Claud. Now unto thy bones good night! D. Pedro. Good morrow, masters; put your torches out: The wolves have prey'd and look, the gentle day, Before the wheels of Phœbus, round about Dapples the drowsy east with spots of gray: Thanks to you all, and leave us : fare you well. Claud. Good morrow, masters; each his several way. D. Pedro. Come, let us hence, and put on other weeds; And then to Leonato's we will go. Claud. And, Hymen, now with luckier issue speeds Than this, for whom we render'd up this woe! [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-A Room in Leonato's House. Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, BENEDICK, BEATRICE, URSULA, Friar FRANCIS, and HERO. Friar. Did I not tell you she was innocent? Leon. So are the prince and Claudio, who accused her, Upon the error that you heard debated: Ant. Well, I am glad that all things sort so well. Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves; And, when I send for you, come hither mask'd: The prince and Claudio promised by this hour To visit me :-you know your office, brother; You must be father to your brother's daughter, And give her to young Claudio. [Exeunt Ladies. Ant. Which I will do with confirm'd counte nance. Bene. Friar, I must entreat your pains, I think. Friar. To do what, signior? Bene. To bind me, or undo me, one of them. Signior Leonato, truth it is, good signior, Your niece regards me with an eye of favour. Leon. That eye my daughter lent her: 'tis most true. Bene. And I do with an eye of love requite her. Leon. The sight whereof, I think, you had from me, From Claudio, and the prince. will? But what's your Bene. Your answer, sir, is enigmatical: Here comes the prince and Claudio. And my help. Enter DON PEDRO and CLAUDIO, with Attendants. We here attend you. Are you yet determined Claud. I'll hold my mind, where she an Ethiope. Leon. Call her forth, brother, here's the friar [Exit ANTONIO. Benedick: why, That you have such a February face, So full of frost, of storm, and cloudiness? Claud. I think he thinks upon the savage bull: Tush, fear not, man, we'll tip thy horns with gold, And all Europa shal! rejoice at thee; As once Europa did at lusty Jove, When he would play the noble beast in love. And some such strange bull leap'd your father's cow, And got a calf in that same noble feat, Re-enter ANTONIO, with the Ladies masked. Claud. For this I owe you: here come other reckonings. Which is the lady I must seize upon? Ant. This same is she, and I do give you her. Claud. Why, then she's mine. Sweet, let me see your face. Leon. No, that you shall not, till you take her hand Before this friar, and swear to marry her. Claud. Give me your hand before this holy friar ; I am your husband, if you like of me. Hero. And when I lived, I was your other wife : [Unmasking. And when you loved, you were my other husband. Claud. Another Hero? Nothing certainer : Hero. One Hero died defiled; but I do live, D. Pedro. The former Hero! Hero that is dead! Leon. She died, my lord, but whiles her slander lived. Friar. All this amazement can I qualify; Bene. Soft and fair, friar.-Which is Beatrice? Beat. I answer to that name [unmasking]; what is your will? Bene. Do not you love me? Beat. Why no, no more than reason. Bene. Why then your uncle, and the prince, and Claudio, Have been deceived; they swore you did. Beat. Do not you love me? Bene. Troth no, no more than reason. Beat. Why then my cousin, Margaret, and Ursula, Are much deceived; for they did swear you did. Bene. They swore that you were almost sick for me. Beat. They swore that you were well nigh dead for me. Bene. 'Tis no such matter:-then you do not love me? Beat. No, truly, but in friendly recompense. Leon. Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gentleman. Claud. And I'll be sworn upon't, that he loves her; For here's a paper, written in his hand, Hero. And here's another, Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket, Containing her affection unto Benedick. Bene. A miracle; here's our own hands against our hearts -Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, I take thee for pity. Beat. I would not deny you ;-but, by this good day, I yield upon great persuasion; and, partly, to save your life, for I was told you were in a consumption. Bene. Peace, I will stop your mouth. [Kissing her. D. Pedro. How dost thou, Benedick the married man? Bene. I'll tell thee what, prince; a college of wit-crackers cannot flout me out of my humour. Dost thou think I care for a satire, or an epigram? No if a man will be beaten with brains, he shall wear nothing handsome about him in brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I have said against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion. For thy part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten thee; but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, live unbruised, and love my cousin. Claud. I had well hoped thou wouldst have denied Beatrice, that I might have cudgelled thee out of thy single life, to make thee a double dealer; which, out of question, thou wilt be, if my cousin do not look exceeding narrowly to thee. |