Leon. To be married to her, friar; you come to marry her. Friar. Lady, you come hither to be married to this count? Hero. I do. Friar. If either of you know any inward impediment why you should not be conjoined, I charge you, on your souls, to utter it. Claud. Know you any, Hero? Hero. None, my lord. Friar. Know you any, count? Leon. I dare make his answer, none. Claud. O, what men dare do! what men may do. what men daily do! not knowing what they do! Bene. How now! interjections? Why, then some be of laughing, as, ha! ha! he! Claud. Stand thee by, friar :-Father, by your leave; Will you with free and unconstrained soul Give me this maid, your daughter? Leon. As freely, son, as God did give her me. Claud. And what have I to give you back, whose worth, May counterpoise this rich and precious gift. There, Leonato, take her back again; Give not this rotten orange to your friend; To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear, (1) Lascivious. Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty. Not knit my soul to an approved wanton. Leon. Dear my lord, if you, in your own proof Have vanquish'd the resistance of her youth, And made defeat of her virginity, Claud. I know what you would say; If I have known her, You'll say, she did embrace me as a husband, No, Leonato, I never tempted her with word too large; Bashful sincerity, and comely love. Hero. And seem'd I ever otherwise to you? Claud. Out on thy seeming! I will write against it: You seem to me as Dian in her orb; As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown; But you are more intemperate in your blood That rage in savage sensuality. Hero. Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide ?2 Leon. Sweet prince, why speak not you? I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about To link my dear friend to a common stale. are true. Bene. This looks not like a nuptial. Hero. Claud. Leonato, stand I here? True, O God! Is this the prince? Is this the prince's brother? (1) Licentious. (2) Remote from the business in hand. Claud. Let me but move one question to your daughter; And, by that fatherly and kindly power That you have in her, bid her answer truly. Claud Marry, that can Hero; Hero itself can blot out Hero's virtue. What man was he talk'd with you yesternight Hero. I talk'd with no man at that hour, my lord. I am sorry you must hear; upon mine honour, D. John. Without offence, to utter them: thus, pretty lady, I am sorry for thy much misgoverninent. Claud. O Hero! what a Hero hadst thou been, I half thy outward graces had been placed (1) Too free of tongue. And never shall it more be gracious.1 Leon. Hath no man's dagger here a point for [Hero swoons. me? Beat. Why, how now, cousin? wherefore sink you down? D. John. Come, let us go: these things, come thus to light, Smother her spirits up. [Exeunt Don Pedro, Don John, and Claudio Bene. How doth the lady? Beat. Dead, I think;-help, uncle ; Hero! why, Hero!-Uncle!-Signior Benedick friar! Leon. O fate, take not away thy heavy hand! Death is the fairest cover for her shame, Friar. Yea; wherefore should she not? Leon. Wherefore? Why, doth not every earthly thing Cry shame upon her? Could she here deny (1) Attractive. (3) Sullied. (2) Disposition of things. But mine, and mine I lov'd, and mine I prais'd, Hath drops too few to wash her clean again; Bene. Sir, sir, be patient : For my part, I am so attir'd in wonder, I know not what to say. Beat. O, on my soul, my cousin is belied! Bene. Lady, were you her bedfellow last night? Beat. No, truly, not: although, until last night, I have this twelvemonth been her bedfellow. Leon. Confirm'd, confirm'd! O, that is stronger made, Which was before barr'd up with ribs of iron! Would the two princes lie? and Claudio lie? Who lov'd her so, that, speaking of her foulness, Wash'd it with tears? Hence from her; let her die. Friar. Hear me a little; For I have only been silent so long, And given way unto this course of fortune, Leon. Friar, it cannot be : Thou seest, that all the grace that she hath left, Is, that she will not add to her damnation |