time, like god Bel's priests in the old church-window; sometime, like the shaven Hercules in the smirched' wormeaten tapestry, where his cod-piece seems as massy as his club?

Con. All this I see, and I see that the fashion wears out more apparel than the man. But art not thou thyself giddy with the fashion too, that thou hast shifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fashion?

Bora. Not so, neither; but know, that I have to-night wooed Margaret, the lady Hero's gentlewoman, by the name of Hero she leans me out at her mistress' chamber-window, bids me a thousand times good night.—I tell this tale vilely : -I should first tell thee, how the prince, Claudio, and my master, planted, and placed, and possessed by my master Don John, saw afar off in the orchard this amiable encounter.

Con. And thought they Margaret was Hero?

Bora. Two of them did, the prince and Claudio; but the devil, my master, knew she was Margaret, and partly by his oaths, which first possessed them, partly by the dark night, which did deceive them, but chiefly by my villainy, which did confirm any slander that Don John had made, away went Claudio enraged; swore he would meet her, as he was appointed, next morning at the temple, and there, before the whole congregation, shame her with what he saw over-night, and send her home again without a husband.

1 Watch. [Coming forward.] We charge you in the prince's name, stand.

2 Watch. Call up the right master constable. We have here recovered the most dangerous piece of lechery, that ever was known in the commonwealth.

1 Watch. And one Deformed is one of them: I know him, a' wears a lock".

Con. Masters, masters!

2 Watch. You'll be made bring Deformed forth, I warrant

you.

go

8

9

Con. Masters,

1 Watch. Never speak': we charge you, let us obey you to with

us.

smirched] i. e. Soiled, obscured. See also P. 59.

I know him, a' wears a LOCK.] i.e. A lock of hair, called a love-lock, not unfrequently cherished by the gay young men of that day.

11 Watch. Never speak:] In the old editions this is made part of what Conrade is supposed to say; but it is evidently wrong.

Bora. We are like to prove a goodly commodity, being taken up of these men's bills.

Con. A commodity in question, I warrant you.-Come, we'll obey you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

A Room in LEONATO'S House.

Enter HERO, MARGARET, and URSULA.

Hero. Good Ursula, wake my cousin Beatrice, and desire her to rise.

Urs. I will, lady.

Hero. And bid her come hither.

Urs. Well.

[Exit URSULA.

Marg. Troth, I think, your other rabato' were better.
Hero. No, pray thee, good Meg; I'll wear this.

Marg. By my troth, it's not so good; and I warrant, your cousin will say So.

Hero. My cousin's a fool, and thou art another. I'll wear none but this.

Marg. I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair were a thought browner; and your gown's a most rare fashion, i'faith. I saw the duchess of Milan's gown, that they praise so.

Hero. O, that exceeds, they say.

Marg. By my troth, it's but a night-gown in respect of yours: cloth o' gold, and cuts, and laced with silver, set with pearls, down sleeves, side sleeves, and skirts round, underborne with a bluish tinsel; but for a fine, quaint, graceful, and excellent fashion, yours is worth ten on't.

Hero. God give me joy to wear it, for my heart is exceeding heavy!

Marg. 'Twill be heavier soon by the weight of a man.
Hero. Fie upon thee! art not ashamed?

Marg. Of what, lady? of speaking honourably? Is not marriage honourable in a beggar? Is not your lord honourable without marriage? I think, you would have me say, saving your reverence, a husband: an bad thinking do not

3

2 rabato] An ornament for the neck, a kind of ruff which turned back. side sleeves,] i.e. Long sleeves. Peele, in his "Old Wives' Tale," has "side slops" for long trowsers. Dyce's Peele's Works, i. 209, edit. 1829.

wrest true speaking, I'll offend nobody. Is there any harm in -the heavier for a husband? None, I think, an it be the right husband, and the right wife; otherwise 'tis light, and not heavy ask my lady Beatrice else; here she comes.

Enter BEATRICE.

Hero. Good morrow, coz.

Beat. Good morrow, sweet Hero.

Hero. Why, how now? do you speak in the sick tune?
Beat. I am out of all other tune, methinks.

Marg. Clap us into "Light o' love';" that goes without a burden: do you sing it, and I'll dance it.

Beat. Yea, "Light o' love," with your heels!—then, if your husband have stables enough, you'll see he shall lack no barns.

Marg. O illegitimate construction! I scorn that with my heels.

Beat. "Tis almost five o'clock, cousin: 'tis time you were ready. By my troth, I am exceeding ill.-Heigh ho! Marg. For a hawk, a horse, or a husband?

Beat. For the letter that begins them all, H3.

Marg. Well, an you be not turned Turk, there's no more sailing by the star.

Beat. What means the fool, trow?

Marg. Nothing I; but God send every one their heart's desire!

Hero. These gloves the count sent me; they are an excellent perfume.

Beat. I am stuffed, cousin, I cannot smell.

Marg. A maid, and stuffed! there's goodly catching of cold.

Beat. O, God help me! God help me! how long have you profess'd apprehension ?

Marg. Ever since you left it. Doth not my wit become me rarely?

"Light o' love;"] This is the name of an old dance tune, mentioned in "The Two Gentlemen of Verona," A. i. sc. 2. See Chappell's "Ancient English Airs," II. 78 & 193, where the words of a song to the tune of "Light o' Love" are given. To the second edition of this valuable work, now in the press, I. 221, the

author has added much curious information.

5 For the letter that begins them all, H.] The word "ache" was formerly generally pronounced like the letter H, and Beatrice means that she cries "heigh ho!" in consequence of pain she feels. She uses "for" in the sense of because, or by reason of.

Beat. It is not seen enough, you should wear it in your cap. -By my troth, I am sick.

Marg. Get you some of this distilled carduus benedictus, and lay it to your heart: it is the only thing for a qualm. Hero. There thou prick'st her with a thistle.

Beat. Benedictus! why benedictus? you have some moral in this benedictus.

Marg. Moral? no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning; I meant, plain holy-thistle. You may think, perchance, that I think you are in love: nay, by'r lady, I am not such a fool to think what I list; nor I list not to think what I can; nor, indeed, I cannot think, if I would think my heart out of thinking, that you are in love, or that you will be in love, or that you can be in love. Yet Benedick was such another, and now is he become a man: he swore he would never marry; and yet now, in despite of his heart, he eats his meat without grudging and how you may be converted, I know not, but, methinks, you look with your eyes as other women do. Beat. What pace is this that thy tongue keeps?

Marg. Not a false gallop.

Re-enter URSULA.

Urs. Madam, withdraw: the prince, the count, signior Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the town, are come to fetch you to church.

Hero. Help to dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Ursula.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

Another Room in LEONATO's House.

Enter LEONATO, with DOGBERRY and VERGES.

Leon. What would you with me, honest neighbour?

Dogb. Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you, that decerns you nearly.

Leon. Brief, I pray you; for, you see, it is a busy time with me.

Dogb. Marry, this it is, sir.

carduus benedictus,] "Carduus benedictus, or blessed thistle, (says Cogan, in his Haven of Health,') so worthily named for the singular virtues that it hath." It is material to give the date of the earliest edition of Cogan's work, because he tells us that the uses of carduus benedictus had only lately been recognised: the "Haven of Health" was first printed in 1589.

Verg. Yes, in truth it is, sir.

Leon. What is it, my good friends?

Dogb. Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off the matter: an old man, sir, and his wits are not so blunt, as, God help, I would desire they were; but, in faith, honest as the skin between his brows.

Verg. Yes, I thank God, I am as honest as any man living, that is an old man, and no honester than I.

Dogb. Comparisons are odorous: palabras, neighbour Verges'.

Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious.

Dogb. It pleases your worship to say so, but we are the poor duke's officers; but, truly, for mine own part, if I were as tedious as a king, I could find in my heart to bestow it all of your worship.

Leon. All thy tediousness on me? ha!

Dogb. Yea, an 'twere a thousand pound more than 'tis ; for I hear as good exclamation on your worship, as of any man in the city, and though I be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it.

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, i'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!

7 - PALABRAS, neighbour Verges.] How this Spanish word came into our language, and to be in familiar use with the lower orders, it is difficult to ascertain. Sly, in the Induction to "The Taming of the Shrew," has pocas palabras; and the same words are found in the very popular old play "The Spanish Tragedy," where they are spoken by Hieronimo, A. iv. sc. 4. Hence, possibly, Shakespeare obtained them, as in his Induction he ridicules another part of Kyd's play. However, he might easily have found them elsewhere, or they would not have been appropriate in Sly's mouth. Muchas palabras, pocas obras is a proverb in Spanish, as well as in many other languages.

8 Yea, an 'twere a thousand POUND more than 'tis ;] The folio has times for "pound," which is the reading of the 4to. This is one of the " officer's" humorous confusions, and ought to be preserved.

poor duke's