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prince and Claudio, as-in love of your brother's honour who hath made this match; and his friend's reputation, who is thus like to be cozened with the semblance of a maid, that you have discovered thus. They will scarcely believe this without trial: offer them instances; which shall bear no less likelihood, than to see me at her chamber-window; hear me call Margaret, Hero; hear Margaret term me Claudio, and bring them to see this, the very night before the intended wedding: for, in the mean time, I will so fashion the matter, that Hero shall be absent; and there shall appear such seeming truth of Hero's disloyalty, that jealousy shall be called assurance, and all the preparation overthrown.

D. John. Grow this to what adverse issue it can, I will put it in practice: Be cunning in the working this, and thy fee is a thousand ducats.

Bora. Be you constant in the accusation, and my cunning shall not shame me.

D. John. I will presently go learn their day of marriage.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Leonato's Garden.

Enter BENEDICK and a Boy.

Bene. Boy,

Boy. Signior.

Bene. In my chamber-window lies a book; bring it hither to me in the orchard.

Boy. I am here already, sir.

Bene. I know that ;-but I would have thee hence, and here again. [Exit. Boy.]-I do much wonder, that one man, seeing how much another man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviours to love, will, after he hath laughed at such shallow follies in others, become the argument of his own scorn, by falling in love: And such a man is Claudio. I have known, when there was no music with him but the drum and fife; and now had he rather hear the tabor and the pipe: I have known, when he would have

walked ten mile afoot, to see a good armour; and now will he lie ten nights awake, carving the fashion of a new doublet. He was wont to speak plain, and to the purpose, like an honest man, and a soldier; and now is he turned orthographer; his words are a very fantastical banquet, just so many strange dishes. May I be so converted, and see with these eyes? I cannot tell; I think not: I will not be sworn, but love may transform me to an oyster; but I'll take my oath on it, till he have made an oyster of me, he shall never make me such a fool. One woman is fair; yet I am well: another is wise; yet I am well: another virtuous; yet I am well: but till all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace. Rich, she shall be, that's certain; wise, or I'll none; virtuous, or I'll never cheapen her; fair, or I'll never look on her; mild, or come not near me; noble, or not I for an angel; of good discourse, an excellent musician, and her hair shall be of what colour it please God." Ha! the prince and monsieur Love! I will hide me in the arbour.

[Withdraws.

Enter Don PEDRO, LEONATO, and CLAUDIO.

D. Pedro. Come, shall we hear this music?

Claud. Yea, my good lord ;-How still the evening is, As hush'd on purpose to grace harmony!

D. Pedro. See you where Benedick hath hid himself? Claud. O, very well, my lord: the music ended, We'll fit the kid fox with a pennyworth.i

Enter BALTHAZAR, with music.

D. Pedro. Come, Balthazar, we'll hear that song again. Balth. O good my lord, tax not so bad a voice

To slander music any more than once.

D. Pedro. It is the witness still of excellency,

h of what colour it please God.] Alluding to the common practice of dying the hair.This practice was so common as to challenge the censures of the pulpit, and is mentioned in terms of reproof in the homily against excess of apparel. b. i. 1547.—Reed.

iWe'll fit the kid-fox with a penny-worth.] i. e. We will be even with the fox now discovered.-The word kid has this sense in Chaucer.-GREY.

To put a strange face on his own perfection :-
I pray thee, sing, and let me woo no more.

Bath. Because you talk of wooing, I will sing:
Since many a wooer doth commence his suit
To her he thinks not worthy; yet he wooes;
Yet will he swear, he loves.

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There's not a note of mine that's worth the noting.

D. Pedro. Why these are very crotches that he speaks; Note, notes, forsooth, and noting!

[Music.

Bene. Now, Divine air! now is his soul ravished !-Is it not strange, that sheep's guts should hale souls out of men's bodies?-Well, a horn for my money, when all's done.

BALTHAZAR sings.

I.

Balth. Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceivers ever;

One foot in sea, and one on shore;

To one thing constant never :

Then sigh not so,

But let them go,
And be you blithe and bonny;
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into, Hey, nonny, nonny.
II.

Sing no more ditties, sing no mo
Of dumps so dull and heavy:
The fraud of men was ever so,
Since summer first was leavy.
Then sigh not so, &c.

D. Pedro. By my troth, a good song.

Balth. And an ill singer, my lord.

Claud. Ha? no; no, faith; thou singest well enough for a shift.

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