ter'd expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it.

Meff. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that joy could not shew itself modest enough, without a badge of bitterness.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?

Meff. In great measure.

There are no

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness. faces truer than those that are so wash'd. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping!

Beat. I pray you, 3 is Signior Montanto return'd from the wars or no?

Meff. I know none of that name, Lady; 4 there was none fuch in the army of any Sort.

Leon. What is he that you ask for, Neice?
Hero. My Cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua.
Meff. O, he's return'd, and as pleasant as ever he

was.

Beat. He fet up his bills here in Messina, and challeng'd Cupid at the flight; and my Uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscrib'd for Cupid, and challeng'd him at the bird-bolt. " I pray you, how many hath " he kill'd and eaten in these wars? but how many

2 joy could not spew it felf modest enough, without a badge of bitterness.] This is judicioufly express'd. Of all the tranfports of Joy, that which is attended with tears is least offensive; because carrying with it this mark of pain, it allays the envy that usually attends another's happiness. This he finely calls a modest joy, such a one as did not insult the observer by an indication of happiness unmixed with pain.

3 is Signior Montanto return'd] Montante, in Spanish, is a huge two-handed-fword, given, with much humour, to one, the speaker would represent as a Boafter or Bravado.

but

4 there was none fuch in the army of any Sort.] Not meaning there was none such of any order degree whatever, that there was none such of any quality above the common.

or

" hath

" hath he kill'd? for, indeed, I promis'd to eat all " of his killing."

Leon, Faith, Neice, you tax Signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it

not.

Meff. He hath done good service, Lady, in these

wars.

"Beat. You had musty victuals, and he hath holp " to eat it; he's a very valiant trencher-man, he hath " an excellent stomach."

Meff. And a good foldier too, Lady.

Beat. And a good foldier to a lady? but what is he to a lord?

Meff. A lord to a lord, a man to a man, stufft with all honourable virtues.

Beat. It is so, indeed: he is no less than a stufft man: but for the stuffing, well, we are all mortal. Leon. You must not, Sir, mistake my Neice; there is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her; they never meet, but there's a skirmish of Wit between them.

Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by That. In our last conflict, four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man govern'd with one: So that if he have * wit enough to keep himself from harm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable creature. Who is his companion now? he hath every month a new sworn brother.

* wit enough to keep himself WARM,) But how would that make a difference between him and his horse? We should read, Wit enough to keep himself FROM HARM. This fuits the fatirical turn of her speech, in the character she would give of Benedick; and this would make the difference spoken of. For 'tis the nature of horses, when wounded, to run upon the point of the weapon.

VOL. II.

B3

Mell.

Meff. Is it possible?

Beat. Very easily possible; she wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next block..

Meff. I fee, Lady, the gentleman is not in your books.

Beat. "No; an he were, I would burn my Study. " But, I pray you, who is his companion? is there "no young squarer now, that will make a voyage " with him to the devil ?

Meff. He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio.

Beat. O lord, he will hang upon him like a disease; he is fooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio, if he have caught the Benedick; it will cost him a thousand pounds ere he be cur'd.

Meff. I will hold friends with you, Lady.

Beat. Do, good friend.

Leon. You'll ne'er run mad, Neice.
Beat. No, not 'till a hot January.

Meff. Don Pedro is approach'd.

Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar, and

Don John.

Pedro. Good Signior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter it.

Leon. Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your Grace; for trouble being gone, comfort

should remain; but when you depart from me, forrow abides, and happiness takes his leave.

Pedro. You embrace your charge too willingly: I think, this is your daughter.

Leon. Her mother hath many times told me so. Bene. Were you in doubt, Sir, that you askt her? Leon. Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child.

Pedro. You have it full, Benedick; We may guess by this what you are, being a man: truly, the lady fathers her felf; be happy, lady, for you are like an honourable father.

Bene. If Signior Leonato be her Father, she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as like him as she is.

Beat. I wonder, that you will still be talking, Signior Benedick, no body marks you.

Bene. What, my dear lady Disdain! are you yet living?

Beat. Is it poffible, Disdain should die, while she hath such meet food to feed it, as Signior Benedick? Courtefie it felf must convert to Disdain, if you come in her prefence.

Bene. Then is courtefie a turn-coat; but it is certain, I am lov'd of all ladies, only you excepted; and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love none.

Beat. A dear happiness to women; they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am of your Humour for that; I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than

a man swear he loves me.

Bene. God keep your ladyship still in that mind! fo some gentleman or other shall scape a predeftinate fcratcht face.

Beat. "Scratching could not make it worse, an

"'twere fuch a face as yours were."

Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.
Beat. A bird of my tongue is better than a beast

of yours.

Bene. I would, my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer; but keep your way o' God's name, I have done.

Beat. You always end with a jade's trick; I know you of old.

Pedro. This is the sum of all: Leonato, -Signior Claudio, and Signior Benedick, my dear friend Leonato hath invited you all; I tell him, we shall stay here at the least a month; and he heartily prays, some occasion may detain us longer: I dare swear, he is no hypocrite, but prays from his heart.

:

Leon. If you swear, my Lord, you shall not be forfworn.-Let me bid You welcome, my lord, being reconciled to the prince your brother; I owe you all duty.

John. I thank you; I am not of many words, but I thank you.

Leon. Please it your Grace lead on?

Pedro. Your hand, Leonato; we will go together. [Exeunt all but Benedick and Claudio.

Claud. Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of

Signior Leonato?

Bene. I noted her not, but I look'd on her.
Claud. Is she not a modeft young lady?

Bene. Do you question me, as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgment? or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?

Claud. No, I pr'ythee, speak in sober judgment. Bene. Why, i'faith, methinks, she is too low for an high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too lit

tle