Authors: John McCann,Monica Sweeney,Becky Thomas
Brick Shakespeare: The ComediesA Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew (70 page)
BENEDICK
Tarry, good Beatrice. By this hand, I love thee.
BEATRICE
Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it.
BENEDICK
Think you in your soul the Count Claudio hath wronged Hero?
BEATRICE
Yea, as sure as I have a thought or a soul.
BENEDICK
Enough, I am engaged; I will challenge him. I will kiss your hand, and so I leave you. By this hand, Claudio shall render me a dear account. As you hear of me, so think of me. Go, comfort your cousin: I must say she is dead: and so, farewell.
ACT IV. Scene II (1–81).
DOGBERRY
Is our whole dissembly appeared?
VERGES
O, a stool and a cushion for the sexton.
SEXTON
Which be the malefactors?
DOGBERRY
Marry, that am I and my partner.
VERGES
Nay, that’s certain; we have the exhibition to examine.
SEXTON
But which are the offenders that are to be examined? let them come before master constable.
DOGBERRY
Yea, marry, let them come before me.
CONRADE
I am a gentleman, sir, and my name is Conrade.
DOGBERRY (cont.)
What is your name, friend?
BORACHIO
Borachio.
DOGBERRY
Pray, write down, Borachio. Yours, sirrah?
DOGBERRY
Write down, master gentleman Conrade. Masters, do you serve God?
CONRADE and BORACHIO
Yea, sir, we hope.
DOGBERRY
Write down, that they hope they serve God: and write God first; for God defend but God should go before such villains! Masters, it is proved already that you are little better than false knaves; and it will go near to be thought so shortly. How answer you for yourselves?
CONRADE
Marry, sir, we say we are none.
DOGBERRY
A marvellous witty fellow, I assure you: but I will go about with him. Come you hither, sirrah; a word in your ear: sir, I say to you, it is thought you are false knaves.
BORACHIO
Sir, I say to you we are none.
DOGBERRY
Well, stand aside. ’Fore God, they are both in a tale. Have you writ down, that they are none?
SEXTON
Master constable, you go not the way to examine: you must call forth the watch that are their accusers.
DOGBERRY
Yea, marry, that’s the eftest way. Let the watch come forth. Masters, I charge you, in the prince’s name, accuse these men.
