Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

If thou art she, tell me, where is that son
That floated with thee on the fatal raft?

Abb. By men of Epidamnum, he, and I,
And the twin Dromio, all were taken up:
But, by and by, rude fishermen of Corinth
By force took Dromio and my son from them,
And me they left with those of Epidamnum:
What then became of thein I cannot tell;
I, to this fortune that you see me in.

Duke. Why, here begins his morning story right.
These two Antipholuses, these two so like,
And these two Dromios, one in semblance,-
Besides her urging of her wrack at sea,-
These are the parents to these children,
Which accidentally are met together.
Antipholus, thou cam'st from Corinth first?
Ant. S. No, sir, not I; I came from Syracuse.
Duke. Stay, stand apart; I know not which is which.
Ant. E. I came from Corinth, my most gracious
Dro. E. And I with him.
[lord.
Ant. E. Brought to this town by that most famous
warrior

Duke Menaphon, your most renowned uncle.
Adr. Which of you two did dine with me to-day?|
Ant. S. 1, gentle mistress.
Adr.

And are not you my husband?
Ant. E. No, I say nay to that.
Ant. S. And so do I, yet she did call me so,
And this fair gentlewoman, her sister here,
Did call me brother:-What I told you then,
I hope I shall have leisure to make good;
If this be not a dream I see and hear.

Ang. That is the chain, sir, which you had of me. Ant. S. I think it be, sir; I deny it not. Ant. E. And you, sir, for this chain arrested me. Ang. I think I did, sir; I deny it not. Adr. I sent you money, sir, to be your bail, By Dromio; but I think he brought it not. Dro. E. No, none by me.

Ant. S. This purse of ducats I receiv'd from you, And Dromio my man did bring them me: I see, we still did meet each other's man, And I was ta'en for him, and he for me, And thereupon these Errors are arose.

Ant. E. These ducats pawn I for my father here. Duke. It shall not need; thy father hath his life. Cour. Sir, I must have that diamond from you. Ant. E. There, take it; and much thanks for my good cheer.

Abb. Renowned duke, vouchsafe to take the pairs
To go with us into the abbey here,

And here at large discoursed all our fortunes:
And all that are assembled in this place,
That by this sympathized one day's error
Have suffer'd wrong, go, keep us company,
And we shall make full satisfaction.
Twenty-five years have I but gone in travail
Of you, my sons; and, till this present hour,
My heavy burden ne'er delivered:

The duke, my husband, and my children both,
And you the calendars of their nativity,
Go to a gossip's feast, and joy with me;
After so long grief, such festivity!
Duke. With all my heart I 'll gossip at this feast.
[Exeunt Duke, Abbess, Ageon, Courtezan,
Merchant, Angelo, and Attendants.
Dro. S. Master, shall I fetch your stuff from ship-
board?
[bark'd?
Ant. E. Dromio, what stuff of mine hast thou em-
Dro. S. Your goods, that lay at host, sir, in the
Centaur.
[Dromio:
Ant. S. He speaks to me; I am your master,
Come, go with us; we 'll look to that anon:
Embrace thy brother there, rejoice with him.

[Exeunt Ant. S. and E., Adr. and Luc.
Dro. S. There is a fat friend at your master's house,
That kitchen'd me for you to-day at dinner;
She now shall be my sister, not my wife.

Dro. E. Methinks you are my glass, and not my
I see, by you, I am a sweet-faced youth. [brother":
Will you walk in to see their gossiping?
Dro. S. Not I, sir; you are my elder.

Dro. E. That's a question: how shall we try it? Dro, S. We will draw cuts for the senior: till then, Dro. E. Nay, then thus: [lead thou first. We came into the world like brother and brother: And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another. [Exeunt.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon. | BALTHAZAR,
DON JOHN, his bastard brother. Pedro.
CLAUDIO, a young lord of Flo- BORACHIO,
rence, favourite of Don Pedro. CONRADE,
BENEDICK, a young lord of Pa-DOGBERRY,
dua, favourite likewise of Don VERGES,
Pedro.
A Sexton.
LEONATO, governor of Mes- A Friar.
ANTONIO, his brother. [sina. A Boy.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Street in Messina.

Enter Leonato, Hero, Beatrice, and others, with a Messenger.

servant to Don
followers of Don
John.
two city-officers.

Leon. I learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina. Mess. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him.

Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?

Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name. Leon. A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio.

Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age; doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better

HERO, daughter to Leonato.
BEATRICE, niece to Leonato.
MARGARET, gentlewomen
URSULA,

attending on Hero.

Messengers, Watch, and Attend

ants.

SCENE.-MESSINA.

bettered expectation than you must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it.

Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much that joy could not show itself modest enough without a badge of bitterness.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?
Mess. In great measure.

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness: There are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping!

Beat. I pray you, is signior Montanto returned from the wars, or no?

Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there was
none such in the army of any sort.
Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece?
Hero. My cousin means signior Benedick of Padua,

:

Mess. O, he is returned, and as pleasant as ever he was.

Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina, and challenged Cupid at the flight: and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt. I pray you, how inany hath he killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he killed? for, indeed, I promised to eat all of his killing.

Leon. Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too much; but he 'll be meet with you, I doubt it not. Mess. He hath done good scrvice, lady, in these

wars.

Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to cat it: he is a very valiant trencherman, he hath an excellent stomach.

Mess. And a good soldier too, lady.

Beat. And a good soldier to a lady:-But what is he to a lord?

Aless. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all honourable virtues.

Beat. It is so, indeed: he is no less than a stuffed
man: but for the stuffing,- Well, we are all mortal.
Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece: there
is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedick and
her: they never meet but there is a skirmish of wit
between them.

Beat. Alas! he gets nothing by that. In our last
conflict, four of his five wits went halting off, and
now is the whole man governed 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.
Mess. Is it possible?

next block.

Beat. Very easily possible: he wears his faith but
as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the
[books.
Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your
Beat. 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?
[ble Claudio.
Mess. He is most in the company of the right no-
Beat. O Lord! he will hang upon him like a dis-
ease: he is sooner caught than the pestilence, and
the 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 cured.
Mess. I will hold friends with you, lady.
Beat. Do, good friend.

Leon. You'll ne'er run mad, niece.
Beat. No, not till a hot January.

Mess. Don Pedro is approached.

Enter Don Pedro, attended by Balthazar and others,
Don John, Claudio, and Benedick.

D. Pedro. Good signior Leonato, you are come to
meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to
avoid cost, and you encounter it.

Leon. Never came trouble to my house in the like-
ness of your grace; for trouble being gone, comfort
should remain; but when you depart from me sor
row abides, and happiness takes his leave.

D. Pedro. You embrace your charge too willingly.
I think this is your daughter.

Leon. Her mother hath many times told me so.
Bene. Were you in doubt that you asked her?
Leon. Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a
child.

D. Pedro. 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.

Bene. If signior Leonato be her father, she would
not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina,
as like him as she is.

Beat. I wonder that you will still be talking, signior
Benedick; nobody marks you.

Bene. Then is courtesy a turncoat :-But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart: for, truly, I love none. Beat. A dear happiness to women; they would else have been troubled 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.

Bene. God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predes tinate scratched face.

Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 't
were such a face as yours were.

Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.
Beat. A bird of my tongue is better than a beast
of yours.

Bene. I would my horse had the speed of your
tongue; and so good a continuer: But keep your
way o' God's name; I have done.
Beat. You always end with a jade's trick; I know
you of old.

D. Pedro. This is the sum of all, Leonato.-Signier
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.
Leon. If you swear, my lord, you shall not be for-
sworn.-Let me bid you welcome, my lord: being
reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe you all
duty.

D. John. I thank you: I am not of many words, but I thank you. Leon. Please it your grace lead on? D. Pedro. Your hand, Leonato; we will go together. [Exeunt all but Benedick and Claudio. Claud. Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of signior Leonato? Bene. I noted her not: but I looked on her. Claud. Is she not a modest young lady? Bene. 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?

Claud. No, I pray thee, speak in sober judgment. Bene. Why, i' faith, methinks she is 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.

Cland. Thou thinkest I am in sport; I pray thee, tell me truly how thou likest her."

Bene. Would you buy her, that you inquire after Claud. Can the world buy such a jewel? [her? Bene. Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak you this with a sad brow? or do you play the flouting Jack; to tell us Cupid is a good hare-finder, and Vulcan a rare carpenter? Come, in what key shall a man take you, to go in the song? Claud. In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on.

Bene. I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such matter: there 's her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope you have no intent to turn husband; have you?

Claud. I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife. Bene. Is 't come to this, i' faith? Hath not the world one man but he will wear his cap with sus picion? Shall I never see a bachelor of three-score 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 returned to seek you. Re-enter Don Pedro.

[living? D. Pedro. What secret hath held you here, that you followed not to Leonato's?

Bere. What, my dear lady Disdain! are you yet Beat. Is it possible Disdain should die, while she hath such meet food to feed it as signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain if you come in her presence.

Bene. I would your grace would constrain me to tell.
D. Pedro. I charge thee on thy allegiance.
Bene. You hear, count Claudio: I can be secret
as a dumb man, I would have you think so; but on

my allegiance,-mark you this, on my allegiance:He is in love. With who?-now that is your grace's part.-Mark how short his answer is:-With Hero, Leonato's short daughter.

Claud. If this were so, so were it uttered. Bene. Like the old tale, my lord: it is not so, nor 't was not so; but, indeed, God forbid it should be so.' Claud. If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it should be otherwise.

D. Pedro. Amen, if you love her; for the lady is very well worthy.

Claud. You speak this to fetch me in, my lord.
D. Pedro. By my troth I speak my thought.
Claud. And in faith, my lord, I spoke mine.
Bene. And by my two faiths and troths, my lord,
I spoke mine.

Claud. That I love her, I feel.

D. Pedro. That she is worthy, I know. Bene. 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 die in it at

the stake.

D. Pedro. Thou wast ever an obstinate heretic in the despite of beauty.

Claud. And never could maintain his part but in the force of his will.

Bene. 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 in-
visible baldrick, all women shall pardon me: Be-
cause, 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 bachelor.
[love.
D. Pedro. I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with
Bene. With anger, with sickness, or with hunger,
my lord; not with love: prove that ever I lose more
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. Pedro. Well, if ever thou dost fall from this
faith thou wilt prove a notable argument.
Bene. If I do, hang me in a bottle like a cat, and
shoot at me; and he that hits me let him be clapped
on the shoulder and called Adam.

D. Pedro. Well, as time shall try:
'In time the savage bull doth bear the yoke.'
Bene. The savage bull may; but if ever this sensi-
ble 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 mar-
ried man.'

Claud. If this should ever happen thou wouldst be horn-mad.

D. Pedro. Nay, if Cupid have not spent all his quiver in Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly. Bene. I look for an earthquake too then.

D. Pedro. 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.

"Bene. I have almost matter enough in me for such
an embassage: and so I commit you-
Claud. To the tuition of God: From my house (if

I had it)

D. Pedro. The sixth of July: Your loving friend,
Benedick.

Bene. 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. Claud. My liege, your highness now may do me good.

D. Pedro. My love is thine to teach; teach it but
And thou shalt see how apt it is to learn [how,
Any hard lesson that may do thee good.
Claud. Hath Leonato any son, my lord?

Claud.

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. Pedro. 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,
And thou shalt have her:] Was 't not to this end,
That thou begann'st to twist so fine a story?
Claud. How sweetly do you minister to love,
That know love's grief by his complexion!
But lest my liking night too sudden seem,
I would have salv'd it with a longer treatise.
D. Pedro. What need the bridge much broader
than the flood?
The fairest grant is the necessity:
Look, what will serve is fit: 't is once, thou lovest;
And I will fit thee with the remedy.
I know we shall have revelling 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. Leon. How now, brother? Where is my cousin, your son? Hath he provided this music? Ant. He is very busy about it. But, brother, I can tell you news that you yet dream not of. Leon. Are they good?

Ant. As the event stamps them; but they have a good cover; they show well outward. The prince and count Claudio, walking in a thick-pleached alley in my orchard, were thus overheard by a man of mine: The prince discovered 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. Leon. Hath the fellow any wit that told you this? Ant. A good sharp fellow; I will send for him, and question him yourself.

Leon. 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, if peradventure this be true. Go you and
tell her of it. [Several persons cross the stage.]
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 cousins, have a care this busy
time.
[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Another Room in Leonato's House.
Enter Don John and Conrade.
Con. What the good year, my lord! why are you
thus out of measure sad?

D. John. There is no measure in the occasion that breeds, therefore the sadness is without limit. Con. You should hear reason.

D. John. And when I have heard it, what blessing
bringeth it?
[ance.

Con. If not a present remedy, yet a patient sufferD. John. 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 stomach, 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 humour. Con. Yea, but you must not make the full show of

D. Pedro. No child but Hero, she's his only heir: this, till you may do it without controlment.
Dost thou affect her, Claudio?

You

have of late stood out against your brother, and he

Leon. You may light upon a husband that hath no beard.

hath ta'en you newly into his grace; where it is im- husband with a beard on his face: I had rather lie possible you should take root, but by the fair in the woollen. weather that you make yourself: it is needful that you frame the season for your own harvest. D. John. I had rather be a canker in a hedge Beat. What should I do with him? dress him in than a rose in his grace; and it better fits my blood my apparel, and make him my waiting gentleto be disdain'd of all than to fashion a carriage to woman? He that hath a beard is more than a rob love from any: in this, though I cannot be said youth; and he that hath no beard is less than a to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied man: and he that is more than a youth is not for that I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with me; and he that is less than a man I am not for a muzzle, and enfranchised with a clog; therefore him: Therefore I will even take sixpence in earnest I have decreed not to sing in my cage: If I had my of the bearward, and lead his apes into hell. mouth I would bite; if I had my liberty I would do Leon. Well then, go you into hell? my liking in the mean time, let me be that I am, Beat. No; but to the gate; and there will the devil meet me, like an old cuckold, with horns on his head, and say, 'Get you to heaven, Beatrice, get you to heaven; here 's no place for you maids:' so deliver I up my apes, and away to Saint Peter: for the heavens, he shows me where the bachelors

and seek not to alter me.

Con. Can you make no use of your discontent?
D. 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 supper; the
prince, your brother, is royally entertained by
Leonato; and I can give you intelligence of an in-
tended marriage.

D. John. Will it serve for any model to build mis-
chief on? What is he for a fool that betroths him-
self to unquietness?

Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right hand.
D. John. Who? the most exquisite Claudio?
Bora. Even he.

D. John. A proper squire! And who, and who?
which way looks he?
[Leonato.
Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of
D. John. A very forward March-chick! How
came you to this?

Bora. Being entertained for a perfumer, as I was
smoking a musty room, comes me the prince and
Claudio, hand in hand, in sad 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.

D. John. 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. John. Let us to the great supper: their cheer is the greater that I am subdued: "Would the cook were of my mind! Shall we go prove what 's to be

done?

Bora. We 'll wait upon your lordship.

ACT II.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I.-A Hall in Leonato's House. Enter Leonato, Antonio, Hero, Beatrice, and others.

Leon. Was not count John here at supper?
Ant. I saw him not.

Beat. How tartly that gentleman looks! I never
can see him but I am heart-burned an hour after.
Hero, He is of a very melancholy disposition.
Beat. He were an excellent man that were made
just 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 son, evermore
tattling.

Leon. Then half signior Benedick's tongue in
count John's mouth, and half count John's melan-
choly in signior Benedick's face,-

Beat. With a good leg, and a good foot, uncle, and
money enough in his purse, such 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 husband if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue.
Ant. In faith, she is too curst.

Beat. Too curst is more than curst: I shall lessen

God's sending that way: for it is said, 'God sends
a curst cow short horns;' but to a cow too curst he
sends none.
[horns.
Leon. So, by being too curst God will send you no
Beat. Just, if he send me no husband; for the
which blessing I am at him upon my knees every
morning and evening: Lord! I could not endure a

sit, and there live we as merry as the day is long. Ant. Well, niece, [to Hero] I trust you will be ruled by your father.

Beat. Yes, faith; it is my cousin's duty to make courtesy, and say, 'Father, as it please you: '-but yet for all that, cousin, let him be a handsome fellow, or else make another courtesy, and say, Father, as it please me.'

Leon. Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband.

Beat. Not till God make men of some other metal than earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be over-mastered with a piece of valiant dust? to make account of her life to a clod of wayward marl? No, uncle, I'll none: Adam's sons are my brethren; and truly I hold it a sin to match in my

kindred.

Leon. Daughter, remember what I told you: if the prince do solicit you in that kind, you know your

answer.

Beat. The fault will be in the music, cousin, if you important, tell him there is measure in everything, be not wooed in good time; if the prince be too and so dance out the answer. For hear me, Hero; Wooing, wedding, and repenting, is as a Scotch jig, a measure, and a cinque-pace: the first suit is hot and hasty, like a Scotch jig, and full as fantasfull of state and ancientry; and then comes retical; the wedding, mannerly-modest, as a measure Pentance, and, with his bad legs, falls into the cinque-pace faster and faster, till he sink into his grave.

Leon. Cousin, you apprehend passing shrewdly.
Beat. I have a good eye, uncle; I can see a church
by day-light.
[good room.
Leon. The revellers are entering, brother, make
Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar ;
Don John, Borachio, Margaret, Ursula, and others,
masked.

D. Pedro. Lady, will you walk about with your friend?

Hero. So you walk softly, and look sweetly, and say nothing, I am yours for the walk; and, especially, when I walk away.

D. Pedro. With me in your company?
Hero. I may say so when I please.
D. Pedro. And when please you to say so?
Hero. When I like your favour; for God defend
the lute should be like the case!
D. Pedro. My visor is Philemon's roof; Within the
house is Jove.

Hero. Why, then your visor should be thatch'd.
D. Pedro. Speak low, if you speak love.

[Takes her aside.
Balth. Well, I would you did like me.
Marg. So would not I, for your own sake, for I
have many ill qualities.

Balth. Which is one?
Marg. I say my prayers aloud.
[Amen.
Balth. I love you the better; the hearers may cry,
Marg. God match me with a good dancer!
Balth. Amen.

Marg. And God keep him out of my sight, when
the dance is done !-Answer, clerk.
Balth. No more words; the clerk is answered.
G

Urs. I know you well enough; you are signior so they sell bullocks. But did you think the prince Ant. At a word, I am not. [Antonio. would have served you thus?

Urs. I know you by the waggling of your head. Ant. To tell you true, I counterfeit him. Urs. You could never do him so ill-well, unless you were the very man: Here 's his dry hand up and down; you are he, you are he. Ant. At a word, I am not.

Urs. Come, come; do you think I do not know you by your excellent wit? Can virtue hide itself? Go to, mum, you are he: graces will appear, and there's an end.

Beat. Will you not tell me who told you so?
Bene. No, you shall pardon me.

Beat. Nor will you not tell me who you are?
Bene. Not now.

Beat. That I was disdainful,-and that I had my good wit out of the Hundred merry Tales;'—Well, this was signior Benedick that said so.

Bene. What 's he?

Beat. I am sure you know him well enough.
Bene. Not I, believe me.

Beat. Did he never make you laugh?
Bene. I pray you, what is he?

Beat. Why, he is the prince's jester: a very dull fool; only his gift is in devising impossible slanders: none but libertines delight in him; and the commendation is not in his wit but in his villainy; for he both pleases men and angers them, and then they laugh at him and beat him: I am sure he is in the fleet; I would he had boarded me.

Bene. When I know the gentleman, I'll tell him

what you say.

Beat. Do, do: he 'll but break a comparison or two on me; which, peradventure, not marked, or not laughed at, strikes him into melancholy; and then there's a partridge' wing saved, for the fool will eat no supper that night. Music within.] We must follow the leaders.

Bene. In every good thing.

Beat. Nay, if they lead to any ill, I will leave them at the next turning.

[Dance. Then exeunt all but Don John, Borachio, and Claudio. D. John. Sure, my brother is amorous on Hero, and hath withdrawn her father to break with him about it: The ladies follow her, and but one visor remains. [bearing. Bora. And that is Claudio: I know him by his D. John. Are not you signior Benedick? Claud. You know me well; I am he. D. John. Signior, you are very near my brother in his love: he is enamour'd on Hero; I pray you dissuade him from her, she is no equal for his birth: you may do the part of an honest man in it. Claud. How know you he loves her? D. John. I heard him swear his affection. Bora. So did I too; and he swore he would marry her to-night.

D. John. Come, let us to the banquet.

[Exeunt Don John and Borachio.
Claud. Thus answer I in name of Benedick,
But hear these ill news with the ears of Claudio.
'T is certain so ;-the prince woos for himself.
Friendship is constant in all other things,
Save in the office and affairs of love:
Therefore, all hearts in love use their own tongues;
Let every eye negociate for itself,

And trust no agent: for beauty is a witch,
Against whose charms faith melteth into blood.
This is an accident of hourly proof

Which I mistrusted not: Farewell, therefore, Hero!
Re-enter Benedick.

Bene. Count Claudio?
Claud. Yea, the same.

Bene. Come, will you go with me?
Claud. Whither.

Bene. Even to the next willow, about your own business, count. What fashion will you wear the garland of? About your neck, like an usurer's chain? or under your arm, like a lieutenant's scarf? You must wear it one way, for the prince hath got your Hero. Claud. I wish him joy of her.

Bene. Why, that 's spoken like an honest drover;

Claud. I pray you, leave me.

Bene. Ho! now you strike like the blind man ; 't was the boy that stole your meat and you 'll beat the post.

[Exit.

Claud. If it will not be, I'll leave you. Bene. Alas! poor hurt fowl! Now will he creep into sedges. But that my lady Beatrice should know me, and not know me! The prince's fool!-Ha, it may be I go under that title, because I am merry.Yea; but so; I am apt to do myself wrong: I am not so reputed: it is the base though bitter disposition of Beatrice, that puts the world into her person, and so gives me out. Well, I'll be revenged as I Re-enter Don Pedro.

may.

D. Pedro. Now, signior, where 's the count; Did you see him?

Bene. Troth, my lord, I have played the part of lady Fame. I found him here as melancholy as a lodge in a warren; I told him, and I think told him true, that your grace had got the will of this young lady; and I offered him my company to a willowtree, either to make him a garland, as being forsaken, or to bind him a rod, as being worthy to be whipped. D. Pedro. To be whipped! What 's his fault? Bene. The flat transgression of a schoolboy; who being overjoy'd with finding a bird's nest shows it his companion, and he steals it.

D. Pedro. Wilt thou make a trust a transgression? the transgression is in the stealer.

Bene. Yet it had not been amiss the rod had been
made, and the garland too; for the garland he
might have worn himself; and the rod he might
have bestowed on you, who, as I take it, have
stolen his bird's nest.

D. Pedro. I will but teach them to sing, and re-
store them to the owner.
Bene. If their singing answer your saying, by my
faith, you say honestly.

D. Pedro. The lady Beatrice hath a quarrel to you: the gentleman that danced with her told her she is much wrong'd by you.

block: an oak, but with one green leaf on it,
Bene. O, she misused me past the endurance of a
would have answer'd her; my very visor began to
assume life and scold with her: She told me, not
thinking I had been myself, that I was the prince's
jester, and that I was duller than a great thaw;
huddling jest upon jest, with such impossible con-
veyance upon me, that I stood like a man at a
mark, with a whole army shooting at me: She
speaks poniards, and every word stabs: if her
breath were as terrible as her terminations, there
were no living near her; she would infect to the
north star. I would not marry her though she were
endowed with all that Adam had left him before he
transgressed: she would have made Hercules have
turned spit; yea, and have cleft his club to make
the fire too. Come, talk not of her: you shall find
her the infernal Até in good apparel. I would to
God some scholar would conjure her; for, cer-
tainly, while she is here, a man may live as quiet in
hell as in a sanctuary; and people sin upon pur
pose because they would go thither; so, indeed, all
disquiet, horror, and perturbation follow her.

Re-enter Claudio, Beatrice, Leonato, and Hero.
D. Pedro. Look, here she comes.

Bene. Will your grace command me any service to the world's end? I will go on the slightest errand now to the Antipodes, that you can devise to send me on; I will fetch you a toothpicker now from the farthest inch of Asia; bring you the length of Prester John's foot; fetch you a hair off the great Cham's beard; do you any embassage to the Pigmies,-ratlier than hold three words' conference with this harpy: you have no employment for me? D. Pedro. None, but to desire your good company. Bene. O God, sir, here 's a dish I love not; I cannot endure my lady Tongue.

[Exit.

D. Pedro. Come, lady, come; you have lost the heart of signior Benedick.

Beat. Indeed, my lord, he lent it me a while; and

« PredošláPokračovať »