The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



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Reference: K6r - Comedies, p. 119

Left Column


Much adoe about Nothing. Const.

Marrie sir, they haue committed false report,

moreouer they haue spoken vntruths, secondarily they

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

thirdly, they haue verified vniust things, and to conclude

[2250]

they are lying knaues.

Prin.

First I aske thee what they haue done, thirdlie

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

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

charge.

Clau.
[2255]

Rightlie reasoned, and in his owne diuision, and

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

Prin.

Who haue you offended masters, that you are

thus bound to your answer? this learned Constable is too

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

Bor.
[2260]

Sweete Prince, let me go no farther to mine an­

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

haue deceiued euen your verie eies: vvhat what your wise­

domes could not discouer, these shallow fooles haue

brought to light, vvho who in the night ouerheard me con­

[2265]

fessing to this man, how Don Iohn your brother incensed

me to slander the Ladie Hero, how you were brought

into the Orchard, and saw me court Margaret in Heroes

garments, how you disgrace'd her vvhen when you should

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

[2270]

I had rather seale with my death, then repeate ouer to

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

false accusation: and briefelie, I desire nothing but the

reward of a villaine.

Prin. Runs not this speech like yron through your bloud? Clau.
[2275]
I haue drunke poison whiles he vtter'd it.
Prin. But did my Brother set thee on to this? Bor. Yea, and paid me richly for the practise of it. Prin. He is compos'd and fram'd of treacherie, And fled he is vpon this villanie. Clau.
[2280]
Sweet Hero, now thy image doth appeare In the rare semblance that I lou'd it first.
Const.

Come, bring away the plaintiffes, by this time

our Sexton hath reformed Signior Leonato of the matter:

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

[2285]

shall serue, that I am an Asse.

Con. 2.

Here, here comes master Signior Leonato, and

the Sexton too.

Enter Leonato. Leon. Which is the villaine? let me see his eies, That when I note another man like him,
[2290]
I may auoide him: vvhich which of these is he?
Bor. If you vvould would know your wronger, looke on me. Leon.

Art thou the slaue that with thy breath

hast kild mine innocent childe ?

Bor.

Yea, euen I alone.

Leo.
[2295]
No, not so villaine, thou beliest thy selfe, Here stand a paire of honourable men, A third is fled that had a hand in it: I thanke you Princes for my daughters death, Record it with your high and worthie deedes,
[2300]
'Twas brauely done, if you bethinke you of it.
Clau. I know not how to pray your patience, Yet I must speake, choose your reuenge your selfe, Impose me to what penance your inuention Can lay vpon my sinne, yet sinn'd I not,
[2305]
But in mistaking.
Prin. By my soule nor I, And yet to satisfie this good old man,

Right Column


I ould bend vnder anie heauie vvaight waight , That heele enioyne me to. Leon.
[2310]
I cannot bid you bid my daughter liue, That were impossible, but I praie you both, Possesse the people in Messina here, How innocent she died, and if your loue Can labour aught in sad inuention,
[2315]
Hang her an epitaph vpon her toomb, And sing it to her bones, sing it to night: To morrow morning come you to my house, And since you could not be my sonne in law, Be yet my Nephew: my brother hath a daughter,
[2320]
Almost the copie of my childe that's dead, And she alone is heire to both of vs, Giue her the right you should haue giu'n her cosin, And so dies my reuenge.
Clau. O noble sir!
[2325]
Your ouerkindnesse doth wring teares from me, I do embrace your offer, and dispose For henceforth of poore Claudio.
Leon. To morrow then I will expect your comming, To night I take my leaue, this naughtie man
[2330]
Shall face to face be brought to Margaret, Who I beleeue was packt in all this wrong, Hired to it by your brother.
Bor. No, by my soule she was not, Nor knew not what she did when she spoke to me,
[2335]
But alwaies hath bin iust and vertuous, In anie thing that I do know by her.
Const.

Moreouer sir, which indeede is not vnder white

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

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

[2340]

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

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

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

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

hardÓharted and will lend nothing for Gods sake: praie

[2345]

you examine him vpon that point.

Leon.

I thanke thee for thy care and honest paines.

Const.

Your vvorship worship speakes like a most thankefull

and reuerend youth, and I praise God for you.

Leon.

There's for thy paines.

Const.
[2350]

God saue the foundation.

Leon.

Goe, I discharge thee of thy prisoner, and I

thanke thee.

Const.

I leaue an arrant knaue vvith with your vvorship worship ,

which I beseech your worship to correct your selfe, for

[2355]

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

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

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

rie meeting may be wisht, God prohibite it: come

neighbour.

Leon.
[2360]

Vntill to morrow morning, Lords, farewell.

Exeunt. Brot.

Farewell my Lords, vve we looke for you to mor­

row.

Prin.

We will not faile.

Clau.

To night ile mourne with Hero:

Leon.
[2365]

Bring you these fellowes on, weel talke vvith with

Margaret,How her acquaintance grew vvith with this lewd

fellow.

Exeunt.
[Act 5, Scene 2] Enter Benedicke and Margaret. Ben.

Praie thee sweete Mistris Margaret, deserue

vvell well at my hands, by helping mee to the speech of Bea­ trice .

Mar. Will

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[Act 5, Scene 2] Enter Benedicke and Margaret. Ben.

Praie thee sweete Mistris Margaret, deserue

vvell well at my hands, by helping mee to the speech of Bea­ trice .

Mar.

Will you then write me a Sonnet in praise of

my beautie?

Bene.

In so high a stile Margaret, that no man liuing

shall come ouer it, for in most comely truth thou deser­

[2375]

uest it.

Mar.

To haue no man come ouer me, why, shall I al­

waies keepe below staires?

Bene.

Thy wit is as quicke as the grey‑hounds mouth,

it catches.

Mar.
[2380]

And yours, as blunt as the Fencers foiles, which

hit, but hurt not.

Bene.

A most manly wit Margaret, it will not hurt a

woman: and so I pray thee call Beatrice, I giue thee the

bucklers.

Mar.
[2385]

Giue vs the swords, wee haue bucklers of our

owne.

Bene.

If you vse them Margaret, you must put in the

pikes with a vice, and they are dangerous weapons for

Maides.

Mar.
[2390]

Well, I will call Beatrice to you, who I thinke

hath legges.

Exit Margarite. Ben.

And therefore will come. The God of loue that

sits aboue, and knowes me, and knowes me, how pitti­

full I deserue. I meane in singing, but in louing, Lean­

[2395]

der the good swimmer, Troilous the first imploier of

pandars, and a whole booke full of these quondam car­

pet‑mongers, whose name yet runne smoothly in the e­

uen rode of a blanke verse, why they were neuer so true­

ly turned ouer and ouer as my poore selfe in loue: mar­

[2400]

rie I cannot shew it rime, I haue tried, I can finde out no

rime to Ladie but babie, an innocent rime: for scorne,

horne, a hard time rime : for schoole foole, a babling time rime :

verie ominous endings, no, I was not borne vnder a ri­

ming Plannet, for I cannot wooe in festiuall tearmes:

Enter Beatrice.
[2405]

sweete Beatrice would'st thou come when I cal'd

thee?

Beat.

Yea Signior, and depart when you bid me.

Bene.

O stay but till then.

Beat.

Then, is spoken: fare you well now, and yet ere

[2410]

I goe, let me goe with that I came, which is, with know­

ing what hath past betweene you and Claudio.

Bene.

Onely foule words, and thereupon I will kisse

thee.

Beat.

Foule words is but foule wind, and foule wind

[2415]

is but foule breath, and foule breath is noisome, there­

fore I will depart vnkist.

Bene.

Thou hast frighted the word out of his right

sence, so forcible is thy wit, but I must tell thee plainely,

Claudio vndergoes my challenge, and either I must short­

[2420]

ly heare from him, or I will subscribe him a coward, and

I pray thee now tell me, for which of my bad parts didst

thou first fall in loue with me?

Beat.

For them all together, which maintain'd so

politique a state of euill, that they will not admit any

[2425]

good part to intermingle with them: but for which of

my good parts did you first suffer loue for me?

Bene.

Suffer loue! a good epithite, I do suffer loue in­

deede, for I loue thee against my will.

Beat.

In spight of your heart I think, alas poore heart,

[2430]

if you spight it for my sake, I will spight it for yours, for

I will neuer loue that which my friend hates.

Bened.

Thou and I are too wise to wooe peacea­

blie.

Bea.

It appeares not in this confession, there's not one

[2435]

wise man among twentie that will praise himselfe.

Bene.

An old, an old instance Beatrice, that liu'd in

the time of good neighbours, if a man doe not erect in

this age his owne tombe ere he dies, hee shall liue no

longer in monuments, then the Bels ring, & the Widdow

[2440]

weepes.

Beat.

And how long is that thinke you?

Ben.

Question, why an hower in clamour and a quar­

ter in rhewme, therfore is it most expedient for the wise,

if Don worme (his conscience) finde no impediment to

[2445]

the contrarie, to be the trumpet of his owne vertues, as

I am to my selfe so much for praising my selfe, who I my

selfe will beare witnesse is praise worthie, and now tell

me, how doth your cosin ?

Beat.

Verie ill.

Bene.
[2450]

And how doe you?

Beat.

Verie ill too.

Enter Vrsula. Bene.

Serue God, loue me, and mend, there will I leaue

you too, for here comes one in haste.

Vrs.

Madam, you must come to your Vncle, yon­

[2455]

ders old coile at home, it is prooued my Ladie He­ ro hath bin falselie accusde, the Prince and Claudio

mightilie abusde, and Don Iohn is the author of all, who

is fled and gone: will you come presentlie?

Beat.

Will you go heare this newes Signior?

Bene.
[2460]

I will liue in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be bu­

ried in thy eies: and moreouer, I will goe with thee to

thy Vncles.

Exeunt.
 

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   <head type="supplied">[Act 5, Scene 2]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Benedicke and Margaret.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ben.</speaker>
      <p n="2368">Praie thee sweete Mistris<hi rend="italic">Margaret</hi>, deserue
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         <choice>
            <orig>vvell</orig>
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   <sp who="#F-ado-mar">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mar.</speaker>
      <p n="2371">Will you then write me a Sonnet in praise of
      <lb n="2372"/>my beautie?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bene.</speaker>
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      <lb n="2374"/>shall come ouer it, for in most comely truth thou deser­
      <lb n="2375"/>uest it.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-mar">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mar.</speaker>
      <p n="2376">To haue no man come ouer me, why, shall I al­
      <lb n="2377"/>waies keepe below staires?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bene.</speaker>
      <p n="2378">Thy wit is as quicke as the grey‑hounds mouth,
      <lb n="2379"/>it catches.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-mar">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mar.</speaker>
      <p n="2380">And yours, as blunt as the Fencers foiles, which
      <lb n="2381"/>hit, but hurt not.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bene.</speaker>
      <p n="2382">A most manly wit<hi rend="italic">Margaret</hi>, it will not hurt a
      <lb n="2383"/>woman: and so I pray thee call<hi rend="italic">Beatrice</hi>, I giue thee the
      <lb n="2384"/>bucklers.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-mar">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mar.</speaker>
      <p n="2385">Giue vs the swords, wee haue bucklers of our
      <lb n="2386"/>owne.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bene.</speaker>
      <p n="2387">If you vse them<hi rend="italic">Margaret</hi>, you must put in the
      <lb n="2388"/>pikes with a vice, and they are dangerous weapons for
      <lb n="2389"/>Maides.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-mar">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mar.</speaker>
      <p n="2390">Well, I will call<hi rend="italic">Beatrice</hi>to you, who I thinke
      <lb n="2391"/>hath legges.</p>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit Margarite.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ben.</speaker>
      <p n="2392">And therefore will come. The God of loue that
      <lb n="2393"/>sits aboue, and knowes me, and knowes me, how pitti­
      <lb n="2394"/>full I deserue. I meane in singing, but in louing, Lean­
      <lb n="2395"/>der the good swimmer, Troilous the first imploier of
      <lb n="2396"/>pandars, and a whole booke full of these quondam car­
      <lb n="2397"/>pet‑mongers, whose name yet runne smoothly in the e­
      <lb n="2398"/>uen rode of a blanke verse, why they were neuer so true­
      <lb n="2399"/>ly turned ouer and ouer as my poore selfe in loue: mar­
      <lb n="2400"/>rie I cannot shew it rime, I haue tried, I can finde out no
      <lb n="2401"/>rime to Ladie but babie, an innocent rime: for scorne,
      <lb n="2402"/>horne, a hard<choice>
            <orig>time</orig>
            <corr>rime</corr>
         </choice>: for schoole foole, a babling<choice>
            <orig>time</orig>
            <corr>rime</corr>
         </choice>:
      <lb n="2403"/>verie ominous endings, no, I was not borne vnder a ri­
      <lb n="2404"/>ming Plannet, for I cannot wooe in festiuall tearmes:</p>
      <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Beatrice.</stage>
      <p n="2405">sweete<hi rend="italic">Beatrice</hi>would'st thou come when I cal'd
      <lb n="2406"/>thee?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bea">
      <speaker rend="italic">Beat.</speaker>
      <p n="2407">Yea Signior, and depart when you bid me.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bene.</speaker>
      <p n="2408">O stay but till then.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bea">
      <speaker rend="italic">Beat.</speaker>
      <p n="2409">Then, is spoken: fare you well now, and yet ere
      <lb n="2410"/>I goe, let me goe with that I came, which is, with know­
      <lb n="2411"/>ing what hath past betweene you and<hi rend="italic">Claudio</hi>.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bene.</speaker>
      <p n="2412">Onely foule words, and thereupon I will kisse
      <lb n="2413"/>thee.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bea">
      <speaker rend="italic">Beat.</speaker>
      <p n="2414">Foule words is but foule wind, and foule wind
      <lb n="2415"/>is but foule breath, and foule breath is noisome, there­
      <lb n="2416"/>fore I will depart vnkist.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bene.</speaker>
      <p n="2417">Thou hast frighted the word out of his right
      <lb n="2418"/>sence, so forcible is thy wit, but I must tell thee plainely,
      <lb n="2419"/>
         <hi rend="italic">Claudio</hi>vndergoes my challenge, and either I must short­
      <lb n="2420"/>ly heare from him, or I will subscribe him a coward, and
      <lb n="2421"/>I pray thee now tell me, for which of my bad parts didst
      <lb n="2422"/>thou first fall in loue with me?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bea">
      <speaker rend="italic">Beat.</speaker>
      <p n="2423">For them all together, which maintain'd so
      <lb n="2424"/>politique a state of euill, that they will not admit any
      <lb n="2425"/>good part to intermingle with them: but for which of
      <lb n="2426"/>my good parts did you first suffer loue for me?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bene.</speaker>
      <p n="2427">Suffer loue! a good epithite, I do suffer loue in­
      <lb n="2428"/>deede, for I loue thee against my will.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bea">
      <speaker rend="italic">Beat.</speaker>
      <p n="2429">In spight of your heart I think, alas poore heart,
      <lb n="2430"/>if you spight it for my sake, I will spight it for yours, for
      <lb n="2431"/>I will neuer loue that which my friend hates.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bened.</speaker>
      <p n="2432">Thou and I are too wise to wooe peacea­
      <lb n="2433"/>blie.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bea">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bea.</speaker>
      <p n="2434">It appeares not in this confession, there's not one
      <lb n="2435"/>wise man among twentie that will praise himselfe.</p>
   </sp>
   <cb n="2"/>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bene.</speaker>
      <p n="2436">An old, an old instance<hi rend="italic">Beatrice</hi>, that liu'd in
      <lb n="2437"/>the time of good neighbours, if a man doe not erect in
      <lb n="2438"/>this age his owne tombe ere he dies, hee shall liue no
      <lb n="2439"/>longer in monuments, then the Bels ring, &amp; the Widdow
      <lb n="2440"/>weepes.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bea">
      <speaker rend="italic">Beat.</speaker>
      <p n="2441">And how long is that thinke you?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ben.</speaker>
      <p n="2442">Question, why an hower in clamour and a quar­
      <lb n="2443"/>ter in rhewme, therfore is it most expedient for the wise,
      <lb n="2444"/>if Don worme (his conscience) finde no impediment to
      <lb n="2445"/>the contrarie, to be the trumpet of his owne vertues, as
      <lb n="2446"/>I am to my selfe so much for praising my selfe, who I my
      <lb n="2447"/>selfe will beare witnesse is praise worthie, and now tell
      <lb n="2448"/>me, how doth your cosin<c rend="italic">?</c>
      </p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bea">
      <speaker rend="italic">Beat.</speaker>
      <p n="2449">Verie ill.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bene.</speaker>
      <p n="2450">And how doe you?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bea">
      <speaker rend="italic">Beat.</speaker>
      <p n="2451">Verie ill too.</p>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Vrsula.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bene.</speaker>
      <p n="2452">Serue God, loue me, and mend, there will I leaue
      <lb n="2453"/>you too, for here comes one in haste.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-urs">
      <speaker rend="italic">Vrs.</speaker>
      <p n="2454">Madam, you must come to your Vncle, yon­
      <lb n="2455"/>ders old coile at home, it is prooued my Ladie<hi rend="italic">He­
      <lb n="2456"/>ro</hi>hath bin falselie accusde, the<hi rend="italic">Prince</hi>and<hi rend="italic">Claudio</hi>
         
      <lb n="2457"/>mightilie abusde, and<hi rend="italic">Don Iohn</hi>is the author of all, who
      <lb n="2458"/>is fled and gone: will you come presentlie?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bea">
      <speaker rend="italic">Beat.</speaker>
      <p n="2459">Will you go heare this newes Signior?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-ben">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bene.</speaker>
      <p n="2460">I will liue in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be bu­
      <lb n="2461"/>ried in thy eies: and moreouer, I will goe with thee to
      <lb n="2462"/>thy Vncles.</p>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>

                                
                            

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