Borachio guarded.
Claud.
He is then a giant to an ape, but then is an ape a
doctor to such a man.
Pedro.
But soft you, let me see, pluck up my heart and be
sad, did he not say my brother was fled?
Dog.
Come you, Sir, if justice cannot tame you, she shall
ne'er weigh more reasons in her balance; nay, if you be a
cursing hypocrite once, you must be look'd to.
Pedro.
How now, two of my brother's men bound? Borachio
one!
Claud.
Hearken after their offence, my lord.
Pedro.
Officers, what offence have these men done?
Dog.
Marry, Sir, they have committed false report, moreover
they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders;
sixth and lastly, they have bely'd a lady; thirdly, they have verify'd
unjust things; and to conclude, they are lying knaves.
Pedro.
First, I ask thee what they have done; thirdly, I ask
thee what's their offence; sixth and lastly, why they are committed;
and to conclude, what you lay to their charge?
Claud.
Rightly reason'd, and in his own division; and by
my troth, there's one meaning well suited.
-- 550 --
Pedro.
Whom have you offended, masters, that you are thus
bound to your answer? This learned constable is too cunning to
be understood. What's your offence?
Bora.
Sweet Prince, let me go no further to mine answer; do
you hear me, and let this Count kill me: I have deceiv'd even
your very eyes; what your wisdoms could not discover, these
shallow fools have brought to light, who in the night overheard
me confessing to this man, how Don John your brother incens'd
me to slander the lady Hero, how you were brought into the
orchard, and saw me court Margaret in Hero's garments, how
you disgrac'd her when you should marry her; my villany they
have upon record, which I had rather seal with my death,
than repeat over to my shame; the Lady is dead upon mine
and my master's false accusation; and briefly, I desire nothing
but the reward of a villain.
Pedro.
Runs not this speech like iron through your blood?
Claud.
I have drunk poison while he utter'd it.
Pedro.
But did my brother set thee on to this?
Bora.
Yea, paid me richly for the practice of it.
Pedro.
He is compos'd and fram'd of treachery,
And fled he is upon this villany.
Claud.
Sweet Hero! now thy image doth appear
In the rare semblance that I lov'd it first.
Dog.
Come bring away the plaintiffs, by this time our sexton
hath reform'd Signior Leonato of the matter; and masters,
do not forget to specifie, when time and place shall serve, that
I am an ass.
Verg.
Here, here comes master Signior Leonato, and the
sexton too.
-- 551 --
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].