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. 376 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' labours; [380 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.

386

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.

391

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 valour, and confirm'd honesty. I will teach you how to humour your cousin, that she [395 shall fall in love with Benedick; and I, with your two helps, will so practise 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. [400 His glory shall be ours, for we are the only lovegods. Go in with me, and I will tell you my drift. [Exeunt.

D. John. Only to despite them, I will endeavour anything.

Bora. Go, then; find me a meet hour to draw Don Pedro and the Count Claudio alone; tel them that you know that Hero loves me; intend a kind of zeal both to the Prince and Claudio, as, - in love of your brother's honour. who hath made this match, and his friend's reputation, who is thus like to be cozen'd with the semblance of a maid, that you have discover'd thus. They will scarcely believe [ this without trial. Offer them instances; which shall bear no less likelihood than to see me a her chamber-window, hear me call Margare Hero, hear Margaret term me Claudio; anc bring them to see this the very night before the intended wedding, - for in the meantime will so fashion the matter that Hero shall b absent, and there shall appear such seeming truth of Hero's disloyalty, that jealousy shal be call'd assurance and all the preparation over thrown.

D. John. Grow this to what adverse issue can, I will put it in practice. Be cunning in the working this, and thy fee is a thousand ducate Bora. Be you constant in the accusation, an my cunning shall not shame me.

D. John. I will presently go learn their da of marriage. [Eres

[SCENE III. Leonato's orchard.]
Enter BENEDICK alone.

Bene. Boy!

Boy. Signior?

[Enter Bov.]

Bene. In my chamber-window lies a book bring it hither to me in the orchard. Boy. I am here already, sir. [Erit. Bene. I know that; but I would have the hence, and here again. I do much wonder thei one man, seeing how much another man is fool when he dedicates his behaviours to lov will, after he hath laugh'd at such shallow follies in others, become the argument of h own scorn by falling in love; and such am: is Claudio. I have known when there was music with him but the drum and the fife: al now had he rather hear the tabor and t pipe. I have known when he would have walk'd ten mile a-foot to see a good armou and now will he lie ten nights awake, carvi the fashion of a new doublet. He was wont speak plain and to the purpose, like an hone man and a soldier; and now is he turn'd orthography; his words are a very fantasti banquet, just so many strange dishes. May I so converted and see with these eyes? I cam tell; I think not. I will not be sworn but lo may transform me to an oyster; but I'll take my oath on it, till he have made an o ter of me, he shall never make me such a fo One woman is fair, yet I am well; anot is wise, yet I am well; another virtuous, ye am well; but till all graces be in one woman. one woman shall not come in my grace. R she shall be, that's certain; wise, or I'll none; virtuous, or I'll never cheapen her; fair, or I'll never look on her; mild, or come not near me; noble, or not I for an angel; of good dis- [35 course, an excellent musician, and her hair shall be of what colour it please God. Ha! the Prince and Monsieur Love! I will hide me in the arbour. [Withdraws.]

Enter DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO, and LEONATO. Music [within].

D. Pedro. Come, shall we hear this music? Cland. Yea, my good lord. How still the evening is,

40

As hush'd on purpose to grace harmony! D. Pedro. See you where Benedick hath hid himself?

Cand. O, very well, my lord. The music ended,

We'll fit the kid-fox with a pennyworth.
Enter BALTHASAR with music.

D. Pedro. Come, Balthasar, we 'll hear that
song again.
Bett. O, good my lord, tax not so bad a

voice

Ta slander music any more than once.

45

D. Pedro. 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.

50

Both. Because you talk of wooing, I will

Path] Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceivers ever,
One foot in sea and one on shore,
To one thing constant never.
Then sigh not so, but let them go,
And be you blithe and bonny,
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into Hey nonny nonny.

Sing no more ditties, sing no moe,
Of dumps so dull and heavy;
The fraud of men was ever so,
Since summer first was leafy.
Then sigh not so, etc.

Pedro. By my troth, a good song.
B. And an ill singer, my lord.

65

70

75

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

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 [105 of thought.

D. Pedro. May be she doth but counterfeit. Claud. Faith, like enough.

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

111

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

Claud. Bait the hook well; this fish will bite.

Leon. What effects, my lord? She will sit [115 you, you heard my daughter tell you how. Claud. She did, indeed.

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

120

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

Bene. I should think this a gull, but that the white-bearded fellow speaks it. Knavery cannot, sure, hide himself in such reverence.

125

Claud. [Aside.] He hath ta'en the infection. Hold it up.

D. Pedro. Hath she made her affection known to Benedick?

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

130

Claud. Then down upon her knees she falls, weeps, sobs, beats her heart, tears her hair, prays, curses; "O sweet Benedick! God give me patience!"

155

Leon. She doth indeed, my daughter says so; and the ecstasy hath so much overborne her that my daughter is sometime afeard 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. 161 Claud. To what end? He would make but 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.

166

D. Pedro. In every thing but in loving Bene

dick.

Leon. O, my lord, wisdom and blood com- [170 bating 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.

174

179

D. Pedro. I would she had bestowed this dotage on me; I would have daff'd all other respects and made her half myself. I pray you, tell Benedick of it, and hear what 'a 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 die, 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. 184

D. Pedro. She doth well. If she should make tender of her love, 't is very possible he'll scorn it; for the man, as you know all, hath a contemptible spirit.

Claud. He is a very proper man.

D. Pedro. He hath indeed a good outward happiness.

191

Claud. Before God! and, in my mind, very wise.

D. Pedro. He doth indeed show some sparks that are like wit.

Claud. And I take him to be valiant.

195

doth fear God, howsoever it seems not in hin by some large jests he will make. Well, [ I am sorry for your niece. Shall we go seel Benedick, and tell him of her love?

Claud. Never tell him, my lord. Let he wear it out with good counsel.

Leon. Nay, that's impossible; she may wea her heart out first.

D. Pedro. Well, we will hear further of i by your daughter. Let it cool the while. I lov 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 i ready. Claud. [Aside.] If he do not dote on her up this, I will never trust my expectation.

D. Pedro. [Aside.] Let there be the sam net spread for her; and that must your daugh ter and her gentlewomen carry. The spor will be, when they hold one an opinion of an other's dotage, and no such matter; that's th scene that I would see, which will be merely a dumb-show. Let us send her to call him in t dinner. [Exeunt [Don Pedro, Claudio, an

Leonato].

1

Bene. [Coming forward.] This can be m trick; the conference was sadly borne. The have the truth of this from Hero. They seen to pity the lady; it seems her affections= have their full bent. Love me! why, it mus be requited. I hear how I am censur'd. The say I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive th love come from her; they say too that she wi rather die than give any sign of affection. I did never think to marry. I must not seei proud. Happy are they that hear their detra tions and can put them to mending. They st the lady is fair; 't is a truth, I can bear the witness; and virtuous; 't is so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving me; by troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor no gre argument of her folly, for I will be horribly love with her. I may chance have some of quirks and remnants of wit broken on me, I cause I have rail'd so long against marriage; | but doth not the appetite alter? A man lov the meat in his youth that he cannot endures his age. Shall quips and sentences and the paper bullets of the brain awe a man from career of his humour? No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would die a bael lor, I did not think I should live till I w married. Here comes Beatrice. By this da she's a fair lady. I do spy some marks of in her.

Enter BEATRICE.

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

Bene. Fair Beatrice, I thank you for pains.

Beat. I took no more pains for those tha than you take pains to thank me. If it been painful, I would not have come.

Bene. You take pleasure then in the sage?

L

265

Beat. Yea, just so much as you may take apon a knife's point and choke a daw withal. 1su have no stomach, signior? Fare you [Exit. Bene. Ha! Against my will I am sent to if you come in to dinner;" there's a double Deaming in that. "I took no more pains for those thanks than you took pains to thank he: that's as much as to say, "Any pains pat I take for you is as easy as thanks." [270 I do not take pity of her, I am a villain; if I not love her, I am a Jew. I will go get her [Exit.

ten our propose. This is thy office; But thee well in it and leave us alone. Vary. I'll make her come, I warrant you, presently.

She would swear the gentleman should be her

sister;

[Exit.

Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth

15

If black, why, Nature, drawing of an antic, Made a foul blot; if tall, a lance ill-headed; If low, an agate very vilely cut;

65

in love with Beatrice. Of this mat

Cupid's crafty arrow made,

ely wounds by hearsay. Now begin; look where Beatrice, like a lapwing,

by the ground, to hear our conference. 25 Enter BEATRICE [behind].

If speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds;
If silent, why, a block moved with none.
So turns she every man the wrong side out,
And never gives to truth and virtue that
Which simpleness and merit purchaseth.

Hero. No, not to be so odd and from all fashions

70

Urs. Sure, sure, such carping is not com

mendable.

75

Hero. No; rather I will go to Benedick

Urs. His excellence did earn it, ere he had it.

When are you married, madam?

100

Hero. Why, every day, to-morrow. Come, go in;

I'll show thee some attires, and have thy counsel Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow. Urs. [Aside.] She's lim'd, I warrant you. We have caught her, madam. Hero. [Aside.] If it proves so, then loving goes by haps. Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps. [Exeunt [Hero and Ursula]. Beat. [Coming forward.] What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true?

105

[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 consummate, and then go I toward Arragon. Claud. I'll bring you thither, my lord, if you 'll vouchsafe me.

D. Pedro. Nay, that would be as great a soil [s in the new gloss of your marriage as to show a child his new coat and forbid him to wear it. I will only be bold with Benedick for his company; for, from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, he is all mirth. He hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's bowstring, and the little [11 hangman dare not shoot at him. He hath a heart as sound as a bell and his tongue is the clapper, for what his heart thinks his tongue speaks.

Bene. Gallants, I am not as I have been.
Leon. So say I; methinks you are sadder.
Claud. I hope he be in love.

15

D. Pedro. Hang him, truant! There's no true drop of blood in him, to be truly touch'd with love. If he be sad, he wants money.

20

Bene. I have the toothache. D. Pedro. Draw it.

Bene. Hang it!

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

D. Pedro. What! sigh for the toothache? Leon. Where is but a humour or a worm. Bene. Well, every one can master a grief b he that has it.

Claud. Yet say I, he is in love.

D. Pedro. There is no appearance of fan in him, unless it be a fancy that he hath strange disguises; as, to be a Dutchman day, a Frenchman to-morrow, or in the sha of two countries at once, as, a German from t waist downward, all slops, and a Spaniard from the hip upward, no doublet. Unless have a fancy to this foolery, as it appears hath, he is no fool for fancy, as you would ha it appear he is.

Claud. If he be not in love with some woma there is no believing old signs. 'A brushes hat o' mornings; what should that bode? D. Pedro. Hath any man seen him at barber's?

Claud. No, but the barber's man hath been seen with him, and the old ornament of cheek hath already stuffed tennis-balls.

Leon. Indeed, he looks younger than he d by the loss of a beard.

D. Pedro. Nay, 'a rubs himself with ci Can you smell him out by that?

Claud. That's as much as to say, the sw youth 's in love.

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

Claud. And when was he wont to wash face?

D. Pedro. Yea, or to paint himself? For which, I hear what they say of him.

Claud. Nay, but his jesting spirit; whic now crept into a lute-string and now govel by stops.

D. Pedro. Indeed, that tells a heavy tale him. Conclude, conclude he is in love.

Claud. Nay, but I know who loves him. D. Pedro. That would I know too. I rant, one that knows him not.

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

D. Pedro. She shall be buried with her upwards.

Bene. Yet is this no charm for the to ache. Old signior, walk aside with me: I studied eight or nine wise words to spet you, which these hobby-horses must not her [Exeunt Benedick and Leon

D. Pedro. For my life, to break with about Beatrice.

Claud. 'Tis even so. Hero and Mar have by this played their parts with Beal and then the two bears will not bite one an when they meet.

Enter JOHN the Bastard.

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