2298Const. Marrie sir, they haue committed false report,

2299moreouer they haue spoken vntruths, secondarily they

2300are slanders, sixt and lastly, they haue belyed a Ladie,

2301thirdly, they haue verified vniust things, and to conclude

2302they are lying knaues.

2303Prin. First I aske thee what they haue done, thirdlie

2304I aske thee vvhat's their offence, sixt and lastlie why they

2305are committed, and to conclude, what you lay to their

2306charge.

2307Clau. Rightlie reasoned, and in his owne diuision, and

2308by my troth there's one meaning vvell suted.

2309Prin. Who haue you offended masters, that you are

2310thus bound to your answer? this learned Constable is too

2311cunning to be vnderstood, vvhat's your offence?

2312Bor. Sweete Prince, let me go no farther to mine an-

2313swere: do you heare me, and let this Count kill mee: I

2314haue deceiued euen your verie eies: vvhat your wise-

2315domes could not discouer, these shallow fooles haue

2316brought to light, vvho in the night ouerheard me con-

2317fessing to this man, how Don Iohn your brother incensed

2318me to slander the Ladie Hero, how you were brought

2319into the Orchard, and saw me court Margaret in Heroes

2320garments, how you disgrac'd her vvhen you should

2321marrie her: my villanie they haue vpon record, vvhich

2322I had rather seale vvith my death, then repeate ouer to

2323my shame: the Ladie is dead vpon mine and my masters

2324false accusation: and briefelie, I desire nothing but the

2325reward of a villaine.

2326Prin. Runs not this speech like yron through your

2327bloud?

2328Clau. I haue drunke poison whiles he vtter'd it.

2329Prin. But did my Brother set thee on to this?

2330Bor. Yea, and paid me richly for the practise of it.

2331Prin. He is compos'd and fram'd of treacherie,

2332And fled he is vpon this villanie.

2333Clau. Sweet Hero, now thy image doth appeare

2334In the rare semblance that I lou'd it first.

2335Const. Come, bring away the plaintiffes, by this time

2336our Sexton hath reformed Signior Leonato of the matter:

2337and masters, do not forget to specifie when time & place

2338shall serue, that I am an Asse.

2339Con. 2. Here, here comes master Signior Leonato, and

2340the Sexton too.

2342Leon. Which is the villaine? let me see his eies,

2343That when I note another man like him,

2344I may auoide him: vvhich of these is he?

2345Bor. If you vvould know your wronger, looke on me.

2346Leon. Art thou thou the slaue that with thy breath

2347hast kild mine innocent childe?

2348Bor. Yea, euen I alone.

2349Leo. No, not so villaine, thou beliest thy selfe,

2350Here stand a paire of honourable men,

2351A third is fled that had a hand in it:

2352I thanke you Princes for my daughters death,

2353Record it with your high and worthie deedes,

2354'Twas brauely done, if you bethinke you of it.

2355Clau. I know not how to pray your patience,

2356Yet I must speake, choose your reuenge your selfe,

2357Impose me to what penance your inuention

2358Can lay vpon my sinne, yet sinn'd I not,

2359But in mistaking.

2360Prin. By my soule nor I,

2361And yet to satisfie this good old man,

2362I vvould bend vnder anie heauie vvaight,

2363That heele enioyne me to.

2364Leon. I cannot bid you bid my daughter liue,

2365That vvere impossible, but I praie you both,

2366Possesse the people in Messina here,

2367How innocent she died, and if your loue

2368Can labour aught in sad inuention,

2369Hang her an epitaph vpon her toomb,

2370And sing it to her bones, sing it to night:

2371To morrow morning come you to my house,

2372And since you could not be my sonne in law,

2373Be yet my Nephew: my brother hath a daughter,

2374Almost the copie of my childe that's dead,

2375And she alone is heire to both of vs,

2376Giue her the right you should haue giu'n her cosin,

2377And so dies my reuenge.

2378Clau. O noble sir!

2379Your ouerkindnesse doth wring teares from me,

2380I do embrace your offer, and dispose

2381For henceforth of poore Claudio.

2382Leon. To morrow then I will expect your comming,

2383To night I take my leaue, this naughtie man

2384Shall face to face be brought to Margaret,

2385Who I beleeue was packt in all this wrong,

2386Hired to it by your brother.

2387Bor. No by my soule she was not,

2388Nor knew not what she did when she spoke to me,

2389But alwaies hath bin iust and vertuous,

2390In anie thing that I do know by her.

2391Const. Moreouer sir, which indeede is not vnder white

2392and black, this plaintiffe here, the offendour did call mee

2393asse, I beseech you let it be remembred in his punish-

2394ment, and also the vvatch heard them talke of one Defor-

2395med, they say he weares a key in his eare and a lock hang-

2396ing by it, and borrowes monie in Gods name, the which

2397he hath vs'd so long, and neuer paied, that now men grow

2398hard-harted and will lend nothing for Gods sake: praie

2399you examine him vpon that point.

2400Leon. I thanke thee for thy care and honest paines.

2401Const. Your vvorship speakes like a most thankefull

2402and reuerend youth, and I praise God for you.

2403Leon. There's for thy paines.

2404Const. God saue the foundation.

2405Leon. Goe, I discharge thee of thy prisoner, and I

2406thanke thee.

2407Const. I leaue an arrant knaue vvith your vvorship,

2408which I beseech your worship to correct your selfe, for

2409the example of others: God keepe your vvorship, I

2410wish your worship vvell, God restore you to health,

2411I humblie giue you leaue to depart, and if a mer-

2412rie meeting may be wisht, God prohibite it: come

2413neighbour.

2414Leon. Vntill to morrow morning, Lords, farewell.

2416Brot. Farewell my Lords, vve looke for you to mor-

2417row.

2418Prin. We will not faile.

2419Clau. To night ile mourne with Hero.

2420Leon. Bring you these fellowes on, weel talke vvith

2421Margaret, how her acquaintance grew vvith this lewd

2422fellow. Exeunt.

2424Ben. Praie thee sweete Mistris Margaret, deserue

2425vvell at my hands, by helping mee to the speech of Bea-

2426trice.