Done to death by alanderous tongues

Was the Hero that here lies
Death, in guerdon* of her wrongs

Gives her fame which never dies:
So the life, that died with shame,
Lives in death with glorious fame.
Hang thou there upon the tornb, [affixing it.
Praising her when I am dumb.

Now, music, sound, and sing your solemn hymn.

SONG.

Pardon, Goddess of the night,
Those that slew thy virgin knight;
For the which, with songs of woe,
Round about her tomb they go.

Midnight, assist our moan;
Help us to sigh and groan,

Heavily, heavily:
Graves, yawn, and yield your dead,
Till death be uttered,

Heavily, heavily.

Claud. Now, unto thy bones good night!

Yearly will I do this rite. D. Pedro. Good morrow, masters; put your

torches out: The wolves have prey'd; and look, the gentle

day, Before the wheels of Phæbus, round about

Dapples the drowsy east with spots of gray: Thanks to you all, and leave us; fare you well. Claud. Good morrow, masters; each his several

way.

# Reward.

Ict 1

D. Pedro. Come, let us hence, and put on other

weeds:
And then to Leonato's we will go.
Claud. Aod, Hymen, now with luckier issue

speed's,
Than this, for whom we render'd up this woe!

[Escunt.

ng it

SCENE IV.

A room in Leonato's house.

Enter Leonato, Antonio, Benedick, Beatrice,

Ursula, Friar, und Hero.

Friar. Did I not tell you she was innocent?
Leon. So are the prince and Claudio, who accus'd

her,
Upon the error that you heard debated:
But Margaret was in some fault for this;
Although against her will, as it appears
In the true course of all the question.

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

Bene. And so am I, being else by faith enforc'd
To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it.

Leon. Well, daughter, and you gentlewomen all,
Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves;
And when I send for you, come hither mask'd :
The prince and Claudio promis'd by this hour
To visit me :--You kuow your office, brother;
You must be father to your brother's daughter,
And give her to young Claudio. [Exeunt Ladies.

Ant. Which I will do with confirm'd countenance.
Bene. Friar, I must entreat your pains, I think.
Friar. To do what, siguior?

Bene. To bind me, or undo mc, one of them.
Signior Leonato, truth it is, good signior,
Your niece regards me with an eye of favour.

Scene 1:

Re

Clau

Leon. That eye my daughter lent her; 'Tis most

true. Bene. And I do with an eye of love requite her. Leon. The sight whereof, I think, you had from

me,
From Claudio, and the prince; Bat what's your will ?

Bene. Your answer, sir, is enigmatical:
But, for my will, my will is, your good will
May stand with ours, this day to be conjoin'd
In the estate of honourable marriage;
In which, good friar, I shall desire your help.

Leon. My heart is with your liking.
Friar.

And my help.
Here comes the prince, and Claudio.

Enter Don Pedro and Claudio, with attendants.

Her

D. Pedro. Good morrow to this fair assembly.
Leon. Good morrow, prince; good morrow Clau.

dio;

We here attend you; are you yet determin'd
To-day to marry with my brother's daughter?

Claud. I'll hold my mind, were she an Ethiope.
Leon. Call her forth, brother, liere's the friar ready.

[Exit Antonio. D. Pedro. Good morrow, Benedick: Why what's

the matter,
That you have such a February face,
So full of frost, of storm, and cloudiness?

Claud. I think, he thinks upon the savage bull:
Tush, fear not, man, we'll tip thy horns with gold,
And all Europa shall rejoice at thee;
As once Europa' did at lusty Jove,
When he would play the noble beast in love.

Bene. Bull Jove, sir, had an amiable low;
And some such strange bull leap'd your father's cow,
And got a calf in that same noble feat,
Much like to you, for you have just his bleat.

And • Ве

Ве

Re-enter Antonio, with the Ladies mask'd.

Claud. For this I owe you: here come other

reckonings. Which is the lady I must seize upon ?

Ant. This same is she, and I do give you her. Claud. Why then she's mine: Sweet, let me see

your face.

Lam. No, that you shall not, till you take her

hand Before this friar, and swear to marry her.

Claud. Give me your hand before this holy friar; I am your husband, if you like of me. Hero. And when I lived, I was your other wife :

[Unmasking And when you loved, you were my other husband.

Claud. Another Hero?
Hero.

Nothing certainer:
One Hero died defil'd; but I do live,
And, surely as I live, I am a maid.
+ D. Pedro. The former Hero! Hero that is dead!
Leon. She died, my lord, but whiles her slander

lived,
Friar. All this amazement can I qualify;
When, after that the holy rites are ended,
I'll tell you largely of fair Hero's death:
Mean time, let wonder seem familiar,
And to the chapel let us presently.

Bene. Soft and fair, friar. Which is Beatrice?
Beat. I answer to that uame; (Unmasking.)

What is your will?
Bene. Do not you love me?
Beat.

No, no more than reason.
Bene. Why, then your uncle, and the prince, and

Claudio,
Have been deceived; for they swore you did.

Beat. Do not you love me?
Banh

No, no more than reason.

Beat. Why then, my cousin, Margaret, and

Ursula,
Are much deceiv'd; for they did swear you did.

Bene. They swore that you were almost sick for

man is

- Forth thee; by

me.

live un

Claus nied Be thy sing out of look exc

Bene. dance et hearts, Leon

Bene
Prince

wife:

with

Beat. They swore that you were well-nigh dead

for pie. Bene. 'Tis no such matter:-Then, you do not

love me? Beat. No, truly, but in friendly recompense. Leon. Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gen.

tleman.
Claud. And I'll be sworn upon't, that he loves

her;
For here's a paper, written in his hand,
A halting sonnet of his own pure brain,
Fashion'd to Beatrice.
Hero.

And here's another,
Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket,
Containing her affection unto Benedick.

Bene. A miracle! here's our own hands against our hearts !--Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, I take thee for pity.

Beat. I would not deny you ;-but, by this good day, I yield upon great persuasion; and, partly, to save your life, for I was told you were in a consumption. Bene. Peace, I will stop your mouth

[Kissing her. D. Pedro. How dost thou, Benedick the married

man ? Bene. I'll tell thee what, prince; a college of wite crackers cannot fout me out of my humour: dost thou think, I care for a satire, or an epigram; No: if a man will be beaten with brains, he shall wear nothing handsome about him: In brief, since I do propose to marry, I will think nothing to any pur. pose that the world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I have said against it; for