SCENE III.
Enter Don John.
John.
My Lord and Brother, God save you.
Pedro.
Good den, brother.
John.
If your leisure serv'd, I would speak with you.
Pedro.
In private?
John.
If it please you; yet Count Claudio may
hear; for, what I would speak of, concerns him.
Pedro.
What's the matter?
John.
Means your lordship to be marry'd to morrow?
[To Claudio.
Pedro.
You know, he does.
-- 46 --
John.
I know not that, when he knows what I
know.
Claud.
If there be any impediment, I pray you,
discover it.
John.
You may think, I love you not; let that
appear hereafter; and aim better at me by That I
now will manifest; for my brother, I think, he holds
you well, and in dearness of heart hath holp to effect
your ensuing marriage; surely, Suit ill spent, and
Labour ill bestow'd!
Pedro.
Why, what's the matter?
John.
I came hither to tell you, and circumstances
shorten'd, (for she hath been too long a talking of)
the Lady is disloyal.
Claud.
Who? Hero?
John.
Even she; Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every
man's Hero.
Claud.
Disloyal?
John.
The word is too good to paint out her wickedness;
I could say, she were worse; think you of a
worse title, and I will fit her to it; wonder not 'till
further warrant; go but with me to night, you shall
see her chamber-window enter'd, even the night before
her wedding day; if you love her, then to morrow
wed her; but it would better fit your honour to
change your mind.
Claud.
May this be so?
Pedro.
I will not think it.—
John.
If you dare not trust that you see, confess
not that you know; if you will follow me, I will
shew you enough; and when you have seen more and
heard more, proceed accordingly.
Claud.
If I see any thing to night why I should
not marry her to morrow; in the Congregation,
where I should wed, there will I shame her.
Pedro.
And as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I
will join with thee to disgrace her.
-- 47 --
John.
I will disparage her no farther, 'till you are
my witnesses; bear it coldly but 'till night, and let
the issue shew itself.
Pedro.
O day untowardly turned!
Claud.
O mischief strangely thwarting!
John.
O plague right well prevented!
So you will say, when you have seen the sequel.
[Exeunt.
Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
