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Enter LEONATO withDOGBERRY and VERGES |
LEONATO enters withDOGBERRY andVERGES. |
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LEONATO
What would you with me, honest neighbor? |
LEONATO
What do you want from me, my good man? |
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DOGBERRY
Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you that decerns you nearly. |
DOGBERRY
Please, sir, I would like to discuss some news that decerns you greatly. |
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LEONATO
Brief, I pray you, for you see it is a busy time with me. |
LEONATO
Be brief, please, because, as you can see, this is a busy time for me. |
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DOGBERRY
Marry, this it is, sir. |
DOGBERRY
Indeed, sir, it is. |
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VERGES
Yes, in truth it is, sir. |
VERGES
Yes, it truly is. |
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LEONATO
What is it, my good friends? |
LEONATO
What’s the news, my good friends? |
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DOGBERRY
Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off the matter. An old man, sir, and his wits are not so blunt as, God help, I would desire they were, but, in faith, honest as the skin between his brows. |
DOGBERRY
Sorry, sir, Goodman Verges tends to ramble. He’s an old man, sir, and his wits are not as blunt as I wish they were. But truly, he’s as honest as the skin between his brows. |
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VERGES
Yes, I thank God I am as honest as any man living that is an old man and no honester than I. |
VERGES
Yes, I thank God that I am as honest as all the other old men who are not honester than me. |
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DOGBERRY
Comparisons are odorous. Palabras, neighbor Verges. |
DOGBERRY
Making comparisons is odorous, Verges. Get on with your story. |
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LEONATO
Neighbors, you are tedious. |
LEONATO
Friends, you are becoming tedious. |
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DOGBERRY
It pleases your Worship to say so, but we are the poor duke’s officers. But truly, for mine own part, if I were as tedious as a king, I could find it in my heart to bestow it all of your worship. |
DOGBERRY
Thank you for saying that, your Worship, but we’re just the poor duke’s officers. But truly, if I were as tedious as a king, I would give everything to you, your Worship. |
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LEONATO
All thy tediousness on me, ah? |
LEONATO
Oh, so you’d give me all your tediousness? |
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DOGBERRY
Yea, an ’twere a thousand pound more than ’tis, for I hear as good exclamation on your Worship as of any man in the city, and though I be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it. |
DOGBERRY
Yes, even if I had a thousand more pounds than that, for I hear that you are exclaimed throughout the city, and though I am only a poor man, it makes me glad to hear it. |
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VERGES
And so am I. |
VERGES
Me, too. |
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LEONATO
I would fain know what you have to say. |
LEONATO
Gentlemen, please, I’d like to hear your news. |
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VERGES
Marry, sir, our watch tonight, excepting your Worship’s presence, ha’ ta’en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina. |
VERGES
Sir, our watch tonight—expectfully, sir—has captured a couple of the worst criminals in Messina. |
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DOGBERRY
A good old man, sir. He will be talking. As they say, “When the age is in, the wit is out.” God help us, it is a world to see! Well said, i’ faith, neighbor Verges.—Well, God’s a good man. An two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind. An honest soul, i’ faith, sir, by my troth he is, as ever broke bread, but God is to be worshipped, all men are not alike, alas, good neighbor! |
DOGBERRY
(to LEONATO) Verges is a good old man, sir, but he’s always babbling. Like they say, “When age comes, wit goes.” God help us, what a world! (to VERGES) You did well, Verges, honestly. (to LEONATO) Well, God’s a fair man. If two men are riding on one horse, one must naturally ride behind. Verges is as honest a man as any, but, God bless him, not all men are created equal. Am I right, my friend? |
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LEONATO
Indeed, neighbor, he comes too short of you. |
LEONATO
Truly, my friend, he isn’t nearly as impressive as you are. |
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DOGBERRY
Gifts that God gives. |
DOGBERRY
God gives those gifts—I had nothing to do with it. |
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LEONATO
I must leave you. |
LEONATO
Now I must return to the wedding. |
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DOGBERRY
One word, sir. Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your worship. |
DOGBERRY
One more thing, sir. Our watch, sir, as you know, has comprehended two auspicious persons. We’d like for you to examine them this morning. |
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LEONATO
Take their examination yourself and bring it me. I am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you. |
LEONATO
Examine them yourselves, then bring me your findings. Now I’m in a great hurry, as I’m sure you can see. |
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DOGBERRY
It shall be suffigance. |
DOGBERRY
That will be suffigance. |
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LEONATO
Drink some wine ere you go. Fare you well. |
LEONATO
Have some wine before you go. Goodbye. |
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Enter a MESSENGER |
A MESSENGER enters. |
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MESSENGER
My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband. |
MESSENGER
My lord, they’re waiting for you to give your daughter away to Claudio. |
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LEONATO
I’ll wait upon them. I am ready. |
LEONATO
I’m coming. |
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Exeunt LEONATO andMESSENGER |
LEONATO and theMESSENGER exit. |
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DOGBERRY
Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacole. Bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail. We are now to examination these men. |
DOGBERRY
Go to Francis Seacole, the constable of the watch. Tell him to bring his pen and his inkwell to the jail. We will now go to examination these men. |
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VERGES
And we must do it wisely. |
VERGES
We must do this wisely. |
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DOGBERRY
We will spare for no wit, I warrant you. Here’s that shall drive some of them to a noncome. Only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication and meet me at the jail. |
DOGBERRY
We won’t hold back any of our wisdom. We’ll drive them to a noncome. Go get the educated writer to record our excommunication, and I’ll meet you at the jail. |
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Exeunt |
They all exit. |