As we do trace this alley up and down, To praise him more than ever man did merit: Is sick in love with Beatrice: Of this matter Enter BEATRICE, behind. For look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runs Hero. Then go we near her, that her ear lose nothing Of the false sweet bait that we lay for it. [They advance to the bower. No, truly, Ursula, she is too disdainful: Urs. But are you sure, That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely? Hero. So says the prince, and my new-trothed lord. Urs. And did they bid you tell her of it, madam? Hero. They did intreat me to acquaint her of it: But I persuaded them, if they lov'd Benedick, To wish him wrestle with affection, And never to let Beatrice know of it. Doth not the gentleman Urs. Why did you so? As ever Beatrice shall couch upon? Hero. O God of love! I know he doth deserve As much as may be yielded to a man: But nature never fram'd a woman's heart 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, If speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds: Urs. Sure, sure, such carping is not commendable. As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable: But who dare tell her so? If I should speak, She'd mock me into air; O, she would laugh me Urs. Yet tell her of it; hear what she will say. 7 Misprising-] Despising, contemning, or undervaluing. And counsel him to fight against his passion: Urs. O, do not do your cousin such a wrong. Urs. I pray you, be not angry with me, madam, For shape, for bearing, argument 9, and valour, Hero. Indeed, he hath an excellent good name. 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 URSULA. 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. 8 9 so swift and excellent a wit,] Swift means ready. · argument,] or conversation. 1 She's lim'd] Entangled with birdlime. And, Benedick, love on, I will requite thee; SCENE II. A Room in Leonato's House. [Exit. 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 drop of blood in him, to be truly touch'd with love: if he be sad, he wants money. Bene. I have the tooth-ach. 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. D. Pedro. Draw it. Bene. Hang it ! Claud. You must hang it first, and draw it afterwards. D. Pedro. What? sigh for the tooth-ach? Leon. Where is but a humour, or a worm? Bene. Well, every one can master grief, but he that has it. Claud. Yet say I, he is in love. D. Pedro. There is no appearance of fancy in him, unless it be a fancy that he hath to strange disguises; as, to be a Dutch-man to-day; a French-man to-morrow; or in the shape of two countries at once, as, a German from the waist downward, all slops 3; and a Spaniard from the hip upward, no doublet: Unless he have a fancy to this foolery, as it appears he hath, he is no fool for fancy, as you would have it appear he is. Claud. If he be not in love with some woman, there is no believing old signs: he brushes his hat o' mornings ; What should that bode! D. Pedro. Hath any man seen him at the barber's? Claud. No, but the barber's man hath been seen with him; and the old ornament of his cheek hath already stuffed tennis-balls. Leon. Indeed, he looks younger than he did, by the loss of a beard. D. Pedro. Nay, he rubs himself with civet: Can you smell him out by that? Claud. That's as much as to say, The sweet youth's in love. D. Pedro. The greatest note of it is his melancholy. Claud. And when was he wont to wash his face? D. Pedro. Yea, or to paint himself? for the which, I hear what they say of him. Claud. Nay, but his jesting spirit; which is now crept into a lutestring, and now governed by stops. 3 all slops;] Slops are large loose breeches or trowsers, worn only by sailors at present. |