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Claud。 No； but the barber's man hath been seen with him； and the old
ornament of his cheek hath already stuff'd tennis balls。
Leon。 Indeed he looks younger than he did； by the loss of a beard。
Pedro。 Nay； 'a rubs himself with civet。 Can you smell him out by that？
Claud。 That's as much as to say； the sweet youth's in love。
Pedro。 The greatest note of it is his melancholy。
Claud。 And when was he wont to wash his face？
Pedro。 Yea； or to paint himself？ for the which I hear what they say of
him。
Claud。 Nay； but his jesting spirit； which is new…crept into a lutestring；
and now govern'd by stops。
Pedro。 Indeed that tells a heavy tale for him。 Conclude； conclude； he is
in love。
Claud。 Nay； but I know who loves him。
Pedro。 That would I know too。 I warrant； one that knows him not。
Claud。 Yes； and his ill conditions； and in despite of all； dies for him。
Pedro。 She shall be buried with her face upwards。
Bene。 Yet is this no charm for the toothache。 Old signior； walk aside
with me。 I have studied eight or nine wise words to speak to you； which
these hobby…horses must not hear。
＇Exeunt Benedick and Leonato。＇
Pedro。 For my life； to break with him about Beatrice！
Claud。 'Tis even so。 Hero and Margaret have by this played their parts
with Beatrice； and then the two bears will not bite one another when they
meet。
＇Enter John the Bastard。＇
John。 My lord and brother； God save you。
Pedro。 Good den； brother。
John。 If your leisure serv'd； I would speak with you。
Pedro。 In private？
John。 If it please you。 Yet Count Claudio may hear； for what I would
speak of concerns him。
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Pedro。 What's the matter？
John。 ＇to Claudio＇ Means your lordship to be married tomorrow？
Pedro。 You know he does。
John。 I know not that； when he knows what I know。
Claud。 If there be any impediment； I pray you discover it。
John。 You may think I love you not。 Let that appear hereafter； and aim
better at me by that I now will manifest。 For my brother； I think he holds
you well and in dearness of heart hath help to effect your ensuing
marriagesurely suit ill spent and labour ill bestowed！
Pedro。 Why； what's the matter？
John。 I came hither to tell you； and； circumstances short'ned （for she
has been too long a…talking of）； the lady is disloyal。
Claud。 Who？ Hero？
John。 Even sheLeonato's Hero； your Hero； every man's Hero。
Claud。 Disloyal？
John。 The word is too good to paint out her wickedness。 I could say
she were worse； think you of a worse title； and I will fit her to it。 Wonder
not till further warrant。 Go but with me to…night； you shall see her chamber
window ent'red； even the night before her wedding day。 If you love her
then； to…morrow wed her。 But it would better fit your honour to change
your mind。
Claud。 May this be so？
Pedro。 I will not think it。
John。 If you dare not trust that you see； confess not that you know。 If
you will follow me； I will show you enough； and when you have seen
more and heard more； proceed accordingly。
Claud。 If I see anything to…night why I should not marry her to…
morrow； in the congregation where I should wed； there will I shame her。
Pedro。 And； as I wooed for thee to obtain her； I will join with thee to
disgrace her。
John。 I will disparage her no farther till you are my witnesses。 Bear it
coldly but till midnight； and let the issue show itself。
Pedro。 O day untowardly turned！
Claud。 O mischief strangely thwarting！
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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
John。 O plague right well prevented！ So will you say when you have
seen the Sequel。
＇Exeunt。＇
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SCENE III。
A street。
＇Enter Dogberry and his compartner ＇Verges＇； with the Watch。＇
Dog。 Are you good men and true？
Verg。 Yea； or else it were pity but they should suffer salvation； body
and soul。
Dog。 Nay； that were a punishment too good for them if they should
have any allegiance in them； being chosen for the Prince's watch。
Verg。 Well； give them their charge； neighbour Dogberry。
Dog。 First； who think you the most desartless man to be constable？
1。 Watch。 Hugh Oatcake； sir； or George Seacoal； for they can write and
read。
Dog。 Come hither； neighbour Seacoal。 God hath bless'd you with a
good name。 To be a well…favoured man is the gift of fortune； but to write
and read comes by nature。
2。 Watch。 Both which； Master Constable
Dog。 You have。 I knew it would be your answer。 Well； for your favour；
sir； why； give God thanks and make no boast of it； and for your writing
and reading； let that appear when there is no need of such vanity。 You are
thought here to be the most senseless and fit man for the constable of the
watch。 Therefore bear you the lanthorn。 This is your charge： you shall
comprehend all vagrom men； you are to bid any man stand； in the Prince's
name。
2。 Watch。 How if 'a will not stand？
Dog。 Why then； take no note of him； but let him go； and presently call
the rest of the watch together and thank God you are rid of a knave。
Verg。 If he will not stand when he is bidden； he is none of the Prince's
subjects。
Dog。 True； and they are to meddle with none but the Prince's subjects。
You shall also make no noise in the streets； for the watch to babble and to
talk is most tolerable； and not to be endured。
2。 Watch。 We will rather sleep than talk。 We know what belongs to a
watch。
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Dog。 Why； you speak like an ancient and most quiet watchman； for I
cannot see how sleeping should offend。 Only have a care that your bills be
not stol'n。 Well； you are to call at all the alehouses and bid those that are
drunk get them to bed。
2。 Watch。 How if they will not？
Dog。 Why then； let them alone till they are sober。 If they make you not
then the better answer； You may say they are not the men you took them
for。
2。 Watch。 Well； sir。
Dog。 If you meet a thief； you may suspect him； by virtue of your office；
to be no true man； and for such kind of men； the less you meddle or make
with them； why； the more your honesty。
2。 Watch。 If we know him to be a thief； shall we not lay hands on him？
Dog。 Truly； by your office you may； but I think they that touch pitch
will be defil'd。 The most peaceable way for you； if you do take a thief； is
to let him show himself what he is； and steal out of your company。
Verg。 You have been always called a merciful man； partner。
Dog。 Truly； I would not hang a dog by my will； much more a man who
hath any honesty in him。
Verg。 If you hear a child cry in the night； you must call to the nurse
and bid her still it。
2。 Watch。 How if the nurse be asleep and will not hear us？
Dog。 Why then； depart in peace and let the child wake her with crying；
for the ewe that will not hear her lamb when it baes will never answer a
calf when he bleats。
Verg。 'Tis very true。
Dog。 This is the end of the charge： you； constable； are to present the
Prince's own person。 If you meet the Prince in the night； you may stay
him。
Verg。 Nay； by'r lady； that I think 'a cannot。
Dog。 Five shillings to one on't with any man that knows the statutes；
he may stay him！ Marry； not without the Prince be willing； for indeed the
watch ought to offend no man； and it is an offence to stay a man against
his will。
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Verg。 By'r lady； I think it be so。
Dog。 Ha； ah； ha！ Well； masters； good night。 An there be any matter of
weight chances； call up me。 Keep your fellows' counsels and your own；
and good night。 Come； neighbour。
2。 Watch。 Well； masters； we hear our charge。 Let us go sit here upon
the church bench till two； and then all to bed。
Dog。 One word more； honest neighbours。 I pray you watch about
Signior Leonato's door； for the wedding being there tomorrow； there is a
great c