SCENE ACT Before Leonato's bouse. I. Enter Lesnate, Hero, and Beatrice, with a Messfenger, Leen. MaJ. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him. Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action? Moff. But few of any fort 2, and none of name. Lem. A victory is twice itself, when the atchiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, call'd Claudio. MeJ. Much deserv'd on his part, and equally rеmember'd by Don Pedro: He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age; doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better better'd expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how. I. Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it. Meff. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that joy could not shew itself modest enough, without a badge of bitterness. Leon. Did he break out into tears? Leon. A kind overflow of kindness: There are no faces truer than those that are so wash'd. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping? Beat. I pray you, is fignior Montanto 3 return'd from the wars, or no? Meff. I know none of that name, lady; there was none fuch in the army of any fort. Leon. What is he that you afk for, niece? he was. Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina 4, and challenged Cupid at the flight 5: and my uncle's fool 1 Mr. Pope was of opinion, that the story of this play is taken from Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, h.. Mr. Steevens, however, supposes, that a novel of Belleforest, copied from another of Bandello, furnished Shakspeare with his fable. 2 That is, of any rank. 3 Montante, in Spanish, is a huge twohanded fword, given, with much humour, to one, the speaker would represent as a boaster or bravado. * This alludes to the custom of fencers, or prize-fighters, fetting up bills, containing a general challenge. 5 To challenge at the flight, was a challenge to shoot with an arrow of a particular kind, with narrow feathers. reading Don Jobn. reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar, and challenged him at the bird-bolt -I pray you, how many hath he kill'd and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he kill'd? for, indeed, I promis'd to eat all of his killing. Leon. Faith, niece, you tax fignior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you2, I doubt it not. Meff. He hath done good service, lady, in these wars. Beat. You had mufty victual, and he hath holp to eat it: he's a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent stomach. Meff. And a good foldier too, lady. Beat. And a good foldier to a lady:-But what is he to a lord? Meff. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuff'd with all honourable virtues. Beat. It is fo, indeed; he is no less than a stuff'd man: but for the stuffing, well, we are all mortal. Leon. You must not, fir, mistake my niece; there is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedick and her: they never meet, but there's a skirmish of wit between them. Pedro. Good fignior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid coft, and you encounter it. Leon. Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your grace: for trouble being gone, comfort should remain; but, when you depart from me, forrow abides, and happiness takes his leave. Pedro. You embrace your charge & too willingly. -I think, this is your daughter Leon. Her mother hath many times told me fo. Bene. Were you in doubt, fir, that you ask'd her? Leon. Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child. Pedro. You have it full, Benedick: we may guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herself: -Be happy, lady! for you are like an honourable father. Bene. If fignior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Mestina, as like him as she is. Beat. I wonder, that you will still be talking, signior Benedick; no body marks you. Bene. What, my dear lady Disdain! are you yet living? Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our last conflict, four of his five wits 3 went halting off, and now is the whole man govern'd with one: so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable creature. Who is his com- in her prefence. panion now? he hath every month a new sworn brother. Meff. Is it poffible? Beat. Very easily possible; he wears his faith 4 but as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next block 5. Mej. I fee, lady, the gentleman is not in your books. Meff. He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio. Beat. O lord! he will hang upon him like a disease: he is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! if he have caught the Benedick, it will coft him a thousand pounds ere he be cur'd. Meff. I will hold friends with you, lady. ! Beat. Do, good friend. Leon. You'll ne'er run mad, niece. Beat. No, not till a hot January. Meff. Don Pedro is approach'd. 1 a Beat. Is it possible, disdain should die, while she hath such meet food to feed it, as fignior Benedick? Courtesy itself muft convert to difdain, if you come Bene. Then is Courtesy a turn-coat:-But it is certain, I am lov'd of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart; for, truly, I love none. Beat. A dear happiness to women; they would else have been troubled with a pernicious fuitor. I thank God, and my cold blood, I am of your hua crow, than a man swear he loves me. mour for that; I had rather hear my dog bark at fo Bene. God keep your ladyship ftill in that mind! fome gentleman or other shall 'scape a predefti nate scratch'd face. Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere fuch a face as yours were. Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. of yours. Beat. A bird of my tongue, is better than a beaft Bene. I would, my horse had the speed of your tongue; and so good a continuer: But keep your way o' God's name; I have done. Beat. You always end with a jade's trick; I know you of old. Pedro. This is the fum of all: Leonato, fignior Claudio, and fignior Benedick,-my dear friend The bird-bolt is a short thick arrow without point, and spreading at the extremity so much, as to leave a flat furface, about the breadth of with, and are shot from a cross-bow. shilling. They are ufed 2 That is, " he will be even with, or a match for you.f at present to kill rooks 3 The five fenfes probably gave rife to the idea of a man's having five wits. 4 Not religious profeffion, but profeffion of friendship. 5 A block is the mould on which a hat is formed. 6 To be in a man's books, originally meant to be in the lift of his retainers. 7 That is, no young, cholerick, quarrelsome fellow. 3 Charge here fignifies incumbrance, : 1 Leonate Leonato hath invited you all. I tell him, we shall, Bene, You hear, Count Claudio: I can be fecret you all duty. Jobu. I thank you; I am not of many words, but I thank you. Loom. Please it your grace lead on? Padre, Your hand, Leonato; we will go together, [Exeunt all but Benedick and Claudio. Claud. Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of fignior Leonato? Bent. I noted her not; but I look'd on her. : Claud. If this were so, so were it uttered. be fo. Claud. If my paffion change not shortly, God forbid it should be otherwife. Pedro. Amen, if you love her, for the lady is Claud. You speak this to fetch me in, my lord. Bene. Do you question me, as an honeft man fhould do, for my fimple true judgment? or would I fpeak mine. you have me speak after my custom, as being a profeiled tyrant to their sex? Cland. No, I pray thee, speak in sober judgment, Bene. Why, i'faith, methinks the is too low for a high praife, too brown for a fair praise, and too fittle for a great praise; only this commendation I can afford her; that were the other than the is, the were unhandfome; and being no other but as the is, I do not like her. Claud, Thou think'st, I am in sport, I pray thee, tell me truly how thou lik'it her. Bent. Would you buy her, that you enquire af. ter her? Claud. Can the world buy such a jewel? Bre. Yea, and a cafe to put it into. But speak you this with a fad brow? or do you play the floutmg Jack; to tell us Cupid is a good hare-finder, and Vuican a rare carpenter? Come, in what key fholl a man take you, to go in the fong? Chaud. In mine eye, the is the sweetest lady that I ever looked on. Bene. I can fee yet without spectacles, and I see no foch matter: there's her coufin, an she were not potfefs'd with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty, as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope, you have no intent to turn hufhand; have you ? Claud. I would scarce trust myself, though I had fwom the contrary, if Hero would be my wife. Bone. Is 't come to this, i' faith? Hath not the world one man, but he will wear his cap with fufpicion? Shall I never fee a batchelor of threefcore agan? Go to, i' faith; an thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it, and figh away Sundays. Look, Don Pedro is return'd to leek you. Re-enter Don Ped o. Pedra. What fecret hath held you here, that you follow'd not to Leonato's? Bat. I would, your grace would conftrain me tell Pedro. I charge thee on thy allegiance. Claud. That I love her, I feel. Pedro. That the is worthy, I know. Bene. That I neither feel how she should be lov'd, nor know how she should be worthy, is the opinion that fire cannot melt out of me; I will die in it at the stake. Pedro. Thou wast ever an obstinate heretick in the defpight of beauty. Claud. And never could maintain his part, but in the force of his will. Bene. That a woman conceived me, I thank her, that the brought me up, I likewise give her most humble thanks: but that I will have a recheat winded in my forehead', or hang my bugle 2 in an invisible baldrick 3, all women shall pardon me : Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to truft none; and the fine is, (for the which I may go the finer) I will live a batchelor. Pidro. I shall fee thee, ere I die, look pale with love. Bene. With anger, with fickness, or with hun- Pedro. Well, if ever thou doft fall from this Pedro. Well, as time thall try: Bene. The favage bull may; but if ever the fen- Claud. If this should ever happen, thou would'st be horn-mad. 1 A recheat is a particular lesson upon the horn, to call dogs back from the scent. 2 Bugle-horn. 3 Belt or girdle. + This probably alludes to one Adam Bell, who at that time of day was of repution for his skill at the bow. Pedro. Redro. Nay, if Cupid hath not spent all his quiver in Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly. - Bena. I look for an earthquake too then. Pedro. Well, you will temporize with the hours. In the mean time, good fignior Benedick, repair to Leonato's, commend me to him, and tell him, I will not fail him at fupper; for, indeed he hath made great preparation. Bene. I have almost matter enough in me for fuch an embassage; and fo I commit you Claud. To the tuition of God; from my house, (if I had it,) Pedro. The fixth of July; your loving friend, Benedick. 14 Room in Leornato's House. Enter Leonato and Antonio. Leo. How now, brother? Where is my coufin, your fon? Hath he provided this musick? Ant. He is very bufy about it. But, brother, I can tell you news that you yet dream'd not of. Leon. Are they good? Ant. As the event stamps them; but they have a good cover, they show well outward. The prince and Count Claudio, walking in a thick-pleached 2 alley in my orchard, were thus overheard by a man of mine: The prince discover'd to. Claudio, that Bene. Nay, mock not, mock not: The body of he lov'd my niece your daughter, and meant to acyour difcourse is sometime guarded with fragments, knowledge it this evening in a dance; and, if he and the guards are but flightly bafted on neither: found her accordant, he meant to take the prefent ere you flout old ends any further, examine your time by the top, and inftantly break with you of it, confcience; and so I leave you. [Exit. Claud. My liege, your highness now may do me good. [how, Pedro. My love is thine to teach; teach it but And thou shalt see how apt it is to learn Any hard lesson that may do thee good. Claud. Hath Leonato any fon, my lord? 1 Loon. Hath the fellow any wit that told you this? Ant. A good sharp fellow; I will fend for him, and question him yourself. Leon. No, no; we will hold it as a dream, till it appear itself:-but I will acquaint my daughter withal, that she may be the better prepared for an anfwer, if peradventure this be true: Go you, and Pedro, No child but Hero, she's his only heir: tell her of it. [Several Servants cross the stage bere.] Dost thou affect her, Claudio? Claud. O my lord, When you went onward on this ended action, Pedro. Thou wilt be like a lover presently, Claud. How sweetly do you minister to love, Coufin, you know what you have to do, O, I SCENE III. Another Apartment in Leonato's House. Conr. What the good-jer, my lord! why are you thus out of measure fad ? John. There is no measure in the occafion that breeds it, therefore the fadness is without limit. Conr. You should hear reafon. John. And when I have heard it, what blessing bringeth it? Conr. If not a present remedy, yet a patient fufferance. John. I wonder, that thou being (as thou say'it thou art born) under Saturn, goest about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I am I must be fad when I Pedro. What need the bridge much broader than have caufe, and smile at no man's jests; eat when the flood? The fairest grant is the neceffity: I have ftomach, and wait for no man's leifure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend on no man's Look, what will ferve, is fit; 'tis once, thou lov'it; business; laugh when I am merry, and claw 3 no And I will fit thee with the remedy. I know, we shall have revelling to-night; And in her bosom I'll unclasp my heart, man in his humour. Conr. Yea, but you must not make the full show of this, till you may do it without controulment. You have of late stood out againft your brother and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace; where it is impoffible you should take root, but by the fair weather that you make yourself; it is needful that you frame the feafon for your own harveft. Jobn. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, thar a rose in his grace; and it better fits my blood to [Exeunt. be difdain'd of all, than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any: in this, though I cannot be faid to be a fattering honest man, it must not be deny'd but I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trufted with a muzzle, and infranchised with a clog; therefore I have decreed not to fing in my cage: If I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking: in the mean time, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me. Cour. Can you make no use of your difcontent? Jobe. I make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here? what news, Borachio? Enter Borachio. John. Come, come, come, let us thither; this may prove food to my difpleasure: that young start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow; if I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way: You are both fure 2, and will affift me. Conr. To the death, my lord. John. Let us to the great fupper; their cheer is the greater, that I am fubdu'd : Would the cook were of my mind!-Shall we go prove what's to be done? A Hall in Leonato's House. no horns. Beat. Juft, if he send me no husband; for the Enter Leonato, Aritonio, Hero, Beatrice, Margaret, which bleffing, I am at him upon my knees every and Urfula, Lam. W Ant. morning and evening: Lord! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face; I had rather lie in woollen.. : Leon. You may light upon a husband, that hath no beard.. AS not count John here at fupper! I faw him not. Beat. How tartly that gentleman looks! I never san fee him, but I am heart-burn'd an hour after. How He is of a very melancholy difpofition. Beat. What should I do with him? dress him Best. He were an excellent man, that were in my apparel, and make him my waiting-gentlemade juit in the midway between him and Bene- woman. He that hath a beard, is nore than a lick: the one is too like an image, and fays no- youth; and he that hath no beard, is less than thing; and the other, too like my lady's eldest fon, man and he that is more than a youth, is not for vermore tattling. deme; and he that is less than a man, I am not for Leve. Then half signior Benedick's tongue in him: Therefore I will even take fix-pence in ear. sount John's mouth, and half count John's me-neft of the bear-herd, and lead his apes into hell. ancholy in Leon. Well then, go you into bell? Beat. With a good leg, and a good foot, uncle, Beat. No; but to the gare and there will the and money enough in his purse, Such a man would devil meet me, like an old cuckold, with horns on win any woman in the world, if he could get her his head, and say, Get you to beaven, Beatrice, vet pod wal you to beaven; bere's no place for you maids: so det Lan. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get liver I up my apes, and away to Saint Peter for thee a husband, if thou be'st so shrewd of thy the heavens; he shews me where the batchelors ngue. fignior Benedick's face, As. In faith, she's too curst. Brat. Too curst is more than curst: I shall lefIn God's fending that way: for it is faid, God fends funt cow fbart bores, but to a cow too curst he Inds none. i. e, Serious; fit, and there live we as merry as the day is long.' 2 i. e. To be depended on. low |