Brick Shakespeare: The Comedies—A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew (74 page)

LEONATO

I thank thee for thy care and honest pains.

DOGBERRY

Your worship speaks like a most thankful and reverend youth; and I praise God for you.

LEONATO

There’s for thy pains.

DOGBERRY

God save the foundation!

LEONATO

Go, I discharge thee of thy prisoner, and I thank thee.

DOGBERRY

I leave an arrant knave with your worship; which I beseech your worship to correct yourself, for the example of others. God keep your worship! I wish your worship well; God restore you to health! I humbly give you leave to depart; and if a merry meeting may be wished, God prohibit it! Come, neighbour.

LEONATO

Until to-morrow morning, lords, farewell.

ANTONIO

Farewell, my lords: we look for you to-morrow.

DON PEDRO

We will not fail.

CLAUDIO

To-night I’ll mourn with Hero.

LEONATO

Bring you these fellows on. We’ll talk with Margaret,

How her acquaintance grew with this lewd fellow.

ACT V. Scene IV (1–127).

B
enedick works on scribing a love poem for Beatrice and asks Margaret for help. Instead, she calls for Beatrice and Benedick explains that he has challenged Claudio to a duel in defense of Hero and Beatrice. They dance around their feelings for one another, still continuing to verbally spar back and forth. Ursula enters and tells them that Hero has been vindicated and the culprit, Don John, has run away. They immediately head to Leonato’s to see what will happen.

Don Pedro and Claudio enter Leonato’s family tomb in order to pay respects to Hero, whom they still believe to be dead. By her tomb, Claudio sees Hero’s epitaph, which reads that she was “done to death by slanderous tongues” (V.iii.3). Claudio expresses his profound sadness and promises to honor Hero’s memory. Claudio and Don Pedro then leave for Leonato’s house so that Claudio can fulfill Leonato’s wishes.

FRIAR FRANCIS

Did I not tell you she was innocent?

LEONATO

So are the prince and Claudio, who accused her

Upon the error that you heard debated:

But Margaret was in some fault for this,

Although against her will, as it appears

In the true course of all the question.

ANTONIO

Well, I am glad that all things sort so well.

BENEDICK

And so am I,

BENEDICK (cont.)

being else by faith enforced

To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it.

LEONATO

Well, daughter, and you gentle-women all,

Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves,

And when I send for you, come hither mask’d.

LEONATO (cont.)

The prince and Claudio promised by this hour

To visit me. You know your office, brother:

You must be father to your brother’s daughter

And give her to young Claudio.

ANTONIO

Which I will do with confirm’d countenance.

BENEDICK

Friar, I must entreat your pains, I think.

FRIAR FRANCIS

To do what, signior?

BENEDICK

To bind me, or undo me; one of them.

BENEDICK (cont.)

Signior Leonato, truth it is, good signior,

Your niece regards me with an eye of favour.

LEONATO

That eye my daughter lent her: ’tis most true.

BENEDICK

And I do with an eye of love requite her.

LEONATO

The sight whereof I think you had from me,

From Claudio and the prince: but what’s your will?

BENEDICK

Your answer, sir, is enigmatical:

But, for my will, my will is your good will

May stand with ours, this day to be conjoin’d

In the state of honourable marriage:

In which, good friar, I shall desire your help.

LEONATO

My heart is with your liking.