you, how many hath he kill'd and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he kill'd? for, indeed, I promis'd to eat all of his killing. Leon. Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not. Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these wars. 48 Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to cat it he's a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent stomach. Mess. And a good soldier too, lady. Beat. And a good soldier to à lady ;—But what is he to a lord? "Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuff'd "with all honourable virtues. "Beat. It is so, indeed; he is no less than a "stuff'd man: but for the stuffing,-well, we are ❝all mortal." 59 Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece: there is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedick and her: they never meet, but there's a skirmish of wit between them. Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our last conflict, four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the wholé man govern'd with one : so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be, known a reasonable creature.-Who is his. companion now? he hath every month new sworn brother. 1 Mess. Is it possible? Beat. Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next block. Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books. Beat. No: an he were, I would burn my study. But, I pray you, who is his companion? "Is there "no young squarer now, that will make a voyage "with him to the devil?" Mess. He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio, Beat. O lord! He will hang upon him like a discase he is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! if he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a thousand pounds e e he be cur'd. "Mess. I will hold friends with you, lady. Leon. You'll ne'er run mad, niece. Mess. Don Pedro is approach'd. Enter Don PEDRO, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, BALTHAZAR, and Don JOHN. Pedro. Good signior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter it. Leon. Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your grace: for trouble being gone, comfort should should remain; but, when you depart from me, sorrow abides, and happiness takes his leave. 101 Pedro. You embrace your charge too willingly.I think, this is your daughter. Leon. Her mother hath many times told me so. Bene. Were you in doubt, sir, that you ask'd her? Leon. Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child. 108 Pedro. You have it full, Benedick: we may guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herself:-Be happy, lady! for you are like an honourable father. Bene. If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as like him as she is. Beat. I wonder, that you will still be talking, signior Benedick; no body marks you. Bene. What, my dear lady Disdain! are you yet living? 119 Beat. Is it possible, disdain should die, while she hath such meet food to feed it, as signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence. Bene. Then is courtesy a turn-coat :-But it is certain, I am lov'd of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart; for truly, I love none. 127 Beat. A dear happiness to women: they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God, God, and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that; I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me. Bene. God keep you ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate scratch'd face, Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such a face as your's "were." Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. Beat. A bird of my tongue, is better than a beast of yours, 140 Bene. I would, my horse had the speed of your tongue; and so good a continuer: But keep your way o'God's name; I have done. Beat. You always end with a jade's trick; I know you of old. Pedro. This is the sum of all: Leonato, Signior Claudio, and signior Benedick, my dear friend Leonato hath invited you all. I tell him, we shall stay here at the least a month; and he heartily prays, some occasion may detain us longer: I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his heart. 151 Leon. If you swear, my lord, you shall not be forsworn.-Let me bid you welcome, my lord: being reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe you all duty. John. I thank you; I am not of many words, but I thank you. 158 Leon. Please it your grace lead on? Pedro. Your hand, Leonato; we will go together. [Exeunt all but BENEDICK and CLAUDIO. Claud. Claud. Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signior Leonato ? Bene. I noted her not; but I look'd on her. Claud. Is she not a modest young lady? Bene. Do you question me, as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgment? or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex? Claud. No, I pray thee, speak in sober judg169 ment. Bene. Why, i'faith, methinks she is too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great praise: only this commendation I can afford her; that were she other than she is, she were unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I do not like her. Claud. Thou think'st, I am in sport; I pray thee, tell me truly how thou lik'st her? Bene. Would you buy her, that you enquire after her? 179 Claud. Can the world buy such a jewel? Bene. Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak you this with a sad brow? or do you play the flouting Jack; to tell us Cupid is a good hare-finder, "and Vulcan a rare carpenter?" Come, in what key shall a man take you, "to go in the song"? Claud. In mine eye, she is the sweetest lady that I ever looked on. 187 Bene. I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such matter: there's her cousin, an she were not possess'd |