whose names yet run fmoothly in the even road of a blank verfe, why, they were never fo truly turn'd over and over, as my poor felf in love; marry, I cannot fhew it in rhime; I have try'd, I can find out no rhime to lady but baby, 8 'innocent rhime; for fcorn, born, a hard rhime; for fchool, fool, a babling rhime; very ominous endings; no, I was not born under a rhiming planet, for I cannot woo in festival terms.

Sweet Beatrice, would't thou come when I call thee?
Beat. Yea, Signior, and depart when you bid me.
Bene. O, ftay but 'till then.

I

Beat. Then is fpoken; fare you well now; and yet ere go, let me go with that I came for; which is, with knowing what hath past between you and Claudio.

Bene. Only foul words, and thereupon I will kiss thee.

Beat. Foul words are but foul wind, and foul wind is but foul breath, and foul breath is noifome; therefore I will depart unkist.

Bene. Thou haft frighted the word out of its right fenfe, fo forcible is thy wit; but I must tell thee plainly, Claudio undergoes my challenge, and either I muft shortly hear from him or I will fubfcribe him a coward; and I pray thee now tell me, for which of my bad parts didft thou firft fall in love with me?

Beat. For them altogether, which maintain'd fo politick a state of evil, that they will not admit any good part to intermingle with them: but for which of my good parts did you firft fuffer love for me?

Bene. Suffer love! a good epithet; I do fuffer love indiced, for I love thee against my will.

$ innocent's

Beat.

if

Beat. In fpight of your heart, I think; alas poor heart, you fpight it for my fake, I will fpight it for yours, for I will never love that which my friend hates.

Bene. Thou and I are too wife to woo peaceably.

Beat. It appears not in 9'that confeffion; there's not one wife man among twenty that will praise himself.

Bene. An old, an old inftance, Beatrice, that liv'd in the time of good neighbours; if a man do not erect in this age his own tomb ere he dies, he shall live no longer in monuments, than the bells ring, and the widow weeps.

Beat. And how long is that, think you?

Bene. 'Why, an hour in clamour, and a quarter in rheum; therefore it is most expedient for the wife, if Don worm (his confcience) find no impediment to the contrary, to be the trumpet of his own virtues, as I am to my felf; fo much for praifing my felf; who I my felf will bear witnefs is praife-worthy; and now tell me how doth your coufin?

Beat. Very ill.

Bene. And how do you?

Beat. Very ill too.

Enter Urfula.

Bene. Serve God, love me and mend; there will I leave you too, for here comes one in hafte.

Urf. Madam, you must come to your uncle; yonder's old coil at home; it is proved my Lady Hero has been falfely accus'd, the Prince and Claudio mightily abus'd, and Don John is the author of all, who is fled and gone: will you come presently?

Beat. Will you go hear this news, Signior?

Bene. I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be bury'd in thy eyes; and moreover I will go with thee to thy

uncle.

9 this

[Exeunt.

1 Question? why

L14

SCENE

Claud. Now mufick found, and fing your folemn

hymn.

SONG.

Pardon, Goddefs of the night,
Thofe that flew thy virgin knight;
For the which with fongs of woe,
Round about her tomb they go.

Midnight

Claud. Now unto thy bones good night!
Yearly will I do this rite.

dead!

Pedro. Good morrow, masters, put your torches out,
The wolves have prey'd; and look the gentle day,
Before the wheels of Phabus, round about

Dapples the drowfie east with spots of grey.
Thanks to you all, and leave us; fare you well.
Claud, Good morrow, masters; each his several way.
Pedro. Come, let us hence, and put on other weeds,
And then to Leonato's we will go.

6

Claud. And Hymen now with luckier iffue fpeed's' Than this, for which we render'd up this woe!

[Exeunt.

Enter Leonato, Benedick, Margaret, Urfula, Antonio, Friar, and Hero.

ID I not tell you fhe was innocent?

Friar. DID

Leon. So are the Prince and Claudio who
accus'd her,

Upon the error that you heard debated.
But Margaret was in fome fault for this;
Although against her will as it appears,
In the true courfe of all the queftion.

Ant. Well, I am glad that all things fort fo well.
Bene. And fo am I, being elfe by faith enforc'd
To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it.

Leon. Well, daughter, and you gentlewomen all,
Withdraw into a chamber by your felves,
And when I fend for you come hither mask'd:
The Prince and Claudio promis'd by this hour
To vifit me; you know your office, brother,
You must be father to your brother's daughter,
And give her to young Claudio.

[Exeunt Ladies.
Ant. Which I will do with confirm'd countenance.
Bene. Friar, I muft intreat your pains, I think.
Friar. To do what, Signior?

Bene. To bind me or undo me, one of them: Signior Leonato, truth it is, good Signior, Your neice regards me with an eye of favour. Leon. That eye my daughter lent her, 'tis moft true. Bene. And I do with an eye of love requite her. Leon. The fight whereof I think you had from me, From Claudio and the Prince; but what's your will? Bene. Your anfwer, Sir, is enigmatical;

But