Mojo, The Bard, & Me

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

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

Much Ado About Nothing   Act IV, Scene ii, Line 33

Dogberry is a comic character in this play. He’s the sheriff, but he’s also a buffoon. Remember, the word marry here has nothing to do with marriage; it simply an exclamation like you bet. Sheriff Dogberry has just been told, previous to this line, that he should be calling the accusers (the men of the watch) forward to get their story, not the accused. Eftest is presumed to be a malapropism. So your guess is as good as mine. Maybe it means best or bestest? Whatever it is, it probably had some sort of double entendre in Will’s day. Perhaps Dogberry’s line if written today would sound more like,

Yah, you bet, that’s the bestest way.

Anyway, that’s my bestest shot at it.

Oof, that's a blank stare if ever I saw one. I guess Mojo doesn't think too much of my bestest shot. 

Oh well.