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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。 Nobody
marks you。
Bene。 What； my dear Lady Disdain！ are you yet living？
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 turncoat。 But it is certain I am loved 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。
Beat。 A dear happiness to women！ They would else have been troubled
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with a pernicious suitor。 I thank 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 your 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
yours were。
Bene。 Well； you are a rare parrot…teacher。
Beat。 A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours。
Bene。 I would my horse had the speed of your tongue； and so good a
continuer。 But keep your way； a God's name！ I have done。
Beat。 You always end with a jade's trick。 I know you of old。
Pedro。 That 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 heartly prays some occasion may
detain us longer。 I dare swear he is no hypocrite； but prays from his heart。
Leon。 If you swear； my lord； you shall not be forsworn。 ＇To Don John＇
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。
Leon。 Please it your Grace lead on？
Pedro。 Your hand； Leonato。 We will go together。
＇Exeunt。 Manent Benedick and Claudio。＇
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 judgment。
Bene。 Why； i' faith； methinks she's 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。
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Claud。 Thou thinkest 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？
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 ever I look'd on。
Bene。 I can see yet without spectacles； and I see no such matter。
There's her cousin； an she were not possess'd with a fury；exceeds her as
much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December。 But I hope
you have no intent to turn husband； have you？
Claud。 I would scarce trust myself； though I had sworn the contrary； if
Hero would be my wife。
Bene。 Is't come to this？ In faith； hath not the world one man but he
will wear his cap with suspicion？ Shall I never see a bachelor of
threescore again？ Go to； i' faith！ An thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a
yoke； wear the print of it and sigh away Sundays。
＇Enter Don Pedro。＇
Look！ Don Pedro is returned to seek you。
Pedro。 What secret hath held you here； that you followed not to
Leonato's？
Bene。 I would your Grace would constrain me to tell。
Pedro。 I charge thee on thy allegiance。
Bene。 You hear； Count Claudio。 I can be secret as a dumb man； I
would have you think so； but； on my allegiancemark you this…on my
allegiance！ he is in love。 With who？ Now that is your Grace's part。 Mark
how short his answer is： With Hero； Leonato's short daughter。
Claud。 If this were so； so were it utt'red。
Bene。 Like the old tale； my lord： 'It is not so； nor 'twas not so； but
indeed； God forbid it should be so！'
Claud。 If my passion change not shortly； God forbid it should be
otherwise。
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Pedro。 Amen； if you love her； for the lady is very well worthy。
Claud。 You speak this to fetch me in； my lord。
Pedro。 By my troth； I speak my thought。
Claud。 And； in faith； my lord； I spoke mine。
Bene。 And； by my two faiths and troths； my lord； I spoke mine。
Claud。 That I love her； I feel。
Pedro。 That she is worthy； I know。
Bene。 That I neither feel how she should be loved； nor know how she
should be worthy； is the opinion that fire cannot melt out of me。
I will die in it at the stake。
Pedro。 Thou wast ever an obstinate heretic in the despite of beauty。
Claud。 And never could maintain his part but in the force of his will。
Bene。 That a woman conceived me； I thank her； that she brought me
up； I likewise give her most humble thanks； but that I will have a rechate
winded in my forehead； or hang my bugle in an invisible baldrick； all
women shall pardon me。 Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust
any； I will do myself the right to trust none； and the fine is （for the which I
may go the finer）； I will live a bachelor。
Pedro。 I shall see thee； ere I die； look pale with love。
Bene。 With anger； with sickness； or with hunger； my lord； not with
love。 Prove that ever I lose more blood with love than I will get again with
drinking； pick out mine eyes with a ballad…maker's pen an