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No Fear Translations

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Enter DOGBERRY, VERGES , and SEXTON , in gowns; and the Watch, with CONRADE and BORACHIO
Enter DOGBERRY, VERGES , and SEXTON , in gowns; and the Watch, with CONRADE and BORACHIO

DOGBERRY

Is our whole dissembly appeared?

DOGBERRY

Is our whole dissembly appeared?

VERGES

Oh, a stool and a cushion for the Sexton.

VERGES

Oh, a stool and a cushion for the Sexton.
A stool is brought in. SEXTON sits
A stool is brought in. SEXTON sits

SEXTON

Which be the malefactors?

SEXTON

Which be the malefactors?

DOGBERRY

Marry, that am I and my partner.

DOGBERRY

Marry, that am I and my partner.

VERGES

Nay, that’s certain; we have the exhibition to examine.

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.

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?

DOGBERRY

Yea, marry, let them come before me.
What is your name, friend?
BORACHIO and CONRADE come forward
BORACHIO and CONRADE come forward
10 What’s your name, friend?
What’s your name, friend?

BORACHIO

Borachio.

BORACHIO

Borachio.

DOGBERRY

Pray, write down, “Borachio.”—Yours, sirrah?

DOGBERRY

Pray, write down, “Borachio.”—Yours, sirrah?

CONRADE

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

CONRADE

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

DOGBERRY

Write down “Master Gentleman Conrade.”—Masters, do
15 you serve God?

DOGBERRY

Write down “Master Gentleman Conrade.”—Masters, do
you serve God?

CONRADE, BORACHIO

Yea, sir, we hope.

CONRADE, BORACHIO

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
20 better than false knaves, and it will go near to be thought so
shortly. How answer you for yourselves?

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.

CONRADE

Marry, sir, we say we are none.

DOGBERRY

A marvelous witty fellow, I assure you, but I will go about
with him.—Come you hither, sirrah, a word in your ear.
25 Sir, I say to you it is thought you are false knaves.

DOGBERRY

A marvelous 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.

BORACHIO

Sir, I say to you we are none.

DOGBERRY

Well, stand aside.—'Fore God, they are both in a ale. Have
you writ down that they are none?

DOGBERRY

Well, stand aside.—'Fore God, they are both in a ale. Have
you writ down that they are none?

SEXTON

Master Constable, you go not the way to examine. You
30 must call forth the watch that are their accusers.

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.

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 WATCHMAN

This man said, sir, that Don John, the Prince’s brother, was
35 a villain.

FIRST WATCHMAN

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.

DOGBERRY

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

BORACHIO

Master Constable—

BORACHIO

Master Constable—

DOGBERRY

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

DOGBERRY

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

SEXTON

(to Watch) What heard you him say else?

SEXTON

(to Watch) What heard you him say else?

SECOND WATCHMAN

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

SECOND WATCHMAN

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

DOGBERRY

Flat burglary as ever was committed.

DOGBERRY

Flat burglary as ever was committed.

VERGES

45 Yea, by Mass, that it is.

VERGES

Yea, by Mass, that it is.

SEXTON

What else, fellow?

SEXTON

What else, fellow?

FIRST WATCHMAN

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

FIRST WATCHMAN

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

DOGBERRY

(to BORACHIO) O villain! Thou wilt be condemned into
everlasting redemption for this.

DOGBERRY

(to BORACHIO) O villain! Thou wilt be condemned into
everlasting redemption for this.

SEXTON

What else?

SEXTON

What else?

FIRST WATCHMAN

This is all.

FIRST WATCHMAN

This is all.

SEXTON

And this is more, masters, than you can deny. Prince John
55 is this morning secretly stolen away. Hero was in this
manner accused, in this very manner refused, and upon the
grief of this, suddenly died.—Master Constable, let these
men be bound and brought to Leonato’s. I will go before
and show him their examination.

SEXTON

And this is more, masters, than you can deny. Prince John
is this morning secretly stolen away. Hero was in this
manner accused, in this very manner refused, and upon the
grief of this, suddenly died.—Master Constable, let these
men be bound and brought to Leonato’s. I will go before
and show him their examination.
Exit
Exit

DOGBERRY

60 Come, let them be opinioned.

DOGBERRY

Come, let them be opinioned.

VERGES

Let them be in the hands—

VERGES

Let them be in the hands—

CONRADE

Off, coxcomb!

CONRADE

Off, coxcomb!

DOGBERRY

God’s my life, where’s the Sexton? Let him write down the
Prince’s officer “coxcomb.” Come, bind them.—Thou
65 naughty varlet!

DOGBERRY

God’s my life, where’s the Sexton? Let him write down the
Prince’s officer “coxcomb.” Come, bind them.—Thou
naughty varlet!

CONRADE

Away! You are an ass, you are an ass!

CONRADE

Away! You are an ass, you are an ass!

DOGBERRY

Dost thou not suspect my place? Dost thou not suspect my
years? Oh, that he were here to write me down an ass! But
masters, remember that I am an ass, though it be not
70 written down, yet forget not that I am an ass.—No, thou
villain, thou art full of piety, as shall be proved upon thee by
good witness. I am a wise fellow and, which is more, an
officer and, which is more, a householder and, which is
more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in Messina, and one
75 that knows the law, go to, and a rich fellow enough, go to,
and a fellow that hath had losses, and one that hath two
gowns and everything handsome about him.—Bring him
away.—Oh, that I had been writ down an ass!

DOGBERRY

Dost thou not suspect my place? Dost thou not suspect my
years? Oh, that he were here to write me down an ass! But
masters, remember that I am an ass, though it be not
written down, yet forget not that I am an ass.—No, thou
villain, thou art full of piety, as shall be proved upon thee by
good witness. I am a wise fellow and, which is more, an
officer and, which is more, a householder and, which is
more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in Messina, and one
that knows the law, go to, and a rich fellow enough, go to,
and a fellow that hath had losses, and one that hath two
gowns and everything handsome about him.—Bring him
away.—Oh, that I had been writ down an ass!
Exeunt
Exeunt

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter DOGBERRY, VERGES , and SEXTON , in gowns; and the Watch, with CONRADE and BORACHIO
Enter DOGBERRY, VERGES , and SEXTON , in gowns; and the Watch, with CONRADE and BORACHIO

DOGBERRY

Is our whole dissembly appeared?

DOGBERRY

Is our whole dissembly appeared?

VERGES

Oh, a stool and a cushion for the Sexton.

VERGES

Oh, a stool and a cushion for the Sexton.
A stool is brought in. SEXTON sits
A stool is brought in. SEXTON sits

SEXTON

Which be the malefactors?

SEXTON

Which be the malefactors?

DOGBERRY

Marry, that am I and my partner.

DOGBERRY

Marry, that am I and my partner.

VERGES

Nay, that’s certain; we have the exhibition to examine.

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.

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?

DOGBERRY

Yea, marry, let them come before me.
What is your name, friend?
BORACHIO and CONRADE come forward
BORACHIO and CONRADE come forward
10 What’s your name, friend?
What’s your name, friend?

BORACHIO

Borachio.

BORACHIO

Borachio.

DOGBERRY

Pray, write down, “Borachio.”—Yours, sirrah?

DOGBERRY

Pray, write down, “Borachio.”—Yours, sirrah?

CONRADE

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

CONRADE

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

DOGBERRY

Write down “Master Gentleman Conrade.”—Masters, do
15 you serve God?

DOGBERRY

Write down “Master Gentleman Conrade.”—Masters, do
you serve God?

CONRADE, BORACHIO

Yea, sir, we hope.

CONRADE, BORACHIO

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
20 better than false knaves, and it will go near to be thought so
shortly. How answer you for yourselves?

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.

CONRADE

Marry, sir, we say we are none.

DOGBERRY

A marvelous witty fellow, I assure you, but I will go about
with him.—Come you hither, sirrah, a word in your ear.
25 Sir, I say to you it is thought you are false knaves.

DOGBERRY

A marvelous 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.

BORACHIO

Sir, I say to you we are none.

DOGBERRY

Well, stand aside.—'Fore God, they are both in a ale. Have
you writ down that they are none?

DOGBERRY

Well, stand aside.—'Fore God, they are both in a ale. Have
you writ down that they are none?

SEXTON

Master Constable, you go not the way to examine. You
30 must call forth the watch that are their accusers.

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.

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 WATCHMAN

This man said, sir, that Don John, the Prince’s brother, was
35 a villain.

FIRST WATCHMAN

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.

DOGBERRY

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

BORACHIO

Master Constable—

BORACHIO

Master Constable—

DOGBERRY

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

DOGBERRY

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

SEXTON

(to Watch) What heard you him say else?

SEXTON

(to Watch) What heard you him say else?

SECOND WATCHMAN

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

SECOND WATCHMAN

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

DOGBERRY

Flat burglary as ever was committed.

DOGBERRY

Flat burglary as ever was committed.

VERGES

45 Yea, by Mass, that it is.

VERGES

Yea, by Mass, that it is.

SEXTON

What else, fellow?

SEXTON

What else, fellow?

FIRST WATCHMAN

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

FIRST WATCHMAN

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

DOGBERRY

(to BORACHIO) O villain! Thou wilt be condemned into
everlasting redemption for this.

DOGBERRY

(to BORACHIO) O villain! Thou wilt be condemned into
everlasting redemption for this.

SEXTON

What else?

SEXTON

What else?

FIRST WATCHMAN

This is all.

FIRST WATCHMAN

This is all.

SEXTON

And this is more, masters, than you can deny. Prince John
55 is this morning secretly stolen away. Hero was in this
manner accused, in this very manner refused, and upon the
grief of this, suddenly died.—Master Constable, let these
men be bound and brought to Leonato’s. I will go before
and show him their examination.

SEXTON

And this is more, masters, than you can deny. Prince John
is this morning secretly stolen away. Hero was in this
manner accused, in this very manner refused, and upon the
grief of this, suddenly died.—Master Constable, let these
men be bound and brought to Leonato’s. I will go before
and show him their examination.
Exit
Exit

DOGBERRY

60 Come, let them be opinioned.

DOGBERRY

Come, let them be opinioned.

VERGES

Let them be in the hands—

VERGES

Let them be in the hands—

CONRADE

Off, coxcomb!

CONRADE

Off, coxcomb!

DOGBERRY

God’s my life, where’s the Sexton? Let him write down the
Prince’s officer “coxcomb.” Come, bind them.—Thou
65 naughty varlet!

DOGBERRY

God’s my life, where’s the Sexton? Let him write down the
Prince’s officer “coxcomb.” Come, bind them.—Thou
naughty varlet!

CONRADE

Away! You are an ass, you are an ass!

CONRADE

Away! You are an ass, you are an ass!

DOGBERRY

Dost thou not suspect my place? Dost thou not suspect my
years? Oh, that he were here to write me down an ass! But
masters, remember that I am an ass, though it be not
70 written down, yet forget not that I am an ass.—No, thou
villain, thou art full of piety, as shall be proved upon thee by
good witness. I am a wise fellow and, which is more, an
officer and, which is more, a householder and, which is
more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in Messina, and one
75 that knows the law, go to, and a rich fellow enough, go to,
and a fellow that hath had losses, and one that hath two
gowns and everything handsome about him.—Bring him
away.—Oh, that I had been writ down an ass!

DOGBERRY

Dost thou not suspect my place? Dost thou not suspect my
years? Oh, that he were here to write me down an ass! But
masters, remember that I am an ass, though it be not
written down, yet forget not that I am an ass.—No, thou
villain, thou art full of piety, as shall be proved upon thee by
good witness. I am a wise fellow and, which is more, an
officer and, which is more, a householder and, which is
more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in Messina, and one
that knows the law, go to, and a rich fellow enough, go to,
and a fellow that hath had losses, and one that hath two
gowns and everything handsome about him.—Bring him
away.—Oh, that I had been writ down an ass!
Exeunt
Exeunt