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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 and hang me up at
the door of a brothel house for the sign of blind Cupid。
Pedro。 Well； if ever thou dost fall from this faith； thou wilt prove a
notable argument。
Bene。 If I do； hang me in a bottle like a cat and shoot at me； and he
that hits me； let him be clapp'd on the shoulder and call'd Adam。
Pedro。 Well； as time shall try。 'In time the savage bull doth bear the
yoke。'
Bene。 The savage bull may； but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it；
pluck off the bull's horns and set them in my forehead； and let me be vilely
painted； and in such great letters as they write 'Here is good horse to hire；'
let them signify under my sign 'Here you may see Benedick the married
man。'
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Claud。 If this should ever happen； thou wouldst be horn…mad。
Pedro。 Nay； if Cupid have not spent all his quiver in Venice； thou wilt
quake for this shortly。
Bene。 I look for an earthquake too then。
Pedro。 Well； you will temporize with the hours。 In the meantime； good
Signior Benedick； repair to Leonato's； commend me to him and tell him I
will not fail him at supper； for indeed he hath made great preparation。
Bene。 I have almost matter enough in me for such an embassage； and
so I commit you
Claud。 To the tuition of God。 From my houseif I had it
Pedro。 The sixth of July。 Your loving friend； Benedick。
Bene。 Nay； mock not； mock not。 The body of your discourse is
sometime guarded with fragments； and the guards are but slightly basted
on neither。 Ere you flout old ends any further； examine your conscience。
And so I leave you。 ＇Exit。＇
Claud。 My liege； your Highness now may do me good。
Pedro。 My love is thine to teach。 Teach it but how； And thou shalt see
how apt it is to learn Any hard lesson that may do thee good。
Claud。 Hath Leonato any son； my lord？
Pedro。 No child but Hero； she's his only heir。 Dost thou affect her；
Claudio？
Claud。 O my lord； When you went onward on this ended action； I
look'd upon her with a soldier's eye； That lik'd； but had a rougher task in
hand Than to drive liking to the name of love； But now I am return'd and
that war…thoughts Have left their places vacant； in their rooms Come
thronging soft and delicate desires； All prompting me how fair young Hero
is； Saying I lik'd her ere I went to wars。
Pedro。 Thou wilt be like a lover presently And tire the hearer with a
book of words。 If thou dost love fair Hero； cherish it； And I will break with
her and with her father； And thou shalt have her。 Wast not to this end That
thou began'st to twist so fine a story？
Claud。 How sweetly you do minister to love； That know love's grief by
his complexion！ But lest my liking might too sudden seem； I would have
salv'd it with a longer treatise。
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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Pedro。 What need the bridge much broader than the flood？ The fairest
grant is the necessity。 Look； what will serve is fit。 'Tis once； thou lovest；
And I will fit thee with the remedy。 I know we shall have revelling to…
night。 I will assume thy part in some disguise And tell fair Hero I am
Claudio； And in her bosom I'll unclasp my heart And take her hearing
prisoner with the force And strong encounter of my amorous tale。 Then
after to her father will I break； And the conclusion is； she shall be thine。 In
practice let us put it presently。 ＇Exeunt。＇
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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
SCENE II。
A room in Leonato's house。
＇Enter ＇at one door＇ Leonato and ＇at another door； Antonio＇ an old man；
brother to Leonato。＇
Leon。 How now； brother？ Where is my cousin your son？ Hath he
provided this music？
Ant。 He is very busy about it。 But； brother； I can tell you strange news
that you yet dreamt not of。
Leon。 Are they good？
Ant。 As the event stamps them； but they have a good cover； they show
well outward。 The Prince and Count Claudio； walking in a thick…pleached
alley in mine orchard； were thus much overheard by a man of mine： the
Prince discovered to Claudio that he loved my
niece your daughter and meant to acknowledge it this night in a
dance； and if he found her accordant； he meant to take the present time by
the top and instantly break with you of it。
Leon。 Hath the fellow any wit that told you this？
Ant。 A good sharp fellow。 I will send for him； and question him
yourself。
Leon。 No； no。 We will hold it as a dream till it appear itself； but I will
acquaint my daughter withal； that she may be the better prepared for an
answer； if peradventure this be true。 Go you and tell her of it。 ＇Exit
Antonio。＇
＇Enter Antonio's Son with a Musician； and others。＇
＇To the Son＇ Cousin； you know what you have to do。
＇To the Musician＇ O； I cry you mercy； friend。 Go you with me； and I
will use your skill。Good cousin； have a care this busy time。 ＇Exeunt。＇
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SCENE III。
Another room in Leonato's house。
＇Enter Sir John the Bastard and Conrade； his companion。＇
Con。 What the goodyear； my lord！ Why are you thus out of measure
sad？
John。 There is no measure in the occasion that breeds； therefore the
sadness is without limit。
Con。 You should hear reason。
John。 And when I have heard it； what blessings brings it？
Con。 If not a present remedy； at least a patient sufferance。
John。 I wonder that thou （being； as thou say'st thou art； born under
Saturn） goest about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief。 I
cannot hide what I am： I must be sad when I have cause； and smile at no
man's jests； eat when I have stomach； and wait for no man's leisure； sleep
when I am drowsy； and tend on no man's business； laugh when I am merry；
and claw no man in his humour。
Con。 Yea； but you must not make the full show of this till you may do
it without controlment。 You have of late stood out against