Leon. I dare make this 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 fome be of laughing, as Ha, ha, he! 'Claud. Stand thee by, Friar. Father, by your leave, Will you with free and unconstrained foul Give me this maid your daughter? Leon. As freely, fon, as God did give her me. Claud. And what have I to give you back, whose worth May counterpoife this rich and precious gift? Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again. Claud Sweet Prince, you learn me noble thankfulness: There, Leonato, take her back again; Give not this rotten orange to your friend. Comes not that blood, as modeft evidence, Leon. What do you mean, my Lord? Not knit my foul to an approved wanton. Leon. Dear my Lord, if you in your own approof Have vanquish'd the refiftance of her youth, And made defeat of her virginity Claud. I know what you would fay: if I have known her, You'll fay fhe did embrace me as a husband, And fo extenuate the forehand fin. No, Leonato, I never tempted her with word too large; Bafhful fincerity, and comely love. Hero. And feem d I ever otherwife to you? Glaud. Out on thy feeming! I will rate against it; You You feem to me as Dian in her orb, As chaite as is the bud ere it be blown: But you are more intemperate in your blood Hero. Is my Lord well, that he doth speak so wide? I ftand difhonour'd, that have gone about Leon. Are these things spoken, or do I but dream? Hero. True! O God! Claud. Leonato, ftand I here? Is this the Prince? is this the Prince's brother? Leon. All this is fo; but what of this, my Lord ? Claud. Let me but move one question to yourdaughter, And, by that fatherly and kindly power That you have in her, bid her anfwer truly. Leon. I charge thee do fo, as thou art my child. Hero. O God defend me, how am I befet! What kind of catechifing call you this? Claud. To make you anfwer truly to your name. With any juft reproach? Claud. Marry, that can Hero; Hero herfelf can blot out Hero's virtue. Hero. I talk'd with no man at that hour, my Lord. John. Fie, fie, they are not to be nam'd, my Lord, Not Not to be spoken of; There is not chastity enough in language, Without offence, to utter them: thus, pretty lady, Claud. O Hero! what a Hero hadst thou been, Leon. Hath no man's dagger here a point for me? down? John. Come, let us go; these things come thus to light, Smother her fpirits up. Exeunt Don Pedro, Don John, and Claud. SCENE II. Bene. How doth the lady? Beat. Dead, I think; help, uncle. Hero! why, Hero! uncle! Signior Benedick! Friar ! Leon. O fate! take not away thy heavy hand; Death is the fairest cover for her fhame, That may be wish'd for. Beat. How now, coufin Hero? Friar. Have comfort, Lady. Leon. Doft thou look up? Friar. Yea, wherefore should she not? Leon. Wherefore? why doth not every earthly thing Cry fhame upon her? could fhe here deny The ftory that is printed in her blood? Do not live, Hero, do not ope thine eyes: Thought I thy fpirits were fronger than thy fhames, Why Why ever waft thou lovely in my eyes? Bene. Sir, Sir, be patient; For my part, I am fo attir'd in wonder, Beat. O, on my foul, my cousin is bely'd. Bene. Lady, were you her bedfellow last night? Beat. No, truly, not; although until last night I have this twelvemonth been her bedfellow. Leon. Confirm'd, confirm'd! O that is ftronger made, Which was before barr'd up with ribs of iron. Would the two princes lye? and Claudio lye, Who lov'd her fo, that fpeaking of her foulness, Wafh'd it with tears? Hence from her, let her die. Friar. Hear me a little, For I have only been filent fo long, And given way unto this course of fortune, A thousand blufhing apparitions To start into her face; a thousand innocent fhames Leon. Leon. Friar, it cannot be.. Thou feest that all the grace that she hath left, Why feek'ft thou then to cover with excufe Friar. Lady, what man is he you are accus'd of? Hero. They know that do accufe me; I know none: If I know more of any man alive, Than that which maiden modefty doth warrant, Friar. There is fome ftrange mifprifion in the princes. Bene. Two of them have the very bent of honour, And if their wifdoms be misled in this, The practice of it lives in John the baftard, Leon. I know not: if they speak but truth of her, Nor fortune made fuch havock of my means, And let my counsel fway you in this cafe. Let her a while be fecretly kept in, And publifh it that fhe is dead indeed: Maintain a mourning oftentation, And on your family's old monument Hang mournful epitaphs, and do all rites That appertain unto a burial. Leon. What fhall become of this? what will this do? Friar. Marry, this, well carry'd, fhall on her behalf VOL. II. G Change |