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?

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 9 in this Benedictus.

Marg. Moral? no, by my troth, I have no moral

7 So in The Merry Wives of Windsor: Who's there, trow?" This obsolete exclamation of inquiry is a contraction of trow ye! think you? believe you? Steevens was mistaken in saying, that To trow is to imagine, to conceive. See Tooke's EIIEA IITEPOENTA, vol. ii. p. 403.

8 Carduus Benedictus, or blessed thistle (says Cogan in his Haven of Health, 1595), so worthily named for the singular virtues that it hath.'-'This herbe may worthily be called Benedictus, or Omnimorbia, that it is a salve for every sore, not known to physitians of old time, but lately revealed by the speciall providence of Almighty God.'

9. You have some moral in this Benedictus,' i. e. some hidden meaning, like the moral of a fable. Thus in the Rape of Lucrece: Nor could she moralize his wanton sight.'

And in the Taming of the Shrew, 'to expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens.'

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 are in love, or you that will be in love, you 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 10: 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, 'tis a busy. time with me.

Dogb. Marry, this it is, sir.

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 10 i. e. 'feeds on love, and likes his food.'

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: palabras1, 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 Leon. All thy tediousness on me! ha!

worship.

Dogb. Yea, and 'twere a thousand times 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 see3!-Well said,

1 i. e. words, in Spanish. It seems to have been current here for a time, even among the vulgar; it was probably introduced by our sailors, as well as the corrupted form pala'ver. We have it again in the mouth of Sly the Tinker, ‘Therefore paucas pallabris: let the world slide, Sessa.'

2 This stroke of pleasantry, arising from the transposition of the epithet poor, has already occurred in Measure for Measure. Elbow says: "If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable."

3 This was a common apostrophe of admiration equivalent to it is wonderful,' or 'it is admirable.' Baret in his Alvearie, 1580, explains, It is a world to heare,' by 'It is a thing worthie the hearing, audire est operæ pretium.' In Cavendish's Life of Wolsey we have, 'Is it not a world to consider?'

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!

Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you.

Dogb. Gifts, that God gives.

Leon. I must leave you.

Dogb. One word, sir: our watch, sir, have, indeed, comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your worship.

Leon. Take their examination yourself, and bring it me; I am now in great haste, as it may appear

Mess. My lord, they stay for you to give your

daughter to her husband.

Leon. I will wait upon them; I am ready.

[Exeunt LEONATO and Messenger. Dogb. Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacoal, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol; we are now to examination these men. Verg. And we must do it wisely.

Dogb. We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's that [Touching his forehead.] shall drive some of them to a non com: only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol. [Exeunt.

SCENE I.

ACT IV.

The Inside of a Church.

Enter DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, LEONATO, Friar, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, and BEATRICE, &c.

Leon. Come, friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain form of marriage, and you shall recount their particular duties afterwards.

Friar. You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady?

Claud. No.

Leon. To be married to her, friar; you come to marry her.

Friar. Lady, you come hither to be married to this count?

Hero. I do.

Friar. If either of you know any inward impediment why you should not be conjoined, I charge you, on your souls, to utter it1.

Claud. Know you any, Hero?

Hero. None, my lord.

Friar. Know you any, count?

Leon. I dare make his answer, none.

do!

Claud. O, what men dare do! what men may what men daily do! not knowing what they do! Bene. How now! Interjections? Why, then some be of laughing, as, ha! ha! he!

Claud. Stand thee by, friar:-Father, by your leave!

1 This is borrowed from our marriage ceremony, which (with a few changes in phraseology) is the same as was used in Shakspeare's time.