2555Frier. Did I not tell you she was innocent?

2556Leo. So are the Prince and Claudio who accus'd her,

2557Vpon the errour that you heard debated:

2558But Margaret was in some fault for this,

2559Although against her will as it appeares,

2560In the true course of all the question.

2561Old. Well, I am glad that all things sort so well.

2562Bene. And so am I, being else by faith enforc'd

2563To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it.

2564Leo. Well daughter, and you gentlewomen all,

2565Withdraw into a chamber by your selues,

2566And when I send for you, come hither mask'd:

2567The Prince and Claudio promis'd by this howre

2568To visit me, you know your office Brother,

2569You must be father to your brothers daughter,

2570And giue her to young Claudio. Exeunt Ladies.

2571Old. Which I will doe with confirm'd countenance.

2572Bene. Frier, I must intreat your paines, I thinke.

2573Frier. To doe what Signior?

2574Bene. To binde me, or vndoe me, one of them:

2575Signior Leonato, truth it is good Signior,

2576Your neece regards me with an eye of fauour.

2577Leo. That eye my daughter lent her, 'tis most true.

2578Bene. And I doe with an eye of loue requite her.

2579Leo. The sight whereof I thinke you had from me,

2580From Claudio, and the Prince, but what's your will?

2581Bened. Your answer sir is Enigmaticall,

2582But for my will, my will is, your good will

2583May stand with ours, this day to be conioyn'd,

2584In the state of honourable marriage,

2585In which (good Frier) I shall desire your helpe.

2586Leon. My heart is with your liking.

2587Frier. And my helpe.

2589Prin. Good morrow to this faire assembly.

2590Leo. Good morrow Prince, good morrow Claudio:

2591We heere attend you, are you yet determin'd,

2592To day to marry with my brothers daughter?

2593Claud. Ile hold my minde were she an Ethiope.

2594Leo. Call her forth brother, heres the Frier ready.

2595Prin. Good morrow Benedicke, why what's the matter?

2596That you haue such a Februarie face,

2597So full of frost, of storme, and clowdinesse.

2598Claud. I thinke he thinkes vpon the sauage bull:

2599Tush, feare not man, wee'll tip thy hornes with gold,

2600And all Europa shall reioyce at thee,

2601As once Europa did at lusty Ioue,

2602When he would play the noble beast in loue.

2603Ben. Bull Ioue sir, had an amiable low,

2604And some such strange bull leapt your fathers Cow,

2605A got a Calfe in that same noble feat,

2606Much like to you, for you haue iust his bleat.

2608Cla. For this I owe you: here comes other recknings.

2609Which is the Lady I must seize vpon?

2610Leo. This same is she, and I doe giue you her.

2611Cla. Why then she's mine, sweet let me see your face.

2612Leon. No that you shal not, till you take her hand,

2613Before this Frier, and sweare to marry her.

2614Clau. Giue me your hand before this holy Frier,

2615I am your husband if you like of me.

2616Hero. And when I liu'd I was your other wife,

2617And when you lou'd, you were my other husband.

2618Clau. Another Hero?

2619Hero. Nothing certainer.

2620One Hero died, but I doe liue,

2621And surely as I liue, I am a maid.

2622Prin. The former Hero, Hero that is dead.

2623Leon. Shee died my Lord, but whiles her slander liu'd.

2624Frier. All this amazement can I qualifie,

2625When after that the holy rites are ended,

2626Ile tell you largely of faire Heroes death:

2627Meane time let wonder seeme familiar,

2628And to the chappell let vs presently.

2629Ben. Soft and faire Frier, which is Beatrice?

2630Beat. I answer to that name, what is your will?

2631Bene. Doe not you loue me?

2632Beat. Why no, no more then reason.

2633Bene. Why then your Vncle, and the Prince, & Clau-

2634dio, haue beene deceiued, they swore you did.

2635Beat. Doe not you loue mee?

2636Bene. Troth no, no more then reason.

2637Beat. Why then my Cosin Margaret and Vrsula

2638Are much deceiu'd, for they did sweare you did.

2639Bene. They swore you were almost sicke for me.

2640Beat. They swore you were wel-nye dead for me.

2641Bene. 'Tis no matter, then you doe not loue me?

2642Beat. No truly, but in friendly recompence.

2643Leon. Come Cosin, I am sure you loue the gentlemã.

2644Clau. And Ile be sworne vpon't, that he loues her,

2645For heres a paper written in his hand,

2646A halting sonnet of his owne pure braine,

2647Fashioned to Beatrice.

2648Hero. And heeres another,

2649Writ in my cosins hand, stolne from her pocket,

2650Containing her affection vnto Benedicke.

2651Bene. A miracle, here's our owne hands against our

2652hearts: come I will haue thee, but by this light I take

2653thee for pittie.

2654Beat. I would not denie you, but by this good day, I

2655yeeld vpon great perswasion, & partly to saue your life,

2656for I was told, you were in a consumption.

2657Leon. Peace I will stop your mouth.

2658Prin. How dost thou Benedicke the married man?

2659Bene. Ile tell thee what Prince: a Colledge of witte-crackers

2660cannot flout mee out of my humour, dost thou

2661think I care for a Satyre or an Epigram? no, if a man will

2662be beaten with braines, a shall weare nothing handsome

2663about him: in briefe, since I do purpose to marry, I will

2664thinke nothing to any purpose that the world can say a-

2665gainst it, and therefore neuer flout at me, for I haue said

2666against it: for man is a giddy thing, and this is my con-

2667clusion: for thy part Claudio, I did thinke to haue beaten

2668thee, but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, liue vn-

2669bruis'd, and loue my cousin.

2670Cla. I had well hop'd y^u wouldst haue denied Beatrice, y^t

2671I might haue cudgel'd thee out of thy single life, to make

2672thee a double dealer, which out of questiõ thou wilt be,

2673if my Cousin do not looke exceeding narrowly to thee.

2674Bene. Come, come, we are friends, let's haue a dance

2675ere we are married, that we may lighten our own hearts,

2676and our wiues heeles.

2677Leon. Wee'll haue dancing afterward.

2678Bene. First, of my vvord, therfore play musick. Prince,

2679thou art sad, get thee a vvife, get thee a vvife, there is no

2680staff more reuerend then one tipt with horn. Enter. Mes.

2681Messen. My Lord, your brother Iohn is tane in flight,

2682And brought with armed men backe to Messina.

2683Bene. Thinke not on him till to morrow, ile deuise

2684thee braue punishments for him: strike vp Pipers. Dance.

L FINIS.