Is sick in love with Beatrice: Of this matter That only wounds by hearsay. Now begin; Enter BEATRICE, behind. For look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runs Hero. Then go we near her, that her ear lose nothing Of the false sweet bait that we lay for it. [They advance to the bower. No, truly, Ursula, she is too disdainful; I know, her spirits are as coy and wild Urs. But are you sure, That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely? Hero. So says the prince, and my new-trothed lord. Urs. And did they bid you tell her of it, madam? Hero. They did intreat me to acquaint her of it: But I persuaded them, if they lov'd Benedick, To wish him wrestle with affection, And never to let Beatrice know of it. Urs. Why did you so? Doth not the gentleman Deserve as full, as fortunate a bed, As ever Beatrice shall couch upon ? Hero. O God of love! I know, he doth deserve As much as may be yielded to a man: But nature never fram'd a woman's heart All matter else seems weak: she cannot love, Urs. Sure, I think so; And therefore, certainly, it were not good Hero. Why, you speak truth: I never yet saw man, 30 If speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds; So turns she every man the wrong side out; Urs. Sure, sure, such carping is not commendable, Hero. No: not to be so odd, and from all fashions, As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable: But who dare tell her so? If I should speak, She'd mock me into air; O, she would laugh me Urs. Yet tell her of it; hear what she will say. Urs. O, do not do your cousin such a wrong. She cannot be so much without true judgement, (Having so swift and excellent a wit, As she is priz'd to have,) as to refuse Urs. I pray you, be not angry with me, madam, Speaking my fancy; signior Benedick, For shape, for bearing, argument, and valour, Hero. Indeed, he hath an excellent good name. Urs. His excellence did earn it, ere he had it.— When are you married, madam ? Hero. Why, every day;-to-morrow: Come, go in; I'll show thee some attires; and have thy counsel, Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow. Urs. She's lim'd, I warrant you; we have caught her, madam. Hero. If it proves so, then loving goes by haps: Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps. [Exeunt Hero and Ursula, BEATRICE advances. Beat. What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true? For others say, thou dost deserve; and I SCENE II. A Room in Leonato's House. [Exit. Enter Don PEDRO, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, and D. Pedro. I do but stay till your marriage be consummate, and then go I toward Arragon. Claud. I'll bring you thither, my lord, if you'll vouchsafe me. D. Pedro. Nay, that would be as great a soil in the new gloss of your marriage, as to show a child his new coat, and forbid him to wear it. I will only be bold with Benedick for his company; for, from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, he is all mirth; he hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's bow-string, and the little hangman dare not shoot at him 31: he hath a heart as sound as a bell, and his tongue is the clapper; for what his heart thinks, his tongue speaks. Bene. Gallants, I am not as I have been. Leon. So say I; methinks, you are sadder. Claud. I hope, he be in love. D. Pedro. Hang him, truant; there's no true drop of blood in him, to be truly touch'd with love: if he be sad, he wants money. Bene. I have the tooth-ach. D. Pedro. Draw it. Bene. Hang it! Claud. You must hang it first, and draw it afterwards. D. Pedro. What? sigh for the tooth-ach? Leon. Where is but a humour, or a worm? Bene. Well, every one can master a grief, but he that has it. Claud. Yet say I, he is in love. D. Pedro. There is no appearance of fancy 32 in him, unless it be a fancy that he hath to strange disguises; as, to be a Dutch-man to-day; a French-man to-morrow; or in the shape of two countries at once, as, a German from the waist downward, all slops; and a |