life;

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 for as I was told, you were in a confumption. Bene. Peace, I will stop your mouth.

(Kissing her. Pedro. How dost thou, Benedick, the married man?

Bene. I'll tell thee what, Prince; a College of witcrackers cannot flout me out of my humour: doft 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 purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me, for what I have said against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion; for thy part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten thee; but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, live unbruis’d, and love

my

cousin. Claud. I had well'hoped, thou wouldst have denied Beatrice, that I might have cudgell’d thee out of thy fingle life, to make thee a double dealer; which, out of question, thou wilt be, if my cousin do not look exceeding narrowly to thee.. Bene. Come, come, we are friends ; let's have a

Dance

a

Dance ere we are marry'd, that we may lighten our own hearts, and our wives heels.

Leon. We'll have dancing afterwards.

Bene. First, o' my word; therefore, play, music. Prince, thou art sad, get thee a wife, get thee a wife; there is no staff more reverend than one tipt with horn.

Enter Messenger. Mel. My Lord, your brother John is ta'en in flight, And brought with armed men back to Messina.

Bene. Think not on him 'till to-morrow : I'll de. vise thee brave punishments for him. Strike up, · Pipers.

[Dance. [Exeunt omnes.

, }

DUKE of Venice.
Morochius, a Moorish Prince,

Suiters to Portia.
Prince of Arragon,
Anthonio, the Merchant of Venice.
Baffanio, his Friend, in love with Portia.
Salanio,
Solarino, Friends to Anthonio and Bassanio.
Gratiano,
Lorenzo, in love with Jessica.
Shylock, a Jew.
Tubal, a Jew, his Friend.
Launcelot, a Clown, Servant to the Jew.
Gobbo, an old Man, Father to Launcelot.
Leonardo, Servant to Bassanio.
Balthazar,

Servants to Portia.
Stephano,

}

Portia, an Heiress of great Quality and Fortune.
Nerissa, Confident to Portia.
Jessica, Daughter to Shylock.
Senators of Venice, Officers, Jailer, Servants and other

Attendants.

SCENE, partly at Venice; and partly at Belmont,

the Seat of Portia upon the Continent.

THE