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Much Ado About Nothing: Act III, Scene 5

Much Ado About Nothing
Act III, Scene 5

Another room in Leonato’s house.

  1. Enter Leonato and the Constable Dogberry and the Headborough
  2. Verges.

Leonato

1
  1. What would you with me, honest neighbor?

Dogberry

2 - 3
  1. Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you that
  2. decerns you nearly.

Leonato

4
  1. Brief, I pray you, for you see it is a busy time with me.

Dogberry

5
  1. Marry, this it is, sir.

Verges

6
  1. Yes, in truth it is, sir.

Leonato

7
  1. What is it, my good friends?

Dogberry

8 - 11
  1. Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off the matter; an old
  2. man, sir, and his wits are not so blunt as, God help, I
  3. would desire they were, but in faith, honest as the skin
  4. between his brows.

Verges

12 - 13
  1. Yes, I thank God I am as honest as any man living, that is
  2. an old man, and no honester than I.

Dogberry

14
  1. Comparisons are odorouspalabras, neighbor Verges.

Leonato

15
  1. Neighbors, you are tedious.

Dogberry

16 - 19
  1. It pleases your worship to say so, but we are the poor
  2. Duke’s officers; but truly, for mine own part, if I were as
  3. tedious as a king, I could find in my heart to bestow it all
  4. of your worship.

Leonato

20
  1. All thy tediousness on me, ah?

Dogberry

21 - 23
  1. Yea, and ’twere a thousand pound more than ’tis, for I hear
  2. as good exclamation on your worship as of any man in the
  3. city, and though I be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it.

Verges

24
  1. And so am I.

Leonato

25
  1. I would fain know what you have to say.

Verges

26 - 28
  1. Marry, sir, our watch tonight, excepting your worship’s
  2. presence, ha’ ta’en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in
  3. Messina.

Dogberry

29 - 35
  1. A good old man, sir, he will be talking; as they say, When
  2. the age is in, the wit is out.” God help us, it is a world
  3. to see! Well said, i’ faith, neighbor Verges. Well, God’s a
  4. good man; and two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind.
  5. An honest soul, i’ faith, sir, by my troth he is, as ever
  6. broke bread; but God is to be worshipp’d; all men are not
  7. alike, alas, good neighbor!

Leonato

36
  1. Indeed, neighbor, he comes too short of you.

Dogberry

37
  1. Gifts that God gives.

Leonato

38
  1. I must leave you.

Dogberry

39 - 41
  1. One word, sir. Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two
  2. aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning
  3. examin’d before your worship.

Leonato

42 - 43
  1. Take their examination yourself, and bring it me. I am now
  2. in great haste, as it may appear unto you.

Dogberry

44
  1. It shall be suffigance.

Leonato

45
  1. Drink some wine ere you go; fare you well.
  1. Enter a Messenger.

Messenger

46 - 47
  1. My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her
  2. husband.

Leonato

48
  1. I’ll wait upon them, I am ready.
  1. Exeunt Leonato and Messenger.

Dogberry

49 - 51
  1. Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacole, bid him
  2. bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail. We are now to
  3. examination these men.

Verges

52
  1. And we must do it wisely.

Dogberry

53 - 56
  1. We will spare for no wit, I warrant you. Here’s that shall
  2. drive some of them to a non-come; only get the learned
  3. writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the
  4. jail.
  1. Exeunt.
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