with a Chriftian-like fear*. Well, I am forry for your niece: fhall we go feek Benedick, and tell him of her love? Claud. Never tell him, my Lord; let her wear it out with good counfel. Leon. Nay, that's impoffible, fhe may wear her heart out firft. Pedro. Well, we will hear further of it by your daughter; let it cool the while. I love Benedick well; and I could wifh he would modeftly examine himself, to fee how much he is unworthy to have fo good a lady. Leon. My Lord, will you walk? dinner is ready. Claud. If he do not doat on her upon this, I will never truft my expectation. [Afide. Pedro. Let there be the fame net fpread for her, and that must your daughter and her gentlewoman carry; the sport will be, when they hold an opinion of one another's dotage, and no such matter; that's the scene that I would fee, which will be merely a dumb fhow. Let us fend her to call him to dinner. [Afide. [Exeunt. SCENE X. Benedick advances from the arbour." Bene. "This can be no trick, the conference was "fadly borne; they have the truth of this from Hero; "they feem to pity the lady; it feems her affections "have the full bent. Love me! why, it must be re"quited. I hear how I am cenfur'd: they fay I will "bear myfelf proudly, if I perceive the love come from "her; they fay too, that fhe will rather die than give BC any fign of affection.-I did never think to marry -I muft not feem proud--- Happy are they that "hear their detractions, and can put them to mend"ing. They fay the lady is fair; 'tis a truth I can "bear them witness: and virtuous;-tis fo, I cannot 66 reprove a Chriftian like fear. Leon. If he do fear God, he must neceffarily keep peace; if he break the peace, he ought to enter into a quarrel with fear and trembling. Pedro. And fo will he do; for the man doth fear God, how foever it feems not in him, by fome large jefts he will make. Well, &e. -19 "reprove it: and wife, but for loving me--by my troth, "it is no addition to her wit, nor no great argument "of her folly; for I will be horribly in love with her. I may chance to have fome odd quirks and rem"nants of wit broken on me, because I have rail'd fo "long against marriage. But doth not the appetite al"ter? A man loves the meat in his youth, that he can"not endure in his age. Shall quips and fentences, "and thefe paper-bullets of the brain, awe a man from "the career of his humour? no; the world must be peo" pled When I faid, I would die a bachelor, I did not "think I fhould live till I were marry'd. Here comes "Beatrice: by this day, she's a fair lady; I do spy some "marks of love in her." Enter Beatrice. Beat. Against my will, I am sent to bid you come in to dinner. Bene Fair Beatrice, I thank you for your pains. Beat. I took no more pains for those thanks, than you take pains to thank me; if it had been painful, I would not have come. Bene. You take pleasure then in the message. Beat. Yea, juft fo much as you may take upon a knife's point, and choak a daw withal: you have no tomach, Signior; fare you well. -- [Exit. Bene. Ha! against my will I am fent to bid you come in to dinner ;- there's a double meaning in that. I took no more pains for those thanks than you took pains to thank me: that's as much as to fay, any pains that I take for you is as eafy as thanks. If I do not take pity of her, I am a villain; if I do not love her, I am a Jew: I will go get her picture. Hero. ACT III. SCENE I. Continues in the orchard. Enter Hero, Margaret, and Urfula. GOOD [Exit. WOOD Margaret, run thee into the parlour, There shalt thou find my coufin Beatrice, Propofing with the Prince and Claudio; C 3 Whiffer Whisper her ear, and tell her, I and Ursula Marg. I'll make her come, I warrant, prefently. Hero. Now, Urfula, when Beatrice doth come, Enter Beatrice, running towards the arbour. you not my part of the dialogue. [Exit Hero. Then we go near her, that her ear lofe nothing Of the falfe fweet bait that we lay for it. No, truly, Urfula, fhe's too difdainful; I know her fpirits are as coy and wild As haggards of the rock. Urf. But are you fure, That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely? Hero. So fays the Prince, and my new-trothed Lord. Urf. And did they bid you tell her of it, Madam? Hero. They did intreat her to acquaint her of it; But I perfuaded them, if they lov'd Benedick, Το To wish him wrestle with affection, And never to let Beatrice know of it. Urf. Why did you fo; doth not the gentleman Deferve as full, as fortunate a bed, As ever Beatrice shall couch upon? Hero. O god of love! I know he doth deserve All matter elfe feems weak; fhe cannot love, Urf. Sure I think fo; And therefore certainly it were not good Hero. Why, you speak truth. I never yet faw man, How wife, how noble, young, how rarely featur'd, But she would spell him backward. If fair-fac'd, She'd fwear the gentleman should be her fister; If black, why, nature, drawing of an antic, • Made a foul blot; if tall, a launce ill-headed; If low, an aglet very vilely cut; If fpeaking, why, a vane blown with all winds; If filent, why, a block moved with none.' So turns fhe fide out, every man the wrong And never gives to truth and virtue that Which fimplenefs and merit purchafeth. Urf. Sure, fure, fuch carping is not commendable. Hero. No; for to be fo odd, and from all fashions, As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable. But who dare tell fo? If I fhould fpeak, She'd mock me into air; O fhe would laugh me And And counfel him to fight againft his paffion. Urf. O, do not your coufin fuch a wrong. She cannot be fo much without true judgment, (Having fo fwift and excellent a wit As fhe is priz'd to have,) as to refuse pray you be not angry with me, Madam, Hero. Indeed he hath an excellent good name. Hero. Why, every day; to-morrow; come, go in, I'll fhew thee fome attires, and have thy counsel Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow. Urf. She's lim'd, I warrant you; we have caught her, Madam. Hero. If it prove fo, then loving goes by haps: Some Cupids kill with arrows, fome with traps. [Exeunt. Beat. What fire is in my ears? can this be true? Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand; For others fay, thou doft deferve; and I SCENE II. Leonato's houfe. [Exit. Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, and Leonato. Pedro. I do but ftay till your marriage be confum mate, and then go I toward Arragon? Claud. |