Hero.
God giue mee ioy to weare it, for my heart is exceeding heauy.
Marga.
'Twill be heauier soone, by the waight of a man.
Hero.
Fie vpon thee, art not asham'd?
Marg.
Of what Lady? of speaking honourably? is not marriage honourable in a beggar? is not your Lord honourable without marriage? I thinke you would haue me say, sauing your reuerence a husband: and bad thinking doe not wrest true speaking, Ile offend no body, is there any harme in the heauier for a husband? none I thinke, and it be the right husband, and the right wife, otherwise 'tis light and not heauy, aske my Lady Beatrice else, here she comes.
Enter Beatrice.
Hero.
Good morrow Coze.
Beat.
Good morrow sweet Hero.
Hero.
Why how now? do you speake in the sick tune?
Beat.
I am out of all other tune, me thinkes.
Mar.
Claps into Light a loue, (that goes without a burden,) do you sing it and Ile dance it.
Beat.
Ye Light aloue with your heeles, then if your husband haue stables enough, you'll looke he shall lacke no barnes.
Mar.
O illegitimate construction! I scorne that with my heeles.
Beat.
'Tis almost fiue a clocke cosin, 'tis time you were ready, by my troth I am exceeding ill, hey ho.
Mar.
For a hauke, a horse, or a husband?
Beat.
For the letter that begins them all, H.
Mar.
Well, and you be not turn'd Turke, there's no more sayling by the starre.
Beat.
What meanes the foole trow?
Mar.
Nothing I, but God send euery one their harts desire.
Hero.
These gloues the Count sent mee, they are an excellent perfume.
Beat.
I am stuft cosin, I cannot smell.
Mar.
A maid and stuft! there's goodly catching of colde.
Beat.
O God helpe me, God help me, how long haue you profest apprehension?
Mar.
Euer since you left it, doth not my wit become me rarely?
Beat.
It is not seene enough, you should weare it in your cap, by my troth I am sicke.
Mar.
Get you some of this distill'd carduus benedictus and lay it to your heart, it is the onely thing for a qualm.
Hero.
There thou prick'st her with a thissell.
Beat.
Benedictus, why benedictus? you haue some morall in this benedictus.
Mar.
Morall? no by my troth, I haue no morall meaning, I meant plaine holy thissell, you may thinke perchance that I thinke you are in loue, nay birlady I am not such a foole to thinke what I list, nor I list not to thinke what I can, nor indeed, I cannot thinke, if I would thinke my hart out of thinking, that you are in loue, or that you will be in loue, or that you can be in loue: yet Benedicke was such another, and now is he become a man, he swore hee would neuer marry, and yet now in despight of his heart he eates his meat without grudging, and how you may be conuerted I know not, but me thinkes you looke with your eies as other women doe.
Beat.
What pace is this that thy tongue keepes.
Mar.
Not a false gallop.
Enter Vrsula.
Madam, withdraw, the Prince, the Count, signior Benedicke, Don Iohn, and all the gallants of the towne are come to fetch you to Church.
Hero.
Helpe me to dresse mee good coze, good Meg, good Vrsula.
Enter Leonato, and the Constable, and the Headborough.
What would you with mee, honest neighbour?
Const.Dog.
Mary sir I would haue some confidence with you, that decernes you nearely.
Leon.
Briefe I pray you, for you see it is a busie time with me.
Const.Dog.
Mary this it is sir.
Headb.
Yes in truth it is sir.
Leon.
What is it my good friends?
Con.Do.
Goodman Verges sir speakes a little of the matter, an old man sir, and his wits are not so blunt, as God helpe I would desire they were, but infaith honest as the skin betweene his browes.
Head.
Yes I thank God, I am as honest as any man liuing, that is an old man, and no honester then I.
Con.Dog.
Comparisons are odorous, palabras, neighbour Verges.
Leon.
Neighbours, you are tedious.
Con.Dog.
It pleases your worship to say so, but we are the poore Dukes officers, but truely for mine owne part, if I were as tedious as a King I could finde in my heart to bestow it all of your worship.
Leon.
All thy tediousnesse on me, ah?
Const.Dog.
Yea, and 'twere a thousand times more than 'tis, for I heare as good exclamation on your Worship as of any man in the Citie, and though I bee but a poore man, I am glad to heare it.
Head.
And so am I.
Leon.
I would faine know what you haue to say.
Head.
Marry sir our watch to night, excepting your worships presence, haue tane a couple of as arrant knaues as any in Messina.
Con.Dog.
A good old man sir, hee will be talking as they say, when the age is in, the wit is out, God helpe vs, it is a world to see: well said yfaith neighbour Verges, well, God's a good man, and two men ride of a horse, one must ride behinde, an honest soule yfaith sir, by my troth he is, as euer broke bread, but God is to bee worshipt, all men are not alike, alas good neighbour.
Leon.
Indeed neighbour he comes too short of you.
Con.Do.
Gifts that God giues.
Leon.
I must leaue you.
Con.Dog.
One word sir, our watch sir haue indeede comprehended two aspitious persons, & we would haue them this morning examined before your worship.
Leon.
Take their examination your selfe, and bring it me, I am now in great haste, as may appeare vnto you.
Const.
It shall be suffigance.
Leon.
Drinke some wine ere you goe: fare you well. Exit.
Messenger.
My Lord, they stay for you to giue your daughter to her husband.
Leon.
Ile wait vpon them, I am ready.
Dogb.
Goe good partner, goe get you to Francis Sea-coale, bid him bring his pen and inkehorne to the Gaole: we are now to examine those men.
Verges.
And we must doe it wisely.
Dogb.
Wee will spare for no witte I warrant you:
