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Biaf. Do, do; he'll but break a comparison or two on me; which, peraiventure, not marked, or not laughed at, strikes him into melancholy; and then there's a partridge wing saved, for the fool will cat no supper that night. Music within.] We must follow the lenders.

Ben. In every good thing.

Beat. Nay, if they lead to any ill, I will leave them at the next turning.

[Dance. Then exeunt all but Don JOHN, BORACHIO, and CLAUDIO. D-John Sure, my brother is amorous on Hero, and hath withdrawn her father to break with him about it; The ladies follow her, and but one visor remains. Bura. And that is Claudio; I know him by his bearing,

D. John. Are not you signior Benedick?
Cand. You know me well; I am he.

D. John. Signior, you are very near my brother in his love; he is enamored on Hero; I pray you suade him from her, she is no equal for his birth; you may do the part of an honest man in it. Card. How know you he loves her!

D. John. I heard him swear his affection. Bora. So did I too; and he swore he would marry her to night.

D. John. Come, let us to the banquet.

[Exeunt Don JOHN, and BORACHIO. Claud. Thus answer I in name of Benedick, But bear these ill news with the ears of Claudio,fis certain so;-the prince woos for himself. Friendship is constant in all other things, Save in the office and affairs of love:

Therefore, all hearts in love use their own tongues;
Let every eye negotiate for itself,

And trust no agent: for beauty is a witch,
Agaiast whose charms faith melteth into blood.
This is an accident of hourly proof,

Which I mistrusted not: Farewell therefore, Hero!
Re-enter BENEDICK.

Bene. Count Claudio?

Claud. Yea, the same.
Bene. Come, will you go with me?
Claud. Whither?

Bene. Even to the next willow, about your own business, count. What fashion will you wear the garland of! About your neck, like a usurer's chain! or under your arm, like a lieutenants scarf? You must wear it one way, for the prince hath got your Hero.

Caud. I wish him joy of her.

Bene. Why, that's spoken like an honest drover: so they sell bullocks. But did you think, the prince would have served you thus.

Chud. I pray you, leave me.

Ben. Ho! now you strike like the blind man; twas the boy that stole your meat, and you'll beat

the post.

Claud. If it will not be, I'll leave you. [Exit. Bene. Alas, poor hurt fowl! Now will he creep to sedges. But, that my lady Beatrice should how me, and not know me! The prince's fool!Ha, it may be, I go under that title, because I am Berry-Yea; but so; I am apt to do myself wrong: Ian not so reputed: it is the base, the bitter dispostion of Beatrice, that puts the world into her pers, and so gives me out. Well, I'll be revenged as I may.

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have worn himself: and the rod he might have be stowed on you, who, as I take it, have stol'n his bird's nest.

Bene Troth, my lord. I have played the part of Lady Fame. I found him here as melancholy as a lodge in a warren; I told him, and, I think, I told him true, that your grace had got the good will of the young lady; and I offered him my company to a wilow-tree, either to make him a garland, as beng forsaken, or to bind him up a rod, as being worthe to be whipped.

D. Pedro. I will but teach them to sing, and re store them to the owner.

D. Pedro. Te be whipped! What's his fault? Ene. The flat transgression of a school-boy; who being overjoyed with finding a birds nest, hows it to his companion, and he steals it.

D. Pedro. Wilt thou make a trust a transgression? The transgression is in the stealer.

Bene. If their singing answer your saying, by my faith, you say honestly.

D. Pedro. The lady Beatrice hath a quarrel to you; the gentleman that danced with her, told her, she is inuch wronged by you.

Bene. O, she misused me past the endurance of 8 block; an oak, with but one green leaf on it, would have answered her; my very visor began to assume life, and scold with her. She told me, not thinking 】 had been myself, that I was the prince's jester; that I was duller than a great thaw; huddling jest upon jest, with such impossible conveyance, upon me that I stood like a man at a mark, with a whole army shooting at me: She speaks poniards, and every word stabs: if her breath were as terrible as her terminations, there were no living near her, I would not she would infect to the north star. marry her, though she were endowed with all that Adam had left him before he transgressed: she would have made Hercules have turned spit; yea, and have cleft his club to make the fire too.Come, talk not of her: you shall find her the infernal Atés in good apparel. I would to God, some scholar would conjure her; for certainly, while she is here, a man may live as quiet in hell, as in a sanctuary; and people sin upon purpose, because they would go thither; so, indeed, all disquiet, hor ror, and perturbation follow her.

Bene. Yet it had not been amiss, the rod had been made, and the garland too; for the garland he night Carriage, demeanor.

• Passion.

Re-enter CLAUDIO, BEATRICE, LEONATO, and
HERO.

D. Pedro. Look, here she comes.

Bene. Will your grace command me any service to the world's end? I will go on the slightest errand now to the Antipodes, that you can devise to send me on: I will fetch you a toothpicker now from the farthest inch of Asia: bring you the length of Prester John's foot; fetch you a hair off the great Cham's beard; do you any embassage to the Pigmies, rather than hold three words conference with this harpy: You have no employment for me?

D. Pedro. None, but to desire your good company Bene. O God, sir, here's a dish I love not; I Exit. cannot endure my lady Tongue. D. Pedro. Come, lady, come; you have lost the heart of signior Benedick.

Beat. Indeed, my lord, he lent it me a while; and I gave him uses for it, a double heart for his single one: marry, once before, he won it of me with false dice, therefore your grace may well say I have lost it.

D. Pedro. You have put him down, lady, you have put him down.

Beat. So I would not he should do me, my lord, lest I should prove the mother of fools. I have brought count Claudio, whom you sent me to seek. D. Pedro. Why, how now, count, wherefore are sad?

you

Claud. Not sad, my lord.
D. Pedro. How then? Sick?
Claud. Neither, my lord.

Beat. The count is neither sad, nor sick nor merry, nor well: but civil, count; civil as an orange, and something of that jealous complexion.

D. Pedro. I'faith, lady, I think your blazon to be true; though, I'll be sworn, if he be so, his conceit is false. Here, Claudio, I have wooed in thy name, and fair Hero is won; I have broke with her father, and his good will obtained: name the day of marriage, and God give thee joy!

Leon. Count, take of me my daughter, and with her my fortunes: his grace hath made the match, and all grace say Amen to it!

Beat. Speak, count, 'tis your cue."

Claud. Silence is the perfectest herald of joy: I were but little happy, if I could say how much.Lady, as you are mine, I am yours; I give away myself for you, and dote upon the exchange.

Beat. Speak, cousin; or, if you cannot, stop his mouth with a kiss, and let him not speak, neither. D. Pedro. In faith, lady, you have a merry heart. Beat. Yea, my lord; I thank it, poor fool, it keeps • Interest. The goddess of Discord. Turn: a phrase among the players.

on the windy side of care - My cousin tells him in his car, that he is in her heart.

Claud. And so she doth, cousin.

Beat. Good lord, for alliance!-Thus goes every one to the world but I, and I am sun-burned; 1 may sit in a corner and cry heigh-ho! for a husband.

D. Pedro. Lady Beatrice, I will get you one. Beat. I would rather have one of your father's getting; Hath your grace ne er a brother like you? Your father got excellent husbands, if a maid could come by them.

D. Pedro. Will you have me, lady?

Beat. No, my lord, unless I might have another for working days; your grace is too costly to wear every day :-But, I beseech your grace, pardon me: I was born to speak all mirth and no matter.

D. Petro. Your silence most offends me, and to be merry best becomes you; for out of question, you were born in a merry hour.

Beat. No, sure, my lord, my mother cried; but then there was a star danced, and under that was 1 born.-Cousins, God give you joy!

Leon. Niece, will you look to those things I told you of?

Beat. I cry you mercy, uncle.-By your grace's pardon. Exit BEATRICE. D. Pedro. By my troth, a pleasant-spirited lady. Leon. There's little of the melancholy element in her, my lord: she is never sad, but when she sleeps and not ever sad then; for I have heard my daughter say, she hath often dreamed of unhappiness, and waked herself with laughing.

D. Pedro. She cannot endure to hear tell of a husband.

Leon. O, by no means; she mocks all her wooers out of suit.

D. Pedro. She were an excellent wife for Bene

dick.

Leon. O Lord, my lord, if they were but a week married, they would talk themselves mad.

D. Pedro. Count Claudio, when mean you to go to church?

Claud. To-morrow, my lord: Time goes on crutches, till love have all his rites.

Leon. Not till Monday, my dear son, which is hence a just seven-night; and a time too brief too, to have all things answer my mind.

D. Pedro. Come, you shake the head at so long a breathing; but, I warrant thee, Claudio, the time shall not go dully by us; I will, in the interim, undertake one of Hercules labors; which is, to bring signior Benedick and the lady Beatrice into a mountain of affection, the one with the other. I would fain have it a match; and I doubt not but to fashion it, if you three will but minister such assistance as I shall give you direction.

Leon. My lord, I am for you, though it cost me ten nights' watchings.

Claud. And I, my lord.

D. Pedro. And you too. gentle Hero? Hero. I will do any modest office, my lord, to help my cousin to a good husband.

D. Pedro. And Benedick is not the unhopefullest husband that I know: thus far can I praise him; he is of a noble strain: of approved valor, and confirmed honesty. I will teach you how to humor your cousin, that she shall fall in love with Benedick and I, with your two helps, will so practice on Benedick, that, in despite of his quick wit, and his queasy stomach, he shall fall in love with Beatrice. If we can do this, Cupid is no longer an archer; his glory shall be ours, for we are the only love-gods. Go in with me, and I will tell you my [Exeunt. SCENE II. Another Room in Leonato's House. Enter Don JOHN and BoRACHIO.

drift.

D. John. It is so; the count Claudio shall marry the daughter of Leonato.

Bora. Yea, my lord: but I can cross it. D. John. Any bar, any cross, any impediment will be medicinal to me: I am sick in displeasure to him; and whatsoever comes athwart his ailection, ranges evenly with mine. How canst thou cross

this marriage?

Bora. Not honestly, my lord; but so covertly, that no dishonesty shall appear in me. D. John. Show me briefly how. • Lineage. 9 Fastidious.

Bora. I think, I told your lordship, a year since how much I am in the favor of Margaret, the wait ing-gentlewoman to Hero.

D. John. I remember.

Bora. I can, at any unseasonable instant of the night, appoint her to look out at her lady's chamber. window.

D. John. What life is in that to be the death of this marriage?

Bora. The poison of that lies in you to temper. Go you to the prince your brother; spare not to tell him, that he hath wronged his honor in marrying the renowned Claudio (whose estimation do you nightily hold up) to a contaminated stale, such a one as Hero.

D. John. What proof shall I make of that? Bora. Proof enough to misuse the prince, to vex Claudio, to undo Hero, and kill Leonato: Loo you for any other issue?

D. John. Only to despite them, I will endeavor any thing.

Bora. Go then, find me a meet hour to draw dor Pedro and the count Claudio alone: tell them, tha you know that Hero loves me; intendi a kind of zeal both to the prince and Claudio, as-in love of your brother's honor, who hath made this match; and his friend's reputation, who is thus like to be cozened with the semblance of a maid,- that you have discovered thus. They will scarcely believe this without trial: offer them instances; which shall bear no less likelihood, than to see me at her chamber-window; hear me call Margaret, Hero; hear Margaret term me Borachio; and bring them to see this, the very night before the intended wed ding: for, in the meantime, I will so fashion the matter, that Hero shall be absent; and there stail appear such seeming truth of Hero's disloyalty, that jealousy shall be call'd assurance, and all the preparation overthrown.

D. John. Grow this to what adverse issue it can, I will put it in practice: Be cunning in the work ing this, and thy fee is a thousand ducats.

Bora. Be you constant in the accusation, and my cunning shall not shame nie.

D. John. I will presently go learn their day of marriage. [Exeunt

it

SCENE III.- Leonato's Garden. Enter BENEDICK and a Boy.

Benc. Boy,

Boy. Signior.

Bene. In my chamber-window lies a book: bring hither to me in the orchard.

Boy. I am here already, sir.

Bene. I know that;-but I would have thee hence, and here again. [Exit Boy.]-I do much wonder, that one man, seeing how much another man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviors to love, will, after he hath laughed at such shallow fol lies in others, become the argument of his own scorn by falling in love: And such a man is Claudio. I have known, when there was no music with him but the drum and fife; and now had he rather hear the tabor and the pipe: I have known, when he would have walked ten mile afoot, to see a good armor: and now will he lie ten nights awake carving the fashion of a new doublet. He was wont to speak plain and to the purpose, like an honest man, and a soldier; and now is he turn'd orthographer; his words are a very fantastical banquet, just so many strange dishes. May I be so converted, and see with these eyes? I cannot tell; I think not: I will not be sworn, but love may transform me to an oyster; but I'll take my oath on it, till he have made an oyster of me, he shall never make me such a fool. One woman is fair; yet I am well; another is wise; yet I am well: another virtuous; yet I am well: but till all graces be in one woman, one wo man shall not come in my grace. Rich she shall be, that's certain; wise, or I'll none; virtuous, of I'll never cheapen her, fair, or I'll never look on her; mild, or come not near; noble, or not I for an angel; of good discourse, an excellent music, and her hair shall be of what color it please: God. Ha! the prince and monsieur Love! I wil de [Witherns,

me in the arbor.

Enter Don PEDRO, LEONATO, and CLAUDIL D. Pedro. Come, shall we hear this music' 1 Pretend.

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Claud. Yea, my good lord:- How still the evening is,

As hush'd on purpose to grace harmony!

D. Pedro. See you where Benedick hath hid himself?

Claud O, very well, my lord: the music ended, We'll fit the kid-fox with a penny-worth.

Enter BALTHAZAR with music.

D. Pedro. Come Balthazar, we'll hear that song

again.

Balth. O good my lord, tax not so bad a voice To slander music any more than once.

D. Peiro. It is the witness still of excellency, To put a strange face on his own perfection:

I pray thee, sing, and let me woo no more.

Balth. Because you talk of wooing. I will sing: Since many a wooer doth commence his suit To her he thinks not worthy; yet he woos; Yet will he swear, he loves.

D. Petro. Nay, pray thee, come : Or, if thou wilt hold longer argument,

Do it in notes. Baith.

Note this before my notes, There's not a note of mine that's worth the noting D. Pedro. Why these are very crotchets that he speaks; [Music. Bene. Now, Divine nir! now is his soul ravish'u! Is it not strange, that sheep's guts should hale souls out of men's bodies! - Well, a horn for my money, when all's done.

Note, notes, forsooth, and noting!

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Bene. Aside. An he had been a dog, that should have howled thus, they would have hanged m; and. I pray God, his bad voice bode no mischef! I had as lief have heard the night-raven, come what plague could have come after it.

D. Pedro. Yea, marry; To CLAUDIO.]-Dost thou hear. Baithazar? I pray thee get up some excellent music: for to-morrow night we would have it at the lady Hero's chamber-window. Batth. The best I can, my lord.

D. Pedro. Do so, farewell. [Exeunt BALTHAZAR and music. Come hither, Leonato: What was it you told me of to-day? that your neice Beatrice was in love with signior Benedick?

Cloud. O, ay;-Stalk on, stalk on; the fowl ts. Aside to PEDRO.] I did never think that lady would have loved any man.

Leon. No, nor I ne ther; but most wonderful, that she should so dote on signior Benedick, whom she hath in all outward behaviors seemed ever to abhor.

Bene. Is't possible? Sits the wind in that corner? [Aside.

Leon. By my troth, my lord, I cannot tell what to think of it; but that she loves him with an enraged affection-it is past the infinite of thought. D. Petro. May be, she doth but counterfeit. Claud. Faith, like enough.

zon, O God! counterfeit! There never was counterfeit of passion came so near the life of pascon, as she discovers it.

D. Pedro. Why, what effects of passion shows she.

1 More

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D. Pedro. How, how, I pray you? You amaze me: I would have thought her spirit had been invincible against all assaults of affection.

Leon. I would have sworn it had, my lord; especially against Benedick.

Bene. [Aside.] I should think this a gull, but that the white-bearded fellow speaks it: knavery cannot, sure, hide itself in such reverence.

Claud. He hath ta'en the infection; hold it up. [Aside. D. Pedro. Hath she made her affection known to Benedick?

Leon. No; and swears she never will; that's her

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tween the sheet!

Claud. That.

Leon. O! she tore the letter into a thousand half-pence; railed at herself, that she should be so immodest to write to one that she knew would flout her: I measure him, says she, by my own spirit; for I should flout him, if he writ to me; yea, though I love him, I should.

Claud. Then down upon her knees she falls, weeps, sobs, beats her heart. tears her hair, prays, curses: O sweet Bene lick! God give me putience!

Leon. She doth, indeed; my daughter says so: and the ecstasy hath so much overborne her, that my daughter is sometime afraid she will do a desperate outrage to herself: It is very true.

D. Pedro. It were good, that Benedick knew of it by some other, if she will not discover it.

Claud. To what end? He would but make a sport of it, and torment the poor lady worse.

D. Pedro. An he should, it were an alms to hang him: She's an excellent sweet lady; and, out of all suspicion, she is virtuous,

Claud. And she is exceeding wise.

D. Pedro. In every thing, but in loving Benedick. Leon. O my lord, wisdom and blood combating in so tender a body, we have ten proofs to one, that blood hath the victory. I am sorry for her, as I have just cause, being her uncle and her guardian.

D. Pedro. I would she had bestowed this dotage on me; I would have datf d all other respects, and made her half myself: I pray you, tell Benedick of it, and hear what he will say.

Leon. Were it good, think you?

Claud. Hero thinks surely, she will die: for she says, she will die if he love her not; and she will dié ere she make her love known; and she will die if he woo her, rather than she will bate one breath of her accustomed crossness.

D. Pedro. She doth well: if she should make tender of her love, 'tis very possible he'll scorn it; for the man, as you know all, hath a contemptuous spirit.

Claud. He is a very proper man.

D. Pedro. He hath indeed a good outward hap piness.

Cland. 'Fore God, and in my mind, very wise. D. Pedro. He doth indeed show some sparks that are like wit.

Leon. And I take him to be valiant.

D. Pedro. As Hector, I assure you: and in the managing of quarrels you may say he is wise; for either he avoids them with great discretion, or undertakes them with a most Christian-like fear.

Leon. If he do fear God, he must necessarily keep peace; if he break the peace, he ought to ez ter into a quarrel with fear and trembling.

Thrown off.

D. Pedro And so will he do; for the man doth fear God, howsoever it seems not in him, by some large jests he will make. Well, I am sorry for your niece: Shall we go see Benedick, and tell him of her love?

Claud. Never tell him, my lord; let her wear it out with good counsel.

Leon. Nay, that's impossible; she may wear her

heart out first.

D. Pedro. Well, we'll hear further of it by your daughter; let it cool the while. I love Benedick well; and I could wish he would modestly examine himself, to see how much he is unworthy so good a lady.

Leon. My lord, will you walk? dinner is ready. Claud. If he do not dote on her upon this, I will never trust my expectation. D. Pedro. Let there be the same net spread for Aside. her; and that must your daughter and her gentlewoman carry. The sport will be, when they hold one an opinion of another's dotage, and no such Inatter; that's the scene that I would see, which will be merely a dumb show. Let us send her to call him in to dinner. [Exeunt Don PEDRO, CLAUDIO, and LEONATO. [Aside. BENEDICK advances from the Arbor. Bene. This can be no trick: The conference was sadly borne. They have the truth of this from Hero. They seem to pity the lady; it seems, her affections have their full bent. Love me! why, it must be requited. I hear how I am censured: they say, I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive the love come from her; they say too, that she will rather die than give any sign of affection.-I did never think to marry:-I must not seem proud: Happy are they that hear their detractions, and can

put them to mending. They say, the ladvi 'tis a truth I can bear them witness: and va 'tis so, I cannot reprove it; and wise but) ing me :- By my troth, it is no addition to horribly in love with her. I may chanc -nor no great argument of her folly, for I because I have railed so long against mara some odd quirks and remnants of wit brokent meat in his youth, that he cannot endure in But doth not the appetite alter? A man log Shall quips, and sentences, and these paper of the brain, awe a man from the career of mor? No: The world must be peopled. W should live till I were married.- Here comes said, I would die a bachelor, I did not the trice: By this day, she's a fair lady: I do spri marks of love in her.

Enter BEATRICE.

come in to dinner.
Beat. Against my will, I am sent to bid

Bene. Fair Beatrice, I thank you for your p
Beat. I took no more pains for those thanks, I
I would not have come.
you take pains to thank me; if it had been pain

Bene. You take pleasure in the message!
Beat. Yea, just so much as you may take
have no stomach, signior; fare you well.
a knife's point, and choke a daw withal:-
you come to dinner.
Bene. Ha! Against my will, I am sent is
E
in that. I took no more pains for those that
there's a double mean
than you took pains to thank me-that's as m
as thanks:-If I do not take pity of her, I am
as to say, Any pains that I take for you is as ea
villain; If I do not love her, I am a Jew: I will
get her picture.

[E

ACT III.

SCENE I-Leonato's Garden.
Enter HERO, MARGARET, and URSULA.

Hero. Good Margaret, run thee into the parlor:
There shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice
Proposing with the prince and Claudio:
Whisper her ear, and tell her, I and Ursula
Walk in the orchard, and our whole discourse
Is all of her; say, that thou overheard'st us;
And bid her steal into the pleached bower,
Where honey-suckles, ripen'd by the sun,
Forbid the sun to enter;-like favorites,
Made proud by princes, that advance their pride
Against that power that bred it:-there will she

hide her,

To listen our purpose: This is thy office,
Bear thee well in it, and leave us alone.

Marg. I'll make her come, I warrant you, pre-
sently.

[Exit.

Hero. Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth come,
As we do trace this alley up and down,
Our talk must only be of Benedick:
When I do name him, let it be thy part
To praise him more than ever man did merit:
My talk to thee must be, how Benedick

Is sick in love with Beatrice: Of this matter
Is little Cupid's crafty arrow made,
That only wounds by hearsay. Now begin;

Enter BEATRICE behind.

For look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runs
Close by the ground, to hear our conference.
Urs. The pleasent'st angling is to see the fish
Cut with her golden oars the silver stream,
And greedily devour the treacherous bait:
So angle we for Beatrice: who even now
Is couched in the woodbine coverture:
Fear you not my part of the dialogue.

Of the false sweet bait that we lay for it.

[They advance to the bowe
No, truly, Ursula, she is too disdainful:
I know, her spirits are as coy and wild
As haggards of the rock.

Urs.
But are you sure,
That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely!
Hero. So says the prince, and my new-trothed

lord.

Urs. And did they bid you tell her of it, madam!
Hero. They did entreat me to acquaint her of itz
But I persuaded them, if they loved Benedick,
To wish him wrestle with affection,

And never to let Beatrice know of it.

Urs. Why did you so? Doth not the gentleman
Deserve as full, as fortunate a bed,
As ever Beatrice shall couch upon?

Hero. O God of love! know, he doth deserve
As much as may be yielded to a man:
But nature never fram'd a woman's heart
Of prouder stuff than that of Beatrice:
Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes,
Misprising what they look on; and her wit
Values itself so highly, that to her

All matter else seems weak: she cannot love,
Nor take no shape nor project of affection,
She is so self-endeared."
Urs.
Sure, I think so;
And therefore, certainly, it were not good
She knew his love, lest she make sport at it.

Hero. Why, you speak truth: I never yet saw man
How wise, how noble, young, how rarely featur'd,
But she would spell him backward: if fair-faced,
She'd swear, the gentleman should be her sister;
If black, why, nature, drawing of an antick,
Made a foul blot: if tall, a lance ill-headed;
If low, an agate very vilely cut:
If speaking, why, a vane blown with all wind;

Hero. Then go we near her, that her ear love If silent, why, a block moved with none.

nothing

Seriously carried on.

• Discoursing.

So turns she every man the wrong side out;
A species of hawks.

They aver gives to truth and virtue, that,

e simpleness and merit purchaseth. it; and Sure, sure, such carping is not commendable. No: not to be so odd and from all fashions, of beatrice is, cannot be commendable: - dare tell her so! If I should speak, aats of mock me into air; O, she would laugh me myself, press me to death with wit. ater! Anore let Benedick, like cover'd fire, anteme away in sighs, waste inwardly: and dere a better death than die with mocks; m the is as bad as die with tickling.

st be pe Yet tell her of it; hear what she will say. for, Ia. No; rather I will go to Benedick ed-counsel him to fight against his passion: rlay truly, I'll devise some honest slanders

an my cousin with: One doth not know, much an ill word may empoison liking. RICE 3.0, do not do your cousin such a wrong. cannot be so much without true judgment, ing so swift and excellent a wit,

ke is prized to have,) as to refuse

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are a gentleman as signior Benedick. . He is the only man of Italy, aysexcepted my dear Claudio."

I pray you, be not angry with me, madam, aking my fancy; signior Benedick,

ipe, for bearing, argument, and valor, foremost in report through Italy.

Jero. Indeed he hath an excellent good name. . His excellence did earn it, ere he had it.— en are you married, madam?

Hero. Why, every day;-to-morrow: Come:

go in;

show thee some attires; and have thy counsel, hch is the best to furnish me to-morrow. Urs. She's lim'd, I warrant you; we have caught ber, madam. Aside. Hero. If it prove so, then loving goes by haps: me Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps. [Exeunt HERO, and URSULA, BEATRICE advances.

Beat. What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true? Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much? ontempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu! No glory lives behind the back of such. And, Benedick, love on, I will requite thee; Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand; If thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee To bind our loves up in a holy band: For others say, thou dost deserve; and I Believe it better than reportingly.

[Exit.

SCENE II-A Room in Leonato's House. Enter Don PEDRO, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, and LEONATO.

D. Pedro. I do but stay till your marriage be conmate, and then I go toward Arragon. Cand. I'll bring you thither, my lord, if you'll Touchsafe me.

D. Pedro. Nay, that would be as great a soil in the new gloss of your marriage, as to show a child his new coat, and forbid him to wear it. I will only De bold with Benedick for his company; for, from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, he is all arth; he hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's bowstring, and the little hangman dare not shoot at m: he hath a heart as sound as a bell, and his tongue is the clapper; for what his heart thinks, his torque speaks.

Bene. Gallants, I am not as I have been.

1 Loon. So say I; methinks you are sadder. Claud. I hope, he be in love.

D. Petro. Hang him, truant; there's no true up of blood in him, to be truly touch'd with love; ve be sad, he wants money.

bene. I have the tooth-ache.

D. Pedro. Draw it.

Bene. Hang it.

Claud. You must hang it first, and draw it after

wards.

D. Pedro. What! sigh for the tooth-ache? Leon. Where is but a humor, or a worm!

him, unless it be a fancy that he hath to strange disguises: as, to be a Dutchman to-day: a Frenchman to-morrow; or in the shape of two countries at once, as a German from the waist downward, all slop; and a Spaniard from the hip upward, no doublet: unless he have a fancy to this foolery, as it appears he hath, he is no fool for fancy, as you would have it appear he is.

Claud. If he be not in love with some woman, there is no believing old signs: he brushes his hat o'mornings; What should that bode?

D. Pedro. Hath any man seen him at the barber's? Claud. No, but the barber's man hath been seen with him: and the old ornament of his cheek hath already stuffed tennis-balls.

Leon. Indeed, he looks younger than he did by

the loss of a beard.

D. Pedro. Nay he rubs himself with civet: Can you smell him out by that!

Claud. That's as much as to say, The sweet youth's in love.

D. Pedro. The greatest note of it is his melancholy.

Claud. And when was he wont to wash his face? D. Pedro. Yea, or to paint himself! for the which, I hear what they say of him.

Claud. Nay, but his jesting spirit; which is now crept into a lutestring, and now governed by stops. D. Pedro. Indeed, that tells a heavy tale for him: Conclude, conclude, he is in love.

Claud. Nay, but I know who loves him.

D. Pedro. That would I know, too; I warrant, one that knows him not.

Claud. Yes, and his ill conditions; and, in despite of all, dies for him.

D. Pedro. She shall be buried with her face upward.

Bene. Yet is this no charm for the tooth-ache.Old signior, walk aside with me: I have studied eight or nine wise words to speak to you, which these hobby-horses must not hear.

[Exeunt BENEDICK and LEONATO. D. Pedro. For my life, to break with him about Beatrice.

Claud. 'Tis even so: Hero and Margaret have by this played their parts with Beatrice: and then the two bears will not bite one another, when they meet.

Enter Don JOHN.

D. John. My lord and brother, God save you.
D. Pedro. Good den, brother.

D. John. If your leisure served, I would speak with you.

D. Pedro. In private?

D. John. If it please you;-

yet count Claudio may hear; for what I would speak of, concerns him. D. Pedro. What's the matter?

D. John. Means your lordship to be married tomorrow! [TO CLAUDIO.

D. Pedro. You know, he does. D. John. I know not that, when he knows what I know.

Claud. If there be any impediment, I pray you, discover it.

D. John. You may think I love you not; let that appear hereafter, and aim better at me by that I now will manifest: For my brother, I think he holds you well; and in dearness of heart hath holp to effect your ensuing marriage: surely, suit ill spent, and labor ill-bestowed!

D. Pedro. Why, what's the matter?

D. John. I came hither to tell you; and, circumstances shortened, (for she hath been too long a talking of,) the lady is disloyal.

Claud. Who? Hero?

D. John. Even she; Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero.

Claud. Disloyal?

D. John. The word is too good to paint out her wickedness; I could say, she were worse; think you of a worse title, and I will fit her to it. Wonder not till further warrant: go but with me to-night, you shall see her chamber-window entered; even the night before her wedding-day: if you love her then,

Bene. Well, every one can master a grief, but he to-morrow wed her; but it would better fit your

hat has it.

Claud. Yet say I, he is in love.

D. Pedro. There is no appearance of fancy in

honor to change your mind. Claud. May this be so?

Largo loose breeches.

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