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Enter prince [DON PEDRO], CLAUDIO,
BENEDICK, and LEONATO.
DON PEDRO
1 I do but stay till your marriage be consummate,
2 and then go I toward Arragon.
CLAUDIO
3 I'll bring you thither, my lord, if you'll
4 vouchsafe me.
DON PEDRO
5 Nay, that would be as great a soil in the new
6 gloss of your marriage as to show a child his
7 new coat and forbid him to wear it. I will only
8 be bold with Benedick for his company; for,
9 from the crown of his head to the sole of his
10 foot, he is all mirth: he hath twice or thrice cut
11 Cupid's bow-string and the little hangman dare
12 not shoot at him; he hath a heart as sound as a
13 bell and his tongue is the clapper, for what his
14 heart thinks his tongue speaks.
BENEDICK
15 Gallants, I am not as I have been.
LEONATO
16 So say I. Methinks you are sadder.
CLAUDIO
17 I hope he be in love.
DON PEDRO
18 Hang him, truant! there's no true drop of
19 blood in him, to be truly touched with love:
20 if he be sad, he wants money.
BENEDICK
21 I have the toothache.
CLAUDIO
24 You must hang it first, and draw it
25 afterwards.
DON PEDRO
26 What! sigh for the toothache?
LEONATO
27 Where is but a humor or a worm.
BENEDICK
28 Well, every one can master a grief but
29 he that has it.
CLAUDIO
30 Yet say I, he is in love.
DON PEDRO
31 There is no appearance of fancy in him, unless
32 it be a fancy that he hath to strange disguises;
33 as, to be a Dutchman today, a Frenchman
34 tomorrow, or in the shape of two countries
35 at once, as, a German from the waist downward,
36 all slops, and a Spaniard from the hip upward,
37 no doublet. Unless he have a fancy to this
38 foolery, as it appears he hath, he is
39 for fancy, as you would have it appear he is.
CLAUDIO
40 If he be not in love with some woman, there
41 is no believing old signs: a' brushes his hat o'
42 mornings; what should that bode?
DON PEDRO
43 Hath any man seen him at the
44 barber's?
CLAUDIO
45 No, but the barber's man hath been seen with
46 him, and the old ornament of his cheek hath
47 already stuffed tennis-balls.
LEONATO
48 Indeed, he looks younger than he did, by
49 the loss of a beard.
DON PEDRO
50 Nay, a' rubs himself with civet: can you smell
51 him out by that?
CLAUDIO
52 That's as much as to say, the sweet youth's
53 in love.
DON PEDRO
54 The greatest note of it is his
55 melancholy.
CLAUDIO
56 And when was he wont to wash his face?
DON PEDRO
57 Yea, or to paint himself? for the which, I hear
58 what they say of him.
CLAUDIO
59 Nay, but his jesting spirit; which is now crept
60 into a lute-string and now governed by stops.
DON PEDRO
61 Indeed, that tells a heavy tale for him.
62 Conclude, conclude he is in love.
CLAUDIO
63 Nay, but I know who loves him.
DON PEDRO
64 That would I know too: I warrant,
65 one that knows him not.
CLAUDIO
66 Yes, and his ill conditions; and, in despite of
67 all, dies for him.
DON PEDRO
68 She shall be buried with her face
69 upwards.
BENEDICK
70 Yet is this no charm for the toothache. Old
71 signior, walk aside with me: I have studied
72 eight or nine wise words to speak to you,
73 which these hobby-horses must not hear.
[Exeunt Benedick and Leonato.]
DON PEDRO
74 For my life, to break with him about
75 Beatrice.
CLAUDIO
76 'Tis even so. Hero and Margaret have
77 by this played their parts with Beatrice;
78 and then the two bears will not bite one
79 another when they meet.
DON JOHN
80 My lord and brother, God save you!
DON PEDRO
81 Good den, brother.
DON JOHN
82 If your leisure served, I would speak
83 with you.
DON JOHN
85 If it please you: yet Count Claudio may hear;
86 for what I would speak of concerns him.
DON PEDRO
87 What's the matter?
DON JOHN [To Claudio.]
88 Means your lordship to be married
89 tomorrow?
DON PEDRO
90 You know he does.
DON JOHN
91 I know not that, when he knows what
92 I know.
CLAUDIO
93 If there be any impediment, I pray you
94 discover it.
DON JOHN
95 You may think I love you not: let that appear
96 hereafter, and aim better at me by that I now
97 will manifest. For my brother, I think he holds
98 you well, and in dearness of heart hath holp to
99 effect your ensuing marriage;—surely suit ill
100 spent and labour ill bestowed.
DON PEDRO
101 Why, what's the matter?
DON JOHN
102 I came hither to tell you; and, circumstances
103 shortened, for she has been too long a talking
104 of, the lady is disloyal.
DON PEDRO
106 Even she; Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every
107 man's Hero
DON JOHN
109 The word is too good to paint out her wickedness;
110 I could say she were worse: think you of a worse
111 title, and I will fit her to it. Wonder not till further
112 warrant: go but with me tonight, you shall see her
113 chamber-window entered, even the night before
114 her wedding-day: if you love her then, tomorrow
115 wed her; but it would better fit your honor to
116 change your mind.
DON PEDRO
118 I will not think it.
DON JOHN
119 If you dare not trust that you see, confess not
120 that you know: if you will follow me, I will
121 show you enough; and when you have seen
122 more and heard more, proceed accordingly.
CLAUDIO
123 If I see any thing tonight why I should not
124 marry her tomorrow in the congregation,
125 where I should wed, there will I shame her.
DON PEDRO
126 And, as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will
127 join with thee to disgrace her.
DON JOHN
128 I will disparage her no farther till you are
129 my witnesses: bear it coldly but till midnight,
130 and let the issue show itself.
DON PEDRO
131 O day untowardly turned!
CLAUDIO
132 O mischief strangely thwarting!
DON JOHN
133 O plague right well prevented! so will you
134 say when you have seen the sequel.
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