| ACT III SCENE V | Another room in LEONATO'S house. | |
| | Enter LEONATO, with DOGBERRY and VERGES | |
| LEONATO | What would you with me, honest neighbour? | |
| DOGBERRY | Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you | |
| | that decerns you nearly. | |
| LEONATO | Brief, I pray you; for you see it is a busy time with me. | 5 |
| DOGBERRY | Marry, this it is, sir. | |
| VERGES | Yes, in truth it is, sir. | |
| LEONATO | What is it, my good friends? | |
| DOGBERRY | Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off the | |
| | matter: an old man, sir, and his wits are not so | 10 |
| | blunt as, God help, I would desire they were; but, | |
| | in faith, honest as the skin between his brows. | |
| VERGES | Yes, I thank God I am as honest as any man living | |
| | that is an old man and no honester than I. | |
| DOGBERRY | Comparisons are odorous: palabras, neighbour Verges. | 15 |
| LEONATO | Neighbours, you are tedious. | |
| 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. | 20 |
| LEONATO | All thy tediousness on me, ah? | |
| 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. | 25 |
| VERGES | And so am I. | |
| LEONATO | I would fain know what you have to say. | |
| VERGES | Marry, sir, our watch to-night, excepting your | |
| | worship's presence, ha' ta'en a couple of as arrant | |
| | knaves as any in Messina. | 30 |
| 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, | |
| | neighbour Verges: well, God's a good man; an two men | |
| | ride of a horse, one must ride behind. An honest | 35 |
| | 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 neighbour! | |
| LEONATO | Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you. | |
| DOGBERRY | Gifts that God gives. | 40 |
| LEONATO | I must leave you. | |
| DOGBERRY | One word, sir: our watch, sir, have indeed | |
| | comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would | |
| | have them this morning examined before your worship. | |
| LEONATO | Take their examination yourself and bring it me: I | 45 |
| | am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you. | |
| DOGBERRY | It shall be suffigance. | |
| LEONATO | Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well. | |
| | Enter a Messenger | |
| Messenger | My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to | |
| | her husband. | 50 |
| LEONATO | I'll wait upon them: I am ready. | |
| | Exeunt LEONATO and Messenger | |
| DOGBERRY | Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacole; | |
| | bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol: we | |
| | are now to examination these men. | |
| VERGES | And we must do it wisely. | 55 |
| DOGBERRY | We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's | |
| | that shall drive some of them to a non-come: only | |
| | get the learned writer to set down our | |
| | excommunication and meet me at the gaol. | |
| | Exeunt | |
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