, after, to her father will I break; on the shoulder, and called Adam.

And, the conclusion is, she shall be thine : D. Pedro. Well, as time shall try :

In practice let us put it présenily. (Eseuri. In time the savage bull doth bear the yoke.

Bene. The savage bull may; but if ever this sen- SCENE II.-A Room in Leonato's House. sible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns,

Enter LEONATO and ANTONIO. and set ihem in my forehead : and let me be vilely painted; and in such great letters as they write, Leon. How now, brother? Where is any cousin, Here is good horse to hire, let them signify under my your son ? Hath he provided this music ? sign,-Here you may see Benedick the married man. Ant. He is very busy about it. But, brotber, !

Claud. If this should ever happen, thou would'st can tell you strange news that you yet dreamed be horn-mad.

not of. D. Pedro. Nay, if Cupid bave not spent all his Leon. Are they go :d? quiver in Venice, thou wilt quake for this short'y. Ant. As the event stamps them ; but they have

Bene. I look for an earthquake too then. a good cover, they show well outward. The prince

D. Pedro. Well, you will temporize with the and Count Claudio, walking in a thick-pleached bours. In the mean time, good Signior Benedick, alley in my orchard, were thus much overheard by repair to Leonato's ; commend me to him, and tell a man of mine : The prince discovered to Claudio, him, I will not l'ail bim at supper; for, indeed, he that he loved my niece your daughter, and meant to hath made great preparation.

acknowledge it this night in a dance ; and, if he Bene. I have almost matter enough in me for found her accordant, he meant to take the presen such an embassage ; and so I commit you

time by the top, and instantly break with you of it. Claud. To the tuition of God : From my bouse, Leon. Haih the fellow any wit, that told you this? (if I had it)

Ant. A good sharp fellow ; I will send for him, D. Pedro. The sixth of July: Your loving friend, and question bim yourself. Benedick.

Leon. No, no; we will hold it as a dream, till it Rens. Nas, mock not, mock not: The body of appear itself:-but I will acquaint my dauglite

Fithal, that she may be the better prepared for an upon, that the prince should woo Hero tor bimselt, answer, if peradventure this be true. Ġo you, and and having obtained her, give her to Count Claudio. tell her of it. (Several persons cross the stage.] D. John. Come, come, let us thither; this may Cousins, you know what you have to do:-0, 1 cry prove food to my displeasure : that young start-up you mercy, friend: you go with me, and I will use hath all the glory of my overthrow ; if I can cross your skill :-Good cousins, have a care this busy him any way, I bless myself every way : You are time.

[Exeunt. both sure, and will assist me?

Con. To the death, my lord. SCENE III.-Another Room in Leonato's House. D. John. Let us to the great supper : their cheer Enter Don John and CONRADE.

is the greater, that I am subdurd: 'Would the cook

were of my mind !- Shall we go prove what's to be Con. What the gougere, my lord? why are you done? tbus out of measure sad ?

Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship. (Exeunt D. John. There is no measure in the occasiou that breeds it, therefore the sadness is witbout timit.

Con, You should bear reason.

D. John. And whea I have heard it, what bless. inz briageth it.

Con. If not a present remedy, yet a patient sufferance.

ACT II D. John. I wonder, that thou being (as thou say'st thou art) born under Saturn, goest about to

SCENE I-A Hall in Leonato's House. apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot bide what I am: must be sad when I

Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, Hero, BEATRICE

and others. bare cause, and smile at no man's jests; eat when I bave stomach, and wait for no man's leisure ; Leon. Was uot Count John here at supper? sleep when I am drowsy, and tend to no man's dnt. I saw himn not. business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man Beat. How tartly that gentleman looks! I neve. in his humour.

can see him, but I am heart-burned an hour after. Con. Yea, but you must not make the full show Hero. He is of a very melancholy disposition. of this, till you 'may do it without controlment. Beat. He were an excellent man that were made You have of late stood out against your brother, just in the mid-way between him and Benedick ; and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace ; where the one is like an image, ond says notbing : azd it is impossible you should take true root, baut by the other, too like my lady's eldest son, evermore the fair weather that you make yourself: it is need tuttling. ful that you frame the season for your own harvest. Leon. Then half Signior Benedick's tongue in

D. John. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, Count John's mouth, and half Count John's melanthan a rose ia bis grace; and it better fits my blood choly in Signior Benedick's face, to be disdain'd of all, than lo fashion a carriage to Beat. With a good leg, and a good foot, uncle, rob love from any: in this, though I cannot be said and money enough in his purse, such a man would to be a flattering bonest man, it must not be denied win any woman in the world,--if he could get ber that I am a plaio-dealing villain. I am trusted with good will. a muzzle, and enfranchised with a clog : therefore Leon. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get I bave decreed not to sing in my cage : If I had my thee a busband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue. mouth I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would Ant. In faith, she is too curst. do my liking : in the mean time, let me be that I Beat. Too curst is more than curst: I shall lessen am, and seek not to alter me.

God's sending that way: for it is said, God sends a Con. Can you make no use of your discontent? curst cow short horns; but to a cow too curst he D. John. Í make all use of it, for I use it only. sends none. Who comes here? Wbat news, Borachio?

Leon. So, by being too curst, God will send you

no horns. Enter BORACHIO.

Beat. Just, if be send me no busband; for the Bora. I came yonder from a great supper; the which blessing, I am at bim upon my knees every prince, your brother, is royally entertained by Leo morning and evening: Lord ! I could not endure a uato; and I can give you intelligence of an intended husband with a beard on his face: I had rather lie marriage.

in the woollen. D. John. Will it serve for any model to build mis- Leon. You may light upon a husband that bath chief on? What is be for å fool, that betroths no brard. himself to unquietness ?

Beat. What should I do with him ? dress him in Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right. band. my apparel, and make bim my waiting gentlewoD. John. Who? the most exquisite Claudio ? man? He ibat bath a beard, is more than a youth ; Bora. Even be.

and he that hath no beard is less than a man: and D. John. A proper squire ! And wbo, and who ? | be that is more than a youth, is not for me; and be which way looks be?

that is less than a man, I am not for bim í There. Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of fore, I will even tako sixpence in earnest of the leonato.

bear-bord, and lead his apes into hell. D. John. A very forward March-chick! How Leon. Well then, go you into hell ? tame you to this?

Beat. No; but to the gate; and there will the Bora. Beiog entertained for a perfumer, as I was devil meet me, like an old cuckold, with horns on smoking a musty room, comes me the prince and his head, and say, Get you to heaven, Beatrice, get Claudio, hand in hand, in sad conference: I whipt you to heaven ; here's no place for you maids : 80 me behind the arras; and there heard it agreed deliver I up my apes, and away to Saint Peter for

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