Misprising what they look on; and her wit All matter else seems weak: she cannot love, Urs. Sure, I think so; And therefore, certainly, it were not good Hero. Why, you speak truth: I never yet saw man, How wise, how noble, young, how rarely featur'd, If speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds; Urs. Sure, sure, such carping is not commendable. Hero. No: not to be so odd, and from all fashions, As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable: But who dare tell her so? If I should speak, Urs. Yet tell her of it; hear what she will say. 7 Misprising-] Despising, contemning, or undervaluing. To stain my cousin with: One doth not know, Urs. O, do not do your cousin such a wrong. As she is priz'd to have,) as to refuse Urs. I pray you, be not angry with me, madam, Speaking my fancy; signior Benedick, For shape, for bearing, argument, and valour, Hero. Indeed, he hath an excellent good name. Urs. His excellence did earn it, ere he had it: When are you married, madam? Hero. Why, every day;-to-morrow: Come, go in; I'll show thee some attires; and have thy counsel, Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow. Urs. She's lim'd' I warrant you; we have caught her, madam. Hero. If it prove so, then loving goes by haps: Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps. [Exeunt HERO and ŪRSULA. BEATRICE advances. Beat. What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true? Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much? Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu! No glory lives behind the back of such. 9 so swift and excellent a wit,] Swift means ready. 'She's lim'd-] Entangled with birdlime. And, Benedick, love on, I will requite thee; For others say, thou dost deserve; and I [Exit. SCENE II. A Room in Leonato's House. Enter Don PEDRO, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, and LEONATO. D. Pedro. I do but stay till your marriage be consummate, and then I go toward Arragon. Claud. I'll bring you thither, my lord, if you'll vouchsafe me. D. Pedro. Nay, that would be as great a soil in the new gloss of your marriage, as to show a child his new coat, and forbid him to wear it. I will only be bold with Benedick for his company; for, from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, he is all mirth; he hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's bow-string, and the little hangman dare not shoot at him: he hath a heart as sound as a bell, and his tongue is the clapper; for what his heart thinks, his tongue speaks. Bene. Gallants, I am not as I have been. D. Pedro. Hang him, truant; there's no true 2 Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand;] This image is taken from falconry. She had been charged with being as wild as haggards of the rock; she therefore says, that wild as her heart is, she will tame it to the hand. JOHNSON. |