SCENE II.
Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar, and others in Masquerade.
Pedro.
Lady, will you walk about with your friend?
Hero.
So you walk softly, and look sweetly, and
say nothing, I am yours for the walk, and especially
when I walk away.
Pedro.
With me in your company?
Hero.
I may say so, when I please.
Pedro.
And when please you to say so?
Hero.
When I like your favour; for God defend, the
lute should be like the case!
Pedro.
1 note
My visor is Philemon's roof; within the
house is Jove.
-- 192 --
Hero.
Why, then your visor should be thatch'd.
Pedro.
Speak low, if you speak love.6Q0122
Balth.
Well; I would, you did like me.2 note
Marg.
So would not I for your own sake, for I have
many ill qualities.
Bath.
Which is one?
Marg.
I say my Prayers aloud.
Balth.
I love you the better, the hearers may cry
Amen.
Marg.
God match me with a good dancer!
Balth.
Amen.
Marg.
And God keep him out of my sight when the
dance is done! Answer, Clerk.
Balth.
No more words, the clerk is answer'd.
-- 193 --
Urs.
I know you well enough, you are Signior
Antonio.
Ant.
At a word, I am not.
Urs.
I know you by the wagling of your head.
Ant.
To tell you true, I counterfeit him.
Urs.
You could never do him so ill-well, unless
you were the very man: here's his dry hand up and
down; you are he, you are he.
Ant.
At a word, I am not.
Urs.
Come, come, do you think, I do not know
you by your excellent wit? can virtue hide itself? go
to, mum, you are he; graces will appear, and there's
an end.
Beat.
Will you not tell me, who told you so?
Bene.
No, you shall pardon me.
Beat.
Nor will you not tell me, who you are?
Bene.
Not now.
Beat.
That I was disdainful, and that I had my
good Wit out of the Hundred merry Tales;3 note well,
this was Signior Benedick that said so.
Bene.
What's he?
Beat.
I am sure, you know him well enough.
Bene.
Not I, believe me.
Beat.
Did he never make you laugh?
Bene.
I pray you, what is he?
Beat.
Why, he is the Prince's jester; a very dull
fool, only his gift is in devising impossible slanders:4 note
none but libertines delight in him, and the commendation
is not in his wit, but in his villany;5 note for he
both pleaseth men and angers them, and then they
-- 194 --
laugh at him, and beat him; I am sure, he is in the
fleet; I would, he had boarded me.
Bene.
When I know the gentleman, I'll tell him
what you say.
Beat.
Do, do, he'll but break a comparison or two
on me; which, peradventure, not mark'd, or not
laugh'd at, strikes him into melancholy, and then
there's a partridge wing sav'd, for the fool will eat no
supper that night. We must follow the leaders.
[Musick within.
Bene.
In every good thing.
Beat.
Nay, if they lead to any ill, I will leave them
at the next turning.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
