ACT I SCENE I. Before LEONATO's houfe. Enter LEONATO, HERO, and BEATRICE, with a I Meffenger. Leonato. LEARN in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Meflina. Me. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him. Leon. How many gentlemen have you loft in this action? Meff. But few of any fort, and none of name. Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, call'd Claudio. Meff. Much deferv'd on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: He hath borne himfelf beyond the promife of his age; doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better better'd expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how. Leon. He hath an uncle here in Melina will be very much glad of it. Me. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even fo much, that joy could not fhew itself modeft enough without a badge of bitterness. Leon. Did he break out into tears? Mell. In great measure. Leon. A kind overflow of kindness: There are no faces truer than those that are fo wafh'd. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping? Beat. I pray you, is fignior Montanto return'd from the wars, or no? Me. I know none of that name, lady; there was mone fuch in the army of any fort. Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece? Hero. My coufin means fignior Benedick of Padua. Me. O, he's return'd; and as pleasant as ever he was. Beat. He fet up his bills here in Meffina, and challenged Cupid at the flight; and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, fubfcribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt.-I pray 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 fignior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt not. Me. He hath done good fervice, lady, in these wars. Beat. You had nufty victual, and he hath holp to eat it he's a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent ftomach. : Meff. And a good foldier too, lady. Beat. And a good foldier to a lady!-But what is he to a lord?. Me. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuff'd with all honourable virtues. Beat. It is fo, indeed; he is no less than a stuff'd man: but for the ftuffing-well, we are all mortal. Leon. You must not, fir, mistake my niece: there is a kind of merry war betwixt fignior Benedick and her: her: they never meet, but there's a fkirmish of wit between them. Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our laft conflict, four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man govern'd with one: fo that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horfe; 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 a new fworn brother. Me. Is it poflible? Beat. Very eafily poffible: he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next block. Me. I fee, 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 fquarer now, that will make a voyage with him to the devil? Me. He is moft in the company of the right noble Claudio. Beat. O Lord! he will hang upon him like a dif eafe he is fooner caught than the peftilence, and the taker runs prefently mad. God help the noble Claudio! if he have caught the Benedick, it will coft him a thousand pounds ere he be cur'd. Mell. I will hold friends with you, lady. Leon. You'll ne'er run mad, niece. A 3 Enter Enter Don PEDRO, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, BALTHAZAR, and Don JOHN. Pedro. Good fignior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid coft, and you encounter it. Leon. Never came trouble to my house in the likenefs of your grace: for trouble being gone, comfort fhould remain; but, when you depart from me, forrow abides, and happinefs takes his leave. 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, fir, that you ask'd her? Leon. Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child. Pedro. You have it full, Benedick: we may guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herfelf:-Be happy, lady! for you are like an honourable father. Bene. If fignior Leonato be her father, fhe would not have his head on her fhoulders for all Meflina, as like him as she is. Beat. I wonder, that you will still be talking, fignior Benedick; no body marks you: Bene. What, my dear lady Difdain! are you yet living? Beat. Is it poffible, Difdain fhould die, while the hath fuch meet food to feed it, as Signior Benedick? Courtefy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her prefence. 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. Beat Beat. A dear happiness to women: they would elfe have been troubled with a pernicious fuitor. 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 fwear he loves me. Bene. God keep your ladyship ftill in that mind! fo fome gentleman or other fhall''fcape a predeftinate fcratch'd face. Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere fuch 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 horfe had the speed of your tongue; and fo good a continuer: But keep your I have done. way o'God's name; you Beat. You always end with a jade's trick; I know of old.. Pedro. This is the fum of all: Leonato-Signior Claudio, and fignior Benedick-my dear friend Leonato hath invited you all. I tell him, we fhall ftay here at the leaft a month; and he heartily prays, fome occafion may detain us longer: I dare fwear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his heart. Leon. If you fwear, my lord, you fhall not be forfworn.Let me bid you welcome, my lord; being reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe you duty. all 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 togethera [Exeunt all but BENEDICE, and CLAUDIO. Claud. |