"Leon. So, by being too curst, God will send you "no horns.

"Beat. Just, if he send me no husband;" for the which blessing, I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening: Lord! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face: I had rather lie in woollen,

31

Leon. You may light upon a husband, that hath no beard.

Beat. What should I do with him? dress him in my apparel, and make him my waiting-gentlewoman? He that hath a beard, is more than a youth; and he that hath no beard, is less than a man: and he that is more than a youth, is not for me; and he that is less than a man, I am not for him: Therefore I will even take six-pence in earnest of the bear-herd, and lead his apes into hell.

Leon. Well, then, go you into hell?

Beat. No; but to the gate and there will the deyil meet me, like an old cuckold, with horns on his head, and say, Get you to heaven, Beatrice, get you to heaven; here's no place for you maids: so deliver I up my apes, and away to saint Peter for the heavens i he shews me" where the bachelors sit, and there live we as merry as the day is long.

49

Ant. Well, niece, I trust, you will be rul'd by your father.

[To Hero. Beat. Yes, faith; it is my cousin's duty to make a curtsy, and say, Father, as it please you::-but yet for all that, cousin, let him be a handsome fellow,

or

else make another curtsy, and say, Father, as it

se me.

Leon. Well, niece, I hope to see you one day Ftted with a husband.

58 Beat. Not till God make men of some other metal in earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be ever-master'd with a piece of valiant dust? to make acount of her life to a clod of wayward marle? No, stle, I'll none: Adam's sons are my brethren, and ly, I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.

leon. Daughter, remember what I told you: if le prince do solicit you in that kind, you know your 67

3swer.

Beat. The fault will be in the musick, cousin, if ybe not woo'd in good time: if the prince be too

ortant, tell him, there is measure in every thing, A so dance out the answer. For hear me, Hero, Wooing, wedding, and repenting, is as a Scotch jig, :. easure, and a cinque-pace: the first suit is hot hasty, like a Scotch jig, and full as fantastical; wedding, mannerly modest, as a measure full of e and ancientry; and then comes repentance, and, y his bad legs, falls into the cinque-pace faster 1. faster, 'till he sink into his grave.

eon. Cousin, you apprehend passing shrewdly. seat. I have a good eye, uncle; I can see a church day-light.

81

leon. The revellers are entring; brother, make god room.

Enter

Enter Don PEDRO, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, BALTHAZAR; Don JOHN, BORACHIO, MARGARET, URSULA, and others mask'd.

Pedro. Lady, will you walk about with your friend?

Hero. So you walk softly, and look sweetly, and say nothing, I am yours for the walk; and, especi ally, when I walk away.

Pedro. With me in your company?

Hero. I may say so, when I please.

Pedro. And when please you to say so?

60

Hero. When I like your favour; for God defend, the lute should be like the case!

Pedro. My visor is Philemon's roof; within the house is Jove.

Hero. Why, then your visor should be thatch'd. Pedro. Speak low, if you speak love.

Balth. Well, I would you did like me.

Marg. So would not I, for your own sake; for I have many ill qualities.

Balth. Which is one?

Marg. I say my prayers aloud.

100

Balth. I love you the better; the hearers may cry

amen.

Marg. God match me with a good dancer!

Balth. Amen.

Marg. And God keep him out of my sight when the dance is done!-Answer, clerk,

Balth.

Balth. No more words; the clerk is answer'd.

“Urs. I know you well enough; you are Signior Antonio.

"Ant. At a word I am not.

111

"Urs. I know you by the wagling of your head. "Ant. To tell you true I counterfeit him. "Urs. You could never do him so ill-well, unless you were the very man: Here's his dry hand up " and down; you are he, you are he.

"Ant. At a word, I am not.

"Urs. Come, come; do you think, I do not know

you by your excellent wit? Can virtue hide itself? "Go to, mum, you are he: graces will appear, and "there's an end."

122

Beat. Will you not tell me who told you so?
Bene. No, you shall pardon me.

Beat. Nor will you not tell me who you are?
Bene. Not now.

Beat. That I was disdainful-and that I had my good wit out of the Hundred merry Tales ;-Well, this was signior Benedick that said so.

Bene. What's he?

Beat. I am sure, you know him well enough.

Bene. Not I, believe me.

Beat, Did he never make you laugh?

Bene. I pray you, what is he?

130

Beat. Why, he is the prince's jester: a very dul fool; only his gift is in devising impossible slanders: none but libertines delight in him; and the commendation is not in his wit, but in his villainy; for he

both pleaseth men, and angers them, and then they laugh at him, and beat him: I am sure, he is in the fleet; I would he had boarded me.

*

141

Bene. When I know the gentleman, I'll tell him what you say.

Beat. Do, do: he'll but break a comparison or two on me; which, peradventure, not mark'd, or not laugh'd at, strikes him into melancholy; and then there's a partridge wing sav'd, for the fool will eat no supper that night. We must follow the leaders.

Bene. In every good thing.

[Music within.

Beat. Nay, if they lead to any ill, I will leave them at the next turning.

Manent JOHN, BORACHIO, and CLAUDIO.

151

John. Sure, my brother is amorous on Hero, and hath withdrawn her father to break with him about it: The ladies follow her, and but one visor remains.

Bora. And that is Claudio: I know him by his. bearing.

John. Are you not signior Benedick ?

Claud. You know me well; I am he.

159

John. Signior, you are very near my brother in his love: he is enamour'd on Hero; I pray you, dissuade him from her, she is no equal for his birth: you may do the part of an honest man in it.

Claud. How know you he loves her?
John. I heard him swear his affection.