Much Ado About Nothing
Act III, Scene 5
Another room in Leonato’s house.
Verges
E. Goodwyn Lewis, 1863
- Enter Leonato and the Constable Dogberry and the Headborough
- Verges.
Leonato
1- What would you with me, honest neighbor?
Dogberry
2 - 3- Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you that
- decerns you nearly.
Leonato
4- Brief, I pray you, for you see it is a busy time with me.
Dogberry
5- Marry, this it is, sir.
Verges
6- Yes, in truth it is, sir.
Leonato
7- What is it, my good friends?
Dogberry
8 - 11- 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.
Verges
12 - 13- Yes, I thank God I am as honest as any man living, that is
- an old man, and no honester than I.
Dogberry
14- Comparisons are odorous—palabras, neighbor Verges.
Leonato
15- Neighbors, you are tedious.
Dogberry
16 - 19- 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 in my heart to bestow it all
- of your worship.
Leonato
20- All thy tediousness on me, ah?
Dogberry
21 - 23- Yea, and ’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.
Verges
24- And so am I.
Leonato
25- I would fain know what you have to say.
Verges
26 - 28- Marry, sir, our watch tonight, excepting your worship’s
- presence, ha’ ta’en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in
- Messina.
Dogberry
29 - 35- 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; and 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 worshipp’d; all men are not
- alike, alas, good neighbor!
Leonato
36- Indeed, neighbor, he comes too short of you.
Dogberry
37- Gifts that God gives.
Leonato
38- I must leave you.
Dogberry
39 - 41- One word, sir. Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two
- aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning
- examin’d before your worship.
Leonato
42 - 43- Take their examination yourself, and bring it me. I am now
- in great haste, as it may appear unto you.
Dogberry
44- It shall be suffigance.
Leonato
45- Drink some wine ere you go; fare you well.
- Enter a Messenger.
Messenger
46 - 47- My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her
- husband.
Leonato
48- I’ll wait upon them, I am ready.
- Exeunt Leonato and Messenger.
Dogberry
49 - 51- 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.
Verges
52- And we must do it wisely.
Dogberry
53 - 56- 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
- jail.
- Exeunt.
Charles James Matthews as Dogberry
circa 1830