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Conr. Yea, but you must not make the full show of this, 'till you may do it without controlement; you have of late stood out against your brother, and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace, where it is impoffible you should take root, but by the fair weather that you make yourself, it is needful that you frame the feafon for your own harvest.

John. I had rather be a canker (7) in a hedge, than a rofe in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be difdain'd of all, than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any in this (though I cannot be faid to be a flattering honeft man) it must not be deny'd but I am a plain-dealing villain; I am trufted with a muzzel, and infranchised with a clog, therefore I have decreed not to fing in my cage: if I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking: in the mean time let me be that I am, and feek not to alter

me.

Conr. Can you make no use of your discontent? John. I will make all ufe of it, for I ufe it only. Who comes here? what news, Borachio?

Enter Borachio.

Bora. I came yonder from a great fupper; the Prince, your brother, is royally entertain'd by Leonato, and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage.

John. Will it ferve for any model to build mischief on? what is he for a fool, that betroths himself to unquietness?

Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right hand.

John. Who, the most exquifite Claudio?

(7) I bad rather be a canker in a bedge, than a rofe in bis grace;] A canker is the canker rofe, dog-rofe, cynofbatus, or bip. The fenfe is, I would rather live in obfcurity the wild life of nature, than owe dignity or eftimation to my brother. He ftill continues his with of gloomy independence. But what is the meaning of the expreffion, a rofe in bis grace? if he was a rofe of himself, his brother's grace or favour could not degrade him. I once read thus, I bad rather be a canker in a bedge, than a rofe in bis garden; that is, I had rather be what nature makes me, however mean, than owe any exaltation or improvement to my brother's kindness or cultivation. But a lefs change will be fufficient: I think it fhould be read, I bad rather be a canker in a bedge, than a rofe by his grace.

Bora.

Bora. Even he.

John. A proper Squire! and who? and who? which way looks he?

Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Le

onato.

John. A very forward March chick! How come you to know this?

Bora. Being entertain'd for a perfumer, as I was fmoaking a mufty room, comes me the Prince and Claudio hand in hand in fad conference. I whipt behind the Arras, and there heard it agreed upon, that the Prince fhould woo Hero for himfelf; and having obtained her, give her to Count Claudio.

John. Come, come, let us thither, this may prove food to my difpleafure. That young ftart-up hath all the glory of my overthrow: if I can crofs him any way, I blefs myself every way; you are both fute, and will affift me.

Conr. To the death, my lord.

John. Let us to the great fupper; their cheer is the greater, that I am fubdu'd; 'would the cook were of my mind! Shall we go prove what's to be

done?

Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship.

[Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I.

A Hall in Leonato's Houfe.

Enter Leonoto, Antonio, Hero, Beatrice, Margaret,

and Urfula.

LEONATO..

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AS not Count John here at fupper?

Ant I faw him not.

Beat. How tartly that gentleman looks! I never can fee him, but I am heart-burn'd an hour after (8).

(8) beart burn'd an hour after.] The pain commonly called the beart-bu, proceeds from an acid humour in the ftomach, and is therefore properly enough imputed to tart looks.

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D 5

Hero.

Hero. He's of a very melancholy difpofition.

Peat. He were an excellent man, that were made juft in the mid-way between him and Benedick; the one is too like an image, and fays nothing: and the other too like my lady's eldeft fon, evermore tatling.

Leon. Then half Signior Benedick's tongue in Count John's mouth, and half Count John's melancholy in Signior Benedick's face

Beat. With a good leg, and a good foot, Uncle, and money enough in his purfe, fuch a man would win any woman in the world, if he could get her good-will.

Leon. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a hufband, if thou be fo fhrewd of thy tongue. Ant. In faith, fhe's too curft.

Beat. Too curft is more than curft; I shall leffen God's fending that way; for it is faid, God fends a curft Cow short horns; but to a Cow too curft he fends

none.

Leon. So, by being too curft, God will send you no horns.

Beat. Juft, if he fend me no husband; for the which bleffing I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening: Lord! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face, I had rather lye in woollen.

Leon. You may light upon a husband, that hath no beard.

Beat. What should I do with him? drefs himn in my apparel, and make him my waiting-gentlewoman? he that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is lefs than a man; and he that is more than a youth, is not for me; and he that is lefs than a man, I am not for him: therefore I will even take fix pence in earnest of the bear-herd, and lead his apes into hell.

Ant. (9) Well, niece, I truft, you will be rul'd by your father. (To Hero.

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(9) Well then, &c. Of the two next fpeeches Mr. Warburton fays, All this impious nonfenfe thrown to the bottom is the players, and fo fted in without rhyme reafin. He therefore puts them in the margin. They do not deferve indeed fo honourable a place, yet I am afraid they are too much in the manner of our author, who is fometimes trying to purchase merriment at too dear

a rate.

Beat.

Beat. Yes, faith, it is my coufin's duty to make curtfie, and fay, Father, as it pleafes you; but yet for all that, coufin, let him be a handfome fellow, or elfe make another curtfie, and fay, Father, as it pleafes me. Leon. Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted. with a husband.

Beat. Not 'till God make men of fome other metal than earth; would it not grieve a woman to be overmaster'd with a piece of valiant duft? to make account of her life to a clod of way-ward marle? no, uncle, F'll none; Adam's fons are my brethren, and, truly, I hold it a fin to match in my kindred.

Leon. Daughter, remember, what I told you; if the Prince do follicit you in that kind, you know your an

fwer.

Beat. The fault will be in the mufick, coufin, if you be not woo'd in good time; If the Prince be too * important, tell him, there is meafure in every thing, and fo dance out the answer; for hear me, Hero, wooing, wedding, and repenting, is as a Scotch jig, a measure, and a cinque-pace; the first fuit is hot and hafty, like a Scotch jig, and full as fantaftical; the wedding mannerly-modeft, as a measure, full of ftate and ancientry; and then comes repentance, and with his bad legs falls into the cinque-pace fafter and fafter, 'till he finks into his grave..

Leon. Coufin, you apprehend paffing fhrewdly.

Beat. I have a good eye, uncle, I can fee a church by day-light.

Leon. The revellers are entring, brother; make good

room.

SCENE II.

Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar, and others in Mafque ade.

Pedro. Lady, will you walk about with your friend? Hero. So you walk foftly, and look fweetly, and fay nothing, I am yours for the walk, and especially when I walk away.

Important, here and in many other places, is importunate.

Pedro.

Pedro. With me in your company?

Hero. I may fay fo, when I please.
Pedro. And when please you to fay fo?

Hero. When I like your favour; for God defend, the lute should be like the cafe!

Pedro. (1) My vifor is Philemon's roof; within the houfe is Jove.

Hero. Why, then your vifor fhould be thatch'd.
Pedro. Speak low, if you fpeak love.*

Balth. Well; I would, you did like me (2).

Marg. So would not I for your own fake, for I have many ill qualities.

(1) My Vifor is Philemon's Roof; within the Houfe is Love.] Thus the whole Stream of the Copies, from the first downwards. Hro fays to Don Pedro. God forbid, the Lute fhould be like the Cafe! i. e. that your Face fhould be as homely and as coarse as your Mak. Upon this, Don Pedro compares his Vifor to Philemon's Roof. 'Tis plain, the Poet alludes to the Story of Baucis and Philemon from OVID: And this old Couple, as the Roman Poet defcribes it, liv'd in a thatch'd cottage;

Stipulis & canna te&a paluftri.

But why, Within the Houfe is Love? Though this old Pair lived in a Cottage, this Cottage received two straggling Gods, (Jupiter and Mercury,) under its Roof. So, Don Pedro is a Prince; and though his Vifor is but ordinary, he would infinuate to Hero, that he has fomething godlike within: alluding either to his Dignity, or the Qualities of his Perfon and Mind. By thefe Circumstances, I am fure, the Thought is mended: as, I think verily, the Text is too by the Change of a fingle Letter.

within the Houfe is Jove.

Nor is this Emendation a little confirmed by another Paffage in our Author, in which he plainly alludes to the fame Story. As you like it.

Clown. I am bere with thee and thy Goats, as the most capricious Puet, boneft Ovid, was amongst the Goths.

Jaq. O Knowledge ill inhabited, worse than Jove in a thatch'd Houfe!

THEOBALD.

This emendation, thus impreffed with all the power of his eloquence and reafon, Theobald had in the 4to edition of 1600, which he profeffes to have seen.

*Speak low if you speak love.] This fpeech, which is given to Pedro, fhould be given to Margaret.

REVISAL.

(2) Balth. Well, I would, you did like me.] This and the two following little Speeches, which I have placed to Balibazar, are in all the printed Copies given to Benedick. But, 'tis clear, the Dialogue here ought to be betwixt Baltbazar, and Margaret: Benedick, a little lower, converfes with Beatrice and fo every Man talks with his Woman once round. THEOBALD. Balth.

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