Pedro.
You embrace your charge too willingly: I thinke this is your daughter.
Leonato.
Her mother hath many times told me so.
Bened.
Were you in doubt that you askt her?
Leonato.
Signior Benedicke, no, for then were you a childe.
Pedro.
You haue it full Benedicke, we may ghesse by this, what you are, being a man, truely the Lady fathers her selfe: be happie Lady, for you are like an honorable father.
Ben.
If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not haue his head on her shoulders for al Messina, as like him as she is.
Beat.
I wonder that you will still be talking, signior Benedicke, no body markes you.
Ben.
What my deere Ladie Disdaine! are you yet liuing?
Beat.
Is it possible Disdaine should die, while shee hath such meete foode to feede it, as Signior Benedicke? Curtesie it selfe must conuert to Disdaine, if you come in her presence.
Bene.
Then is curtesie a turne-coate, but it is certaine I am loued of all Ladies, onely you excepted: and I would I could finde in my heart that I had not a hard heart, for truely I loue none.
Beat.
A deere happinesse to women, they would else haue beene troubled with a pernitious Suter, I thanke God and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that, I had rather heare my Dog barke at a Crow, than a man sweare he loues me.
Bene.
God keepe your Ladiship still in that minde, so some Gentleman or other shall scape a predestinate scratcht face.
Beat.
Scratching could not make it worse, and 'twere such a face as yours were.
Bene.
Well, you are a rare Parrat teacher.
Beat.
A bird of my tongue, is better than a beast of your.
Ben.
I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer, but keepe your way a Gods name, I haue done.
Beat.
You alwaies end with a Iades tricke, I know you of old.
Pedro.
This is the summe of all: Leonato, signior Claudio, and signior Benedicke; my deere friend Leonato, hath inuited you all, I tell him we shall stay here, at the least a moneth, and he heartily praies some occasion may detaine vs longer: I dare sweare hee is no hypocrite, but praies from his heart.
Leon.
If you sweare, my Lord, you shall not be forsworne, let mee bid you welcome, my Lord, being reconciled to the Prince your brother: I owe you all duetie.
Iohn.
I thanke you, I am not of many words, but I thanke you.
Leon.
Please it your grace leade on?
Pedro.
Your hand Leonato, we will goe together.
Exeunt. Manet Benedicke and Claudio.
Benedicke, didst thou note the daughter of signior Leonato?
Bene.
I noted her not, but I lookt on her.
Claud.
Is she not a modest yong Ladie?
Bene.
Doe you question me as an honest man should doe, for my simple true iudgement? or would you haue me speake after my custome, as being a professed tyrant to their sexe?
Clau.
No, I pray thee speake in sober iudgement.
Bene.
Why yfaith me thinks shee's too low for a hie praise, too browne for a faire praise, and too little for a great praise, onely this commendation I can affoord her, that were shee other then she is, she were vnhandsome, and being no other, but as she is, I doe not like her.
Clau.
Thou think'st I am in sport, I pray thee tell me truely how thou lik'st her.
Bene.
Would you buie her, that you enquier after her?
Clau.
Can the world buie such a iewell?
Ben.
Yea, and a case to put it into, but speake you this with a sad brow? Or doe you play the flowting iacke, to tell vs Cupid is a good Hare-finder, and Vulcan a rare Carpenter: Come, in what key shall a man take you to goe in the song?
Clau.
In mine eie, she is the sweetest Ladie that euer I lookt on.
Bene.
I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such matter: there's her cosin, and she were not possest with a furie, exceedes her as much in beautie, as the first of Maie doth the last of December: but I hope you haue no intent to turne husband, haue you?
Clau.
I would scarce trust my selfe, though I had sworne the contrarie, if Hero would be my wife.
Bene.
Ist come to this? in faith hath not the world one man but he will weare his cap with suspition? shall I neuer see a batcheller of three score againe? goe to yfaith, and thou wilt needes thrust thy necke into a yoke, weare the print of it, and sigh away sundaies: looke, don Pedro is returned to seeke you.
Enter don Pedro, Iohn the bastard.
What secret hath held you here, that you followed not to Leonatoes?
Bened.
I would your Grace would constraine mee to tell.
Pedro.
I charge thee on thy allegeance.
Ben.
You heare, Count Claudio, I can be secret as a dumbe man, I would haue you thinke so (but on my allegiance, marke you this, on my allegiance) hee is in loue, With who? now that is your Graces part: marke how short his answere is, with Hero, Leonatoes short daughter.
Clau.
If this were so, so were it vttred.
Bened.
Like the old tale, my Lord, it is not so, nor 'twas not so: but indeede, God forbid it should be so.
Clau.
If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it should be otherwise.
Pedro.
Amen, if you loue her, for the Ladie is verie well worthie.
Clau.
You speake this to fetch me in, my Lord.
Pedr.
By my troth I speake my thought.
Clau.
And in faith, my Lord, I spoke mine.
Bened.
And by my two faiths and troths, my Lord, I speake mine.
Clau.
That I loue her, I feele.
Pedr.
That she is worthie, I know.
Bened.
That I neither feele how shee should be loued, nor know how shee should be worthie, is the opinion that fire cannot melt out of me, I will die in it at the stake.
Pedr.
Thou wast euer an obstinate heretique in the despight of Beautie.
Clau.
And neuer could maintaine his part, but in the force of his will.
