2042Kemp. Flat Burglarie as euer was committed.

2043Const. Yea by th'masse that it is.

2044Sexton. What else fellow?

2045Watch 1. And that Count Claudio did meane vpon his

2046words, to disgrace Hero before the whole assembly, and

2047not marry her.

2048Kemp. O villaine! thou wilt be condemn'd into euer-

2049lasting redemption for this.

2050Sexton. What else?

2051Watch. This is all.

2052Sexton. And this is more masters then you can deny,

2053Prince Iohn is this morning secretly stolne away: Hero

2054was in this manner accus'd, in this very manner refus'd,

2055and vpon the griefe of this sodainely died: Master Con-

2056stable, let these men be bound, and brought to Leonato,

2057I will goe before, and shew him their examination.

2058Const. Come, let them be opinion'd.

2059Sex. Let them be in the hands of Coxcombe.

2060Kem. Gods my life, where's the Sexton? let him write

2061downe the Princes Officer Coxcombe: come, binde them

2062thou naughty varlet.

2063Couley. Away, you are an asse, you are an asse.

2064Kemp. Dost thou not suspect my place? dost thou not

2065suspect my yeeres? O that hee were heere to write mee

2066downe an asse! but masters, remember that I am an asse:

2067though it be not written down, yet forget not y^t I am an

2068asse: No thou villaine, y^u art full of piety as shall be prou'd

2069vpon thee by good witnesse, I am a wise fellow, and

2070which is more, an officer, and which is more, a houshoul-

2071der, and which is more, as pretty a peece of flesh as any in

2072Messina, and one that knowes the Law, goe to, & a rich

2073fellow enough, goe to, and a fellow that hath had losses,

2074and one that hath two gownes, and euery thing hand-

2075some about him: bring him away: O that I had been writ

2076downe an asse! Exit.

2079Brother. If you goe on thus, you will kill your selfe,

2080And 'tis not wisedome thus to second griefe,

2081Against your selfe.

2082Leon. I pray thee cease thy counsaile,

2083Which falls into mine eares as profitlesse,

2084As water in a siue: giue not me counsaile,

2085Nor let no comfort delight mine eare,

2086But such a one whose wrongs doth sute with mine.

2087Bring me a father that so lou'd his childe,

2088Whose ioy of her is ouer-whelmed like mine,

2089And bid him speake of patience,

2090Measure his woe the length and bredth of mine,

2091And let it answere euery straine for straine,

2092As thus for thus, and such a griefe for such,

2093In euery lineament, branch, shape, and forme:

2094If such a one will smile and stroke his beard,

2095And sorrow, wagge, crie hem, when he should grone,

2096Patch griefe with prouerbs, make misfortune drunke,

2097With candle-wasters: bring him yet to me,

2098And I of him will gather patience:

2099But there is no such man, for brother, men

2100Can counsaile, and speake comfort to that griefe,

2101Which they themselues not feele, but tasting it,

2102Their counsaile turnes to passion, which before,

2103Would giue preceptiall medicine to rage,

2104Fetter strong madnesse in a silken thred,

2105Charme ache with ayre, and agony with words,

2106No, no, 'tis all mens office, to speake patience

2107To those that wring vnder the load of sorrow:

2108But no mans vertue nor sufficiencie

2109To be so morall, when he shall endure

2110The like himselfe: therefore giue me no counsaile,

2111My griefs cry lowder then aduertisement.

2112Broth. Therein do men from children nothing differ.

2113Leonato. I pray thee peace, I will be flesh and bloud,

2114For there was neuer yet Philosopher,

2115That could endure the tooth-ake patiently,

2116How euer they haue writ the stile of gods,

2117And made a push at chance and sufferance.

2118Brother. Yet bend not all the harme vpon your selfe,

2119Make those that doe offend you, suffer too.

2120Leon. There thou speak'st reason, nay I will doe so,

2121My soule doth tell me, Hero is belied,

2122And that shall Claudio know, so shall the Prince,

2123And all of them that thus dishonour her.

2125Brot. Here comes the Prince and Claudio hastily.

2126Prin. Good den, good den.

2127Clau. Good day to both of you.

2128Leon. Heare you my Lords?

2129Prin. We haue some haste Leonato.

2130Leo. Some haste my Lord! wel, fare you wel my Lord,

2131Are you so hasty now? well, all is one.

2132Prin. Nay, do not quarrell with vs, good old man.

2133Brot. If he could rite himselfe with quarrelling,

2134Some of vs would lie low.

2135Claud. Who wrongs him?

2136Leon. Marry y^u dost wrong me, thou dissembler, thou:

2137Nay, neuer lay thy hand vpon thy sword,

2138I feare thee not.

2139Claud. Marry beshrew my hand,

2140If it should giue your age such cause of feare,

2141Infaith my hand meant nothing to my sword.

2142Leonato. Tush, tush, man, neuer fleere and iest at me,

2143I speake not like a dotard, nor a foole,

2144As vnder priuiledge of age to bragge,

2145What I haue done being yong, or what would doe,

2146Were I not old, know Claudio to thy head,

2147Thou hast so wrong'd my innocent childe and me,

2148That I am forc'd to lay my reuerence by,

2149And with grey haires and bruise of many daies,

2150Doe challenge thee to triall of a man,

2151I say thou hast belied mine innocent childe.

2152Thy slander hath gone through and through her heart,

2153And she lies buried with her ancestors:

2154O in a tombe where neuer scandall slept,

2155Saue this of hers, fram'd by thy villanie.

2156Claud. My villany?

2157Leonato. Thine Claudio, thine I say.

2158Prin. You say not right old man.

2159Leon. My Lord, my Lord,

2160Ile proue it on his body if he dare,

2161Despight his nice fence, and his actiue practise,

2162His Maie of youth, and bloome of lustihood.

2163Claud. Away, I will not haue to do with you.

2164Leo. Canst thou so daffe me? thou hast kild my child,

2165If thou kilst me, boy, thou shalt kill a man.

2166Bro. He shall kill two of vs, and men indeed,

2167But that's no matter, let him kill one first: