Re-enter LEONATO and ANTONIO, with the Sexton LEONATO Which is the villain? let me see his eyes, That, when I note another man like him, I may avoid him: which of these is he? BORACHIO If you would know your wronger, look on me. LEONATO Art thou the slave that with thy breath hast kill'd Mine innocent child? BORACHIO Yea, even I alone. LEONATO No, not so, villain; thou beliest thyself:
Here stand a pair of honourable men;
A third is fled, that had a hand in it.
I thank you, princes, for my daughter's death:
Record it with your high and worthy deeds:
'Twas bravely done, if you bethink you of it. CLAUDIO I know not how to pray your patience;Yet I must speak. Choose your revenge yourself;Impose me to what penance your invention Can lay upon my sin: yet sinn'd I not But in mistaking. DON PEDRO By my soul, nor I:
And yet, to satisfy this good old man, I would bend under any heavy weight That he'll enjoin me to. LEONATO I cannot bid you bid my daughter live;That were impossible: but, I pray you both, Possess the people in Messina here How innocent she died; and if your love Can labour ought in sad invention, Hang her an epitaph upon her tomb And sing it to her bones, sing it to-night:
To-morrow morning come you to my house, And since you could not be my son-in-law, Be yet my nephew: my brother hath a daughter, Almost the copy of my child that's dead, And she alone is heir to both of us:
Give her the right you should have given her cousin, And so dies my revenge. CLAUDIO O noble sir, Your over-kindness doth wring tears from me!
I do embrace your offer; and dispose For henceforth of poor Claudio. LEONATO To-morrow then I will expect your coming;To-night I take my leave. This naughty man Shall face to face be brought to Margaret, Who I believe was pack'd in all this wrong, Hired to it by your brother. BORACHIO No, by my soul, she was not, Nor knew not what she did when she spoke to me, But always hath been just and virtuous In any thing that I do know by her. DOGBERRY Moreover, sir, which indeed is not under white and black, this plaintiff here, the offender, did call me ass: I beseech you, let it be remembered in his punishment. And also, the watch heard them talk of one Deformed: they say be wears a key in his ear and a lock hanging by it, and borrows money in God's name, the which he hath used so long and never paid that now men grow hard-hearted and will lend nothing for God's sake: pray you, examine him upon that point. 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.
Exeunt DOGBERRY and VERGES 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 [To the Watch] Bring you these fellows on. We'll talk with Margaret, How her acquaintance grew with this lewd fellow.