Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                                FORM OF WARRANT

THE WARRANT REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK WHICH
MAY BE ACQUIRED UPON THE EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR
HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR SUCH
WARRANT OR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE PURSUANT TO THIS WARRANT, UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR
AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION.

THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE
SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF
UNTIL ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE HEREOF.

Warrant No. IFG-1             Right to purchase up to 50,000 Shares of Common
                              Stock (subject to adjustment as described herein)
                              of Voxware, Inc.

                                 VOXWARE, INC.

                              WARRANT CERTIFICATE

                             Issued August 15, 2000

                  Exercisable on or before 5:00 P.M., New York
                                August 15, 2003

     1.   Grant.  THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE CERTIFIES THAT for value received,
INSTITUTIONAL FINANCE GROUP, INC., a Georgia corporation, with principal
executive offices at 9755 Dogwood Road, Suite 210, North Atlanta, Georgia 30075,
is the registered holder ("Holder") of this warrant (the "Warrant") to purchase
up to a total of Fifty Thousand (50,000) fully paid and non-assessable shares of
common stock ("Common Stock"), par value $.001 per share (each a "Share" and
collectively "Shares"), of VOXWARE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), at any time from the date hereof until, subject to Section 3 hereof,
5:00 P.M. New York time on August 15, 2003 (the "Expiration Date"), at the
Exercise Price (as defined in Section 2 below), upon surrender of this Warrant
Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the offices or agency of the
Company, but subject to the conditions set forth herein. No Warrant may be
exercised after 5:00 P.M. New York time, on the Expiration Date, at which time
the Warrant evidenced hereby, unless exercised prior thereto, shall become void.

                                       1
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     The Warrant evidenced by this Warrant Certificate is issued pursuant to
that certain Agreement, dated March 21, 2000, by and among the Company and
Holder, whereby, among other things, the Company agreed to sell, and Holder
agreed to purchase, this Warrant, as a finder's fee in connection with a private
placement completed as of August 15, 2000.

     2.   Exercise Price.  The exercise price of the Warrant shall be $3.4375
per share of Common Stock (the "Exercise Price"), payable in U.S. dollars,
subject to adjustment as set forth herein.

     3.   Method of Exercise.  (a)  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
the Warrant is exercisable in whole or in part, on one or more occasions, as
follows:

          (i) upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate (with the annexed
Notice of Exercise at the end hereof duly executed), together with payment of
the Exercise Price for the Shares purchased by certified check or money order
payable to the order of the Company, to the Company at its offices (or such
other place as may be the Company's principal offices from time to time) as set
forth in the Notice of Exercise attached hereto, or at such other place as is
designated in writing by the Company, and subject to satisfaction of the terms
and conditions hereof, Holder shall be entitled to receive a certificate or
certificates for the Shares so purchased; or

          (ii) upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate (with the annexed
Notice of Cashless Exercise at the end hereof duly executed) to the Company at
its offices (or such other place as may be the Company's offices from time to
time) as set forth in the Notice of Cashless Exercise attached hereto, or at
such other place as is designated in writing by the Company, in which event the
Company shall issue to Holder the number of Shares determined as follows:

               X = Y (A-B)/A
     where:
               X = the number of Shares to be issued to Holder.

               Y = the number of Shares with respect to which this Warrant is
               being exercised.

               A = the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the
               Nasdaq National Market (or if no longer traded on the Nasdaq
               National Market at the relevant time, then the securities
               exchange which is the principal trading market for such Shares at
               the relevant time), as of the day immediately prior to the date
               of exercise.

               B = the Exercise Price (as indicated in Section 2 hereof).

     (b) The rights represented hereby are exercisable at the option of Holder,
in whole or in part (but not as to fractional Shares), subject to the terms of
this Warrant Certificate.  In the case of the purchase of less than all the
Shares purchasable hereunder the Company shall cancel this Warrant Certificate
upon the surrender hereof and shall execute and deliver a new Warrant

                                       2
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Certificate of like tenor for the balance of the Shares purchasable hereunder.
The Company may deem and treat the registered holder(s) hereof as the absolute
owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership
or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof,
and of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and
the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

     4.   Issuance of Certificates.  (a)  Upon the exercise of the Warrant in
accordance with the provisions hereof, certificates for Shares issuable upon
exercise of the Warrant shall be issued forthwith and in any event within seven
(7) business days thereafter.  Holder shall be deemed for all purposes to become
the legal holder of the Shares issuable upon such exercise when all conditions
to exercise (as specified in Section 3 above) are satisfied, without regard to
any delay thereafter in the issuance and delivery of the certificates
representing such Shares.

          (b) Certificates for the Shares will be issued without charge
(including, without limitation, any tax which may be payable in respect of the
issuance thereof) to Holder and such certificates shall be issued in the name
of, or in such names as may be directed by, Holder.  The Company shall not be
required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer of the
Warrant involved in the issuance and delivery of any such certificates in the
name other than that of Holder and the Company shall not be required to issue or
deliver such certificates unless or until the person or persons requesting the
issuance thereof shall have paid to the Company the amount of such tax or shall
have established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

     5.   Adjustments of Number of Shares.  The number of Shares purchasable
upon exercise of the Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time-to-time as
follows:

          (a) Subdivisions, Combinations and Other Issuances.   If the Company
              ----------------------------------------------
shall at any time prior to the expiration of this Warrant subdivide its Common
Stock, by split-up or otherwise, or combine its Common Stock, or issue
additional shares of its Common Stock as a dividend with respect to any shares
of its Common Stock, the number of Shares issuable on the exercise of this
Warrant shall forthwith be proportionately increased in the case of a
subdivision or stock dividend, or proportionately decreased in the case of a
combination.  Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the purchase price
payable per Share, but the aggregate purchase price payable for the total number
of Shares purchasable under this Warrant (as adjusted) shall remain the same.
Any adjustment under this Section 5(a) shall become effective at the close of
business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective, or as of
the record date of such dividend, or in the event that no record date is fixed,
upon the making of such dividend.

          (b) Reclassification, Reorganization and Consolidation.  In case of
              --------------------------------------------------
any reclassification, capital reorganization, or change in the Common Stock of
the Company (other than as a result of a subdivision, combination, or stock
dividend provided for in Section 5(a) above), then, as a condition of such
reclassification, reorganization, or change, lawful provision shall be made, and
duly executed documents evidencing the same from the Company or its successor
shall be delivered to Holder, so that Holder shall have the right at any time
prior to the expiration of this Warrant to purchase, at a total price equal to
that payable upon the exercise of

                                       3
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this Warrant, the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and
property receivable in connection with such reclassification, reorganization, or
change by a holder of the same number of shares of Common Stock as were
purchasable by Holder immediately prior to such reclassification,
reorganization, or change. In any such case appropriate provisions shall be made
with respect to the rights and interest of Holder so that the provisions hereof
shall thereafter be applicable with respect to any shares of stock or other
securities and property deliverable upon exercise hereof, and appropriate
adjustments shall be made to the purchase price per share payable hereunder,
provided the aggregate purchase price shall remain the same.

          (c) Notice of Adjustment.  Whenever there shall be an adjustment
              --------------------
pursuant to this Section 5, or a transaction or proposed transaction that would
result in an adjustment pursuant to this Section 5, the Company shall cause
written notice thereof to be sent to Holder, accompanied by a certificate,
signed by an officer of the Company, setting forth a brief statement of the
facts requiring such adjustment or a brief description of the transaction that
would require such adjustment, the number of shares of Common Stock or other
securities purchasable upon the exercise hereof after giving effect to such
adjustment, and  the method by which the adjustment was calculated.  Such
written notice shall be given at least fifteen (15) days in advance of (a) any
record date for determining shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to
vote with respect to any proposed transaction or other adjustment event and (b)
the effective date of any proposed transaction or other adjustment event.

          (d) No Change in Purchase Price; No Change of Warrant.  Unless
              -------------------------------------------------
otherwise indicated, none of the events specified in this Section 5 shall give
rise to an adjustment in the purchase price specified in the opening paragraph
herein.  The form of this Warrant Certificate need not be changed because of any
adjustment in number and kind of shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder
pursuant to this Section 5.  Any Warrant issued after any such adjustment upon
any partial exercise or upon replacement or transfer may continue to express the
same terms as are stated in this Warrant Certificate as initially issued, and
the number and kind of shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder shall be
considered to have been so changed as to the close of business on the date or
dates of adjustment.

     6.   Replacement of Warrant Certificate.  Upon receipt of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of this Warrant Certificate and, in the case of any such loss, theft
or destruction of any Warrant Certificate, upon delivery of a contractual
agreement of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Company, or, in the case
of any such mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant
Certificate at the principal office of the Company, the Company at its expense
will execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant Certificate of like
tenor.

     7.   Elimination of Fractional Interests.  The Company shall not be
required to issue certificates representing fractions of shares of Common Stock
on the exercise of the Warrant, nor shall it be required to pay cash in lieu of
fractional interests, it being the intent of all the parties that all fractional
interests shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction equal to or greater than
one-half up to the nearest whole number of shares of Common Stock and by
rounding any fraction less than one-half down to the nearest whole number of
shares of Common Stock.

                                       4
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     8.   Reservation of Common Stock.  The Company shall at all times reserve
and keep available out of its authorized shares of Common Stock, solely for the
purpose of issuance upon the exercise of the Warrant such number of shares of
Common Stock as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof.  The Company
covenants and agrees that, upon exercise of the Warrant and payment of the
Exercise Price therefor, all shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise
shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

     9.   Dividends.  If the Company declares any cash dividend on the Common
Stock (a "Common Dividend"), to the extent that Holder holds this Warrant on the
record date for such Common Dividend, Holder shall be entitled to receive an
amount of cash, when, as and if the Common Dividend is paid to the holders of
the Common Stock, equal to: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock into which
the Warrant is exercisable on the record date declared for such Common Dividend,
multiplied by (ii) the amount of cash paid per share of Common Stock as part of
-------------
such Common Dividend.

     10.  No Rights as Stockholder.   Except as specified in Sections 5(c) and 9
above, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as conferring upon
Holder the right to vote or to consent or to receive notice as a stockholder in
respect of any meetings of stockholders for the election of directors or any
other matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as a stockholder of the
Company; provided, that Holder shall be entitled to such rights immediately upon
satisfaction of all conditions to exercise of this Warrant (as specified in
Section 3 above).

     11.  Transfers of Warrant.  Neither this Warrant nor any rights of Holder
may be transferred or assigned, in whole or in part, except with the prior
written consent of the Company and satisfaction of all conditions to exercise of
this Warrant (as specified in Section 3 above).

     12.  Piggy-Back Registration.  At any time after August 15, 2001, if the
Company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a
registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the
account of others (if and to the extent permitted by any agreement with such
other parties) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of any of its
equity securities (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their then equivalents
relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any
acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in
connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans), then the Company
shall send to Holder written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen
(15) days after the date of such notice, the Holder shall so request in writing,
the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to include in such registration
statement all or any part of the Shares such Holder requests to be registered,
except that if, in connection with any underwritten public offering for the
account of the Company the managing underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a
limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock which may be included in the
registration statement because, in such underwriter(s)' judgment, marketing or
other factors dictate such limitation is necessary to facilitate public
distribution, then the Company shall be obligated to include in such
registration statement only such limited portion of the Shares with respect to
which the Holder has requested inclusion hereunder as the underwriter shall
permit.  If an offering in connection with which Holder is entitled to
registration under this Section 12 is an underwritten offering, then Holder
shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and sell such Shares in an
underwritten offering using the same underwriter or underwriters and,

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subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on the same terms and conditions as
other shares of Common Stock included in such underwritten offering.

     13.  Successors and Assigns.  Subject to Section 11 hereof, the terms and
provisions of this Warrant shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon,
the Company and Holder and their respective successors and assigns.

     14.  Amendments and Waivers.   Any term of this Warrant may be amended and
the observance of any term of this Warrant may be waived (either generally or in
a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), with the
written consent of the Company and Holder.

     15.  Assumption of Warrant. If at any time, while this Warrant, or any
portion thereof, is outstanding and unexpired there shall be (i) the acquisition
of the Company by another entity by means of any transaction or series of
related transactions (including, without limitation, any reorganization, merger
or consolidation) that results in the transfer of fifty percent (50%) or more of
the outstanding voting power of the Company or (ii) a sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, then, as a part of such
acquisition, sale or transfer, lawful provision shall be made so that Holder
shall thereafter be entitled to receive upon exercise of this Warrant, during
the period specified herein and upon payment of the Exercise Price then in
effect, the number of shares of stock or other securities or property of the
successor corporation resulting from such acquisition, sale or transfer which a
holder of the shares deliverable upon exercise of this Warrant would have been
entitled to receive in such acquisition, sale or transfer if this Warrant had
been exercised immediately before such acquisition, sale or transfer, all
subject to further adjustment as provided in this Section 15; and, in any such
case, appropriate adjustment (as determined by the Company's Board of Directors)
shall be made in the application of the provisions herein set forth with respect
to the rights and interests thereafter of Holder to the end that the provisions
set forth herein (including provisions with respect to changes in and other
adjustments of the number of Shares which Holder is entitled to purchase) shall
thereafter be applicable, as nearly as possible, in relation to any shares of
Common Stock or other securities or other property thereafter deliverable upon
the exercise of this Warrant; provided, however, that any successor corporation
                              --------
shall not be obligated to assume any obligations hereunder.

     16.  Notices.  All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be sufficiently given if: hand delivered (in which case the
notice shall be effective upon delivery);  telecopied, provided that in such
                                                       --------
case a copy of such notice shall be concurrently sent by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid (in which case the notice shall
be effective two days following dispatch);  delivered by Express Mail, FedEx or
other nationally recognized overnight courier service (in which case the notice
shall be effective one business day following dispatch); or  delivered or mailed
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid (in
which case the notice shall be effective three days following dispatch), to the
parties at the following addresses and/or telecopier numbers, or to such other
address or number as a party shall specify by written notice to the others.

                                       6
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     If to Holder:
     -------------
     Institutional Finance Group, Inc.
     9755 Dogwood Road
     Suite 210
     North Atlanta, Georgia 30075

     If to the Company:
     ------------------

     Voxware, Inc.
     P.O. Box 5363
     Princeton, N.J. 08543-5363
     Attention: President

     17.  Termination.  The rights and benefits evidenced by this Warrant
Certificate shall terminate and expire at 5:00 p.m. New York time on August 15,
2003 or on any earlier date when this Warrant has been exercised.

     18.  Governing Law.  This Warrant Certificate shall be deemed to be a
contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall
be construed in accordance with its laws without giving effect to the rules
governing the conflicts of laws.

     19.  Headings.  The Article and Section headings in this Warrant
Certificate are inserted for purposes of convenience only and shall have no
substantive effect.

                                       7
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Voxware, Inc. has caused this Warrant to be duly
executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                              VOXWARE, INC.

                                              By:
                                                 -------------------------
                                                 Bathsheba J. Malsheen
                                                 President and Chief Executive
                                                 Officer

                                       8
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                               NOTICE OF EXERCISE
                               ------------------

To:   Voxware, Inc.
      P.O. Box 5363
      Princeton, New Jersey 08543-5363

          The undersigned hereby elects to purchase                shares of
                                                    --------------
Common Stock of  Voxware, Inc. pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant and
payment of the Exercise Price per share required under such Warrant accompanies
this notice.

          The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned is
acquiring such shares for its own account for investment purposes only, and not
for resale or with a view to distribution of such shares or any part thereof.

                              WARRANTHOLDER:

                              ------------------------------------------
                              By:
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  [NAME]

                     Address:
                               ------------------------------------------

                               ------------------------------------------

Date:
     ------------------

Name in which shares should be registered:

-----------------------------------

                                       9
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                          NOTICE OF CASHLESS EXERCISE
                          ---------------------------

To:   Voxware, Inc.
      P.O. Box 5363
      Princeton, New Jersey 08543-5363

          The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exchange its Warrant for
            Shares pursuant to the cashless exercise provisions of the within
-----------
the Warrant, as provided for in Section 3(a)(ii) of such Warrant, and requests
that a certificate or certificates for such Shares be issued in the name of and
delivered to:

                    ----------------------------------------

                    ----------------------------------------

                    ----------------------------------------

                    (Print Name, Address and Social Security
                    or Tax Identification Number)

and, if such number of Shares shall not be all the Shares which the undersigned
is entitled to purchase in accordance with the within Warrant, that a new
Warrant for the balance of the  Shares covered by the Warrant be registered in
the name of, and delivered to, the undersigned at the address stated below.

      The undersigned represents that (i) it is entitled to exercise the Warrant
for the number of shares indicated, and (ii) it is acquiring such Shares for its
own account for investment and not with a view to or for sale in connection with
any distribution thereof (subject, however, to any requirement of law that the
disposition thereof shall at all times be within its control).

Dated:                              Name
      -------------------------
                                                              (Print)

Address:

                                                (Signature)

(Signature must conform in all respects to the name of the Holder as specified
on the face of the Warrant)

                                       10<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

                 OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE AND AUTHENTICATION ORDER
                        FOR 8.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005

         Pursuant to the Indenture dated as of January 1, 1996 between Darden
Restaurants, Inc. (the "Company") and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National
Association (formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as
trustee (the "Trustee") (the "Indenture") and the resolution adopted by the
Board of Directors of the Company on June 21, 2000 (the "Resolution"), this
Officers' Certificate and Authentication Order is being delivered to the Trustee
to establish the terms of a series of Securities in accordance with Section 301
of the Indenture, to establish the form of the Securities of such series in
accordance with Section 201 of the Indenture, to request the authentication and
delivery of the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 303 of the
Indenture and to comply with the provisions of Section 102 of the Indenture.

         Capitalized terms used but not defined herein and defined in the
Indenture shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

         A.       Establishment of Series Pursuant to Section 301 of Indenture.
There is hereby established pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture a series of
Securities which shall have the following terms (the numbered clauses set forth
below correspond to the numbered subsections of Section 301 of the Indenture):

                  (1)      The series of Securities hereby being authorized
         shall bear the title "8.375% Senior Notes due 2005" (referred to herein
         as the "Notes").

                  (2)      The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be
         authenticated and delivered under the Indenture shall be limited to
         $150,000,000 (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon
         registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other
         Notes pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 of the Indenture
         and except for any Notes which, pursuant to Section 303 of the
         Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered).

                  (4)      The date on which the principal of the Notes is due
         and payable shall be September 15, 2005.

                  (5)      The Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 8.375%
         per annum (based upon a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months), from
         September 5, 2000, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to
         which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be,
         payable semi-annually on September 15 and March 15 of each year,
         commencing March 15, 2001, until the principal thereof is paid or made
         available for payment, to the Person in whose name such Notes are
         registered at the close of business on the September 1 or March 1
         Regular Record Date next preceding the September 15 or March 15
         Interest Payment Date. Each September 15 and March 15 shall be an
         "Interest
<PAGE>

         Payment Date" for the Notes, and the September 1 or March 1 (whether or
         not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding an Interest
         Payment Date shall be the "Regular Record Date" for the interest
         payable on such Interest Payment Date.

                  (6)      The interest on each Note that is not represented by
         a Global Security shall be payable at the principal corporate trust
         office of the Trustee; provided, however, that at the option of the
         Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address
         of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the
         Security Register. The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest
         on each Note that is not represented by a Global Security payable at
         Maturity will be made against presentation of such Note at the
         principal corporate trust office of the Trustee. Payment of principal
         of (and premium, if any) and interest on each Note that is represented
         by a Global Security shall be made to The Depository Trust Company or
         its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the
         sole Holder of Notes represented thereby for all purposes under the
         Indenture.

                  (7)      The Notes will be redeemable as a whole or in part,
         at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price equal
         to the greater of (i) 100% of their principal amount and (ii) as
         determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the
         remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not
         including any portion of those payments of interest accrued as of the
         Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual
         basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at
         the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus 20 basis points plus, in each case,
         accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to the Redemption Date, but
         interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such
         Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Notes of record
         at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on
         the face thereof, all as provided in the Indenture.

                  For purposes of determining the amount at which the Notes may
         be redeemed, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth next
         to each of them below:

                           "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any
                  Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual
                  equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue,
                  assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed
                  as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the
                  Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

                           "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States
                  Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a
                  maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be
                  redeemed that would be used, at the time of a selection and in
                  accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new
                  issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to
                  the remaining term of the Notes.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

                            "Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury
                  Dealer appointed by the Company to serve in that capacity.

                           "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to
                  any Redemption Date, the average of the Reference Treasury
                  Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding
                  the highest and lowest Treasury Dealer Quotation, or if the
                  Trustee obtains fewer than three Reference Treasury Dealer
                  Quotations, the average of the quotations.

                           "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Banc of
                  America Securities LLC and Wachovia Securities, Inc. and their
                  respective successors; provided, however, that if either of
                  the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government
                  Securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury
                  Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefor another
                  Primary Treasury Dealer.

                           "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with
                  respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption
                  Date, the average, as determined by the Company, of the bid
                  and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed,
                  in each case, as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted
                  in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at
                  5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption
                  Date.

                  (8)      The Company shall not be obligated to redeem or
         purchase any Notes pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision,
         or at the option of any Holder thereof.

                  (16)     The Notes shall be issued initially only in the form
         of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the
         Depositary or its nominee. The Depositary with respect to such Global
         Securities shall be The Depository Trust Company. The Global Securities
         shall bear the legends set forth in Annex A hereto.

                  (19)     The Notes shall have such other terms and provisions
         as are provided in the form set forth in Annex A hereto.

         B.       Establishment of Form of Security Pursuant to Section 201 of
Indenture. It is hereby established pursuant to Section 201 of the Indenture
that the Securities shall be substantially in the form attached as Annex A
hereto.

         C.       Order for the Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities
Pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture. It is hereby ordered pursuant to
Section 303 of the Indenture that the Trustee authenticate, in the manner
provided by the Indenture, one Note in the aggregate principal amount of
$150,000,000 registered in the name of Cede & Co., which Note will be duly
executed by the proper officers of the Company and delivered to you as provided

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

in the Indenture, and to deliver said authenticated Note to or upon the order of
Banc of America Securities LLC, on September 5, 2000.

         D.       Certification Pursuant to Section 102 of the Indenture. The
undersigned have read the pertinent sections of the Indenture, including
Sections 201, 301 and 303 thereof and the definitions in the Indenture relating
thereto, and certain other corporate documents and records. In the opinion of
the undersigned, the undersigned have made such examination or investigation as
is necessary to enable the undersigned to express an informed opinion as to
whether or not the conditions precedent to (i) the establishment of (a) a series
of Securities, and (b) the form of such Securities, and (ii) the authentication
and delivery of such series of Securities, contained in the Indenture have been
complied with. In the opinion of the undersigned, such conditions have been
complied with.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto signed our names on behalf of the
Company.

Dated: August 30, 2000

                                               DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

                                               By: /s/ Clarence Otis, Jr.
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                   Clarence Otis, Jr.
                                                   Senior Vice President and
                                                   Chief Financial Officer

                                               By: /s/ William R. White, III
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                   William R. White, III
                                                   Vice President and Treasurer

                                       -4-
<PAGE>

                                                                         ANNEX A

REGISTERED NO.                                           REGISTERED
                                                         PRINCIPAL
CUSIP NO. _____________                                  AMOUNT: U.S. $

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

                          8.375% Senior Notes due 2005

         [Insert if the Security is to be a Global Security--Unless this
certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust
Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to the Company or its agent for
registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is
registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an
authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to
such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY
TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON
IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest
herein.

         This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture
hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a
nominee thereof. This Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for a
Security registered, and no transfer of this Security in whole or in part may be
registered, in the name of any Person other than such Depositary or a nominee
thereof, except in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture.]

         Darden Restaurants, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing
under the laws of Florida (herein called the "Company," which term includes any
successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to ______________________, or registered
assigns, the principal sum of ______________________ Dollars ($___________) on
September 15, 2005, and to pay interest thereon from September 5, 2000, or from
the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly
provided for, semi-annually on September 15 and March 15 in each year,
commencing on March 15, 2001, at the rate of 8.375% per annum, until the
principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest
payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months
and a 360-day year. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall
be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the days
elapsed in any partial month. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or
duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such
Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest, which shall be the September 1 and March 1
(whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such

<PAGE>

Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided
for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date
and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special
Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the
Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series
not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time
in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of
this series may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by
such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in said
Indenture.

         The interest on any Security of this series (that is not a Global
Security) shall be payable at the principal corporate trust office of the
Trustee; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of
interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled
thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. The principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest on any Security of this series (that is not a
Global Security) payable at Maturity will be made against presentation of this
Security at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee. Payment of
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any Security that is
represented by a Global Security shall be made to The Depository Trust Company
or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole
Holder of the Global Security represented thereby for all purposes under the
Indenture.

         Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any
Security of this series will be made in such coin or currency of the United
States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of
public and private debts.

         Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set
forth below, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same
effect as if set forth at this place.

         Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to below by manual signature, this Security shall not be
entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any
purpose.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated: ______________, 2000

                                              DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

                                              By:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                                    ----------------------------
                                              Title:
                                                      --------------------------

Attest:

--------------------------------
Title:
       -------------------------

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

                     TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

         This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                              WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA,
                                              NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (formerly
                                              known as Norwest Bank Minnesota,
                                              National Association), as Trustee

                                              By:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                                    ----------------------------
                                              Authorized Officer

STATE OF ____________)

COUNTY OF __________)

         On the ____ day of ___________, 2000, personally appeared
______________________, as the ___________________________ of Darden
Restaurants, Inc. (the "Company"), a Florida corporation, and before me executed
this [Global] Certificate for the Company's 8.375% Senior Notes due 2005, dated
as of ___________________, in the principal amount of
________________________________ ($____________), payable by Darden Restaurants,
Inc. to the payee hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal, in
the state and county aforesaid.

---------------------------------
Signature of Notary Public,
State of _________
[_______________]
Personally known:
Produced Identification:
Type of Identification:

(Notary Seal)

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

                         8.375% Senior Notes due 2005

         This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1996, (herein called the
"Indenture," which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National
Association (formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as
Trustee (herein called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee
under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture, an
Officers' Certificate of the Company establishing the terms of the Note pursuant
to Section 301 of the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto for a
statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities
thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of
the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and
delivered. This Security is one of the series designated above, limited in
aggregate principal amount to $150,000,000. By the terms of the Indenture,
additional Securities of other separate series, which may vary as to date,
amount, Stated Maturity, interest rate or method of calculating the interest
rate and in other respects as therein provided, may be issued in an unlimited
principal amount.

         The Securities of this series are subject, at the election of the
Company, to redemption as a whole or in part prior to the Stated Maturity upon
not less than 30 days' nor more than 60 days' notice by mail at any time, as a
whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at a Redemption Price equal to
the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount or (ii) as determined by the
Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled
payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date on
a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months)
at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus 20 basis points plus, in each case, accrued
and unpaid interest on the Securities to the Redemption Date, but interest
installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will
be payable to the Holders of such Notes of record at the close of business on
the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the
Indenture.

         For purposes of determining the amount at which the Securities may be
redeemed, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth next to each of
them below:

         "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any Redemption Date,
the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the
Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable
Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

         "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining
term of the Securities of this series to be redeemed that would be used, at the
time of a selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
remaining term of the Securities of this series.

         "Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the
Company to serve in that capacity.

         "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any Redemption Date,
the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption
Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Treasury Dealer Quotation, or if
the Trustee obtains fewer than three Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the
average of the Quotations.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Banc of America Securities
LLC and Wachovia Securities, Inc. and their respective successors; provided,
however, that if either of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S.
Government Securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the
Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by
the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices of the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed, in each case, as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in
writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the
third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

         In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new
Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed
portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the
cancellation hereof.

         The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the
entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events
of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with
certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

         If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall
occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture.

         The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The
Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified
percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at
the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series,
to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and
certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive
and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of
any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange
herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is
made upon this Security.

         As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the
Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding
with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or
for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given
the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount
of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written
request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of
Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee
shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent
with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for
60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The
foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security
for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or
interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

         No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security
or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which
is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and
interest on this Security at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.

         As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth and set forth herein, the transfer of this Security is registrable in
the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of
transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal
of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by,
or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.

         The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As
provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations (including, if this
Security is a Global Security, certain additional limitations) therein set
forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized
denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

         No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

         Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all
purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

         The Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York.

         All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

                           --------------------------

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

                                  Abbreviations

         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription above, shall
be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable
laws or regulations.

                  TEN COM - as tenants in common

                  TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

                  JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not
                  as tenants in common

                  UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - ________________ Custodian _____________
                                           (Cust)                   (Minor)
                        under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

                            -------------------------
                                     (State)

     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

                            -------------------------

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

                                   Assignment

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and
transfer(s) unto

--------------------------------------

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

------------------------------

------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address
                     Including Postal Zip Code of Assignee)

the within Security and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably
constitutes and appoints

---------------------------------------------------------------------

to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of
substitution in the premises.

Dated:

Signature Guaranteed

----------------------------------          ------------------------------------
                                            NOTICE: The signature to this
                                            assignment must correspond with the
                                            name as written upon the face of the
                                            within Security in every particular,
                                            without alteration or enlargement or
                                            any change whatever.

                                      -9-

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