To her foul tainted flesh! Bene. Şir, 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! For I have only been silent so long, Leon. A sin of perjury: she not denies it: Why seek'st thou then to cover with excuse Friar. Lady, what man is he you are accus'd of? Hero. They know that do accuse me; I know none: If I know more of any man alive, Than that which maiden modesty doth warrant, Prove you that any man with me convers'd Maintain❜d the change of words with any creature, Refuse me, hate me, torture me to death. Friar. There is some strange misprision in the princes. Bene. Two of them have the very bent of honour: And if their wisdoms be misled in this, The practice of it lives in John the bastard, Leon. I know not; if they speak but truth of her, Nor fortune made such havock of my means, Friar. Pause a while, And let my counsel sway you in this case. And publish it, that she is dead indeed : Leon. What shall become of this? What will this do? Friar. Marry, this, well carried, shall on her be half Change slander to remorse; that is some good: * Misconception. Shall be lamented, pitied, and excus'd, And every lovely organ of her life Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit, Into the eye and prospect of his soul, Than when she liv'd indeed:-then shall he mourn Out of all eyes, tongues, minds, and injuries. Yet, by mine honour, I will deal in this As secretly, and justly, as your soul Leon. Being that I flow in grief, The smallest twine may lead me. Friar. 'Tis well consented; presently away; cure. * While. + Over-rate. By. § Intimacy. Come, lady, die to live: this wedding-day, Perhaps, is but prolong'd; have patience, and endure. [Exeunt Friar, Hero, and Leonato. Bene. Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this while? Beat. Yea, and I will weep a while longer. Beat. You have no reason, I do it freely. Bene. Surely, I do believe your fair cousin is wrong'd. Beat. Ah, how much might the man deserve of me, that would right her! Bene. Is there any way to show such friendship? Beat. It is a man's office, but not yours. Bene. I do love nothing in the world so well as you; is not that strange? Beat. As strange as the thing I know not: it were as possible for me to say, I loved nothing so well as you: but believe me not; and yet I lie not; I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing:-I am sorry for my cousin. Bene. By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me. Bene. I will swear by it, that you love me; and I will make him eat it, that says, I love not you. Beat. Will you not eat your word? Bene. With no sauce that can be devised to it: I protest I love thee. Beat. Why then, God forgive me! Bene. What offence, sweet Beatrice? Beat. You have staid me in a happy hour; I was about to protest I loved you. Bene. And do it with all thy heart. Beat. I love you with so much of my heart, that none is left to protest. Bene. Come, bid me do any thing for thee. Beat. Kill Claudio. Bene. Ha! not for the wide world. Beat. You kill me to deny it: farewell, Beat. I am gone, though I am here ;-there is no love in you:-nay, I pray you, let me go. Bene. Beatrice, Beat. In faith, I will go. Bene. We'll be friends first. Beat. You dare easier be friends with me, than fight with mine enemy. Bene. Is Claudio thine enemy? Beat. Is he not approv'd in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman?-O, that I were a man!-What! bear her in hand* until they come to take hands; and then with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour,-O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place. Bene. Hear me, Beatrice ; Beat. Talk with a man out at a window ?-a proper saying! Bene. Nay but, Beatrice ; Beat. Sweet Hero !-she is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone. Bene. Beat Beat. Princes, and counties +! Surely a princely testimony, a goodly count-confect‡; a sweet gallant, surely! O, that I were a man for his sake! or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is melted into courtesies §, valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules, that only tells a lie, and swears it :— -I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving. * Delude her with hopes. A nobleman made out of sugar. § Ceremony. + Noblemen. |