Bring you these fellowes on wee l talke with Margaret how her acquaintance grew with this lewd felow exeunt Enter Benedicke and Margaret Bened. Praie thee sweete mistris Margaret deserue well at my hands by helping me to the speech of Beatrice Mar. Wil you then write me a sonnet in praise of my beautie Bene. In so high a stile Margaret that no man liuing shall come ouer it for in most comely truth thou deseruest it Mar. To haue no man come ouer me why shal I alwaies keep below staires Bene. Thy wit is as quicke as the grey-hounds mouth it catches Mar. And your's as blunt as the Fencers foiles which hit but hurt not Bene. A most manly witte Margaret it will not hurt a woman and so I pray thee call Beatrice I giue thee the bucklers Marg. Giue vs the swordes wee haue bucklers of our owne Bene. If you vse them Margaret you must putte in the pikes with a vice and they are daungerous weapons for maides Mar. Well I will call Beatrice to you who I thinke hath legges Exit Margarite Bene. And therefore wil come The God of loue that sits aboue and knowes mee and knowes me how pittifull I deserue I meane in singing but in louing Leander the good swimmer Troilus the first imploier of pandars and a whole booke full of these quondam carpet-mongers whose names yet runne smoothly in the euen rode of a blancke verse why they were neuer so truly turnd ouer and ouer as my poore selfe in loue mary I cannot shew it in rime I haue tried I can finde out no rime to Ladie but babie an innocent rime for scorne horne a hard rime for schoole foole a babling rime very ominous endings no I was not borne vnder a riming plannet nor I cannot wooe in festiuall termes sweete Beatrice wouldst thou come when I cald thee Enter Beatrice Beat. Yea signior and depart when you bid me Bene. O stay but till then Beat. Then is spoken fare you wel now and yet ere I goe let me goe with that I came which is with knowing what hath past betweene you and Claudio Bene. Onely foule words and therevpon I will kisse thee Beat. Foule words is but foule wind and foule wind is but foule breath and foule breath is holsome therfore I wil depart vnkist Bene. Thou hast frighted the word out of his right sence so forcible is thy wit but I must tel thee plainly Claudio vndergoes my challenge and either I must shortly heare from him or I will subscribe him a coward and I pray thee now tell me for which of my bad parts didst thou first fal in loue with me Beat. For them all together which maintaind so politique a state of euil that they will not admitte any good part to intermingle with them but for which of my good parts did you first suffer loue for me Bene. Suffer loue a good epithite I do suffer loue indeed for I loue thee against my will Beat. In spight of your heart I thinke alas poore heart if you spight it for my sake I will spight it for yours for I wil neuer loue that which my friend hates Bene. Thou and I are too wise to wooe peaceably Beat. It appeares not in this confession there 's not one wise man among twentie that will praise himselfe Bene. An old an old instance Beatrice that liu'd in the time of good neighbours if a man do not erect in this age his owne toomb ere he dies he shall liue no longer in monument then the bell rings and the widow weepes Beat. And how long is that thinke you Bene. Question why an hower in clamour and a quarter in rhewme therefore is it most expedient for the wise if Don worme his conscience find no impediment to the contrary to be the trumpet of his owne vertues as I am to my self so much for praising my selfe who I my selfe will beare witnes is praise worthie and now tell me how doth your cosin Beat. Verie ill Bene. And how do you Beat. Verie ill too Bene. Serue God loue me and mend there wil I leaue you too for here comes one in haste Enter Vrsula Vrsula Madam you must come to your vncle yonder 's old coile at home it is prooued my Lady Hero hath bin falsely accusde the Prince and Claudio mightily abusde and Don Iohn is the author of all who is fled and gone will you come presently Beat. Will you go heare this newes signior Bene. I wil liue in thy heart die in thy lap and be buried in thy eies and moreouer I wil go with thee to thy vncles exit Enter Claudio Prince and three or foure with tapers Claudio Is this the monument of Leonato Lord It is my Lord. Epitaph Done to death by slauderous tongues Was the Hero that heere lies Death in guerdon of her wronges Giues her fame which neuer dies So the life that dyed with shame Liues in death with glorious fame Hang thou there vpon the toomb Praising hir when I am dead Claudio Now musick sound sing your solemne hymne Song them but I think they are more flexi Pardon goddesse of the night Those that slew thy virgin knight For the which with songs of woe Round about her tombe they goe Midnight assist our mone help vs to sigh grone Heauily heauily Graues yawne and yeeld your dead Till death be vttered Heauily heauily Lo. Now vnto thy bones good night yeerely will I do this right Prince Good morrow maisters put your torches out The wolues haue preied and looke the gentle day Before the wheeles of Phoebus round about Dapples the drowsie East with spots of grey Thanks to you al and leaue vs fare you well Claudio Good morrow masters each his seuerall way Prince Come let vs hence and put on other weedes And then to Leonatoes we will goe Claudio And Hymen now with luckier issue speeds Then this for whom we rendred vp this woe exeunt Enter Leonato Benedick Margaret Ursula old man Frier Hero Frier Did I not tell you shee was innocent Leo. So are the Prince and Claudio who accusd her Vpon the errour that you heard debated But Margaret was in some fault for this Although against her will as it appeares In the true course of all the question Old Wel I am glad that all things sorts so well Bened. And so am I being else by faith enforst To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it Leo. Well daughter and you gentlewomen all Withdraw into a chamber by your selues And when I send for you come hither masked The Prince and Claudio promisde by this howre To visite me you know your office brother You must be father to your brothers daughter And giue her to young Claudio Exeunt Ladies Old Which I will doe with confirmd countenance Bened. Frier I must intreate your paines I thinke Frier To doe what Signior Bened. To bind me or vndo me one of them Signior Leonato truth it is good Signior Your niece regards me with
hir and with her father And thou shalt haue her wast not to this end That thou beganst to twist so fine a storie Clau. How sweetly you do minister to loue That know loues griefe by his complexion But lest my liking might too sodaine seeme I would haue salude it with a longer treatise Pedro What need the bridge much broder then the flood The fairest graunt is the necessitie Looke what wil serue is fit t is once thou louest And I wil fit thee with the remedie I know we shall haue reuelling to night I wil assume thy part in some disguise And tell faire Hero I am Claudio And in her bosome I le vnclaspe my heart And take her hearing prisoner with the force And strong incounter of my amorous tale Then after to her father will I breake And the conclusion is she shal be thine In practise let vs put it presently exeunt Enter Leonato and an old man brother to Leonato Leo. How now brother where is my cosen your sonne hath he prouided this musique Old He is very busie about it but brother I can tell you strange newes that you yet dreampt not of Leo. Are they good Old As the euents stampes them but they haue a good couer they shew well outward the prince and Count Claudio walking in a thicke pleached alley in mine orchard were thus much ouer-heard by a man of mine the prince discouered to Claudio that he loued my niece your daughter and meant to acknowledge it this night in a daunce and if he found her accordant he meant to take the present time by the top and instantly breake with you of it Leo Hath the fellow any wit that told you this Old A good sharp fellow I wil send for him and question him your selfe Leo. No no we wil hold it as a dreame til it appeare it self but I will acquaint my daughter withall that she may bee the better prepared for an answer if peraduenture this be true go you and tel hir of it coosins you know what you haue to doe O I crie you mercie friend go you with me and I wil vse your shill good cosin haue a care this busie time exeunt Enter fir Iohn the bastard and Conrade his companion Con. What the goodyeere my lord why are you thus out of measure sad Iohn There is no measure in the occasion that breeds therfore the sadnesse is without limit Con. You should heare reason Iohn And when I haue heard it what blessing brings it Con If not a present remedy at least a patient sufferance Iohn I wonder that thou being as thou saist thou art borne vnder Saturne goest about to apply a morall medicine to a mortifying mischiefe I cannot hide what I am I must be sad when I haue cause and smile at no mans iests eate when I haue stomack and wait for no mans leisure sleep when I am drowsie and tend on no mans businesse laugh when I am mery and claw no man in his humor Con. Yea but you must not make the full show of this till you may do it without controllment you haue of late stoode out against your brother and he hath tane you newly into his grace where it is impossible you should take true root but by the faire weather that you make yourself it is needful that you frame the season for your owne haruest Iohn I had rather be a canker in a hedge then a rose in his grace and it better fits my bloud to be disdain'd of all then to fashion a cariage to rob loue from any in thi thogh I cannot be said to be a slatering honest man it must not be denied but I am a plain dealing villaine I am trusted with a mussel and enfraunchisde with a â—ogge therfore I haue decreed not to sing in my cage if I had my mouth I would bite if I had my liberty I would do my liking in the mean time let me be that I am and seeke not to alter me Con. Can you make no vse of your discontent Iohn I make all vse of it for I vse it only Who comes here what newes Borachio Enter Borachio Bor. I came yonder from a great supper the prince your brother is royally entertain'd by Leonato and I can giue you intelligence of an intended mariage Iohn Wil it serue for any model to build mischiefe on what is he for a foole that betrothes himselfe to vnquietnesse Bor. Mary it is your bothers right hand Iohn Who the most exquisite Claudio Bor. Euen he Iohn A proper squier and who and who which way looks he Bor. Mary one Hero the daughter and heire of Leonato Iohn A very forward March-chicke how came you to this Bor Being entertain'd for a perfumer as I was smoaking a musty roome comes me the prince and Claudio hand in hand in sad conference I whipt me behind the arras and there heard it agreed vpon that the prince should wooe Hero for himselfe and hauing obtain'd her giue her to Counte Claudio Iohn Come come let vs thither this may proue food to my displeasure that yong start vp hath all the glory of my ouerthrow if I can crosse him any way I blesse my selfe euery way you are both sure and wil assist me Conr. To the death my Lord. Iohn Let vs to the great supper their cheere is the greater that I am subdued would the cooke were a my mind shall we go proue what 's to be done Bor. Wee le wait vpon your lordship exit Enter Leonato his brother his wife Hero his daughter and Beatrice his neece and a kinsman Leonato Was not counte Iohn here at supper brother I saw him not Beatrice How tartely that gentleman lookes I neuer can see him but I am heart-burn'd an hower after Hero He is of a very melancholy disposition Beatrice He were an excellent man that were made iust in the mid-way between him and Benedick the one is too like an image and saies nothing and the other too like my ladies eldest sonne euermore tatling Leonato Then halfe signior Benedickes tongue in Counte Iohns mouth and halfe Counte Iohns melancholy in Signior Benedickes face Beatrice With a good legge and a good foote vnckle and money inough in his purse such a man would winne any woman in the world if a could get her good will Leonato By my troth neece thou wilt neuer get thee a husband if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue brother Infaith shee s too curst Beatrice Too curst is more then curst I shall lessen Gods sending that way for it is saide God sends a curst cow short hornes but to a cow too curst he sends none Leonato So by being too curst God will send you no hornes Beatrice Iust if he send me no husband for the which blessing I am at him vpon my knees euery morning and euening Lord I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face I had rather lie in the woollen Leonato You may light on
sing and let me wooe no more Balth. Because you talke of wooing I will sing Since many a wooer doth commence his sute To her he thinkes not worthy yet he wooes Yet will he sweare he loues Prince Nay pray thee come Or if thou wilt hold longer argument Do it in notes Balth. Note this before my notes There 's not a note of mine that 's worth the noting Prince Why these are very crotchets that he speakes Note notes forsooth and nothing Bene. Now diuine aire now is his soule rauisht is it not strange that sheepes guts should hale soules out of mens bodies well a horne for my mony when all 's done The Song Sigh no more ladies sigh no more Men were deceiuers euer One foote in sea and one on shore To one thing constant neuer Then sigh not so but let them go And be you blith and bonnie Câ—â—â—â—â—â—ng all your soundes of woe 〈◊〉 hey nony nony Sing no more ditties sing no moe Oâ—â—â—â—pâ— so 〈◊〉 and heauy The fraud of men was euer so Sâ—â—ce 〈◊〉 first was leauy Then sâ—gâ— not so c. Prince By my trâ—th a good song Bâ—â—â—â— And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 singer my lord Prince Ha 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou singst wel enough for a shift Ben. And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bin a dog that should haue howld thus they wâ—uâ—â—â—ave hangd him and I pray God his bad voice 〈◊〉 â—o mâ—scheefe I had as liue haue heard the night-rauen come whâ—â— plague could haue come after it Prince Yea mary doost thou heare Balthasar I pray thee get 〈◊〉 some excellent musique for to morow night we would haue it at the ladie Heroes chamber window Balâ—â— The best I can my lord Exit Balthasar Prince Do so farewell Come hither Leonato what was it yâ—u tâ—â—d mee of to day that your niece Beatrice was in loue with sâ—â—nior Benedicke Câ—â— O I stalke on stalk on the foule sits I did neuer think that lady would haue loued any man Lâ—â— No nor I neither but most wonderful that she should so dote on signior Benedicke whome she hath in all outward beâ—â—â—â—â—rs seemd euer to abhorre Bâ—â—e I st possible sits the wind in that corner Leo. By my troth my Lord I cannot tell what to thinke of it but that she loues him with an inraged affection it is past the 〈◊〉 of thought Prince May be she doth but counterfeit Claud. Faith like enough Leon. O God counterfeit there was neuer counterfeit of passion came so neare the life of passion as she discouers it Prince Why what effects of passion shewes she Claud. Baite the hooke wel this fish will bite Leon. What effects my Lord she wil sit you you heard my daughter tell you how Claud. She did indeede Prince How how I pray you you amaze me I would haue thought her spirite had beene inuincible against all assaults of affection Leo. I would haue sworn it had my lord especially against Benedicke Bene. I should think this a gull but that the white bearded fellow speakes it knauery cannot sure hide himself in such reuerence Claud. He hath tane th' infection hold it vp Prince Hath shee made her affection knowne to Benedicke Leonato No and sweares shee neuer will that 's her torment Claudio T is true indeed so your daughter saies shall I saies she that haue so oft encountred him with scorne write to him that I loue him Leo. This saies she now when she is beginning to write to him for shee l be vp twenty times a night and there will she sit in her smocke til she haue writ a sheete of paper my daughter tels vs all Clau. Now you talk of a sheet of paper I remember a prety iest your daughter told of vs. Leonato O when she had writ it and was reading it ouer she found Benedicke and Beatrice betweene the sheete Claudio That Leon. O she tore the letter into a thousand halfpence raild at her self that she should be so immodest to write to one that she knew would flout her I measure him saies she by my own spirit for I should flout him if he writ to me yea thogh I loue him I should Clau. Then downe vpon her knees she falls weepes sobs beates her heart teares her haire prayes curses O sweet Benedicke God giue me patience Leonato She doth indeed my daughter saies so and the extasie hath so much ouerborne her that my daughter is sometime afeard shee will doe a desperate out-rage to her selfe it is very true Prince It were good that Benedicke knew of it by some other if she will not discouer it Claudio To what end he would make but a sport of it and torment the poore Lady worse Prince And he should it were an almes to hang him shee s an excellent sweete lady and out of all suspition she is vertuous Claudio And she is exceeding wise Prince In euery thing but in louing Benedicke Leonato O my Lord wisedome and blood combating in so tender a body we haue ten proofes to one that bloud hath the victory I am sory for her as I haue iust cause beeing her vncle and her gardian Prince I would shee had bestowed this dotage on mee I would haue daft all other respects and made her halfe my self I pray you tell Benedicke of it and heare what a will say Leonato Were it good thinke you Claudio Hero thinkes surely she will die for she sayes shee will die if he loue her not and shee will die ere shee make her loue knowne and she will die if he wooe her rather than shee will bate one breath of her accustomed crosnesâ—e Prince She doth well if shee shoulde make tender of her loue t is very possible hee le scorne it for the man as you know all hath a contemptâ—ble spirite Claudio He is a very proper man Prince He hath indeede a good outward happines Claudio Before God and in my mind very wise Prince Hee dooth indeede shew some sparkes that are like wit Claudio And I take him to be valiant Prince As Hector I assure you and in the mannaging of quarrels you may say he is wise for either hee auoydes them with great discretion or vndertakes them with a most christianlike feare Leonato If he do feare God a must necessarily keep peace if hee breake the peace hee ought to enter into a quarrel with feare and trembling Prince And so will hee doe for the man doth feare God howsoeuer it seemes not in him by some large iestes hee will make well I am sory for your niece shall we go seeke Benedicke and tell him of her loue Claudio Neuer tell him my Lord let her weare it out with good counsell Leonato Nay that 's impossible shee may weare her heart out first Prince Well we will heare further of it by your daughter let it coole the while I loue Benedicke wel and I could wish he would modestly examine himselfe to see how much he is vnworthy so good a lady Leonato My lord will you walke dinner is ready Claudio
shall endure The like himselfe therefore giue me no counsaile My griefes crie lowder then aduertisement Brother Therein do men from children nothing differ Leonato I pray thee peace I wil be flesh and bloud For there was neuer yet Philosopher That could endure the tooth-ake patiently How euer they haue writ the stile of gods And made a push at chance and sufferance Brother Yet bend not all the harme vpon your selfe Make those that do offend you suffer too Leonato There thou speakst reason nay I will do so My soule doth tell me Hero is belied And that shall Claudio know so shall the prince And all of them that thus dishonour her Enter Prince and Claudio Brother Here comes the Prince and Claudio hastily Prince Good den good den Claudio Good day to both of you Leonato Heare you my Lords Prince We haue some haste Leonato Leonato Some haste my lord well fare you well my lord Are you so hasty now wel all is one Prince Nay do not quarrel with vs good old man Brother If he could right himselfe with quarrelling Some of vs would lie low Claudio Who wrongs him Leona Mary thou dost wrong me thou dissembler thou Nay neuer lay thy hand vpon thy sword I feare thee not Claudio Mary beshrew my hand If it should giue your age such cause of feare Infaith my hand meant nothing to my sword Leonato Tush tush man neuer fleere and iest at me I speake not like a dotard nor a foole As vnder priuiledge of age to bragge What I haue done being yong or what would doe Were I not old know Claudio to thy head Thou hast so wrongd mine innocent child and me That I am forst to lay my reuerence by And with grey haires and bruise of many daies Do challenge thee to triall of a man I say thou hast belied mine innocent child Thy slander hath gone through and through her heart And she lies buried with her ancestors O in a toomb where neuer scandal slept Saue this of hers framde by thy villanie Claudio My villany Leonato Thine Claudio thine I say Prince You say not right old man Leonato My Lord my Lord I le prooue it on his body if he dare Dispight his nice fence and his actiue practise His Maie of youth and bloome of lustihood Claudio A way I will not haue to doe with you Leonato Canst thou so daffe me thou hast kild my child If thou kilst me boy thou shalt kill a man Brother He shal kill two of vs and men indeed But that 's no matter let him kill one first Win me and weare me let him answer me Come follow me boy come sir boy come follow me Sir boy I le whip you from your foyning fence Nay as I am a gentleman I will Leonato Brother Brother Content your self God knowes I loued my neece And she is dead slanderd to death by villaines That dare as well answer a man indeed As I dare take a serpent by the tongue Boyes apes braggarts Jackes milke-sops Leonato Brother Anthony Brother Hold you content what man I know them yea And what they weigh euen to the vtmost scruple Scambling out-facing fashion-monging boies That he and cogge and flout depraue and slaunder Go antiquely and shew outward hidiousnesse And speake of halfe a dozen dang'rous words How they might hurt their enemies if they durst And this is all Leonato But brother Anthonie Brother Come t is no matter Do not you meddle let me deale in this Prince Gentlemen both we will not wake your patience My heart is sory for your daughters death But on my honour she was chargde with nothing But what was true and very full of proofe Leonato My Lord my Lord. Prince I will not heare you Leo. No come brother away I wil be heard Exeunt amb Bro. And shal or some of vs wil smart for it Enter Ben. Prince See see heere comes the man we went to seeke Claud. Now signior what newes Bened. Good day my Lord Prince Welcome signior you are almost come to parte almost a fray Claud. Wee had likt to haue had our two noses snapt off with two old men without teeth Prince Leonato and his brother what thinkst thou had we sought I doubt we should haue beene too yong for them Bened. In a false quarrell there is no true valour I came to seeke you both Claud. We haue beene vp and downe to seeke thee for we are high proofe melancholie and would faine haue it beaten away wilt thou vse thy wit Bened. It is in my scabberd shal I drawe it Prince Doest thou weare thy wit by thy side Claud. Neuer any did so though very many haue been beside their wit I will bid thee drawe as wee doe the minstrels â—â—â—w to pleasure vs. Prince As I am an honest man he lookes pale art thou siâ—ke or angry Claud. What courage man what though care kild a catte thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care Bened. Sir I shall meete your wit in the careere and you charge it against me I pray you chuse another subiect Claud. Nay then giue him another staffe this last was broke crosse Prince By this light he chaunges more and more I thinke he be angry indeed Claud If he be he knowes how to turne his girdle Bened. Shall I speake a word in your eare Claud. God blesse me from a challenge Bened. You are a villaine I ieast not I will make it good howe you dare with what you dare and when you dare doe mee right or I will protest your cowardise you haue killd a sweeete Lady and her death shall fall heauie on you let me heare from you Claud. Well I wil meet you so I may haue good cheare Prince What a feast a feast Claud. I faith I thanke him he hath bid me to a calues head a capon the which if I doe not carue most curiously say my kniffe's naught shall I not find a woodcocke too Bened. Sir your wit ambles well it goes easily Prince I le tell thee how Beatrice praisd thy witte the other day I said thou hadst a fine witte true said she a fine little one no said I a great wit right saies she a great grosse one nay said I a good wit iust said she it hurts no body nay said I the gentleman is wise certaine said she a wise gentleman nay said I he hath the tongues that I beleeue said shee for he swore a thing to mee on munday night which hee forswore on tuesday morning there 's a double tongue theirs two tongues thus did shee an houre together trans-shape thy particular vertues yet at last she coÌ„cluded with a sigh thou wast the properst man in Italy Claud. For the which shee wept heartily and saide she cared not Prince Yea that she did but yet for all that and if she did not hate him deadly she would loue him dearely the old mans daughter told vs all Claud. All all and moreouer God sawe him when he was hid
an eye of fauour Leo. That eye my daughter lent her t is most true Bened. And I do with an eye of loue requite her Leo. The sight whereof I thinke you had from me From Claudio and the Prince but what 's your will Bened. Your answere sir is enigmaticall But for my wil my will is your good will May stand with ours this day to be conioynd In the state of honorable marriage In which good Frier I shal desire your help Leo. My heart is with your liking Frier And my helpe Heere comes the Prince and Claudio Enter Prince and Claudio and two or three other Prince Good morrow to this faire assembly Leo. Good morrow Prince good morrow Claudio We heere attend you are you yet determined To day to marry with my brothers daughter Claud. I le hold my mind were she an Ethiope Leo Call her foorth brother here 's the Frier ready P. Good morrow Bened why what 's the matter That you haue such a Februarie face So full of frost of storme and clowdinesse Claud. I thinke he thinkes vpon the sauage bull Tush feare not man wee le tip thy hornes with gold And all Europa shall reioyce at thee As once Europa did at lustie loue When he would play the noble beast in loue Bene. Bull Ioue sir had an amiable lowe And some such strange bull leapt your fathers cowe And got a calfe in that same noble feate Much like to you for you haue iust his bleate Enter brother Hero Beatrice Margaret Ursula Clau. For this I owe you here comes other recknings Which is the Lady I must seize vpon Leo. This same is she and I do giue you her Claud. Why then shee s mine sweet let me see your face Leon. No that you shall not till you take her hand Before this Frier and sweare to marry hir Claud. Giue me your hand before this holy Frier I am your husband if you like of me Hero And when I liu'd I was your other wife And when you loued you were my other husband Claud. Another Hero Hero Nothing certainer One Hero died defilde but I do liue And surely as I liue I am a maide Prince The former Hero Hero that is dead Leon. She died my Lord but whiles her slaunder liu'd Frier All this amazement can I qualifie When after that the holy rites are ended I le tell you largely of faire Heroes death Meane time let wonder seeme familiar And to the chappell let vs presently Ben. Soft and faire Frier which is Beatrice Beat. I answer to that name what is your will Bene. Do not you loue me Beat. Why no no more then reason Bene. Why then your vncle and the prince and Claudio Haue beene deceiued they swore you did Beat. Do not you loue me Bene. Troth no no more then reason Beat. Why then my cosin Margaret and Vrsula Are much deceiu'd for they did sweare you did Bene. They swore that you were almost sicke for me Beat. They swore that you were welnigh dead for me Bene. T is no such matter then you do not loue me Beat. No truly but in friendly recompence Leon. Come cosin I am sure you loue the gentleman Clau. And I le besworne vpon 't that he loues her For here 's a paper written in his hand A halting sonnet of his owne pure braine Fashioned to Beatrice Hero And here 's another Writ in my cosins hand stolne from her pocket Containing her affection vnto Benedicke Bene. A miracle here 's our owne hands against our hearts come I will haue thee but by this light I take thee for pittie Beat. I would not denie you but by this good day I yeeld vpon great perswasion and partly to saue your life for I was told you were in a consumption Leon. Peace I will stop your mouth Prince How dost thou Benedicke the married man Bene. I le tel thee what prince a colledge of witte-crackers cannot flout me out of my humour dost thou think I care for a Satyre or an Epigramme no if a man will be beaten with braines a shall weare nothing hansome about him in briefe since I doe purpose to marrie I will think nothing to anie purpose that the world can saie against it and therfore neuer flout at me for what I haue said against it for man is a giddie thing and this is my conclusion for thy part Claudio I did thinke to haue beaten thee but in that thou art like to be my kinsman liue vnbruisde and loue my cousen Clau. I had wel hopte thou wouldst haue denied Beatrice that I might haue cudgelld thee out of thy single life to make thee a double dealer which out of question thou wilt be if my coosin do not looke exceeding narrowly to thee Bene. Come come we are friends le ts haue a dance ere we are maried that we may lighten our own hearts and our wiues heeles Leon. Wee le haue dancing afterward Bene. First of my worde therefore plaie musicke Prince thou art sad get thee a wife get thee a wife there is no staffe more reuerent then one tipt with horne Enter Messenger Mess. My Lord your brother Iohn is tane in flight And brought with armed men backe to Messina Bene. Thinke not on him till to morrow I le deuise thee braue punishments for him strike vp Pipers dance FINIS