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invention； Nor fortune made such havoc of my means； Nor my bad life
reft me so much of friends； But they shall find awak'd in such a kind Both
strength of limb and policy of mind； Ability in means； and choice of
friends； To quit me of them throughly。
Friar。 Pause awhile And let my counsel sway you in this case。 Your
daughter here the princes left for dead； Let her awhile be secretly kept in；
And publish it that she is dead indeed； Maintain a mourning ostentation；
And on your family's old monument Hang mournful epitaphs； and do all
rites That appertain unto a burial。
Leon。 What shall become of this？ What will this do？
Friar。 Marry； this well carried shall on her behalf Change slander to
remorse。 That is some good。 But not for that dream I on this strange course；
But on this travail look for greater birth。 She dying； as it must be so
maintain'd； Upon the instant that she was accus'd； Shall be lamented；
pitied； and excus'd Of every hearer； for it so falls out That what we have
we prize not to the worth Whiles we enjoy it； but being lack'd and lost；
Why； then we rack the value； then we find The virtue that possession
would not show us Whiles it was ours。 So will it fare with Claudio。 When
he shall hear she died upon his words； Th' idea of her life shall sweetly
creep Into his study of imagination； And every lovely organ of her life
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Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit； More moving； delicate； and
full of life； Into the eye and prospect of his soul Than when she liv'd
indeed。 Then shall he mourn （If ever love had interest in his liver） And
wish he had not so accused her No； though he thought his accusation true。
Let this be so； and doubt not but success Will fashion the event in better
shape Than I can lay it down in likelihood。 But if all aim but this be
levell'd false； The supposition of the lady's death Will quench the wonder
of her infamy。 And if it sort not well； you may conceal her； As best befits
her wounded reputation； In some reclusive and religious life； Out of all
eyes； tongues； minds； and injuries。
Bene。 Signior Leonato； let the friar advise you； And though you know
my inwardness and love Is very much unto the Prince and Claudio； Yet； by
mine honour； I will deal in this As secretly and justly as your soul Should
with your body。
Leon。 Being that I flow in grief； The smallest twine may lead me。
Friar。 'Tis well consented。 Presently away； For to strange sores
strangely they strain the cure。 Come； lady； die to live。 This wedding day
Perhaps is but prolong'd。 Have patience and endure。
＇Exeunt all but Benedick and Beatrice。＇
Bene。 Lady Beatrice； have you wept all this while？
Beat。 Yea； and I will weep a while longer。
Bene。 I will not desire that。
Beat。 You have no reason。 I do it freely。
Bene。 Surely I do believe your fair cousin is wronged。
Beat。 Ah； how much might the man deserve of me that would right
her！
Bene。 Is there any way to show such friendship？
Beat。 A very even way； but no such friend。
Bene。 May a man do it？
Beat。 It is a man's office； but not yours。
Bene。 I do love nothing in the world so well as you。 Is not that
strange？
Beat。 As strange as the thing I know not。 It were as possible for me to
say I loved nothing so well as you。 But believe me not； and yet I lie not。 I
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confess nothing； nor I deny nothing。 I am sorry for my cousin。
Bene。 By my sword； Beatrice； thou lovest me。
Beat。 Do not swear； and eat it。
Bene。 I will swear by it that you love me； and I will make him eat it
that says I love not you。
Beat。 Will you not eat your word？
Bene。 With no sauce that can be devised to it。 I protest I love thee。
Beat。 Why then； God forgive me！
Bene。 What offence； sweet Beatrice？
Beat。 You have stayed me in a happy hour。 I was about to protest I
loved you。
Bene。 And do it with all thy heart。
Beat。 I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest。
Bene。 Come； bid me do anything for thee。
Beat。 Kill Claudio。
Bene。 Ha！ not for the wide world！
Beat。 You kill me to deny it。 Farewell。
Bene。 Tarry； sweet Beatrice。
Beat。 I am gone； though I am here。 There is no love in you。 Nay； I pray
you let me go。
Bene。 Beatrice
Beat。 In faith； I will go。
Bene。 We'll be friends first。
Beat。 You dare easier be friends with me than fight with mine enemy。
Bene。 Is Claudio thine enemy？
Beat。 Is 'a not approved in the height a villain； that hath slandered；
scorned； dishonoured my kinswoman？ O that I were a man！ What？ bear
her in hand until they come to take hands； and then with public accusation；
uncover'd slander； unmitigated rancourO God； that I were a man！ I
would eat his heart in the market place。
Bene。 Hear me； Beatrice！
Beat。 Talk with a man out at a window！…a proper saying！
Bene。 Nay but Beatrice
Beat。 Sweet Hero！ she is wrong'd； she is sland'red； she is undone。
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Bene。 Beat
Beat。 Princes and Counties！ Surely a princely testimony； a goodly
count； Count Comfect； a sweet gallant surely！ O that I were a man for his
sake！ or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake！ But manhood
is melted into cursies； valour into compliment； and men are only turn'd
into tongue； and trim ones too。 He is now as valiant as Hercules that only
tells a lie；and swears it。 I cannot be a man with wishing； therefore I will
die a woman with grieving。
Bene。 Tarry； good Beatrice。 By this hand； I love thee。
Beat。 Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it。
Bene。 Think you in your soul the Count Claudio hath wrong'd Hero？
Beat。 Yea； as sure is I have a thought or a soul。
Bene。 Enough； I am engag'd； I will challenge him。 I will kiss your
hand； and so I leave you。 By this hand； Claudio shall render me a dear
account。 As you hear of me； so think of me。 Go comfort