that you make yourself: it is needful that you frame the feafon for your own harvest. 8 John. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rofe in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be difdain'd of all, than to fafhion a carriage to rob love from any in this, (though I cannot be faid to be a flattering honest man) it must not be deny'd but I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trufted with a muzzle, and infranchised with a clog; therefore I have decreed not to fing 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 feek not to alter me. Conr. Can you make no ufe of your discontent? John. I make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here? what news Borachio? Enter Borachio. Bora. I came yonder from a great fupper; the prince, your brother, is royally entertain'd by Leonato; and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage. John. Will it ferve for any model to build mischief on? What is he for a fool, that betroths himself to unquietnefs? I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rofe in bis grace;] A canker is the canker rose, dog-rose, cynefbatus, or hip. The fenfe is, I would rather live in obfcurity the wild life of nature, than owe dignity or estimation to my brother. He ftill continues his wish of gloomy independence. But what is the meaning of the expreflion, a rofe in his grace? if he was a rofe of himself, his brother's grace or favour could not degrade him. I once read thus, I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rofe in his garden; that is, I had rather be what nature makes me, however mean, than owe any exaltation or improvement to my brother's kindnefs or cultivation. But a lefs change will be fufficient: I think it fhould be read, I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rose by his grace. JOHNSON. Bora. Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right hand. John. A proper squire! and who, and who? which way looks he? Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato. John. A very forward March-chick! How come you to know this? Bora. Being entertain'd for a perfumer, as I was fmoaking a mufty room, comes me the prince and Claudio hand in hand in fad conference. I whipt behind the arras; and there heard it agreed upon, that the prince should woo Hero for himself, and having obtained her, give her to count Claudio. John. Come, come, let us thither; this may prove food to my difpleafure. That young ftart-up hath all the glory of my overthrow; if I can crofs him any way, I blefs myfelf every way: You are both fure, and will affift me. Conr. To the death, my lord. John. Let us to the great fupper; their cheer is the greater, that I am fubdu'd: 'Would the cook were of my mind!-Shall we go prove what's to be done? Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. A Hall in Leonato's Iloufe. Enter Leonato, Antonio, Hero, Beatrice, Margaret, and Urfula. LEONATO. As not count John here at fupper? WA Ant. I faw him not. Beat. How tartly that gentleman looks! I never can see him, but I am heart-burn'd an hour after.' Hero. He is of a very melancholy difpofition. Beat. He were an excellent man, that were made juft in the mid-way between him and Benedick: the one is too like an image, and says nothing; and the other too like my lady's eldest fon, evermore tattling. Leon. Then half fignior Benedick's tongue in count John's mouth, and half count John's melancholy in fignior Benedick's face, Beat. With a good leg, and a good foot, uncle, and money enough in his purfe, fuch a man would win any woman in the world, if he could get her good will. Leon. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a hufband, if thou be'ft fo fhrewd of thy tongue. Ant. In faith, fhe's too curft. Beat. Too curft is more than curft: I fhall leffen God's fending that way for it is faid, God fends a curft cow short horns; but to a cow too curft he fends none. heart-burn'd an hour after.] The pain commonly called the heart-burn, proceeds from an acid humour in the ftomach, and is therefore properly enough imputed to tart looks. JoHNSON. Leon. Leon. So, by being too curst, God will send you no horns. Beat. Juft, if he fend me no husband; for the which bleffing, I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening: Lord! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face; I had rather lie in woollen. Leon. You may light upon a husband, that hath no beard. Beat. What fhould I do with him? drefs him in my apparel, and make him my waiting-gentlewoman? He that hath a beard is more than a youth; and he that hath no beard is lefs than a man: and he that is more than a youth, is not for me; and he that is lefs than a man, I am not for him: therefore I will even take fix-pence in carneft of the bear-herd, and lead his apes into hell. Leo. Well then, go you into hell.2 Beat. No, but to the gate and there will the devil meet me, like an old cuckold, with horns on his head, and fay, Get you to heaven, Beatrice, get you to heaven, here's no place for you maids: fo deliver I up my apes, and away to Saint Peter for the heavens; he fhews me where the batchelors fit, and there live we as merry as the day is long. Ant. 3 Well, niece, I truft, you will be rul'd by your father. [To Hero. Beat. Yes, faith, it is my coufin's duty to make a 3 Well then, &c.] Of the two next fpeeches Mr. Warburton fays, All this impious nonfenfe thrown to the bottom is the players, and foifted in without rhyme or reason. He therefore puts them in the margin. They do not deferve indeed fo honourable a place, yet I am afraid they are too much in the manner of our authour, who is fometimes trying to purchase merriment at too dear a rate. JOHNSON. 2 Leo. Well then, &c.] I have reftored the lines omitted. STEEVENS. curtly, and fay, Father, as it pleafe you: but yet for all that, coufin, let him be a handfome fellow, or elfe make another curtfy, and fay, Father, as it pleafe me. Leon. Well, niece, I hope to fee you one day fitted with a husband. Beat. Not 'till God make men of fome other metal than earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be over-master'd with a piece of valiant duft? to make account of her life to a clod of wayward marle? No, uncle, I'll none: Adam's fons are my brethren, and, truly, I hold it a fin to match in my kindred. Leon. Daughter, remember, what I told you: if the prince do folicit you in that kind, you know your anfwer. Beat. The fault will be in the musick, cousin, if you be not woo'd in good time: if the prince be too important, tell him, there is meafure in every thing, and fo dance out the answer. For hear me, Hero, wooing, wedding, and repenting, is as a Scotch jig, a meafure, and a cinque-pace: the first fuit is hot and hafty, like a Scotch jig, and full as fantaftical; the wedding, mannerly modeft, as a measure, full of state and ancientry; and then comes repentance, and with his bad legs falls into the cinque-pace fafter and fafter, 'till he finks into his grave. Leon. Coufin, you apprehend paffing fhrewdly. Beat. I have a good eye, uncle; I can fee a church by day light. Leon. The revellers are entring, brother; make good room. If the prince be too important,] Important here, and in many other places, is importunate. JOHNSON. Enter |