Verg. And so am I. Leon. I would fain know what you have to say. Verg. Marry, sir, our watch to-night, excepting your worship's presence, have ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina. Dogb. A good old man, sir; he will be talking; as they say, When the age is in, the wit is out; God help us! it is a world to see!-Well said, 'faith, neighbour Verges:well, God's a good man; an two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind:-An honest soul, i'faith, sir: by my troth he is, as ever broke bread: but, God is to be worshipped: All men are not alike; alas! good neighbour! Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you. Dogb. Gifts, that God gives. Leon. I must leave you. Dogb. One word, sir: our watch, sir, have, indeed, comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your worship. Leon. Take their examination yourself, and bring it me; I am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you. Dogb.. It shall be suffigance. Leon, Drink some wine ere you go; fare Enter a Messenger. you well. Mess. My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband. Leon. I will wait upon them; I am ready. [Exeunt LEONATO and Messenger. Dogb. Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacoal, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol, we are now to examination these men. Verg. And we must do it wisely. 3 This was a common apostrophe of admiration equivalent to 'it is wonderful,' or 'it is admirable. Baret in his Alvearie,.. 1580, explains, "It is a world to heare,' by 'It is a thing worthie the hearing, audire est operæ pretium. In Cavendish's Life of Wolsey we have, 'Is it not a world to consider?' Dogb. We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's that [Touching his forehead.] shall drive some of them to a non com: only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I. The Inside of a Church. Enter DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, LEONATO, Friar, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, and BEATRICE, &C. Leon. Come, friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain form of marriage, and you shall recount their particular duties afterwards. Friar. You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady? Claud. No. Leon. To be married to her, friar; you come to marry her. Friar. Lady, you come hither to be married to this count? Hero. I do. Friar. If either of you know any inward impediment why you should not be conjoined, I charge you, on your souls, to utter it1. Claud. Know you any, Hero? Hero. None, my lord. Friar. Know you any, count? Leon. I dare make his answer, none. Claud. O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do! not knowing what they do! Bene. How now! Interjections? Why, then some be of laughing, as, ha! ha! he! This is borrowed from our marriage-ceremony, which (with a few changes in phraseology) is the same as was used in Shakspeare's time. Claud. Stand thee by, friar: leave! Father," by your 6 Will you with free and unconstrained soul Leon. As freely, son, as God did give her me. Claud. And what have I to give you back, whose worth May counterpoise this rich and precious gift? There, Leonato, take her back again; dak of Comes not that blood, as modest evidence, known her, No, Leonato, the forehand I never tempted her with word too large; Hero. And seem'd I ever otherwise to you? Claud. Out on thy seeming! I will write against it: You seem to me as Dian in her orb; As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown; But you are more intemperate in your blood That rage in savage sensuality. Hero. Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide 5? What should I speak? 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. True, O God! Claud. Leonato, stand I here? And, by that fatherly and kindly power 6 Claud. To make you answer truly to your name. Hero. Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name With any just reproach? Claud. Cover Ch our Marry, that can Hero; Hero itself can blot out Hero's virtue. What man was he talk'd with you yesternight $i. e. So remotely from the present business." of the matter, is a familiar phrase still in use. You are wide 6 i. e. 'natural power. Kind is used for nature. So in The Induction to The Taming of the Shrew "This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs.' which here also signifies naturally. Out at your window, betwixt twelve and one? Hero. I talk'd with no man at that hour, my lord. D. Pedro. Why, then are you no maiden. Leonato, I am sorry you must hear; Upon mine honour, D. John. Fye, fye! they are Not to be nam'd, my lord, not to be spoke of; There is not chastity enough in language, Without offence, to utter them: Thus, pretty lady, I am sorry for thy much misgovernment. Claud. O Hero! what a Hero hadst thou been, If half thy outward graces had been placed About thy thoughts, and counsels of thy heart! But, fare thee well, most foul, most fair! farewell, Thou pure impiety, and impious purity! For thee I'll lock up all the gates of love, And on my eyelids shall conjecture hang, To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm, And never shall it more be gracious. Leon. Hath no man's dagger here a point for me? [HERO SWOONS, Beat. Why, how now, cousin? wherefore sink you down? ོ་ལ་ D. John. Come, let us go: these things, come thus to light, Smother her spirits up. [Exeunt DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, and CLAUDIO, Liberal here, as in many places of these plays, means licentious beyond honesty or decency. This sense of the word is not peculiar to Shakspeare. 8 ie. graced, favonred, countenanced. See vol. i, p. 140. note 22, and As You Like It, Act i. Sc. 2. |