Beatrice, with a Messenger.
Leonato.
I learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of
Arragon comes this night to Messina.
Mess.
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?
Mess.
But few of any Sort, and none of Name.
Leon.
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.
Mess.
Much deserved on his part, and equally remembred
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
-- 4 --
expectation, than you must expect of me to tell
you how.
Leon.
He hath an uncle here in Messina will be
very much glad of it.
Mess.
I have already delivered him letters, and there
appears much joy in him; even so much, that 2 notejoy
could not shew itself modest enough, without a badge
of bitterness.
Leon.
Did he break out into tears?
Mess.
In great measure.
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, 3 noteis Signior Montanto return'd
from the wars or no?
Mess.
I know none of that name, Lady; 4 notethere
was none such in the army of any Sort.
Leon.
What is he that you ask for, Neice?
Hero.
My Cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua.
Mess.
O, he's return'd, and as pleasant as ever he
was.
Beat.
He set up his bills here in Messina, and challeng'd
Cupid at the flight; and my Uncle's fool, reading
the challenge, subscrib'd for Cupid, and challeng'd
him at the bird-bolt. &wlquo;I pray you, how many hath
he kill'd and eaten in these wars? but how many
-- 5 --
hath he kill'd? for, indeed, I promis'd to eat all
of his killing.&wrquo;
Leon.
Faith, Neice, you tax Signior Benedick
too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it
not.
Mess.
He hath done good service, Lady, in these
wars.
&wlquo;Beat.
&wlquo;You had musty victuals, and he hath holp
to eat it; he's a very valiant trencher-man, he hath
an excellent stomach.&wrquo;
Mess.
And a good soldier too, Lady.
Beat.
And a good soldier to a lady? but what is
he to a lord?
Mess.
A lord to a lord, a man to a man, stufft
with all honourable virtues.
Beat.
It is so, indeed: he is no less than a stufft
man: but for the stuffing,—well, we are all mortal.
Leon.
You must not, Sir, mistake my Neice; there
is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and
her; they never meet, but there's a skirmish of Wit
between them.
Beat.
Alas, he gets nothing by That. In our last
conflict, four of his five wits went halting off, and
now is the whole man govern'd with one: So that if
he have * notewit enough to keep himself from harm, 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 companion
now? he hath every month a new sworn brother.
-- 6 --
Mess.
Is it possible?
Beat.
Very easily possible; 5 notehe wears his faith but
as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the
next block.
Mess.
I see, Lady, the gentleman is not in your
books.
&wlquo;Beat.
&wlquo;No; an he were, I would burn my Study.
But, I pray you, who is his companion? is there
no young squarer now, that will make a voyage
with him to the devil?&wrquo;
Mess.
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 cost him a
thousand pounds ere he be cur'd.
Mess.
I will hold friends with you, Lady.
Beat.
Do, good friend.
Leon.
You'll ne'er run mad, Neice.
Beat.
No, not 'till a hot January.
Mess.
Don Pedro is approach'd.
Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
