Claud. If he do not dote on her upon this, I will never truft my expectation. [Afide. Pedro Let there be the fame net fpread for her, and that must your daughter and her gentlewomen carry; the fport will be, when they hold an opinion of one another's dotage, and no fuch matter; that's the Scene that I would fee, which will be merely a Dumb Show; let us fend her to call him to dinner. [Afide.] Exeunt. Bene. SCENE X. Benedick advances from the Arbour. TH HIS can be no trick, the conference was fadly borne; they have the truth of this from Hero; they feem to pity the lady; it feems, her affections have the full bent. Love me! why, it must be requited: I hear, how I am cenfur'd; they fay, I will bear myfelf proudly, if I perceive the love come from her; they fay too, that fhe will rather die than give any fign of affection.I did never think to marry—I must not seem proud- -happy are they that hear their detractions, and can put them to mending: they fay, the lady is fair; 'tis a truth, I can bear them witnefs and virtuous ;'tis fo, I cannot reprove it: and wife, but for loving me- -by my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor no great argument of her folly; for I will be horribly in love with her. I may chance to have fome odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me, because I have rail'd fo long againft marriage; but doth not the appetite alter? a man loves the meat in his youth, that he cannot endure in his age. Shall quipps and fentences, and thefe paper-bullets of the brain, awe a man from the career of his humour? no: the world must be peopled. When I faid, I would die a bachelor, I did not think I fhould fhould live 'till I were marry'd. Here comes Beatrice: by this day, fhe's a fair lady; I do fpy fome marks of love in her. Enter Beatrice. Beat. Against my will, I am fent to bid you come in to dinner. Bene. Fair Beatrice, I thank you for your pains. Beat. I took no more pains for those thanks, than you take pains to thank me; if it had been painful, I would not have come. Bene. You take pleasure then in the message. Beat. Yea, juft fo much as you may take upon a knife's point, and choak a daw withal: you have no ftomach, Signior; fare you well. [Exit. Bene. Ha! against my will I am fent to bid you come in to dinner; there's a double meaning in that. I took no more pains for thofe thanks, than you took pains to thank me; that's as much as to fay, any pains that I take for you is as eafy as thanks. If I do not take pity of her, I am a villain; if I do not love her, I am a Jew; I will go get her Picture. [Exit. АСТ III. SCENE I. Gr Continues in the Orchard. Enter Hero, Margaret, and Ursula. HERO. OOD Margaret, run thee into the parlour, G 4 Forbid Forbid the Sun to enter; like to Favourites, [her, - Marg. I'll make her come, I warrant prefently. [Exit. Hero. Now, Urfula, when Beatrice doth come, and down, Enter Beatrice, running towards the Arbour. Tthing Hero. Then go we near her, that her ear lose noOf the false sweet bait that we lay for it. No, truly, Urfula, fhe's too difdainful; I know, her fpirits are as coy and wild As haggards of the rock. Urfu. But are you sure, That Benedick loves Beatrice fo intirely? Hero. So fays the Prince, and my new-trothed lord, Urfu. And did they bid you tell her of it, Madam? Hero. They did intreat me to acquaint her of it; But I perfuaded them, if they lov'd Benedick, To To wish him wraftle with affection, And never to let Beatrice know of it. Urfu. Why did you fo? doth not the Gentleman Deferve as full, as fortunate a bed, As ever Beatrice fhall couch upon? Hero. O God of love! I know, he doth deferve All matter elfe feems weak; fhe cannot love, Urfu. Sure, I think fo; And therefore certainly it were not good Hero. Why, you speak truth. I never yet faw man, If speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds; *If low, an Agat very vilely cut;] But why an Agat, if low? For what Likeness between a little Man and an Agat? The Ancients, indeed, used this Stone to cut upon; but very exquifitely. I make no Question but the Poet wrote; - an Aglet very vilely cut; An Aglet was the Tag of those Points, formerly so much in Fashion. These Tags were either of Gold, Silver, or Brass, according to the Quality of the Wearer; and were commonly in the Shape of little Images; or at least had a Head cut at the extremity. The French** call them aiguillettes. Mezeray, fpeaking of Henry IIId's Sorrow for the Death of the Princefs of Conti, fays, ---portant meme fur fes aiguillettes de petites tetes de Mort. And as a tall Man is before compar'd to a Launce ill-headed; fo, by the fame Figure, a little Man is very aptly liken'd to an Aglet ill-cut. 1 If filent, why a block moved with none. every man the wrong fide out, And never gives to truth and virtue That, Which fimpleness and merit purchaseth. Urfu. Sure, fure, fuch carping is not commendable. Hero. No; for to be fo odd, and from all fashions, As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable. But who dare tell her fo? if I should speak, Urfu. O, do not do your Coufin fuch a wrong. She cannot be so much without true judgment, (Having fo fwift and excellent a wit, As fhe is priz'd to have) as to refuse Hero. He is the only man of Italy, Urfu. I pray you, be not angry with me, Madam, Speaking my fancy; Signior Benedick, For fhape, for bearing, argument and valour, Hero. Indeed, he hath an excellent good name. Urfu. His excellence did earn it, ere he had it. When are you marry'd, Madam ? Hero. Why, every day; to-morrow; come, go in, I'll fhew thee fome attires, and have thy counsel Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow. Urfu. |