Page:Works of Heinrich Heine 01.djvu/426

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
410
SHAKESPEARE'S MAIDENS AND WOMEN.

Prove you, that any man with me conversed At hours unmeet, or that I yesternight Maintain'd the change of words with any creature, Refuse me, hate me, torture me to death. BEATRICE. [MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Act III. Scene i.] Hero. God of love ! I know, he doth deserve As much as may be yielded to a man : But nature never framed a woman's heart Of prouder stuff than that of Beatrice : Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes, Misprising what they look on ; and her wit Values itself so highly, that to her All matter else seems weak : she cannot love, Nor take no shape nor project of affection, She is so self endeared. Urs. Sure, I think so ; And therefore, certainly, it were not good, She knew his love, lest she make sport at it. Hero. Why, you speak truth : I never yet saw man, How wise, how noble, young, how rarely featured, But she would spell him backward : if fair-faced, She'd swear, the gentleman should be her sister ; If black, why nature, drawing of an antic, Made a foul blot ; if tall, a lance ill-headed ;