MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Page: 45

VERGES.
Nay, that's certain: we have the exhibition to examine.

SEXTON.
But which are the offenders that are to be examined? let them
come before Master constable.

DOGBERRY.
Yea, marry, let them come before me. What is your name, friend?

BORACHIO.
Borachio.

DOGBERRY.
Pray write down Borachio. Yours, sirrah?

CONRADE.
I am a gentleman, sir, and my name is Conrade.

DOGBERRY.
Write down Master gentleman Conrade. Masters, do you serve God?

BOTH.
Yea, sir, we hope.

DOGBERRY.
Write down that they hope they serve God: and write God first; for
God defend but God should go before such villains! Masters, it is
proved already that you are little better than false knaves, and it
will go near to be thought so shortly. How answer you for yourselves?

CONRADE.
Marry, sir, we say we are none.

DOGBERRY.
A marvellous witty fellow, I assure you; but I will go about with him.
Come you hither, sirrah; a word in your ear: sir, I say to you, it is
thought you are false knaves.

BORACHIO.
Sir, I say to you we are none.

DOGBERRY.
Well, stand aside. Fore God, they are both in a tale. Have you writ
down, that they are none?

SEXTON.
Master constable, you go not the way to examine: you must call forth
the watch that are their accusers.

DOGBERRY.
Yea, marry, that's the eftest way. Let the watch come forth.
Masters, I charge you, in the prince's name, accuse these men.

FIRST WATCH.
This man said, sir, that Don John, the prince's brother, was a
villain.

DOGBERRY.
Write down Prince John a villain. Why, this is flat perjury, to
call a prince's brother villain.

BORACHIO.
Master Constable,--

DOGBERRY.
Pray thee, fellow, peace: I do not like thy look, I promise thee.

SEXTON.
What heard you him say else?

SECOND WATCH.
Marry, that he had received a thousand ducats of Don John for
accusing the Lady Hero wrongfully.

DOGBERRY.
Flat burglary as ever was committed.

VERGES.
Yea, by the mass, that it is.

SEXTON. What else, fellow?

FIRST WATCH.
And that Count Claudio did mean, upon his words, to disgrace Hero
before the whole assembly, and not marry her.