And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd;
But for those earthly faults I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come :-Friar advise him;
I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's that?
Provost. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd,

That should have died when Claudio lost his head;
As like almost to Claudio as himself.

[Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, [To ISABELLA,] for

his sake

Is he pardon'd; and for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: But fitter time for that.
By this lord Angelo perceives he's safe;

Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye:-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that
you love

your wife; her worth, worth yours.—

I find an apt remission in myself:

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

You, sirrah, [To Lucio,] That knew me for a fool, a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I so deserved of you,

That you extol me thus?

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick:9 If you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd.

Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.Proclaim it, provost, round about the city;

If any

woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow,

(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one
Whom he hath injured thus,) let her appear,
And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd,
Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me so. Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me, in making me a cuckold. 9 Thoughtless practice.

8 Requites.

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal

marry her.

Remit thy other forfeits:-Take him to prison:
And see our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying me so, my lord, is pressing to death, Whipping and hanging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.—

She, Claudio, that you wrong'd look you restore.
Joy to you, Mariana !—love her, Angelo;

I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.-
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness:
There's more behind, that is more gratulate.
Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place:-
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,

What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine:
So bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

[Exeunt.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon.

DON JOHN, his bastard Brother.

CLAUDIO, a young Lord of Florence, favourite to Don Pedro,

BENEDICK, a young Lord of Padua, favourite likewise of Don Pedro. LEONATO, Governor of Messina

ANTONIO, his Brother.

BALTHAZAR, Servant to Don Pedro.

BORACHIO,

CONRADE,

DOGBERRY,

VERGES,

A SEXTON.

A FRIAR.

A Boy.

Followers of Don John.

two foolish Officers.

HERO, Daughter to Leonato.

BEATRICE, Niece to Leonato.

MARGARET, Gentlewomen attending on Hero.

URSULA,

Messengers, Watch, and Attendants.

SCENE-Messina.