Act VScene III
The Inside of a Church
Enter Don Pedro, Claudio and Attendants, with music and tapers.
Claudio
Is this the monument of Leonato?
A Lord
It is, my lord.
Claudio
Reads from a scroll.
Epitaph.
Done to death by slanderous tonguesWas the Hero that here lies:Death, in guerdon of her wrongs,Gives her fame which never dies.So the life that died with shameLives in death with glorious fame.
Hang thou there upon the tomb,Praising her when I am dumb.Now, music, sound, and sing your solemn hymn.
Song.
Pardon, goddess of the night,Those that slew thy virgin knight;For the which, with songs of woe,Round about her tomb they go.Midnight, assist our moan;Help us to sigh and groan,Heavily, heavily:Graves, yawn and yield your dead,Till death be uttered,Heavily, heavily.
Claudio
Now, unto thy bones good night!Yearly will I do this rite.
Don Pedro
Good morrow, masters: put your torches out.The wolves have prey’d; and look, the gentle day,Before the wheels of Phoebus, round aboutDapples the drowsy East with spots of grey.Thanks to you all, and leave us: fare you well.
Claudio
Good morrow, masters: each his several way.
Don Pedro
Come, let us hence, and put on other weeds;And then to Leonato’s we will go.
Claudio
And Hymen now with luckier issue speed’s,Than this for whom we rend’red up this woe!
Exeunt.