SCENE V. Another room in LEONATO'S house. Much Ado About Nothing  Shakespeare homepage  |  Much Ado About Nothing  | Act 3, Scene 5 

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 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. 

 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 

 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. 

 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. 

 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. 

 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. 

 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 

 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. 

 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 

 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. 

 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. 

 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  Shakespeare homepage  |  Much Ado About Nothing  | Act 3, Scene 5 

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