Much Ado About Nothing 19.html

<span id = 359 ></span><span id = 367 ><h3>SCENE I. Before LEONATO'S house.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter LEONATO, HERO, and BEATRICE, with a Messenger</i></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>I learn in this letter that Don Peter of Arragon</a><br /><a>comes this night to Messina.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>He is very near by this: he was not three leagues off</a><br /><a>when I left him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>But few of any sort, and none of name.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings</a><br /><a>home full numbers. I find here that Don Peter hath</a><br /><a>bestowed much honour on a young Florentine called Claudio.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>Much deserved on his part and equally remembered by</a><br /><a>Don Pedro: he hath borne himself beyond the</a><br /><a>promise of his age, doing, in the figure of a lamb,</a><br /><a>the feats of a lion: he hath indeed better</a><br /><a>bettered expectation than you must expect of me to</a><br /><a>tell you how.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much</a><br /><a>glad of it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>I have already delivered him letters, and there</a><br /><a>appears much joy in him; even so much that joy could</a><br /><a>not show itself modest enough without a badge of</a><br /><a>bitterness.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Did he break out into tears?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>In great measure.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>A kind overflow of kindness: there are no faces</a><br /><a>truer than those that are so washed. How much</a><br /><a>better is it to weep at joy than to joy at weeping!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the</a><br /><a>wars or no?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>I know none of that name, lady: there was none such</a><br /><a>in the army of any sort.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>What is he that you ask for, niece?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>O, he's returned; and as pleasant as ever he was.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>He set up his bills here in Messina and challenged</a><br /><a>Cupid at the flight; and my uncle's fool, reading</a><br /><a>the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged</a><br /><a>him at the bird-bolt. I pray you, how many hath he</a><br /><a>killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath</a><br /><a>he killed? for indeed I promised to eat all of his killing.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Faith, niece, you tax Signior Benedick too much;</a><br /><a>but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>He hath done good service, lady, in these wars.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it:</a><br /><a>he is a very valiant trencherman; he hath an</a><br /><a>excellent stomach.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>And a good soldier too, lady.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>And a good soldier to a lady: but what is he to a lord?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all</a><br /><a>honourable virtues.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>It is so, indeed; he is no less than a stuffed man:</a><br /><a>but for the stuffing,--well, we are all mortal.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>You must not, sir, mistake my niece. There is a</a><br /><a>kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her:</a><br /><a>they never meet but there's a skirmish of wit</a><br /><a>between them.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Alas! he gets nothing by that. In our last</a><br /><a>conflict four of his five wits went halting off, and</a><br /><a>now is the whole man governed with one: so that if</a><br /><a>he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him</a><br /><a>bear it for a difference between himself and his</a><br /><a>horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath left,</a><br /><a>to be known a reasonable creature. Who is his</a><br /><a>companion now? He hath every month a new sworn brother.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>Is't possible?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as</a><br /><a>the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the</a><br /><a>next block.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>No; an he were, I would burn my study. But, I pray</a><br /><a>you, who is his companion? Is there no young</a><br /><a>squarer now that will make a voyage with him to the devil?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>O Lord, he will hang upon him like a disease: he</a><br /><a>is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker</a><br /><a>runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! if</a><br /><a>he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a</a><br /><a>thousand pound ere a' be cured.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>I will hold friends with you, lady.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Do, good friend.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>You will never run mad, niece.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>No, not till a hot January.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>Don Pedro is approached.</a><br /><p><i>Enter DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, and BALTHASAR</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Good Signior Leonato, you are come to meet your</a><br /><a>trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid</a><br /><a>cost, and you encounter it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of</a><br /><a>your grace: for trouble being gone, comfort should</a><br /><a>remain; but when you depart from me, sorrow abides</a><br /><a>and happiness takes his leave.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>You embrace your charge too willingly. I think this</a><br /><a>is your daughter.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Her mother hath many times told me so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>You have it full, Benedick: we may guess by this</a><br /><a>what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers</a><br /><a>herself. Be happy, lady; for you are like an</a><br /><a>honourable father.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not</a><br /><a>have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as</a><br /><a>like him as she is.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior</a><br /><a>Benedick: nobody marks you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Is it possible disdain should die while she hath</a><br /><a>such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?</a><br /><a>Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come</a><br /><a>in her presence.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I</a><br /><a>am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I</a><br /><a>would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard</a><br /><a>heart; for, truly, I love none.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>A dear happiness to women: they would else have</a><br /><a>been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God</a><br /><a>and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that: I</a><br /><a>had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man</a><br /><a>swear he loves me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some</a><br /><a>gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate</a><br /><a>scratched face.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such</a><br /><a>a face as yours were.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and</a><br /><a>so good a continuer. But keep your way, i' God's</a><br /><a>name; I have done.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>You always end with a jade's trick: I know you of old.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>That is the sum of all, Leonato. Signior Claudio</a><br /><a>and Signior Benedick, my dear friend Leonato hath</a><br /><a>invited you all. I tell him we shall stay here at</a><br /><a>the least a month; and he heartily prays some</a><br /><a>occasion may detain us longer. I dare swear he is no</a><br /><a>hypocrite, but prays from his heart.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>If you swear, my lord, you shall not be forsworn.</a><br /><p><i>To DON JOHN</i></p><a>Let me bid you welcome, my lord: being reconciled to</a><br /><a>the prince your brother, I owe you all duty.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>I thank you: I am not of many words, but I thank</a><br /><a>you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Please it your grace lead on?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Your hand, Leonato; we will go together.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt all except BENEDICK and CLAUDIO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signior Leonato?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I noted her not; but I looked on her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Is she not a modest young lady?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Do you question me, as an honest man should do, for</a><br /><a>my simple true judgment; or would you have me speak</a><br /><a>after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>No; I pray thee speak in sober judgment.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, i' faith, methinks she's too low for a high</a><br /><a>praise, too brown for a fair praise and too little</a><br /><a>for a great praise: only this commendation I can</a><br /><a>afford her, that were she other than she is, she</a><br /><a>were unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I</a><br /><a>do not like her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Thou thinkest I am in sport: I pray thee tell me</a><br /><a>truly how thou likest her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Would you buy her, that you inquire after her?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Can the world buy such a jewel?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak you this</a><br /><a>with a sad brow? or do you play the flouting Jack,</a><br /><a>to tell us Cupid is a good hare-finder and Vulcan a</a><br /><a>rare carpenter? Come, in what key shall a man take</a><br /><a>you, to go in the song?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever I</a><br /><a>looked on.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I can see yet without spectacles and I see no such</a><br /><a>matter: there's her cousin, an she were not</a><br /><a>possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty</a><br /><a>as the first of May doth the last of December. But I</a><br /><a>hope you have no intent to turn husband, have you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the</a><br /><a>contrary, if Hero would be my wife.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Is't come to this? In faith, hath not the world</a><br /><a>one man but he will wear his cap with suspicion?</a><br /><a>Shall I never see a bachelor of three-score again?</a><br /><a>Go to, i' faith; an thou wilt needs thrust thy neck</a><br /><a>into a yoke, wear the print of it and sigh away</a><br /><a>Sundays. Look Don Pedro is returned to seek you.</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter DON PEDRO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>What secret hath held you here, that you followed</a><br /><a>not to Leonato's?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I would your grace would constrain me to tell.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>I charge thee on thy allegiance.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>You hear, Count Claudio: I can be secret as a dumb</a><br /><a>man; I would have you think so; but, on my</a><br /><a>allegiance, mark you this, on my allegiance. He is</a><br /><a>in love. With who? now that is your grace's part.</a><br /><a>Mark how short his answer is;--With Hero, Leonato's</a><br /><a>short daughter.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>If this were so, so were it uttered.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Like the old tale, my lord: 'it is not so, nor</a><br /><a>'twas not so, but, indeed, God forbid it should be</a><br /><a>so.'</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it</a><br /><a>should be otherwise.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Amen, if you love her; for the lady is very well worthy.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>You speak this to fetch me in, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>By my troth, I speak my thought.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>And, in faith, my lord, I spoke mine.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>And, by my two faiths and troths, my lord, I spoke mine.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>That I love her, I feel.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>That she is worthy, I know.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>That I neither feel how she should be loved nor</a><br /><a>know how she should be worthy, is the opinion that</a><br /><a>fire cannot melt out of me: I will die in it at the stake.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Thou wast ever an obstinate heretic in the despite</a><br /><a>of beauty.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>And never could maintain his part but in the force</a><br /><a>of his will.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>That a woman conceived me, I thank her; that she</a><br /><a>brought me up, I likewise give her most humble</a><br /><a>thanks: but that I will have a recheat winded in my</a><br /><a>forehead, or hang my bugle in an invisible baldrick,</a><br /><a>all women shall pardon me. Because I will not do</a><br /><a>them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the</a><br /><a>right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which</a><br /><a>I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with love.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my lord,</a><br /><a>not with love: prove that ever I lose more blood</a><br /><a>with love than I will get again with drinking, pick</a><br /><a>out mine eyes with a ballad-maker's pen and hang me</a><br /><a>up at the door of a brothel-house for the sign of</a><br /><a>blind Cupid.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, if ever thou dost fall from this faith, thou</a><br /><a>wilt prove a notable argument.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>If I do, hang me in a bottle like a cat and shoot</a><br /><a>at me; and he that hits me, let him be clapped on</a><br /><a>the shoulder, and called Adam.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, as time shall try: 'In time the savage bull</a><br /><a>doth bear the yoke.'</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>The savage bull may; but if ever the sensible</a><br /><a>Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns and set</a><br /><a>them in my forehead: and let me be vilely painted,</a><br /><a>and in such great letters as they write 'Here is</a><br /><a>good horse to hire,' let them signify under my sign</a><br /><a>'Here you may see Benedick the married man.'</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>If this should ever happen, thou wouldst be horn-mad.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, if Cupid have not spent all his quiver in</a><br /><a>Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I look for an earthquake too, then.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, you temporize with the hours. In the</a><br /><a>meantime, good Signior Benedick, repair to</a><br /><a>Leonato's: commend me to him and tell him I will</a><br /><a>not fail him at supper; for indeed he hath made</a><br /><a>great preparation.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I have almost matter enough in me for such an</a><br /><a>embassage; and so I commit you--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>To the tuition of God: From my house, if I had it,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>The sixth of July: Your loving friend, Benedick.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, mock not, mock not. The body of your</a><br /><a>discourse is sometime guarded with fragments, and</a><br /><a>the guards are but slightly basted on neither: ere</a><br /><a>you flout old ends any further, examine your</a><br /><a>conscience: and so I leave you.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>My liege, your highness now may do me good.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>My love is thine to teach: teach it but how,</a><br /><a>And thou shalt see how apt it is to learn</a><br /><a>Any hard lesson that may do thee good.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Hath Leonato any son, my lord?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>No child but Hero; she's his only heir.</a><br /><a>Dost thou affect her, Claudio?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>O, my lord,</a><br /><a>When you went onward on this ended action,</a><br /><a>I look'd upon her with a soldier's eye,</a><br /><a>That liked, but had a rougher task in hand</a><br /><a>Than to drive liking to the name of love:</a><br /><a>But now I am return'd and that war-thoughts</a><br /><a>Have left their places vacant, in their rooms</a><br /><a>Come thronging soft and delicate desires,</a><br /><a>All prompting me how fair young Hero is,</a><br /><a>Saying, I liked her ere I went to wars.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Thou wilt be like a lover presently</a><br /><a>And tire the hearer with a book of words.</a><br /><a>If thou dost love fair Hero, cherish it,</a><br /><a>And I will break with her and with her father,</a><br /><a>And thou shalt have her. Was't not to this end</a><br /><a>That thou began'st to twist so fine a story?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>How sweetly you do minister to love,</a><br /><a>That know love's grief by his complexion!</a><br /><a>But lest my liking might too sudden seem,</a><br /><a>I would have salved it with a longer treatise.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>What need the bridge much broader than the flood?</a><br /><a>The fairest grant is the necessity.</a><br /><a>Look, what will serve is fit: 'tis once, thou lovest,</a><br /><a>And I will fit thee with the remedy.</a><br /><a>I know we shall have revelling to-night:</a><br /><a>I will assume thy part in some disguise</a><br /><a>And tell fair Hero I am Claudio,</a><br /><a>And in her bosom I'll unclasp my heart</a><br /><a>And take her hearing prisoner with the force</a><br /><a>And strong encounter of my amorous tale:</a><br /><a>Then after to her father will I break;</a><br /><a>And the conclusion is, she shall be thine.</a><br /><a>In practise let us put it presently.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 368 ><h3>SCENE II. A room in LEONATO's house.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter LEONATO and ANTONIO, meeting</i></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>How now, brother! Where is my cousin, your son?</a><br /><a>hath he provided this music?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>He is very busy about it. But, brother, I can tell</a><br /><a>you strange news that you yet dreamt not of.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Are they good?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>As the event stamps them: but they have a good</a><br /><a>cover; they show well outward. The prince and Count</a><br /><a>Claudio, walking in a thick-pleached alley in mine</a><br /><a>orchard, were thus much overheard by a man of mine:</a><br /><a>the prince discovered to Claudio that he loved my</a><br /><a>niece your daughter and meant to acknowledge it</a><br /><a>this night in a dance: and if he found her</a><br /><a>accordant, he meant to take the present time by the</a><br /><a>top and instantly break with you of it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Hath the fellow any wit that told you this?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>A good sharp fellow: I will send for him; and</a><br /><a>question him yourself.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>No, no; we will hold it as a dream till it appear</a><br /><a>itself: but I will acquaint my daughter withal,</a><br /><a>that she may be the better prepared for an answer,</a><br /><a>if peradventure this be true. Go you and tell her of it.</a><br /><p><i>Enter Attendants</i></p><a>Cousins, you know what you have to do. O, I cry you</a><br /><a>mercy, friend; go you with me, and I will use your</a><br /><a>skill. Good cousin, have a care this busy time.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 369 ><h3>SCENE III. The same.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter DON JOHN and CONRADE</i></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>What the good-year, my lord! why are you thus out</a><br /><a>of measure sad?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>There is no measure in the occasion that breeds;</a><br /><a>therefore the sadness is without limit.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>You should hear reason.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>And when I have heard it, what blessing brings it?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>If not a present remedy, at least a patient</a><br /><a>sufferance.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>I wonder that thou, being, as thou sayest thou art,</a><br /><a>born under Saturn, goest about to apply a moral</a><br /><a>medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide</a><br /><a>what I am: I must be sad when I have cause and smile</a><br /><a>at no man's jests, eat when I have stomach and wait</a><br /><a>for no man's leisure, sleep when I am drowsy and</a><br /><a>tend on no man's business, laugh when I am merry and</a><br /><a>claw no man in his humour.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, but you must not make the full show of this</a><br /><a>till you may do it without controlment. You have of</a><br /><a>late stood out against your brother, and he hath</a><br /><a>ta'en you newly into his grace; where it is</a><br /><a>impossible you should take true root but by the</a><br /><a>fair weather that you make yourself: it is needful</a><br /><a>that you frame the season for your own harvest.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in</a><br /><a>his grace, and it better fits my blood to be</a><br /><a>disdained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob</a><br /><a>love from any: in this, though I cannot be said to</a><br /><a>be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied</a><br /><a>but I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with</a><br /><a>a muzzle and enfranchised with a clog; therefore I</a><br /><a>have decreed not to sing in my cage. If I had my</a><br /><a>mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do</a><br /><a>my liking: in the meantime let me be that I am and</a><br /><a>seek not to alter me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>Can you make no use of your discontent?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>I make all use of it, for I use it only.</a><br /><a>Who comes here?</a><br /><p><i>Enter BORACHIO</i></p><a>What news, Borachio?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I came yonder from a great supper: the prince your</a><br /><a>brother is royally entertained by Leonato: and I</a><br /><a>can give you intelligence of an intended marriage.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Will it serve for any model to build mischief on?</a><br /><a>What is he for a fool that betroths himself to</a><br /><a>unquietness?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, it is your brother's right hand.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Who? the most exquisite Claudio?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Even he.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>A proper squire! And who, and who? which way looks</a><br /><a>he?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>A very forward March-chick! How came you to this?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Being entertained for a perfumer, as I was smoking a</a><br /><a>musty room, comes me the prince and Claudio, hand</a><br /><a>in hand in sad conference: I whipt me behind the</a><br /><a>arras; and there heard it agreed upon that the</a><br /><a>prince should woo Hero for himself, and having</a><br /><a>obtained her, give her to Count Claudio.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, come, let us thither: this may prove food to</a><br /><a>my displeasure. That young start-up hath all the</a><br /><a>glory of my overthrow: if I can cross him any way, I</a><br /><a>bless myself every way. You are both sure, and will assist me?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>To the death, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Let us to the great supper: their cheer is the</a><br /><a>greater that I am subdued. Would the cook were of</a><br /><a>my mind! Shall we go prove what's to be done?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><a>We'll wait upon your lordship.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></span><span id = 370 ></span><span id = 374 ><h3>SCENE I. A hall in LEONATO'S house.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, HERO, BEATRICE, and others</i></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Was not Count John here at supper?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I saw him not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>How tartly that gentleman looks! I never can see</a><br /><a>him but I am heart-burned an hour after.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>He is of a very melancholy disposition.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>He were an excellent man that were made just in the</a><br /><a>midway between him and Benedick: the one is too</a><br /><a>like an image and says nothing, and the other too</a><br /><a>like my lady's eldest son, evermore tattling.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Then half Signior Benedick's tongue in Count John's</a><br /><a>mouth, and half Count John's melancholy in Signior</a><br /><a>Benedick's face,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>With a good leg and a good foot, uncle, and money</a><br /><a>enough in his purse, such a man would win any woman</a><br /><a>in the world, if a' could get her good-will.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a</a><br /><a>husband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>In faith, she's too curst.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Too curst is more than curst: I shall lessen God's</a><br /><a>sending that way; for it is said, 'God sends a curst</a><br /><a>cow short horns;' but to a cow too curst he sends none.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>So, by being too curst, God will send you no horns.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Just, if he send me no husband; for the which</a><br /><a>blessing I am at him upon my knees every morning and</a><br /><a>evening. Lord, I could not endure a husband with a</a><br /><a>beard on his face: I had rather lie in the woollen.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>You may light on a husband that hath no beard.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>What should I do with him? dress him in my apparel</a><br /><a>and make him my waiting-gentlewoman? He that hath a</a><br /><a>beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no</a><br /><a>beard is less than a man: and he that is more than</a><br /><a>a youth is not for me, and he that is less than a</a><br /><a>man, I am not for him: therefore, I will even take</a><br /><a>sixpence in earnest of the bear-ward, and lead his</a><br /><a>apes into hell.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, then, go you into hell?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>No, but to the gate; and there will the devil meet</a><br /><a>me, like an old cuckold, with horns on his head, and</a><br /><a>say 'Get you to heaven, Beatrice, get you to</a><br /><a>heaven; here's no place for you maids:' so deliver</a><br /><a>I up my apes, and away to Saint Peter for the</a><br /><a>heavens; he shows me where the bachelors sit, and</a><br /><a>there live we as merry as the day is long.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>[To HERO]  Well, niece, I trust you will be ruled</a><br /><a>by your father.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Yes, faith; it is my cousin's duty to make curtsy</a><br /><a>and say 'Father, as it please you.' But yet for all</a><br /><a>that, cousin, let him be a handsome fellow, or else</a><br /><a>make another curtsy and say 'Father, as it please</a><br /><a>me.'</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Not till God make men of some other metal than</a><br /><a>earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be</a><br /><a>overmastered with a pierce of valiant dust? to make</a><br /><a>an account of her life to a clod of wayward marl?</a><br /><a>No, uncle, I'll none: Adam's sons are my brethren;</a><br /><a>and, truly, I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Daughter, remember what I told you: if the prince</a><br /><a>do solicit you in that kind, you know your answer.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>The fault will be in the music, cousin, if you be</a><br /><a>not wooed in good time: if the prince be too</a><br /><a>important, tell him there is measure in every thing</a><br /><a>and so dance out the answer. For, hear me, Hero:</a><br /><a>wooing, wedding, and repenting, is as a Scotch jig,</a><br /><a>a measure, and a cinque pace: the first suit is hot</a><br /><a>and hasty, like a Scotch jig, and full as</a><br /><a>fantastical; the wedding, mannerly-modest, as a</a><br /><a>measure, full of state and ancientry; and then comes</a><br /><a>repentance and, with his bad legs, falls into the</a><br /><a>cinque pace faster and faster, till he sink into his grave.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Cousin, you apprehend passing shrewdly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>I have a good eye, uncle; I can see a church by daylight.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>The revellers are entering, brother: make good room.</a><br /><p><i>All put on their masks</i></p><p><i>Enter DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, BALTHASAR, DON JOHN, BORACHIO, MARGARET, URSULA and others, masked</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Lady, will you walk about with your friend?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>So you walk softly and look sweetly and say nothing,</a><br /><a>I am yours for the walk; and especially when I walk away.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>With me in your company?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>I may say so, when I please.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>And when please you to say so?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>When I like your favour; for God defend the lute</a><br /><a>should be like the case!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>My visor is Philemon's roof; within the house is Jove.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, then, your visor should be thatched.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Speak low, if you speak love.</a><br /><p><i>Drawing her aside</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BALTHASAR</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, I would you did like me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>So would not I, for your own sake; for I have many</a><br /><a>ill-qualities.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BALTHASAR</b></a><blockquote><a>Which is one?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>I say my prayers aloud.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BALTHASAR</b></a><blockquote><a>I love you the better: the hearers may cry, Amen.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>God match me with a good dancer!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BALTHASAR</b></a><blockquote><a>Amen.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>And God keep him out of my sight when the dance is</a><br /><a>done! Answer, clerk.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BALTHASAR</b></a><blockquote><a>No more words: the clerk is answered.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>I know you well enough; you are Signior Antonio.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>At a word, I am not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>I know you by the waggling of your head.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>To tell you true, I counterfeit him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>You could never do him so ill-well, unless you were</a><br /><a>the very man. Here's his dry hand up and down: you</a><br /><a>are he, you are he.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>At a word, I am not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, come, do you think I do not know you by your</a><br /><a>excellent wit? can virtue hide itself? Go to,</a><br /><a>mum, you are he: graces will appear, and there's an</a><br /><a>end.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Will you not tell me who told you so?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>No, you shall pardon me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Nor will you not tell me who you are?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Not now.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>That I was disdainful, and that I had my good wit</a><br /><a>out of the 'Hundred Merry Tales:'--well this was</a><br /><a>Signior Benedick that said so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>What's he?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>I am sure you know him well enough.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Not I, believe me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Did he never make you laugh?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I pray you, what is he?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, he is the prince's jester: a very dull fool;</a><br /><a>only his gift is in devising impossible slanders:</a><br /><a>none but libertines delight in him; and the</a><br /><a>commendation is not in his wit, but in his villany;</a><br /><a>for he both pleases men and angers them, and then</a><br /><a>they laugh at him and beat him. I am sure he is in</a><br /><a>the fleet: I would he had boarded me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>When I know the gentleman, I'll tell him what you say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Do, do: he'll but break a comparison or two on me;</a><br /><a>which, peradventure not marked or not laughed at,</a><br /><a>strikes him into melancholy; and then there's a</a><br /><a>partridge wing saved, for the fool will eat no</a><br /><a>supper that night.</a><br /><p><i>Music</i></p><a>We must follow the leaders.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>In every good thing.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, if they lead to any ill, I will leave them at</a><br /><a>the next turning.</a><br /><p><i>Dance. Then exeunt all except DON JOHN, BORACHIO, and CLAUDIO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Sure my brother is amorous on Hero and hath</a><br /><a>withdrawn her father to break with him about it.</a><br /><a>The ladies follow her and but one visor remains.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>And that is Claudio: I know him by his bearing.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Are not you Signior Benedick?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>You know me well; I am he.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Signior, you are very near my brother in his love:</a><br /><a>he is enamoured on Hero; I pray you, dissuade him</a><br /><a>from her: she is no equal for his birth: you may</a><br /><a>do the part of an honest man in it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>How know you he loves her?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>I heard him swear his affection.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>So did I too; and he swore he would marry her to-night.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, let us to the banquet.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt DON JOHN and BORACHIO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Thus answer I in the name of Benedick,</a><br /><a>But hear these ill news with the ears of Claudio.</a><br /><a>'Tis certain so; the prince wooes for himself.</a><br /><a>Friendship is constant in all other things</a><br /><a>Save in the office and affairs of love:</a><br /><a>Therefore, all hearts in love use their own tongues;</a><br /><a>Let every eye negotiate for itself</a><br /><a>And trust no agent; for beauty is a witch</a><br /><a>Against whose charms faith melteth into blood.</a><br /><a>This is an accident of hourly proof,</a><br /><a>Which I mistrusted not. Farewell, therefore, Hero!</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter BENEDICK</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Count Claudio?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, the same.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, will you go with me?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Whither?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Even to the next willow, about your own business,</a><br /><a>county. What fashion will you wear the garland of?</a><br /><a>about your neck, like an usurer's chain? or under</a><br /><a>your arm, like a lieutenant's scarf? You must wear</a><br /><a>it one way, for the prince hath got your Hero.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I wish him joy of her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, that's spoken like an honest drovier: so they</a><br /><a>sell bullocks. But did you think the prince would</a><br /><a>have served you thus?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I pray you, leave me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Ho! now you strike like the blind man: 'twas the</a><br /><a>boy that stole your meat, and you'll beat the post.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>If it will not be, I'll leave you.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Alas, poor hurt fowl! now will he creep into sedges.</a><br /><a>But that my Lady Beatrice should know me, and not</a><br /><a>know me! The prince's fool! Ha? It may be I go</a><br /><a>under that title because I am merry. Yea, but so I</a><br /><a>am apt to do myself wrong; I am not so reputed: it</a><br /><a>is the base, though bitter, disposition of Beatrice</a><br /><a>that puts the world into her person and so gives me</a><br /><a>out. Well, I'll be revenged as I may.</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter DON PEDRO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Now, signior, where's the count? did you see him?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Troth, my lord, I have played the part of Lady Fame.</a><br /><a>I found him here as melancholy as a lodge in a</a><br /><a>warren: I told him, and I think I told him true,</a><br /><a>that your grace had got the good will of this young</a><br /><a>lady; and I offered him my company to a willow-tree,</a><br /><a>either to make him a garland, as being forsaken, or</a><br /><a>to bind him up a rod, as being worthy to be whipped.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>To be whipped! What's his fault?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>The flat transgression of a schoolboy, who, being</a><br /><a>overjoyed with finding a birds' nest, shows it his</a><br /><a>companion, and he steals it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Wilt thou make a trust a transgression? The</a><br /><a>transgression is in the stealer.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Yet it had not been amiss the rod had been made,</a><br /><a>and the garland too; for the garland he might have</a><br /><a>worn himself, and the rod he might have bestowed on</a><br /><a>you, who, as I take it, have stolen his birds' nest.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>I will but teach them to sing, and restore them to</a><br /><a>the owner.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>If their singing answer your saying, by my faith,</a><br /><a>you say honestly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>The Lady Beatrice hath a quarrel to you: the</a><br /><a>gentleman that danced with her told her she is much</a><br /><a>wronged by you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>O, she misused me past the endurance of a block!</a><br /><a>an oak but with one green leaf on it would have</a><br /><a>answered her; my very visor began to assume life and</a><br /><a>scold with her. She told me, not thinking I had been</a><br /><a>myself, that I was the prince's jester, that I was</a><br /><a>duller than a great thaw; huddling jest upon jest</a><br /><a>with such impossible conveyance upon me that I stood</a><br /><a>like a man at a mark, with a whole army shooting at</a><br /><a>me. She speaks poniards, and every word stabs:</a><br /><a>if her breath were as terrible as her terminations,</a><br /><a>there were no living near her; she would infect to</a><br /><a>the north star. I would not marry her, though she</a><br /><a>were endowed with all that Adam bad left him before</a><br /><a>he transgressed: she would have made Hercules have</a><br /><a>turned spit, yea, and have cleft his club to make</a><br /><a>the fire too. Come, talk not of her: you shall find</a><br /><a>her the infernal Ate in good apparel. I would to God</a><br /><a>some scholar would conjure her; for certainly, while</a><br /><a>she is here, a man may live as quiet in hell as in a</a><br /><a>sanctuary; and people sin upon purpose, because they</a><br /><a>would go thither; so, indeed, all disquiet, horror</a><br /><a>and perturbation follows her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Look, here she comes.</a><br /><p><i>Enter CLAUDIO, BEATRICE, HERO, and LEONATO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Will your grace command me any service to the</a><br /><a>world's end? I will go on the slightest errand now</a><br /><a>to the Antipodes that you can devise to send me on;</a><br /><a>I will fetch you a tooth-picker now from the</a><br /><a>furthest inch of Asia, bring you the length of</a><br /><a>Prester John's foot, fetch you a hair off the great</a><br /><a>Cham's beard, do you any embassage to the Pigmies,</a><br /><a>rather than hold three words' conference with this</a><br /><a>harpy. You have no employment for me?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>None, but to desire your good company.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>O God, sir, here's a dish I love not: I cannot</a><br /><a>endure my Lady Tongue.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, lady, come; you have lost the heart of</a><br /><a>Signior Benedick.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Indeed, my lord, he lent it me awhile; and I gave</a><br /><a>him use for it, a double heart for his single one:</a><br /><a>marry, once before he won it of me with false dice,</a><br /><a>therefore your grace may well say I have lost it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>You have put him down, lady, you have put him down.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>So I would not he should do me, my lord, lest I</a><br /><a>should prove the mother of fools. I have brought</a><br /><a>Count Claudio, whom you sent me to seek.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, how now, count! wherefore are you sad?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Not sad, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>How then? sick?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Neither, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>The count is neither sad, nor sick, nor merry, nor</a><br /><a>well; but civil count, civil as an orange, and</a><br /><a>something of that jealous complexion.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>I' faith, lady, I think your blazon to be true;</a><br /><a>though, I'll be sworn, if he be so, his conceit is</a><br /><a>false. Here, Claudio, I have wooed in thy name, and</a><br /><a>fair Hero is won: I have broke with her father,</a><br /><a>and his good will obtained: name the day of</a><br /><a>marriage, and God give thee joy!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Count, take of me my daughter, and with her my</a><br /><a>fortunes: his grace hath made the match, and an</a><br /><a>grace say Amen to it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Speak, count, 'tis your cue.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Silence is the perfectest herald of joy: I were</a><br /><a>but little happy, if I could say how much. Lady, as</a><br /><a>you are mine, I am yours: I give away myself for</a><br /><a>you and dote upon the exchange.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Speak, cousin; or, if you cannot, stop his mouth</a><br /><a>with a kiss, and let not him speak neither.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>In faith, lady, you have a merry heart.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, my lord; I thank it, poor fool, it keeps on</a><br /><a>the windy side of care. My cousin tells him in his</a><br /><a>ear that he is in her heart.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>And so she doth, cousin.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Good Lord, for alliance! Thus goes every one to the</a><br /><a>world but I, and I am sunburnt; I may sit in a</a><br /><a>corner and cry heigh-ho for a husband!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Lady Beatrice, I will get you one.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>I would rather have one of your father's getting.</a><br /><a>Hath your grace ne'er a brother like you? Your</a><br /><a>father got excellent husbands, if a maid could come by them.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Will you have me, lady?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>No, my lord, unless I might have another for</a><br /><a>working-days: your grace is too costly to wear</a><br /><a>every day. But, I beseech your grace, pardon me: I</a><br /><a>was born to speak all mirth and no matter.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Your silence most offends me, and to be merry best</a><br /><a>becomes you; for, out of question, you were born in</a><br /><a>a merry hour.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>No, sure, my lord, my mother cried; but then there</a><br /><a>was a star danced, and under that was I born.</a><br /><a>Cousins, God give you joy!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Niece, will you look to those things I told you of?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>I cry you mercy, uncle. By your grace's pardon.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>By my troth, a pleasant-spirited lady.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>There's little of the melancholy element in her, my</a><br /><a>lord: she is never sad but when she sleeps, and</a><br /><a>not ever sad then; for I have heard my daughter say,</a><br /><a>she hath often dreamed of unhappiness and waked</a><br /><a>herself with laughing.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>She cannot endure to hear tell of a husband.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>O, by no means: she mocks all her wooers out of suit.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>She were an excellent wife for Benedict.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>O Lord, my lord, if they were but a week married,</a><br /><a>they would talk themselves mad.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>County Claudio, when mean you to go to church?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>To-morrow, my lord: time goes on crutches till love</a><br /><a>have all his rites.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Not till Monday, my dear son, which is hence a just</a><br /><a>seven-night; and a time too brief, too, to have all</a><br /><a>things answer my mind.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, you shake the head at so long a breathing:</a><br /><a>but, I warrant thee, Claudio, the time shall not go</a><br /><a>dully by us. I will in the interim undertake one of</a><br /><a>Hercules' labours; which is, to bring Signior</a><br /><a>Benedick and the Lady Beatrice into a mountain of</a><br /><a>affection the one with the other. I would fain have</a><br /><a>it a match, and I doubt not but to fashion it, if</a><br /><a>you three will but minister such assistance as I</a><br /><a>shall give you direction.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord, I am for you, though it cost me ten</a><br /><a>nights' watchings.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>And I, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>And you too, gentle Hero?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>I will do any modest office, my lord, to help my</a><br /><a>cousin to a good husband.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>And Benedick is not the unhopefullest husband that</a><br /><a>I know. Thus far can I praise him; he is of a noble</a><br /><a>strain, of approved valour and confirmed honesty. I</a><br /><a>will teach you how to humour your cousin, that she</a><br /><a>shall fall in love with Benedick; and I, with your</a><br /><a>two helps, will so practise on Benedick that, in</a><br /><a>despite of his quick wit and his queasy stomach, he</a><br /><a>shall fall in love with Beatrice. If we can do this,</a><br /><a>Cupid is no longer an archer: hi s glory shall be</a><br /><a>ours, for we are the only love-gods. Go in with me,</a><br /><a>and I will tell you my drift.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 375 ><h3>SCENE II. The same.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter DON JOHN and BORACHIO</i></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>It is so; the Count Claudio shall marry the</a><br /><a>daughter of Leonato.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, my lord; but I can cross it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Any bar, any cross, any impediment will be</a><br /><a>medicinable to me: I am sick in displeasure to him,</a><br /><a>and whatsoever comes athwart his affection ranges</a><br /><a>evenly with mine. How canst thou cross this marriage?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Not honestly, my lord; but so covertly that no</a><br /><a>dishonesty shall appear in me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Show me briefly how.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I think I told your lordship a year since, how much</a><br /><a>I am in the favour of Margaret, the waiting</a><br /><a>gentlewoman to Hero.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>I remember.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I can, at any unseasonable instant of the night,</a><br /><a>appoint her to look out at her lady's chamber window.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>What life is in that, to be the death of this marriage?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>The poison of that lies in you to temper. Go you to</a><br /><a>the prince your brother; spare not to tell him that</a><br /><a>he hath wronged his honour in marrying the renowned</a><br /><a>Claudio--whose estimation do you mightily hold</a><br /><a>up--to a contaminated stale, such a one as Hero.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>What proof shall I make of that?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Proof enough to misuse the prince, to vex Claudio,</a><br /><a>to undo Hero and kill Leonato. Look you for any</a><br /><a>other issue?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Only to despite them, I will endeavour any thing.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Go, then; find me a meet hour to draw Don Pedro and</a><br /><a>the Count Claudio alone: tell them that you know</a><br /><a>that Hero loves me; intend a kind of zeal both to the</a><br /><a>prince and Claudio, as,--in love of your brother's</a><br /><a>honour, who hath made this match, and his friend's</a><br /><a>reputation, who is thus like to be cozened with the</a><br /><a>semblance of a maid,--that you have discovered</a><br /><a>thus. They will scarcely believe this without trial:</a><br /><a>offer them instances; which shall bear no less</a><br /><a>likelihood than to see me at her chamber-window,</a><br /><a>hear me call Margaret Hero, hear Margaret term me</a><br /><a>Claudio; and bring them to see this the very night</a><br /><a>before the intended wedding,--for in the meantime I</a><br /><a>will so fashion the matter that Hero shall be</a><br /><a>absent,--and there shall appear such seeming truth</a><br /><a>of Hero's disloyalty that jealousy shall be called</a><br /><a>assurance and all the preparation overthrown.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Grow this to what adverse issue it can, I will put</a><br /><a>it in practise. Be cunning in the working this, and</a><br /><a>thy fee is a thousand ducats.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Be you constant in the accusation, and my cunning</a><br /><a>shall not shame me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>I will presently go learn their day of marriage.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 376 ><h3>SCENE III. LEONATO'S orchard.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter BENEDICK</i></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Boy!</a><br /><p><i>Enter Boy</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Boy</b></a><blockquote><a>Signior?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>In my chamber-window lies a book: bring it hither</a><br /><a>to me in the orchard.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Boy</b></a><blockquote><a>I am here already, sir.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I know that; but I would have thee hence, and here again.</a><br /><p><i>Exit Boy</i></p><a>I do much wonder that one man, seeing how much</a><br /><a>another man is a fool when he dedicates his</a><br /><a>behaviors to love, will, after he hath laughed at</a><br /><a>such shallow follies in others, become the argument</a><br /><a>of his own scorn by failing in love: and such a man</a><br /><a>is Claudio. I have known when there was no music</a><br /><a>with him but the drum and the fife; and now had he</a><br /><a>rather hear the tabour and the pipe: I have known</a><br /><a>when he would have walked ten mile a-foot to see a</a><br /><a>good armour; and now will he lie ten nights awake,</a><br /><a>carving the fashion of a new doublet. He was wont to</a><br /><a>speak plain and to the purpose, like an honest man</a><br /><a>and a soldier; and now is he turned orthography; his</a><br /><a>words are a very fantastical banquet, just so many</a><br /><a>strange dishes. May I be so converted and see with</a><br /><a>these eyes? I cannot tell; I think not: I will not</a><br /><a>be sworn, but love may transform me to an oyster; but</a><br /><a>I'll take my oath on it, till he have made an oyster</a><br /><a>of me, he shall never make me such a fool. One woman</a><br /><a>is fair, yet I am well; another is wise, yet I am</a><br /><a>well; another virtuous, yet I am well; but till all</a><br /><a>graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in</a><br /><a>my grace. Rich she shall be, that's certain; wise,</a><br /><a>or I'll none; virtuous, or I'll never cheapen her;</a><br /><a>fair, or I'll   never look on her; mild, or come not</a><br /><a>near me; noble, or not I for an angel; of good</a><br /><a>discourse, an excellent musician, and her hair shall</a><br /><a>be of what colour it please God. Ha! the prince and</a><br /><a>Monsieur Love! I will hide me in the arbour.</a><br /><p><i>Withdraws</i></p><p><i>Enter DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO, and LEONATO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, shall we hear this music?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, my good lord. How still the evening is,</a><br /><a>As hush'd on purpose to grace harmony!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>See you where Benedick hath hid himself?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>O, very well, my lord: the music ended,</a><br /><a>We'll fit the kid-fox with a pennyworth.</a><br /><p><i>Enter BALTHASAR with Music</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, Balthasar, we'll hear that song again.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BALTHASAR</b></a><blockquote><a>O, good my lord, tax not so bad a voice</a><br /><a>To slander music any more than once.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>It is the witness still of excellency</a><br /><a>To put a strange face on his own perfection.</a><br /><a>I pray thee, sing, and let me woo no more.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BALTHASAR</b></a><blockquote><a>Because you talk of wooing, I will sing;</a><br /><a>Since many a wooer doth commence his suit</a><br /><a>To her he thinks not worthy, yet he wooes,</a><br /><a>Yet will he swear he loves.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Now, pray thee, come;</a><br /><a>Or, if thou wilt hold longer argument,</a><br /><a>Do it in notes.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BALTHASAR</b></a><blockquote><a>                  Note this before my notes;</a><br /><a>There's not a note of mine that's worth the noting.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, these are very crotchets that he speaks;</a><br /><a>Note, notes, forsooth, and nothing.</a><br /><p><i>Air</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Now, divine air! now is his soul ravished! Is it</a><br /><a>not strange that sheeps' guts should hale souls out</a><br /><a>of men's bodies? Well, a horn for my money, when</a><br /><a>all's done.</a><br /><p><i>The Song</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BALTHASAR</b></a><blockquote><a>     Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,</a><br /><a>Men were deceivers ever,</a><br /><a>One foot in sea and one on shore,</a><br /><a>To one thing constant never:</a><br /><a>Then sigh not so, but let them go,</a><br /><a>And be you blithe and bonny,</a><br /><a>Converting all your sounds of woe</a><br /><a>Into Hey nonny, nonny.</a><br /><a>Sing no more ditties, sing no moe,</a><br /><a>Of dumps so dull and heavy;</a><br /><a>The fraud of men was ever so,</a><br /><a>Since summer first was leafy:</a><br /><a>Then sigh not so,  &amp; c.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>By my troth, a good song.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BALTHASAR</b></a><blockquote><a>And an ill singer, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Ha, no, no, faith; thou singest well enough for a shift.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>An he had been a dog that should have howled thus,</a><br /><a>they would have hanged him: and I pray God his bad</a><br /><a>voice bode no mischief. I had as lief have heard the</a><br /><a>night-raven, come what plague could have come after</a><br /><a>it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, marry, dost thou hear, Balthasar? I pray thee,</a><br /><a>get us some excellent music; for to-morrow night we</a><br /><a>would have it at the Lady Hero's chamber-window.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BALTHASAR</b></a><blockquote><a>The best I can, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Do so: farewell.</a><br /><p><i>Exit BALTHASAR</i></p><a>Come hither, Leonato. What was it you told me of</a><br /><a>to-day, that your niece Beatrice was in love with</a><br /><a>Signior Benedick?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>O, ay: stalk on. stalk on; the fowl sits. I did</a><br /><a>never think that lady would have loved any man.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>No, nor I neither; but most wonderful that she</a><br /><a>should so dote on Signior Benedick, whom she hath in</a><br /><a>all outward behaviors seemed ever to abhor.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Is't possible? Sits the wind in that corner?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>By my troth, my lord, I cannot tell what to think</a><br /><a>of it but that she loves him with an enraged</a><br /><a>affection: it is past the infinite of thought.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>May be she doth but counterfeit.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Faith, like enough.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>O God, counterfeit! There was never counterfeit of</a><br /><a>passion came so near the life of passion as she</a><br /><a>discovers it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, what effects of passion shows she?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Bait the hook well; this fish will bite.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>What effects, my lord? She will sit you, you heard</a><br /><a>my daughter tell you how.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>She did, indeed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>How, how, pray you? You amaze me: I would have I</a><br /><a>thought her spirit had been invincible against all</a><br /><a>assaults of affection.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>I would have sworn it had, my lord; especially</a><br /><a>against Benedick.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I should think this a gull, but that the</a><br /><a>white-bearded fellow speaks it: knavery cannot,</a><br /><a>sure, hide himself in such reverence.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>He hath ta'en the infection: hold it up.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Hath she made her affection known to Benedick?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>No; and swears she never will: that's her torment.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis true, indeed; so your daughter says: 'Shall</a><br /><a>I,' says she, 'that have so oft encountered him</a><br /><a>with scorn, write to him that I love him?'</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>This says she now when she is beginning to write to</a><br /><a>him; for she'll be up twenty times a night, and</a><br /><a>there will she sit in her smock till she have writ a</a><br /><a>sheet of paper: my daughter tells us all.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Now you talk of a sheet of paper, I remember a</a><br /><a>pretty jest your daughter told us of.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>O, when she had writ it and was reading it over, she</a><br /><a>found Benedick and Beatrice between the sheet?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>That.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>O, she tore the letter into a thousand halfpence;</a><br /><a>railed at herself, that she should be so immodest</a><br /><a>to write to one that she knew would flout her; 'I</a><br /><a>measure him,' says she, 'by my own spirit; for I</a><br /><a>should flout him, if he writ to me; yea, though I</a><br /><a>love him, I should.'</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Then down upon her knees she falls, weeps, sobs,</a><br /><a>beats her heart, tears her hair, prays, curses; 'O</a><br /><a>sweet Benedick! God give me patience!'</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>She doth indeed; my daughter says so: and the</a><br /><a>ecstasy hath so much overborne her that my daughter</a><br /><a>is sometime afeared she will do a desperate outrage</a><br /><a>to herself: it is very true.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>It were good that Benedick knew of it by some</a><br /><a>other, if she will not discover it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>To what end? He would make but a sport of it and</a><br /><a>torment the poor lady worse.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>An he should, it were an alms to hang him. She's an</a><br /><a>excellent sweet lady; and, out of all suspicion,</a><br /><a>she is virtuous.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>And she is exceeding wise.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>In every thing but in loving Benedick.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>O, my lord, wisdom and blood combating in so tender</a><br /><a>a body, we have ten proofs to one that blood hath</a><br /><a>the victory. I am sorry for her, as I have just</a><br /><a>cause, being her uncle and her guardian.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>I would she had bestowed this dotage on me: I would</a><br /><a>have daffed all other respects and made her half</a><br /><a>myself. I pray you, tell Benedick of it, and hear</a><br /><a>what a' will say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Were it good, think you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Hero thinks surely she will die; for she says she</a><br /><a>will die, if he love her not, and she will die, ere</a><br /><a>she make her love known, and she will die, if he woo</a><br /><a>her, rather than she will bate one breath of her</a><br /><a>accustomed crossness.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>She doth well: if she should make tender of her</a><br /><a>love, 'tis very possible he'll scorn it; for the</a><br /><a>man, as you know all, hath a contemptible spirit.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>He is a very proper man.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>He hath indeed a good outward happiness.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Before God! and, in my mind, very wise.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>He doth indeed show some sparks that are like wit.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>And I take him to be valiant.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>As Hector, I assure you: and in the managing of</a><br /><a>quarrels you may say he is wise; for either he</a><br /><a>avoids them with great discretion, or undertakes</a><br /><a>them with a most Christian-like fear.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>If he do fear God, a' must necessarily keep peace:</a><br /><a>if he break the peace, he ought to enter into a</a><br /><a>quarrel with fear and trembling.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>And so will he do; for the man doth fear God,</a><br /><a>howsoever it seems not in him by some large jests</a><br /><a>he will make. Well I am sorry for your niece. Shall</a><br /><a>we go seek Benedick, and tell him of her love?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Never tell him, my lord: let her wear it out with</a><br /><a>good counsel.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, that's impossible: she may wear her heart out first.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, we will hear further of it by your daughter:</a><br /><a>let it cool the while. I love Benedick well; and I</a><br /><a>could wish he would modestly examine himself, to see</a><br /><a>how much he is unworthy so good a lady.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord, will you walk? dinner is ready.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>If he do not dote on her upon this, I will never</a><br /><a>trust my expectation.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Let there be the same net spread for her; and that</a><br /><a>must your daughter and her gentlewomen carry. The</a><br /><a>sport will be, when they hold one an opinion of</a><br /><a>another's dotage, and no such matter: that's the</a><br /><a>scene that I would see, which will be merely a</a><br /><a>dumb-show. Let us send her to call him in to dinner.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO, and LEONATO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>[Coming forward]  This can be no trick: the</a><br /><a>conference was sadly borne. They have the truth of</a><br /><a>this from Hero. They seem to pity the lady: it</a><br /><a>seems her affections have their full bent. Love me!</a><br /><a>why, it must be requited. I hear how I am censured:</a><br /><a>they say I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive</a><br /><a>the love come from her; they say too that she will</a><br /><a>rather die than give any sign of affection. I did</a><br /><a>never think to marry: I must not seem proud: happy</a><br /><a>are they that hear their detractions and can put</a><br /><a>them to mending. They say the lady is fair; 'tis a</a><br /><a>truth, I can bear them witness; and virtuous; 'tis</a><br /><a>so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving</a><br /><a>me; by my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor</a><br /><a>no great argument of her folly, for I will be</a><br /><a>horribly in love with her. I may chance have some</a><br /><a>odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me,</a><br /><a>because I have railed so long against marriage: but</a><br /><a>doth not the appetite alter? a man loves the meat</a><br /><a>in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.</a><br /><a>Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of</a><br /><a>the brain awe a man from the career of his humour?</a><br /><a>No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would</a><br /><a>die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I</a><br /><a>were married. Here comes Beatrice. By this day!</a><br /><a>she's a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in</a><br /><a>her.</a><br /><p><i>Enter BEATRICE</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to dinner.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Fair Beatrice, I thank you for your pains.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>I took no more pains for those thanks than you take</a><br /><a>pains to thank me: if it had been painful, I would</a><br /><a>not have come.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>You take pleasure then in the message?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, just so much as you may take upon a knife's</a><br /><a>point and choke a daw withal. You have no stomach,</a><br /><a>signior: fare you well.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><a>Ha! 'Against my will I am sent to bid you come in</a><br /><a>to dinner;' there's a double meaning in that 'I took</a><br /><a>no more pains for those thanks than you took pains</a><br /><a>to thank me.' that's as much as to say, Any pains</a><br /><a>that I take for you is as easy as thanks. If I do</a><br /><a>not take pity of her, I am a villain; if I do not</a><br /><a>love her, I am a Jew. I will go get her picture.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></span><span id = 377 ></span><span id = 382 ><h3>SCENE I. LEONATO'S garden.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter HERO, MARGARET, and URSULA</i></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Good Margaret, run thee to the parlor;</a><br /><a>There shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice</a><br /><a>Proposing with the prince and Claudio:</a><br /><a>Whisper her ear and tell her, I and Ursula</a><br /><a>Walk in the orchard and our whole discourse</a><br /><a>Is all of her; say that thou overheard'st us;</a><br /><a>And bid her steal into the pleached bower,</a><br /><a>Where honeysuckles, ripen'd by the sun,</a><br /><a>Forbid the sun to enter, like favourites,</a><br /><a>Made proud by princes, that advance their pride</a><br /><a>Against that power that bred it: there will she hide her,</a><br /><a>To listen our purpose.  This is thy office;</a><br /><a>Bear thee well in it and leave us alone.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>I'll make her come, I warrant you, presently.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth come,</a><br /><a>As we do trace this alley up and down,</a><br /><a>Our talk must only be of Benedick.</a><br /><a>When I do name him, let it be thy part</a><br /><a>To praise him more than ever man did merit:</a><br /><a>My talk to thee must be how Benedick</a><br /><a>Is sick in love with Beatrice. Of this matter</a><br /><a>Is little Cupid's crafty arrow made,</a><br /><a>That only wounds by hearsay.</a><br /><p><i>Enter BEATRICE, behind</i></p><a>Now begin;</a><br /><a>For look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runs</a><br /><a>Close by the ground, to hear our conference.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>The pleasant'st angling is to see the fish</a><br /><a>Cut with her golden oars the silver stream,</a><br /><a>And greedily devour the treacherous bait:</a><br /><a>So angle we for Beatrice; who even now</a><br /><a>Is couched in the woodbine coverture.</a><br /><a>Fear you not my part of the dialogue.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Then go we near her, that her ear lose nothing</a><br /><a>Of the false sweet bait that we lay for it.</a><br /><p><i>Approaching the bower</i></p><a>No, truly, Ursula, she is too disdainful;</a><br /><a>I know her spirits are as coy and wild</a><br /><a>As haggerds of the rock.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>But are you sure</a><br /><a>That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>So says the prince and my new-trothed lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>And did they bid you tell her of it, madam?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>They did entreat me to acquaint her of it;</a><br /><a>But I persuaded them, if they loved Benedick,</a><br /><a>To wish him wrestle with affection,</a><br /><a>And never to let Beatrice know of it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>Why did you so? Doth not the gentleman</a><br /><a>Deserve as full as fortunate a bed</a><br /><a>As ever Beatrice shall couch upon?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>O god of love! I know he doth deserve</a><br /><a>As much as may be yielded to a man:</a><br /><a>But Nature never framed a woman's heart</a><br /><a>Of prouder stuff than that of Beatrice;</a><br /><a>Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes,</a><br /><a>Misprising what they look on, and her wit</a><br /><a>Values itself so highly that to her</a><br /><a>All matter else seems weak: she cannot love,</a><br /><a>Nor take no shape nor project of affection,</a><br /><a>She is so self-endeared.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>Sure, I think so;</a><br /><a>And therefore certainly it were not good</a><br /><a>She knew his love, lest she make sport at it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, you speak truth. I never yet saw man,</a><br /><a>How wise, how noble, young, how rarely featured,</a><br /><a>But she would spell him backward: if fair-faced,</a><br /><a>She would swear the gentleman should be her sister;</a><br /><a>If black, why, Nature, drawing of an antique,</a><br /><a>Made a foul blot; if tall, a lance ill-headed;</a><br /><a>If low, an agate very vilely cut;</a><br /><a>If speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds;</a><br /><a>If silent, why, a block moved with none.</a><br /><a>So turns she every man the wrong side out</a><br /><a>And never gives to truth and virtue that</a><br /><a>Which simpleness and merit purchaseth.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>Sure, sure, such carping is not commendable.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>No, not to be so odd and from all fashions</a><br /><a>As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable:</a><br /><a>But who dare tell her so? If I should speak,</a><br /><a>She would mock me into air; O, she would laugh me</a><br /><a>Out of myself, press me to death with wit.</a><br /><a>Therefore let Benedick, like cover'd fire,</a><br /><a>Consume away in sighs, waste inwardly:</a><br /><a>It were a better death than die with mocks,</a><br /><a>Which is as bad as die with tickling.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>Yet tell her of it: hear what she will say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>No; rather I will go to Benedick</a><br /><a>And counsel him to fight against his passion.</a><br /><a>And, truly, I'll devise some honest slanders</a><br /><a>To stain my cousin with: one doth not know</a><br /><a>How much an ill word may empoison liking.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>O, do not do your cousin such a wrong.</a><br /><a>She cannot be so much without true judgment--</a><br /><a>Having so swift and excellent a wit</a><br /><a>As she is prized to have--as to refuse</a><br /><a>So rare a gentleman as Signior Benedick.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>He is the only man of Italy.</a><br /><a>Always excepted my dear Claudio.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>I pray you, be not angry with me, madam,</a><br /><a>Speaking my fancy: Signior Benedick,</a><br /><a>For shape, for bearing, argument and valour,</a><br /><a>Goes foremost in report through Italy.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Indeed, he hath an excellent good name.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>His excellence did earn it, ere he had it.</a><br /><a>When are you married, madam?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, every day, to-morrow. Come, go in:</a><br /><a>I'll show thee some attires, and have thy counsel</a><br /><a>Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>She's limed, I warrant you: we have caught her, madam.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>If it proves so, then loving goes by haps:</a><br /><a>Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt HERO and URSULA</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>[Coming forward]</a><br /><a>What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true?</a><br /><a>Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?</a><br /><a>Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!</a><br /><a>No glory lives behind the back of such.</a><br /><a>And, Benedick, love on; I will requite thee,</a><br /><a>Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand:</a><br /><a>If thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee</a><br /><a>To bind our loves up in a holy band;</a><br /><a>For others say thou dost deserve, and I</a><br /><a>Believe it better than reportingly.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 385 ><h3>SCENE II. A room in LEONATO'S house</h3><blockquote><i>Enter DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, and LEONATO</i></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>I do but stay till your marriage be consummate, and</a><br /><a>then go I toward Arragon.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I'll bring you thither, my lord, if you'll</a><br /><a>vouchsafe me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, that would be as great a soil in the new gloss</a><br /><a>of your marriage as to show a child his new coat</a><br /><a>and forbid him to wear it. I will only be bold</a><br /><a>with Benedick for his company; for, from the crown</a><br /><a>of his head to the sole of his foot, he is all</a><br /><a>mirth: he hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's</a><br /><a>bow-string and the little hangman dare not shoot at</a><br /><a>him; he hath a heart as sound as a bell and his</a><br /><a>tongue is the clapper, for what his heart thinks his</a><br /><a>tongue speaks.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Gallants, I am not as I have been.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>So say I	methinks you are sadder.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I hope he be in love.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Hang him, truant! there's no true drop of blood in</a><br /><a>him, to be truly touched with love: if he be sad,</a><br /><a>he wants money.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I have the toothache.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Draw it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Hang it!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>You must hang it first, and draw it afterwards.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>What! sigh for the toothache?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Where is but a humour or a worm.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, every one can master a grief but he that has</a><br /><a>it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yet say I, he is in love.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>There is no appearance of fancy in him, unless it be</a><br /><a>a fancy that he hath to strange disguises; as, to be</a><br /><a>a Dutchman today, a Frenchman to-morrow, or in the</a><br /><a>shape of two countries at once, as, a German from</a><br /><a>the waist downward, all slops, and a Spaniard from</a><br /><a>the hip upward, no doublet. Unless he have a fancy</a><br /><a>to this foolery, as it appears he hath, he is no</a><br /><a>fool for fancy, as you would have it appear he is.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>If he be not in love with some woman, there is no</a><br /><a>believing old signs: a' brushes his hat o'</a><br /><a>mornings; what should that bode?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Hath any man seen him at the barber's?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>No, but the barber's man hath been seen with him,</a><br /><a>and the old ornament of his cheek hath already</a><br /><a>stuffed tennis-balls.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Indeed, he looks younger than he did, by the loss of a beard.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, a' rubs himself with civet: can you smell him</a><br /><a>out by that?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>That's as much as to say, the sweet youth's in love.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>The greatest note of it is his melancholy.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>And when was he wont to wash his face?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, or to paint himself? for the which, I hear</a><br /><a>what they say of him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, but his jesting spirit; which is now crept into</a><br /><a>a lute-string and now governed by stops.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Indeed, that tells a heavy tale for him: conclude,</a><br /><a>conclude he is in love.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, but I know who loves him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>That would I know too: I warrant, one that knows him not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yes, and his ill conditions; and, in despite of</a><br /><a>all, dies for him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>She shall be buried with her face upwards.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Yet is this no charm for the toothache. Old</a><br /><a>signior, walk aside with me: I have studied eight</a><br /><a>or nine wise words to speak to you, which these</a><br /><a>hobby-horses must not hear.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt BENEDICK and LEONATO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>For my life, to break with him about Beatrice.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis even so. Hero and Margaret have by this</a><br /><a>played their parts with Beatrice; and then the two</a><br /><a>bears will not bite one another when they meet.</a><br /><p><i>Enter DON JOHN</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord and brother, God save you!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Good den, brother.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>If your leisure served, I would speak with you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>In private?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>If it please you: yet Count Claudio may hear; for</a><br /><a>what I would speak of concerns him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>What's the matter?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>[To CLAUDIO]  Means your lordship to be married</a><br /><a>to-morrow?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>You know he does.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>I know not that, when he knows what I know.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>If there be any impediment, I pray you discover it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>You may think I love you not: let that appear</a><br /><a>hereafter, and aim better at me by that I now will</a><br /><a>manifest. For my brother, I think he holds you</a><br /><a>well, and in dearness of heart hath holp to effect</a><br /><a>your ensuing marriage;--surely suit ill spent and</a><br /><a>labour ill bestowed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, what's the matter?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>I came hither to tell you; and, circumstances</a><br /><a>shortened, for she has been too long a talking of,</a><br /><a>the lady is disloyal.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Who, Hero?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Even she; Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero:</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Disloyal?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>The word is too good to paint out her wickedness; I</a><br /><a>could say she were worse: think you of a worse</a><br /><a>title, and I will fit her to it. Wonder not till</a><br /><a>further warrant: go but with me to-night, you shall</a><br /><a>see her chamber-window entered, even the night</a><br /><a>before her wedding-day: if you love her then,</a><br /><a>to-morrow wed her; but it would better fit your honour</a><br /><a>to change your mind.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>May this be so?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>I will not think it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>If you dare not trust that you see, confess not</a><br /><a>that you know: if you will follow me, I will show</a><br /><a>you enough; and when you have seen more and heard</a><br /><a>more, proceed accordingly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>If I see any thing to-night why I should not marry</a><br /><a>her to-morrow in the congregation, where I should</a><br /><a>wed, there will I shame her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>And, as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will join</a><br /><a>with thee to disgrace her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>I will disparage her no farther till you are my</a><br /><a>witnesses: bear it coldly but till midnight, and</a><br /><a>let the issue show itself.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>O day untowardly turned!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>O mischief strangely thwarting!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>O plague right well prevented! so will you say when</a><br /><a>you have seen the sequel.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 386 ><h3>SCENE III. A street.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter DOGBERRY and VERGES with the Watch</i></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Are you good men and true?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, or else it were pity but they should suffer</a><br /><a>salvation, body and soul.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, that were a punishment too good for them, if</a><br /><a>they should have any allegiance in them, being</a><br /><a>chosen for the prince's watch.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, give them their charge, neighbour Dogberry.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>First, who think you the most desertless man to be</a><br /><a>constable?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>Hugh Otecake, sir, or George Seacole; for they can</a><br /><a>write and read.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Come hither, neighbour Seacole. God hath blessed</a><br /><a>you with a good name: to be a well-favoured man is</a><br /><a>the gift of fortune; but to write and read comes by nature.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>Both which, master constable,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>You have: I knew it would be your answer. Well,</a><br /><a>for your favour, sir, why, give God thanks, and make</a><br /><a>no boast of it; and for your writing and reading,</a><br /><a>let that appear when there is no need of such</a><br /><a>vanity. You are thought here to be the most</a><br /><a>senseless and fit man for the constable of the</a><br /><a>watch; therefore bear you the lantern. This is your</a><br /><a>charge: you shall comprehend all vagrom men; you are</a><br /><a>to bid any man stand, in the prince's name.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>How if a' will not stand?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, then, take no note of him, but let him go; and</a><br /><a>presently call the rest of the watch together and</a><br /><a>thank God you are rid of a knave.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>If he will not stand when he is bidden, he is none</a><br /><a>of the prince's subjects.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>True, and they are to meddle with none but the</a><br /><a>prince's subjects. You shall also make no noise in</a><br /><a>the streets; for, for the watch to babble and to</a><br /><a>talk is most tolerable and not to be endured.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>We will rather sleep than talk: we know what</a><br /><a>belongs to a watch.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, you speak like an ancient and most quiet</a><br /><a>watchman; for I cannot see how sleeping should</a><br /><a>offend: only, have a care that your bills be not</a><br /><a>stolen. Well, you are to call at all the</a><br /><a>ale-houses, and bid those that are drunk get them to bed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>How if they will not?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, then, let them alone till they are sober: if</a><br /><a>they make you not then the better answer, you may</a><br /><a>say they are not the men you took them for.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, sir.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>If you meet a thief, you may suspect him, by virtue</a><br /><a>of your office, to be no true man; and, for such</a><br /><a>kind of men, the less you meddle or make with them,</a><br /><a>why the more is for your honesty.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>If we know him to be a thief, shall we not lay</a><br /><a>hands on him?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Truly, by your office, you may; but I think they</a><br /><a>that touch pitch will be defiled: the most peaceable</a><br /><a>way for you, if you do take a thief, is to let him</a><br /><a>show himself what he is and steal out of your company.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>You have been always called a merciful man, partner.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Truly, I would not hang a dog by my will, much more</a><br /><a>a man who hath any honesty in him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>If you hear a child cry in the night, you must call</a><br /><a>to the nurse and bid her still it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>How if the nurse be asleep and will not hear us?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, then, depart in peace, and let the child wake</a><br /><a>her with crying; for the ewe that will not hear her</a><br /><a>lamb when it baes will never answer a calf when he bleats.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis very true.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>This is the end of the charge:--you, constable, are</a><br /><a>to present the prince's own person: if you meet the</a><br /><a>prince in the night, you may stay him.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, by'r our lady, that I think a' cannot.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Five shillings to one on't, with any man that knows</a><br /><a>the statutes, he may stay him: marry, not without</a><br /><a>the prince be willing; for, indeed, the watch ought</a><br /><a>to offend no man; and it is an offence to stay a</a><br /><a>man against his will.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>By'r lady, I think it be so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Ha, ha, ha! Well, masters, good night: an there be</a><br /><a>any matter of weight chances, call up me: keep your</a><br /><a>fellows' counsels and your own; and good night.</a><br /><a>Come, neighbour.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, masters, we hear our charge: let us go sit here</a><br /><a>upon the church-bench till two, and then all to bed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>One word more, honest neighbours. I pray you watch</a><br /><a>about Signior Leonato's door; for the wedding being</a><br /><a>there to-morrow, there is a great coil to-night.</a><br /><a>Adieu: be vigitant, I beseech you.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt DOGBERRY and VERGES</i></p><p><i>Enter BORACHIO and CONRADE</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>What Conrade!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>[Aside]  Peace! stir not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Conrade, I say!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>Here, man; I am at thy elbow.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Mass, and my elbow itched; I thought there would a</a><br /><a>scab follow.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>I will owe thee an answer for that: and now forward</a><br /><a>with thy tale.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Stand thee close, then, under this pent-house, for</a><br /><a>it drizzles rain; and I will, like a true drunkard,</a><br /><a>utter all to thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>[Aside]  Some treason, masters: yet stand close.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Therefore know I have earned of Don John a thousand ducats.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>Is it possible that any villany should be so dear?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Thou shouldst rather ask if it were possible any</a><br /><a>villany should be so rich; for when rich villains</a><br /><a>have need of poor ones, poor ones may make what</a><br /><a>price they will.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>I wonder at it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>That shows thou art unconfirmed. Thou knowest that</a><br /><a>the fashion of a doublet, or a hat, or a cloak, is</a><br /><a>nothing to a man.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>Yes, it is apparel.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I mean, the fashion.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>Yes, the fashion is the fashion.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Tush! I may as well say the fool's the fool. But</a><br /><a>seest thou not what a deformed thief this fashion</a><br /><a>is?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>[Aside]  I know that Deformed; a' has been a vile</a><br /><a>thief this seven year; a' goes up and down like a</a><br /><a>gentleman: I remember his name.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Didst thou not hear somebody?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>No; 'twas the vane on the house.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Seest thou not, I say, what a deformed thief this</a><br /><a>fashion is? how giddily a' turns about all the hot</a><br /><a>bloods between fourteen and five-and-thirty?</a><br /><a>sometimes fashioning them like Pharaoh's soldiers</a><br /><a>in the reeky painting, sometime like god Bel's</a><br /><a>priests in the old church-window, sometime like the</a><br /><a>shaven Hercules in the smirched worm-eaten tapestry,</a><br /><a>where his codpiece seems as massy as his club?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>All this I see; and I see that the fashion wears</a><br /><a>out more apparel than the man. But art not thou</a><br /><a>thyself giddy with the fashion too, that thou hast</a><br /><a>shifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fashion?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Not so, neither: but know that I have to-night</a><br /><a>wooed Margaret, the Lady Hero's gentlewoman, by the</a><br /><a>name of Hero: she leans me out at her mistress'</a><br /><a>chamber-window, bids me a thousand times good</a><br /><a>night,--I tell this tale vilely:--I should first</a><br /><a>tell thee how the prince, Claudio and my master,</a><br /><a>planted and placed and possessed by my master Don</a><br /><a>John, saw afar off in the orchard this amiable encounter.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>And thought they Margaret was Hero?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Two of them did, the prince and Claudio; but the</a><br /><a>devil my master knew she was Margaret; and partly</a><br /><a>by his oaths, which first possessed them, partly by</a><br /><a>the dark night, which did deceive them, but chiefly</a><br /><a>by my villany, which did confirm any slander that</a><br /><a>Don John had made, away went Claudio enraged; swore</a><br /><a>he would meet her, as he was appointed, next morning</a><br /><a>at the temple, and there, before the whole</a><br /><a>congregation, shame her with what he saw o'er night</a><br /><a>and send her home again without a husband.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>We charge you, in the prince's name, stand!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>Call up the right master constable. We have here</a><br /><a>recovered the most dangerous piece of lechery that</a><br /><a>ever was known in the commonwealth.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>And one Deformed is one of them: I know him; a'</a><br /><a>wears a lock.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>Masters, masters,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>You'll be made bring Deformed forth, I warrant you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>Masters,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>Never speak: we charge you let us obey you to go with us.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>We are like to prove a goodly commodity, being taken</a><br /><a>up of these men's bills.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>A commodity in question, I warrant you. Come, we'll obey you.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 387 ><h3>SCENE IV. HERO's apartment.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter HERO, MARGARET, and URSULA</i></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Good Ursula, wake my cousin Beatrice, and desire</a><br /><a>her to rise.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>I will, lady.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>And bid her come hither.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>Well.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>Troth, I think your other rabato were better.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>No, pray thee, good Meg, I'll wear this.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>By my troth, 's not so good; and I warrant your</a><br /><a>cousin will say so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>My cousin's a fool, and thou art another: I'll wear</a><br /><a>none but this.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair</a><br /><a>were a thought browner; and your gown's a most rare</a><br /><a>fashion, i' faith. I saw the Duchess of Milan's</a><br /><a>gown that they praise so.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>O, that exceeds, they say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>By my troth, 's but a night-gown in respect of</a><br /><a>yours: cloth o' gold, and cuts, and laced with</a><br /><a>silver, set with pearls, down sleeves, side sleeves,</a><br /><a>and skirts, round underborne with a bluish tinsel:</a><br /><a>but for a fine, quaint, graceful and excellent</a><br /><a>fashion, yours is worth ten on 't.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>God give me joy to wear it! for my heart is</a><br /><a>exceeding heavy.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>'Twill be heavier soon by the weight of a man.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Fie upon thee! art not ashamed?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>Of what, lady? of speaking honourably? Is not</a><br /><a>marriage honourable in a beggar? Is not your lord</a><br /><a>honourable without marriage? I think you would have</a><br /><a>me say, 'saving your reverence, a husband:' and bad</a><br /><a>thinking do not wrest true speaking, I'll offend</a><br /><a>nobody: is there any harm in 'the heavier for a</a><br /><a>husband'? None, I think, and it be the right husband</a><br /><a>and the right wife; otherwise 'tis light, and not</a><br /><a>heavy: ask my Lady Beatrice else; here she comes.</a><br /><p><i>Enter BEATRICE</i></p></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Good morrow, coz.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Good morrow, sweet Hero.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Why how now? do you speak in the sick tune?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>I am out of all other tune, methinks.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>Clap's into 'Light o' love;' that goes without a</a><br /><a>burden: do you sing it, and I'll dance it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Ye light o' love, with your heels! then, if your</a><br /><a>husband have stables enough, you'll see he shall</a><br /><a>lack no barns.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>O illegitimate construction! I scorn that with my heels.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis almost five o'clock, cousin; tis time you were</a><br /><a>ready. By my troth, I am exceeding ill: heigh-ho!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>For a hawk, a horse, or a husband?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>For the letter that begins them all, H.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, and you be not turned Turk, there's no more</a><br /><a>sailing by the star.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>What means the fool, trow?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>Nothing I; but God send every one their heart's desire!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>These gloves the count sent me; they are an</a><br /><a>excellent perfume.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>I am stuffed, cousin; I cannot smell.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>A maid, and stuffed! there's goodly catching of cold.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>O, God help me! God help me! how long have you</a><br /><a>professed apprehension?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>Even since you left it. Doth not my wit become me rarely?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>It is not seen enough, you should wear it in your</a><br /><a>cap. By my troth, I am sick.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus,</a><br /><a>and lay it to your heart: it is the only thing for a qualm.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>There thou prickest her with a thistle.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Benedictus! why Benedictus? you have some moral in</a><br /><a>this Benedictus.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>Moral! no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning; I</a><br /><a>meant, plain holy-thistle. You may think perchance</a><br /><a>that I think you are in love: nay, by'r lady, I am</a><br /><a>not such a fool to think what I list, nor I list</a><br /><a>not to think what I can, nor indeed I cannot think,</a><br /><a>if I would think my heart out of thinking, that you</a><br /><a>are in love or that you will be in love or that you</a><br /><a>can be in love. Yet Benedick was such another, and</a><br /><a>now is he become a man: he swore he would never</a><br /><a>marry, and yet now, in despite of his heart, he eats</a><br /><a>his meat without grudging: and how you may be</a><br /><a>converted I know not, but methinks you look with</a><br /><a>your eyes as other women do.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>What pace is this that thy tongue keeps?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>Not a false gallop.</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter URSULA</i></p></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>Madam, withdraw: the prince, the count, Signior</a><br /><a>Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the</a><br /><a>town, are come to fetch you to church.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Help to dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Ursula.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 388 ><h3>SCENE V. Another room in LEONATO'S house.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter LEONATO, with DOGBERRY and VERGES</i></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>What would you with me, honest neighbour?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you</a><br /><a>that decerns you nearly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Brief, I pray you; for you see it is a busy time with me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, this it is, sir.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>Yes, in truth it is, sir.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>What is it, my good friends?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off the</a><br /><a>matter: an old man, sir, and his wits are not so</a><br /><a>blunt as, God help, I would desire they were; but,</a><br /><a>in faith, honest as the skin between his brows.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>Yes, I thank God I am as honest as any man living</a><br /><a>that is an old man and no honester than I.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Comparisons are odorous: palabras, neighbour Verges.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Neighbours, you are tedious.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>It pleases your worship to say so, but we are the</a><br /><a>poor duke's officers; but truly, for mine own part,</a><br /><a>if I were as tedious as a king, I could find it in</a><br /><a>my heart to bestow it all of your worship.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>All thy tediousness on me, ah?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, an 'twere a thousand pound more than 'tis; for</a><br /><a>I hear as good exclamation on your worship as of any</a><br /><a>man in the city; and though I be but a poor man, I</a><br /><a>am glad to hear it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>And so am I.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>I would fain know what you have to say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, sir, our watch to-night, excepting your</a><br /><a>worship's presence, ha' ta'en a couple of as arrant</a><br /><a>knaves as any in Messina.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>A good old man, sir; he will be talking: as they</a><br /><a>say, when the age is in, the wit is out: God help</a><br /><a>us! it is a world to see. Well said, i' faith,</a><br /><a>neighbour Verges: well, God's a good man; an two men</a><br /><a>ride of a horse, one must ride behind. An honest</a><br /><a>soul, i' faith, sir; by my troth he is, as ever</a><br /><a>broke bread; but God is to be worshipped; all men</a><br /><a>are not alike; alas, good neighbour!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Gifts that God gives.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>I must leave you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>One word, sir: our watch, sir, have indeed</a><br /><a>comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would</a><br /><a>have them this morning examined before your worship.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Take their examination yourself and bring it me: I</a><br /><a>am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>It shall be suffigance.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well.</a><br /><p><i>Enter a Messenger</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to</a><br /><a>her husband.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>I'll wait upon them: I am ready.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt LEONATO and Messenger</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacole;</a><br /><a>bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol: we</a><br /><a>are now to examination these men.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>And we must do it wisely.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><a>We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's</a><br /><a>that shall drive some of them to a non-come: only</a><br /><a>get the learned writer to set down our</a><br /><a>excommunication and meet me at the gaol.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></span><span id = 390 ></span><span id = 395 ><h3>SCENE I. A church.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, LEONATO, FRIAR FRANCIS, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, BEATRICE, and Attendants</i></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, Friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain</a><br /><a>form of marriage, and you shall recount their</a><br /><a>particular duties afterwards.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>No.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>To be married to her: friar, you come to marry her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>Lady, you come hither to be married to this count.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>I do.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>If either of you know any inward impediment why you</a><br /><a>should not be conjoined, charge you, on your souls,</a><br /><a>to utter it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Know you any, Hero?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>None, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>Know you any, count?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>I dare make his answer, none.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily</a><br /><a>do, not knowing what they do!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>How now! interjections? Why, then, some be of</a><br /><a>laughing, as, ah, ha, he!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Stand thee by, friar. Father, by your leave:</a><br /><a>Will you with free and unconstrained soul</a><br /><a>Give me this maid, your daughter?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>As freely, son, as God did give her me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>And what have I to give you back, whose worth</a><br /><a>May counterpoise this rich and precious gift?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Nothing, unless you render her again.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankfulness.</a><br /><a>There, Leonato, take her back again:</a><br /><a>Give not this rotten orange to your friend;</a><br /><a>She's but the sign and semblance of her honour.</a><br /><a>Behold how like a maid she blushes here!</a><br /><a>O, what authority and show of truth</a><br /><a>Can cunning sin cover itself withal!</a><br /><a>Comes not that blood as modest evidence</a><br /><a>To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear,</a><br /><a>All you that see her, that she were a maid,</a><br /><a>By these exterior shows? But she is none:</a><br /><a>She knows the heat of a luxurious bed;</a><br /><a>Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>What do you mean, my lord?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Not to be married,</a><br /><a>Not to knit my soul to an approved wanton.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Dear my lord, if you, in your own proof,</a><br /><a>Have vanquish'd the resistance of her youth,</a><br /><a>And made defeat of her virginity,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I know what you would say: if I have known her,</a><br /><a>You will say she did embrace me as a husband,</a><br /><a>And so extenuate the 'forehand sin:</a><br /><a>No, Leonato,</a><br /><a>I never tempted her with word too large;</a><br /><a>But, as a brother to his sister, show'd</a><br /><a>Bashful sincerity and comely love.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>And seem'd I ever otherwise to you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Out on thee! Seeming! I will write against it:</a><br /><a>You seem to me as Dian in her orb,</a><br /><a>As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown;</a><br /><a>But you are more intemperate in your blood</a><br /><a>Than Venus, or those pamper'd animals</a><br /><a>That rage in savage sensuality.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Sweet prince, why speak not you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>What should I speak?</a><br /><a>I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about</a><br /><a>To link my dear friend to a common stale.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Are these things spoken, or do I but dream?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>This looks not like a nuptial.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>True! O God!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Leonato, stand I here?</a><br /><a>Is this the prince? is this the prince's brother?</a><br /><a>Is this face Hero's? are our eyes our own?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>All this is so: but what of this, my lord?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Let me but move one question to your daughter;</a><br /><a>And, by that fatherly and kindly power</a><br /><a>That you have in her, bid her answer truly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>I charge thee do so, as thou art my child.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>O, God defend me! how am I beset!</a><br /><a>What kind of catechising call you this?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>To make you answer truly to your name.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name</a><br /><a>With any just reproach?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, that can Hero;</a><br /><a>Hero itself can blot out Hero's virtue.</a><br /><a>What man was he talk'd with you yesternight</a><br /><a>Out at your window betwixt twelve and one?</a><br /><a>Now, if you are a maid, answer to this.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>I talk'd with no man at that hour, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, then are you no maiden. Leonato,</a><br /><a>I am sorry you must hear: upon mine honour,</a><br /><a>Myself, my brother and this grieved count</a><br /><a>Did see her, hear her, at that hour last night</a><br /><a>Talk with a ruffian at her chamber-window</a><br /><a>Who hath indeed, most like a liberal villain,</a><br /><a>Confess'd the vile encounters they have had</a><br /><a>A thousand times in secret.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Fie, fie! they are not to be named, my lord,</a><br /><a>Not to be spoke of;</a><br /><a>There is not chastity enough in language</a><br /><a>Without offence to utter them. Thus, pretty lady,</a><br /><a>I am sorry for thy much misgovernment.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>O Hero, what a Hero hadst thou been,</a><br /><a>If half thy outward graces had been placed</a><br /><a>About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart!</a><br /><a>But fare thee well, most foul, most fair! farewell,</a><br /><a>Thou pure impiety and impious purity!</a><br /><a>For thee I'll lock up all the gates of love,</a><br /><a>And on my eyelids shall conjecture hang,</a><br /><a>To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm,</a><br /><a>And never shall it more be gracious.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Hath no man's dagger here a point for me?</a><br /><p><i>HERO swoons</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, how now, cousin! wherefore sink you down?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON JOHN</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, let us go. These things, come thus to light,</a><br /><a>Smother her spirits up.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, and CLAUDIO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>How doth the lady?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>                  Dead, I think. Help, uncle!</a><br /><a>Hero! why, Hero! Uncle! Signior Benedick! Friar!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>O Fate! take not away thy heavy hand.</a><br /><a>Death is the fairest cover for her shame</a><br /><a>That may be wish'd for.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>How now, cousin Hero!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>Have comfort, lady.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Dost thou look up?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, wherefore should she not?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Wherefore! Why, doth not every earthly thing</a><br /><a>Cry shame upon her? Could she here deny</a><br /><a>The story that is printed in her blood?</a><br /><a>Do not live, Hero; do not ope thine eyes:</a><br /><a>For, did I think thou wouldst not quickly die,</a><br /><a>Thought I thy spirits were stronger than thy shames,</a><br /><a>Myself would, on the rearward of reproaches,</a><br /><a>Strike at thy life. Grieved I, I had but one?</a><br /><a>Chid I for that at frugal nature's frame?</a><br /><a>O, one too much by thee! Why had I one?</a><br /><a>Why ever wast thou lovely in my eyes?</a><br /><a>Why had I not with charitable hand</a><br /><a>Took up a beggar's issue at my gates,</a><br /><a>Who smirch'd thus and mired with infamy,</a><br /><a>I might have said 'No part of it is mine;</a><br /><a>This shame derives itself from unknown loins'?</a><br /><a>But mine and mine I loved and mine I praised</a><br /><a>And mine that I was proud on, mine so much</a><br /><a>That I myself was to myself not mine,</a><br /><a>Valuing of her,--why, she, O, she is fallen</a><br /><a>Into a pit of ink, that the wide sea</a><br /><a>Hath drops too few to wash her clean again</a><br /><a>And salt too little which may season give</a><br /><a>To her foul-tainted flesh!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, sir, be patient.</a><br /><a>For my part, I am so attired in wonder,</a><br /><a>I know not what to say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>O, on my soul, my cousin is belied!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Lady, were you her bedfellow last night?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>No, truly not; although, until last night,</a><br /><a>I have this twelvemonth been her bedfellow.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Confirm'd, confirm'd! O, that is stronger made</a><br /><a>Which was before barr'd up with ribs of iron!</a><br /><a>Would the two princes lie, and Claudio lie,</a><br /><a>Who loved her so, that, speaking of her foulness,</a><br /><a>Wash'd it with tears? Hence from her! let her die.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>Hear me a little;</a><br /><a>For I have only been silent so long</a><br /><a>And given way unto this course of fortune.</a><br /><a>...</a><br /><a>By noting of the lady I have mark'd</a><br /><a>A thousand blushing apparitions</a><br /><a>To start into her face, a thousand innocent shames</a><br /><a>In angel whiteness beat away those blushes;</a><br /><a>And in her eye there hath appear'd a fire,</a><br /><a>To burn the errors that these princes hold</a><br /><a>Against her maiden truth. Call me a fool;</a><br /><a>Trust not my reading nor my observations,</a><br /><a>Which with experimental seal doth warrant</a><br /><a>The tenor of my book; trust not my age,</a><br /><a>My reverence, calling, nor divinity,</a><br /><a>If this sweet lady lie not guiltless here</a><br /><a>Under some biting error.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Friar, it cannot be.</a><br /><a>Thou seest that all the grace that she hath left</a><br /><a>Is that she will not add to her damnation</a><br /><a>A sin of perjury; she not denies it:</a><br /><a>Why seek'st thou then to cover with excuse</a><br /><a>That which appears in proper nakedness?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>Lady, what man is he you are accused of?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>They know that do accuse me; I know none:</a><br /><a>If I know more of any man alive</a><br /><a>Than that which maiden modesty doth warrant,</a><br /><a>Let all my sins lack mercy! O my father,</a><br /><a>Prove you that any man with me conversed</a><br /><a>At hours unmeet, or that I yesternight</a><br /><a>Maintain'd the change of words with any creature,</a><br /><a>Refuse me, hate me, torture me to death!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>There is some strange misprision in the princes.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Two of them have the very bent of honour;</a><br /><a>And if their wisdoms be misled in this,</a><br /><a>The practise of it lives in John the bastard,</a><br /><a>Whose spirits toil in frame of villanies.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>I know not. If they speak but truth of her,</a><br /><a>These hands shall tear her; if they wrong her honour,</a><br /><a>The proudest of them shall well hear of it.</a><br /><a>Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine,</a><br /><a>Nor age so eat up my invention,</a><br /><a>Nor fortune made such havoc of my means,</a><br /><a>Nor my bad life reft me so much of friends,</a><br /><a>But they shall find, awaked in such a kind,</a><br /><a>Both strength of limb and policy of mind,</a><br /><a>Ability in means and choice of friends,</a><br /><a>To quit me of them throughly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>Pause awhile,</a><br /><a>And let my counsel sway you in this case.</a><br /><a>Your daughter here the princes left for dead:</a><br /><a>Let her awhile be secretly kept in,</a><br /><a>And publish it that she is dead indeed;</a><br /><a>Maintain a mourning ostentation</a><br /><a>And on your family's old monument</a><br /><a>Hang mournful epitaphs and do all rites</a><br /><a>That appertain unto a burial.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>What shall become of this? what will this do?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, this well carried shall on her behalf</a><br /><a>Change slander to remorse; that is some good:</a><br /><a>But not for that dream I on this strange course,</a><br /><a>But on this travail look for greater birth.</a><br /><a>She dying, as it must so be maintain'd,</a><br /><a>Upon the instant that she was accused,</a><br /><a>Shall be lamented, pitied and excused</a><br /><a>Of every hearer: for it so falls out</a><br /><a>That what we have we prize not to the worth</a><br /><a>Whiles we enjoy it, but being lack'd and lost,</a><br /><a>Why, then we rack the value, then we find</a><br /><a>The virtue that possession would not show us</a><br /><a>Whiles it was ours. So will it fare with Claudio:</a><br /><a>When he shall hear she died upon his words,</a><br /><a>The idea of her life shall sweetly creep</a><br /><a>Into his study of imagination,</a><br /><a>And every lovely organ of her life</a><br /><a>Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit,</a><br /><a>More moving-delicate and full of life,</a><br /><a>Into the eye and prospect of his soul,</a><br /><a>Than when she lived indeed; then shall he mourn,</a><br /><a>If ever love had interest in his liver,</a><br /><a>And wish he had not so accused her,</a><br /><a>No, though he thought his accusation true.</a><br /><a>Let this be so, and doubt not but success</a><br /><a>Will fashion the event in better shape</a><br /><a>Than I can lay it down in likelihood.</a><br /><a>But if all aim but this be levell'd false,</a><br /><a>The supposition of the lady's death</a><br /><a>Will quench the wonder of her infamy:</a><br /><a>And if it sort not well, you may conceal her,</a><br /><a>As best befits her wounded reputation,</a><br /><a>In some reclusive and religious life,</a><br /><a>Out of all eyes, tongues, minds and injuries.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Signior Leonato, let the friar advise you:</a><br /><a>And though you know my inwardness and love</a><br /><a>Is very much unto the prince and Claudio,</a><br /><a>Yet, by mine honour, I will deal in this</a><br /><a>As secretly and justly as your soul</a><br /><a>Should with your body.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Being that I flow in grief,</a><br /><a>The smallest twine may lead me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis well consented: presently away;</a><br /><a>For to strange sores strangely they strain the cure.</a><br /><a>Come, lady, die to live: this wedding-day</a><br /><a>Perhaps is but prolong'd: have patience and endure.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt all but BENEDICK and BEATRICE</i></p></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this while?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, and I will weep a while longer.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I will not desire that.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>You have no reason; I do it freely.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Surely I do believe your fair cousin is wronged.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Ah, how much might the man deserve of me that would right her!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Is there any way to show such friendship?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>A very even way, but no such friend.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>May a man do it?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>It is a man's office, but not yours.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is</a><br /><a>not that strange?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>As strange as the thing I know not. It were as</a><br /><a>possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as</a><br /><a>you: but believe me not; and yet I lie not; I</a><br /><a>confess nothing, nor I deny nothing. I am sorry for my cousin.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Do not swear, and eat it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I will swear by it that you love me; and I will make</a><br /><a>him eat it that says I love not you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Will you not eat your word?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>With no sauce that can be devised to it. I protest</a><br /><a>I love thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, then, God forgive me!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>What offence, sweet Beatrice?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>You have stayed me in a happy hour: I was about to</a><br /><a>protest I loved you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>And do it with all thy heart.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>I love you with so much of my heart that none is</a><br /><a>left to protest.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, bid me do any thing for thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Kill Claudio.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Ha! not for the wide world.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>You kill me to deny it. Farewell.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Tarry, sweet Beatrice.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>I am gone, though I am here: there is no love in</a><br /><a>you: nay, I pray you, let me go.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Beatrice,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>In faith, I will go.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>We'll be friends first.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>You dare easier be friends with me than fight with mine enemy.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Is Claudio thine enemy?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Is he not approved in the height a villain, that</a><br /><a>hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? O</a><br /><a>that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they</a><br /><a>come to take hands; and then, with public</a><br /><a>accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour,</a><br /><a>--O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart</a><br /><a>in the market-place.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Hear me, Beatrice,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Talk with a man out at a window! A proper saying!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, but, Beatrice,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Sweet Hero! She is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Beat--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Princes and counties! Surely, a princely testimony,</a><br /><a>a goodly count, Count Comfect; a sweet gallant,</a><br /><a>surely! O that I were a man for his sake! or that I</a><br /><a>had any friend would be a man for my sake! But</a><br /><a>manhood is melted into courtesies, valour into</a><br /><a>compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and</a><br /><a>trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules</a><br /><a>that only tells a lie and swears it. I cannot be a</a><br /><a>man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Tarry, good Beatrice. By this hand, I love thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Think you in your soul the Count Claudio hath wronged Hero?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, as sure as I have a thought or a soul.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Enough, I am engaged; I will challenge him. I will</a><br /><a>kiss your hand, and so I leave you. By this hand,</a><br /><a>Claudio shall render me a dear account. As you</a><br /><a>hear of me, so think of me. Go, comfort your</a><br /><a>cousin: I must say she is dead: and so, farewell.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 397 ><h3>SCENE II. A prison.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter DOGBERRY, VERGES, and Sexton, in gowns; and the Watch, with CONRADE and BORACHIO</i></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Is our whole dissembly appeared?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>O, a stool and a cushion for the sexton.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Sexton</b></a><blockquote><a>Which be the malefactors?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, that am I and my partner.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, that's certain; we have the exhibition to examine.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Sexton</b></a><blockquote><a>But which are the offenders that are to be</a><br /><a>examined? let them come before master constable.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, marry, let them come before me. What is your</a><br /><a>name, friend?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Borachio.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Pray, write down, Borachio. Yours, sirrah?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>I am a gentleman, sir, and my name is Conrade.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Write down, master gentleman Conrade. Masters, do</a><br /><a>you serve God?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, sir, we hope.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Write down, that they hope they serve God: and</a><br /><a>write God first; for God defend but God should go</a><br /><a>before such villains! Masters, it is proved already</a><br /><a>that you are little better than false knaves; and it</a><br /><a>will go near to be thought so shortly. How answer</a><br /><a>you for yourselves?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, sir, we say we are none.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>A marvellous witty fellow, I assure you: but I</a><br /><a>will go about with him. Come you hither, sirrah; a</a><br /><a>word in your ear: sir, I say to you, it is thought</a><br /><a>you are false knaves.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, I say to you we are none.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, stand aside. 'Fore God, they are both in a</a><br /><a>tale. Have you writ down, that they are none?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Sexton</b></a><blockquote><a>Master constable, you go not the way to examine:</a><br /><a>you must call forth the watch that are their accusers.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, marry, that's the eftest way. Let the watch</a><br /><a>come forth. Masters, I charge you, in the prince's</a><br /><a>name, accuse these men.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>This man said, sir, that Don John, the prince's</a><br /><a>brother, was a villain.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Write down Prince John a villain. Why, this is flat</a><br /><a>perjury, to call a prince's brother villain.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Master constable,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Pray thee, fellow, peace: I do not like thy look,</a><br /><a>I promise thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Sexton</b></a><blockquote><a>What heard you him say else?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Second Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, that he had received a thousand ducats of</a><br /><a>Don John for accusing the Lady Hero wrongfully.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Flat burglary as ever was committed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, by mass, that it is.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Sexton</b></a><blockquote><a>What else, fellow?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>First Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>And that Count Claudio did mean, upon his words, to</a><br /><a>disgrace Hero before the whole assembly. and not marry her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>O villain! thou wilt be condemned into everlasting</a><br /><a>redemption for this.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Sexton</b></a><blockquote><a>What else?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Watchman</b></a><blockquote><a>This is all.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Sexton</b></a><blockquote><a>And this is more, masters, than you can deny.</a><br /><a>Prince John is this morning secretly stolen away;</a><br /><a>Hero was in this manner accused, in this very manner</a><br /><a>refused, and upon the grief of this suddenly died.</a><br /><a>Master constable, let these men be bound, and</a><br /><a>brought to Leonato's: I will go before and show</a><br /><a>him their examination.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, let them be opinioned.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>Let them be in the hands--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>Off, coxcomb!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>God's my life, where's the sexton? let him write</a><br /><a>down the prince's officer coxcomb. Come, bind them.</a><br /><a>Thou naughty varlet!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CONRADE</b></a><blockquote><a>Away! you are an ass, you are an ass.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><a>Dost thou not suspect my place? dost thou not</a><br /><a>suspect my years? O that he were here to write me</a><br /><a>down an ass! But, masters, remember that I am an</a><br /><a>ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not</a><br /><a>that I am an ass. No, thou villain, thou art full of</a><br /><a>piety, as shall be proved upon thee by good witness.</a><br /><a>I am a wise fellow, and, which is more, an officer,</a><br /><a>and, which is more, a householder, and, which is</a><br /><a>more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in</a><br /><a>Messina, and one that knows the law, go to; and a</a><br /><a>rich fellow enough, go to; and a fellow that hath</a><br /><a>had losses, and one that hath two gowns and every</a><br /><a>thing handsome about him. Bring him away. O that</a><br /><a>I had been writ down an ass!</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></span><span id = 399 ></span><span id = 402 ><h3>SCENE I. Before LEONATO'S house.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter LEONATO and ANTONIO</i></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>If you go on thus, you will kill yourself:</a><br /><a>And 'tis not wisdom thus to second grief</a><br /><a>Against yourself.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>                  I pray thee, cease thy counsel,</a><br /><a>Which falls into mine ears as profitless</a><br /><a>As water in a sieve: give not me counsel;</a><br /><a>Nor let no comforter delight mine ear</a><br /><a>But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine.</a><br /><a>Bring me a father that so loved his child,</a><br /><a>Whose joy of her is overwhelm'd like mine,</a><br /><a>And bid him speak of patience;</a><br /><a>Measure his woe the length and breadth of mine</a><br /><a>And let it answer every strain for strain,</a><br /><a>As thus for thus and such a grief for such,</a><br /><a>In every lineament, branch, shape, and form:</a><br /><a>If such a one will smile and stroke his beard,</a><br /><a>Bid sorrow wag, cry 'hem!' when he should groan,</a><br /><a>Patch grief with proverbs, make misfortune drunk</a><br /><a>With candle-wasters; bring him yet to me,</a><br /><a>And I of him will gather patience.</a><br /><a>But there is no such man: for, brother, men</a><br /><a>Can counsel and speak comfort to that grief</a><br /><a>Which they themselves not feel; but, tasting it,</a><br /><a>Their counsel turns to passion, which before</a><br /><a>Would give preceptial medicine to rage,</a><br /><a>Fetter strong madness in a silken thread,</a><br /><a>Charm ache with air and agony with words:</a><br /><a>No, no; 'tis all men's office to speak patience</a><br /><a>To those that wring under the load of sorrow,</a><br /><a>But no man's virtue nor sufficiency</a><br /><a>To be so moral when he shall endure</a><br /><a>The like himself. Therefore give me no counsel:</a><br /><a>My griefs cry louder than advertisement.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Therein do men from children nothing differ.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>I pray thee, peace. I will be flesh and blood;</a><br /><a>For there was never yet philosopher</a><br /><a>That could endure the toothache patiently,</a><br /><a>However they have writ the style of gods</a><br /><a>And made a push at chance and sufferance.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yet bend not all the harm upon yourself;</a><br /><a>Make those that do offend you suffer too.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>There thou speak'st reason: nay, I will do so.</a><br /><a>My soul doth tell me Hero is belied;</a><br /><a>And that shall Claudio know; so shall the prince</a><br /><a>And all of them that thus dishonour her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Here comes the prince and Claudio hastily.</a><br /><p><i>Enter DON PEDRO and CLAUDIO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Good den, good den.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Good day to both of you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Hear you. my lords,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>We have some haste, Leonato.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Some haste, my lord! well, fare you well, my lord:</a><br /><a>Are you so hasty now? well, all is one.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, do not quarrel with us, good old man.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>If he could right himself with quarreling,</a><br /><a>Some of us would lie low.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Who wrongs him?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, thou dost wrong me; thou dissembler, thou:--</a><br /><a>Nay, never lay thy hand upon thy sword;</a><br /><a>I fear thee not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>                  Marry, beshrew my hand,</a><br /><a>If it should give your age such cause of fear:</a><br /><a>In faith, my hand meant nothing to my sword.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Tush, tush, man; never fleer and jest at me:</a><br /><a>I speak not like a dotard nor a fool,</a><br /><a>As under privilege of age to brag</a><br /><a>What I have done being young, or what would do</a><br /><a>Were I not old. Know, Claudio, to thy head,</a><br /><a>Thou hast so wrong'd mine innocent child and me</a><br /><a>That I am forced to lay my reverence by</a><br /><a>And, with grey hairs and bruise of many days,</a><br /><a>Do challenge thee to trial of a man.</a><br /><a>I say thou hast belied mine innocent child;</a><br /><a>Thy slander hath gone through and through her heart,</a><br /><a>And she lies buried with her ancestors;</a><br /><a>O, in a tomb where never scandal slept,</a><br /><a>Save this of hers, framed by thy villany!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>My villany?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>          Thine, Claudio; thine, I say.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>You say not right, old man.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord, my lord,</a><br /><a>I'll prove it on his body, if he dare,</a><br /><a>Despite his nice fence and his active practise,</a><br /><a>His May of youth and bloom of lustihood.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Away! I will not have to do with you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Canst thou so daff me? Thou hast kill'd my child:</a><br /><a>If thou kill'st me, boy, thou shalt kill a man.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>He shall kill two of us, and men indeed:</a><br /><a>But that's no matter; let him kill one first;</a><br /><a>Win me and wear me; let him answer me.</a><br /><a>Come, follow me, boy; come, sir boy, come, follow me:</a><br /><a>Sir boy, I'll whip you from your foining fence;</a><br /><a>Nay, as I am a gentleman, I will.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Brother,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Content yourself. God knows I loved my niece;</a><br /><a>And she is dead, slander'd to death by villains,</a><br /><a>That dare as well answer a man indeed</a><br /><a>As I dare take a serpent by the tongue:</a><br /><a>Boys, apes, braggarts, Jacks, milksops!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Brother Antony,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Hold you content. What, man! I know them, yea,</a><br /><a>And what they weigh, even to the utmost scruple,--</a><br /><a>Scrambling, out-facing, fashion-monging boys,</a><br /><a>That lie and cog and flout, deprave and slander,</a><br /><a>Go anticly, show outward hideousness,</a><br /><a>And speak off half a dozen dangerous words,</a><br /><a>How they might hurt their enemies, if they durst;</a><br /><a>And this is all.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>But, brother Antony,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, 'tis no matter:</a><br /><a>Do not you meddle; let me deal in this.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Gentlemen both, we will not wake your patience.</a><br /><a>My heart is sorry for your daughter's death:</a><br /><a>But, on my honour, she was charged with nothing</a><br /><a>But what was true and very full of proof.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord, my lord,--</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>I will not hear you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>No? Come, brother; away! I will be heard.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>And shall, or some of us will smart for it.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt LEONATO and ANTONIO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>See, see; here comes the man we went to seek.</a><br /><p><i>Enter BENEDICK</i></p></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Now, signior, what news?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Good day, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Welcome, signior: you are almost come to part</a><br /><a>almost a fray.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>We had like to have had our two noses snapped off</a><br /><a>with two old men without teeth.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Leonato and his brother. What thinkest thou? Had</a><br /><a>we fought, I doubt we should have been too young for them.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>In a false quarrel there is no true valour. I came</a><br /><a>to seek you both.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>We have been up and down to seek thee; for we are</a><br /><a>high-proof melancholy and would fain have it beaten</a><br /><a>away. Wilt thou use thy wit?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>It is in my scabbard: shall I draw it?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Dost thou wear thy wit by thy side?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Never any did so, though very many have been beside</a><br /><a>their wit. I will bid thee draw, as we do the</a><br /><a>minstrels; draw, to pleasure us.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>As I am an honest man, he looks pale. Art thou</a><br /><a>sick, or angry?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>What, courage, man! What though care killed a cat,</a><br /><a>thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, I shall meet your wit in the career, and you</a><br /><a>charge it against me. I pray you choose another subject.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Nay, then, give him another staff: this last was</a><br /><a>broke cross.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>By this light, he changes more and more: I think</a><br /><a>he be angry indeed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>If he be, he knows how to turn his girdle.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Shall I speak a word in your ear?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>God bless me from a challenge!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>[Aside to CLAUDIO]  You are a villain; I jest not:</a><br /><a>I will make it good how you dare, with what you</a><br /><a>dare, and when you dare. Do me right, or I will</a><br /><a>protest your cowardice. You have killed a sweet</a><br /><a>lady, and her death shall fall heavy on you. Let me</a><br /><a>hear from you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, I will meet you, so I may have good cheer.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>What, a feast, a feast?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I' faith, I thank him; he hath bid me to a calf's</a><br /><a>head and a capon; the which if I do not carve most</a><br /><a>curiously, say my knife's naught. Shall I not find</a><br /><a>a woodcock too?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Sir, your wit ambles well; it goes easily.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>I'll tell thee how Beatrice praised thy wit the</a><br /><a>other day. I said, thou hadst a fine wit: 'True,'</a><br /><a>said she, 'a fine little one.' 'No,' said I, 'a</a><br /><a>great wit:' 'Right,' says she, 'a great gross one.'</a><br /><a>'Nay,' said I, 'a good wit:' 'Just,' said she, 'it</a><br /><a>hurts nobody.' 'Nay,' said I, 'the gentleman</a><br /><a>is wise:' 'Certain,' said she, 'a wise gentleman.'</a><br /><a>'Nay,' said I, 'he hath the tongues:' 'That I</a><br /><a>believe,' said she, 'for he swore a thing to me on</a><br /><a>Monday night, which he forswore on Tuesday morning;</a><br /><a>there's a double tongue; there's two tongues.' Thus</a><br /><a>did she, an hour together, transshape thy particular</a><br /><a>virtues: yet at last she concluded with a sigh, thou</a><br /><a>wast the properest man in Italy.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>For the which she wept heartily and said she cared</a><br /><a>not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, that she did: but yet, for all that, an if she</a><br /><a>did not hate him deadly, she would love him dearly:</a><br /><a>the old man's daughter told us all.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>All, all; and, moreover, God saw him when he was</a><br /><a>hid in the garden.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>But when shall we set the savage bull's horns on</a><br /><a>the sensible Benedick's head?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, and text underneath, 'Here dwells Benedick the</a><br /><a>married man'?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Fare you well, boy: you know my mind. I will leave</a><br /><a>you now to your gossip-like humour: you break jests</a><br /><a>as braggarts do their blades, which God be thanked,</a><br /><a>hurt not. My lord, for your many courtesies I thank</a><br /><a>you: I must discontinue your company: your brother</a><br /><a>the bastard is fled from Messina: you have among</a><br /><a>you killed a sweet and innocent lady. For my Lord</a><br /><a>Lackbeard there, he and I shall meet: and, till</a><br /><a>then, peace be with him.</a><br /><p><i>Exit</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>He is in earnest.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>In most profound earnest; and, I'll warrant you, for</a><br /><a>the love of Beatrice.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>And hath challenged thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Most sincerely.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>What a pretty thing man is when he goes in his</a><br /><a>doublet and hose and leaves off his wit!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>He is then a giant to an ape; but then is an ape a</a><br /><a>doctor to such a man.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>But, soft you, let me be: pluck up, my heart, and</a><br /><a>be sad. Did he not say, my brother was fled?</a><br /><p><i>Enter DOGBERRY, VERGES, and the Watch, with CONRADE and BORACHIO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Come you, sir: if justice cannot tame you, she</a><br /><a>shall ne'er weigh more reasons in her balance: nay,</a><br /><a>an you be a cursing hypocrite once, you must be looked to.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>How now? two of my brother's men bound! Borachio</a><br /><a>one!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Hearken after their offence, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Officers, what offence have these men done?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Marry, sir, they have committed false report;</a><br /><a>moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily,</a><br /><a>they are slanders; sixth and lastly, they have</a><br /><a>belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust</a><br /><a>things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>First, I ask thee what they have done; thirdly, I</a><br /><a>ask thee what's their offence; sixth and lastly, why</a><br /><a>they are committed; and, to conclude, what you lay</a><br /><a>to their charge.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Rightly reasoned, and in his own division: and, by</a><br /><a>my troth, there's one meaning well suited.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Who have you offended, masters, that you are thus</a><br /><a>bound to your answer? this learned constable is</a><br /><a>too cunning to be understood: what's your offence?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Sweet prince, let me go no farther to mine answer:</a><br /><a>do you hear me, and let this count kill me. I have</a><br /><a>deceived even your very eyes: what your wisdoms</a><br /><a>could not discover, these shallow fools have brought</a><br /><a>to light: who in the night overheard me confessing</a><br /><a>to this man how Don John your brother incensed me</a><br /><a>to slander the Lady Hero, how you were brought into</a><br /><a>the orchard and saw me court Margaret in Hero's</a><br /><a>garments, how you disgraced her, when you should</a><br /><a>marry her: my villany they have upon record; which</a><br /><a>I had rather seal with my death than repeat over</a><br /><a>to my shame. The lady is dead upon mine and my</a><br /><a>master's false accusation; and, briefly, I desire</a><br /><a>nothing but the reward of a villain.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Runs not this speech like iron through your blood?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I have drunk poison whiles he utter'd it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>But did my brother set thee on to this?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, and paid me richly for the practise of it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>He is composed and framed of treachery:</a><br /><a>And fled he is upon this villany.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Sweet Hero! now thy image doth appear</a><br /><a>In the rare semblance that I loved it first.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, bring away the plaintiffs: by this time our</a><br /><a>sexton hath reformed Signior Leonato of the matter:</a><br /><a>and, masters, do not forget to specify, when time</a><br /><a>and place shall serve, that I am an ass.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>VERGES</b></a><blockquote><a>Here, here comes master Signior Leonato, and the</a><br /><a>Sexton too.</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter LEONATO and ANTONIO, with the Sexton</i></p></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Which is the villain? let me see his eyes,</a><br /><a>That, when I note another man like him,</a><br /><a>I may avoid him: which of these is he?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>If you would know your wronger, look on me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Art thou the slave that with thy breath hast kill'd</a><br /><a>Mine innocent child?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, even I alone.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>No, not so, villain; thou beliest thyself:</a><br /><a>Here stand a pair of honourable men;</a><br /><a>A third is fled, that had a hand in it.</a><br /><a>I thank you, princes, for my daughter's death:</a><br /><a>Record it with your high and worthy deeds:</a><br /><a>'Twas bravely done, if you bethink you of it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I know not how to pray your patience;</a><br /><a>Yet I must speak. Choose your revenge yourself;</a><br /><a>Impose me to what penance your invention</a><br /><a>Can lay upon my sin: yet sinn'd I not</a><br /><a>But in mistaking.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>                  By my soul, nor I:</a><br /><a>And yet, to satisfy this good old man,</a><br /><a>I would bend under any heavy weight</a><br /><a>That he'll enjoin me to.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>I cannot bid you bid my daughter live;</a><br /><a>That were impossible: but, I pray you both,</a><br /><a>Possess the people in Messina here</a><br /><a>How innocent she died; and if your love</a><br /><a>Can labour ought in sad invention,</a><br /><a>Hang her an epitaph upon her tomb</a><br /><a>And sing it to her bones, sing it to-night:</a><br /><a>To-morrow morning come you to my house,</a><br /><a>And since you could not be my son-in-law,</a><br /><a>Be yet my nephew: my brother hath a daughter,</a><br /><a>Almost the copy of my child that's dead,</a><br /><a>And she alone is heir to both of us:</a><br /><a>Give her the right you should have given her cousin,</a><br /><a>And so dies my revenge.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>O noble sir,</a><br /><a>Your over-kindness doth wring tears from me!</a><br /><a>I do embrace your offer; and dispose</a><br /><a>For henceforth of poor Claudio.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>To-morrow then I will expect your coming;</a><br /><a>To-night I take my leave. This naughty man</a><br /><a>Shall face to face be brought to Margaret,</a><br /><a>Who I believe was pack'd in all this wrong,</a><br /><a>Hired to it by your brother.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BORACHIO</b></a><blockquote><a>No, by my soul, she was not,</a><br /><a>Nor knew not what she did when she spoke to me,</a><br /><a>But always hath been just and virtuous</a><br /><a>In any thing that I do know by her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Moreover, sir, which indeed is not under white and</a><br /><a>black, this plaintiff here, the offender, did call</a><br /><a>me ass: I beseech you, let it be remembered in his</a><br /><a>punishment. And also, the watch heard them talk of</a><br /><a>one Deformed: they say be wears a key in his ear and</a><br /><a>a lock hanging by it, and borrows money in God's</a><br /><a>name, the which he hath used so long and never paid</a><br /><a>that now men grow hard-hearted and will lend nothing</a><br /><a>for God's sake: pray you, examine him upon that point.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>I thank thee for thy care and honest pains.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>Your worship speaks like a most thankful and</a><br /><a>reverend youth; and I praise God for you.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>There's for thy pains.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>God save the foundation!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Go, I discharge thee of thy prisoner, and I thank thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DOGBERRY</b></a><blockquote><a>I leave an arrant knave with your worship; which I</a><br /><a>beseech your worship to correct yourself, for the</a><br /><a>example of others. God keep your worship! I wish</a><br /><a>your worship well; God restore you to health! I</a><br /><a>humbly give you leave to depart; and if a merry</a><br /><a>meeting may be wished, God prohibit it! Come, neighbour.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt DOGBERRY and VERGES</i></p></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Until to-morrow morning, lords, farewell.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Farewell, my lords: we look for you to-morrow.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>We will not fail.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>                  To-night I'll mourn with Hero.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>[To the Watch]  Bring you these fellows on. We'll</a><br /><a>talk with Margaret,</a><br /><a>How her acquaintance grew with this lewd fellow.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt, severally</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 403 ><h3>SCENE II. LEONATO'S garden.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter BENEDICK and MARGARET, meeting</i></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Pray thee, sweet Mistress Margaret, deserve well at</a><br /><a>my hands by helping me to the speech of Beatrice.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>Will you then write me a sonnet in praise of my beauty?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>In so high a style, Margaret, that no man living</a><br /><a>shall come over it; for, in most comely truth, thou</a><br /><a>deservest it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>To have no man come over me! why, shall I always</a><br /><a>keep below stairs?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Thy wit is as quick as the greyhound's mouth; it catches.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>And yours as blunt as the fencer's foils, which hit,</a><br /><a>but hurt not.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>A most manly wit, Margaret; it will not hurt a</a><br /><a>woman: and so, I pray thee, call Beatrice: I give</a><br /><a>thee the bucklers.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>Give us the swords; we have bucklers of our own.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>If you use them, Margaret, you must put in the</a><br /><a>pikes with a vice; and they are dangerous weapons for maids.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>MARGARET</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, I will call Beatrice to you, who I think hath legs.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>And therefore will come.</a><br /><p><i>Exit MARGARET</i></p><p><i>Sings</i></p><a>The god of love,</a><br /><a>That sits above,</a><br /><a>And knows me, and knows me,</a><br /><a>How pitiful I deserve,--</a><br /><a>I mean in singing; but in loving, Leander the good</a><br /><a>swimmer, Troilus the first employer of panders, and</a><br /><a>a whole bookful of these quondam carpet-mangers,</a><br /><a>whose names yet run smoothly in the even road of a</a><br /><a>blank verse, why, they were never so truly turned</a><br /><a>over and over as my poor self in love. Marry, I</a><br /><a>cannot show it in rhyme; I have tried: I can find</a><br /><a>out no rhyme to 'lady' but 'baby,' an innocent</a><br /><a>rhyme; for 'scorn,' 'horn,' a hard rhyme; for,</a><br /><a>'school,' 'fool,' a babbling rhyme; very ominous</a><br /><a>endings: no, I was not born under a rhyming planet,</a><br /><a>nor I cannot woo in festival terms.</a><br /><p><i>Enter BEATRICE</i></p><a>Sweet Beatrice, wouldst thou come when I called thee?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Yea, signior, and depart when you bid me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>O, stay but till then!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>'Then' is spoken; fare you well now: and yet, ere</a><br /><a>I go, let me go with that I came; which is, with</a><br /><a>knowing what hath passed between you and Claudio.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Only foul words; and thereupon I will kiss thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Foul words is but foul wind, and foul wind is but</a><br /><a>foul breath, and foul breath is noisome; therefore I</a><br /><a>will depart unkissed.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Thou hast frighted the word out of his right sense,</a><br /><a>so forcible is thy wit. But I must tell thee</a><br /><a>plainly, Claudio undergoes my challenge; and either</a><br /><a>I must shortly hear from him, or I will subscribe</a><br /><a>him a coward. And, I pray thee now, tell me for</a><br /><a>which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>For them all together; which maintained so politic</a><br /><a>a state of evil that they will not admit any good</a><br /><a>part to intermingle with them. But for which of my</a><br /><a>good parts did you first suffer love for me?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Suffer love! a good epithet! I do suffer love</a><br /><a>indeed, for I love thee against my will.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>In spite of your heart, I think; alas, poor heart!</a><br /><a>If you spite it for my sake, I will spite it for</a><br /><a>yours; for I will never love that which my friend hates.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>It appears not in this confession: there's not one</a><br /><a>wise man among twenty that will praise himself.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>An old, an old instance, Beatrice, that lived in</a><br /><a>the lime of good neighbours. If a man do not erect</a><br /><a>in this age his own tomb ere he dies, he shall live</a><br /><a>no longer in monument than the bell rings and the</a><br /><a>widow weeps.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>And how long is that, think you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Question: why, an hour in clamour and a quarter in</a><br /><a>rheum: therefore is it most expedient for the</a><br /><a>wise, if Don Worm, his conscience, find no</a><br /><a>impediment to the contrary, to be the trumpet of his</a><br /><a>own virtues, as I am to myself. So much for</a><br /><a>praising myself, who, I myself will bear witness, is</a><br /><a>praiseworthy: and now tell me, how doth your cousin?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Very ill.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>And how do you?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Very ill too.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Serve God, love me and mend. There will I leave</a><br /><a>you too, for here comes one in haste.</a><br /><p><i>Enter URSULA</i></p></blockquote><a><b>URSULA</b></a><blockquote><a>Madam, you must come to your uncle. Yonder's old</a><br /><a>coil at home: it is proved my Lady Hero hath been</a><br /><a>falsely accused, the prince and Claudio mightily</a><br /><a>abused; and Don John is the author of all, who is</a><br /><a>fed and gone. Will you come presently?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Will you go hear this news, signior?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be</a><br /><a>buried in thy eyes; and moreover I will go with</a><br /><a>thee to thy uncle's.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 406 ><h3>SCENE III. A church.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO, and three or four with tapers</i></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Is this the monument of Leonato?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>Lord</b></a><blockquote><a>It is, my lord.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>[Reading out of a scroll]</a><br /><a>Done to death by slanderous tongues</a><br /><a>Was the Hero that here lies:</a><br /><a>Death, in guerdon of her wrongs,</a><br /><a>Gives her fame which never dies.</a><br /><a>So the life that died with shame</a><br /><a>Lives in death with glorious fame.</a><br /><a>Hang thou there upon the tomb,</a><br /><a>Praising her when I am dumb.</a><br /><a>Now, music, sound, and sing your solemn hymn.</a><br /><a>SONG.</a><br /><a>Pardon, goddess of the night,</a><br /><a>Those that slew thy virgin knight;</a><br /><a>For the which, with songs of woe,</a><br /><a>Round about her tomb they go.</a><br /><a>Midnight, assist our moan;</a><br /><a>Help us to sigh and groan,</a><br /><a>Heavily, heavily:</a><br /><a>Graves, yawn and yield your dead,</a><br /><a>Till death be uttered,</a><br /><a>Heavily, heavily.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>     Now, unto thy bones good night!</a><br /><a>Yearly will I do this rite.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Good morrow, masters; put your torches out:</a><br /><a>The wolves have prey'd; and look, the gentle day,</a><br /><a>Before the wheels of Phoebus, round about</a><br /><a>Dapples the drowsy east with spots of grey.</a><br /><a>Thanks to you all, and leave us: fare you well.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>     Good morrow, masters: each his several way.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, let us hence, and put on other weeds;</a><br /><a>And then to Leonato's we will go.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>And Hymen now with luckier issue speed's</a><br /><a>Than this for whom we render'd up this woe.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span><span id = 407 ><h3>SCENE IV. A room in LEONATO'S house.</h3><blockquote><i>Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, BENEDICK, BEATRICE, MARGARET, URSULA, FRIAR FRANCIS, and HERO</i></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>Did I not tell you she was innocent?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>So are the prince and Claudio, who accused her</a><br /><a>Upon the error that you heard debated:</a><br /><a>But Margaret was in some fault for this,</a><br /><a>Although against her will, as it appears</a><br /><a>In the true course of all the question.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, I am glad that all things sort so well.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>And so am I, being else by faith enforced</a><br /><a>To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Well, daughter, and you gentle-women all,</a><br /><a>Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves,</a><br /><a>And when I send for you, come hither mask'd.</a><br /><p><i>Exeunt Ladies</i></p><a>The prince and Claudio promised by this hour</a><br /><a>To visit me. You know your office, brother:</a><br /><a>You must be father to your brother's daughter</a><br /><a>And give her to young Claudio.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Which I will do with confirm'd countenance.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Friar, I must entreat your pains, I think.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>To do what, signior?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>To bind me, or undo me; one of them.</a><br /><a>Signior Leonato, truth it is, good signior,</a><br /><a>Your niece regards me with an eye of favour.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>That eye my daughter lent her: 'tis most true.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>And I do with an eye of love requite her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>The sight whereof I think you had from me,</a><br /><a>From Claudio and the prince: but what's your will?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Your answer, sir, is enigmatical:</a><br /><a>But, for my will, my will is your good will</a><br /><a>May stand with ours, this day to be conjoin'd</a><br /><a>In the state of honourable marriage:</a><br /><a>In which, good friar, I shall desire your help.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>My heart is with your liking.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>And my help.</a><br /><a>Here comes the prince and Claudio.</a><br /><p><i>Enter DON PEDRO and CLAUDIO, and two or three others</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Good morrow to this fair assembly.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Good morrow, prince; good morrow, Claudio:</a><br /><a>We here attend you. Are you yet determined</a><br /><a>To-day to marry with my brother's daughter?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I'll hold my mind, were she an Ethiope.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Call her forth, brother; here's the friar ready.</a><br /><p><i>Exit ANTONIO</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>Good morrow, Benedick. Why, what's the matter,</a><br /><a>That you have such a February face,</a><br /><a>So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I think he thinks upon the savage bull.</a><br /><a>Tush, fear not, man; we'll tip thy horns with gold</a><br /><a>And all Europa shall rejoice at thee,</a><br /><a>As once Europa did at lusty Jove,</a><br /><a>When he would play the noble beast in love.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Bull Jove, sir, had an amiable low;</a><br /><a>And some such strange bull leap'd your father's cow,</a><br /><a>And got a calf in that same noble feat</a><br /><a>Much like to you, for you have just his bleat.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>For this I owe you: here comes other reckonings.</a><br /><p><i>Re-enter ANTONIO, with the Ladies masked</i></p><a>Which is the lady I must seize upon?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>ANTONIO</b></a><blockquote><a>This same is she, and I do give you her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, then she's mine. Sweet, let me see your face.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>No, that you shall not, till you take her hand</a><br /><a>Before this friar and swear to marry her.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Give me your hand: before this holy friar,</a><br /><a>I am your husband, if you like of me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>And when I lived, I was your other wife:</a><br /><p><i>Unmasking</i></p><a>And when you loved, you were my other husband.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>Another Hero!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>                  Nothing certainer:</a><br /><a>One Hero died defiled, but I do live,</a><br /><a>And surely as I live, I am a maid.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>The former Hero! Hero that is dead!</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>She died, my lord, but whiles her slander lived.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a><blockquote><a>All this amazement can I qualify:</a><br /><a>When after that the holy rites are ended,</a><br /><a>I'll tell you largely of fair Hero's death:</a><br /><a>Meantime let wonder seem familiar,</a><br /><a>And to the chapel let us presently.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Soft and fair, friar. Which is Beatrice?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>[Unmasking]  I answer to that name. What is your will?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Do not you love me?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, no; no more than reason.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, then your uncle and the prince and Claudio</a><br /><a>Have been deceived; they swore you did.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Do not you love me?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Troth, no; no more than reason.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>Why, then my cousin Margaret and Ursula</a><br /><a>Are much deceived; for they did swear you did.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>They swore that you were almost sick for me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>'Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>No, truly, but in friendly recompense.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gentleman.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>And I'll be sworn upon't that he loves her;</a><br /><a>For here's a paper written in his hand,</a><br /><a>A halting sonnet of his own pure brain,</a><br /><a>Fashion'd to Beatrice.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>HERO</b></a><blockquote><a>And here's another</a><br /><a>Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket,</a><br /><a>Containing her affection unto Benedick.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>A miracle! here's our own hands against our hearts.</a><br /><a>Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, I take</a><br /><a>thee for pity.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BEATRICE</b></a><blockquote><a>I would not deny you; but, by this good day, I yield</a><br /><a>upon great persuasion; and partly to save your life,</a><br /><a>for I was told you were in a consumption.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Peace! I will stop your mouth.</a><br /><p><i>Kissing her</i></p></blockquote><a><b>DON PEDRO</b></a><blockquote><a>How dost thou, Benedick, the married man?</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>I'll tell thee what, prince; a college of</a><br /><a>wit-crackers cannot flout me out of my humour. Dost</a><br /><a>thou think I  care for a satire or an epigram? No:</a><br /><a>if a man will be beaten with brains, a' shall wear</a><br /><a>nothing handsome about him. In brief, since I do</a><br /><a>purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any</a><br /><a>purpose that the world can say against it; and</a><br /><a>therefore never flout at me for what I have said</a><br /><a>against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my</a><br /><a>conclusion. For thy part, Claudio, I did think to</a><br /><a>have beaten thee, but in that thou art like to be my</a><br /><a>kinsman, live unbruised and love my cousin.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>CLAUDIO</b></a><blockquote><a>I had well hoped thou wouldst have denied Beatrice,</a><br /><a>that I might have cudgelled thee out of thy single</a><br /><a>life, to make thee a double-dealer; which, out of</a><br /><a>question, thou wilt be, if my cousin do not look</a><br /><a>exceedingly narrowly to thee.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Come, come, we are friends: let's have a dance ere</a><br /><a>we are married, that we may lighten our own hearts</a><br /><a>and our wives' heels.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>LEONATO</b></a><blockquote><a>We'll have dancing afterward.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>First, of my word; therefore play, music. Prince,</a><br /><a>thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a wife:</a><br /><a>there is no staff more reverend than one tipped with horn.</a><br /><p><i>Enter a Messenger</i></p></blockquote><a><b>Messenger</b></a><blockquote><a>My lord, your brother John is ta'en in flight,</a><br /><a>And brought with armed men back to Messina.</a><br /></blockquote><a><b>BENEDICK</b></a><blockquote><a>Think not on him till to-morrow:</a><br /><a>I'll devise thee brave punishments for him.</a><br /><a>Strike up, pipers.</a><br /><p><i>Dance</i></p><p><i>Exeunt</i></p></blockquote></span>