fy, and tend on no man's business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his humour. Conr. Yea, but you must not make the full show of this, 'till you may do it without controulment; you have of late ftood out against your brother, and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace, where it is impoffible you fhould take root, but by the fair weather that you make yourfelf; it is needful that you frame the season for your own harvest.. John. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rose in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be difdain'd of all, than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any: in this, (though I cannot be faid to be a flattering honeft man) it must not be deny'd but I am a plain-dealing villain; I am trufled with a muzzel, 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 seek not to alter me. Conr. Can you make no use of your difcontent? John. I will make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here? what news, Borachio? Enter Borachio. Boar. I came yonder from a great supper; 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 unquietness? Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right hand. Bora. Even he. John. A proper Squire! and who, and who? which way looks he!" Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato. John. John. A very forward March chick! How come you to 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 obtain'd her, give her to Count Claudio. 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 crofs him any way, I blefs myself 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! fhall we go prove what's to be done? Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship. АСТ II. [Exeunt. SCENE I. SCENE, a Hall in Leonato's House. Enter Leonato, Antonio, Hero, Beatrice, Margaret WA and Urfula. LEONAT 0. AS not Count John here at Supper? 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 disposition. 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 fays nothing: and the other too like my lady's eldeft fon, evermore tatling. F 6 Leon. Leon. Then half Signior Benedick's tongue in Count John's mouth, and half Count John's melancholy, 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, Neice, thou wilt never get thee a husband, if thou be fo fhrewd of thy tongue. Ant. In faith, fhe's too curft. Beat. Too curft is more than curft; I fhall lessen God's fending that way; for it is faid, God fends a curft Cow fhort horns; but to a Cow too curft he fends none. Leon. So, by being too curft, God will fend 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. my Beat. What fhould I do with him? dress him in 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 earnest of the bear-herd, and lead his apes into hell. Ant. Well, Neice, I truft, you will be rul'd by your father. [To Hero. Beat. Yes, faith, it is my Coufin's duty to make curtly, and fay, Father, as it pleafes you; but yet for all that, Coufin, let him be a handfome fellow, or else make another curtsy, and say, Father, as it pleases me. Leon. Well, Neice, I hope to fee you one day fitted with a husband. Beat. Beat. Not 'till God make men of some other metal than earth; would it not grieve a woman to be over-mafter'd with a piece of valiant duft? to make account of her life to a clod of way-ward 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 answer. Beat. The fault will be in the mufic, coufin, if you be not woo'd in good time; If the Prince be too important, tell him, there is measure in every thing, and fo dance out the Anfwer; for hear me, Hero, wooing, wedding, and repenting, is as a Scotch jig, a measure, and a cinque-pace; the firft fuit is hot and hafty, like a Scotch jig, and full as fantaftical; the wedding mannerly-modelt, as a meafure, full of ftate and anchentry; and then comes repentance, and with his bad legs falls into his 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 see a church by day-light. Leon. The revellers are entring, brother; make good room. SCENE II. Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar, and Pedro. L Hero. So you walk foftly, and look ADY, will you walk with your friend? fweetly, and fay nothing, I am yours for the walk, Pedro. With me in your company? Hero. T Hero. When I like your favour; for God defend, the lute fhould be like the cafe ! Pedro. My vifor is Philemon's roof; within the houfe is Jove. Hero. Why, then your visor fhould be thatch'd. Pedro. Speak low, if you speak love. Balth. Well; I would, you did like me, Marg. So would not I for your own fake, for I have many ill qualities. Balth. Which is one? Marg. I fay my Prayers aloud. Balth. I love you the better, the hearers may cry Amen. Marg. God match me with a good dancer! Balth. Amen. Marg. And God keep him out of my fight when the dance is done! Answer, Clerk. Balth. No more words, the clerk is anfwer'd. Urf. I know you well enough; you are Signior Antonio. Ant. At a word, I am not. Urf. I know you by the wagling of your head. Ant. To tell you true, I counterfeit him. Urf. You could never do him fo ill-well, unless you were the very man: here's his dry hand down; you are he, you are he. up and Ant. At a word, I am not. Urf. 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 fo? Beat. Nor will you not tell me, who you are? Bene. Not now. Beat. That I was difdainful, and that I had my good Wit out of The Hundred merry Tales; well, this was Signior Benedick that faid so. Bene. |