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the fashion of a new doublet。 He was wont to speak plain and to the
purpose； like an honest man and a soldier； and now is he turn'd
orthography； his words are a very fantastical banquetjust so many
strange dishes。 May I be so converted and see with these eyes？ I cannot
tell； I think not。 I will not be sworn but love may transform me to an
oyster； but I'll take my oath on it； till he have made an oyster of me he
shall never make me such a fool。 One woman is fair； yet I am well；
another is wise； yet I am well； another virtuous； yet I am well； but till all
graces be in one woman； one woman shall not come in my grace。 Rich she
shall be； that's certain； wise； or I'll none； virtuous； or I'll never cheapen her；
fair； or I'll never look on her； mild； or come not near me； noble； or not I for
an angel； of good discourse； an excellent musician； and her hair shall be of
what colour it please God。 Ha； the Prince and Monsieur Love！ I will hide
me in the arbour。 ＇Hides。＇
＇Enter Don Pedro； Leonato； Claudio。＇
＇Music within。＇
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Pedro。 Come； shall we hear this music？
Claud。 Yea； my good lord。 How still the evening is； As hush'd on
purpose to grace harmony！
Pedro。 See you where Benedick hath hid himself？
Claud。 O； very well； my lord。 The music ended； We'll fit the kid…fox
with a pennyworth。
＇Enter Balthasar with Music。＇
Pedro。 Come； Balthasar； we'll hear that song again。
Balth。 O； good my lord； tax not so bad a voice To slander music any
more than once。
Pedro。 It is the witness still of excellency To put a strange face on his
own perfection。 I pray thee sing； and let me woo no more。
Balth。 Because you talk of wooing； I will sing； Since many a wooer
doth commence his suit To her he thinks not worthy； yet he wooes； Yet
will he swear he loves。
Pedro。 Nay； pray thee come； Or if thou wilt hold longer argument； Do
it in notes。
Balth。 Note this before my notes： There's not a note of mine that's
worth the noting。
Pedro。 Why； these are very crotchets that he speaks！ Note notes；
forsooth； and nothing！ ＇Music。＇
Bene。 ＇aside＇ Now divine air！ Now is his soul ravish'd！ Is it not strange
that sheep's guts should hale souls out of men's bodies？ Well； a horn for
my money； when all's done。
＇Balthasar sings。＇
The Song。
Sigh no more； ladies； sigh no more！ Men were deceivers ever； One
foot in sea； and one on shore； To one thing constant never。 Then sigh not
so； But let them go； And be you blithe and bonny； Converting all your
sounds of woe Into Hey nonny； nonny。 Sing no more ditties； sing no moe；
Of dumps so dull and heavy！ The fraud of men was ever so； Since summer
first was leavy。 Then sigh not so； &c。 Pedro。 By my troth； a good song。
Balth。 And an ill singer； my lord。
Pedro。 Ha； no； no； faith！ Thou sing'st well enough for a shift。
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Bene。 ＇aside＇ An he had been a dog that should have howl'd thus； they
would have hang'd him； and I pray God his bad voice bode no mischief。 I
had as live have heard the night raven； come what plague could have come
after it。
Pedro。 Yea； marry。 Dost thou hear； Balthasar？ I pray thee get us some
excellent music； for to…morrow night we would have it at the Lady Hero's
chamber window。
Balth。 The best I can； my lord。
Pedro。 Do so。 Farewell。
＇Exit Balthasar ＇with Musicians。＇
Come hither； Leonato。 What was it you told me of to…day？ that your
niece Beatrice was in love with Signior Benedick？
Claud。 O； ay！…＇Aside to Pedro＇ Stalk on； stalk on； the fowl sits。 I did
never think that lady would have loved any man。
Leon。 No； nor I neither； but most wonderful that she should so dote on
Signior Benedick； whom she hath in all outward behaviours seem'd ever to
abhor。
Bene。 ＇aside＇ Is't possible？ Sits the wind in that corner？
Leon。 By my troth； my lord； I cannot tell what to think of it； but that
she loves him with an enraged affection。 It is past the infinite of thought。
Pedro。 May be she doth but counterfeit。
Claud。 Faith； like enough。
Leon。 O God； counterfeit？ There was never counterfeit of passion
came so near the life of passion as she discovers it。
Pedro。 Why； what effects of passion shows she？
Claud。 ＇aside＇ Bait the hook well！ This fish will bite。
Leon。 What effects； my lord？ She will sit youyou heard my daughter
tell you how。
Claud。 She did indeed。
Pedro。 How； how； I pray you？ You amaze me。 I would have thought
her spirit had been invincible against all assaults of affection。
Leon。 I would have sworn it had； my lordespecially against
Benedick。
Bene。 ＇aside＇ I should think this a gull but that the white…bearded
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fellow speaks it。 Knavery cannot； sure； hide himself in such reverence。
Claud。 ＇aside＇ He hath ta'en th' infection。 Hold it up。
Pedro。 Hath she made her affection known to Benedick？
Leon。 No； and swears she never will。 That's her torment。
Claud。 'Tis true indeed。 So your daughter says。 'Shall I；' says she； 'that
have so oft encount'red him with scorn； write to him that I love him？'〃
Leon。 This says she now when she is beginning to write to him； for
she'll be up twenty times a night； and there will she sit in her smock till
she have writ a sheet of paper。 My daughter tells us all。
Claud。 Now you talk of a sheet of paper； I remember a pretty jest your
daughter told us of。
Leon。 O； when she had writ it； and was reading it over； she found
'Benedick' and 'Beatrice' between the sheet？
Claud。 That。
Leon。 O； she tore the letter into a thousand halfpence； rail'd at herself
that she should be so immodest to write to one that she knew would flout
her。 'I measure him；' says she； 'by my own spirit； for I should flout him if
he writ to me。 Yea； though I love him； I should。'
Claud。 Then down upon her knees she falls； weeps； sobs； beats her
heart； tears her hair； prays； curses'O sweet Benedick！ God give me
patience！'
Leon。 She doth indeed； my daughter says so。 And the ecstasy hath so
much overborne her t