So the life, that died with fhame,
Lives in death with glorious fame.
Hang thou there upon the tomb,

Praifing her when I am dumb.—

[affixing it.

Now, mufick, found, and fing your folemn hymn.

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

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

Dapples the drowsy east with spots of grey: Thanks to you all, and leave

us; fare you well. Claud. Good morrow, masters; each his feveral way. D. Pedro. Come, let us hence, and put on other weeds; And then to Leonato's we will go.

Claud. And, Hymen, now with luckier issue speed's, Than this, for whom we render'd up this woe! [Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE IV.

A Room in LEONATO's House.

Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, BENEDICK, BEATRICE, URSULA, Friar, and HERO.

Friar. Did I not tell you she was innocent?

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 course of all the question.

Ant. Well, I am glad that all things fort fo well.
Bene. And fo am I, being else 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 yourselves; 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 must entreat your pains, I think. Friar. To do what, fignior?

Bene. To bind me, or undo me, one of them.Signior Leonato, truth it is, good fignior,

Your niece regards me with an eye of favour.

Leon. That eye my daughter lent her; 'Tis most 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, fir, is enigmatical: G 2

But,

But, for my will, my will is, your good will
May stand with ours, this day to be conjoin'd
In the ftate of honourable marriage ;-
In which, good friar, I shall defire your help.
Leon. My heart is with your liking.
Friar.

And my help.
Here comes the prince, and Claudio.

Enter Don PEDRO, and CLAUDIO, with Attendants.

D. Pedro. Good morrow to this fair affembly. Leon. Good morrow, prince; good morrow, Claudio; We here attend you; Are you yet determin'd To-day to marry with my brother's daughter? Claud, I'll hold my mind, were she an Ethiop. Leon. Call her forth, brother, here's the friar ready.

D. Pedro. Good morrow, Benedick:

That

matter,

you have fuch a February face,

[Exit ANTONIO. : Why, what's the

So full of froft, of storm, and cloudiness?

Claud. I think, he thinks upon the favage bull :— Tush, fear not, man, we'll tip thy horns with gold, And all Europa fhall rejoice at thee;

As once Europa did at lufty Jove,

When he would play the noble beast in love.
Bene. Bull Jove, fir, had an amiable low;

And fome fuch ftrange bull leap'd your father's cow,
And got a calf in that fame noble feat,

Much like to you, for you have just his bleat.

Re-enter ANTONIO, with the Ladies mafk'd.

Claud. For this I owe you: here come other reckonings. Which is the lady I must feize upon ?

Ant. This fame is fke, and I do give you her.

Claud.

85

Claud. Why, then she's mine: Sweet, let me fee your face. Leon. No, that you shall not, till you take her hand Before this friar, and swear to marry her.

Claud. Give me your hand before this holy friar; I am your husband, if you like of me.

Hero. And when I liv'd, I was your other wife :

[Unmasking, And when you lov'd, you were my other husband. Claud. Another Hero?

Hero.

Nothing certainer: One Hero died defil'd; but I do live,

And, furely as I live, I am a maid.

D. Pedro. The former Hero! Hero that is dead!
Leon. She died, my lord, but whiles her flander liv'd.
Friar. All this amazement can I qualify;

When, after that the holy rites are ended,

I'll tell you largely of fair Hero's death:
Mean time, let wonder feem familiar,

And to the chapel let us presently.

Bene. Soft and fair, friar.-Which is Beatrice?

Beat. I answer to that name; [Unmasking.] What is your will?

Bene. Do not you love me?

Beat.

No, no more than reafon.

Bene. Why, then your uncle, and the prince, and Claudio, Have been deceived; for they swore you did.

Beat. Do not you love me?
Bene.

No, no more than reafon. Beat. Why, then my cousin, Margaret, and Ursula, Are much deceiv'd; for they did fwear, you did. Bene. They fwore that you were almost fick for me. Beat. They fwore that you were well-nigh dead for me. Bene. 'Tis no fuch matter:-Then, you do not love me? Beat. No, truly, but in friendly recompence.

Leon.

Leon. Come, coufin, I am fure you love the gentleman. Claud. And I'll be fworn upon't, that he loves her ; For here's a paper, written in his hand,

A halting fonnet of his own pure brain,

Fashion'd to Beatrice.

Hero.

And here's another,

Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket,
Containing her affection unto Benedick.

Bene. A miracle! here's our own hands against our hearts!-Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, I take thee for pity.

Beat. I would not deny you ;-but, by this good day, I yield upon great perfuafion; and, partly, to fave your life, for I was told you were in a confumption.

Bene. Peace, I will stop your mouth.- [Kiffing ber. D. Pedro. How doft thou, Benedick the married man? Bene. I'll tell thee what, prince; a college of witcrackers cannot flout me out of my humour: Dost thou think, I care for a fatire, or an epigram? No: if a man will be beaten with brains, he fhall wear nothing handfome about him: In brief, fince I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I have faid against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclufion. For thy part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten thee; but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, live unbruis'd, and love my cousin.

Claud. I had well hoped, thou would't have denied Beatrice, that I might have cudgell'd thee out of thy fingle life, to make thee a double dealer; which, out of queftion, thou wilt be, if my cousin do not look exceeding narrowly to thee.

Bene. Come, come, we are friends :-let's have a dance

4

ere