Much Ado About Nothing: Act 4, Scene 2
Enter the Constables [DOGBERRY and
VERGES] and the Town Clerk [or SEXTON]
gowns: i.e., robes of office, like judges' robes.
in gowns, [and the WATCH with CONRADE
and] BORACHIO.
DOGBERRY
1. dissembly: malapropism for "assembly."
1
Is our whole dissembly appeared?
VERGES
2
O, a stool and a cushion for the sexton.
Sexton
3
Which be the malefactors?
DOGBERRY
4. Marry, that am I and my partner: Dogberry apparently thinks that "malefactors" are important officers of the court.
5-6. exhibition to examine: Maybe Verges thinks he means, "we have the commission (legal appointment) to conduct the examination."
5-6. exhibition to examine: Maybe Verges thinks he means, "we have the commission (legal appointment) to conduct the examination."
4
Marry, that am I and my partner.
VERGES
5
Nay, that's certain; we have the exhibition 6
to examine.
Sexton
7
But which are the offenders that are to be 8
examined? let them come before master constable.
DOGBERRY
9
Yea, marry, let them come before me. What is your 10
name, friend?
BORACHIO
11
Borachio.
DOGBERRY
12. sirrah: This is a form of address for social inferiors. Conrade is not Dogberry's social inferior, and corrects Dogberry, saying "I am a gentleman, sir."
12
Pray, write down, Borachio. Yours, sirrah?
CONRADE
13
I am a gentleman, sir, and my name is 14
Conrade.
DOGBERRY
15
Write down, master gentleman Conrade. Masters, 16. do you serve God?: i.e., do you obey God's laws?
16
do you serve God?
Both [CONRADE, BORACHIO]
17
Yea, sir, we hope.
DOGBERRY
18
Write down, that they hope they serve God: and19. defend: forbid.
20-22. it is proved already . . . it will go near to be thought so shortly: Dogberry has the normal (and legal) sequence backwards. Suspicion ("to be thought so") normally precedes proof. 22. go near to: almost.
20-22. it is proved already . . . it will go near to be thought so shortly: Dogberry has the normal (and legal) sequence backwards. Suspicion ("to be thought so") normally precedes proof. 22. go near to: almost.
19
write God first; for God defend but God should go 20
before such villains! Masters, it is proved already 21
that you are little better than false knaves; and it 22
will go near to be thought so shortly. How answer 23
you for yourselves?
CONRADE
24
Marry, sir, we say we are none.
DOGBERRY
25. witty: clever, cunning.
25
A marvellous witty fellow, I assure you: but I
26. go about with: get the better of, outmaneuver.
27. a word in your ear: i.e., a private hint or warning.
27. a word in your ear: i.e., a private hint or warning.
26
will go about with him. Come you hither, sirrah; 27
a word in your ear: sir, I say to you, it is thought 28
you are false knaves.
BORACHIO
29
Sir, I say to you we are none.
DOGBERRY
30
Well, stand aside. 'Fore God, they are31. in a tale: agreed on the same lie.
31
both in a tale. Have you writ down, that 32
they are none?
Sexton
33
Master constable, you go not the way to 34
examine: you must call forth the watch that 35
are their accusers.
DOGBERRY
36. eftest: easiest, quickest.
36
Yea, marry, that's the eftest way. Let the watch 37
come forth. Masters, I charge you, in the prince's 38
name, accuse these men.
First Watch
39
This man said, sir, that Don John, the prince's 40
brother, was a villain.
DOGBERRY
41
Write down Prince John a villain. Why, this is 42. perjury: Dogberry apparently thinks that "perjury" means "slander." Also, although Dogberry thinks that to call the prince's brother a villain is an obvious lie ("flat perjury"), the truth is that Prince John is a villain.
42
flat perjury, to call a prince's brother villain.
BORACHIO
43
Master constable,
DOGBERRY
44. Pray thee, fellow, peace: i.e., please, buddy, shut up.
44
Pray thee, fellow, peace: I do not like thy look, 45
I promise thee.
Sexton
46
What heard you him say else?
Second Watch
47
Marry, that he had received a thousand 48
ducats of Don John for accusing the Lady 49
Hero wrongfully.
DOGBERRY
50. burglary: This is a double malapropism. Dogberry thinks "burglary" means "perjury," which he thinks is the same as "slander."
50
Flat burglary as ever was committed.
VERGES
51
Yea, by mass, that it is.
Sexton
52
What else, fellow?
First Watch
53-54. upon his words: on the basis of what he said.
53
And that Count Claudio did mean, upon 54
his words, to disgrace Hero before the 55
whole assembly. and not marry her.
DOGBERRY
56
O villain! thou wilt be condemned into 57. redemption: He means the opposite, "damnation."
57
everlasting redemption for this.
Sexton
58
What else?
[First and Second] Watch
59
This is all.
Sexton
60
And this is more, masters, than you can deny. 61
Prince John is this morning secretly stolen 62. in this manner: i.e., just as First Watch reported.
63. refused: renounced.
63. refused: renounced.
62
away; Hero was in this manner accused, in 63
this very manner refused, and upon the grief 64
of this suddenly died. Master constable, let 65
these men be bound, and brought to Leonato's:
66. examination: i.e., the written report of their interrogation.
66
I will go before and show him their examination.
[Exit.]
[DOGBERRY]
67. opinion'd: malapropism for "pinioned." Criminals were pinioned by shackling their hands or legs together.
67
Come, let them be opinion'd.
VERGES
68-69. Let them be in the hands . . . Off coxcomb!: Apparently Verges tries to put handcuffs on Conrade, who is insulted and tells him to back off.
68
Let them be in the hands
[CONRADE]
69
Off, coxcomb!
DOGBERRY
70. God's: God save.
70
God's my life, where's the sexton? let him write 71
down the prince's officer coxcomb. Come, bind 72. naughty: wicked.
72
them. Thou naughty varlet!
[CONRADE]
73
Away! you are an ass, you are an ass.
DOGBERRY
74. suspect: malapropism for "respect."
74
Dost thou not suspect my place? dost thou not
75-76. O that he were here to write me down an ass!: Dogberry wishes that the Sexton had been there to record, in writing, that Conrade called him an ass, so that Conrade would be sure to be punished for that offense.
75
suspect my years? O that he were here to write me 76
down an ass! But, masters, remember that I am an 77
ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not 78
that I am an ass. No, thou villain, thou art full of
79. piety: malapropism for "impiety."
79
piety, as shall be proved upon thee by good witness.
80
I am a wise fellow, and, which is more, an officer, 81
and, which is more, a householder, and, which is
82. as pretty a piece of flesh: i.e., as fine a mortal man.
83. go to: This is an expression of scorn, like current expressions such as "go to hell" or "get out of here." 84-85. a fellow that hath had losses: Dogberry thinks he should be respected because he has known hardship. 86. handsome: fitting, impressive.
83. go to: This is an expression of scorn, like current expressions such as "go to hell" or "get out of here." 84-85. a fellow that hath had losses: Dogberry thinks he should be respected because he has known hardship. 86. handsome: fitting, impressive.
82
more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in 83
Messina, and one that knows the law, go to; and a 84
rich fellow enough, go to; and a fellow that hath 85
had losses, and one that hath two gowns and every 86
thing handsome about him. Bring him away. O that 87
I had been writ down an ass!
Exeunt.