you shall comprehend all vagrom men; you are to bid any
man stand, in the Prince's name.
you will comprehend
any vagrant men you see. You are to order all men to stop,
in the Prince's name.
SECOND WATCHMAN
How if he will not stand?
SECOND WATCHMAN
And what if he won't stop?
DOGBERRY
Why, then, take no note of him, but let him go and
25
presently call the rest of the watch together and thank God
you are rid of a knave.
DOGBERRY
Well then, don't bother with him and let him go. Then
immediately call the rest of the watch together and thank God that
you've gotten rid of such a criminal.
VERGES
If he will not stand when he is bidden, he is none of the
Prince's subjects.
VERGES
If he won't stop when he's told to, then he
isn't one of the Prince's subjects.
DOGBERRY
True, and they are to meddle with none but the Prince's
30
subjects.—You shall also make no noise in the streets;
for,
for the watch to babble and to talk is most tolerable and not
to be endured.
DOGBERRY
True, and you aren't supposed to meddle with anyone but
the Prince's subjects. You will also stay quiet in the
streets, for a babbling watch is most tolerable
and will not be endured.
WATCHMAN
We will rather sleep than talk. We know what belongs to a
watch.
WATCHMAN
We'll sleep instead of talk. We know what's
appropriate for a watch.
DOGBERRY
35
Why, you speak like an ancient and most quiet watchman,
for I cannot see how sleeping should offend. Only have a
care that your bills be not stolen. Well, you are to call at all
the alehouses and bid those that are drunk get them to bed.
DOGBERRY
Why, you speak like an experienced and quiet watchman. Sleeping on
the watch shouldn't be a problem; just make sure that
your weapons don't get stolen. Also, you're
supposed to visit all the bars and tell anyone who's
drunk to go home and go to bed.
WATCHMAN
How if they will not?
WATCHMAN
And what if they won't go?
DOGBERRY
40
Why, then, let them alone till they are sober. If they make
you not then the better answer, you may say they are not the
men you took them for.
DOGBERRY
Well then, leave them alone until they're sober. If
even then they don't answer to your satisfaction, you can
say that they're not the men you thought they
were.
