If speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds; Ursu. Sure, fure, such carping is not commendable. Hero. No; for to be so odd, and from all fashions, As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable, But who dare tell her so ? if I should speak, She'd mock me into air ; O, she would laugh me Out of myself, press me to death with wit. Therefore let Benedick, like cover'd fire, Consume away in fighs, waste inwardly; It were a better death than die with mocks, Which is as bad as 'tis to die with tickling. Ursu. Yet tell her of it; hear what she will say. Hero. No, rather I will go to Benedick, Ursu, O, do not do your Coufin such a wrong; She cannot be so much without true judgment, (Having so swift and excellent a wit, quality of the wearer; and were commonly in the shape of litele images; or at least had a head cut at the extremity, as is seen at the end of the start of old-fashion'd spoons. And as a tall man is before compar’d to a Launce ill-beaded; so, by the same figure, a little man is very aptly liken'd to an Aglet ill-cut, Mr. Warburton. I'll subjoin a few passages in confirmation of my friend's beautiful conjecture. Taming of the Shrew. Wby, give bim Gold enougb, and marry bim to a Puppet, er at Aglet-baby, &c. The Two Noble Kinsmen of Beaumont and Fletcber; I'm very cold; and all the stars are out too, The little stars, and all ; that look like Agkis, The gown I ware was white, and richly set As she is priz'd to have) as to refuse Hero. He is the only man of Italy, Urfu. I pray you, be not angry with me, Madam. Here. Indeed, he hath an excellent good name. Urfu. His excellence did earn it, ere he had it. When are you marry'd, Madam : Hero. Why, every day; to-morrow; come, go in, I'll shew thee fume attires, and have thy counsel Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow. Ursu. She's lim’d, I warrant you; we have caught wher, Madam. Woro. If it prove so, then loving goes by haps ; Beatrice, alvorcing. Stand 1 condemn'd for Pride and Scorn so much : Contempt, farewell and maiden pride, adieu ! No glory lives betting the back of such. And Benedick, love o...!!'requite thee; Taming my wil hearith loving hand; If thou doft love, my winds shall incite thee To bind our loves up in a holy band. For others fay, thou dost deserve, and I Believe it better than reportingly, (Exito Pedro. 1 SCE N E, Leonato's House. Do but ftay 'till your marriage be consum mare, and then go I toward Arragon. Claud. I'll bring you thither, my lord, if you'll vouch Pedro. Nay, That would be as eat a foil in the new glcis of your marriage, as to thew a child his new coat and {are me. 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 fole of his foot, he is all mirth; he hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's bow-ftring, and the little hangman dare not shoot at him; he hath a heart as found as a bell, and his tongue is the clapper ; for what his heart thinks, his tongue speaks. Bene. Gailants, I am not as I have been. Pedro. Hang him, truarit; there's no true drop of blood in him, to be truly touch'd with love ; if he be fad, he wants money. Bene. I have the tooth-ach. Bene. Well, every one can master grief but he that has it. Claud. Yet say I, he is in love. Pedro. There is no appearance of fan.cy in him, unless it be a fancy that he hath to strange disguises, as to be a Dutch man to-day, a French man to-morrow; or in the shape of two countries at once, a German from the waste downward, all nops, and a Spaniard from the hip upward, no doublet: Unless he have a fancy to this toolery, as it appears he hatři, he is no fool for fancy, as you would have it to 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? 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 ftuft tennis-balls. Leon. Indeed, he looks younger than he did by the loss of a beard. Pedro. Nay, he rubs himfelf with civet į can you smell him out by that? Claud. Claud. That's as much as to say, the sweet youth's in love, Pedro. The greatest note of it is his melancholy. Pedro. Yea, or to paint himself? for the which, I hear what they fay of him. Claud. Nay, but his jefting fpirit, which is now crept into a lute-string and now governed by ftops · Pedro. Indeed that tells a heavy tale for him. Conclude, he is in love. Claud. Nay, but I know who loves him. Pedro. That would I know too: I warrant, one that knows him not. Claud. Yes, and his ill conditions, and in despight of all, dies for him. Pedro. She shall be bury'd with her heels upwards. (14) Bene. Yet is this no charm for the tooth-ach. Old Signior, walk aside with me, I have study'd eight or nine wise words to speak to you which these hobbyhorses must not hear. [Exeunt Benedick and Leonato. Pedro. For my life, to break with him about Beatrice. Claud. 'Tis even fo. Hero and Margaret have by. this play'd their parts with Beatrice ; and then the two bears will not bite one another, when they meet. (14) Sbe shall be buried with ber Face upwards.] Thus the whole set of editions : But what is there any ways particular in this ? Are not all men and women buried so ? Sure the poet means, in oppofition to the general rule, and by way of distinction, with her beels upe wards, or face downwards. I have chose the first reading, because I find it the expression in vogue in our author's time. So Beaumont and Fletcher in their Wild-Goose Chase. Whilft I have meat and drink, love cannot starve me; And worthy to be buried with my heels upwards. Some few, They're buried in old walls witbibeir beils upward. Judge me, I do but jest with thee : what, an fhe were inverted witb ber beels upward, like a traytor's coat ? Enter Enter Don John. Pedro. What's the matter? [To Claudio. Pedro. You know, he does. Claud. If there be any impediment, I pray you discover it. John. You may think, I love you not, let that appear hereafter; and aim better at me by that I now will manifeft; 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 Labour ill bestow'd. Pedro. Why, what's the matter? John. I came hither to tell you, and circumstances shorten'a, (for the hath been too long a talking of) the Lady is disloyal. Claud. Who? Hero? John. Even ihe, Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero. · Claud. Disloyal ? John. The word is too good to paint out her wicked. nels; I could say, she were worse ; think you of a worse title, and I will fit her to it; wonder net 'uill further warrant; go but with me to-night, you shall fee her chamber-window enter'd, ev'n the night before her wedding-day; if you love her, then to-morrow wed her ; but it would better fit your honour to change your mind. Claud. May this be fo? Pedro. I will not think it. John. If you dare not trust that you see, confefs not that you if will follow me, I will shew you enough ; and when you have seen more and heard more, proceed accordingly. Claud. know; |