Were testimonies against his worth and credit,
That's sealed in approbation?-You, lord Escalus,
Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis deriv'd.-
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

Escal. How! know you where you are?
Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the
devil

Be some time honour'd for his burning throne:-
Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak.
Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you
speak:

Look, you speak justly.

Duke. Boldly, at least:-But, O, poor souls,
Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox?
Good night to your redress. Is the duke gone?
Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust
Thus to retort your manifest appeal,
And put your trial in the villain's mouth,
Which here you come to accuse.

Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of.
Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd
friar!

Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women
To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,

Te call him villain?

F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he, And then to glance from him to the duke himself; indeed,

Hath set the women on to this complaint:
Your provost knows the place where he abides,
And he may fetch him.

Duke, Co, do it instantly.

[Exit Provost.

Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,'

And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin,

Do with your injuries as seems you best,

In any chastisement: I for a while

To tax him with injustice ?-Take him hence;
To the rack with him:-We'll touze you joint by

joint,

But we will know this purpose :-What! unjust?
Duke. Be not so hot; the duke

Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own; his subject am I not,

Nor here provincial: My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,

Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,

well

Determined upon these slanderers.

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-Exit Duke. Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villanous speeches of the duke.

Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word.
Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again;
[To an attendant.] I would speak with her: Pray
you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall
see how I'll handle her.

Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report.
Escal. Say you?

Lucio, Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publicly she'll be ashamed.

Till it o'er-run the stew: laws, for all faults;
But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as nark.

Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to
prison.

Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior
Lucio?

Is this the man that you did tell us of?

Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord.-Come hither, goodman bald-pate: Do you know me?

Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison, in the absence of the duke.

Lucio. O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke?

Duke. Most notedly, sir.

Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be?

Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke

Re-enter Officers, with Isabella; the Duke, in the so of him; and much more, much worse.

friar's habit, and Provost.

Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Escal. Come on, mistress: [To Isabella.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here, with the provost.

Escal. In very good time:-speak not you to him, till we call upon you. Lucio. Mum.

Escal. Come, sir: Did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo? they have confess'd you id.

Duke. 'Tis false.

Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches ?

Duke. I protest I love the duke, as I love myself. Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal:Away with him to prison :-Where is the provost? Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him; let him speak no more. Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion. [The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while.

Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio.

Luc. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage,

(1) Crazy. (2) Conspiracv. (3) To the end. 4) Refer back (5) Accountable. (6) Wantons.

with a pox to you! show your sheep-biting face, Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off?

Give up your keys.

Prov.

Pardon me, noble lord:
I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice:1
For testimony whereof, one in the prison
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.

What's he?

Duke.
Prov.
His name is Barnardine.
Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Claudio.-
Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him.
[Exit Provost.
Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise
As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure:
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy:
'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, made you a duke: good my lord, do not recom pense ine, in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her.
Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal
Remit thy other forfeits:-Take him to prison:
And see our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, 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;

Re-enter Provost, Barnardine, Claudio, and Juliet. The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?
Prov.
This, my lord.
Duke. There was a friar told me of this man :-
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,'
And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd;
But, for those early 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?

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.

The novel of Giraldi Cinthio, from which Shakspeare is supposed to have borrowed this fable, may be read in Shakspeare Illustrated, elegantly translated, with remarks which will assist the in

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his head;quirer to discover how much absurdity Shakspeare 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 quickening 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 deserv'd of you,
That you extol me thus?

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: 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 begot with child,) let her appear,
And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd,

has admitted or avoided.

modelled the novel of Cinthio, or written a story I cannot but suspect that some other had newwhich in some particulars resembled it, and that Cinthio was not the author whom Shakspeare immediately followed. The emperor in Cinthio is named Maximine: the duke, in Shakspeare's enumeration of the persons of the drama, is called Vincentio. This appears a very slight remark; but since the duke has no name in the play, nor is ever mentioned but by his title, why should he be called Vincentio among the persons, but because the name was copied from the story, and placed superfluously at the head of the list, by the mere habit of transcription? It is therefore likely that there was then a story of Vincentio duke of Vienna, different from that of Maximine emperor of the Romans.

Of this play, the light or comic part is very natu sages be excepted, have more labour than elegance. ral and pleasing, but the grave scenes, if a few pas The plot is rather intricate than artful. The time of the action is indefinite: some time, we know not how much, must have elapsed between the recess of the duke and the imprisonment of Claudio; for he must have learned the story of Mariana in his disguise, or he delegated his power to a man al ready known to be corrupted. The unities of actior and place are sufficiently preserved.

JOHNSON.

Benedick, a young lord of Padua, favourite like-Hero, daughter to Leonato.

wise of Don Pedro.

Leonato, governor of Messina.

Antonio, his brother.

Balthazar, servant to Don Pedro.

Beatrice, niece to Leonato.

Margaret, gentlewomen allending on Hero.

Ursula,

Messengers, watch, and attendants.

Scene, Messina.

ACT I.

Mess. O, he is returned; and as pleasant as ever he was.

Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina, and

SCENE I-Before Leonato's house. Enter Leonato, Hero, Beatrice, and others, with a Mes-challenged Cupid at the flight: and my uncle's

I

senger.

Leonato.

fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt.-I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he killed? for, indeed, I proLeon. Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these wars.

LEARN in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arra-mised to eat all of his killing. gon, comes this night to Messina.

Mess. He is very near by this; he was not three much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not. leagues off when I left him.

Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?

Mess. But few of any sort,' and none of name. Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio.

Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: he hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age; doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it.

Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that joy could not show itself modest enough, with

out a badge of bitterness.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?
Mess. In great measure.2

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness: There are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping?

Beat. I pray you, is signior Montanto returned! from the wars, or no?

Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there was none such in the army of any sort.

Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece?
Hero. My cousin means signior Benedick of
Padua.

Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it: he is a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent stomach.

Mess. And a good soldier too, lady.

is he to a lord?
Beat. And a good soldier to a lady ;-But what

Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all honourable virtues.

Beat. It is so, indeed; he is no less than a stuffee man: but for the stuffing,-Well, we are all mortal

Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece: there is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedict and her: they never meet, but there is a skirmish of wit between them.

Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our las conflict, four of his five wits went halting of and now is the whole man governed with one: se that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse: for it is all the wealth that he hath left to be known a reasonable creature.-Who is hi companion now? He hath every month a new sworn brother.

Mess. Is it possible?

Beat. Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next block.

Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.

Beat. No: an he were, I would burn my study But, I pray you, who is his companion? Is there a

1) Kind. (2) Abundance. (3) At long lengths. (4) Even. (5) A cuckold. (6) Mould for a hat

Scene I.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

young squarer! now, that will make a voyage with heartily prays some occasion may detam us tonger
I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his
him to the devil?
Mess. He is most in the company of the right heart.
noble Claudio.

Leon. If you swear, my lord, you shall not be Beat. O Lord! he will hang upon him like a dis- forsworn.-Let me bid you welcome, my lord: ease: he is sooner caught than the pestilence, and being reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble you all duty. Claudio! if he have caught the Benedick, it will

cost him a thousand pound ere he be cured. Mess. I will hold friends with you, lady.

Beat. Do, good friend.

Leon. You will never run mad, niece.
Beat. No, not till a hot January.
Mess. Don Pedro is approached.

Enter Don Pedro, attended by Balthazar, and
others, Don John, Claudio, and Benedick.

D. Pedro. Good signior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter it.

Leon. Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your grace: for trouble being gone, comfort should remain; but, when you depart from ine, sorrow abides, and happiness takes his leave. D. Pedro. You embrace your charge too wilTingly. I think, this is your daughter.

Lem. Her mother hath many times told me so.
Bene. Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her?
Leon. Signior Benedick, no; for then were you

a child.

D. Pedro. You have it full, Benedick: we may guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herself:-Be happy, lady! for you are like an honourable father.

Bene. If sinior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders, for all Messina,

as like him as she is.

Bene. I wong that you will still be talking, signior Benedick; no body marks you.

Bene. What, my dear lady Disdain! are you yet hving?

D. John. I thank you: I am not of many words, but I thank you.

Leon. Please it your grace lead on!

D. Pedro. Your hand, Leonato; we will go to gether. [Exeunt all but Benedick and Claudio, Claud. Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of signior Leonato?

Bene. I noted her not; but I locked on her. Claud. Is she not a modest young lady? Bene. Do you question me, as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgment; or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?

Claud. No, I pray thee, speak in sober judg ment.

Bene. Why, i'faith, methinks she is too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too lit tle for a great praise: only this commendation I can afford her; that were she other than she is, she were unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I do not like her.

Claud. Thou thinkest, I am in sport; I pray thee tell me truly how thou likest her?

Bene. Would you buy her, that you inquire after her?

Claud. Can the world buy such a jewel?

Bene. Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak you this with a sad brow? or do you play the flouting jack; to tell us Cupid is a good harc-finder, and Vulcan a rare carpenter? Come, in what key shall man take you, to go in the song?

a

Claud. In mine eye, she is the sweetest lady th.. ever I looked on.

Bene. I can see yet without spectacles, and I see Beat. Is it possible, disdain should die, while no such matter: there's her cousin, an she were not she hath such meet food to feed it, as signior Bene-possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in dick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if beauty, as the first of May doth the last of Decem ber. But I hope you have no intent to turn hus you come in her presence. band; have you?

Bene. Then is courtesy a turn-coat :-But it is certain, I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart; for, truly, I love none.

Beat. A dear happiness to women; they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God, and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that; I had rather hear my dog bark at

a crow,

a man swear he loves me. than Bene. God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate scratched face.

Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such a face as yours were.

Claud. I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife.

with

Bene. Is it come to this, i'faith? Hath not the сар. world one man, but he will wear his suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore again? Go to, i'faith; an thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it, and sigh away Sundays. Look, Don Pedro is 1e turned to seck

you.

Re-enter Don Pedro.

D. Pedro. What secret hath held you here, that you followed not to Leonato's?

Bene. I would, your grace would constrain me

Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. Beat. A bird of my tongue, is better than a beast to tell. of yours.

Bene. I would my horse had the speed of your tongue; and so good a continuer: But keep your way o' God's name; I have done.

Beat. You always end with a jade's trick; I know you of old.

D. Pedro. This is the sum of all: Leonato,signior Claudio, and signior Benedick,-my dear friend Leonato, hath invited you all. I tell hin, we shall stay here at the least a month; and he (2) Trust.

(1) Quarrelsome fellow.

D. Pedro. I charge thee on thy allegiance.

Bene. You hear, count Claudio: I can be secret as a dumb man, I would have you think so; but on my allegiance,-mark you this, on my allegiance:He is in love. With who?-now that is your grace's part.-Mark, how short his answer is:-With Hero, Leonato's short daughter.

Claud. If this were so, so were it uttered.

Bene. Like the old tale, my lord: it is not so, no 'twas not so; but, indeed, God forbid it should be so. Claud. If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it should be otherwise.