I'll tell you largely of fair Hero's death:
Meantime let wonder seem familiar,

And to the chapel let us presently.

70

*Moderate.

Bene. Soft and fair, friar. Which is Beatrice? Beat. [Unmasking] I answer to that name. What is your will?

Bene. Do not you love me?

Beat.

Why, no; no more than reason.

Bene. Why, then your uncle and the prince and Claudio

Have been deceived; they swore you did.

Beat. Do not you love me?

Bene. Troth, no; no more than reason. Beat. Why, then my cousin Margaret and Ursula Are much deceived; for they did swear you did. Bene. They swore that you were almost sick for me.

80

Beat. They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me.

Bene. 'Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me?

Beat. No, truly, but in friendly recompense. Leon. Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gentleman.

Claud. And I'll be sworn upon't that he loves her;

For here's a paper written in his hand,

A halting sonnet of his own pure brain,
Fashion'd to Beatrice.

Hero.

And here's another

Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket,

Containing her affection unto Benedick.

90

Bene. A miracle! here's our own hands against our hearts. Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, I take thee for pity.

Beat. I would not deny you; but, by this good day, I yield upon great persuasion; and partly to save your life, for I was told you were in a consumption.

Bene. Peace! I will stop your mouth.

[Kissing her.

D. Pedro. How dost thou, Benedick, the married man?

100

Bene. I'll tell thee what, prince; a college of wit-crackers cannot flout me out of my humour. Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram? No: if a man will be beaten with brains, a' shall wear nothing handsome about him. In brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I have said against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion. For thy part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten thee; but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, live unbruised and love my cousin.

Claud. I had well hoped thou wouldst have denied Beatrice, that I might have cudgelled thee out of thy single life, to make thee a doubledealer; which, out of question, thou wilt be, if my cousin do not look exceeding narrowly to thee. Bene. Come, come, we are friends: let's have a dance ere we are married, that we may lighten our own hearts and our wives' heels.

Leon. We'll have dancing afterward.

121

Bene. First, of my word; therefore play, music. Prince, thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a wife. there is no staff more reverend than one tipped with horn.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. My lord, your brother John is ta'en in flight,

And brought with armed men back to Messina. Bene. Think not on him till to-morrow: I'll devise thee brave punishments for him. Strike up, pipers.

[Dance. 131 [Exeunt.

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

FERDINAND, king of Navarre.

BIRON,

LONGAVILLE, lords attending on the King.

DUMAIN,

BOYET,

MERCADE,

lords attending on the Princess of France.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO a fantastical

Spaniard.

SIR NATHANIEL, a curate.
HOLOFERNES, a schoolmaster.
DULL, a constable.

COSTARD, a clown.

MOTH, page to Armado.
A Forester.

The PRINCESS of France.

ROSALINE,

MARIA,

KATHARINE,

ladies attending on the

Princess.

JAQUENETTA, a country wench.

Lords, Attendants, &c.

SCENE: Navarre.