Messenger.
Leo.
I learn in this † letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon
comes this night to Messina.
Mes.
He is very near by this; he was not three leagues
off when I left him.
Leo.
How many gentlemen have you lost in this
action?
Mes.
But few of any sort, and none of name.
Leo.
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,
called Claudio.
Mes.
Much deserv'd on his part, and equally remember'd
by Don Pedro: He hath born 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
-- 4 --
tell you how.
Leo.
He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very
much glad of it.
Mes.
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.
Leo.
Did he break out into tears?
Mes.
In great measure.
Leo.
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?
Bea.
I pray you, is signior Montanto return'd from
the wars, or no?
Mes.
I know none of that name, lady; there was
none such in the army of any sort.
Leo.
What is he that you ask for, niece?
Her.
My cousin means signior Benedick of Padua.
Mes.
O, he's return'd; and as pleasant as ever he was.
Bea.
He set up his bills14Q0156 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.—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.
Leo.
Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too much:
but he'll be met with note you, I doubt it not.
Mes.
He hath done good service, lady, in these wars. note
Bea.
You had note musty victual, and he hath holp to
eat it: note he's a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an
excellent stomack.
-- 5 --
Mes.
And a good soldier too, lady.
Bea.
And a good soldier to a lady;—But what is
he to a lord?
Mes.
A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuft with
all honourable virtues.
Bea.
It is so, indeed; he is no less than a stuft man:
but, for the stuffing!—well, we are all mortal.
Leo.
You must not, sir, 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.
Bea.
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 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 companion now?
He hath every month a new sworn-brother.
Mes.
Is't possible?
Bea.
Very easily possible: he wears his faith but
as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next
block.
Mes.
I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.
Bea.
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?
Mes.
He is most in the company of the right noble
Claudio.
Bea.
O lord! He will hang upon him like a disease: note
he is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the
-- 6 --
taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio!
if he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a
thousand pound ere he be note cur'd.
Mes.
I will hold friends with you, lady.
Bea.
Do, good friend.
Leo.
You will never run note mad, niece.
Bea.
No, not 'till a hot January.
Mes.
Don Pedro is approach'd.
Enter Don Pedro, attended; Don John, Claudio, and Benedick.
D. Pe.
Good signior Leonato, you are note come to meet
your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid cost,
and you encounter it.
Leo.
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, sorrow
abides, and happiness takes his leave.
D. Pe.
You embrace your charge too willingly. note—
I think, this is your daughter.
Leo.
Her mother hath many times told me so.
Ben.
Were you in doubt, sir, that you ask'd her?
Leo.
Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child.
D. Pe.
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.
Ben.
If signior Leonato be her father, she would
not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as
like him as she is.
Bea.
I wonder, that you will still be talking, signior
Benedick; no body marks you.
Ben.
What, my dear lady disdain! are you yet living?
-- 7 --
Bea.
Is it possible disdain should dye, while she
hath such meet food to feed it, as signior Benedick?
Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in
her presence.
Ben.
Then is courtesy a turn-coat:—But it is certain,
I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and
I would I could find in my heart note that I had not a hard
heart; for, truly, I love none.
Bea.
A dear happiness to women; they would else
have been troubl'd with a pernicious suitor. I thank
God, and my cold blood, I am of your humour for
that; I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than
a man swear he loves me.
Ben.
God keep your ladyship still in that mind!
so some gentleman or other shall scape a predestinate
scratcht face.
Bea.
Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere
such a face as yours were.
Ben.
Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.
Bea.
A bird of my tongue is better than a beast
of yours.
Ben.
I would, my horse had the speed of your
tongue; and so good a continuer: But keep your way,
i' God's name; I have done.
Bea.
You always end with a jade's trick; I know
you of old.
D. Pe.
This is note the sum of all: Leonato,—signior
Claudio, and signior Benedick,—my dear friend Leonato,
hath invited you all. I tell him, we shall stay here
at the least a month; and he heartily prays, some occasion
may detain us longer: I dare swear he is no
hypocrite, but prays from his heart.
-- 8 --
Leo.
If you swear, my lord, you shall not be forsworn.
—Let me bid you welcome, my lord: being
reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe you all
duty.
D. Jo.
I thank you: I am not of many words, but
I thank you.
Leo.
Please it your grace lead on?
D. Pe.
Your hand, Leonato; we will go together.
[Exeunt D. Pedro, D. John, Leonato, Hero,
Beatrice, Messenger, and Attendants.
Cla.
Benedick, did'st thou note the daughter of
signior Leonato?
Ben.
I noted her not; but I look'd on her.
Cla.
Is she not a modest young lady?
Ben.
Do you question me, as an honest man should
do, for my simple true judgment? or would you have
me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant
to their sex? note
Cla.
No, I pray thee note speak in sober judgment.
Ben.
Why, i'faith, methinks she's too low for
a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too
little for a great praise: only this commendation I can
afford her; that, were she other than she is, she were
unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I do
not like her.
Cla.
Thou think'st, I am in sport; I pray thee,
tell me truly how thou lik'st her.
Ben.
Would you buy her, that you enquire after her?
Cla.
Can the world buy such a jewel?
Ben.
Yea, and a case to put it into. note But speak
you this14Q0157 with a sad brow? Or do you play the flouting
Jack; to tell us, Cupid is a good hare-finder, and
-- 9 --
Vulcan a rare carpenter? Come, in what key shall a
man take you, to go in the song?
Cla.
In mine eye, she is the sweetest lady that ever
I look'd on.
Ben.
I can see yet without spectacles, and I see
no such matter: there's her cousin, an she were not
possess'd with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty,
as the first of May doth the last of December. But I
hope note you have no intent to turn husband; have you?
Cla.
I would scarce trust myself, though I had
sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife.
Ben.
Is't come to this, i'faith? Hath not the
world one man, but he will wear his cap with suspicion?
Shall I never see a batchelor of threescore
again? Go to, i'faith; an thou wilt needs thrust thy
neck into a yoke, wear the print of it, and sigh
away sundays. Look, Don Pedro is return'd to seek
you.
Re-enter Don Pedro.
D. Pe.
What secret hath held you here, that you follow'd
not to Leonato's?
Ben.
I would your grace would constrain me to
tell.
D. Pe.
I charge thee on thy allegeance.
Ben.
You hear, count Claudio: I can be secret
as a dumb man, I would have you think so; but, on
my allegeance, mark you this, on my allegeance:—
He is in love. With who? note—now that is your grace's
part: mark how short his answer is:—With Hero,
Leonato's short daughter.
Cla.
If this were so, so were it uttered.
Ben.
Like the old tale, my lord: it is not so, nor
-- 10 --
'twas not so; but, indeed, God forbid it should be so.
Cla.
If my passion change not shortly, God forbid
it should be otherwise.
D. Pe.
Amen, if you love her, for the lady is very
well worthy.
Cla.
You speak this to fetch me in, my lord.
D. Pe.
By my troth, I speak my thought.
Cla.
And, in faith, my lord, I spoke mine.
Ben.
And, by my two faiths and troths, my lord,
I spoke mine. note
Cla.
That I love her, I feel.
D. Pe.
That she is worthy, I know.
Ben.
That I neither feel how she should be loved,
nor know how she should be worthy, is the opinion
that fire cannot melt out of me; I will dye in it at
the stake.
D. Pe.
Thou wast ever an obstinate heretick in the
despight of beauty.
Cla.
And never could maintain his part, but in
the force of his will.
Ben.
That a woman conceived me, I thank her;
that she 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 in an invisible baldrick,
all women shall pardon me: because I will not
do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the
right to trust none: and the fine is (for the which I
may go the finer) I will live a batchelor.
D. Pe.
I shall see thee, ere I dye, look pale with
love.
Ben.
With anger, with sickness, or with hunger,
my lord; not with love: prove that ever I lose more
-- 11 --
blood with love, than I will get again with drinking,
pick out mine eyes with a ballad-maker's pen, and
hang me up at the door of a brothel-house for the sign
of blind Cupid.
D. Pe.
Well, if ever thou dost fall from this faith,
thou wilt prove a notable argument.
Ben.
If I do, hang me in a bottle, like a cat, and
shoot at me; and he that hits me,14Q0158 let him be clap'd on
the shoulder, and call'd Adam.
D. Pe.
Well, as time shall try:
In time the savage bull doth bear the yoke.
Ben.
The savage bull may; but if ever the sensible
Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns, and
set them in my forehead: and let me be vilely
painted; and in such great letters as they write—
Here is good horse to hire, let them signify under
my sign—Here you may see Benedick the marry'd
man.
Cla.
If this should ever happen, thou would'st be
horn-mad.
D. Pe.
Nay, if Cupid have not spent all his quiver
in Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly.
Ben.
I look for an earth-quake too then.
D. Pe.
Well, you will temporize with the hours.
In the mean time, good signior Benedick, repair to
Leonato's; commend me to him, and tell him, I will
not fail him at supper; for, indeed, he hath made
great preparation.
Ben.
I have almost matter enough in me for such
an embássage: And so I commit you—
Cla.
to note the tuition of God: From my house, (if
I had it,)
-- 12 --
D. Pe.
the note sixth of July: Your loving friend, Benedick.
Ben.
Nay, mock not, mock not: The body of
your discourse is sometime guarded with fragments,
and the guards are but slightly basted on neither: ere
you flout old ends any further, examine your conscience;
and so I leave you.
[Exit Benedick.
Cla.
My liege, your highness now may do me good.
D. Pe.
My love is thine to teach; teach it but how,
And thou shalt see how apt it is to learn
Any hard lesson that may do thee good.
Cla.
Hath Leonato any son, my lord?
D. Pe.
No child but Hero, she's his only heir:
Dost thou affect her, Claudio?
Cla.
O my lord,
When you went onward on this ended action,
I look'd upon her with a soldier's eye,
That lik'd, but had a rougher task in hand
Than to drive liking to the name of love:
But now I am return'd, and that war-thoughts
Have left their places vacant, in their rooms
Come thronging soft and delicate desires,
All prompting me how fair young Hero is,
Saying, I lik'd her ere I went to wars.
D. Pe.
Thou wilt be like a lover presently,
And tire the hearer with a book of words:
If thou dost love fair Hero, cherish it;
And I will break with her, and with her father, note
And thou shalt have her: Wast not to this end,
That thou began'st to twist so fine a story?
Cla.
How sweetly do you note minister to love,
That know love's grief by his complexion!
-- 13 --
But lest my liking might too sudden seem,
I would have salv'd it with a longer treatise.
D. Pe.
What need the bridge much broader than the flood?
The fairest grant is the necessity:
Look, what will serve, is fit: 'tis once, thou lov'st;
And I will fit thee with the remedy.
I know, we shall have reveling to-night;
I will assume thy part in some disguise,
And tell fair Hero, I am Claudio;
And in her bosom I'll unclasp my heart,
And take her hearing prisoner with the force
And strong encounter of my amorous tale:
Then, after, to her father will I break;
And, the conclusion is, she shall be thine:
In practice let us put it presently.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
A Room in Leonato's House.
Enter Leonato, and Antonio.
Leo.
How now, brother? Where is my cousin your
son? Hath he provided this musick?
Ant.
He is very busy about it. But, brother, I can
tell you strange note news, that you yet dreamt not of.
Leo.
Are they good?
Ant.
As the event note stamps them; but they have a
good cover, they shew well outward. The prince and
count Claudio, walking in a thick-pleached alley in
my orchard, note were thus much note over-heard by a man of
mine: The prince discover'd to Claudio, that he loved
my niece your daughter, and meant to acknowledge it
this night in a dance; and, if he found her accordant,
he meant to take the present time by the top, and instantly
break with you of it.
-- 14 --
Leo.
Hath the fellow any wit, that told you this?
Ant.
A good sharp fellow; I will send for him, and
question him yourself.
Leo.
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
answer, note if peradventure this be true: Go you, and
Enter several Persons, bearing Things for the Banquet.
tell her of it.—Cousins, you know what you have to
do.—O, I cry you mercy, friend; go you with me,
and I will use your skill:—Good cousin, have a care
this busy time.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.
Another Room in the same.
Enter Don John, and Conrade.
Con.
What the good year, my note lord! why are you
thus out of measure sad?
D. Jo.
There is no measure in the occasion that
breeds it, therefore the sadness is without limit.
Con.
You should hear reason.
D. Jo.
And when I have heard it, what blessing
bringeth it? note
Con.
If not a present remedy, yet a note patient sufferance.
D. Jo.
I wonder, that thou, being (as thou say'st,
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 sad when I have
cause, and smile at no man's jests; eat when I
have stomack, and wait for no man's leisure; sleep
when I am drowsy, and tend on no man's business;
laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his
-- 15 --
humour.
Con.
Yea, but you must not make the full show of
this, 'till you may do it without controulment. You
have of late stood out against your brother, and he hath
ta'en you newly into his grace: where it is impossible
you should take true root, note but by the fair weather that
you make yourself; it is needful that you frame the
season for your own harvest.
D. Jo.
I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a
rose in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be
disdain'd of all, than to fashion a carriage to rob love
from any: in this, though I cannot be said to be a
flattering honest man, it must not be deny'd but I am
a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with a muzle,
and enfranchis'd with a clog; therefore I have decreed
not to sing 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.
Con.
Can you make no use of your discontent?
D. Jo.
I make note all use of it, for I use it only.
Enter Borachio.
Who comes here?—What news, Borachio?
Bor.
I came yonder note from a great supper; the
prince your brother is royally entertain'd by Leonato:
and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage.
D. Jo.
Will it serve for any model to build mischief
on? What is he for a fool, that betroths himself to
unquietness?
Bor.
Marry, it is your brother's right hand.
D. Jo.
Who? the most exquisite Claudio?
-- 16 --
Bor.
Even he.
D. Jo.
A proper squire! And who, and who? which
way looks he?
Bor.
Marry, on Hero note, the daughter and heir of
Leonato.
D. Jo.
A very forward March-chick! How came you note
to this?
Bor.
Being entertain'd for a perfumer, as I was
smoking a musty room, comes me the prince and Claudio,
hand in hand, in sad conference: I whipt me behind note
the arras; and there heard it agreed upon, that
the prince should woo Hero for himself, and, having obtain'd
her, give her to count Claudio.
D. Jo.
Come, come, let us thither; this may prove
food to my displeasure: 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 sure, and
will assist me?
Con.
To the death, my lord.
D. Jo.
Let us to the great supper; their cheer is the
greater, that I am subdued: Would note the cook were of
my mind! Shall we go prove what's to be done?
Bor.
We'll wait upon your lordship.
[Exeunt.
Edward Capell [1767], Mr William Shakespeare his comedies, histories, and tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players his Fellows in folio, and now faithfully republish'd from those Editions in ten Volumes octavo; with an introduction: Whereunto will be added, in some other Volumes, notes, critical and explanatory, and a Body of Various Readings entire (Printed by Dryden Leach, for J. and R. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S10601].
