Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar, and others in Masquerade.
Pedro.
Lady, will you walk 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!
-- 20 --
Pedro.
My visor is Philemon's roof; within the
house is (a) note Jove.
Hero.
Why, then your visor should be thatch'd.
Pedro.
Speak low, if you speak love.
Balth.
Well; I would, you did like me.
Marg.
So would not I for your own sake, for I
have many ill qualities.
Balth.
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.
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; well, this
was Signior Benedick that said so.
-- 21 --
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 4 notehis gift is in devising impassible slanders:
none but libertines delight in him, and the commendation
is not in his wit, but in 5 notehis villany; for
he both pleaseth men and angers them, and then
they 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.
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].
